Around WALTON | April 2012
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April 2012
Volume 1, Issue 10
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54
Featured Articles
In Every Issue Around Walton.......................... 6
26 Readers’ Choice Winners
Birthdays................................. 14
The Readers have spoken and the winners are …
Community Calendar............... 23
31
Meet the Military
Everyday Angels...................... 24
Jason Hill training to fly for the Navy.
Houses of Worship.................. 58
34
Summer Camps
Clubs & Organizations.............. 62
38 & 39 On the Cover
Local drama, science, sports and day camps.
School Information.................. 64
Taste of East Cobb: Saturday, May 5
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Scott McCord
Community Numbers.............. 68
Local teacher writes first novel, The Bones of Boulder Creek.
Humane Society...................... 69
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Team W.A.L.T.
Elected Officials....................... 70
WHS Robotics team advances to World competition in St. Louis.
Advertiser Directory................ 72
As our Market Manager, Chris is the guy you call when you want to place an ad in Around Walton. He’s lived and worked in Cobb County for over 20 years, and is active in the Atlanta music scene so you might catch him playing bass and singing at a local club. You can reach him at (770) 615-3311 or Chris@ AroundAboutLocalMedia.com.
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Contributing Writers Judson Adamson.............................19
Barbara Lane...................................13
Don Akridge....................................18
Scott Lemmon.................................43
Mary-Kathryn Boler.........................30 Matthew Boler................................50
Zett Quinn.......................................21
Dr. Cristi Cheek................................36 Dr. Grace Chiang .............................40
Doug Rohan.....................................16
Dawn Reed......................................32
Jennifer Jarosick..............................28
Ashley Velez....................................22
Linda & Kevin Keeton......................20
Bryant Wright..................................57
Outmaneuver cancer. Navigating your cancer treatment can feel like a full-time job. That’s why WellStar created the Nurse Navigator program. From the start, your Nurse Navigator serves as your guide and liaison, working with WellStar oncologists, cancer surgeons, and other specialists to streamline your care and ease your mind. She can also connect your loved ones to resources throughout the community. Your Nurse Navigator will manage coordination among your doctors, help you understand your treatment options, and simply listen to your concerns. WellStar Nurse Navigators are available to all cancer patients and their families. To learn more about cancer treatment at WellStar, call 770-956-STAR (7827) or visit the new wellstar.org.
We believe you are stronger than cancer. The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare. Our not-for-profit health system includes WellStar Cobb Hospital, WellStar Douglas Hospital, WellStar Kennestone Hospital, WellStar Paulding Hospital, WellStar Windy Hill Hospital and WellStar Medical Group. Around WALTON | April 2012
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Community
Our Community Board Doug Rohan is a bi-lingual attorney and owner of Rohan Law, PC. Doug can be reached at doug@rohanlawpc.com. Dr. Cristi Cheek is a dentist and owner of Cristi Y. Cheek, D.M.D., P.C. Dr. Cheek can be reached at CCDental@bellsouth.net. Caroline Whaley is the President of the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta. Caroline can be reached at carolinewhaley@ earthlink.net. Judy McNeill — Judy is the Principal at Walton High School. Judy can be reached at (770) 578-3225, x229. Judson Adamson — Judson is a 24-year veteran of the Atlanta Real Estate Industry. Judson can be reached at (770) 240-2001. Dawn Reed — Dawn Reed is a Certified Senior Advisor and the owner of Aloha To Senior Solutions Consulting. Dawn can be reached at dawn@ alohatoseniors.com. Mary Stephens — Mary currently serves as Media Director for Right From The Heart Ministries. Mary can be reached at (678) 388-1862. Zett Quinn — Zett is the owner and founder of Quality Craftsmen. Zett can be reached at (404) 483-7446.
Around Walton
Your Community, Your Magazine
Publisher
AroundAbout Local Media, Inc.
Executive Editor
Kara Kiefer kara@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3309
Title Editor
Lynne Lysaght lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3306
Market Manager
Chris Kennedy chris@aroundaboutlocalmedia.com, (770) 615-3311
Art Director
Michelle McCulloch michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3307
Digital Marketing Director
James Ball james@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3310 Around Walton is a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Walton area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It is distributed free by mail to approximately 14,300 homes and businesses and 2,200 in racks throughout the Walton community. Around Walton welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 20th of the preceding month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send payment to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Walton 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. Around Walton 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising Chris Kennedy, (770) 615-3311 chris@aroundaboutlocalmedia.com Website: www.aroundaboutwalton.com Powered by TrustWorks, Inc. Franchise Opportunities Available: www.AroundAboutLocalMedia.com Volume 1, Issue 10
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Around WALTON | April 2012
Around WALTON | April 2012
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Community
AROUND WALTON by Lynne Lysaght
Lynne is the Editor of Around Walton magazine. She lives in the Walton community with her husband Martin and their three sons Kyle, Logan and Camden.
The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Walton
Around Walton is pleased to announce the winners of our Readers’ Choice Poll in this issue. The full list can be found on pages 26 and 27. Congratulations to all the retailers, restaurants, and service providers chosen by our readers as their favorites. Thank you to all the readers that took time to participate and share their opinions. If you missed out on the voting, you will have to wait until next year.
Around Walton has a new Market Manager who is responsible for sales and marketing for our magazine. His name is Chris Kennedy and he is out in the community ready to help our local businesses grow and prosper through exposure in Around Walton. Chris was born and grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. He studied business administration at Arizona State University. He has a long history in East Cobb as a resident, sign salesman and business owner. His personal experience with owning a business gives him the understanding of what it takes to be successful and grow a business. When he is not working, Chris plays bass with a local band called the Bush Pilots. He also enjoys camping, off-roading, and weightlifting. He has been married to his wife Karen for nearly 25 years, and with their pets, they live in a house that they continually remodel. Chris will be glad to help you with your advertising needs and can be reached by email at chris@ aroundaboutlocalmedia. com or by phone at (404) 406-4282. Don’t hesitate to say hello when you see him out and about in the Walton community.
What’s Coming? Zoe’s Kitchen is coming to Merchants Exchange, at 4400 Roswell Road, Suite 157, in the Eye Gallery’s old location. The location is currently being remodeled. There are two other Zoe’s Kitchen in Atlanta that serve Mediterraneaninspired recipes created by founder Zoe Cassimus. For more information about Zoe’s Kitchen, visit zoeskitchen.com. 6
Around WALTON | April 2012
Michael’s arts and crafts store is moving into the old Borders location at The Avenue East Cobb, 4475 Roswell Road. Haven, the Dog Spot is coming to the Fountains of Olde Towne shopping center, 736 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A-1. This facility will have boarding, grooming, training and a retail shop. For more information, email Barbara McRee at Barbara@muttmaddness.org.
What’s New? Famous Footwear recently celebrated its grand opening at The Avenue East Cobb, 4475 Roswell Road, Suite 440. The store has over 10,000 shoes in stock from more than 100 nationally recognized brands. This is Famous Footwear’s 24th store in Atlanta. For more information about this location, call (770) 509-3323 or for more information about the company, visit famousfootwear.com. Moxie Burger recently opened in Paper Mill Village at 255 Village Parkway, NE, Suite 120. Moxie Burger features juicy burgers made with certified 100-percent, Black Angus ground beef, turkey, chicken, The crew at Moxie Burger. lamb or Portobello mushroom, hot dogs made with Hebrew National beef, and fresh salads. The menu is designed to please all ages from 3 – 103. Moxie Burger is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information, visit moxieburger.net or call (770) 627-3201. And Thou Shalt Read and Oy Toys celebrated the merger of the two companies and the grand opening of their new facility located at 1150 Grimes Bridge Road, Suite 300, Roswell. And Thou Shalt Read has served as Atlanta’s Jewish book dealer for five years and Oy Toys is a web site for Jewish toys and gifts. Now both are available in one location. For more information, call Ruth E. Levy at (770) 993-5432 or by email at sales@ AndThouShaltRead.com. LifeQuest Fitness, located at 6930 Davidson Road, recently announced new owners and new management at the facility. The new owners Marius and June Vorster bring their personal training expertise to LifeQuest and Lauren Rhyne, the new general manager, has over 14 years of health club management experience. For more information, call (770) 971-0557.
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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 your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about to lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Sincerely, It’s your community. It’s your magazine.
Your Friends at Around Walton
The Community Of
WALTON
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AP SA P M AV OIN E-D AI TM AY LA E BL NT E! S
WellStar Medical Group welcomes new practices to East Cobb! FAMILY MEDIcINE AND GERIATRIc MEDIcINE Whitney Denton, M.D. H Shravantika Reddy, M.D. Johnson Square | 1523 Johnson Ferry Road | Building 1523 Suite 150 | Marietta, GA 30062 | 678-403-4660 • Preventive healthcare for children, adults, and seniors • GYN exams/care • Blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol management
Whitney Denton, M.D. Family Medicine
Shravantika Reddy, M.D. Family Medicine and Geriatric Medicine
FAMILY MEDIcINE, INTERNAL MEDIcINE AND PEDIATRIcS Waldon Garriss, M.D., M.S., FAAP, FAcP Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP 3939 Roswell Road | Marietta GA 30062 | 770-973-2272 • Adult, child and newborn well-exams • Blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes management • Transition of adolescents from childhood to adult care
Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP Waldon Garriss, M.D., Family Medicine M.S., FAAP, FAcP Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
PEDIATRIcS Amy cooper, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. Eva Montgomery-McGuire, M.D., FAAP Susan Staviss, M.D., FAAP 3939 Roswell Road | Marietta GA 30062 | 770-578-2868 • Comprehensive healthcare for newborns, children and teens • Meet and greets available for parents to meet the physicians • Same-day sick appointments
770-956-STAR H wellstar.org
Amy cooper, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. Pediatrics
Eva MontgomeryMcGuire, M.D., FAAP Pediatrics
All practices accepting new patients and most insurance plans. Susan Staviss, M.D., FAAP Pediatrics Around WALTON | April 2012
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What’s Happening in Walton... MUST Ministries to Host Spring Gala
Community Chat on Underage and Youth Binge Drinking The Cobb Alcohol Taskforce (CAT) would like to invite the community to join in the conversation concerning underage and youth binge drinking. On Thursday, April 26, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a community dialogue will be held at the Cobb Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, 100 Cherokee Street on the second floor and via live stream. The dialogue will include framing the scope of the problem, focusing on solutions with a panel of experts, and audience Q & A. For more information, visit www. cobbat.org or email Cathy Finck at coordinator@cobbat.org.
Bidders during last year’s auction
MUST Ministries will hold its Sixth Annual Spring Gala, “A Storied Evening,” on May 4 at the Cobb Galleria Centre Ballroom, located at 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, where powerful, true success stories of lives changed from poverty to stability will be shared. The Ginger Kaney Servant Leader of the Year will be named during the evening. Sponsorships and individual tickets are on sale now for the event that is expecting more than 450 people to attend and be inspired by the stories and help support the continued work of MUST. This year, MUST has seen a 35 percent increase in demand for services and expects to serve more than 35,000 with almost half of those being children. The good news is that MUST has helped more than 1,200 get back to work since the recession began. Beyond the food and clothes most people associate with MUST services, the ministry offers an extensive education and employment program in four locations. Hot meals, shelter for 140 people in emergency, transitional and supportive housing, summer lunches for hungry children, and more are all available through a powerful MUST outreach in five counties. Gala event sponsor chair, Patti Schoettler of State Bank and Trust Company, stated, “One of the most significant ways to help MUST meet this increasing demand is for businesses in the community to sponsor this exciting evening. Sponsorships range from $1,575 to $20,000 and offer benefits for supporting the annual occasion. Every company wants to be related to meaningful community work, and MUST is that servant leader in our community that provides so much hope for thousands of neighbors in need.” The evening includes an auction, and MUST is asking for donations of auction items or funds to make this an exciting part of the gala. Those people interested in a corporate sponsorship, donating an auction item, or buying tickets to the event should email bmathews@mustministries.org or call (678) 218-4524.
Spring 2012 Animal Adopt-a-thon Cobb County Animal Control will be holding its spring adopt-athon event on May 19, 2012 at 1060 Al Bishop Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include vendors, food, police K-9 demonstrations, raffle and special adoption rates. Meet the in-house veterinarian and find that new addition to your family. All animals have been spayed or neutered and are current on all vaccinations. Dogs over six months old have been heart worm tested and cats over six months have been combo tested. Come find a new best friend to take home.
Mutt Maddness Holds Fundraiser at CPK Recently, Mutt Muddness, a nonprofit, no kill, dog rescue organization in the Walton community, with the help of California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), raised funds for hip replacement surgery for one of its rescued dogs. For all patrons who presented the Mutt Maddness flyer to the wait staff, CPK, located at 4250 Roswell Road in Pinestraw Place, donated 20 percent of the customers’ bills back to Mutt Maddness. CPK also allowed Mutt Maddness to use the patio for “Comedy for Canines” where local comics entertained the crowd to raise additional funds. Approximately $650 was raised through these efforts and will be used towards the $2,300 surgery necessary to replace Mulligan’s hip. For more information on Mutt Maddness, Mulligan, or to donate your time or money, visit www. muttmaddness.org. continued on page 12
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Around WALTON | April 2012
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Around WALTON | April 2012
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What’s Happening in Walton... Seventh Annual Safe Teen Georgia Driving Academy
The seventh annual Safe Teen Georgia Driving Academy will be held on Saturday, May 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teens and their parents will learn about Georgia’s driving laws, dangers of distracted and impaired driving, trauma care, car maintenance, railroad crossing safety, and much more in a series of pit-stop-style classes. They will experience driving on an obstacle course using fatal vision goggles or while texting; watch the results of a roll-over accident; and take a braking test on simulators. Attendees will also witness a car crash extraction using the Jaws of Life and a live helicopter rescue. Register at www.safeamericadrivers.org or call (770) 973-7233 for more information.
Libraries Offer Free Passes to Outdoor Adventures
Cobb Public Libraries offer residents and library cardholders the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with access to free passes to Georgia attractions including Zoo Atlanta, state parks, historic sites, and the Go Fish Education Center. Zoo Atlanta has been partnering with the library since 2011 to provide family passes to library cardholders. To obtain the free family pass, which allows two adults and two children age three-twelve free admission, patrons must first check out a special DVD on the zoo and return it. The ParkPass kit for state parks and historic sites gives library patrons free admission or parking to more than 60 locations of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Each ParkPass is available for one-week checkout and allows entry of up to four visitors. It is recommended to reserve ParkPass kits in advance.
GSO Chamber Chorus Performs at Church The Georgia Symphony Orchestra (GSO) Chamber Chorus will perform repertoire from its upcoming international tour and other choral favorites on May 5, at 8 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Marietta, located at 56 Whitlock Avenue, NW. In September, the GSO Chamber Chorus will head to Spain for its first international tour. The chorus is part of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra organization formerly known as the Cobb Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students. To reserve tickets, call (770) 429-7016, email info@ georgiasymphony.org, or visit www.georgiasymphony.org.
New for 2012, library patrons headed to south Georgia can get the family pass for the Go Fish Education Center in Perry, Georgia, which allows free entry for up to six visitors on Fridays through Sundays. Each library branch will have one Go Fish Pass. For more information on any of these programs, availability of passes, or a list of local state parks, visit cobbcat.org/outdoor-adventures.
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Around WALTON | April 2012
Through a Lost Wallet: Finding Faith in People by Barbara Donnelly Lane Sometimes the the knowledge world spins so fast, that a thief would we feel as if we surely be sadly might fly straight disappointed by off the Earth’s the state of my surface. At such credit limit? Banks times, we cope are closed on the by moving from weekends, and one activity to the the “lost check next on autopilot. card” telephone Unfortunately, the number only gets clock continues to you a conversation tick-tock, and we with a bilingual feel as if we might robot that doesn’t lose our minds, seem capable of or—much worse— empathizing with we actually lose panic. our wallets. This is exactly what Little did I know happened to that at about the me a couple of time I started weekends ago on a popping TUMS Left to right: Katherine and Martha Siewert and Barbara Donnelly Lane. hectic afternoon in like M & Ms at East Cobb, but that’s only the start of the story. the event to which I’d been late, Martha and Katherine Siewert were also driving around town, going about their business. Late for a sporting event, my son and I pulled up to an Exxon on Katherine is a seventh grader at Dickerson Middle School. She Johnson Ferry to fill his gas tank. Of course, we were running must have the eyes of an eagle because she spotted my wallet late, and I was moving on autopilot. Somehow—perhaps after in the grass where it had landed after flying off my son’s car. I’d suffered a small stroke over the cost of a gallon of gas—my Rather than ignoring it, Katherine asked her mother to pull over. wallet ended up on the roof of my son’s car where it would remain for… oh… who can say? By the time my brain had Now let me tell you, finding my wallet was one thing. Going actually switched back on and I realized what I’d done, we were to the effort of tracking me down was quite another. Yet good cruising up 400. people make the effort. With a crash-and-burn feeling exploding in the pit of my stomach, I went through a mental inventory of my wallet’s contents: money, American Express, driver’s license, and— thanks to a recent trip to Human Resources—my social security card. All the scary infomercials about identity theft that I’ve ever heard flashed through my mind and planted fear in my spirit. I just knew that anonymous, bad someone was already on a spending spree at Phipps Plaza with my VISA or hopping a jet to go snorkeling on a yacht in the Bahamas. Maybe that person would access my paltry retirement, shut down my checking account, fool my husband into thinking he was married to her instead of me, steal my dog right from under my nose and basically blot me out of existence. The horror. But what could I do when the world started spinning further out of control except take a deep breath and comfort myself with
While I was feeling dejected by the fact that I would either have to spend hours on the phone canceling my life or end up destitute in a van down by the river because someone was stealing my stuff, the mother and daughter superhero duo were driving to the address on my driver’s license. In a world where time is the greatest asset, they made the choice to stop spinning in their lives for just a moment to go out of their way to help a complete stranger because- well- they thought it was the decent thing to do. Who says we don’t live in a nice community? Who says people aren’t kind? Who says it is best to be cynical about the intentions of our fellow human beings? Thank you, Martha and Katherine. You’re out of this world, and I thank you. Around WALTON | April 2012
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Community
Happy Birthday!
Leona Yagi
Age 18 on March 29 Happy 18th! Love, Connie, Leslie, Kevin, Austin, Mallika, Katherine, Honey and your “son” Logan
Mickie Elliott
Age 16 on April 1 Happy Sweet 16! Love, Mom, Dad and Nick
Harper Godboldo Age 5 on April 3 Happy Birthday Harper! Love, Mommy and Daddy
We Will Be Celebrating Moms in our May Issue! At Around Walton, we feel that each and every mom is her family’s “Mother of the Year.” For this reason, we would like to honor as many of our moms as possible for our May issue with a special pictorial celebrating all mothers! We are looking for photos of our Walton area moms 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, 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 lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com 3. The deadline for submissions is April 20. 14
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Jay Siewert
Age 11 on April 5 Happy Birthday! Love, Mom, Dad and Katherine
Nisha Patel
Age 17 on April 14 Happy Birthday, Nisha! Love, Mum and Dad
Anna Griffith
Age 15 on April 7 Happy Birthday! Love, Schmomo and Matthew
Jack Darlington
Age 13 on April 22 Happy 13th! Love, Mom, Dad, George & Walton
Wedding, Birthday and Anniversary Announcements are Free! E-mail to: lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. May deadline is April 20.
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Alcohol Awareness Month: An Introduction to the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce by Douglas B. Rohan, Esq. ROHAN LAW, PC
Doug Rohan lives in the Walton community with his wife, Julia, and three daughters. He is a bi-lingual attorney and owner of Rohan Law, PC where he specializes in Criminal Defense and Workers’ Compensation claims. He also is a member of the Around Walton Community Board. You can email Doug at doug@ rohanlawpc.com.
Last month, I had the opportunity to meet with and get to know about the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce, and its efforts to help educate students, parents and school administrators about the pervasive danger posed by alcohol. It was refreshing to hear that a group of committed local residents is actively working to reduce the incidences of teen drinking, a problem that has reached epidemic proportions here in East Cobb. As a criminal defense attorney, I come to the situation after someone has been charged, and I work hard to ensure my clients are not repeat business. But the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce works to educate the public before there is any kind of trouble.
Two of the specific goals of the Taskforce are to alter parents’ perceptions regarding 1) the certainty that their teens will drink, and 2) the certainty that if the teens drink, there will not be long-term consequences. Obviously, there are other objectives of the Taskforce, but these two really stood out for me. Recent studies have shown that while teen drinking may be rare in frequency, teens often consume five or more alcoholic beverages in one sitting, a practice known as “binge drinking.” The numbers in Cobb County are staggering. A 2010 study showed that 30 percent of 12th graders reported alcohol use in the previous 30 days. And heavy binge drinking has been reported as early as the sixth grade. This type of consumption can have devastating consequences to the development of a teen’s brain. My teen is going to drink: This defeatist attitude is the first obstacle that we must overcome. If you subscribe to this mentality, then you are failing in your role as a parent. That is not to say that IF your teen drinks you are a failure. There is a difference between the two statements. You as a parent must give your child a target to shoot for. This provides stability and a framework for decision making in his brain. If you say, “Don’t drink or you will not be allowed to drive for a year,” then maybe your child will reflect on that statement at a party when offered alcohol. Without this admonition, when offered a beer at a party, your teen will not consider any immediate consequence and will be more likely to engage in said risky behavior. Once they start drinking, their inhibitions against other risky behavior (driving while buzzed, drugs or sexual activity) will be reduced. It’s a slippery slope once they take that first sip.
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Two of the specific goals of the Taskforce are to alter parents' perceptions regarding 1) the certainty that their teens will drink, and 2) the certainty that if the teens drink, there will not be long-term consequences. Drinking isn’t dangerous; it’s ok, as long as they don’t do drugs: see my paragraph above. The adult concept of drinking is coming home from work and pouring two fingers of scotch over ice or having a beer during the bar-b-cue. The teen concept of drinking is: my parents are gone for the night, I’m alone or with a friend, this is my only chance in the foreseeable future to have some alcohol, this bottle of rum looks good. And with some orange juice, it tastes good. In fact it tastes great. And 15 minutes later, he has finished off the bottom half of the rum bottle with nothing to eat. Over the next hour and a half, his blood alcohol level skyrockets to eight times the legal limit for an under-21 driver (.02) and now a friend asks him to come over and pick him up to go to the movies. On the way to the movies, the friend offers him some pills. Your kid is a good kid and normally he would turn that down in a heartbeat, but since he is bombed out of his mind, he pops the pills without a second thought, not even asking what the pills are. The Xanax races through his blood stream, mixes with the alcohol, and within five minutes, he is passed out behind the wheel of a car traveling 50 miles per hour down Roswell Road. I wish I could tell you this is an impossible scenario. As a parent, your first job is to set boundaries. Regardless of your personal feelings, you should respect the law. In doing so, you teach your children to respect the law. No alcohol under 21 should be the rule in your house, at your friends’ houses and anywhere else your child visits. If I never represented another minor in Possession of Alcohol, I would consider my career a success. Working with the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce, I would love to make this a reality. If you would like to know more about the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce, you can visit their website at www.cobbat.org.
Roger Kaiser Named to NAIA 75th Anniversary All-Star Team Roger Kaiser has been named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ (NAIA) 75th Anniversary All-Star Team. Known for being the first Georgia Tech basketball player to be named an All-American and for his championship record as a college basketball coach at two NAIA schools, Coach Kaiser was one of 15 coaches and 60 players selected for the team after a national vote and a selection committee’s input. NAIA paid tribute to this team recently at a reception at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri. After the reception, Coach Kaiser headed over to the Municipal Auditorium for the 75th NAIA National Championship game, which was televised on CBS sports. He was also recognized during halftime of the game. At the time of his graduation in 1961, Kaiser held 18 of 25 Georgia Tech records involving field goals and free throws. His 85.8 percent career free throw mark held the record from 1961 until 2005, when Anthony Morrow set a new record of 86.7 percent. Kaiser also scored 1,628 points during his career at Georgia Tech, and led the SEC, Georgia Tech’s conference at the time, in scoring in 1960 and 1961. He was named to the second All-America team in 1960 and the first
All-America team in 1961. He is the 12th highest scorer in the history of Georgia Tech basketball and all this scoring occurred before the three point basket existed. Kaiser’s # 21 jersey was retired at Georgia Tech in honor of his great career. While at Tech, he also played for the baseball team, which he led in hitting and was named MVP (most valuable player). During Kaiser’s twenty years as a coach at West Georgia College, he led the basketball team to a national title in 1974, a first for any Georgia team. From there, he started the athletic program at Life University in 1990 and coached the basketball team to win national championships in 1997, 1999, and 2000. Coach Kaiser was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 1966, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame for basketball in 1996 and the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. Roger continues to coach today for middle school basketball at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, where he has been the Athletic Director since 2003. He led the Eagles to a 15-2 record and the North Atlanta Metro League (NAML) title this past season.
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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.
proposed:
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
• 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 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 18
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...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.
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.
Real Estate Market Breaking Loose by Judson Adamson
Judson Adamson is the President/CEO of Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage serving the Walton community. He also is a member of the Around Walton Community Board. He can be reached at (770) 240-2001.
Six years into the largest real estate slump since the Great Depression, the nation’s housing markets as a whole are flashing the strongest signals yet of a sustainable rebound. Existing home sales in 2011 rose to 4.26 million, compared to 4.19 million in 2010. And in the last six months alone, home sales have increased 13 percent. A number of housing markets nationwide have been seeing a modest increase in median list prices. According to Realtor.com data of 146 metro markets, Atlanta ranked seventh in the highest median list price increase from January to February. In February, Georgia held onto its ranking of the fourth highest state for foreclosures, according to monthly data from Realty Trac. However, when you look past the national and state headlines, most of our local markets are recovering nicely. We are experiencing
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In one survey, 96 percent of those surveyed say that now is a good time to purchase a home, with interest rates at historically low levels. a tremendous amount of increased activity which is already turning into a substantial increase in pending sales and closed transactions compared to the same period last year. Eugene James of Metro Study stated in a report, “January 2012 figures show that Atlanta added 68,400 net new jobs over the year. That makes Atlanta the fourth best place in the country for job growth, only behind Dallas and Houston, Texas and the New York/New Jersey region.” And according to a new continued on page 66 Around WALTON | April 2012
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Community
Flood Insurance: What Is it All About? by Linda and Kevin Keeton In 2005, Hurricane Katrina pounded the Gulf coast of the United States, wiping out more than 250,000 homes. Closer to home, metro Atlanta experienced historical flooding in September 2009 after prolonged rains, which resulted in more than $500 million in property damage. Linda and Kevin Keeton live in the Walton community with their two sons, Christian and Matthew. With a combined experience of over 36 years within the insurance industry, Keeton Insurance Services, Inc. is a Trusted Choice® Independent Agency specializing in property and casualty insurance. They may be reached by calling (770) 971-8900 or visiting www.keetoninsurance.com.
These events painfully brought public awareness to the fact that flood damage is not covered by homeowners insurance.
Many consumers were unaware that, even though their homes were ruined, they were not insured since they lacked flood insurance. Insurance against flooding (rising water) is different from insurance against driven rain or leakage, which often is covered by homeowners insurance. Since then, tens of thousands of Americans have purchased flood insurance for the first time. Three perils—fire, lightning and windstorm—are traditionally covered by homeowners property insurance. Flooding is excluded from homeowners’ coverage, as floods tend to be catastrophic in nature, causing widespread damage in a geographic area. Private insurers are not able to absorb all that risk. Hurricanes get a lot of attention, but big storms are not the only cause of floods, nor are floods limited to coastlines. In fact, flooding is the nation’s most common and frequent natural disaster, according to federal officials. As our nation grew after World War II, flood-damaged communities turned to the federal government for disaster relief and rebuilding assistance. In the 1960s, Congress sought a more proactive system, and in 1968 created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This community-based insurance mechanism requires municipalities to adopt and enforce flood-abatement measures. In order to join the NFIP, it must adopt a program of corrective and preventive measures for reducing future flood damage (including zoning and building requirements). Flood insurance is available only to consumers in
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Flooding is excluded from homeowners' coverage, as floods tend to be catastrophic in nature, causing widespread damage in a geographic area. communities that have joined the NFIP. NFIP is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It provides flood coverage to homeowners and renters as well as commercial building owners. Coverage is accessible through Trusted Choice® independent agents and through other insurance agents. Flood insurance may not just be desirable for homeowners; it may be required. For example, mortgage lenders are legally bound to require consumers buying a house in a high-risk flood zone to have flood insurance. Consumers owning or renting property in low- or moderate-risk flood areas can buy flood insurance and may be eligible for a lower-cost preferred risk flood policy. Flood insurance protects against losses to buildings and contents (not the property on which they sit). Coverage is in effect whether flooding results from heavy rains, storm surge on the coast, melting of snow, blocked storm drainage systems, levee or dam failure, or other causes. Waters must cover at least two acres or affect at least two properties to be considered a flood for insurance purposes. Residential flood insurance provides as much as $250,000 of coverage for dwellings for 1-4 families, and as much as $100,000 for contents. Commercial property owners can get up to $500,000 of insurance for the building and the same amount for contents. Condominiums also can be insured. Unlike homeowners insurance, flood insurance has a waiting period. The NFIP sets a standard 30-day waiting period before flood coverage goes into effect (except for lender-required flood insurance, if more insurance is required because of a flood map revision, or if existing coverage is being increased upon renewal). In other words, do not wait until the local flood warning to make your decision on purchasing flood insurance.
Add Beauty and Protection to Your Home with Siding by Zett Quinn As you create your list of spring home improvement projects, don’t neglect the most obvious: the siding. Think of siding as the protective layer – a security blanket – for your home. Walk around your house and inspect the siding, from top to bottom. Look for warping, Zett Quinn is the cracks, mildew, and chipped or faded founder of Quality paint. Along the bottom, look for water Craftsmen, offering and insect damage, and near the roofline, more than 20 years of experience in the check for holes from carpenter bees and woodpeckers. If left untreated, these all construction and renovation business. can deteriorate the siding and damage your home. To learn more, visit www.qualitycraftsmen.com or contact him at (404) 483-7446 or zett@ quality-craftsmen. com.
Siding will last longer if you maintain it. Projects may include caulking cracks and corners, pressure-washing, replacing warped boards and repainting. Be aware that water can be your biggest enemy; if you see hairline cracks, it can be a sign that water is seeping in.
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Community
Change of Scenery by Ashley Velez
Atlanta Botanical Garden This month, we are featuring the Atlanta Botanical Garden. If you have never had the chance to visit one of Atlanta’s most beautiful sites, you’re in for a real treat. With these warm temperatures Atlanta has been experiencing, spending the day looking at all the natural beauty the city has to offer is a great trip for the entire family. Located in the center of Midtown, Atlanta Botanical Garden is a natural wonder, considering that so much beauty lives within the heart of the hustle and bustle of Atlanta. Garden-goers can choose from a number of different attractions. One can’t-miss feature is the Fuqua Orchid Center, an indoor greenhouse which provides an opportunity for visitors to see the Garden’s renowned orchid collection. Attached to the orchid house is a conservatory, a glass enclosure built to resemble a rainforest filled with live birds, amphibians and reptiles. Another recent addition to the Botanical Gardens was the Canopy Walk in 2010. Guests can tour one of the city’s last remaining urban forests from 40 feet in the air on the Canopy Walk and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Storza Woods. The Canopy Walk extends 600 feet from a hillside into the branches of oaks, hickories and poplars, and is considered the only tree canopy-level walkway of its kind in the United States. Walking along the side of the canopy is truly breathtaking, as you feel like you’re floating through the trees, even if only for a few moments. The 2010 opening of the Edible Garden, Cascades Garden, and Canopy Walk marked the completion of an expansion project which nearly doubled the size of the Garden. For the younger members of your family, the Children’s Garden is a twoacre garden built in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The Children’s Garden features themed gardens that will delight children and adults alike. On warm days, the Sunflower Fountain is a great place to cool off. The Dinosaur Garden is also a favorite of youngsters, as it’s built around a model of a Cretaceous-era duckbill dinosaur and they can “dig” for fossils buried in the sand. For more information, you can visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s website at www. atlantabotanicalgarden.org. 22
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Everyone needs a change of scenery every now and then. Each month we will feature places to visit, including museums, family friendly activities, outdoor adventures or great places to dine. If you have any suggestions, please email lynne@ aroundaboutmagazines.com.
EVENT CALENDAR: Through April 20
Forces of Nature Spring Art Show Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday Location: Frameworks Art Gallery, 1205 Johnson Ferry Road Information: Frameworks Gallery presents “Forces of Nature,” the spring art show featuring original oil paintings by local artists Pat Fiorello, Theresa Forman and Julie Mann. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit www. frameworksgallery.com or call (770) 9736701.
April/May event is free except for $10 fee for each computer monitor or TV.
April 25
East Cobb Civic Association Meeting Time: 7 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Road Information: Speaker will be Sharon Cooper, State Representative for House District 41. Open to the public. Members only session held after speaker.
April 26
April 17
How to Manage Paid Caregivers Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Inc., Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Information: Learn how to successfully manage paid caregivers. Program presented by John Butler of Family Private Care. Please RSVP to (678) 439-1177.
East Cobb Civitan Club Meeting Time: 12 p.m. Location: Olde Towne Athletic Club, 4950 Olde Towne Parkway Information: East Cobb Civitan Club meeting and lunch will feature speaker James Scharnikow of Journey of Hope. Please RSVP to Patty O’Toole at (770) 9711916 or email patricia_otoole@att.net. For more information on the club and its activities, visit eastcobb.civitan.net.
April 19, 26, May 3, 10
April 27, May 4, 18
Alzheimer’s Disease Program Series Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Inc., Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Information: Aloha to Aging will be hosting a program that answers questions about middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Program presented by Sarah Carson of the Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia. Please RSVP to (678) 439-1177 and bring your own lunch.
April 21
Electronics/Metal Recycling Event Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Location: Dickerson Middle School parking lot, 855 Woodlawn Drive Information: Dickerson Environmental Club is hosting a recycling event for electronics and metal. For the full list of accepted items, go to http://www. federalrecyclers.com/Writings.html. The
adults, $6 for children 6-11, and free for children 36” and shorter. The carnival will have more than 40 rides and attractions and requires additional purchase for riding. Parking will be $5. For a full schedule of circus performances, carnival times and more information on the 70th anniversary celebration of The World’s Largest Shrine Circus and Midway Carnival, visit www. circus2012.org or call (404) 872-5818.
May 5
The Drake Walk 2012 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Location: Roswell United Methodist Church parking lot, corner of Mimosa Blvd. and Magnolia St., Roswell Information: The Drake Walk is a family event with walking routes of various distances through historic Roswell, followed by a Finish Line Festival with refreshments and family fun. Individual registration is $15, family registration is $30 and groups of 10 or more are $10 each. For more information, visit www.thedrakewalk.org.
Y Business Network Time: 7:30 – 8:45 a.m. Location: Northeast Cobb YMCA, 3010 Roswell Road Information: Grow your business through referrals, meet other local business owners, share information about your business. Be prepared to give one minute presentation of yourself or your business. Guest speaker on April 27, Keith Ivey, will present “The Power of Personal Branding.” For more information, contact Michelle Hutchinson at (770) 518-0010 or by email at michelle. hutchinson@wordhelper.com or Ann Pastorello at (770) 971-4776 or by email at apastorello@cruiseplanners.com.
April 27 – May 6
Shrine Circus and Carnival Time: Varied – see information below. Location: Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road Information: World’s largest Shrine Circus and Carnival will perform 24 shows over a 10 day period. Tickets will be $10 for
Send Us Your Community Calendar Events to lynne@ aroundaboutmagazines.com. May deadline is April 20.
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Lifestyle
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.
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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Feature
Readers’ Choice Awards Around Walton 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!
The Winner is . Restaurants
Retailers
All-Around Restaurant Marlow’s Tavern
Italian Capozzi’s NY Deli
Boutique Casabella
Bakery Publix at Woodlawn
Kid-Friendly Chick-fil-A
Children’s Clothing Store Kohl’s
Barbecue Place Sam’s BBQ 1
Lunch Place (tie) Mediterranean Grill Panera Bread
Drug Store CVS Pharmacy
Breakfast Place J. Christopher’s Coffee Shop Starbucks Dessert Place Yogli Mogli Ethnic Mediterranean Grill Fast Food Chick-fil-A Fine Dining Aspen’s Signature Steaks
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Mexican Tijuana Joe’s New Restaurant Seed Kitchen & Bar Oriental Fuji Hana Pizzeria Mellow Mushroom Seafood Marietta Fish Market Sports Bar Marlow’s Tavern
..
Florist Carithers Flowers Frame Shop Michaels Furniture Store Woodstock Furniture Outlet Garden Center Pike Family Nurseries Gift/Home Décor Store Casabella
Jeweler David Douglas Diamonds & Jewelry Liquor Store Sherlock’s Music Store Ken Stanton Music Pet Supply Store PetSmart Shoe Store DSW Shoe Warehouse Specialty Foods Trader Joe’s Sporting Goods Dick’s Sporting Goods
Grocery Store Publix
Tire Store (tie) Georgia Tire Depot NTB Costco
Hardware Store Home Depot
Toy Store Target
t u a r l a g t n i on o C s! Services
Auto Repair American Brake and Foreign Car Service Car Wash Simonize
Insurance Agent Don Johnson – State Farm Lawn Care Service Team Turf
Carpet/Upholstery Cleaner Stanley Steemer
Medical Doctor Dr. Tracey Wallace, Northside Urgent Care
Caterer Proof of the Pudding
Nail Salon Nail Eagle
Chiropractor HealthQuest
Ophthalmologst/ Optometrist Dr. Posner, Marietta Eye Clinic
CPA Mobley & Company
Orthodontist Dr. Timothy Shaughnessy
Day Care/Preschool Mt Bethel Christian Academy Preschool
Painter (Tie) Fifth Generation Painting Pro Painting and Remodeling
Day Spa Spa Sydell
Pediatric Dentist Dr. David Bradberry
Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek
Pediatrician Dr. Marisa Gadea
Dry Cleaner Merchant’s Cleaners
Pest Control Arrow Exterminators
Electrician Mr. Sparky
Pet Boarding Best Friends
Financial Institution/Bank Sun Trust Bank
Pet Groomer PetSmart
Hair Salon Intrigue Salon
Photographer Studio 7
Home Improvement/ HVAC Reliable Heating and Air
Physical Therapist Resurgens Orthopaedics
Home Improvement/ Flooring Quality Craftsmen
Plumber Superior Plumbing
Home Improvement/ Roofing Findlay Roofing
Tutoring East Cobb Mathnasium
Home Improvement/ Handyman Quality Craftsmen
Veterinarian East Cobb Veterinary
Recreation Dance Studio Dance Stop Studios
Gymnastics Center YMCA
Fitness/Health Club LA Fitness
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Lifestyle
Get Ready for Swim Team! by Jenny Jarosick My daughter took swim lessons from the time she was three. She learned the basic, important swim skills, yet she still didn’t have the confidence to swim without floats. When she was old enough for our neighborhood swim team, she went to her first practice with floats firmly attached to her back. The coaches were understanding and let her wear them, but on the second Jennifer Jarosick, day they encouraged her to get into the a former teacher water without a float. She’s never worn and MOMS Club one since. At her first swim meet, she chapter president, swam the whole length of the pool and is the mother to only had to grab the rope once and by the three children ages second meet she swam two lengths of the five and under. pool…without any help at E-mail her at all. It was amazing to watch Jenniferjarosick@ her gain confidence as she yahoo.com. developed stronger swim skills. I’ll never forget the wild cheers of her team mates when she finished her first race. She
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didn’t win, but she was so proud, it was a great experience. Now, swim team is part of our summer routine. It’s a great way to get involved in a community team that’s fun, competitive and provides daily swim lessons for almost six weeks straight. The coaches divide the kids into small groups and they spend about 40 minutes in the water with the kids each day. There are weekly swim meets, both home and away, which provide a good chance to interact with families in other neighborhoods. If your schedule allows it, most children within the age requirements in Cobb County can join a swim team, even if you don’t live in a swim team neighborhood. Swim team registration typically starts in April, so if you want your child to join a team, now is the time to inquire in your neighborhood. If you don’t live in a swim/tennis community, check out the neighborhoods close by to see if your child/children can join; most of them accept non-resident swimmers. It’s a great way to learn how to swim, get involved with the community and make friends! Have fun and go team!
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Lifestyle
Want to Start a Business? Get a Job. by Mary-Kathryn Boler Imagine you are going to invest your life savings into a new venture, and you are looking to hire a CEO to run your enterprise. Would you rather hire a leader with experience in your field or one without any?
Mary-Kathryn Boler is the owner of Catapult Strategic Consulting, LLC (www. CatapultStrategies. com), located in the Walton area. Her proven approach to creating business strategies and action plans has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their businesses faster and more profitabilty than they thought possible.
The answer seems obvious. Astute employers hire experienced workers for key management positions, and so should you. It does not make sense to invest your time, energy, and future in a new business only to have it run by someone without a deep understanding of the industry — even if that someone is you.
When aspiring entrepreneurs ask me what the first step is in starting a business, they are surprised by my response: find a job. Of course, I’m not suggesting just any job will do. Locate a position that allows you to experience the day-to-day operations of a business in your field. Working for a peer will provide valuable insight into the business model, its revenue streams, top clients, typical expenses, marketing approaches, suppliers, and risks. For example, if you want to open a children’s boutique, work as a manager at a store such as Gymboree, Gap, or Kohl’s. If you want to open your own graphics firm, apply your talents with graphics-related employers such as
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local marketing agencies or sign manufacturers. Thinking about starting a home health care business? Learn the ropes with firms such as Visiting Angels or Helping Hands. Experienced entrepreneurs consider business knowledge and experience the most important key to success. The Ewing Marion Kaufman Foundation, the world’s leading foundation devoted to the study and promotion of entrepreneurship, studied this issue extensively. In its research paper, The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur: Making a Successful Entrepreneur, the Foundation reports 96 percent of the 549 surveyed company founders ranked prior work experience as an important success factor while 58 percent ranked experience as extremely important. Other important factors identified in the Kaufman Foundation study included learning from previous successes and failures, being able to manage a team and good fortune. You can gain the necessary work experience in many ways. First, try the traditional route. Thankfully many employers are hiring again. If that doesn’t work, try an internship. Perhaps you can work for a stipend for a specific period of time. Doctors and lawyers do it— so can entrepreneurs. If all else fails, volunteer your time. Be honest about why you want to volunteer, and offer your services for free in exchange for onthe-job training.
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Working for a peer will provide valuable insight into the business model, its revenue streams, top clients, typical expenses, marketing approaches, suppliers, and risks.
Of course, you cannot obtain experience overnight. Acquiring the resources you need to be successful, including experience and expertise, takes time. Consider it an investment in your future. As Albert Einstein put it, “The only source of knowledge is experience.”
meet the military Jason Hill to Fly for the Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Jason Hill played on the varsity tennis team while attending Walton High School (WHS). When it was time to choose where to continue his education after graduation, Jason had several colleges recruiting him to play tennis at their institutions while earning his degree. He was struggling with the decision, doing a lot of soul searching and praying, when he felt he received divine guidance. “After months of visiting schools, weighing my options and even making decision matrices, I woke up one morning and it was perfectly clear to me that the U. S. Naval Academy was where I wanted to go,” said Jason. Jason was drawn to the military because of the unique challenges, the camaraderie and, as he was undecided on a specific career, the wide range of interesting career options available in the military. He specifically chose the Navy because, as he said, “They have it all; ground, sea, sub-surface and aviation,” which allowed him to keep his options open. So Jason committed to the Naval Academy to play for its Division One tennis team, which is the most competitive collegiate level, and to serve his country in the Navy after completing his college years. Some of his most cherished memories from Academy days are of playing for the Navy tennis team. Jason said, “While you played on the court alone, you were not alone, as the whole team fought together to win and fed off of each other’s energy and enthusiasm.” Being on the tennis team meant practices and matches instead of participating in intramural sports with the rest of the midshipmen, but this was the only difference in the life of team athletes. All midshipmen were held to the same academic, professional and physical standards. His time at the Naval Academy was the most challenging and rewarding experience of his life. At his graduation ceremony, President Obama spoke to the graduates and presented Jason with his diploma, and the Blue Angels gave them a fly-by, making it a day that he will never forget. After graduation, Jason headed off to aviation training that would take him to Pensacola and Milton in Florida and to Kingsville and Corpus Christi in Texas; he will finish his training in Norfolk,
Top: Jason Hill flying plane 273 on outside. Left: Jason playing tennis for Navy. Above: Jason receives his diploma from the US Naval Academy, President Obama in background.
Virginia. Before beginning training, he had a brief assignment at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. where he learned a lot about how the Navy operates. He has finished API (Aviation Preflight Indoctrination), Primary Flight training, Intermediate Jet training and must now qualify to land on an aircraft carrier before completing his training to fly either the E-2D Hawkeye or the C-2 Greyhound. Jason’s proud parents, Stephanie and Brad Hill, live in the Walton community. Jason became an uncle last year when his sister Kortney had her first child. Of his time at WHS, Jason said he is thankful for the thorough preparation it provided for college. He is still in touch with friends from high school. His best friend, Michael Hoffmann, whom he met in freshman homeroom, was the best man when Jason married his wife Alleigh last year. Jason is committed to the Navy for the next eight years and said the best thing about being in the Navy is the opportunity to serve others and make a tangible difference in the world. After his time in the Navy, he may fly privately or commercially or pursue a career in engineering. Thank you, Jason, for your commitment to all of us. Around WALTON | April 2012
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Health & Wellness
April- A Time for Awareness by Dawn Reed
Dawn Reed is the founder of Aloha to Aging, a 501c3 nonprofit, which includes the Aloha Day Club (adult day respite center), caregiver education and support groups. She is also the owner of Aloha to Senior Solutions. She can be reached at (678) 7777241 or at dawn@ alohatoseniors.com.
Most of us are aware that Lent, Passover and Easter are celebrated in April. These religious holidays bring about a time for self reflection and religious awareness in both the Christian and Jewish faiths. There is another designation that all people can relate to but aren’t always aware of for April - Stress Awareness Month. Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society and successful coping strategies. For the last 20 years, this effort has been sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a nonprofit health education organization. I personally believe the Health Resource Network picked the month of April because every household is additionally stressed to complete their taxes by April
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Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society and successful coping strategies. 15. Hence National Stress Awareness Day is April 16! So the question for April is this: where is your stress and what are you doing to relieve it? The University of Phoenix put together the list of top ten things that create stress. Take a look and see if you agree. After you read the list below, set aside some time (I know you don’t feel like you have the time, but you should make the time for this) and make at least one manageable solution to those stressors that most affect you. 1. Not having enough time. 2. Unhealthy lifestyle. 3. Taking on too much. 4. Conflicts in the workplace or at home. 5. Inability to accept things as they are. 6. Missing the opportunity to take time out and relax. 7. Serious illness or death in the family. 8. Neglecting to see the humor in situations. 9. Particular situations that cause stress. 10. Major life changes. As you can see, the majority of this list is made up of things in our life we do have control over. Managing your time, health, energy level and emotions are keys to handling stress. So if you want a happy home and work life, designate April as a time to inventory your stressors and take stock in your own worth. Remember, you are much more than your income taxes reveal!
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Feature
Summer Camps Day Camp
YMCA Explorer Day Camp Dates: Weekly, May 29 - August 10 Ages: 5 – 8 Camp High Harbour on Lake Allatoona Dates: Weekly, May 29 - July 27 Ages: 9 - 12 Location: McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road (Camp High Harbour campers are bused to lake from McCleskey YMCA) Information: Visit www.ymcapass.com or call (770) 977-5991. Chattahoochee Nature Center Camp Kingfisher Dates: May 29 – August 10, one and two week sessions Ages: Kindergarten – 7th grade Location: 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell Information: Visit www.chattnaturecenter.org. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Traditional and Specialty Day Camp Dates: Weekly, May 29 – August 10 Ages: Rising pre-K – 6th grade Location: Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody Information: Free bus transportation from Walton community. Visit atlantajcc.org, call (678) 812-4004 or contact by email at camps@atlantajcc.org.
Half Day Camp
YMCA Dates: Weekly Sessions May 29 – August 10 Ages: 2-5 Location: McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road and Northeast Cobb Family YMCA, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road Information: Visit www.ymcapass.com or call (770) 977-5991 for McCleskey Y and (678) 569-9622 for Northeast YMCA.
Drama Camp
Blake Cooper Productions Summer Events “Once Upon An Island” Dates: Rehearsals May 29-31, June 2, 4-7; Performances June 9 - 10 Ages: Middle/high school students Summer Drama Camp Dates: June 11-14 and July 9-12 Ages: Kindergarten – 5th grade “Give Our Regards to Broadway” Dates: Rehearsals June 18-21, 25-28; Performances June 30, July 1 Ages: Middle/high school students A Broadway Junior Review Dates: Rehearsals July 16-19, 23-26; Performances July 28-29 Ages: Elementary/middle school students Location: Dodgen Middle School, 1725 Bill Murdock Road Information: Visit bcprod.org for times, cost and to register.
Sports Camp
YMCA Dates: May 29 – August 10, Ages: 6 -16 Half Day Camps Dates: May 29 – August 10 Ages: 5 - 14 Location: McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road and Northeast Cobb Family YMCA, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road. Information: Variety of sports offered over summer on specific weeks at one or both locations. Visit www.ymcapass.com for complete sports camp listings and weeks available. Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Dates: May 29 – August 10 Ages: K – 8th grade Location: Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody Information: Variety of sports for different ages available. Visit atlantajcc.org for complete listing of sports camps and weeks available. 34
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Walton High School Walton Fun Camp Dates: June 4 - 7 Ages: 6 – 12 Location: Walton High School, 1590 Bill Murdock Road Information: Contact Coach Rocky Hidalgo by email at Rocky. Hidalgo@cobbk12.org. Atlanta Quarterback Receiver Camp Dates: June 11 – 12 Ages: Players from 5th – 12th grades Location: Walton High School, 1590 Bill Murdock Road Information: Contact Tripp Allen at Tripp.Allen@cobbk12.org or call (678) 612-7725.
science Camp
Walton High School Team W.A.L.T Robotics Camp Dates: June 4 – 7 Ages: Rising 6th – 8th graders Location: Engineering Room T-129, Walton High School, 1590 Bill Murdock Road Information: Visit www.waltonrobotics.org or contact waltonroboticscamp@gmail.com. Wheeler High School Center for Advanced Studies Science Spectrum Dates: June 4 – 8 Ages: Rising 7th, 8th or 9th graders Camp G.A.M.E.S. (Girls Advancing in Math, Engineering and Science) Dates: June 11-15 Ages: Girls that have completed 3rd, 4th or 5th grade Location: Wheeler High School, 375 Holt Road Information: Visit www.wheelermagnet.com or call Stacy Regitsky or Tiffany Stark at (770) 578-3286 or email Stacy. Regitsky@cobbk12.org or Tiffany.Stark@cobbk12.org.
Vacation Bible School
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Evening VBS Operation Overboard Dates: June 3 – 7 Ages: 3 – 11 (through 5th grade) Location: 4814 Paper Mill Road Information: Go to http://overboard.cokesburyvbs.com/lcr for more information or to register.
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Health & Wellness
Kids In the Dental Office by Dr. Cristi Cheek, D.M.D.
My dental practice treats everyone from toddlers to the elderly, and though we have a passion for cosmetic dentistry, children are usually the most fun and interesting patients. With three children of my own under the age of seven, I know that kids have unusual insights and give their opinions and ideas freely. Dr. Cristi Cheek, D.M.D., Just recently when I was in the midst is the owner of Cristi of disciplining my five-year-old for Y. Cheek, D.M.D., P.C., being so whiny, I was taken so aback Family and Cosmetic by his response that I found it hard Dentistry in the Walton community. Dr. Cheek not to laugh. I told him that his is also a member of father and I were not going to put the Around Walton up with his unacceptable behavior Community Board. You any longer and that after he returned may contact her from his weekend at Grandma’s, at (770) 993-3775 or visit we were going to be different. As I www.cheekdental.com. proceeded to explain to him how we would be handling such behavior in the future, I noticed he looked lost in thought, and then he interrupted me, asking, “What you gonna look like?” At my dental office, I have had similar enlightening experiences as kids surprise me with their perceptions of what is occurring during their appointments. After I extracted the tooth of a seven year-old boy, the mother asked her son as they left our office, “Has your tooth stopped hurting yet?” Her son replied, “I don’t know. The dentist has it.” In treating young patients, I have learned that Shots hurt less if you are using sleepy juice in a squirt gun. Mr. Whistle will chase all the sugar bugs out of a tooth, and Mr. Thirsty will then suck them up so you don’t have to swallow them. When the buttons on the dental chair are operated by a brother or sister, the ride is much like one at Six Flags. Siblings who usually fight and jockey for position become more 36
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“
After I extracted the tooth of a seven year-old boy, the mother asked her son as they left our office, "Has your tooth stopped hurting yet?" Her son replied, "I don't know. The dentist has it." gracious in a dental office and usually volunteer their brothers or sisters to go first. The tooth fairy can not be fooled by a piece of white chalk placed under a pillow. When explaining brushing and flossing techniques to a child, it is best to verify their understanding, or else they may be adamant with their parents that the dentist told them that BACON and SODA works just as good as toothpaste. Some perfectly good teeth do hurt when chewing if they are chewing broccoli, liver or tofu. The insights of children so often amaze and humor me and my staff. I have had many a listening adult patient in an adjacent room ask if he could wear the bubblegum nose and breathe the funny gas before he gets a silver star in his tooth. I think kids keep us in check, making us stop and take a different look at the world. I am thankful to be blessed with three little comedians of my own and to be part of a dental team that enjoys treating patients of all ages.
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Feature
“The Most Delicious Saturday of the Year” On Saturday, May 5th, the Walton community will come together at The Avenue® East Cobb to enjoy great food, live music and family fun at the seventh annual Taste of East Cobb. Advertised as “The Most Delicious Saturday of the Year,” Taste of East Cobb is an outdoor food festival for tasters of all ages that in only a few years has become a “can’t miss” event and annual East Cobb tradition. The festival is held each year on the first Saturday in May and showcases many of the area’s favorite restaurants. The Taste of East Cobb experience in 2012 will include: • A delicious variety of menu items from many of the area’s finest restaurants; • Great entertainment, featuring live music performed throughout the day by Walton High School’s jazz bands and other ensembles; • The Kid’s Zone, a family favorite, with giant inflatables and fun hands-on activities suitable for all ages, including sand art, spin art and face painting; • Unique products and services offered by over 30 local vendors; • A raffle and a silent auction; • The “Best of Taste of East Cobb” voting competition; • And much more! Now in its seventh year, Taste of East Cobb will be returning to The Avenue® for the first time since 2007
to accommodate an expected record attendance. The event will be packed full of great food and plenty to see and do, and organizers believe that the annual festival will offer attendees as well as participating restaurants, vendors and sponsors the best value for the dollar of any of the “taste” events in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Admission to this must-eat event for foodies and families will be free. Taste tickets will cost only $1.00 each, and all restaurantfeatured “tastes” will be offered at only 1 to 5 tickets per serving. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Walton High School Band students or on-line at www.tasteofeastcobb.com, and on the day of the event at festival ticket booths and from roaming ticket salespeople. Because Taste of East Cobb is a premier outdoor food festival and community event, some may be surprised to learn that it is also a major annual fundraiser for the band program at Walton High School. The organizer of the festival is WBOP, Inc., the Walton Band parents’ official booster club and a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. All net proceeds from the 2012 festival will directly benefit Walton’s outstanding and award winning bands. In fact, Taste of East Cobb began six years ago as the brainchild of a handful of Walton Band parents and has been organized and staffed each year since entirely by hardworking Walton Band parents and students. This year more than 125 current and former Band parents and students will work as volunteers at the event, striving to make Taste of East Cobb 2012 the best yet. It is important to note that only a small portion of the funding required to sustain such a distinguished music program from year to year is provided by
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Cobb County, meaning band students and their families are responsible for the remainder. As a result, fundraising is critical to the continued success and operation of the band program, and the band’s major fundraisers, including Taste of East Cobb, annually generate the vast majority of these much needed funds. The Walton Band program enjoys an outstanding reputation, ranking among the best in the southeast and the entire country. Under the direction of J. Michael Back and Jeffrey H. Pollock, the Walton Band currently consists of approximately 280 students performing in four concert bands, a marching band, two jazz bands, a winter competition guard, a full orchestra and numerous other independent ensembles. The acclaimed Walton Marching Raider Band has received national recognition from its performances at the Bands of America’s Regional, Super-Regional and Grand National competitions. Last fall, Walton competed with a number of the country’s highest-rated marching bands at the Bands of America Atlanta Super-Regional Championship at the Georgia Dome, placing fourth in Finals. The band also marched in the 1996 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade, the 1998 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the 2001 Outback Bowl Parade and halftime show, the 2003 and 2010 Tournament of Roses Parades and the 2005 and 2011 Waikiki Holiday Parades. The John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2010 presented the Walton Band with the prestigious Sudler Shield, an international award recognizing marching bands of world class excellence.
New this year, Taste of East Cobb is teaming up with MUST Ministries to help fight hunger in the community by promoting “CANS TO TASTE,” a special one-day food drive. Festival goers who bring canned food items to Taste of East Cobb will receive one free $1 Taste ticket for every five cans of food donated. There will be special MUST Ministries’ food barrels located at the main entrances to the festival, where people can drop off their donated cans and receive their free Taste ticket(s). Supporters of CANS TO TASTE will be helping re-stock MUST Ministries’ pantry at the same time they are enjoying the festival’s great food, live music and family fun. Taste of East Cobb is still accepting restaurants and nonrestaurant vendors as well as corporate sponsors. For restaurants, it’s the perfect environment to promote their establishments to the community and target many new diners. Non-restaurant vendors can leverage the low entry fee to promote their businesses to the thousands of festival attendees. Corporate sponsors take advantage of the festival’s extensive marketing and public relations campaign to put their brands in front of thousands of upscale consumers from East Cobb and the surrounding areas. For more information on any of these opportunities, please contact Alan Abrams at alanrabrams@ mindspring.com. Taste of East Cobb has quickly become an important part of the fabric of the Walton community, and each year the outdoor food festival and community-wide celebration just seems to keep getting bigger and better. Organizers are promising that this year’s Taste will be the best yet. If so, May 5th will indeed be The Most Delicious Saturday of the Year! Around WALTON | April 2012
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Health & Wellness
Allergies: What Everyone Should Know Q&A with Grace Chiang, M.D. What are the most common allergies and what causes them? Many people have allergies triggered by substances inhaled from the air, such as pet dander, mold, dust mites, and pollen.
Grace Chiang, M.D., has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and allergic conditions in both children and adults and is in practice with WellStar Medical Group, Allergy and Asthma. For more information, please contact WellStar Allergy and Asthma at (770) 333-2027.
Food allergies have also become more common over the years, with more than 90 percent of food allergies caused by seven foods: milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish and peanut/tree nuts. Many studies are underway to further elucidate the causes of allergies and why the incidence is rising in the U.S. and many other industrialized countries. In general, allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a substance that is usually not pathogenic or harmful. Risk factors for developing allergies include a positive family history or personal history of allergic conditions, including asthma or eczema.
People tend to think of allergies as causing itchy eyes, runny noses, but can they cause more serious health risks? Allergies can result in more serious health consequences in individuals with asthma. At least 80 percent of people with asthma have allergies that trigger their asthma, which can lead to coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. This may lead to asthma attacks that can result in ER visits or hospitalizations. It is important for asthmatics to see
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an allergist and identify potential allergic triggers. Treating a patient’s allergies is an important part of optimizing asthma care. If you do have allergies, how can you manage them? A three pronged approach is most effective in managing allergies: 1. Environmental control measures: strategies to minimize exposure to known allergic triggers, such as keeping a pet out of the bedroom, using air filters, and using dust mite proof encasings. 2. Medications: help to control symptoms but often need to be taken regularly in order to be effective. 3. Immunotherapy (“allergy shots”): the only treatment available that alters your body’s immune response to allergens and provides long-lasting relief, reducing symptoms and the need for medications. How are allergies diagnosed? Skin testing may be safely performed in children and adults to accurately diagnose allergies, under the supervision of a board certified allergist. Contrary to common belief, there is no age requirement for skin testing. For example, many infants are able to be skin tested for allergy to milk and/or soy, if there is a concern for allergy to their formula. We are able to test for environmental and food allergies as well as stinging insects and penicillin. If skin testing is positive, we expect to see a small, red, itchy bump develop within 15 minutes. Your doctor can interpret the skin test findings with the patient at the same visit and develop an individualized treatment plan.
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Feature
Student Writers Share Work on Writers’ Night Writers’ Night at Walton High School is a special evening dedicated to celebrating writers and their work. Held each year since 2008, Writers’ Night has included a published author as guest speaker reading from his/her body of work and readings from about twenty student writers. This year, Margaret Edson, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of the play Wit, will be the featured writer. Margaret wrote the play in 1991 and won a Pulitzer in 1999. Her play has been produced hundreds of times and in many languages since its initial production in 1995. Actress Cynthia Nixon stars in the current Broadway production that opened in January. Margaret lives here in Atlanta and is in her 19th year as a public school teacher, currently as a sixth grade social studies teacher at Inman Middle School.
philosophy. I loved the caustic yet poignant mood created by Edson.”
After Margaret shares her real world experience with writing and reads a selection of Wit, the audience is then treated to select Walton students sharing their personal works. The student writers are chosen by a panel of teachers from submissions, and any student at Walton can submit a piece for consideration. The pieces chosen for the evening represent all grade levels and showcase creative writing in many forms, such as poetry, drama, short story, essay or song. The student writer is given three minutes to read. The drama teachers at Walton work with the students on making the most of his/ her presentation. Bethany Morgado said, “My favorite thing about The play is taught at Walton in the AP Writers’ Night was the opportunity Margaret “Maggie” Edson (Advanced Placement) Literature and to listen to other writers’ Composition course, and the English work and read my own piece department is thrilled to have Margaret share the play with in front of a receptive audience.” students who have studied it this year or will study it in the “Not only was it great to have my work recognized, but being future. One current student, Tyler Liu, said, “Wit surprisingly able to read it aloud was unforgettable,” commented Elayne made me feel human. The amount of emotional resolution on Smith. Vivian’s stay embodies the idea of how human beings should live together. Human beings should interact, help and care for Writers’ Night is April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Walton Theatre each other, even through the worst of times.” Another student, and the public is welcome. Come and be touched, shocked and Laney Davis, said “The play spoke to my own internal conflicts, entertained by the incredibly talented writers at Walton. and made me ponder my own purpose for living and a moral
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For Wild Birds, Home Is Where the Nest Is by Scott Lemmon
During the spring, hundreds of wild bird species return from their tropical wintering grounds to nest and raise their young. This massive migration brings the greatest opportunity of any season to attract birds by providing nesting materials and safely located nesting boxes. With birds expending so much energy migrating, courting, and looking for food, these helpful additions will make their lives a little easier. Since few hollow trees remain in cities and suburban yards, man-made nesting boxes have been credited with helping to increase the previously declining populations of cavity-dwelling wild birds such as bluebirds. Bluebird enthusiasts across the continent have created miles of bluebird trails, which consist of bluebird nesting boxes placed at appropriate intervals. Many people place nesting boxes in their backyards hoping to house some of the many birds that would normally be looking for a hollow tree cavity. From the late 1800s to the 1960s, Eastern Bluebird populations declined almost 90 percent because of competition for nesting space. However, since 1966, the population has increased steadily each year due to nesting boxes. A bird’s primary consideration when choosing a nesting site is security. Protection from predators and proximity to food are of vital importance to the success of a bird’s offspring. There are many different styles of nesting boxes available including those that are decorative and bird-specific. Before
purchasing a nesting box, one should be sure that it meets these six requirements: 1) Designed for the species according to bird’s size and nesting requirements. 2) Ventilation holes to provide a release for heat build-up. 3) Easily cleaned. 4) Easily mounted or hung. 5) Durable to withstand several seasons of use. 6) Drainage holes in the bottom of the house. It’s entertaining and educational to watch birds as they go through the many stages of their lives including choosing a nest site, making the nest, laying eggs, feeding their hatchlings, and then, watching the fledglings as they venture out on their own. Around WALTON | April 2012
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Schools & Sports
Walton Spring Sports
Photos courtesy of Studio 7
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Feature
Scott McCord:
DMS Teacher of the Year and New Author Scott McCord is a man whose life and career continue to evolve. Just five years ago he was still working as an estimator for a local construction company. He had been working in construction since graduating from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Management in 1986. Many of those years he worked for himself. When he became the proud father of a fourth and then fifth child, he took a job working for someone else to ensure the steady income his growing family required. As the economy plummeted, the construction business was extremely hard hit. Scott watched as his company went through waves of layoffs. On the way to work one day, he said a prayer asking for a sign whether or not he should make the career move to teaching that he had been thinking about. Within the week, he had his answer as his boss delivered the news of his layoff. He felt great when he was able to say to his genuinely upset boss, “I’m okay, I know what I’m going to do. I am going to become a math teacher.”
currently enjoys teaching math to seventh graders, he is also certified in special education, language arts, and reading. He said that he is naturally drawn to seventh graders, whom he called “the eye of the hurricane” in middle school because they have already mastered lockers and changing classes and are not yet anticipating the move to high school.
Scott was extremely honored to be nominated for Teacher of the Year in his first year of eligibility (a teacher must have taught for at Scott McCord (left) receives Teacher of the Year plaque from least three years at the Cobb County School Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa. school to be eligible). Scott entered the Georgia To say he was surprised TAPP (Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy) to be named Dickerson’s Teacher of the Year for 2011program and took a full time substitute job in a special needs 12 is an understatement. Dickerson’s Principal Dr. Carole pre-kindergarten class for the remainder of the school year. Brink said, “Scott McCord is a third year teacher who was The GATAPP program allows qualified individuals to begin selected by a staff which is made up of teachers who are teaching while working on certification at the same time. very experienced.... our average teacher has 15 years of Four years ago, he interviewed for a position at Dickerson experience. This in itself says volumes of the respect the Middle School and was pleased to be called with the news teaching staff has of Mr. McCord. However, I believe his that he got the job before reaching home. While Scott success resides in his students. They adore his genuine love 48
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and enthusiasm for math and for teaching. I think Norman Vincent Peale must have been thinking of Scott McCord when he wrote, ‘There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.’” Scott’s motto since becoming a teacher is to do the best for all his students and their parents. He doesn’t just teach math but how to endure, persevere, be responsible, and respectful. He has instructional power points accessible to parents so that they can actually help the student struggling at home with math homework. As Scott excels in his second career, he began working at a third. When he was teaching a reading class, he noticed that the students and parents were not reading the same books, which meant no meaningful discussions between the two groups about reading were being held. He has written poems and short stories since he was young, but his desire to see parents and kids sharing an interest in the same story inspired him to write his first novel. The Bones of Boulder Creek is Scott’s first book and was published last year under the name S.H. McCord. Without giving too much away, the story is about three middle school students, two boys and a girl, and the situations they face growing up. He set out to write the story in a timeless manner that appealed both to young adults and adults; according to his readers he has done it as readers of all ages tell him that it must be written about the time that they grew up, ranging from 1965 to 2012. He came up with the setting, story, and the ending before starting to write. The ending came to him as he sat monitoring students taking the CRCT. As he wrote every day, the characters became so real to him that he said he would not have been surprised to meet them in the street. Scott said that it was such a great story that at first he wasn’t sure that he could write the scenes to fulfill his vision. His wife Allison listened each day as he read what he had written, and he dedicated the book to her. Since the book was published, Scott says one thing he has enjoyed is hearing the connections readers make that he did not intend. A principal of a school out west read the book and then bought one for every eighth grader at her school. The book is available locally at Bookmiser and Once and Again
Books. Readers can learn more by visiting Scott’s website, shmccord.com. Scott grew up in Sandy Springs and was captain of the North Springs High School football team. He lives in the Lassiter High School district where one of his daughters is a junior. He has one son and four daughters: his son is married and expecting a child, one daughter is in college, another daughter is at Lassiter, and two daughters are in elementary school. He enjoys running into his students and parents out in the community at soccer games and other activities. Our community is fortunate to have Scott as a teacher for our children and as an inspiration to all of us with his advice, “Don’t get too old to follow your dreams.”
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Schools & Sports
Technology Made Simple by Matthew Boler Around Walton is pleased to add a monthly technology column that will be written by members of the Walton High School Robotics team, FIRST Team #2974, also known as Team W.A.L.T. (Walton Advances Literacy and Technology). The team competes in a yearly challenge with six weeks to design and build a robot as well as prepare to compete in a Matthew is a sophomore specified contest with and against at Walton High School other teams. These students’ interest and a second year and experience in science, technology, member of Team W.A.L.T. engineering and math make them a great source to enlighten our readers about technological advances, how to get the most from current technology, how to use the technology our kids are using and more. Since the invention of the video game and the VCR, the younger generation has been way ahead on using the latest technology to its best advantage. Members of Team W.A.L.T. will share their expertise with our readers monthly in this new column.
Eight Awesome Uses for Your Smartphone Smartphones are an incredible wealth of power in your pocket, and often are not utilized to the fullest extent. Here are some things your smartphone can do: 1. Organize your life. Smartphones are spectacular calendars, being able to sync with your PC and edit your schedule on the fly. Some great free apps for scheduling are Any.do and CalenGoo. 2. Video Calls. Many smartphones now have front-facing cameras, allowing both self-portraits and video chatting on the go. Skype has an app that is compatible with almost all providers and is completely free. 3. Make Music. Many apps cater to the traveling musician, and range from simple guitar tuners to full-on sequencers and synthesizers. Gibson Learn & Master Guitar is a fantastic guitar utility app, and Reloop is a nice sequencer.
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“
As phones get smarter, developers find more and more unique, creative and useful things to take advantage of their capabilities. 4. Read. The Amazon Kindle is an amazingly popular e-reader, and the popularity of e-books has spread to iOS (Iphone Operating System) and Android with apps like Kindle, Nook and the Apple Book Store, which have hundreds of thousands of popular titles, optimized for the screen of your smartphone. 5. File Storage. Many people use flash drives, when the world as a whole is moving towards the cloud. Many apps now let you store files on their servers and access them from any computer, anywhere. Dropbox and Box are great services that give several gigabytes of storage away for free. 6. Flashlight. This may seem simple, but how many times have you needed a light in your car at night, or in your room with the lights out? Apps like Teslacoil and Droid Light turn your phone’s LED flash into a flashlight. 7. Tethering. Everything is now revolving around mobility, and it would be inconvenient to carry a router around with you. Carriers nowadays are offering a tethering add-on to your data plan that lets you wirelessly connect your phone to your laptop and use your carrier’s data as a wifi source. 8. Control a Robot. While not everyone may own one, robots are becoming more and more popular as we get more technologically advanced. The Walton Robotics Team uses Lego NXT™ robots to teach younger kids, and these can be controlled from your smartphone with apps like MindDroid and NXT Remote Control. As phones get smarter, developers find more and more unique, creative and useful things to take advantage of their capabilities. These are just a few little things to make your smartphone smarter.
School/Sports News New Smoke Detector Batteries for East Side Students Jordan Milligan, a fifth grader at East Side Elementary in Ms. Gavin’s class, recently distributed 1100 batteries, one for every child in the school, to take home and replace the battery in the smoke detector closest to his/her room. She wanted everyone to be aware that you should Jordan Milligan with Assistant Principal Diane Gurr.
change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year at daylight savings time as recommended by fire safety experts. Jordan raised the funds necessary to purchase the batteries and print the flyers listing her sponsors and giving important fire safety information that accompanied the batteries. The Kroger at Parkaire sold the batteries to her at a large discount, and Jordan set out to raise the funds to purchase the batteries by asking local businesses to sponsor at different levels. The gold sponsors for her project were Holland, Shipes, Vann PC, National Roofing Systems, Quality Craftsmen, and MUST Ministries. Silver level sponsors were Johnny’s Pizza, Rotary International, and Sportabella.
Sope Creek Elementary Wins Grants The Sope Creek Elementary School for the garden includes construction Environmental Education Committee of a greenhouse and an outdoor was awarded two grants totaling $6000 classroom to inspire a love of nature and during the 2011-2012 school year. In encourage responsibility for caring for January 2012, Sope Creek Elementary the earth. was awarded $5,000 from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. A second grant of $1,000 was awarded This grant from Lowe’s Toolbox for in November 2011 by the Keep Cobb Education will be used to create a large Beautiful program, a local, non-profit Children’s Learning Garden, which will committed to improving environmental be built on the southwest end of the management and education. This grant campus. “The school is currently adding money will be used to renovate and Sope Creek Elementary students are excited to learn improve Sope Creek’s butterfly garden a new classroom building,” says Sope from Principal Martha Whalen about their new Creek Elementary Principal, Martha atrium. Funds will also provide beds, outdoor learning area. Whalen. “We are thrilled with how this soil, sculptures, and up to 20 different grant will enhance our curriculum and add to the new look perennial plants, such as Hibiscus, Dill, Lantana and even Dwarf the campus is taking on.” The committee’s long-range plan Zinnias.
WHS Chamber Orchestra Performs at ASTA Convention
Cobb Aquatic Center Hiring Lifeguards
The Walton High School Chamber Orchestra was recently the featured high school orchestra at the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) convention held here in Atlanta. The concert was performed at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. The Chamber Orchestra was selected through a blind audition by submitting a recording. It was the only high school from across the country to be invited to perform. The music performed included solos by students Cusuh Ham, Olivia Holladay, Andrew Sommer, and Will Fulkerson. Jay Christy of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performed a solo with Chamber on the piece, “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.”
Applications are currently being accepted for 31 lifeguard positions that are available. The positions will be working at one of four indoor aquatic centers: Central Aquatic Center, Mountain View Aquatic Center, West Cobb Aquatic Center, and South Cobb Aquatic Center. Applicants must be ages 15 or older, must have American Red Cross Lifeguard certification, and must be able to pass water and skills tests. Applications accepted through April 24. For more information, go to http:// prca.cobbcountyga.gov/aquatic.htm for a list of the aquatic centers and contact numbers. Around WALTON | April 2012
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Schools & Sports
School/Sports News Mt. Bethel ES Student Winner of Art Challenge Sarah Ferroggiaro, a fourth grader at Mt. Bethel Elementary School, was one of the winners of the seventh annual Allatoona Ally Artist Challenge. The challenge was to draw Ally, the mascot for Lake Allatoona, conserving water in her home and community. More than 750 Cobb fourth and fifth graders entered the contest and the top 12 drawings were chosen to be published in a coloring book that will be distributed throughout the community and electronically at www.watersmart.net. Sarah Ferroggiaro (third from left in front row) is pictured with her winning drawing and the other Allatoona Ally Artist Challenge winners. Photo courtesy of CCSD website.
Sope Creek Elementary School 2012 Fun Run Sope Creek Elementary School is holding its 27th annual 5K and one-mile Fun Run on April 28. The Fun Run will raise funds for the Sope Creek Elementary School Foundation. With these funds, the school is hoping to complete a unique S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Lab to be used by grades kindergarten through fifth in the upcoming school year. The school is looking for participants as well as sponsors for
the Fun Run. Between the 5K, which is USATF (United States of America Track and Field) certified, and the one-mile race, there is something for everyone from competitive runners to casual joggers and walkers. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with the 5K starting at 8 a.m. and the one mile run starting at 9 a.m. For more information and to register, visit www.sopecreekfunrun. com.
Dodgen Middle School Robotics Team Wins First Place The Dodgen Middle School Robotics Team, known as “Project Ninja,” won first place recently at the FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) Wheeler Qualifier event. The team won the regional competition in which 14 area high school and middle school teams competed. The victory qualified Project Ninja for a spot in the Georgia state competition. In addition, the Dodgen team earned the Inspire Award, which is considered the most prestigious FTC award and is granted to the team that the judges determine truly embodies the challenge of the FTC program and represents a role model FIRST® FTC team. In only its second year, Dodgen’s 52
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Project Ninja is exceling in its category with a talented group of students supported by professional mentors from industry and teacher mentors from Cobb County schools. The team is sponsored by the Walton High School Robotics Team, Team WALT. “What these students have been able to achieve in such a short time is truly amazing,” said teacher, parent mentor, and coach Brian Benton. “Many of the kids on the team had never even picked up a tool before when we started this past fall, and to qualify for the state final is a remarkable accomplishment.”
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Feature
Team WALT Advances to
c i t o b o R n d o l i r t Wo ompeti C
The Walton High School Robotics Team, FIRST (For Recognition and Inspiration of Science and Technology) Team # 2974, recently competed in the Peachtree Regional FIRST Competition, a three day event held at the Gwinnett Civic Center. Though this team is a year round commitment, the time dedicated to the team greatly increases during the six weeks after the announcement of the specific tasks and rules for the annual competition. During those six weeks, the team following strict rules and with limited resources, designs, builds and programs a robot to perform the prescribed tasks and chooses drivers who practice for the actual competition.
This year’s competition dubbed “Rebound Rumble” involved the robots shooting basketballs into baskets of varying heights as well as the robots balancing on teeter-totter bridges solo and in cooperation with other teams. The regional competition included 62 teams from 7 states. In the first part of the competition, teams are assigned to an alliance (red or blue) with two other teams to compete in a match against the other alliance also made up of three teams. A match is only 90 seconds long, and in the first 20 seconds, the robots must work autonomously (no human interaction) using the team’s computer program to shoot baskets. Then the robots are driven by team members for the remainder of the match. This year’s field of play had three bridges and points were awarded for balancing solo, more for balancing with a team from your alliance and even more for balancing with a team from the other alliance. Points awarded for balancing were higher than the points awarded for making baskets. After the seeding matches, Team WALT was eleventh in the competition and did make it into the final rounds being chosen to lead the seventh out of eight alliances (teams of three) for the final rounds. The competition was ultimately won by the second alliance made up of teams from Peachtree Ridge High School from Suwanee, The Westminster School High School from Atlanta 54
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and Orange and Cedar Ridge High Schools from Hillsborough, NC. These teams will advance to the World Championship Robotic Competition to be held in St. Louis, April 25 – 28. However, this is not the end of the story. In the closing ceremonies, awards were presented to teams with two of these being considered higher honors than winning the robot competition, the Chairman’s Award and the Engineering Inspiration Award. Each of these awards earns the chosen team a position in the World Championship competition. Team WALT, FIRST Team # 2974 was extremely honored as well as speechless when they were awarded the Engineering Inspiration Award which honors efforts to inspire the community and other teams in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The team was chosen in part for its openness to share resources and knowledge online and help other teams with one-on-one assistance throughout the year, community outreach including efforts abroad through presentations to schools in Brazil by a team member, and mentorship of the Dodgen and Dickerson Middle School FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) teams. The Kell High School Robotics team, FIRST Team # 1311 won the prestigious Chairman’s Award and will also have the opportunity to compete at Worlds with Team WALT. Congratulations and best of luck in St. Louis! Around WALTON | April 2012
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Schools & Sports
Mountain of Shoes from Reuse A Shoe Drive and members of the Dickerson Middle School Environmental Club.
Dickerson’s Green Team Helps Save the Planet Dickerson Middle School’s Environmental Club, also dubbed the Green Team, is a group of like-minded, motivated students striving to learn more and educate others about how to best preserve our planet. They meet twice a month to discuss hot environmental topics and share ideas they execute at home. The club members set an example by modeling the behaviors of environmentally responsible students within their school and by being role models to their peers in hopes that their impact is spread throughout the community. The club invites speakers to come in to address local issues. Speakers this year included Vic Knight from Waste Management who discussed the recycling process, and Rachel Small, an Environmental Programs Specialist from the Cobb County Water System, Watershed Stewardship Program. Rachel provided interactive programs about the causes and effects of water pollution and what individuals can do to protect rivers and streams as well as about the flora and fauna of our local ecology. As a motivated group, they have a long list of accomplishments including an active recycling program at Dickerson – paper, plastic, aluminum, even potato chip bags and batteries. This year marked the third anniversary of the Environmental Club’s Reuse a Shoe Drive that benefits the Big Peach Outreach program. Dickerson families were invited to “recycle” their outgrown shoes so that they could be distributed locally to those in need. Shoes that are not needed locally are shared with others globally. This year, 432 56
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Dickerson families were invited to 'recycle' their outgrown shoes so that they could be distributed locally to those in need. pairs of shoes were collected along with 112 t-shirts to distribute! One of the Green Team’s biggest events of the year is the Electronics Recycling Event. Each year the amount of items saved from going into the landfills has steadily increased with last year’s staggering collection of 11 tons of goods. Help Dickerson’s Environmental Club save our planet and celebrate Earth Day by participating in this year’s fourth annual collection which will be held on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Dickerson parking lot located at 855 Woodlawn Drive. Start cleaning out those basements, cabinets, and garages! This year they will take it all – cell phones, batteries, scrap metal, appliances, motors, televisions, computer monitors, bikes, grills, and so much more! You can check out the full list of items accepted on line at http://www. federalrecyclers.com/Writings.html. The event is free of charge except for a $10 fee for each computer monitor or television brought in. Help the Green Team and the community save the planet by participating in the Electronics Recycling event this year.
Faith
Forgiveness by Bryant Wright For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.—Matthew 6:14
Bryant Wright is the Senior Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and the founder and chairman of Right from the Heart Ministries. He currently serves as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He can be reached at (770) 9736561 ext. 2962.
Have you ever noticed the presence of a little two-letter word in the Lord’s Prayer? It says, “And forgive us of our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Did you catch that? The word “as” implies that we cannot be forgiven until we offer that same forgiveness to others. In case we miss the “as,” Jesus makes it very clear in the next verse: But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:15)
Forgiving someone who has treated you poorly, said evil things about you, even broken up your family, is a very difficult thing to do. It takes Godly intervention to truly offer forgiveness to people who have deeply wounded you. But God commands us to do so, and God would never command us to do anything that He wouldn’t provide the ability to do.
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Forgiving someone who has treated you poorly, said evil things about you, even broken up your family, is a very difficult thing to do. It takes Godly intervention to truly offer forgiveness to people who have deeply wounded you. Right now, pray for God to give you the strength to forgive those who have hurt you. Not only will God give you the power to do so, but He will also empower you supernaturally to love them, even though you hate what they did. Remember, bitterness is the poison we swallow, hoping the other person dies. Enjoy the release of this terrible burden by experiencing the cleansing power of forgiveness. Copyrighted material. Used by permission of Right From The Heart Ministries, Marietta, GA
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Faith
WALTON AREA Houses of Worship Anglican
Mt. Arbor Baptist Church 2235 Morgan Road, NE, (770) 971-9339
The Church of Our Redeemer 2625 Canton Road (770) 421-1928 Rector: Fr. James Danford www.ourredeemeracc.org
New Life Baptist Church 4010 Canton Road, (770) 592-6880 Pastor: Roger Brink www.thenewlife.org
Apostolic
New Providence Baptist Church 3740 Providence Road, (770) 971-3519 Pastor: Charles Whittaker www.newprovidencebc.com
Northside Apostolic Church 2115 Northfield Court, (770) 975-3001
Baha’i Faith Baha’i Faith of Marietta 2601 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-0070
Baptist Bible Baptist Church 2025 Eula Drive, NE, (770) 592-2660 Pastor: D.L. Cooper Chattahoochee Baptist Church 375 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-2058 Pastor: Rick Shoup http://cbc.us.com Cornerstone Baptist Church 1506 Sawyer Road, (770) 422-3579 Pastor: Carl George Crossview Baptist Church 1100 Piedmont Road, (770) 973-0063 Pastor: John E. Johnson www.crossviewbaptist.org East Cobb Baptist Church 1940 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-2233 Pastor: David York Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2323 Pastor: Dr. David H. Chauncey www.ebcfamily.org Eastwood Baptist Church 1150 Allgood Road, (770) 973-9011 Pastor: Mike Hatton www.eastwoodbaptist.org Elizabeth Baptist Church 315 Kurtz Road, (770) 427-3325 Pastor: Steve Echols Galilee Baptist Church 2050 Bentley Lake Road, (770) 422-6487 Holt Road Baptist Church 675 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-3052 www.holtroadbaptist.org Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 973-6561 Pastor: Bryant Wright www.johnsonferry.org Liberty Hill Baptist Church 1053 Liberty Hill Road, NE, (770) 422-1406 Pastor: Amos Williams
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Northside Primitive Baptist Church 5265 Roswell Road, (678)481-2793 Pastor: Jason Solomon www.northsidepbc.org Piedmont Baptist Church 570 Piedmont Road, Marietta, (770) 422-2566 www.piedmontchurch.tv Sandy Plains Baptist Church 2825 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-8525 Pastor: Dr. Alvin Southerland www.sandyplains.org
Sewell Mill Baptist Church 2550 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 971-3746 Pastor: David Watson www.sewellmill.org Shady Grove Baptist Church 1654 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 428-0216 Shallowford Free Will Baptist 1686 Shallowford Road, (770) 926-1163 Pastor: Len Blanchard www.shallowfordchurch.com
Catholic Holy Family Catholic Church 3401 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-0038 Pastor: Darragh Griffith www.holyfamilycc.org St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road, (770) 552-6400 Pastor: Tom Rielly www.st-ann.org Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road, (770) 977-1442 Pastor: Monsignor Patrick Bishop www.transfiguration.com
Christian Chestnut Ridge Christian Church 2663 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-8888 Pastor: Byron Wells Northside Christian Church 3535 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-6613 Pastor: Jason Burchfield Walking By Faith Christian 1821 Kinridge Road, (678) 560-1144
Christian and Missionary Alliance Marietta Alliance Church 1787 E. Piedmont Road, (770) 973-2189 Pastor: David Hayes www.macweb.org
Christian Science Christian Science Churches & Reading Rooms 2641 Old Sewell Road, (770) 565-7271
Church of Christ Church of Christ at East Cobb 5240 Roswell Road, (770) 587-5888 Pastor: Ray Hawkins Church of Christ-Piedmont Road 1630 Piedmont Road, (770) 971-9933 Minister: Neil Richey www.pr-coc.com Emmanuel Tabernacle Christ Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A32, (770) 422-3268 Pastor: Dwight Graves
Church of God Church of God of Prophecy 3393 Canton Road, (770) 427-5923 First Church of God 592 Shannon Drive, (770) 461-1925 Mount Paran North 1700 Allgood Road, (770) 578-9081 www.mtparan.com Town Center Church of God 1040 Blackwell Road, (770) 424-4004
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 3195 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 509-9074 Pastor: Bishop Ho Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — Paper Mill Ward 95 Holt Road, (770) 578-8734
Community Churches Cobb Community Church at Highlands 4649 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 992-3330 Pastor: Alan Daniels www.cobbcc.com Shallowford Falls Community Church 3662 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-7468 Pastor: David White www.shallowfordfalls.com Vineyard Community Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A25, (770) 565-1505 Pastor: Tommy Papevies
Episcopal Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul 1795 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-7473 Rector: The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Certain www.peterandpaul.org Episcopal Church-Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-7916 Rev. Paul McCabe www.annunciationepiscopal.org St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church 571 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-2839 Rev. Jim Nixon www.stcatherines.org
Greek Orthodox Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church 3431 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 924-8080 Rev. Father Panayiotis Papageorgiou www.HolyTransfiguration.info
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 2922 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4600 Pastor: Ronald Grunke www.holytrinitymarietta.org
Restoration Life Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-1481 Pastor: Ken Kessler www.lifeschoolinternational.org
Lutheran Church of Incarnation 1200 Indian Hills Parkway, (770) 971-2738 Pastor: Rev. Jerry Reynolds www.lcilutheran.org
Orthodox
Lutheran Church of Resurrection 4814 Paper Mill Road, (770) 953-3193 www.lcrmarietta.org
Methodist East Cobb United Methodist 2325 Roswell Road, (770) 971-3643 Pastor: Brian Germano www.eastcobbumc.org
St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church 2263 East Cherokee Drive, (770) 485-0504 Priest Frederick Watson www.stelizabethga.org
Presbyterian Christ Presbyterian Church 495 Terrell Mill Road, (770) 956-7572 Pastor: Legree Finch www.christpreschurch.org
Jehovah’s Witness
Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2880 www.mtbethel.org
East Cobb Presbyterian 4616 Roswell Road, (770) 973-4114 Pastor: Richard Holmes www.ecpca.org
Jehovah’s Witness 2065 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 427-1881 Pastor: Hope Torkornoo www.watchtower.org
Mountain View United Methodist 2300 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-0050 Pastor: Bill Burch www.mvumc.org
Eastminster Presbyterian Church 3125 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 977-2976 Pastor: Dr. Tim McConnell www.epres.org
Jewish
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church 1770 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-1465 Pastor: Dr. Joe Peabody www.mtzionumc.org
Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian 3605 Sandy Plains Road #240-161, (404) 786-9815 Pastor: John Fesko www.genevaopc.org
Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy, (770) 973-0137 Rabbis Shalom Lewis and Paul Kerbel www.etzchaim.net
Powers Ferry United Methodist Church 245 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5271 Pastor: Jane Nugent www.powerumc.com
Hope Presbyterian Church 4101 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4673 Pastor: Martin Hawley www.hopepca.org
Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road, (770) 973-9205 Rabbi: Stephen Lebow www.kolemeth.net
Sacred Tapestry UMC 3000 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 605-5083 www.sacredtapestry.com
John Knox Presbyterian Church 505 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5050 Pastor: Fritz Bogar www.johnknoxpcmarietta.org
Korean
St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road, (770) 926-4961
Bethany Korean Presbyterian Multi-cultural (Korean, Brazilian and American) 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 643-1459 Pastor: Byeongho Choi www.bethanykorean.org
St. Paul United Methodist Church 244 Kurtz Road, (770) 422-1089 Pastor: Dana Overton-Garrett
Chabad of East Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 565-4412
Korean Covenant Presbyterian 2100 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 565-4777 Pastor: Paul Sim www.sungyahk.org Korean United Methodist Church 945 Old Canton Road, (770) 321-0020
Lutheran Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 2240 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-7919 Pastor: John Guse www.bslc.us Faith Lutheran Church 2111 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-8877 Pastor: Carl Schneidert www.faithLCMS.org
Wesley Chapel United Methodist 4495 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 993-4919 Pastor: Jim Bocian www.wesleychapelumc.com
Non-Denominational Marietta Vineyard Church 1492 Roswell Road, (770) 977-9496 Pastor: Jeremy Graves www.mariettavineyard.org North Atlanta Church
Ray-Thomas Memorial Presbyterian Church 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 998-9321 Pastor: Carrie Scott www.rtmchurch.org
Unitarian Universalist Emerson Unitarian Universalist 2799 Holly Springs Road, NE, (770) 578-1533 Pastor: Rev. Jeff Jones
United Church of Christ Pilgrimage Church UCC 3755 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-0007 Pastor: Kimberleigh Buchanan www.pilgrimageucc.org
2800 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 518-0303
Unity
Overcomers World Church
Unity North Atlanta Church
2300 Shallowford Road, (770) 924-0607 Pastors: Allison and Isaac Crawford overcomerswc.org
4255 Sandy Plains Road, (678) 819-9100 Acting Spiritual Leader: Rev. Richard Burdick www.unitynorth.org Around WALTON | April 2012
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Feature
Tornado Hits East Cobb Park On March 2, 2012 at 9:14 p.m. an EF-1 level (Enhanced Fujita scale) tornado hit East Cobb Park and surrounding area along Roswell Road. An EF-1 designates a weak tornado. According to the National Weather Service, the tornado had maximum wind speed of 100 mph, a path length of 1.4 miles and width of 150 yards. It was over within a minute. The Cobb County Outdoor Weather Alert Sirens had warned residents of the coming severe weather. Most of the damage was to trees and power lines, but there was damage to Home Depot and a couple of other properties near the park. A member of the Friends for East Cobb Park said the park lost 30 trees, but sustained only minor damage to a fence and play area. Parts of Roswell Road near the park were closed Saturday as Georgia Power and Cobb EMC worked to repair downed lines and restore power. The Cobb County Parks department did an amazing job cleaning up the destroyed trees and getting the park reopened for the community by 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3.
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Reference
WALTON AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Business Organizations APICS, The Association for Operations Management Meeting: 3rd Tuesday for 5:30 p.m. networking; 6:15 - 8 p.m. dinner & speaker Location: Villa Christina, 4000 Summit Blvd, Atlanta Contact: www.atlantaapics.org or programs@ apicsatlanta.org East Cobb Business Association Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216 www.eastcobbba.com East Cobb Open Networking A referral network for professionals Meeting: Fridays at 7:30 a.m. Location: Capozzi’s NY Deli, 4285 Roswell Road Contact: Tim Langley, (770) 289-9711 East Cobb PowerCore Team Meeting: Thursdays at 7 a.m. Location: IHOP, 3130 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Mitch Lovell, (770) 851-8549 Northeast Cobb Business Association Meeting: Third Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Road Contact: crba@cantonroadba.org or (678) 229-2893 www.northeastcobbba.org
Cobb County WWII Veterans Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 1 p.m. Location: Windy Hill Senior Center East Cobb AARP Meeting: 1st Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Road East Cobb Civic Association Meeting: Last Wednesday at 7 p.m. Location: See website for location. Contact: Jill Flamm, President www.eastcobb.net East Cobb Civitans Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 12 noon Location: Old Towne Athletic Club, Marietta Contact: Mary Karras, (770) 422-6485 East Cobb Community Friends for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Contact: Suzanne Strickland, (770) 992-2882 East Cobb Lions Club Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216
Y Business Network Y membership not required. Meeting: Every other Friday, 7:30-8:45 a.m. Location: Northeast Cobb Y, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Rosemary Macmillan, (678) 569-9622
East Cobb Optimist Clubs Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Shillings on the Square 19 N. Park Square NE, Marietta Contact: Jim David, (404) 683-0196
Charitable Organizations
Kiwanis Club of East Cobb Meetings: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Paradise South of the Border 3605 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Johnny Johnson, (770) 977-2026 www.eastcobbkiwanis.org
Aloha To Aging, Inc. Support Programs for Seniors and their families. Contact: Dawn Reed, (678) 439-1177 Animals Deserve Better, Inc. Animal rescue and adoptions Contact: Kimberly Brenowitz, (770) 402-0297 kimberlyadb@aol.com Boys and Girls Clubs Contact: (770) 427-0418 Foundation for Hospital Art Contact: Scott Feight (678) 324-1695 www.hospitalart.org Meals on Wheels Contact: Shelia Perkins, (770) 528-5381 MUST Ministries Contact: (770) 426-7667 SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. Contact: Elizabeth Underwood (770) 801-3465
Civic Organizations American Legion Post 29 Meeting: 2nd and 4th Wednesday and Saturday at 11 a.m.. Location: 921 Gresham Ave. NE. Contact: (770) 427-5900 Cobb American Association of University Women Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Contact: www.aauwcobb.org
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Kiwanis Club of Marietta — Golden K Meetings: Thursdays at 10 a.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Joe Van Horn, Sr., (770) 428-3419 gajosbarb@comcast.net League of Women Voters of Marietta-Cobb Meeting : 2nd Monday Location: Various Contact: mariettacobb@lwvga.org or Elizabeth at (770) 592-0625 President’s Club Toastmasters Meeting: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Services Building, 4400 Lower Roswell Road Contact: Judi Rogers, missiontur@aol.com Rotary Club of East Cobb Meeting: Wednesdays at 7 — 8 a.m. Location: Indian Hills Country Club Contact: (770) 971-2605 www.eastcobbrotary.com VFW Post 2681 Location: 140 Powers Ferry Road Contact: (770) 977-2088 www.vfwwebcom.org/ga/post2681
Political Organizations Cobb County Democratic Party Committee Meeting: 2nd Saturday at 9 a.m. Location: Piccadilly Cafeteria, 536 Cobb Parkway Contact: (770) 420-7133 ccdc@cobbdemocrat.com Cobb Democratic Women Meeting: 2nd Thursday at 6 p.m. Contact: Beverly McMurry, (770) 426-6916 btmcmurray@comcaStreet.net Cobb Young Democrats Meeting: Wednesdays at 12 noon Contact: webmaster@ydcobb.org www.ydcobb.org Cobb County Libertarian Party Meeting: 1st Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Location: Council Chamber Marietta City Hall Contact: Ted Skirvin, (770) 795-1331 www.cobblp.org Cobb County Republican Party Meeting: 1st Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Location: Williamson Bros. BBQ, Marietta Contact: Billy Dendy, (770) 272-0458 dendyjoe@gmail.com, www.cobbgop.org Cobb County Republican Women Meeting: 4th Friday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Marietta Conference Center 500 Powder Springs Street Contact: (770) 785-2522, www.ccrwc.org East Cobb Democratic Alliance Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: Delkwood Grill, 2769 Delk Rd. Contact: Tom Barksdale (770) 592-9424
Recreation and Hobbies American Needlepoint Guild Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mountainview Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road Contact: Penny Boswinkle, (770) 394-0065 Bridge Club Meeting: Mon. – Fri. 10:30 a.m., Mon. – Sat. 7:30 p.m. Location: 1089 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 973-7717 Cobb Alley Cats People who help stray cats Contact: Sue Verner, (770) 436-6758 Cobb County Special Olympics Contact: (770) 819-3223 www.prca.cobbcoga.org Cobb County Stamp Club Meeting: 2nd Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Location: Jewish Towers, 3160 Howell Mill Rd Meeting: 4th Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Central Cobb Library, 266 Roswell St. Contact: C. Rejent, (770) 330-0790 crejent@stampsclubs.com www.stampclubs.com/cobb Dog Hikers of Georgia Meeting: Sundays at 10 a.m. Contact: Dan Batchelor, (770) 992-2362
Sope Creek Garden Club Meeting: 1st Wednesday at 10 a.m. Contact: Karin Guzy, (770) 955-1303
For parents with children who have ADHD. Contact: east-cobb@chadd.net Website: www.chadd.net/300
Support Groups
Families Anonymous (FA) Support group for families who have loved ones struggling with addiction. Meeting: Every Tuesday at 7:30 Location: Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Youth Center, 1770 Johnson Ferry Rd. Contact: jawadta@yahoo.com
Al-Anon Meeting: Location: Contact:
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling
Alzheimer’s/Caregiver Support Group Meeting: 1st Monday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (678) 439-1177 Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group Meeting: 1st Monday at 6 p.m. Facilitated by Dawn Reed of Aloha to Aging Location: Arbor Terrace at East Cobb, 886 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Shelly Ealey, (770) 977-4420 Autism Support Group Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road, Room F002 Contact: (770) 971-2880 Blended Families Support Group Meeting: 3rd Sunday at 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-2880 Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting: 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7 p.m. Location: St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road Contact: Sandy, (770) 926-3488 sandy@thepumpkinchurch.org Cancer Support Group Meeting: 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling Career Quest Ministry Meeting: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 552-6400 x 6104 Codependents Anonymous Meeting: Monday and Thursdays at 7:30pm Location: Unity North Church, 4225 Sandy Plains Road (Administration Bldg upstairs) Contact: Janet D. 770-578-6368 Website: northgeorgiacoda.org Compassionate Friends Support group for bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. Contact: Kathy, (404) 429-4953, tcfmarietta.kathy@hotmail.com Erica, (404) 539-4287 erica_beltz@yahoo.com Website: www.tcfmarietta.org Dad 2 Dad For stay-at-home dads Contact: Richard Collins, (770) 579-5445 Diabetes Support Group Contact: Wellstar, (770) 793-7828 East Cobb CHADD
Location: Contact:
Friday at 10 a.m. St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Betsy, (404) 226-4931, www.oa.org
Parents of Prodigals Children with self-destructive lifestyle. Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling
Family Caregiver Support Group Meeting: First Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Facilitator: Dawn Reed, (678) 777-7241
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: 2nd Sunday at 4 p.m. Location: Roswell UMC, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Bldg. A Contact: Robin Cleveland, (678) 819-3915 rcleveland@visitingangels.com
Foundation for Ensuring Access and Equity Contact: Mychal Wynn, (678) 395-5825 or (678) 620-3685 Website: www.accessandequity.org
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: First Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (678) 439-1177
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. Location: Transfiguration Catholic Church Blackwell Road Contact: Jeannie DeCarlo, (770) 919-9275 Grief Support Group Meeting: First Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: Aloha To Aging, Inc. , Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Rd. Contact: (678) 439-1177. Job Seekers Meeting: 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8 a.m. Location: Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3125 Sewell Mill Road Contact: (770) 977-2976 Moms In Touch — East Side Elementary Meeting: Mondays at 10 a.m. Contact: Movita Stallworth, (770) 321-1783 Mo633@bellsouth.net Moms In Touch — Walton High School Meeting: Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, room 332 Contact: Cynthia Eller (770) 578-6301 eller2905@aol.com Mothers and More Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Saint Catherine’s Episcopal Church, 681 Holt Road Contact: www.mmeastcobb.homestead.com Newcomers of Cobb County Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: John Knox Presbyterian Church, 505 Powers Ferry Rd. Contact: (770) 234-5068 newcomersofcobbcounty@yahoo.com Next Century Youth, Inc. Location: 791 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell Contact: Mary Brooks Green, (678) 278-9278 Website: www.nextcenturyyouth.org Northwest Atlanta Moms of Multiples Club Meeting: 2nd Monday at 7 p.m. Location: North Metro Church on Barrett Pkwy. Contact: (678) 404-0034, www.NOWaMOM.org. Overeaters Anonymous Meeting: Monday, Wednesday, and
PASA (Parents of All Stages and Ages) Meeting: Fridays at 10 a.m.Free child care available Location: East Cobb UMC Lower Level Activities Building, 2325 Roswell Road Contact: Lisa Hunt (770) 984-0699 Road to Recovery Divorce Support Group Meeting: Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road Mission House Contact: (770) 971-2880 Sexual Assault Support Group Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: YMCA of NW GA, 48 Henderson St, Contact: Susan Roberts, (770) 427-3390 Single Adult Ministry Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-3447, www.mtbethel.org Single’s Ministry Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 973-6561, www.jfbc.org Treasures in Heaven (miscarriage/infant death) Meeting: 4th Monday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling VOICE Today Survivors of child sexual abuse Meeting: 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Room 334 Contact: Tom Scales, (678) 578-4888 Website: www.voicetoday.org Widowed Helping Others Meeting: Twice each month Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Contact: Marguerite Williamson, (770) 977-8438 Women’s Divorce Support Group Meeting: 1st Thursday & 3rd Wednesday, 7 - 9 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Rd. Contact: Facilitated by Visions Anew, (770) 953-2882 Website: www.visionsanew.org Around WALTON | April 2012
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Reference
SCHOOL INFORMATION Elementary Schools East Side Elementary School 3850 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-7200 Principal: Elizabeth Mavity Mount Bethel Elementary School 1210 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-7248 Principal: Joan Johnson Murdock Elementary School 2320 Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 509-5071 Principal: Cynthia Hanauer Sope Creek Elementary School 3320 Paper Mill Road SE, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 916-7085 Principal: Martha Whalen Timber Ridge Elementary School 5000 Timber Ridge Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 642-5621 Principal: Dr. Tracie Doe
Middle Schools Dickerson Middle School 855 Woodlawn Drive, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-2710 Principal: Dr. Carole Brink Dodgen Middle School 1725 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-2726 Principal: Robin Lattizori
High School Walton High School 1590 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-3225 Principal: Judy McNeill
School Websites: School District Website Pinnacle Picasso Meal Pay 64
Around WALTON | April 2012
Private Schools East Cobb Christian School At East Cobb Presbyterian Church 4616 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 565-0881, www.eccs.org Grades: K — 8 Principal: Teresa Staley Eastside Christian School 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-2332, www.eastsidechristianschool.com Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Judy Cripps Faith Lutheran School 2111 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 973-8921, www.FaithLCMS.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Principal: Jack Hibbs Mt. Bethel Christian Academy 4385 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-0245, www.mtbethelchristian.org Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Jim Callis Lower School Principal: Vivian Lovett Middle School Principal: Jack Grimm Omega Private Academy 2960 Shallowford Road, Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 529-1717,www.Omegaprivateacademy.com Grades K – 12, Certified Teachers, SACS Accredited/GSNS Approved Director: Kathy Keeton
School Calendar at-a-Glance April 18 -27 CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Testing) for 3rd through 8th grades April 30 Progress Reports for Elementary and Middle Schools May 23-24 Early Release Days for Elementary and Middle Schools May 24 Last Day of School August 13 First Day of School for 2012/2013
Shreiner Academy 1340 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 953-1340, www.shreiner.com Grades: Toddler – 8 Director: Sarah Walker Woodacres School 1772 Johnson Ferry Road , Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 971-1880, www.woodacresschool.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Head of School: Judy T. Thigpen
www.cobbk12.org https://pinnacle.cobbk12.org/Pinnacle www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/picasso www12.mealpayplus.com
RECENT CONSUMER PRODUCT RECALLS Around Walton wants to help keep you and your family safe. The following items have been recalled by their manufacturers in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).
Ceiling Fans.
Toy Truck Gifts.
Happy Shirts, of Honolulu, HI, is voluntarily recalling approximately 9,000 toy trucks that were gifts with boy’s t-shirts sold Exclusively at Kohl’s. Connections in the toy truck’s battery compartment can smolder or catch the trucks on fire, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Lacrosse Helmets. Easton
Sports, of Scotts Valley, CA, is voluntarily recalling approximately 12,000 Easton Raptor lacrosse helmets. The chin bar can break, causing the wearer to suffer a jaw or facial injury.
Adjustable Mattress Bases. Leggett & Platt, of Georgetown, KY, is voluntarily recalling approximately 25,200 Power foundations or adjustable bases for mattresses. Electrical components in the motor control board can fail and short causing overheating, which poses a fire hazard.
Westinghouse Lighting Corp., of Philadelphia, PA, is voluntarily recalling approximately 7,000 ceiling fans. The two 60-watt light bulbs included with the ceiling fans exceed the fan’s maximum wattage, which can cause the ceiling fans to overheat or fail. This poses fire and shock hazards to consumers.
Children’s Play Theaters. Guidecraft
Inc., of Winthrop, MN, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,800 (in the United States) and 350 (in Canada) 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater toys. The recalled children’s toys can unexpectedly tip over during play, posing an entrapment hazard to young children.
Lenovo ThinkCentre Desktop Computers. Lenovo, of Morrisville, NC, is voluntarily recalling approximately 50,500 Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z and M90z computers. A defect in an internal component in the power supply can overheat and pose a fire hazard.
Safety 1st Cabinet Locks.
Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) Inc., of Columbus, IN, is voluntarily recalling approximately 900,000 Push ‘N Snap cabinet locks. Young children can disengage the cabinet locks, allowing access to cabinet contents and posing the risk of injury, due to dangerous or unsafe items.
LED Night Lights. American Tack & Hardware Co.
Inc. (AmerTac), of Saddle River, NJ, is voluntarily recalling approximately 227,000 LED night lights. An electrical short circuit in the night light can cause it to overheat and smolder or melt, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
For more information on these and many other warnings issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, visit www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772.
Around WALTON | April 2012
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Add Beauty and Protection to Your Home with Siding
Real Estate Market Breaking Loose! continued from page 19
continued from page 21
If your siding requires repair or repainting, consider replacing it. Here are a few options:
study by a group promoting entrepreneurship, Atlanta ranked second among top metro areas last year in the creation of new businesses.
1. Vinyl siding is a low-cost choice. It’s virtually maintenancefree, since you’ll never need to paint it or replace rotting wood. Look for a thicker version that resists dents, and ensure the shiny finish provides the look you want. 2. Real wood offers an attractive, natural wood grain finish, although it may require more maintenance than other siding options. 3. Fiber cement siding, from brands such as James Hardie®, is a popular option in the Walton community. It offers superior durability, resisting inclement weather, fire and pests. It’s available in different profiles that look like real wood, and the paint typically adheres longer to it than to wood siding. 4. Composite siding offers additional benefits. Everlast® is a new, innovative composite siding with a lifetime warranty. This stone-based polymeric cladding won’t absorb water, never needs painting, is pest resistant and has a realistic wood grain texture. It is also made of 100 percent recyclable materials.
Americans seem to be growing more and more confident in this housing recovery, bolstered by rising employment and low mortgage rates. In one survey, 96 percent of those surveyed say that now is a good time to purchase a home, with interest rates at historically low levels. The unleashing of pent-up demand and, hopefully, the realistic loosening of credit underwriting guidelines will contribute to a decrease in inventory levels across the country.
No matter which type of siding you choose, installation is key. There are several factors to keep in mind, so hire an experienced contractor. Both the siding product and the installer should offer warranties. If the siding isn’t maintained properly — or installed properly — even a quality siding product can fail and void the warranty.
In an encouraging vote of confidence, Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway CEO, recently said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that he would buy up a couple hundred thousand single family homes if it were practical. Buffett said that it is because he believes purchasing a home with ultra-low mortgage rates and holding it for the long-term has become a better investment than stocks right now. “It’s a terrible mistake to get pessimistic on America. It has not worked since 1776 and it’s not going to work now.”
So take comfort in your home’s security blanket: maintain the siding.
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Around WALTON | April 2012
Although the Federal Reserve has stated that they will keep interest rates low through 2014, trying to predict mortgage rates is never a good idea. The Federal Reserve guidance is just one factor that affects mortgage rates. The volume of mortgage loans available is another factor. With the number of mortgage applications being relatively low, interest rates are low. However, as the housing market improves and more people begin applying for a mortgage, the rates could go up.
Around WALTON | April 2012
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Reference
COMMUNITY INFORMATION Emergency — 911 • Around Walton (770) 615-3311
Cobb County Chamber of Commerce Driver’s License Health Department Post Office Recycling Center
Cobb County Government:
Business License CCT Bus Service Commissioners Engineering Office Traffic Signals Extension Office Jury Phone — State Court Jury Phone — Superior Court Keep Cobb Beautiful Planning and Zoning Senior Services Tax Assessors/Evaluation Taxes: License Plates/Tags Property Tax Voter Registration
(770) 980-2000 (678) 413-8400 (678) 784-2180 (800) 275-8777 www.usps.com (770) 528-2500
(770) 528-8410 (770) 528-8465 (770) 528-1000 (770) 528-1616 (770) 528-1600 (770) 528-4070 (770) 528-2626 (770) 528-1804 (770) 528-1135 www.cobbcounty.org/kcb (770) 528-2004 (770) 528-5355 (770) 528-3100 (770) 528-8247 (770) 528-8600 (770) 528-2581
Children/Family:
Aloha to Aging, Inc. Family Caregiver Support
(678) 439-1177 ww.alohatoaging.org Child and Adolescent Services (770) 514-2300 Child Support Enforcement (770) 528-2410 Department of Family and Children’s Services (770) 528-5000 Meals on Wheels (770) 528-5381 Mothers Making a Change (770) 499-2422 Next Steps (Child/Adolescent) (770) 514-2300 MUST Ministries (770) 427-9862 YMCA of Northwest GA, Rape Crisis Center (770) 427-3390
Clubs/Groups:
AARP Kiwanis Club Lions Club Rotary Club
Public Service:
Fire Departments: 2905 Library Lane 4431 Trickum Road 3892 Oak Lane Georgia State Patrol Non-Emergency 911 Sheriff’s Department
Hospitals:
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North Fulton Hospital Northside Hospital Atlanta WellStar Kennestone Hospital Around WALTON | April 2012
(678) 290-9895 (770) 912-9632 (404) 218-6216 (770) 422-7551
Hotlines — 24 Hour Help Lines:
Cobb Judicial Victim Assistance Domestic Violence Unit Drug Tip Poison Control Center Public Outreach/Programs
(770) 528-3047 (770) 499-4665 (770) 590-5520 (404) 589-4400 (770) 499-4719
Libraries:
East Marietta Library Gritter’s Library East Cobb Library Mountain View Regional Library
(770) 509-2711 (770) 528-2524 (770) 509-2730 (770) 509-2725
Parks and Recreation:
Aquatic Centers: Mountain View Sewell Park East Cobb Park Fullers Park Harrison Park Harrison Tennis Center Main Office Mount Bethel Park Sweat Mountain Park YMCA
(770) 509-4927 (770) 509-2741 (770) 591-3160 (770) 509-2737 (770) 591-3150 (770) 591-3151 (770) 528-8800 (770) 509-2748 (770) 591-3160 (770) 977-5991
Pets:
Animal Control Animal Shelter and Pet Adoptions Cobb County Animal Control Cobb County Humane Society Emergency Veterinary Clinic Good Mews Animal Foundation
(770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 428-5678 (770) 424-9157 (770) 499-CATS
Schools:
Board of Education
(770) 426-3300 www.cobbk12.org
Utilities: (770) 528-8000
(770) 205-5400 (770) 499-3900 (770) 499-4600 www.cobbsheriff.org
(770) 751-2500 (404) 851-8000 (770) 793-5000
AT&T Broadband/Comcast
AT&T Residential Phone Service Atlanta Gas Light Co. Cobb County Water System Cobb EMC Georgia Power Water Emergency
(404) 266-2278 www.comcast.com (888) 757-6500 www.att.com (770) 907-4231 www.aglc.com (770) 423-1000 water.cobbcountyga.gov (770) 429-2100 www.cobbemc.com (888) 660-5890 www.georgiapower.com (770) 419-6201
Lucy
We need a home!
ADOPTION INFORMATION: Please call first to see if we have what you are looking for. We have many resources to help you find what you are looking for if we do not have it. (770) 428-9882 We screen potential adopters to make sure our pets will be a good match for your family and vise versa. New adoptive dog owners will also need a home check before they can take their new dog home.
Barney
DOGS: We only house small breed dogs. Our adoption fee is $200 for dogs. All of our dogs or puppies will be altered before they can be adopted. They will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. If the dog is over six months old it will have been heart worm tested negative and be on preventative. All of our pets are micro chipped and will have flea preventative on them.
Ziggy
Blanche
Progresso
CATS: Our adoption fee for cats is $125. All of our cats and kittens (10 weeks and up) will be altered before they are adopted. If you would like a kitten younger than 10 weeks old, we can refer you to other resources. Our cats or kittens will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. They are all tested negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV, and will have been micro chipped.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP: Please visit our wish list on Amazon at www.humanecobb.com. It is a fast and convenient way to support the pets at our shelter. Items chosen can be shipped directly to our shelter. Use the, “this is a gift� section to let us know your name and address so we may acknowledge your kind gift(s).
Around WALTON | April 2012
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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
(202) 456-1414 fax: (202) 456-2461
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R) (202) 224-3521 Senate Russell Courtyard-2 fax: (202) 224-0103 Washington, D.C. 20510 Website: www.saxby.org e-mail: saxby_chambliss@chambliss.senate.gov Senator Johnny Isakson (R) 1 Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30339 Website: http://isakson.senate.gov
(202) 224-3643 GA: (770) 661-0999
Rep. Tom Price (R), District 6 3730 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 Website: http://tom.house.gov e-mail: tom@tomprice.com
GA: (770) 565-4990 fax: (770) 565-7570
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R), District 11 219 Roswell Street Marietta, GA 30060 Website: www.gingrey.house.gov e-mail: gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov
(202) 225-2931 GA: (770) 429-1776 fax: (770) 795-9551
fax: (770) 661-0768
State Government: Governor Nathan Deal (R) 203 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-1776 fax: (404) 657-7332 www.gov.ga.gov.com
Senator Chip Rogers (R), District 21 chip@SenatorChipRogers.com
(404) 463-1378
Senator Judson Hill (R), District 32 judson.hill@senate.ga.gov
(770) 565-0024
Rep. Sharon Cooper (R), District 41 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov
(770) 956-8357
Rep. Don L. Parsons (R), District 42 repdon@gmail.com
(770) 977-4426
Rep. Matt Dollar (R), District 45 matt.dollar@house.ga.gov
(404) 656-0254
County Government:
Juvenile Court Presiding Judge James Whitfield Director of Juvenile Court Services Michele Marchant-Wellmon
(770) 528-2290 fax: (770) 528-2214
Solicitor General, Barry E. Morgan
(770) 528-8500 fax: (770) 528-8578
District Attorney, Patrick H. Head cobbda@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3080 fax: (770) 528-3030
Cobb County Coroner Brian Frist 150 North Marietta Pkwy Marietta, GA 30060 Cobb County Board of Commissioners 100 Cherokee Street Marietta, GA 30090 www.cobbcountyga.gov
(770) 528-3300 fax: (770) 528-2606
(770) 528-3300
Helen Goreham, District 1 hgoreham@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3313
Bob Ott, District 2 bob.ott@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3316
JoAnn Birrell, District 3 joann.birrell@cobbcounty.org
(770)528-3317
Woody Thompson, District 4 woody.thompson@cobbcounty.org
(770) 528-3312
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Neil Warren 185 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060 www.cobbsheriff.org
(770) 499-4600
Cobb County School System www.cobb.k12.ga.us Superintendent, Dr. Michael Hinojosa 514 Glover Street, Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 426-3453 michael.hinojosa@cobbk12.org fax: (678) 594-8559 Board of Education Kathleen Angelucci, Post 4 kangelucci.boardmember@cobbk12.org
Superior Court Judge Reuben Green
(770) 528-1800
Magistrate Court Chief Judge Frank R. Cox
(770) 528-8900
Probate Court Chief Judge Kelli Wolk
(770) 528-1900
Around WALTON | April 2012
(770) 528-2200
Commissioners: Tim Lee, Chairman tlee@cobbcounty.org
70
(770) 528-2220
David Banks, Post 5 dbanks.boardmember@cobbk12.org Scott Sweeney, Post 6 ssweeney.boardmember@cobbk12.org
City of Marietta:
Mayor Steve Tumlin stumlin@mariettaga.gov
(770) 794-5501
classifieds
Coming Up in
Around Walton May issue will feature Prom Pictures Mother’s Day College Signings
HELP WANTED Mompreneurs Needed. Flexible,fun,homebased business with excellent opportunity to advance. Selling functional stylish products. Visit www. mythirtyone.com/BagsOfJoy.
HOME SERVICES FIX-IT-FAST: carpentry, drywall repair, kitchen/baths, painting/caulking, tile/ laminate installation. Call Dean 770-294-0138.
YARD Services
June issue will feature Taste of East Cobb Photos Father’s Day Trailblazer Award
Stump Grinding. “Scott the Stump Guy” 770-624-7333. Free Estimates. Licensed and insured.
Join the AroundAbout Walton fan page www.facebook.com/ AroundAboutWalton Follow us on
and much more!
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Where to Find the Magazine Around Walton is mailed free directly to homes and businesses in the Walton community. If you do not receive a copy and would like to pick one up, you can find us at any of these fine establishments:
Need an Extra Copy?
Johnson Ferry Rd: Houlihan’s Restaurant J Christopher’s Restaurant Wells Fargo Bank Caribou Coffee Nail Eagle Chick-fil-A Publix Wellstar Physician’s Group North Atlanta Women’s Specialists Arbor Terrace EH Sellars Dr. Cristi Cheek, DMD Urgent Medical Care Jazzercise Kids R Kids Piedmont Road: YMCA
Roswell Road: Panera Bread at the Avenue Dance Stop LGE Community Credit Union Marietta Eye Clinic Rick’s Farmer’s Market Frankie’s Italian Restaurant Atlanta Community Realty Parc at Piedmont Robinson Road: Fullers Recreation Park Lower Roswell Road: Johnny’s Pizza Legends Elite Aloha to Aging Let us know if you would like some at your place of business. Around WALTON | April 2012
71
To Advertise Call 770-615-3311 For Rates & Info Today!
Support Local Business Owners and this Magazine Tell Them You Saw Their Ad in Around Walton!
Advertisers Directory attorneys/legal services
Education/Camps
Brosnahan, Carpenter, Lyons & Smith, LLP (678) 805-4458 www.bclslegal.com
37
Rohan Law, P.C. (404) 923-7570, www.rohanlawpc.com
40.
automotive
17
24
Nail Eagle (770) 565-5634
17
29
Crown Transmission (770) 956-1344 Sellars Goodyear (770) 973-5780, 648 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 992-7977, 2950 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 509-1422, 3621 Sandy Plains Road
Home & gARDEN
Banking/Financial Services Citadel CPA & Wealth Care Services Inside Front (770) 952-6707 225 Town Park Drive, Suite 440, Kennesaw 21.
chiropractors HealthQuest Chiropractic Center, PC 19 (770) 509-3400 1205 Johnson Ferry Rd, Suite 122, Marietta www.HealthQuestChiro.com HealthSource Chiropractic & Progressive Rehab 15 (770) 578-0785
Carpet Dry-Tech (678) 368-5991
29.
Image Maids (770) 627-4670
41
Trustworkz 28, 53. (770) 615-3275, www.TrustWorkz.com
Dentists/Orthodontists 33.
46
Resurgens OrthoNow (770) 423-2172, www.resurgens.com
41
WellStar Health Systems (770) 956-STAR, www.wellstar.org
3
WellStar Medical Group Family Medicine and Geriatric Medicine: (678) 403-4660 1523 Johnson Ferry Rd. Ste. 150, Marietta
9
15
Family Medicine, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics: (770) 973-2272 3939 Roswell Road, Marietta
Outdoor Environments Unlimited, Inc. (678) 796-4991
41
Peachtree Roofing, Inc. (770) 579-ROOF
33
Plumbing Doctor, The (770) 516-9000
25
Quality Craftsmen (404) 483-7446 www.quality-craftsmen.com
5, 29
Real estate Atlanta Communities Real Estate (770) 240-2000 3173 Roswell Rd., Suite 101, Marietta www.atlantacommunities.net
37
Reflection at Lake Nantahala www.reflectionlakenantahala.com
67
REstaurants/Food/Beverages Big Liquor Wines (404) 551-3074
Insurance
Inside Front
32
Good Measure Meals (404) 815-7695
Hot Dogs and Cool Cats (770) 858-1000
25
DanceStop Studios (770) 578-0048
27
Humane Society of Cobb County (770) 428-5678, www.humanecobb.com
69.
Georgia Hypnotherapy Associates (678) 938-7274
24
Studio 7 Photography (770) 685-7391, www.studio7hub.com
Shaughnessy Orthodontics 25 (770) 495-9590 4330 Johns Creek Pkwy, Ste 500, Suwanee
46.
H.M. Patterson & Son— Canton Hill Funeral Home (770) 977-9485 Honey Mountain Quilt www.HoneyMountainQuilts.com Taste of East Cobb
47
The Giraffes Tree House
North Atlanta Spine and Pain Care (770) 771-6300
42
Arbor Terrace (770) 977-4420
Northside Hospital Cancer Institute www.northside.com
7
Northside Hospital Pediatric Imaging www.northside.com
15
Retail /Miscellaneous
Photographers
Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center (770) 425-7575 111 Marble Mill Road NW, Marietta
Around WALTON | April 2012
Progressive Audiology Center, Inc. (770) 592-4744, (706) 253-7244
Landscape Matters (770) 403-5813
Grateful Dental Inside Back (678) 593-2979 2000 Powers Ferry Rd SE, Suite 1-6, Marietta www.GratefulDentalga.com
72
66 .
Pediatrics: (770) 578-2868
Physicians & Medical Services
57
Plastic Surgery Center of the South (770) 421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net
27
Pets
Computer/ Web Services
1
Arrow Exterminators (770) 640-7339
Keeton Insurance Services (770) 971-8900
Cleaning Services
Shenk Dental Care (770) 992-6568, www.drshenk.com 4690 Woodstock Rd. Suite 100 Roswell
34
Get In Shape for Women (770) 605-8788 3822 Roswell Road, Ste. 114, Marietta www.getinshapeforwomen.com
27
Cristi Y. Cheek DMD, P.C. (770) 993-3775, www.cheekdental.com
Bits, Bytes, Bots Summer Camp
Health & Beauty
American Brake and Foreign Car Service (770) 977-4117
LGE Credit Union (770) 429-0103
C2 Education Back cover (770) 565-8184 1100 Johnson Ferry Road Suite 400, Marietta www.C2educate.com
Pearle Vision (770) 509-8480 1401 Johnson Ferry Road
11 37
Cover, 38 & 39 11
Senior Services
11
Parc at Piedmont — East Cobb 999 Hood Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 565-8828
46 5