AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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April 2015
Volume 2, Issue 6
8 Empowering Victims
Developing support, resources for victims of financial crimes.
16 Craigslist Safety
Each city in Cherokee offers a safe place for business transactions.
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17 A Brighter Economy
Cherokee in best position so far for business growth, development.
17 Feeding the Hungry
Grant boosts efficiency of local mobile food ministry.
22 Makeover for Emily
Emily Bowman’s progress celebrated with special makeover.
24 Fashion Trends
Check our list to make sure you’re on top of the latest for spring.
26 Grab your Camping Gear
Allatoona Lake campgrounds open as we enjoy warmer weather.
46 School Board 101
A lesson in the responsibilities and duties of board members.
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Contributing Writers Siobhan Brumbelow Michael Caldwell Amy Cobb Claire Frost Ann Gavin Delia Halverson Dr. Scott Harden Dr. Jan Henriques Beth Hermes Jenna Hill Dan Jape Sean Kaufman Mark Kissel
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In Every Issue Ann Litrel 31 Dr. Mike Litrel 20 Rob Macmillan 33 Dr. Mark McLaughlin 50 Clark Menard 46 Calvin Moss 16 Matt Neal 21 Office of Economic Development 17 Premier Group 13 Jodi Tiberio 22, 24 Shannon Wallace 16
EDITORIAL questions and comments Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com
28 & 29 On the Cover
Reliable Heating & Air. Photo by Kim Bates. 2
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ADVERTISING questions and comments Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com
Around Woodstock 4 Community News 8 Birthdays 12 Community Calendar 18 Everyday Angels 32 Dining Guide 37 School News 44 Recent Home Sales 52 Parking Map 53 Ward Map 55 Trails Map 60 Advertisers Index 64
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Community
AROUND WOODSTOCK The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Woodstock
Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Around Woodstock. She has lived in Cherokee County for 28 years. Send your comments or questions to Candi@ AroundAboutMagazines. com
What’s Moved
Spring Cleaning
Styl’n Salon has opened in a new and larger location at 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 700. Hairdressers Becky Smith, Laurel Rosser and Tonya Hughes have joined the salon, formerly located next to GameDay on Eagle Drive. 678-494-0001.
We’ve done a bit of spring cleaning in our magazines. It may not be evident on the surface, but turn to pages 56 and 57 and look a little closer to admire our handiwork! We’ve updated our resource pages so you have the most up-to-date info on clubs and organizations. If you are involved in a group that would like to be listed, let us know.
What’s New
Congrats
Mexico Lindo has opened at 9770 Main St., Woodstock, in the Woodstock Village II Shopping Center. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 770-672-0026
More folks are finding out what we already know: Woodstock is a great place to live. Our vibrant city was ranked as the 8th best place to live in Georgia in a recent ranking released by www.areavibes.com.
The Salt Factory Pub’s is open at 8690 Main Street in Woodstock. Salt is an upscale gastropub that offers “modern and approachable cuisine as well as an unbeatable beer list.” Find Salt Factory Woodstock on Facebook.
Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cuttings Transformations Salon, Inc., 10150 Ball Ground Hwy., Suite 206, Ball Ground 30107-2574 American National Insurance – Melissa Bassett, 113 Mountain Brook Dr., Suite 104, Canton 30115-9057 www.anpac.com/agent/melissabassett Budget Blinds of Canton, 1780 Blackwillow Dr., Marietta 30066-1952 www.budgetblinds.com/canton
TowneLaker
http://tinyurl.com/townelaker
Dr. Bret Hintze D.P.M. board certified foot surgeon, has a new office at 970 Woodstock Pkwy., Suite 310, specializing in all aspects of podiatry, wound care and sports injuries. 770-999-0804. www.footandanklereconstructionga.com. The Stables at Towne Lake has opened at 409 Old Boring Lane. The Stables is a full service hunter/jumper barn that offers lessons for beginners through advanced, ages 4 and up, as well as leases, barn shows, local GHJA and rated shows, clinics, camps and a working student program. 302-750-3309 What-A-Dog, a Chicago-style hot dog restaurant will be opening in mid-May. It will be located at 9595 Main St., Unit B, at the Corner of Highway 92 and Main Street.
Around Woodstock
A barbecue lunch fundraiser 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 27, sponsored by Williams Brothers Barbecue, will take place in front of the Cherokee County courthouse in Canton. Plates will be $8 and proceeds will benefit the center, which provides intervention and prevention services for families and children impacted by child abuse.
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As we continue to give you the best community magazine possible, we would like to ask for your input. Scan the QR code to fill out a brief questionnaire and let us know your favorite features in Around Woodstock. We value your feedback!
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Sixes Living
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Mother’s Day
Helping Others April is National Child Abuse Prevention and folks at the Anna Crawford Children’s Center have a series of events planned to promote awareness. Any donation to the center will get a pinwheel placed on Highway 92 in front of Home Depot, and an entry into a drawing for four Disney day park-hopper passes. Drawing is May 1. Donations can be made online at www.stopchildabusegeorgia.com.
Share Your Opinion
Email photos of you and your Mom to candi@ aroundaboutmagazines.com and we’ll help you celebrate that special woman in your life! Send us your photos by April 5 to be considered for publication.
A community gathering for Easter is planned for 10 a.m. April 5 at the Elm Street Event Green in downtown Woodstock. A fellowship time begins at 10:40 a.m. with food, games and free family portraits. Sponsored by Sojourn Community Church. www.easteronthegreen.org.
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COMMUNITY BOARD The Around Woodstock Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders from different walks of life. Our board assists us in many ways that include serving as contributing writers, judging our annual Trailblazer award and providing valuable feedback. Kris McKeeth is team leader and visionary for The Premier Group Keller Williams Realty on Main Street in Woodstock, and has more than 25 years experience in real estate. She’s active in many community efforts that include her position on the Business Board of downtown Woodstock and as president of Etowah Foundation. Photographer Darleen Prem specializes in natural light portrait photography and enjoys dog, pet and family photography. She spends much of her time photographing local events for the city of Woodstock and is the official “unofficial” photographer for Woodstock’s fire and police departments. Darleen’s son serves overseas as an Army Military Police Officer. Ross Wiseman started Momentum Church in 2005 and still serves as head pastor. He draws from his experiences in more than 21 years of ministry and 19 years of marriage to challenge, inspire and instruct people in what it takes for better living, loving and laughter.
Renee Gable, a sales and marketing executive for Window Expert Tinting, volunteers for many committees that work to improve downtown Woodstock. She is an avid cyclist who aligned herself with Greenprints Alliance because of her desire to help create safe and natural trail riding experiences. Beth Hermes is a graduate of Auburn University’s School of Journalism, and a professional writer for more than 26 years. Her writing has appeared in magazines, newspapers and online publications, and she has created marketing campaigns for corporations and nonprofits.
Suzanne Litrel is a young adult historical fiction author and doctoral student in GSU’s graduate history program. Suzanne resides with her family in downtown Woodstock, which she is very happy to call home.
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Woodstock AROUND
Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3322 Market Manager Christie Deese Christie@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3324 Executive Editor Candi Hannigan Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3309 Assistant Editor Jackie Loudin Jackie@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3318 Art Director Michelle McCulloch Michelle@AroundAboutMagazines.com 770-615-3307 Graphic Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundAboutMagazines.com Around Woodstock, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in Woodstock and surrounding area by providing residents with positive stories and timely information. It distributes a total of 16,300 free copies. Approximately 15,000 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 1,300 are placed in racks around the community. See page 61 for a distribution map. Around Woodstock also has many digital viewers of the magazine online each month. Around Woodstock welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 5th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/ publisher and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Woodstock 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 2015. Around Woodstock PMB 380 1025 Rose Creek Dr., Ste. 620, Woodstock, GA 30189 Website: www.AroundWoodstockMagazine.com Powered by TrustWorkz, Inc.
Volume 2, Issue 6
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Community
YOUR LOCAL NEWS Girl Scouts Need Lego Leaders for Cherokee Team Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta offers Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes, grades 4-8, the opportunity to participate in robotics First Lego League (www.firstlegoleague.org). Girls would have an opportunity to solve real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to compete and complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. Each team would be led by a registered Girl Scout adult volunteer. Peer support is available for leaders and girls from existing teams across Atlanta. There are Girl Scout lego teams in metro Atlanta, but none in Cherokee County. Girl Scouts is seeking a unique volunteer leader to start a team of 6-10 girls in our community. The cost to participate is $50 per girl. Approved teams receive more than a $1,500 value in materials, support, and activity entry fees. A metro Atlanta team advanced to competition in Washington D.C. several years ago, where the girls received recognition and won scholarships. RoboChicks Coach Bisa Kenney said: ““It’s really hard to put into words what I love about coaching because the girls encounter so many life changing moments. One of my favorite moments is, the transformation from a ‘shy girl’ to a girl who can hold the attention of a corporate CEO without missing a beat. Or when a team member makes a mistake, how the other girls will pick her up and cheer her on. We are a team! Winning is great but I let the girls know we have already won, because we dared to show up!” Leader training is available in April. Teams begin in August. Contact khobba@gsgatl. org for additional details.
Let the Games Begin
The 9th annual Cherokee County Senior Olympics (CCSO), presented by Northside Hospital Cherokee, are taking place in April. Following an April 7 opening ceremony, 14 events will be held throughout the month, including basketball free-throw, bowling, pickleball and golf. A closing ceremony is planned for April 28 at the Cherokee County Senior Services Center. More than 150 athletes, age 50 and older, participated last year. For more details, call Allison Chandler at 678-207-7884, find Cherokee County Senior Olympics on Facebook or visit www.cherokeecountyseniorolympics.com.
Funds Secured for New Trail Construction The Woodstock city council voted unanimously, 4-0, to approve an allocation of $20,500 for development of new trail construction on the Avalanche Trail at Olde Rope Mill Park in Woodstock. Greenprints Alliance, working in conjunction with Woodstock Parks and Recreation, advocated for the funds. Avalanche Trail is the original 6-mile loop in the Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Bike Trail system, constructed in 2010. “The new trail segments on Avalanche will improve the trail user’s experience, eliminate trail erosion problems and increase safety,” said Greenprints Alliance Executive Director, Gary Moore. Project highlights include relocating the entrance further inside the park to allow for separate entrance and exit segments, better traffic flow and improved routing for racing events. Permanent restroom facilities, also funded by the city, will be located next to the new entrance trials. The new segments of the Avalanche Trails are scheduled to be completed in May 2015, which will coincide with the official opening of the new 5-mile trail at Rope Mill, located on the north side of Little River. This new trail features professionally designed and constructed single-track mountain bike trails at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. For more information, visit woodstocktrails.com.
Expanded Thrift Store Supports Ministry
Woodstock has a new outlet for bargain shoppers looking for deals on clothing and furniture. The Baby & More Thrift Store at the HOPE Center has been transformed into Seeds Thrift Store, located at 295 Molly Lane. Items are donated by the public, and proceeds will support the HOPE Center, a nonprofit pregnancy resource center that offers hope and assistance to women with unplanned pregnancies. “The generosity of our community has increased donations to a wider variety of items [than baby clothes and supplies] and made the store a place where everyone can shop and find bargains,” said Seeds manager Monti Price. “Our goal is to provide quality merchandise to everyone and feed back into a ministry that helps the community in so many ways.” More than 20 volunteers support the center, with close to 100 helping each year with special projects. The store is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Tax deductible donations are accepted daily. 770-517-4450. www.hopectr.com. 8
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Community
YOUR LOCAL NEWS Woodstock Added to I-75 Signage The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to update the signage along Interstate 75 to include the city of Woodstock on posts that currently only reference Acworth. The southwest corner of Cherokee County has experienced tremendous growth over the past year, due to the successful development of the Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, Majestic Realty’s Cherokee Commerce Center and Cabela’s new 100,000 square-foot sporting goods complex. “We’d like to thank GDOT, Cherokee County and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) for making this happen,” said Jeff Moon, Woodstock City Manager. “Having a gateway and identity established on I-75 for the city of Woodstock is very helpful for our long-term economic development efforts by both increased exposure and awareness. As we continue to promote the regional outlet mall and our expanding trail system in Woodstock, this was an essential component of our branding efforts.”
Fire Department Wins Guns and Hoses Run Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services won the 2015 Guns and Hoses Run, and has bragging rights for signing up the most runners for the event and having the fastest runner of the day. The event pits the fire and emergency services against the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in soliciting participants in the fundraiser. The winner’s charity - Goshen Valley Boys Ranch - will receive a donation of $3,600. According to a representative with the Cherokee County Recreation and Parks Agency, 360 runners signed up for the fire department, while 269 signed up with the sheriff’s office. Sam Harp, 18, is the overall winner of the 5K race, his fourth year in the top spot. He finished the race in 17 minutes and 17 seconds beating his time last year by 50 seconds. Sam’s parents are Lyle and Cheri Harp, and his dad is a firefighter with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services. 10
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Celebrities Prepare for the Dance Floor Here’s the celebrity lineup for the 5th annual Dancing for the Children gala, sponsored by the Service League of Cherokee County and set to begin at 6 p.m. April 25 at the Northside Hospital Cherokee conference center: • Zach Blend, executive director of Goshen Valley Boys Ranch with professional partner Karrie Mattice of Applause Conservatory. • Daniel Espeut, CEO of Espeute Productions with professional partner Samantha Stone of Project SLIDE Dance Program for Kids and Teens. • Bill Grant, president of Grant Design Collaborative with professional partner Christi Hinkley of Academy of Dance Arts. • Susan McCarthy, assistant superintendent of educational programs at the Cherokee County School District with professional partner Timothy Meyers of Gotta Dance Atlanta. • Gwen Parker, senior vice president and Cherokee County president of Renasant Bank with professional partner Wayne Zwick of Allure Dance Studio of Atlanta. • Mandy Spell, owner of B.loved Boutique with professional partner Brian Dixon of Planet Ballroom Johns Creek. • Dr. Darren Surma, Doctor of Chiropractic at Ridgewalk Chiropractic with professional partner Dawn Parker of Great Gig Dance Company of Kennesaw.
Eddie Robinson and Zach Blend celebrate the victory for the Hoses team.
• Chuck Wilson, assistant principal at Creekview High School with professional partner Tracy Porter of Woodstock School of Ballet. The dance takes place at the 49th annual ball, a fundraiser for the service league’s community service projects. General admission tickets are $80, with reserved tables for parties of 12 at $1,000. VIP tables near the dance floor are $1,500. For tickets, call Julie Pennington at julie.pennington76@yahoo.com or visit www.serviceleague.net.
Registration for Elementary Schools
Fireman John Carrol crosses the finish line in full gear.
Registration for 2015-16 school year Kindergarten and first grade students who are entering school for the first time will be held at all Cherokee county elementary schools 3:30-6 p.m. April 30, and 9 a.m.noon May 1. For details on the proper information to bring for registration, visit www.cherokee.k12. ga.us.
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Community
Happy Birthday!
Matthew Cheek
Age 10 on April 5 Double Digits! Wow! Happy Birthday Boy! We love you, Mom, Dad and Lily
Kathryn Flannery
Aislynn Adamski
Tom Phillips
Happy sixth birthday sweet girl! Daddy, Mommy and Leo love you so so much! XOXO
April 6 Happy Birthday to the best dad in the world! Love, your kids and grandkids
Matthew Jett
Nola and Darin
Kady Clark
Happy seventh birthday We can’t wait to love you forever! Love Mom, Dad, Grayson, Grammy and Coco.
Bentley Espitia
Age 6 on April 22 Happy Birthday to our little love! We are so proud of you!! Love, Daddy, Mommy, & Jessica
Age 8 on April 19 Happy Birthday to a great brother and son. We love you so much! Daddy, Mommy, Emma, Julie and Adam
Age 5 on April 9 Age 36 on April 13 Happy Birthday to my two favorite people. Love you to the moon and back! Mommy
Age 4 on March 24 Happy 4th birthday! From Grandma & Grandpa
Joshua Scoggins
Leonardo La Fera
Samantha Grace
Norah Kuykendall
Age 35 on April 30 Happy birthday to the best daddy and husband! With love, Apoliana, Angelina and Catalina!
Age 3 on April 24 Happy Birthday Lil Man! Love, Mommy & Daddy
Happy 6th birthday! Love, Mommy, Daddy, Andrew and Shelby
Age 3 on March 30 Happy birthday sweet girl! What a blessing you are! Love and kisses, Mommy, Daddy and big sister Mallory
Celebrations! Announcements are free! E-mail to: Candi@ AroundAbout Magazines.com May deadline is April 10. 12
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James and Amy Holt Celebrate one year on April 26.
Michael and Margaret Mazza Celebrating two years on April 14 Happy anniversary! Love, Mom
Joe and Kathy Borden
Celebrating 36 years on April 22 Happy anniversary to wonderful and loving parents and grandparents! You both are a blessing to our lives. Michelle, Nick, Xavier and soon-to-arrive Novalee
Matt Lawson and Caroline Crew
Wedding date: Sept. 12 at Rocky’s Lake Estate in Woodstock.
Painting Adds Freshness, Transforms a Home BY THE PREMIERE GROUP
The key to success when selling any type of real estate is to show the property in its best light. That can require extensive staging with the help of a professional designer or minor touches such as a vase of flowers on the kitchen counter. But there’s one thing all real estate agents agree on—fresh paint makes all the difference, no matter the style, size or age of the property. If you are selling, use light, neutral colors to visually expand the space, making your home feel larger. Fresh paint makes the house appear clean and well-maintained, and allows potential buyers to envision themselves in the home without the distraction of scuff marks, dirt and unique color choices. Whether you’re ready to sell your house or just want to give your home a spring makeover, read on for some professional painting tips. Watch the weather. The humidity level and temperature outside can affect the results of your paint job inside. If it’s a particularly humid day, don’t risk painting. You could be in for extremely slow-drying walls, or unevenly cured paint, which is worse. Start strong. Make sure your walls are clean and dry before painting, and don’t skip the primer. A good foundation will give you the best results. If your walls are peeling or chipping, scrape off the old layer of paint before cleaning and priming. If
you’re working with high-gloss walls, you may need to sand them lightly before beginning (don’t forget to wipe them down afterward to remove any dust). This will help the new paint adhere to the surface. Paint inside the lines. Use painter’s tape and edge pads to help you paint neatly around architectural elements. If you don’t properly prepare the walls, your tape won’t stick as well. Use drop cloths to protect your floors and furnishings. Do the math. Professional painters recommend buying one gallon of paint for every 400 square feet of wall space. You might need more if you’re painting over an unprimed or textured wall.
A few more tricks: • Cover doorknobs. Slip a sandwich bag or small plastic baggie over the doorknob and tape the edges using painter’s tape. • Remove outlet covers, as well as wall plates, before beginning. • Roll on. Use a roller for more even coverage and faster painting.
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Community
Experience Elm Street: BE Funny BY SIOBHAN BRUMBELOW
CITY CENTER • WOODSTOCK
APRIL
10, 11, 17, 18 AT 7:30PM
Call or visit us on the web to learn about our
SUMMER CAMPS ELMSTREETARTS.ORG 678.494.4251
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As an actor, one of the most difficult directions given to us is to BE something. BE more princess-like. BE more like Adam Sandler. BE funny. BE is not a suggestion, but an instruction without help, an order without an idea. And as an actor, it is difficult to fulfill the demand to BE anything. The specificity of BEING a particular emotion or character is Siobhan Brumbelow hard to portray without guidance. has been involved Shakespeare says it best: “To be or with Elm Street since 2002 and holds a not to be? That is the question.” BA in Theatre from After working with Elm Street Brenau University. She toured for a year with for almost 13 years, I can honestly Missoula Children’s answer as an actor, director, teacher Theatre and she currently manages and improviser that my goal for any and performs with the performance is to BE entertaining. I’d iThink Improv Troupe DO anything to make the audience feel like they’re part of the show. The audiences are the source for our artistic guidance. Elm Street’s mission is to engage the community with fresh art experiences every day. We don’t try to BE anything. We DO. We engage. Through performing and visual arts, we provide fun, educational and cultural involvement for the community. Elm Street teaches the students to express their creativity and not to be an imitation—to BE themselves. Through their summer education programs and camps, students create, write and produce their own plays. The iThink Improv Troupe tours to local schools encouraging students to write creatively and experience performing arts. iThink strives to entertain people of all ages with their wacky quips and clever puns, through games and skits made up on the spot. Whose Line is it, Woodstock? is a great example of friendly, local comedy. We do our best to entertain rather to BE anything, which is what makes us unique. Each show in April is different because of the audiences and their suggestions, and THAT makes it fun to watch. Hoping to create a one-of-akind experience, Elm Street is extending stage performances to the outdoors with the very first Shakespeare on the Green at the end of April. Located on the event green, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will take place at dusk on the Resurgens Orthopaedics Community Stage. We attempt to reflect our mission by DOING rather than BEING. To BE is a difficult matter. Not to BE opens doors for fresh artistic inspiration and engagement.
Elm Street teaches the students to express their creativity and not to be an imitation—to BE themselves.
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Community
Transaction Safe Place
City, county officials take steps to protect Craigslist buyers, sellers BY CALVIN W. MOSS
Cherokee County law enforcement agencies lead a growing national trend to provide safe zones to finalize online sales. The city of Woodstock was recently featured on the “Today” show for its Transaction Safe Place initiative, a proactive effort to safeguard citizens who meet someone to buy or sell an item found online. While Cherokee County and its cities are among the safest in Georgia, recent events across Woodstock Police Chief Calvin Moss was sworn the state have raised concerns about in February 2012 after citizen safety during transactions set serving 30 years with the Atlanta Police up through Craigslist and other similar Department. websites. In response to a number of crimes in Georgia involving victims responding to online ads, all Cherokee County law enforcement agencies now provide a way for residents to close online transactions in a much safer way. Whether a resident of Woodstock, Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Nelson, Waleska or unincorporated Cherokee County, members of the public can take advantage of their law enforcement agency’s lobby or exterior to meet and conduct their transactions. If needed, an officer or deputy can also be requested to stand by, increasing both the buyer’s and seller’s sense of security. In most cases an item’s serial number can also be checked against state and national databases to ensure every item is clear and not reported as stolen. The strategy is intended to move these transactions from possibly secluded areas to a public place where they occur under the watchful eye of a police officer or deputy—a place where those who would prey upon our citizens are highly
unlikely to try something. Citizens should not agree to meet anyone who is hesitant to hold that meeting at the police department or sheriff’s office. It’s not worth the risk of getting hurt, no matter what the product or profit. Be smart about closing your online deals. When meeting someone for the first time: • Insist on a public meeting place. Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home. • Be especially careful when buying or selling high-value items. • Tell a friend or family member where you’re going. • Take your cell phone along if you have one. • Consider taking someone with you. • Always trust your instincts. Remember, a vigilant community is a safe community. TRANSACTION SAFE PLACE CONTACT INFO Ball Ground 678-454-5077, Cityofballground.com Canton 770-720-4883, Canton-georgia.com Cherokee County Unincorporated 678-493-4200, Cherokeega-sheriff.org Holly Springs 770-345-5537, Hollyspringsga.us Nelson 770-735-2211, Nelsongeorgia.com Waleska 678-493-4200, Cherokeega-sheriff.org Woodstock 770-592-6030 Option 7, Woodstockga.gov
New Focus to Fight Financial Crime, Elder Abuse BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHANNON WALLACE
Shannon Wallace is the district attorney of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit. She graduated cum laude from UGA School of Law in 2002.
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Every April, the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office pays tribute to victims of crime during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19-25. The national theme this year is “Engaging Communities, Empowering Victims.” In 2015, our office created a new unit that focuses on the prosecution of financial crimes and elder abuse. Through this unit, we aim to empower crime victims, especially our vulnerable population of elderly citizens, as they pursue justice and recovery. Financial crimes cost billions of dollars and affect more than 25 million
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consumers in our country annually. Such crimes know no boundaries and don’t discriminate; they touch all aspects of our community, including corporations, small businesses and individuals, young and old. Financial crimes typically receive far less attention than violent crimes, yet they can be just as devastating to the individual, especially the elderly. Elderly citizens, many of whom live on fixed incomes, face destitution and hopelessness as a result of being targeted by perpetrators. Last year, the district attorney’s office provided services to 110 victims of financial crimes. There are likely many more victims who simply failed to realize or report their victimization. Unfortunately, this trend will only escalate as thieves become more technologically sophisticated. Our office has taken several important steps to increase the
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Business Prospects Best Yet for Cherokee County SUBMITTED BY THE CHEROKEE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Remember the last time you walked into a store and stared at countless products looking for what you came to find? Empty-handed, you walk away, only to return to the very same spot and find exactly what you wanted? It was always there. You were just focused on something else. Cherokee County has gotten the same rap over the years—there all along, but businesses were focused elsewhere. Lately, there’s been a shift. Cherokee is in its best position yet for business growth and development, according to Misti Martin, president of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED). “It’s only the first quarter of the year and we’re already talking with 15 corporate prospects showing a great deal of interest in our community. We’re also getting a lot of attention from the film industry scouting locations here for new projects.” No doubt, the county’s economic forecast looks promising. But even in a faltering economy, Cherokee stayed strong. Over the past several years, COED has been able to generate thousands of new jobs by attracting new business and encouraging corporate expansions. Granted, The Outlet
Shoppes at Atlanta was a huge coup, generating roughly 1,200 jobs and estimated annual sales of $150 million. That alone is a crown jewel. But it’s not Cherokee’s only jewel. The groundwork for this year’s success began to bubble last year. In 2014 alone, COED persuaded 19 corporations to either locate or expand their regional and North American headquarters, several of which are based in one of COED’s three corporate parks. Right now, the county’s newest development, Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, is drawing the lion’s share of attention. It’s located in the southwest corner of the county, which is the only area in Cherokee with direct access to Interstate 75. In four short years, the park has expanded from its initial 53-acre design to the 135-acre site it is today. Inalfa Roof Systems was the park’s first, or anchor, tenant.
Cherokee is in its best position yet for business growth and development, according to Misti Martin, president of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development.
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Grant Boosts Efficiency of Mobile Food Ministry SUBMITTED BY FOREVER FED
The Atlanta Community Food Bank awarded a Phase Four Capacity Building Grant to Forever Fed in December 2014. Forever Fed, a mobile ministry that distributes food, books and used clothing to the underserved in Cherokee County, has purchased 22 shelving units on wheels, utility carts, new ovens, a stand mixer, Each feeding event requires the help of many and several kitchen upgrades to existing food volunteers. preparation equipment. Improvements will help Forever Fed serve more families at risk of food insecurity. “Cherokee County is blessed with several fantastic food pantries working tirelessly to alleviate hunger in our community. Even with their efforts, Cherokee County still has families lacking access to food resources,” said Carrie Vandenhouten, director of Forever Fed’s Cans4Kids/Food4U program. “Some lack transportation, some are disabled and cannot drive, others work low-paying jobs with unpredictable hours and simply can’t visit food pantries when
the pantries are open.” A dedicated group of volunteers working with the Food4U program delivers more than 200 boxes of food to the homes of underserved families each month. The addition of new mobile storage equipment has streamlined the packing and transporting of boxes. “Packing boxes of food used to take a lot of muscle and time. The new equipment has made everything so much easier,” said volunteer Shannon Luina. Forever Fed also added several new pieces of equipment to the commercial kitchen at Hillside United Methodist Church, which allows the ministry to use the kitchen as a base of operations. “The kitchen, while well equipped, was in need of several upgrades to help increase our production of healthy prepared meals,” said Susan Vanderheyden, executive director of Forever Fed. “We were able to add a new set of ovens and several small pieces of equipment to make meal preps easier and faster. It’s been so fun witnessing the excitement of our volunteers over a few new kitchen tools.” Forever Fed provides prepared meals to several organizations mentoring at-risk children, and hosts monthly block party events in struggling neighborhoods where they distribute food, gently used clothing and prepared meals. In 2014, Forever Fed served more than 25,000 meals and distributed more than 53,000 pounds of groceries. “With all of our super new equipment, we can’t wait to see what God will do through Forever Fed this year,” said Vanderheyden. For more info on Forever Fed, visit www.foreverfed.org. AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Community
Out & About April 11
April 25
Safe Kids Cherokee County is planned for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lowe’s Home Improvement Center at 575 Molly Lane, Woodstock. Free car seat safety inspections, bicycle rodeo and a build-it clinic. All ages welcome. No appointments needed.
Outdoor flea market sponsored by the United Methodist Women at Bascomb United Methodist Church is set for 8 a.m.4 p.m. in the lower parking lot of the church, at 2295 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock. Spaces are available at $25 each. Application and payment are due no later than April 15. Call Linda at 770-974-4676 or email spoondoll@comcast.net.
April 11 , 25 Gardening Seminars by the UGA Master Gardener Extension Volunteers of Cherokee County. Hooray for Herbs at 10 a.m. April 11 at Hickory Flat Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton. Container Gardening at 10 a.m. April 25 at Cherokee County Senior Services, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton, followed by Raised Bed Gardening at noon. Pre-registration is required. 770-721-7803
April 18 Earth Day and Greenstock Day includes electronic recycling of batteries and cell phones, document shredding and a city-wide yard sale in downtown Woodstock. www.woodstockga.gov
April 21 Choose to Refuse - Safe Citizen is a free two-hour seminar at 6:30 p.m. that will present information on how to spot a fraud on the telephone or your doorstep, popular scams, online/Internet risks and scam prevention, protecting personal information, safe meeting places, securing your home, street safety tips and more. To register, contact Detective Greg Bettis at dbettis@hollyspringsga.us or at 770-721-7526.
April 23-24 Charity Consignment Sale set for 6-8 p.m. April 23, and 8-10 a.m. April 24 at Branches Boutique in Towne Lake Kroger Shopping Center. A portion of proceeds will be given to the family of Emily Bowman to help with medical expenses.
April 25 An Artisans Arts and Craft Show will be held at His Hands Church, 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock. Vendors can contact mainstreetcraftshow@gmail.com for applications and details. The 2015 Taste and Sound of Woodstock 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. rain or shine at the Park at City Center in downtown Woodstock. Visit www.tastesoundwoodstock.com or call 678-677-2589 for more information. Annual Plant Sale by the UGA Master Gardener Extension 9 a.m.-noon at Cherokee County Senior Services, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. Featuring veggies, herbs, pollinator and native plants, perennials for containers, hellebores, hostas, drought tolerant, carpenter bee traps, yard art and seeds.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
Spring Fling at the Goddard School of Woodstock 9 a.m.-noon with barbecue, bouncy house and yard sale items. The school is at 3115 Parkbrooke Circle. Call 770-516-0880 for more info.
May 4 Kells Weatherby Golf Classic, at the Marietta Country Club, is a fundraiser for Feed My Lambs ministry, a nonprofit organization that provides free Christian preschools for children living in poverty areas. Proceeds will benefit Georgia schools, one of which is in Canton. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., shotgun start at 11. Register at www.feedmylambs.net.
May 8 Relay for Life will kick off at 6 p.m. at Creekview High School, 1550 Owens Store Road, Canton. www.RelayForLife.org/ CherokeeGa
May 16 The Jungle Run 5k and 1-mile Prowl, sponsored by Johnston Elementary School, begins at 8 a.m. at River Ridge High School. Funds raised will be used to build a quarter-mile track at Johnston Elementary for school and community use. To register, visit www.runsignup.com and type in the race name.
June 11-13 Georgia Celebrates Quilts will be held 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at His Hands Church, 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock. Open to all Georgia quilters, the show presents more than 350 competition quilts, vendors, raffles and demonstrations.
Ongoing Towne Lake Community Church Preschool registration for fall classes, ages two through pre-K. preschool@tlcchurch.com. 678-445-8766 ext. 20.
Sunshine, Music & Kendama PHOTOS BY DARLEEN PREM
Willy Penniman (far right) hosted Shredstock, with the band Fourshores and snacks for participants. Twenty percent of proceeds were donated to charity.
downtown woodstock
SAT may 2. I
TRAILFEST 2015
About 100 kendama players and music fans spent a Saturday afternoon in downtown Woodstock attending Willy P’s Shredstock. The event was the senior project of Woodstock High School senior Willy Penniman, a professional kendama player. Kendama is the Japanese wooden skill toy that looks like a ball-and-cup on steroids,” according to Willy. Competitors participated in contests requiring various skill levels. The event also featured a free outdoor concert by the local band Fourshores, and a raffle, and Willy plans to hold monthly kendama jams in Woodstock City park. Willy says kendama is “an amazing hobby for kids and adults alike and gets them moving, relieves stress, fosters patience and determination, and so much more.” Contact him at williampenniman@gmail.com.
other STUFF:
A benefit event for Greenprints Alliance featuring: 3
T
5K, Fun Run, [trailfest time trials], Climbing Wall
THE DIRTY GUV’NAHS
With musical guests: Davin McCoy & the Coming Attractions, Jonathan Peyton, The Shetlands & others to be announced soon!
FREE event: Thanks to our sponsors, Trailfest is free to enter! Donations to benefit trail development are appreciated.
trailfest.org
I Wayne Spencer I Pied Piper Pest Control I AroundAbout Local Media I I Tara Daigle - Atlanta Communities Realty I BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta I I Cherokee Life - Cherokee Tribune I AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Community
Soulmate BY MIKE LITREL, MD
This article was originally published in 2005. This past weekend my wife Ann and I traveled to Vermont for the wedding of Dr. Eva Lathrop, an associate of mine. The entire state of Vermont, it turns out, is an historic preservation site. Not a tree can be cut, nor a barn knocked down, because the powers that be have determined that the state shall be forever frozen in time, circa the year 1890. On Dr. Mike Litrel has authored two books the plus side, this means Vermont has on the faith-health no billboards along the roads to ruin the connection. He is a board certified OB/GYN views. and specialist in pelvic On the minus side, there are no roads reconstructive surgery at Cherokee Women’s to speak of. Health Specialists Consequently, our drive to the wedding www.cherokeewomens health.com site took about as long as it would have had we been traveling by cart and horse. In the morning, to break the monotony, we decided to stop along the way to hike the Robert Frost Memorial Trail. Mr. Frost spent two decades in Vermont writing the poems that would make him a household name. The trail that bears his name winds through forest and flowery fields, marked every 200 yards by a plaque inscribed with one of his poems. I like nature as well as the next guy, but taking a walk outdoors with my wife Ann is like visiting a candy store with your children. At first it’s a lot of fun, but eventually it’s annoying. Like an entranced child, Ann cannot take a step without gasping in wonder at the beauty of God’s creation. Latin plant names trip off her tongue, ecology lectures soon follow, and pretty soon she is marveling at the exquisite colors and shapes of assorted sticks, berries, and weeds you would never dream of noticing. This trail had more than the usual number of leafy things to stop and ponder, but far more noticeable, in my mind, were the buzzing things flying through the air, scouting for the nearest all-you-caneat human buffet. Judging by their size, the mosquitoes in Vermont were wellfed. They were so obviously flourishing that I began to wonder why this Frost fellow had never composed a poem about them. He could have begun with any number of poetic observations on these bloodsucking marvels. Pretty soon I had Ann laughing at the stanzas which I spontaneously revealed Mr. Frost had penned and then left out – “I’m going down to the pasture spring; I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away (And feed the bloodthirsty mosquitoes, if I may) I shan’t be gone long – You come too.” Take my word for it, it’s a very famous poem, and he should have left that verse in. At any rate, it kept Ann giggling long enough to keep her from talking about the plants, until finally she was laughing so hard she said she was getting dizzy. I stopped making jokes. Twenty years ago, shortly after I met Ann, she suffered a bleed inside her brain from a congenital defect called an arteriovenous 20
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
malformation (AVM). For weeks her life hung in the balance. The lesion was inoperable, but she made a complete recovery, and our love blossomed. Within a couple of years we were married. Since then Ann has experienced no symptoms from her AVM, but it’s been like the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, both a threat and a blessing - a reminder of Life’s fragility. Although Ann’s pregnancies were considered risky, she gave birth to two beautiful children before we finally decided to stop pressing our luck. This October, Ann and I will have been married 27 years. As the saying goes, marriage is for better or worse; our years have mostly been better. But after you’ve been married a while, the moment finally comes you never expected: you’re sick of each other. Perhaps we’re the only couple to ever experience this. At any rate, our marriage has suffered a, well...off year. And we have fought like two teenagers falling out of love. The week before the wedding in Vermont, my twin brother Chris was visiting from New York. He called me as I was driving home from the hospital to let me know that Ann was having trouble moving her left arm and speaking. My foot pressed the accelerator, and in less than five minutes I was walking through the door. Chris was talking to Ann. She was slurring her words. Before I reached her, she had lost consciousness and begun convulsing. It was obvious she was having another bleed in her brain. I grabbed her and held her tightly, and all my medical training evaporated. I cried like I did before I learned not to cry. I begged her not to die. Then I placed her body on the ground and became a doctor again. Her lips were turning blue and she was frothing at the mouth. I stabilized her airway and checked her pulse. All bad feelings and resentments were forgotten forever. Holding her dying body, smelling her skin mixed with my tears, I just wanted my beautiful wife to live. Ann stopped seizing, and by the time the ambulance got us to the hospital she had regained consciousness. The CAT scans and MRI’s showed no evidence of a life threatening bleed. In a few hours her memory returned. We went home the next day. Of course, I planned to cancel our trip to Vermont. But from her hospital bed Ann told me in no uncertain terms that the reason she had her seizure this weekend was so she could go to Eva’s wedding the next. And so a week later we are standing together in a Vermont field. I am fending off mosquitoes and watching my beautiful wife Ann. She fights off tears; she is almost overcome by the beauty of the vista. I know she longs to express with her paint brush or pen what in her heart and soul she feels and knows. An artist’s life can be so lonely, and her husband, a surgeon with concrete purposes, is perhaps not the most receptive audience. But as I watch Ann, the mother of my children, my closest friend, standing there full of wonder and joy, I fight off tears of my own. For I understand beauty, too.
I like nature as well as the next guy, but taking a walk outdoors with my wife Ann is like visiting a candy store. . .
The Great Egg War BY MATT NEAL
We survived the months of red hearts and green beer. Now it’s time for the month of pink and yellow eggs. Every year that sneaky rabbit manages to break into my house, take the eggs my kids have so lovingly colored, and hide them. I don’t know what his game is, but I have to admire his cleverness. Some of those eggs stay hidden until late summer. When I was a kid, we didn’t have Matt Neal is a freelance writer who has lived plastic eggs, only the real kind. And in Woodstock with his they weren’t for eating. They were wife since 1999. He has a daughter who for battle. The great egg hunt would turns shoeboxes into start out in earnest, my friends and dollhouses, a son who fights those stealthy I would swarm over the yard like a ninjas, and a wife, plague of locusts, gathering eggs from Diane, who provides patience, compassion all corners of our domain. Then it and a kick in the pants would start. It might be something when needed. mattnealwriter@yahoo. innocent, perhaps just tossing an com egg to a friend. But soon it would escalate into a passel of 10-year-old boys throwing eggs at each other. We all had our favorite hideouts. I had a tree fort that provided excellent air cover.
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My best friend preferred hiding in the bushes, flinging eggs at his enemies. The rule was you could only throw a cracked egg, because they explode on impact and don’t hurt so much. And no head shots. When it was over, the backyard was covered in hard boiled egg residue. Then came the righteous anger of my mother when she saw what we had done. Although I don’t remember it, we were told the eggs would begin to stink after a while, and she made us gather up as much as we could. Those were simpler times. Easter was about Jesus and throwing eggs. My own kids want baskets overflowing with toys and plastic eggs filled with money. But maybe this year will be different. Maybe this year I’ll teach my kids about the simpler times and the joys of egg wars. My wife is always telling me how great things were when we were kids, and it’s too bad our own kids don’t have the joys we had. I’m sure she’ll love my egg war idea.
Maybe this year I’ll teach my kids about the simpler times and the joys of egg wars.
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Mark Berman, M.D. Jerry Berland, M.D. Paul Kaufman, M.D. Glaucoma and Pediatric Ophthalmology Retina and Cataract Surgery and Strabismus Vitreous Surgery
Woodstock 149 Towne Lake Pkwy., Suite 102 Woodstock, GA 30188
770.928.4544
www.thomaseyegroup.com
Lakhvir Singh, O.D. Comprehensive Optometry
Mindabeth Jacobs, O.D. Comprehensive Optometry
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Community
Celebrating Emily Bowman BY JODI TIBERIO
Massey, who works for me at Brooklynn’s and Branches Boutique, is one of Emily’s close high school friends. Anna held up choices for Emily and she was able to make her own decisions about the colors and patterns she liked. She picked out several piko tops in her favorite colors. Piko tops are made of bamboo and they are fade resistant, very soft and do not pill. They are also flowy and comfortable. Emily is able to stand and take a few steps with a little assistance, but since she spends 99 percent of her time in a wheelchair, we thought colorful patterned bottoms such as leggings and maxi skirts would be best. We also made Emily a monogrammed pocket tee that she loved. Emily laughed and smiled the entire time. She had not been shopping since the accident and I could tell she loved every minute of it! Anna and I sent them home with a new wardrobe for Emily and Debbie—lots of tops, lightweight patterned leggings, a few maxi skirts, dolman tops, camis, T-shirts, jeans, shoes, cardigans and more. Emily and her mother, Debbie, are regular clients at Salon and Spa Venéssa, so the team was quite happy take part in this special makeover to celebrate Emily’s progress. “It was an honor to have our team take part in Emily’s makeover transformation,” said Venéssa Lanier. “She has worked so hard and deserves to have a day to celebrate how far she has come. She is a very strong and beautiful young woman!” Emily’s regular stylist, Bethany Renner, has been cutting Emily’s hair for the past year. After her injury, Emily’s hair was uneven due to surgeries. However, Bethany worked with Emily to grow her hair out. It has been important for Emily to have a style that is easy to manage, yet trendy. The goal was to grow out the back of her hair long enough to create an A-line bob shape. When the team consulted Emily about hair color, she firmly replied that she wanted highlights. Hair colorist Heather Henningsen used dimensional golden blonde highlights through the top of Emily’s hair, and painted a light blonde ombré into the sides to highlight the wispy layering of her new cut. Finally, makeup artist Amy Chandler completed Emily’s new look with sheer rosegold eye color and a pink hibiscus lip glaze. I burst into tears of joy when I saw Emily. She couldn’t stop smiling and checking herself out in the mirror. Both the mother and daughter were so happy and I was thrilled. It was so much fun working with Venéssa and her talented staff. They will be working with us on future makeovers. Don’t miss next month’s issue when we showcase what we did for Emily’s mom, Debbie. Also, my entire staff and I are cleaning out our closets and having our first charity consignment sale! The consignment sale will take place 6-8 p.m. on April 23, and 8-10 a.m. April 24 at Branches Boutique in Towne Lake at the Kroger shopping center. We will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Bowman Family. This is a great chance to grab some barely used, Amy Chandler, Venéssa Lanier, Heather Henningsen and Bethany Renner. trendy clothing at low prices.
Photo courtesy of Darleen Prem
This was the most exciting and rewarding makeover that I have had a Jodi Tiberio owns Branches Boutique chance to participate in. I knew Emily for women in Towne Bowman’s story, but having a chance Lake as well as a to get to know Emily and her mom was second Branches really uplifting for me. Emily has made location and so much progress after being severely Brooklynn’s boutique in Downtown injured in a hit-and-run accident. The Woodstock. strength of Emily, her mom Debbie and Contact Jodi at jodi@ their family is so inspiring, they impacted tiberioretail.com. me through this process as much as I impacted them. My friend Jen Gallagher with Sunshine on a Ranney Day (the organization that helped make Emily’s home more accessible), let me know that Emily had told her mom she “wished she could wear a mask.” Emily no longer saw herself as the pretty, young girl she once was. With Emily making so much progress in her rehabilitation, it was time for a makeover. I am thrilled to be working with Venéssa Lanier, owner of Salon and Spa Venéssa on this and future projects. Salon Venéssa is a fixture in downtown Woodstock, serving clients for 24 years. Debbie brought Emily to Brooklynn’s and we had a blast. Anna
Emily with Jodi Tiberio and Anna Massey.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
Senior Sense: Spring Blooms BY DELIA HALVERSON
I grew up in Florida where we had many seasons – the season of the frangipani bloom, of the royal poinciana tree bloom, of the orange blossoms, and of course, the tourist season! But we never experienced the season of God’s whole world awakening. What a delight to watch our world wake up from a winter’s sleep. And, this year, from a deep winter’s sleep! Delia has written One of the things I like best about more than 25 books, spring is sharing it with a child. I like to leads workshops and has trained teams remind the child about finding buds on in the Congo and the dogwood tree last fall, reminding us Mozambique. She and her husband have lived that we will always have a spring, and in eight states, but now then admiring the beautiful patches of reside in Woodstock, and have a daughter, white in the woods when those blooms son, daughter-in-law open. I like watching the perennials and four grandchildren living in Cherokee begin to push through the dirt and their County. delicate leaves open, followed by the bloom. I like to take a branch of forsythia into the house in February and put it in water, anticipating the tiny yellow blooms that come out before the ones outdoors. I
enjoy gently pushing the dried leaves aside and finding a tiny purple violet, one of God’s hidden treasures. My son gave me bulbs of the resurrection lily from his garden some years ago. Their leaves come up in the spring and then die back. About a month later, stalks push through the ground and five or six lily blooms appear on each stalk. What a surprise of a renewed spring! I’ve experienced 80 spring seasons in my life, from Florida to North Dakota. The worst blizzard I’ve ever been in happened in northwestern South Dakota on the last day of April and the first day of May. But we still had spring, albeit rather late! Spring becomes new to me each year, as it did this morning. I stepped out on the screened porch to let the cat out, and the woods behind my house were alive with the voices of birds! They knew that it was spring, and they returned to our woods. We are never too young or too old to enjoy spring. Try seeing it through the eyes of a young child, and you will experience a growth of spring in your own life!
What a delight to watch our world wake up from a winter’s sleep.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Community
Trending F O R
SPRING
BY JODI TIBERIO
Southern style has become popular nationwide and here are the top trends you will want to try this spring.
Lace-trimmed extender camis. These long camisoles can be worn by themselves or underneath a shorter top. The lace peeks out for a flirty style while adding extra coverage. Lace extender slips are available to wear with dresses.
Peasant tops. These lightweight, gauzy tops are perfect for warm days and cool nights. Look for pretty crochet or lace details.
Palazzo pants. Colorful and bright, these are so comfy and fun to wear. Look for bohemian patterns for a casual day in sandals, or black-and whitepatterns for a dressy look.
Preppy T-shirts. These colorful graphic shirts are popular for girls and guys of all ages. Some of the popular brand names include Southern Marsh, The Southern Shirt Co. and Simply Southern.
Kimonos and vests. Add lightweight layers to create fab festival outfits. These look great with boyfriend jeans and a tank or jean shorts.
A Focus on Fundraising and Fashion BY JENNA HILL
Jenna Hill is a Tourism Information Coordinator at the Woodstock Visitors Center. jehill@woodstockga. gov
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The Anna Crawford Children’s Center will be the recipient of funds raised during an April 18 fashion show that begins at 2 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center in Woodstock. A $10 ticket will allow participants a chance to see fashions from Moop’s, Spirited, Fashion Cupcake, RAK Outfitters, Dress Up, Brooklynn’s, Branches and Dismero, and bid in a silent auction. Elm Street Cultural Arts Village will offer special entertainment. The Anna Crawford center opened in 1990 to help children and families impacted by child sexual and physical abuse, neglect and exposure to
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
violence. Mental health therapists, forensic interviewers, family advocates, and parent mentors and educators work to help these children live healthier, fuller and happier lives. Fashion is the theme for the entire month of April. Downtown merchants will offer sales beginning April 1 as they take part in the Wear Woodstock stamp card contest. Contestants can pick up a card at the Woodstock Visitors Center and earn a stamp on that card from every boutique where they spend at least $10. Completed cards can be dropped off at the visitors center by 5 p.m. April 30 to be eligible for a drawing to win $100 in Downtown Dollars. Visitors to Woodstock’s Friday Night Live on April 3 are encouraged to dress in the style of the Roaring 20s. For more information about the fashion show, the contest or Friday Night Live, call 770-924-0406 or visit www.visitwoodstockga.com.
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770-615-3322 or Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com
Sherry Bailey - President, CEO Enlightenment Capital Funding AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Community
It’s Time to Go Camping! BY AMY COBB
The smell of burgers on the grill and warmer days will soon tell us that spring is finally here! The lake is coming up, the fish are biting and it’s time to go camping on Allatoona Lake. Come spend a week or a weekend at one of our eight US Army Corps of Engineers’ campgrounds. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance, so plan ahead to make sure we save your favorite spot. Visit our website at www.recreation.gov Park Ranger Amy Cobb is a Georgia native or make reservations by calling 877-444and has been a Corps 6777. Ranger at several locations around the McKinney Campground in Acworth South. is open year round and has 150 sites to choose from. Sweetwater Campground opens March 20 and McKaskey Creek, Payne and Victoria Campgrounds open March 27. All eight Corps of Engineers-operated campgrounds will be open by May 15. Each site is equipped with an impact pad and fire ring. Many sites also have water access and both 30 and 50 watt electrical hookups. Although it may be tempting, camping outside of designated campgrounds is prohibited. This helps to prevent erosion, wildfire, litter and sanitation problems. We thank you for helping keep our lake safe and clean! Our campground rules are designed to create an environment where families can enjoy the beauty of nature, have a good time, make some great memories, and leave a place where our children and grandchildren can bring their families when they grow up. Park Attendant Contractors are on site to assist visitors, and we are always looking for more. If you are interested in becoming a part of our team, positions are available year round. Park Attendant Contractors must be a two-person team at least 21 years of age and furnish their own factory-built recreational vehicle to serve as temporary quarters. If you are interested or have any questions, contact the Allatoona Operations Project Management Office at 678-721-6700. Happy camping! McKaskey Creek campground opens March 27.
McKinney Campground has 150 sites. 26
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Feature
Loyalty, Innovation Fuel Growth and Expansion at Reliable
O
ver the last 37 years, Reliable Heating & Air has morphed from the small business that owner Dan Jape started in his basement to a 24-hour operation that has been the largest Trane dealer in North America for two consecutive years. The Woodstock-based company employs more than 320 professionals, manages a fleet of 300-plus trucks, operates one satellite location in Fayetteville and serves a 26-county territory. While the numbers don’t tell the full story, they do paint a picture of a successful, growing company that places an importance on relationships among the employees and with valued customers. Owner Dan Jape has a commitment to his employees, some of whom have been with Reliable for more than 20 years. That sense of loyalty and connection extends to his customers, who are finding that they can count on Reliable for more than heating and cooling systems. The range of services offered by Reliable includes duct cleaning, etc. Once they purchase a new system, the relationship continues — even as long as the lifetime of the units. “Customers like knowing the faces behind the business,” said owner Dan Jape. “Many of Reliable’s customers have been with us since the beginning. They know who they’re dealing with and who they’ll be dealing with in the future. Customers can’t build that kind of relationship and familiarity with corporations or a large retailer like they have with us at Reliable.” Dan believes customers also choose Reliable because the company has been family-owned for decades and will continue to be around for many years to come as Dan’s son, Daniel, prepares to take over the business one day. Sales Manager Jeff Moulder, who has been a Reliable employee for 19 years, explains that the connection with the 28
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
customer doesn’t end at the point of sale. “Long-term peace of mind is our main goal. We want to make sure our customers know that whatever happens, we are here to take care of it,” said Jeff. “If it’s a new customer that we are dealing with, I will tell them that we are here to develop a 50-year relationship.” Customer service continues long after the day shift leaves for home at 8 p.m. That’s when the overnight crew comes in – three employees who take service calls throughout the night. “Water, plumbing, heating and air conditioning problems can’t wait,” said Dan. “Our customers do not have to leave a message with an answering service. We have someone answering the phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” The company’s growth in establishing a variety of services has been guided by customer requests over the years. “We found that more and more of our customers were asking us for referrals for their plumbing, electrical
and other needs because they trusted us,” Dan said, “but, oftentimes, the work performed by those outside vendors didn’t meet our standards.” Ultimately, Dan made the decision to bring those areas in-house. “Many customers asked if we could become their ‘one-stop’ service provider, and we finally decided it was time.”
Duct Cleaning
Alex Pelaez is manager of this newest division, which has three dedicated trucks and six technicians. “It’s very fulfilling to help people who struggle with respiratory problems like allergies. We can help make a difference in their quality of life,” Pelaez said.
Plumbing
Master Plumber Chris McKinney has more than 10 years of experience and directs the plumbing division, which specializes in emergency sameday service and repair of all plumbing systems. Reliable’s plumbers must be
and present clients with a written report of changes that can be made to increase comfort level and decrease energy consumption. Reliable’s certified, trained technicians can make all the necessary corrections, including areas of caulking and sealing, duct insulation and tightening, crawl space, can light and attic door sealing. They also can add insulation in any area that is needed. The technicians also perform a complete health and safety inspection to identify any issues a home may have with proper combustion of gas appliances and the correct drafting of carbon monoxide from furnaces, water heaters and kitchen appliances. “Whether people have comfort issues in a home, such as high and low humidity, excessive dust build up and/or drafty, cold homes and rooms, they are calling us to help, and we are bringing fantastic results,” said Jape.
Heating and Air
licensed by the state of Georgia as a journeyman or master plumber.
Electrical
Master Electrician and Manager Mike Grayeski, who has more than 19 years of experience, leads a team of highly trained and certified electricians. Mike has been in Woodstock for eight years and owned an electrical company until it was acquired by Reliable in May 2012.
Home Performance
Air tightness and thermal efficiency in the home is the focus of this division, led by Jason Bouchard. Members of this team are Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified auditors and members of the National Comfort Institute. The goal is to identify leaks around attic doors, ducts, lighting excessive dust and other issues that make your home a poor performer. Auditors compile a complete, detailed report from diagnostic testing
Reliable’s HVAC technicians are certified Trane Comfort Specialists. Reliable is also NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified, which means Reliable’s technicians have passed the NATE test that certifies technicians as having the most knowledge and experience in servicing and installing heating and cooling systems. Dan also requires that technicians wear booties, put down drop cloths and clean up debris so customers’ homes are treated with respect and care. “The people at Reliable are the sum of the company,” he said. “We’re honest, up-front and provide complete pricing so customers aren’t surprised by hidden fees.”
RELIABLE HEATING & AIR
11075 Highway 92, Woodstock • 770-594-9969 • www.reliableair.com AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Community
Hail Mary Plays and Incremental Victory BY STATE REP. MICHAEL CALDWELL
We’ve all seen it: The miracle play. It’s a crisp fall day and your favorite college football team has been battling for every yard against its rival. At the end of the fourth quarter, you’ve all but given up because it seems your team may lose by a few measly points. Suddenly, there’s hope. Your quarterback takes a few extra steps backward. He pauses a few moments Michael Caldwell longer than usual, then he fires the ball is the state into the air, flying perfectly over what representative for District 20, which should be impossible yardage into the covers Towne Lake hands of a receiver who was covered and Woodstock. He can be reached at by what must be an illegal number of 678-523-8570 or email opposing players. TOUCHDOWN. The him at Michael@ CaldwellForHouse.com. game is won. Now, I hesitate to use an actual play in this illustration. The best illustrations for big plays for those of us living down south tend to come out of the SEC, and as an avid University of Michigan fan, I hate to lend credence to the idea that football exists only in this (far be it from me to say overrated) conference—but that’s a story for another article! Hail Mary plays don’t always work, but when they finish the game, it is certainly exciting. What is most dangerous about these plays, though, is that we tend to forget the grinding balance of safe and risky plays that spanned the hours prior. The game wasn’t won by a play of desperation; it was won by the persistence of a team working together toward the opportunity to make that final throw. Too often in politics and governing, we find ourselves convinced that Hail Mary plays are the only way to achieve our goals. Many feel that our country is headed in the wrong direction. I agree in many, many ways. What we must remember is that we have found ourselves in the position we are in today from a gradual shifting over 283 years of Georgian history and 239 years of American history. These shifts didn’t happen overnight. For example, the liberal movement in the United States didn’t achieve “Obamacare” the first time it attempted it. Government intervention in health care has been a part of the agenda since the early 20th century, and had failed many times when presented to Congress and the American people. Prior to his presidency, Ronald Reagan even recorded “Ronald Reagan Against Socialized Medicine” some 54 years ago to make his case against these same proposals. The moral here? Those working to shift America from her founding values have not been rash in their approach. They have played the long game.
Too often in politics and governing, we find ourselves convinced that Hail Mary plays are the only way to achieve our goals.
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They understand the importance and the long-term value of leveraging “incrementalism.” In my three years in the Georgia legislature, we have voted on thousands of pieces of legislation. There are very few of those votes that I regret, but one of them was an example of my failure to utilize this principle. In 2014, the House passed a measure to repeal the electric vehicle tax credit (an effective subsidy by which taxpayers are picking up the tab so that electric vehicle drivers can drive their cars for free). I voted “yes” to repeal. The Senate sent the measure back to us. Rather than repeal it outright, state senators cut it in half. I voted “no” to cut it in half as I wished to demand a full repeal. The measure passed the House despite my vote, but ultimately failed. Looking back, I wouldn’t have changed the outcome with my vote, but I wish I had remembered the importance of incrementalism when choosing the vote I would make on that measure. Cutting the subsidy in half was clearly a better outcome than maintaining moral high ground and achieving nothing. We must remember that the opposition got where it is today through incrementalism. We will turn the ship back the same way. That doesn’t mean there’s no room for a Hail Mary pass. It is my hope that the Congress will make a few of these plays with regard to repealing Obamacare and stopping the president’s illegal immigration executive orders. It is my hope that the General Assembly will make a few of these plays with regards to measures like the FairTax. But if the University of Michigan football team started playing only Hail Mary passes, the team would undoubtedly perform even worse than today (save your jokes, I have high hopes for our new coach). I will continue to fight for our families in the House of Representatives with all of the tools in front of us. Let’s be proud of the major victories in addition to the small ones. Every yard brings us closer to the win. Please feel free to reach out to me on my cell phone at 678523-8570 or email me at Michael@caldwellforhouse.com. If you have any other questions or concerns, contact me or come meet me at one of my Weekly Coffees with District 20 nearly every Saturday at Copper Coin Coffee in downtown Woodstock. Thank you again for allowing me the honor of representing your family in Georgia’s General Assembly!
Pinky, Sunny, Booby, Bill, and Mister Gobbles BY ANN LITREL
We spotted the turtle in our yard Turtles need a natural habitat to be happy. They slowly one spring about 10 years ago. He starve in your typical sanitized yard. They’re omnivores who showed up several times over the need moist spots where they can find water and insects, summer, so I got curious and did small fruiting shrubs and plants under trees, an open spot some research. where they can sun, a sandy place to lay their eggs, and dark, I found out he was an Eastern leafy soil where box turtle. I learned he would live their babies, just his whole life in an area only 200 an inch long when meters square - that’s just a few they hatch, can backyards put together. Chances burrow and hide were good our turtle would visit for the first six Ann is an artist and often! writer whose nationally or seven years of published work includes I learned, too, he’d probably their lives. decorative art, paintings been living here for years – possibly for private and corporate Our yard wasn’t collections, and writing before the subdivision was built. always turtleand illustration for a Turtles are as long-lived as range of publications. friendly. Ann lives with her people. A 50-year-old box turtle is Seventeen years husband and co-author common. And box turtles over 100 Dr. Mike Litrel and their ago, when my husband and I moved here with our young two sons in Woodstock. years old are not unknown. sons, the backyard was a green swath of grass, attractive in Ann@annlitrel.com It dawned on me our turtle might a ho-hum sort of way. But it required constant watering and still be with us when I’m an old lady fertilizer, like an intensive care patient on an IV. gardener. In fact, I could get to know our turtle in a way that I dreamed of something wilder, like the outdoors I I couldn’t with any other wild animal - as an individual. remembered from my childhood. I wanted our sons Tyler After this epiphany, I snapped his photo every time he and Joseph to grow up scooping tadpoles and catching came by. katydids in their own yard. I didn’t want them to travel twice Well, I’d thought it was a he. After comparing the a year to see nature on vacation – I wanted them living in it photos, it slowly became apparent that he was a they. How every day, year-round. embarrassing. I’d committed a social faux pas. It’s involved the whole yard, but I’ll mention here only the There are FIVE turtles who live backyard, where we most often around our yard - Pinky, Sunny, see our turtles. I pulled the plug Booby, Bill and Mr. Gobbles. on the water and fertilizer. The Three girls and two boys, grass went cold turkey - and died. respectively. Or that’s the best On this shady, north slope, we can tell. You have to look at weekly mowing keeps the weeds the color of their eyes and the from re-seeding, and blowing has shape of their shells to tell their allowed the moss to take over sex. And I admit if you had to rely naturally. Under the hardwood just on their faces, identification trees, fallen leaves pile up to would be a real challenge. moisten the ground. I edge the Luckily, every box turtle has a islands with mulch, so it looks distinctive pattern on its shell. about as trim against the moss So the first three - Pinky, Sunny, as when it was grass. And I’ve and Booby - we named for their encouraged the wildflowers that Mr Gobbles after a mushroom meal. markings (I’ll leave that to your re-emerged from long dormant imagination). The fourth already seeds. had his name when we met him: an Over the years, we’ve watched the admirer had spelled ‘Bill’ on his shell in pink glitter paint. yard bloom, encouraging the growth as gently as possible. And Mr. Gobbles was christened when we discovered him Now it’s easy to spot the turtles as they waddle by. devouring a toadstool in our yard. Art by Ann Litrel, annlitrel.com
There are FIVE turtles who live around our yard - Pinky, Sunny, Booby, Bill and Mr. Gobbles.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Community
EVERYDAY Identifying people in need in our community. Everyday Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please visit www. everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek DR., Ste. 620, 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.
April is dedicated to autism awareness, and Everyday Angels would like to share a local family’s journey. Michele and Eric Doss have been blessed with three beautiful children - Austin, 11, Livia, 10, and Chase, 7. At 12 months, Chase was diagnosed with myoclonic epilepsy, which tossed their world into a loop of neverending therapies. When Chase was 21 months old, he received the official diagnosis of autism, a complex brain developmental disorder characterized by varying degrees of social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diagnoses are increasing at an alarming rate. Currently, one in 68 children receive the autism diagnosis. Chase is now 7 years old and has non-verbal, low-functioning wandering autism. “Chase has no sense of danger, which always puts him at risk. He is not afraid to run into the middle of the road toward oncoming cars. When in parking lots, our family must tag-team holding onto him to prevent him from darting out into the middle of anywhere. Our house is always locked down like Fort Knox with double locks on every door, window, and extra alarms to alert all open entries. We struggle to function as a family when we go out in public with Chase. Our family cannot let our guard down for two minutes,” says Michele. With countless hours in speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapy, Chase has come a long way. He is progressing in his ability to communicate and recently learned to say his name. As Chase grows bigger and stronger, it is becoming more difficult to restrain him when he has meltdowns or abruptly escapes. 32
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Chase is now old enough to receive an autism service dog. Project Chance, a non-profit organization in Florida, has matched Chase with a beautiful 18-month-old Golden Retriever named Brooklyn, who is now being trained for Chase and the Doss family. The cost of a service dog runs $15,000 to $22,000 and includes continuous training as Chase grows and his needs change. In addition to keeping an autistic child from running away, the service dogs are trained to identify seizures, prevent meltdowns, and serve as a social bridge between an autistic child and the outside world. “Our goal is for Chase to have a service dog to help us function as a family at things like his sister’s lacrosse games, his brother’s football games, or taking a hike at our local park. The possibility of simply shopping at the supermarket would create a more manageable atmosphere for our family, as well as those who watch from a distance. Brooklyn has visited us several times during her training and we have gone on outings with her. My heart just melted to see the way she watched Chase intently, never taking her eyes off him,” says his mom. “We want to thank each and every one who has played a part in our lives during this amazing journey with Chase. Chase has taught us all so much about slowing down and learning to appreciate and embrace each day with love and patience . More importantly, we’ve learned to never judge a book by the cover,” says Michele. Everyday Angels would like to rally the community in support of Chase and the Doss family to make sure they have the funding necessary to take ownership of Brooklyn this summer. Together, we can help write a new chapter into the Doss family book that will continue to progress the development and safety of Chase for years to come.
Rob’s Rescues This cat is Sparrow. She is 2 years old and was born with one eye but it doesn’t affect her. She has a striped tail and is friendly and small. She must be an indoor cat because of her eye. She is a brown mackerel tabby and has been at the shelter since January.
I’m Rob Macmillan and I’m on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. These animals are at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter at 1015 Univeter Road, Canton. Contact me at robsrescues@ gmail.com www.robsrescues.com
This dog’s name is Rosie. She is a pure beagle and was picked up as a stray. Rosie is about 5 years old and she likes attention. She is tri-color and has some spots. She is really gentle and she would make a great pet. She is quiet and does not jump up.
Here I am with my friend Charlotte Herrig. She is in the Junior Beta Club at Freedom Middle School. Charlotte says, “For Beta Club we have to volunteer a certain amount of hours and I thought it would be a good idea to help Rob’s Rescues by collecting food for dogs and cats in need. I am going to see if we can add this to the places our club supports.” Please email robsrescues@gmail.com by April 15 to arrange a pickup of food donations.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
33
Lifestyle
The Moon and the Stars BY SEAN KAUFMAN
Sean Kaufman lives in Woodstock with his wife, two sons and daughter. He specializes in intrinsic coaching/ motivation, owns a behavioral-based consulting business and is an internationally recognized trainer. He can be contacted at sean@seankaufman. com.
I was 10 years old and had a brilliant idea. Keep in mind, these were the days when everyone ate dinner at 6 p.m. and kids played in the living room in the evening while their parents watched television or read the newspaper. It was my turn to do the dinner dishes. I hated doing the dishes and thought this brilliant idea would get me out of doing dishes for the rest of my life. My idea was to intentionally do the dishes poorly and say I tried my best. After executing my plan, I went to the living room to play with my toys. My mom inspected the dishes. I could hear her sigh loudly and call my dad to the kitchen. I knew I was going to get yelled at, but if I could make it through the verbal lashing, I would be dish free forever! My dad left the kitchen and
even left the house. “HOME FREE!” I thought to myself. About 20 minutes later, my dad returned. He called me into the kitchen and said, “Son, it is clear that you had problems with the dishes tonight.” I
The Downtown Buzz is held at the Chambers at City Center (8534 Main Street) on the last Friday of the month and begins at 8 a.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information on the Downtown Buzz program or to suggest a topic for consideration, please contact Mitzi at 770592-6056. Presentation:
April 24 Community Development Update Jessica Guinn, Director Business, individual and non-profit memberships are available
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replied, “Yes Dad – I tried very hard.” He simply said, “I am sure you did, son. So to ensure you get better at doing the dishes, I have asked our six neighbors if you could do their dishes tonight. That way you could practice with them and come home to do these again.” He pointed to the first house and sent me on my way. Not being good at something isn’t an excuse to never do it – it is an excuse to do it again, and again, and again, and again, until you get it right. My parents raised us with this philosophy – always loving and supporting during the frustrating days of learning new behavior. The words “I can’t” or “I’ll try” entertain failure. The words “I will” lead to success. The lesson from my dad was much more than whether my attempt at the dishes was real. The lesson was the outcomes of trying versus doing were very different. Trying to do the dishes was the failure and doing the dishes was the success. Apply this to your life today. You can either say “I’ll try” or “I will.” Your choice will produce measurable differences in your overall results. I learned this lesson at 10 – always accept a challenge in life with an “I will.” Someone once said, “Always aim for the moon – if you miss – you’ll land among the stars.” The words “I’ll try” or “I can’t” will never take you off the ground. Believing “I will” may not always get you to the moon – but I guarantee – it will always land you among the stars!
Adjusting to the New Normal BY CLAIRE FROST
The average amount of weight women gain during pregnancy ranges between 20 and 35 pounds. Having gained - well, let’s just say more than that, I have my work cut out for me. Know what’s not cut out for a new mom? A chunk of time to fill with working out! Now that my daughter is strong enough (i.e. no more bobble head), I’ve found a routine that will Claire is the editor of work for both of us and I look forward House of Frost - a blog juggling family, fashion, to getting started. food, and furnishing with a little sparkle. The first and hardest thing is to Claire lives in Woodstock remember that the goal is not to with her husband, daughter and pups. transform your body back to its www.HouseFrost.com slimmest. It’s great if that happens, but don’t put that pressure on yourself. Your goal should be to become your healthiest you. After a lot of research on calisthenics and proper technique, I’ve found some exercises that easily incorporate a baby. • Sit-Ups. Try this exercise while holding baby in your lap, leaning on your knees. When you sit all the way up, you come face-to-face. • Squats. Do them while holding baby out in front of you. You get bonus points if you lift baby over your head while standing, bringing baby back down when squatting. • Pushups. Lay baby on her back on a mat and position your arms on either side of her. As with the sit-ups, you can make silly faces when you are face-to-face. • Go for walks. Take that little kiddo out in a stroller, weather permitting, and walk, walk, walk! What else? Focus on your eating habits. With little time, it’s difficult, but here are a few basics. • Don’t drink your calories. Meaning, drink lots of water. Repeat: Lots and lots of water. • Try not to eat after 7 p.m. This is really hard, especially since baby’s bedtime routine falls in the middle of dinner time. Just do your best. • Stay away from artificial sweeteners. • Eat clean, not less. Check labels. Those are just a few of my non-expert tips, and here’s one more very important one: Give. Yourself. A. Break. Your body just did something truly amazing and traumatic. It will need time to become “normal” again . . . and - spoiler alert - it is an entirely new normal than you expect, so be patient with it.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Lifestyle
M
andy Spell looks right at home at B.loved. She admits that she loves providing personal care to her clients, whether it’s helping them pick an entire outfit or deciding on accessories to complete the look. Customers are welcomed to the boutique by exposed-brick walls, high ceilings and neutral paint colors that create a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Mandy says that when children of friends come to visit, they refer to the store as “Mandy’s House.” She has loved the fashion industry since her teenage years. She received a bachelor’s of fine fashion marketing from Atlanta InterContinental University with the goal of opening a clothing boutique. Mandy said, “When I graduated, the economy was at a low, so I decided to start small and began the business online.” It quickly grew and she was able to open the brick and mortar version of B.loved in September 2013. “I always wanted a unique, one-of-a-kind location and I love the quaint downtown feel of Canton,” she said. The clothing and accessories at B.loved are also unique and range in price. All of the jewelry at the shop is crafted and handmade by local artists. Mandy receives daily shipments of clothing and jewelry so the inventory is constantly changing. It’s not unusual for regular shoppers to stop in daily. “Some people come in on their lunch breaks every day to see what’s new and to just enjoy the quiet, peaceful atmosphere,” said Mandy. She also encourages shoppers to stop by and register for a birthday discount. “If customers sign up with us they get a 20 percent discount coupon for their birthday month that is good for a one-time 20 percent off an entire purchase,” she said. Other clients see the store as a destination experience – travelling more than an hour to shop at the boutique. The one-
Mention you saw this article in Around Woodstock magazine and receive
15% off your next purchase Excludes sale items. Good through Aug. 31, 2015.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
on-one customer care provided by Mandy and her staff draws people back for repeat visits. “I adore this store! Everything in it is absolutely wonderful and I always leave with a smile on my face. It’s a great place to go when you need a little retail therapy. Mandy is always happy to help and she is as great as her store,” said customer Leslie Wells. Mandy even has a client who moved out of state and continues to order items from the store. “Personal care is the key,” said Mandy. “I enjoy being a personal stylist – I love to create.” Customer Tanya Riley-Cantrell said, “I love, love, love this store! Great products and excellent service. Mandy gave me great, honest, fashion advice.” The store’s eye-catching displays focus on layering pieces as well as popular top and dress extenders, which vary in styles and colors. “Customers say they like to shop with us because they don’t see the kind of styles we carry everywhere and that our merchandise is different,” says Mandy. She travels throughout the year and across the country to different trade shows to find the latest, up-to-date styles and trends. Customers also frequently comment on how the store smells. “When people walk through the door they say ‘it smells so good in here’ and they come in wanting to buy our candles just so they can have the same scent at home,” Mandy says. “People love it when they open their B.loved shopping bag at home and the clothes smell like the store.” Candles and home accessories round out the store’s merchandise and are things that Mandy hopes to focus on more in the future. B.loved B.loved is located 191 E. Main St., Canton GA 30114 on East Main Street in (770) 704-7447 downtown Canton, and www.shopbloved.com takes its name from its www.facebook.com/shopbloved owner. The Latin meaning www.pinterest.com/shopbloved of Mandy is worthy of Instagram & Twitter: @shopbloved love or “she who must be loved.” Stop by the store to see what’s new and meet Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Mandy–you will see that Closed Sun. & Mon. there is a lot to love. Open late during Canton’s First Fridays.
Photos by J king Images
B.loved Offers Fashion, Décor in Downtown Canton
DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK DINING GUIDE RESTAURANT Canyons 335 Chambers St. 678-494-8868 canyonsburgercompany.com
CUISINE
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
SUNDAY
SPIRITS
RESERV.
American
no
$
$
open
Beer/Wine
no
Century House Tavern 125 E Main St. 770-693-4552 centuryhousetavern.com
Modern American
no
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
8 persons +
Fire Stone 120 Chambers St. 770-926-6778 firestonerestaurants.com
Wood-fired Pizza & Grill
no
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Southern
Sat./Sun. Brunch
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
no
American
no
$
no
open
no
no
Tapas/Sushi
no
Fri./Sat. only
$$
open
Full bar
yes
Ipps Pastaria & Bar 8496 Main St. 770-517-7305 ippspastaria.com
Italian
no
$$
$$
open
Full bar
no
J Christopher’s 315 Chambers St. 770-592-5990 jchristophers.com
Diner
$-$$
$ - $$
no
open
no
weekdays only
BBQ & Southern Sandwiches
no
$ - $$
$ - $$
open
Beer
no
Freight Kitchen & Tap 251 E Main St. 770-924-0144 freightkitchen.com Hot Dog Heaven 8588 Main St. 770-591-5605 Ice Martini & Sushi Bar 380 Chambers St. 770-672-6334 icemartinibar.com
J Miller’s Smokehouse 156 Towne Lake Pkwy. 770-592-8295 jmillerssmokehouse.com Magnolia Thomas 108 Arnold Mill Rd. 678-445-5789 magnoliathomas.com
Southern
Sunday Brunch
no
$$$$
open
Beer/Wine
yes
Pure Taqueria 405 Chambers St. 770-952-7873 puretaqueria.com/woodstock
Mexican
Sat./Sun. Brunch
$$
$$
open
Full bar
6 persons +
Seafood
Sunday Brunch
$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
limited
English Tea room
no
$$
no
closed
no
yes
Italian
no
$$
$$$
closed
Full bar
yes
Reel Seafood 8670 Main St., 770-627-3006 reel.seafood.com Tea Leaves & Thyme 8990 Main St. 770-516-2609 tealeavesandthyme.com Vingenzo’s 105 E Main St. 770-924-9133 vingenzos.com
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20
Casual and Upscale Dine-In Restaurants
Lifestyle
Advantages of a Backup Generator BY DAN JAPE
Natural disasters — such as hurricanes in the Southeast and tornadoes in the Midwest — really highlight the importance of having a backup generator. Often referred to as standby generators, backup generators offer a permanent solution to power your home during an electrical outage. Standby generators are designed to turn on automatically when the power fails, Dan Jape is the owner or Reliable Heating & providing your home with a seamless Air. He can be reached supply of electricity in the event of a at 770-594-9969 power outage. A backup generator is available in a wide range of sizes from small, portable units to large, whole-house systems. Portable units require gasoline while whole-house systems use diesel or propane. Whole-house generators are wired into your home’s electrical system and will start automatically when the power goes out, so there’s no power loss to your refrigerator, air conditioning, heating, security system, telephone chargers, television and lighting. If your power is out for an extended period of time, you maintain home conveniences, protection and food supplies.
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Portable generators can supply enough electricity to power a combination of small appliances, radios, fans or a television, depending on the size of the generator. While they are not as efficient and require additional safety measures during operation, a portable generator is invaluable during a severe power outage. A standby generator offers immediate security and saves money by preventing damage to your home. Money is saved when you don’t have the expense of a lengthy hotel stay, repairing frozen pipes or replacing spoiled food.
GET SET FOR SUMMER This summer could be a busy one for your children, from the looks of this comprehensive guide.
Adventures Express & Special Needs Camps Sponsored by the Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency. 770-924-7768. www.crpa.net.
Art of Living at Community of Hope 770-479-6961. www.patriciareeves.com.
Brainy Bytes Tech 4 Kids
770-826-0449. www.bbtech4kids.com.
Camp Gideon
3545 Walden Lane, Acworth. www.campgideon.com.
Canton Golf Club Junior Golf Camp Call or text 404-285-7557.
Cherokee Junior Tennis Camps 155 Brooke Blvd., Woodstock. 770-592-4582. Proshopctc@gmail.com. www.cherokeetenniscenter.com.
Cherokee YMCA
770-345-9622. www.cherokeeymcaregistration.com.
Club Scientific Summer Camps
Campers ages 4-15 can choose from dozens of themes. Sessions held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. throughout the summer at Cherokee Charter Academy, 2126 Sixes Road. www.clubscientificatlanta.com.
Core Camps Plus
3075 Trickum Road, Woodstock. www.corecampsplus.com.
CRPA Fishing Camp (10th anniversary edition) jworley@cherokeega.com 770-924-7768. www.crpa.net.
Dance Imagination Fairytale Ballet 119 Mill St., Woodstock. 678-445-2731. www.danceimagination.com.
Elm Street Drama
678-494-4251. www.elmstreetarts.org.
Georgia All-Star Gymnastics
105 Arnold Mill Park, Woodstock. 770-516-2654. info@ga-allstars.com. www.ga-allstars.com.
Kids Time Academy
9562 Bells Ferry Road, Canton. www.kidztymeacademy.com.
Paper.Scissors.Cake
6687 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. 404-867-1630. Facebook: Paper.Scissors.Cake’s
Safety Town
Bascomb Elementary School in Woodstock. www.cherokeecountysafetytown.org.
Teams of Sports & Science
Allen Temple Church, 232 Arnold Mill Road. www.allentempleame.org.
Towne Lake Community Church 132 N. Medical Parkway. 678-445-8766, ext. 203. camp@tlcchurch.com.
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candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com Deadline is April 5 AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
39
Lifestyle
On Being Authentic BY BETH HERMES
In December, my daughter completed her coursework at Reinhardt University and will walk in the school’s graduation exercises in May, earning her bachelor’s degree in fine art with magna cum laude honors. My son, who graduated from high school last May, will begin his college career in August, as a computer science major. Beth Hermes is a As their mother, I could not be any graduate of Auburn more proud of the adults these two University’s School of Journalism, and a have become, in part because they professional writer. Her have already achieved some major work has appeared in magazines, newspapers milestones, but also because they and online publications. She also has created chose paths completely foreign to me award-winning but which complement their authentic marketing campaigns for corporations and nonpersonalities and interests. profit organizations. I use the word authentic because beth@eirismarketing. com we so often forget to factor our own desires when making major decisions, then we wonder why we are unhappy, despite earning money or accolades in our personal and professional lives. Merriam-Webster defines authentic as “real or actual; true
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” But in this world that judges us by our address, our income, the car we drive, the clothes we wear—things that have nothing to do with who we really are—how many people make decisions based on their authentic selves, versus what other people think (or will think)? Because I write books, people often approach me about their “great story ideas.” I’ll admit that some of them are really great story ideas; others, not so much (sometimes because the premise is not important to me). Then they’ll tell me, “you should write this...” No. I’ve been down that path before, not necessarily with writing, but with decisions I’ve made in regard to my education, my career and more. These days, I live by the rule of Don’t “Should” on Me. Doing things that others think I should often means that I am not being true to my authentic self. Since using authenticity as the measure by which I now make decisions, I find it easier to say yes to the things that are satisfying and fulfilling, and easier to say no to the things that are not. Being authentic, true to myself, makes it easier to live more joyfully, more mindfully, and with a greater sense of peace (and, yes, positivity). And it isn’t selfish, either, because my relationships are much more satisfying, as well.
Tumors have nowhere to hide Patients now have somewhere to turn The future of cancer treatment is here. And it’s only available at WellStar. WellStar is the only health system in metro Atlanta to offer TomoTherapy® and CyberKnife® for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
TomoTherapy
CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System
Unlike conventional systems, which allow radiation to be delivered from only a few directions, TomoTherapy rotates in 360 degrees, meaning that treatments can be delivered continuously to the tumor from every angle. More beam directions give physicians more control in how they plan treatments – and more assurance that the dose will be confined to the tumor.
The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System involves no cutting, and for many, can offer a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of tumors. The system is composed of a radiation delivery device, which is mounted on a flexible robotic arm which enables CyberKnife to deliver radiation to tumors anywhere in the body. Its exceptional tracking ability eliminates the need for patients to have stabilizing head frames or limited breathing during treatment.
For more information, call 770-793-7550 or visit wellstar.org/cancercare. AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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To Pamper: To treat or gratify with extreme or excessive indulgence, kindness or care.
Photos by J King Images
A Party Palace for Pampering The Pampered Peacock is a special events venue Owners Beth in Woodstock designed to delight and transform Tash (left) and Fran Shaw each little girl, teenager or woman who enters the doors. Inside the spa blue house on Main Street is a bright interior that reflects a fun and festive environment for brides, moms-to-be, little girls manicures, pedicures, massages, makeup application, hair styling celebrating birthdays or women wanting a special ladies night and facials. Other girly activities such as dressing up, glitter out with their friends. tattoos, nail decals, T-shirts and karaoke are available for the Owners Fran Shaw and Beth Tash younger party-goers. Bring your own food and beverage or ask opened the Pampered Peacock in August 2014 to offer a unique party Fran and Beth for recommendations of caterers. Adults can bring wine to enjoy during their spa experience. venue, a need they recognized as Guests enter into a large, open room where the walls are they watched the evolution in their flanked by eight custom pedicure stations that face each other, own daughters’ tastes in birthday allowing guests to chat easily while being pampered. A nail and parties. makeup bar on the left leads the way to the party room, where “There is nothing like us in the a large table accommodates food and drinks. A quiet, peaceful Atlanta area that caters to young massage room is in the back of the house, and a large patio with girls and ladies (adults). We are unique because we can host private lounge chairs and a fireplace spa events without being in the gives clients a company of other clients. We relaxing space customize our venue and tailor our parties for our client’s specifications to enjoy time outdoors. to provide an upscale salon experience,” said Fran. The The Pampered Peacock is a popular weekend destination for Pampered bridal or baby showers, pre-prom or homecoming gatherings, Peacock is just brownie or Girl Scout events and birthday parties for children a few miles north of downtown Woodstock, and convenient from or adults. Wedding parties can book the venue for manicures, pedicures, and hair and makeup before the ceremony. Fran and the Ridgewalk exit off I-575. ”We pride ourselves on the five-star reviews we have received. Beth are also booking appointments for groups and individuals We go out of our way to ensure our customers receive the during the week. best possible service, whether it’s a young girl’s birthday or a Spa packages can be customized to fit any budget, and include luxurious spa day for women,” said Fran. For more details, call 678-540-7601 or visit www.thepamperedpeacock.com.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
Faith
Why Church? BY REV. ANN GARVIN
I was recently talking with a lady who was totally disenfranchised with church. She felt that the church she had been attending spent more time judging others than it did showing them the love of Christ. As she shared her heart with me, I felt so sad. I was reminded of a song by Casting Crowns, “Jesus, Friend of Sinners.” Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who’s writing in the sand, Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands; Help us to remember we are all the least of these; Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees. Nobody knows what we’re for only what we’re against when we judge the wounded; What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did. Oh Jesus, friend of sinners; Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers; Let our hearts be After working in the counseling field for more than 25 years, Ann felt God’s call into pastoral ministry and currently serves as pastor of Woodstock United Methodist Church. Her email address is ann. garvin@ngumc.net.
led by mercy; Help us reach with open hearts and open doors; Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours. Many people get disillusioned with “church” because of their experiences with “church” people. It’s so easy to fall into judgment. But we are all on a journey through this life. None of us have arrived at perfection. Just because we attend church doesn’t mean we never act based on our sinful, selfish nature. We are all human and, as such, we still sometimes fail. But what better place to practice what we preach than church. You know, those things like confession, forgiveness, mercy and grace. The teachings of Jesus are not always easy and oftentimes go against our natural (fleshly) nature. And that is one of the reasons “church” is so important. God’s Spirit works within us when we intentionally make ourselves available to Him. Jeremiah 29:13 tells us that “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Romans 10:17 reminds us that “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” We come to church seeking God. I hope you have a church where you can hear the Word of God proclaimed and allow His Spirit to speak to your heart! And one where you can grow and be transformed into the person He created you to be.
Join the American Cancer Society in the world’s largest movement to end cancer. Form a Relay For Life team and sign up online to start fundraising. Relay For Life of Cherokee County May 8, 2015 6:00 p.m. Creekview High School 1550 Owens Store Rd, Canton For more information and to register, visit www.RelayForLife.org/CherokeeGA AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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School & Sports
Soccer Team Wins Division Championship Athena A U13 Roswell Santos Girls Blue team, led by Coach Mark Lomas, recently won the Gold II Division at the Red Diamond Vulcan Cup Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. Throughout the tournament and championship game, the team kept their opponents from scoring with help of goalie, Kristin Liquori. Front row from left: Amanda Navin, Abby Rindt, Lauren Dismukes, Anne Lescher, Bella Akin and Emily Raeside. Back row from left: Coach Mark Lomas, Maggie Furey, Emily Piper, Jessica Hawkins, Julia Shalhoub, Kristin Liquori, Sienna Kent, Taylor Allen and Erin Weir.
River Ridge HS Wins Regional Literary Meet The River Ridge High School Drama Club recently competed in the Regional Literary Meet and won its first Regional Championships in Dramatic Interpretation. Jordan Sollie Mandi Stinson Jordan Sollie and Mandi Stinson each was named the Region Champion in the Dramatic Interpretation category and will compete at the state meet. The school’s team also was named the Region Runner-Up, defeating seven teams to earn the honor.
Fundraiser Supports Haitian Ministry Cherokee Christian Schools raised more than $3,700 for Reformation Hope Ministries in Haiti as a part of International Night at the school. Students learned about other countries as well as helping others through the fundraiser event. From left, Abigail Palmer, Mikaiah Palmer and Chassidy Viera compare notes while collecting information about Germany.
Middle School Team Headed to National Science Bowl A Woodstock Middle School team is headed to the 2015 National Science Bowl after winning the regional competition in Savannah. The 25th annual national competition gives middle and high school students the opportunity to compete by solving technical problems and answering questions from science fields including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics and math. The team, which went undefeated through the sub-regional and regional competitions, is the only middle school team representing the state of Georgia at the national competition in Washington, D.C. All expenses for the team’s trip will be paid as part of its regional championship prize. The team of Laney Broussard, Greg Carroll, Katie Gilliam, Andy Jiang and Camilo Rincon is coached From left, Coach Brandi Miller, Andy Jiang, Katie Gilliam, Camilo Rincon, Laney Broussard, by Brandi Miller and Heidi Switzer. Greg Carroll and Coach Heidi Switzer. 44
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3D Technology Improves Teaching and Learning Students and teachers at Woodstock High School are using the latest technology to improve teaching and learning. Members of Jennifer Forsyth’s Advanced Placement Biology classes recently experienced DNA and mitosis in a totally different way − through 3D. “The concepts students are learning in class literally jumped Students experience the 3D Rover system to study off the wall, as long as they had on DNA and mitosis. their 3D glasses,” Ms. Forsyth said of the experience using the Cherokee County School District’s 3D Rover system. “Students were in awe, with jaws dropped, on the edge of their seats, fully engaged at what they were experiencing.”
Competition Squad Brings Home Awards The Knights Varsity football competition cheer squad from The Kings Academy recently competed at the JAMfest Cheer and Dance Competition in Kansas City, Missouri. The squad won first place in the varsity school intermediate level and won the award for best choreography.
Undefeated Basketball Champs A group of fifth grade boys from Holly Springs Elementary School recently won the championship tournament in their division in the Cherokee Youth Basketball Tournament. Their record was 14-0. From left: Chase Ayers, Julian Garcia, Josh Price, Roy Stone, Julian Owen (attends Cherokee Charter School), Izaiah Sanders and Garrett Holubetz. Coaches are Jason Price and Tyler Price.
Bottom row from left: Caroline Russell, Lauren Hughes, Julia Burtt, Callie Petersen and Julianna Knowles. Middle Row: Devyn Deatherage, Tori Osborne, Madi Sykes and Kyla Crayford. Top Row: Tatum Coleman, Claire Hillis and Brianna Hoover.
Sequoyah Speech and Debate Team Compete at Harvard The Sequoyah High School Speech and Debate Team recently competed in the 41st Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament at Harvard University in Boston. Despite the blizzard conditions in Boston, the prestigious tournament was attended by more than 350 high schools from throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, South Korea and China. Sequoyah was represented by 32 students in the Varsity and Junior Varsity Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas debates, Varsity Policy debate, Humorous Interpretation, Original Oratory and Dramatic Interpretation. The team, which is the only one of its kind in the School District, is ranked in the top 10 percent of high school speech and debate teams nationwide by the National Forensic League. More than 50 students participate on the team, competing in tournaments throughout the state and at the national level. Students who participated in the Harvard event are: Ellie Agler, Caroline Avery, Allie Barone, Cassie Barone, Jack Bishop, Cameron Buice, Rebekah Carnes, Caleb Crayton, Mary Beth Dicks, Maddie Doerr, Sarah Donehoo, Nick Duclos, Luke Etheridge, Gabby Filkins, Caitlin Franchini, Sam Fullerton, Georgine Gibson, Andrew Gollner, Rachel Haas, Chris Harkins, Caroline Kraczon, Derrick Mandoeng, David Miller, Janet Miller, Josh Nieves, Alexa Powell, Wendy Roberts, Zach Rogers, Caitlyn Shirley, Michael Stone, Kalin Valone and Bella Vellino. AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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School & Sports
Start Early in Making Prom Plans BY MARK KISSEL
Chief of Police Mark Kissel has served the Cherokee County School District since 1999 and has more than 35 years of law enforcement experience.
Spring means a change in activities as the temperatures warm up and we have longer evening hours for those activities, thanks to daylight saving time. One of the biggest events in a life of a high school student is prom. While the prom planning committee has been hard at work for many months, many students and parents seem to wait to the last minute to prepare. As a parent, you want your child to have a memorable experience, yet there are certain considerations that need to be discussed. • Where is the prom being held?
• Are you chaperoning? Does your child know this? • Have early reservations been made for the dinner prior to the prom? No need to be late to the prom. • Is your child driving or riding with other students, or did you hire a limousine or “party bus?” If your child is driving, have you agreed to a designated route and identified secure parking areas?
• If you hired a limousine, did you do your homework? Is this a company or a private car? • Did you check references? Are there any complaints with the Better Business Bureau? • Have you talked with your child about the use of alcoholic beverages? Schools are permitted to use Alco-sensor testing if they believe a student is under the influence of alcohol upon arrival at the prom site. Are you certain the limousine is not stocked with beverages? • What has been agreed to regarding curfew (or time to be home)? • Are there plans for a late night breakfast following the prom? This needs to be considered when setting the curfew. • Be sure to exchange phone numbers with other students’ parents that your child with be travelling with. If it gets past curfew, you need to be calling those parents to see if their child is home safe and sound. There are likely several other questions that need to be covered. Be sure to reflect on your prom preparations and experiences so this will be a memorable experience for your child.
A Lesson on the Job of a School Board Member BY CLARK MENARD
Recently I was asked “What does a school board member do?” It is a great question and one that is not well understood, sometimes even by board members themselves. As a new board member, I am still learning my role in the education of our youth, but was provided an analogy that helped me and may do the same for you. Think of the school system as a taxi cab. In this scenario, a board member Clark Menard lives in Deer Run with his wife is the passenger. The passenger knows and two daughters where they want to go and has the and is the district five representative on endpoint in mind. The taxi driver is the Cherokee County the superintendent and the school Board of Education. administration. It is their job to safely navigate to the desired destination by choosing the best route and following the rules of the road. Keeping this analogy in mind clears up some common misperceptions on what the duties or responsibilities of a school board member are. Recently, we experienced several days of weather-related school cancellations, and I was asked repeatedly by my children whether we would have school 46
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tomorrow. My answer to them was the same as every other parent: I will find out when they make the announcement! As the passenger in the taxi, I leave it up to the cab driver to know when there is a traffic jam (the weather) and that a detour (cancellation) might be necessary. At the same time, the board members have specific goals for the school system and wish to see these met in a manner that is appropriate. We choose the destination and which taxi driver will get us there for the appropriate fare. If a taxi driver is wasting our money or seems lost, we make the determination of when to jump out and hail a new one. Board members and administration work as a team and they have specific roles. Just as I would not ask the taxi driver to let me drive, I would not presume to tell them when conditions call for the cancellation of school. Board members provide strategic guidance to the school district by establishing goals and policies that they feel will lead to
Board members and administration work as a team and they have specific roles.
continued on page 63
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Health & Wellness
Can Somebody Stop that Ringing? BY JAN HENRIQUES AU. D.
Sounds are all around us. Stop for a moment and close your eyes, taking a few minutes to listen. Really listen. I am doing just that, and I hear cars outside in the distance, the sound of my fingers tapping on this keyboard, the distant sounds of an airplane and a train. Sounds make up the landscape of our lives. They are what make us aware of what’s around us and makes our environments alive, even the quiet Dr. Henriques is a board certified ones. But what if, in addition to all the audiologist and lead sounds, you heard a ringing in your provider at North Georgia Audiology in ears? It can be unbearable, making Woodstock. She has it difficult to concentrate on anything been practicing since 1985, after earning a else. doctorate in audiology The term for this noise is tinnitus. from the University of Florida and a master’s According to the American Tinnitus degree from LSU Association, tinnitus is the medical Medical Center. term for the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It takes on numerous forms that include ringing, hissing, buzzing, music and sounds that resemble crickets, tree frogs and a whistling tea kettle. The sounds can be perceived in one ear, both ears or somewhere in
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the head. Some forms can actually be heard by others. Tinnitus is much more common than people realize. It has been said to occur in 10 to 17 percent of the American population. That can mean that anywhere from 30 to 50 million people in the U.S. have some form of tinnitus. Even more astonishing is According to the that one out of every 100 American Tinnitus adults reports tinnitus that is debilitating. That Association, tinnitus is upward of three million is the medical term Americans! Tinnitus is not a disease for the perception of but a symptom that could sound in one or both indicate benign or serious conditions. It’s most ears or in the head commonly a sign of some degree of hearing loss, when no external although many millions sound is present. have tinnitus with normal hearing. Whatever the underlying cause, it should be evaluated with a thorough hearing test by an audiologist, who can direct you for a proper followup. While there is no cure for tinnitus, devices for hearing or sound therapies can help. Visit www.ata.org for additional information.
Attention Sciatica And Low Back Pain Sufferers……
Could One Hour With Our Doctors Give You The Answer To Your Disc Pain? Now, in Acworth, GA, Dr. Erin Arnold, D.C. & Dr. Amy Valente, D.C. have what may be the most important breakthrough in non-surgical back pain treatment. Before and after MRI studies have shown disc bulges shrink in size – even with the most painful cases of L4-L5 & L5-S1 herniations. If you’ve had disc problems for years, recently injured your back, or you’re suffering with sciatica, you must hear about these new studies. Scientific studies tell us that spinal discs are responsible for most of the aches and pains people suffer from. Discs act like a cushion between our backbones and allow for a space at each level so the nerves can exit the spinal column. When these discs get injured or wear out from bad posture, they begin to degenerate and cause pain. Bulging and herniations begin to form, pressing on the nerve roots. If the herniations occur at L4-L5, they can severely compromise the large sciatic nerve, causing muscle weakness, tingling, and severe pain. The most common invasive treatment for disc herniations is surgery. This costs quite a bit of money. Even with health insurance the patient is left with their own portion of the bill, in excess of $10,000-$15,000, and sometimes more. The recovery time and missed work can be anywhere from 3 to 6 months, not to mention the obvious severe risks associated with all surgery. But here’s the biggest problem… there is a high failure rate of back surgery. One medical study found that on average, 53% of L5-S1 back surgeries fail to produce relief of symptoms (International Orthop 1987.) Do You Have A Disc Problem? If you experience any of the following in your back or neck, chances are your pain is due to a disc bulge, herniation or degeneration: • A vice-like squeezing feeling in your back • Sitting causes back or leg pain • Stabbing pain at the belt line or in your neck • Can’t turn over in bed without hurting • Numbness in your toes or fingers • Fire down your legs • Searing pain radiates into your arm • Prickling in your leg or toes Finally, Some Good News…… If you’ve been suffering with back pain or arm/leg pain caused by a disc bulge, disc herniation or squashed or compressed discs. Until recently, the only advice for many of you suffering in pain was to try what you’ve been told: • Try exercising • Try physical therapy • Try pain medications • Try muscle relaxers • Try pain shots • Try dangerous back surgery • Just live with it If you’re like most, none of these have worked for you or you are afraid of what could happen if you do try some of these. Exercising makes you hurt more, pain medications and muscle relaxers cover up the problem and give you side effects. Pain shots can cause more pain, don’t work or don’t last very long or FIX the problem, back surgery didn’t work, or made you worse. Or maybe you were one of the lucky ones that back surgery actually helped, but now the problem is back with a vengeance. Whatever your situation, you owe it to yourself to check into a Breakthrough Computerized Non-Surgical Treatment
for back pain and sciatic or leg pain caused by a bulging, herniated or squashed disc or discs. It has helped hundreds of people who were suffering just like you. This new treatment machine we are calling “the squashed disc machine.” How “Good” Discs become “Bad” Discs Over time the discs in your back tend to get squashed or compressed, especially if you’ve played certain sports when younger or have a job that requires lots of sitting or standing in one place for long periods of time. Car accidents, lifting things, very physical jobs just to name a few. It’s kind of like a cookie with cream filling, and the cream filling will start to ooze out from between the sides of the cookie if pressure is applied on top of the cookie (like gravity on our spines). Eventually this happens to a lot of us. Statistics show over 80% of Americans will suffer with back pain some time in their life. Spinal decompression treatments are very gentle. In fact, every once in a while I even catch a patient sleeping during treatment! How Does This Machine Work? Haven’t you ever had the thought…”Gosh, if somebody could just pull me apart…I would feel a whole lot better.” Yeah, we know you have. And it kind of makes a bit of sense. Well someone else, actually a medical manufacturer, back pain specialists, neurosurgeons and engineers have come up with just that. A machine that gently pulls you apart, stretches the disc to a certain point that causes a drop in pressure inside the disc (like a little vacuum in the middle of the cream filling) causing the cream filling to suck back in! You’ll simply lie on your stomach or back, whichever is comfortable, and then a specialized belt is gently put around your waist. We’ll set the machine to focus on your problem area – then the advanced decompression computer system will do the rest. Most patients feel better with just a few treatments, and best of all there will be no dangerous drugs, no invasive procedures, and no painful exercises. Does Decompression really work? Absolutely! When you come in we will provide you with studies that show why decompression is a preferred method of treatment. But what provides the best “proof” on how well decompression works is what patients say about it: Just Listen to What Our Patients Had to Say: I started at North Cobb Spine & Nerve Institute for pain in my low back that traveled down my right leg. The pain felt like a burning sensation down my leg and numbness into my toes. I was unable to walk my normal 5 miles. Since starting the spinal decompression therapy I am now able to walk again without any pain. The pain and numbness down my right leg is completely alleviated. I was surprised to find that I am even sleeping better at night and that the tension in my upper back has also been relieved. The staff here has treated my great and is very caring! Thanks Bill Norman “Before I started getting spinal decompression therapy I was having severe pain in my low back and numbness down my leg constantly. I had been suffering with this for 3 years. I had two nerve abrasions, multiple steroid shots in my back, pain killers, PT and water therapy and nothing worked. After the first spinal decompression treatment I could stand up straight with very little pain. I can now sleep through the night and exercise again. I am 90-100% better and I am so thankful I found this office.” Thanks, John Ratledge
Dr. Amy Valente As you can see, spinal decompression has a high success rate with helping disc herniations, sciatica, and back pain. In just a matter of weeks you could be playing golf, enjoying your love life, or traveling again. The Single Most Important Solution To Your Sciatica and Back Pain It’s time for you to find out if spinal decompression will be your sciatic and back pain solution. For 15 days only, we’re running a very special offer where you can find out if you are a candidate for spinal decompression. What Does This Offer Include? Everything we normally do in our new patient evaluation. Just call before April 15th, and here’s what you’ll get… • An in-depth consultation about your health and wellbeing where the doctor will listen…really listen…to the details of your case. • A complete neuromuscular examination. • A full set of specialized x-rays to determine if a spinal problem is contributing to your pain or symptoms. • A thorough analysis of your exam and x-ray findings so we can start mapping out your plan to being pain free. • An extensive review of your MRI. • You’ll get to see everything first hand and find out if this amazing treatment will be your pain solution, like is has been for so many other patients. Until April 15th, you can get everything listed here for $20. The normal price for this type of evaluation including x-rays is $250, so you’re saving a considerable amount by taking us up on this offer. Here’s What To Do Now: Due to the expected demand for this treatment, we suggest calling our office at once at 678-574-5678.
CALL TODAY! 678-574-5678 North Cobb Spine & Nerve Institute 3451 Cobb Pkwy, Ste. 4 Acworth, GA 30101
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Health & Wellness
Effective Treatment for Your Gummy Smile
Cancer Patients Benefit from NoninvasiveTreatments
BY DR. SCOTT R. HARDEN
BY MARK MCLAUGHLIN, M.D.
Many people possess a “gummy smile,” which is a display of gum tissue above your teeth when you smile. A typical smile does not reveal gum tissue above the teeth because the upper lip extends down just below the top of your teeth and covers the gum tissue. The amount of gum tissue displayed in a gummy smile can range from several millimeters to one-half inch. If you are concerned by a gummy Dr. Scott Harden is a dentist at Fountain smile or feel your teeth look too small, View Family Dentistry and has served the you may want to consider an effective Woodstock area for treatment option known as crown more than 21 years. You can reach Dr. lengthening. This cosmetic dental Harden at procedure can re-contour the top of 770-926-0000 or visit FountainViewSmiles. your gum tissue to create longer looking com. teeth and reduce the amount of gum tissue displayed when you smile. Crown lengthening procedures have been performed for years to deal with gum disease, but now cosmetic dentistry uses it to uncover teeth hidden under the gums. Crown lengthening is a periodontal surgery treatment that involves removing excess gum tissue, and possibly some bone, around the upper teeth. This common procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes about 30 minutes to one hour. Once the area is numb, the dentist removes unneeded gum tissue with a scalpel or by electrosurgical device. With gummy smiles, there is often excess bone bulging under the gum tissue, which requires surgery to lift the gums, flatten the bone to create a normal contour and then replace the gums. The result is teeth that appear normal in length, less gum is displayed and there’s a normal looking bone above the teeth. Crown lengthening can also be performed to sculpt gum tissue when the gum line is uneven or to repair a tooth fracture below the gum line. Unlike many dental procedures, crown lengthening is a onetime procedure and requires no touch-ups. It can reduce the risk of tooth decay because more tooth structure is exposed for brushing and flossing. If you have excessive or uneven gums, crown lengthening can transform your smile and provide you with the right look, and as a bonus, it may just improve your overall dental health.
In recent years, advances in technology have given more options to patients with cancer. In December 2014, the American Cancer Society released a study that said more than 1.3* million Americans avoided death from cancer since 1991 thanks to a combination of better prevention, detection and advanced treatments. Patients with cancer—regardless of complexity—have access to a broad Mark McLaughlin, M.D., is medical range of therapies that can be tailored director of radiation to their specific needs. In many cases, oncology at WellStar. He earned his medical patients can choose noninvasive, paindegree from the free treatments with no recovery time. Medical College of Georgia and completed Two such therapies are targeted his surgical internship radiation treatments called at Shands Teaching Hospital, College of TomoTherapy and CyberKnife. These Medicine at University of Florida, where he systems allow radiation oncologists to also completed his offer accurate, personalized cancer care residency in radiation oncology. with precise beams of radiation that can be delivered from multiple angles and rotation arcs. This beam range allows more precise radiation delivery. Because of advances in technology that allow for such precise delivery, radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and organs is greatly reduced, and side effects that are common with traditional radiation also are diminished. CyberKnife automatically corrects for motion throughout the treatment and is particularly helpful for treating tumors of the lung, liver and prostate, where movement is common. The TomoTherapy system’s unique use of CT scans while radiation is being delivered identifies the exact position of the tumors during the treatment and adjusts for patients’ movement, helping target cancer treatment in ways never before thought possible. Both of these therapies deliver radiation with speed, reducing patients’ treatment time and allowing for shorter courses of treatment. Because TomoTherapy and CyberKnife are so efficient, patients speak of never having to miss appointments at work, time with grandkids or even a tee time. With the addition of TomoTherapy this April, WellStar Kennestone Hospital will be the only hospital in Georgia to offer both of these cutting-edge treatments to our patients. We’re thrilled to be able to provide individualized treatment choices to patients that will enhance the quality and longevity of their lives.
Before and after crown lengthening procedure. 50 AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
Patients can choose noninvasive, pain-free treatments with no recovery time.
*SOURCE: American Cancer Society, 2014 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.3322/caac.21208/pdf
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Reference
WOODSTOCK AREA HOMES SOLD IN FEBRUARY List Price 149,900 224,900 179,900 179,900 238,500 235,000 253,900 138,000 210,000 625,000 165,000 145,000 147,500 379,900 429,000 269,000 137,900 255,000 195,000 334,900 149,900 314,000 338,000 149,900 367,900 318,999 157,500 143,200 132,500 240,000 194,900 194,888 169,900 513,683 179,900 162,500 179,900 275,000 425,000
Address 5026 Gunners RUN NE 1006 Wiley Bridge RD 209 Colony Center DR 4019 Westridge XING 146 Churchcliff DR 606 Adam CIR 1717 Grand Oaks DR 406 Doris DR 223 Persimmon TRL 183 Hubbard RD 1046 Washington AVE 153 Riverchase DR 118 Remington CT 238 Edinburgh LN 251 Fowler ST 508 Papillion TRCE 127 Apple Valley DR 411 Gael WAY 426 Thaxton LN 128 Newcastle WALK 3021 RIVER STATION DR 224 Maple Creek Chase 6869 Vaughn RD 811 HAMPTON CT 5056 Hickory Hills DR 117 Newcastle WALK 124 Chickasaw RUN 306 Westover DR 209 Sunnybrook CT 138 Clifford CT 204 Highland VLG 608 Springharbor DR 117 Farmington DR 150 Windfields LN 1002 Westminster CT 1113 Chesterwick TRCE 1064 River Plantation DR 409 Ridgeview CT 401 Meadow Brook CIR
Subdivision Gunners Pond Bramble Oak Westridge Westridge Woodlands Ansley Forest Oakhurst Driftwood Forest The Woodlands Park Woodstock Downtown Arnold Mill Estates Riverchase Springfield WYNCHASE Woodstock Downtown Woodlands Applewood Woodlands MONTCLAIR Newcastle Farm RIVER OAKS Bradshaw Farms None FARMINGTON Bradshaw Farms Newcastle Farm Indian Wells Farmington Sunnybrook Mill Creek Overlook Highland Village Springfield Place Farmington Overlook at Woodstock Knoll Farmington Waverly Hills River Plantation Arbor View Meadow Brook
Beds 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 2 3 3 5 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 4 3 5 3 3 4 5 6
Full Baths Yr Built 2 1980 3 1989 2 1996 2 1996 3 2003 2 1992 2 2010 3 1978 2 2003 4 2007 3 1984 2 1985 2 1985 3 2008 2 2011 2 2005 2 1982 2 2005 2 2005 2 2013 2 1991 3 1997 3 1985 2 1981 2 1998 3 2011 2 1975 2 1979 2 1980 3 2003 2 2013 2 1996 2 1979 4 2014 2 1983 2 1993 2 1999 3 1999 4 2005
FMLS SF Detached residences data provided by The Premier Group, Keller Williams Realty Partners, Wood Data believed to be accurate, but not warranted.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
WOODSTOCK CITY GUIDE
City Manager Jeffrey S. Moon, 770-592-6001, jmoon@woodstockga.gov Rhonda Smith, exec. assistant, 770-592-6001, rsmith@woodstockga.gov
Stay Connected on Facebook
City of Woodstock: www.facebook.com/WOODSTOCKGAGOVT
City Council Representatives
Woodstock Fire: www.facebook.com/woodstockfireandrescue
For minutes and agendas of meetings, visit www.woodstockga.iqm2.com.
Woodstock Main Street: www.facebook.com/MainStreetWoodstock
Ward 1: Warren Johnson Ward 2: Chris Casdia
Woodstock Parks and Recreation: www.facebook.com/woodstockparks
Ward 3: Bob Mueller
Woodstock Police: www.facebook.com/woodstockpolicegeorgia Woofstock Dog Park: www.facebook.com/woofstockpark
Ward 4: Liz Baxter
On Twitter
Ward 6: Rob Usher
Ward 5: Bud Leonard
www.twitter.com/woodstockpd www.twitter.com/woodstockfd www.twitter.com/woodstockparks www.nixle.com Sends alerts, advisories and community notifications from the city of Woodstock and Cherokee County Sheriff Department. www.cherokeega-sheriff.org A resource to check for registered sex offenders in your neighborhood. Click on Georgia Sexual Offender Registry then click on Register for Email Alerts for updates. City of Woodstock government 770-592-6000
Council appointed committees: Downtown Development Authority and Convention & Visitors Bureau; Ethics Board; Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Economic Development
Downtown Development Authority Convention & Visitors Bureau Brian Stockton, Director 770-592-6056, bstockton@woodstockga.gov Woodstock Visitors Center/Dean’s Store Kyle Bennett, Tourism Manager, 770-924-0406 kbennett@woodstockga.gov
City Officials
Mayor Donnie Henriques 770-592-6001, dhenriques@woodstockga.gov
Mitzi Saxon, Administrative Coordinator, 770-592-6056 or x-2250 msaxon@woodstockga.gov
Community Development Jessica Guinn, direct 770-592-6050 ext. 1600, jguinn@woodstockga.gov
Public Safety
Finance Robert Porche, CFO 770-592-6003, rporche@woodstockga.gov
George Williams, community outreach, Fire Marshal’s office 770-592-6000 ext 1845, gwilliams@woodstockga.gov. Woodstock Police Department 770-592-6030 Woodstock Post Office 770-591-0364
Parks and Recreation Preston Pooser, 770-517-6788, ppooser@woodstockga.gov
The Outlet Shoppes
T at Atlanta at Saks
Fifth Avenue Off Fifth
- park in marked spaces only - parking in Woodstock UMC lot is M-Sa only - Chatt Tech parking is limited until early 2015
T
Trolley Routes outlined in red
Chattahoochee Technical College
Parks Cir
Trolley Stop
Public Parking Lots
Rope Mill Rd
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Dobbs Rd
Kyle St
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Arnold Mill Rd
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Download the Visit Woodstock App for info on downtown businesses and events! AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
53
Reference
W OO D STO CK C ITY G OV E RNMEN T Mayor and Council Members Mayor Donnie Henriques dhenriques@woodstockga.gov Ward 1 - Warren Johnson wjohnson@woodstockga.gov Ward 2 - Chris Casdia ccasdia@woodstockga.gov Ward 3 - Bob Mueller bmueller@woodstockga.gov Ward 4 - Liz Baxter lbaxter@woodstockga.gov Ward 5 - Bud Leonard bleonard@woodstockga.gov Ward 6 - Rob Usher rusher@woodstockga.gov
Rid ge wa lk Pk wy .
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Hwy. 92
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS United States Government President Barack Obama (D)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500 www.whitehouse.gov
Sen. David Perdue (R)
B40D Dirksen Senate Ofc. Bldg., Washington, DC 20510 perdue.senate.gov
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R)
131 Russell Senate Ofc. Bldg., Washington DC 20510 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970, Atlanta, GA 30339 isakson.senate.gov
Cherokee County Board of Commissioners
202-456-1414 fax: 202-456-2461 202-224-3521 GA: 678-248-6444
202-224-3643 GA: 770-661-0999
State Government Governor Nathan Deal (R)
404-652-7003 203 State Capitol, 206 Washington St. Atlanta, GA 30334 www.gov.georgia.gov
Sen. Brandon Beach (R) District 21 brandon.beach@senate.ga.gov
404-463-1378
Rep. Michael Caldwell (R) District 20
678-523-8570
Rep. Scot Turner (R) District 21
678-576-2644
Rep. Wes Cantrell (R) District 22 wesley.cantrell@house.ga.gov
404-656-0220
Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R) District 23
404-656-0254
scot@turnerforhouse.com
mandi.ballinger@house.ga.gov
www.cherokeega.com 678-493-6001
Commissioners
L.B. “Buzz” Ahrens (R) Chairman
lbahrens@cherokeega.com
Steve West (R) District 1 swest@cherokeega.com
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R) District 11 238 Cannon House Ofc. Bldg., Washington DC 20515 202-225-2944 9898 Highway 92, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188 GA: 770-429-1776 loudermilk.house.gov
michael@CaldwellforHouse.com
1130 Bluffs Pkwy., Canton, GA 30114
Ray Gunnin (R) District 2 rgunnin@cherokeega.com
Brian Poole (R) District 3 bpoole@cherokeega.com
Scott Gordon (R) District 4 sgordon@cherokeega.com
Cherokee County Coroner
Earl W. Darby 770-735-8055
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office
www.cherokeega-sheriff.org
Sheriff Roger Garrison (R)
678-493-4100 fax: 678-493-4228
498 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 rdgarrison@cherokeega.com
Cherokee County Tax Commissioner Sonya Little
2780 Marietta Highway, Canton, GA 30114 slittle@cherokeega.com
Cherokee County School Board Superintendent, Dr. Frank Petruzielo 221 West Main St., Canton, GA 30114 drp@cherokee.k12.ga.us
678-493-6400 fax: 678-493-6420 www.cherokee.k12.ga.us 770-479-1871 fax: 770-479-1236
Kyla Cromer (R) District 1
678-493-8088
Patsy Jordan (R) District 2 patsy.jordan@cherokee.k12.ga.us
770-893-2970
Superior Court
John Harmon (R) District 3
404-462-4950
Chief Judge David Cannon Jr. 678-493-6270 Judge Jackson Harris 678-493-6260 Judge Ellen McElyea 678-493-6240
Janet Read (R) Chair
770-516-1444
State Court
Rick Steiner (R) District 4
Rep. John Carson (R) District 46 john.carson@house.ga.gov
404-656-0287
Cherokee County Courts
Judge W. Alan Jordan 678-493-6490 Judge A. Dee Morris 678-493-6480 Magistrate Court Chief Judge James E. Drane III (R) 678-493-6431 Judge Gregory Douds 678-493-6431
Probate Court Judge Keith Wood (R) 678-493-6160
kyla.cromer@cherokee.k12.ga.us
john.harmon@cherokee.k12.ga.us janet.read@cherokee.k12.ga.us
770-721-4398, x4370
rick.steiner@cherokee.k12.ga.us
Clark Menard (R) District 5
770-928-0341
Mike Chapman (R) District 6 mike.chapman@cherokee.k12.ga.us
770-345-6256
clark.menard@cherokee.k12.ga.us
City Government Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood
770-704-1544
Chief Judge John B. Sumner 678-493-6250 Judge Anthony Baker 678-493-6280 District Attorney Shannon Wallace 770-479-1488
Holly Springs Mayor Timothy Downing
770-345-5536
Clerk of Courts Patty Baker 678-493-6511
Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques
770-592-6001
Juvenile Court
www.canton-georgia.gov www.hollyspringsga.us. www.woodstockga.gov
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Reference
WOODSTOCK AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
Cherokee Business Network Meets: 7:45 a.m. every Wednesday at Chick-fil-A, 9728 Highway 92, Woodstock Contact: Marci Zied 770-345-8687 Cherokee Toastmasters Club Meets: Noon-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Bank of North Georgia, 200 Parkway 575, Woodstock Contact: Richard Stacy 843-697-5189, richbstacy@gmail.com www.cherokeetoastmasters.com Empowered Women Through Synergy Meets: 8:30 a.m. third Thursday at J Christopher’s, 315 Chambers St., Woodstock Contact: Shahida Baig 678-445-3900 The Joy of Connecting Networking for Women Meets: Various times and locations Contact: Edeline Dryden 678-789-6158 http://xperienceconnections.com/spotlight/woodstock/ Main Street Woodstock Meets: 8 a.m. last Friday of every month at 8534 Main St. at City Center www.mainstreetwoodstock.org Southeast Cherokee Business Networking Meets: 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Frosty Frog Creamery, 6205 Hickory Flat Hwy., #112, Canton www.secbn.com Towne Lake Business Association Meets: 12:30 p.m. third Tuesday at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills Contact: 770-615-3350 www.tlba.org Towne Lake PowerCore Team Meets: 7:15-8:45 a.m. every Friday at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Marc Replogle 770-952-5000, ext. 20 or 404-816-3377 www.powercore.net Women of Woodstock Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. first and third Wednesday at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills Contact: info@womenofwoodstock.com www.womenofwoodstock.com Ahimsa House Helps victims of domestic violence 24-hours a day who need help getting their pets to safety. Contact: 404-452-6248 www.ahimsahouse.org Angel House Girls Home A residential facility to help girls ages 12-18 learn selfsufficiency. Contact: 770-479-9555 www.angelhousega.com Anna Crawford Children’s Center Dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and protecting and serving children and families through prevention and intervention services. Contact: 678-504-6388 www.cherokeechildadvocates.org Bethany Place A transitional home for single women, unwed mothers. Contact: 770-479-9462 www.bethanyplacehome.org CASA for Children Promotes the health and happiness of children impacted by abuse through programs that increase their safety and improve their educational, social and emotional functioning. Contact: 770-345-3274 www.casacherokee.org CCHS Thrift Store Accepts donations and sells used household items to raise money for Cherokee County Humane Society. 5900 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth Contact: 770-592-8072 Cherokee Family Violence Center Offers emergency shelter and crisis intervention, affordable housing, education, support services. Contact: 770-479-1703, Spanish 770-720-7050 or 800334-2836 option 2 www.cfvc.org Cherokee Fellowship of Christian Athletes Challenges professional, college, high school, junior high and youth level coaches and athletes to use athletics to impact the world for Christ. Contact: Bill Queen 404-441-3508 www.cherokeefca.org
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Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) Contact: 770-928-5115 or admin@cchumanesociety.org www.cchumanesociety.org Cherokee FOCUS Works to improve the lives of children and families through collaborative programs and initiatives. Contact: Sonia Carruthers 770-345-5483 www.cherokeefocus.org Cherokee County Senior Services Offers educational, social, leisure and recreational activities for senior citizens. Contact: 770-345-5312 or 770-345-5320 www.cherokeega.com/senior-services Community Veterinary Care Provides professional veterinary care for pets whose owners have limited financial means. Contact: 678-640-3512 www.communityveterinarycare.com Companion Animal Connection Contact: 678-493-9847 www.adoptapet.com Everyday Angels Offers financial assistance for local families in need. Contact: aaeverydayangels@gmail.com Feed My Lambs, Inc. Provides free Christian preschools in the U.S. and around the world. Contact: 770-795-9348 office@feedmylambs.net www.feedmylambs.net Forever Fed A mobile food ministry that addresses physical hunger and hopelessness in North Georgia by providing meals and sharing the gospel. www.foreverfed.org Funds 4 Furry Friends Helps those in need with food, spay/neuter and medical attention for their pets. Contact: Gina Jeter 770-842-8893 www.funds4furryfriends.com Georgia Animal Project, Offers high quality, low cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats throughout North Georgia. Based in Ball Ground Contact: 770-704-PAWS (7297) www.theanimalproject.org Give a Kid a Chance – Cherokee Sponsors a yearly back-to-school bash, giving children in need filled backpacks to free haircuts. www.giveakidachance.org Goshen Valley Boys Ranch Offers a home, care and counsel to young men in the DFCS system. Contact: 770-796-4618 www.goshenvalley.org Green Shelters America Animal rescue group. Contact: 770-712-4077 or GreenSheltersAmerica@gmail.com www.GreenSheltersAmeric.com Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia Contact: 770-587-9697 www.habitat-ncg.org Harvesting Hope Ministries Gives surgery care packs to children facing liver and kidney failure. Contact: dawn@harvestinghopeministries.org www.harvestinghopeministries.org. Healing Hands Youth Ranch Offers safe, peaceful environment where abused and at-risk children are paired with rescue horses for hope and healing. Contact: Jennifer Simonis 770-633-4451 www.hhyr.org
Contact: 770-924-0864 or info@TheHopeCtr.com www.hopectr.com HOPE Center — Baby & More Thrift Store Offers adult and children’s clothing. Contact: 770-517-4450 www.babyandmorethriftstore.com MUST Ministries Offers groceries, hot meals, emergency shelter, supportive housing, clothing, employment services, summer lunch and more from five locations in eight counties, including the Canton office at 111 Brown Industrial Pkwy. www.mustministries.org National Alliance for Mental Illness The nation’s largest grassroots organization in America working to build better lives for the millions affected by mental illness. www.nami.org Never Alone Outreach Provides food and clothing assistance to Cherokee families in need. www.neveralone.org. Next Step Ministries Offers a therapeutic day program, Saturday respite, camps and special events for people with special needs. Contact: 770-592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net North Georgia Pregnancy Center Offers help and care to young girls and women with an unplanned pregnancy or who need counseling. Contact: 706-253-6303 www.ngapregnancy.org Papa’s Pantry A year-round local food ministry, which also includes the Masters Training Center to help individuals and families in crisis get back on their feet. Contact: Lynne Saunders 770-591-4730 www.papaspantry.org Pet Buddies Food Pantry Helps families in need by providing pet food, supplies, spaying and neutering, and education through community outreach programs. Contact: 678-310-9858 www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org Safe Kids Cherokee County Provides free child safety seat inspections by appointment. Contact: 770-721-7808 www.cherokeesafekids.org SERV International Operates the House of Hope orphanage in Africa, sponsors a clean water program in Dominican Republic and meal distributions worldwide. Also offers mission trips. Contact: 770-516-1108 www.servone.org Volunteer Aging Council A nonprofit that helps raise funds for the seniors of Cherokee County. A list of current needs is available. Contact: 770-310-3474 www.vac-cherokeega.org Veterans Service Organizations American Legion Post 316 Meets: 7 p.m. third Thursdays at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road Contact: Irma Martin 678-662-2366 Woodstock VFW Post 10683 Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesday at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road Contact: Andrew Yrabedra 404-663-4663 Civic, County Organizations AARP Woodstock Chapter For anyone age 50 and older. Meets: 11:30 a.m. second Tuesdays at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills Contact: Rich 770-926-1944
HopeQuest Ministry Group Helps people who struggle intensely with life dominating issues related to alcohol abuse, substance abuse and/or sexual brokenness. Contact: 678-391-5950 www.hqmg.org
Canton-Cherokee TRIAD/S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Meets: 8:30 a.m. first Tuesday at G.Cecil Pruitt YMCA in Canton (Hall of Fame Room) www.saltcherokee.com
HOPE Center Offers support for unplanned pregnancy.
Cherokee County Historical Society Contact: 770-345-3288 www.rockbarn.org
Citizen Oversight and Education Contact: 678-520-2236, citizenoversighteducation@ yahoo.com Jewish Havurah (Friends) A group of Jewish people who meet for Jewish holidays, special Jewish events and Shabbat dinners. Contact: Marcie Zied 770-345-8687 Junior Service League of Woodstock Contact: 770-592-3535 http://jslwoodstock.org/ Pilot Club of Cherokee County Meet: 6: 30 p.m. second Mondays at IHOP on Hwy 20 Contact: Lynda Goodwin, 770-393-1766 or Lynda@edgoodwinassociates.com www.pilotinternational.com Rotary Club of Cherokee County Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at IHOP on Highway 92 Contact: 770-480-4179 Rotary Club of Woodstock Meets: 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays at IHOP on Highway 92 Contact: 678-428-6514 Rotary Club of Towne Lake Meets: Noon Thursdays at Featherstone’s Grille at 1003 Towne Lake Hills E., Woodstock www.townelakerotary.com
Cherokee Amateur Radio Society Meets: 10 a.m. on the second Saturday at William G. Long Senior Center, 223 Arnold Mill Road www.cherokeehams.com Cherokee Community Chorale A community of singers from all walks of life including housewives, teachers, retired professionals, office managers and professional musicians who love the art of choral singing. Contact: 678-439-8625 www.cherokeechorale.org Cherokee County Arts Center 94 North St., Canton Contact: 770-704-6244 www.CherokeeArts.org Cherokee County Master Gardeners Contact: 770-721-7803 www.caes.uga.edu/extension/cherokee/mastergardeners Cherokee Photography Club www.cherokeepc.org Cherokee County Saddle Club Hosts monthly meetings and group rides. www.cherokeesaddleclub.com Cherokee Hockey In Line League (CHILL) Roller hockey. www.cherokeehockey.org
Service League of Cherokee County Contact: 770-704-5991 http://serviceleague.net
Cherokee Music Teachers Association Contact: Linda Lokey 770-720-1701 www.cherokeemta.org
South Cherokee Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. every Friday at Featherstone’s at Towne Lake Hills Contact: 770-926-3522
Cherokee Soccer Association Contact: 770-704-0187 www.csaimpact.com
Towne Lake Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. Fridays at Eagle Watch Golf Club Contact: 404-557-2218 www.townelakeoptimists.com
Christian Authors Guild Meets: 7-9 p.m. first and third Monday at Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship, 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock www.christianauthorsguild.org
Woodstock Jaycees Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday and third Thursday at 216 Rope Mill Road Contact: 770-926-8336 Woodstock Lions Club Meets: 7 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Contact: 770-906-2958
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS Cherokee County Democratic Party Meets: 7 p.m. second Thursday at Holly Springs Train Depot, 164 Hickory Road, Holly Springs Contact: 770-345-3489 www.cherokeedemocrats.com Cherokee County Libertarians Meets: 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday at the Cherokee County Board of Realtors Training Center, 1600 River Park Blvd., Suite 104, Woodstock http://cherokeelp.org Cherokee County Republican Party Meets: 9 a.m. second Saturday at Winchester Woodfire Grill, 110 Mountain Vista Blvd., Canton Contact: 678-809-1411 http://cherokeecountygop.com/ Cherokee Tea Party Patriots Meets: 4 p.m. third Sunday at Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock Contact: Conrad Quagliaroli 770-378-8232, conradquag@gmail.com www.teapartypatriots.org/groups/cherokee-tea-partypatriots/ Cherokee County Republican Women affiliated with The Georgia Federation of Republican Women Meets: Monthly in Woodstock/Canton Contact: 770-592-7811 or jkconkey@gmail.com Grassroots Conservatives of Cherokee Meets: 7- 9 a.m. Fridays at the Wendy’s in Holly Springs, 5343 Old Highway 5, Woodstock Contact: Bill Dewrell 770-294-0922 Republican Women of Cherokee County Contact: 678-520-2236 www.rwccga.com
RECREATION & HOBBIES Allatoona Gold Panners Periodic events and outings to pan the creeks in the Dahlonega Gold Belt along the Lake. Contact: Rob Kelly rrkelly@bellsouth.net
Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association www.cherokeelacrosse.com
Kingdom Riders A forming chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association in Canton. Meets: 8 a.m. fourth Saturdays at Family Tradition restaurant in Hickory Flat. All makes of motorcycles welcome. Les Marmitons For men interested in culinary arts. www.lesmarmitons.org Wildlife Action, Inc. A conservation organization on Allatoona Lake at 2075 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth. Contact: 770-924-7464 www.wildlifeactiongeorgia.com
Contact: 770-428-2695 Breast Cancer Support Group Meets: 10 a.m. - noon first Thursday of each month at Northside Hospital—Cherokee, Diabetes Classroom, Educational Center Contact: 404-843-1880 Celebrate Recovery Christ-centered recovery program for all types of habits, hurts and hangups. Meets: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Woodstock Church of the Nazarene. Contact: 770-366-7515 Meets: 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Sixes United Methodist Contact: 770-345-7644 www.sixesumc.org Meets: 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Ministry House Contact: 678-459-2347 http://MinistryHouse.org Meets: 6:15 p.m. Thursdays at 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton Contact: 678-764-8660 www.celebraterecovery.com Cherokee County Support Group Provides support for people with autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, etc. Meets: 6:30 - 8 pm second Thursday at New Light Baptist Church, 1716 New Light Rd, Holly Springs Contacts: Stacie Collett 404-402-0571, jhmom88@ comcast.net and Christy Stephenson 770-337-0294 christystephenson@msn.com Cherokee County Special Olympics Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. www.cherokeecountyspecialolympics.org Cherokee Christian Ministerial Association For pastors and ministry leaders of all Christian denominations. Meets: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. last Wednesday at Dayspring Church, 6835 Victory Drive, Woodstock www.cherokeeministers.org Diabetes Support Group Meets: 9:30 and 11 a.m. third Tuesday at Emeritus Assisted Living, 756 Neese Road, Woodstock Contact: Linda Watson 770-793-7818 Georgia Canines for Independence Contact: 404-824-4637, gcidogs@aol.com www.gcidogs.org
Cherokee Senior Softball Association www.seniorsoftball.com
Grace Valley Ministries Connects pastors by offering small group meetings, free counseling and a place to retreat. Contact: 727-251-7690, info@gracevalleyministries.org www.gracevalleyministries.org
Sons of the American Revolution - Cherokee Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays at the Rock Barn, 638 Marietta Hwy., Canton www.cherokeechapter.com
Grandparents Raising GRANDchildren Meets: 7:15 p.m. second Tuesdays Transfiguration Catholic Church, Marietta (nursery available). Contact: Jeannie 770-919-9275
William G. Long Senior Center Offers activities for seniors at 223 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. Contact: 678-445-6518
Hearing Loss Association of America NW Metro Atlanta Chapter Support and resourcesoffered at free and quarterly meetings in the Woodstock area. Contact: nwmetroatlantahlaa@gmail.com
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
La Leche League of South Cherokee Meets: 10 a.m. first Tuesday and 7 p.m. third Tuesday at Bascomb United Methodist Church Contact: Marguerite 678-315-7686 or Megan 770-517-0191
AA Meetings Meets: 9:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Monday at Canton First United Methodist, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road, Canton; 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Hillside United Methodist, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. www.aageorgia.org/14c-meetings.html Al-Anon and Al-A-Teen Meets: 8 p.m. Thursdays at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 2795 Ridge Road, Canton; Al-Anon at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Al-A-Teen at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Hillside United Methodist Church, 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. Contact: Reba, 770-516-3502 www.ga-al-anon.org/district-number.php?district=17 American Heart Association - Cherokee Division Contact: 678-385-2013 American Red Cross Metro Chapter
MOMS Club of Woodstock - Towne Lake Contact: momsclubofwoodstocktl@gmail.com https://sites.google.com/site/ momscluboftownelakewoodstock MOPS — Mothers of Preschoolers (birth — K) Meets: 9:30 a.m. second and fourth Mondays at Hillside UMC, 4474 Towne Lake Pkwy Contact: 770-924-4777 Unlimited Possibilities Support group for stroke and brain injury survivors. Meets: 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center Contact: Kelly 678-677-2589 AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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Reference
COMMUNITY OF FAITH ADVENTIST
Cherokee 101 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-7304 http://cherokee.netadvent.org/ Canton 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton 678-880-0106 www.cantonadventist.org
AME
Allen Temple AME 232 N. Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-6348 www.allentempleame.org St. Paul 390 Crisler St., Canton 770-479-9691 www.stpaulame-canton.org
BAPTIST
Carmel 2001 Bascomb Carmel Road Cherokee 7770 Hickory Flat Highway, Woodstock 770-720-3399 www.cherokeebaptistchurch.org
River Church 2335 Sixes Road, Canton 770-485-1975 www.riveratlanta.org South Cherokee 7504 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-0422 www.cherokeebaptistchurch.org Sutallee 895 Knox Bridge Highway, White 770-479-0101 www.sutalleebaptistchurch.com Toonigh 4999 Old Highway 5, Lebanon www.toonightbaptistchurch.lifewaylink.com
CHURCH OF GOD
Bells Ferry 6718 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-592-2956 www.bellsferry.com
Crossroads Community Church 2317 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-592-7007
Sunnyside 2510 East Cherokee Drive, Woodstock 770-693-1018 www.sunnysidecog.com
Crossroads Primitive Baptist Church 3100 Trickum Road, Woodstock 770-710-1068 www.crossroadspbc.org
Toonigh 4775 Holly Springs Parkway, Canton 770-926-3096 www.toonighcog.org
Faith Community 659 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-516-1996 www.faithcommunitychurch.org
EPISCOPAL
First Baptist of Woodstock 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-4428 www.fbcw.org First Baptist Canton One Mission Point 770-479-5538 www.fbccanton.org First Baptist Holly Springs 2632 Holly Springs Parkway 770-345-5349 www.fbchollysprings.com Heritage Baptist Fellowship 3615 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton 770-479-9415 www.heritagebaptistfellowship.com
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New Victoria 6659 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-926-8448 www.newvicbaptist.org
Christ the Redeemer Charismatic 6488 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton 404-395-5003 www.ctrcec.com Episcopal Church-Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, Marietta 770-928-7916 www.annunciationepiscopal.org Saint Clement’s 2795 Ridge Road, Canton 770-345-6722 www.stclementscanton.org
JEWISH
Chabad Jewish Center 4255 Wade Green Road NW, Suite 120, Kennesaw 678-460-7702 www.jewishwoodstock.com
Hillcrest 6069 Woodstock Road, Acworth 770-917-9100 www.hbcacworth.org
Congregation Ner Tamid Reform Jewish Congregation 1349 Old 41 Highway NW, Suite 220, Marietta 678-264-8575 www.mynertamid.org
Hopewell 78 Ridge Road, Canton 770-345-5723 www.hopewellbaptist.com
Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills, Marietta 770-973-0137 www.etzchaim.net
Mt. Zion 4096 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-479-3324 www.mtzb.org
Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green St., Roswell 770-641-8630 www.kehillatchaim.org
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road, Marietta 770-973-3533 www.kolemeth.net
MESSIANIC JEWISH CONGREGATIONS
Congregation Beth Hallel 950 Pine Grove Road, Roswell 770-641-3000 www.bethhallel.org
LUTHERAN
Celebration of Grace 411 Scott Mill Road, Canton 770-503-5050 www.celebrationofgrace.org Good Shepherd 1208 Rose Creek Drive, Woodstock 770-924-7286 www.gslutheran.org Timothy 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-928-2812 www.tlcwoodstock.org
ORTHODOX
St. Elizabeth 2263 East Cherokee Drive, Woodstock 770-485-0504 www.stelizabethga.org
PRESBYTERIAN
Cherokee 1498 Johnson Brady Road, Canton 770-704-9564 www.cherokee-pca.org. Covenant South Annex Rec Center 7545 Main St., Bldg. 200, Woodstock www.cc-pca.org Faith 3655 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton www.faithpc.us Grace Church 1160 Butterworth Road, Canton 678-493-9869 www.gracecanton.org Heritage 5323 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-926-3558 www.heritagepres.com Woodstock 345 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-0074 www.woodstockpcusa.com
ROMAN CATHOLIC
St. Michael the Archangel 490 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-516-0009 www.saintmichaelcc.org Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road NE., Marietta 770-977-1442 www.transfiguration.com
UNITED METHODIST
Bascomb 2295 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-926-9755 www.bascombchurch.org
Canton First 930 Lower Scott Mill Road 770-479-2502 www.cantonfirstumc.org
Christian Praise Center 1358 Sixes Road, Canton 770-924-7532 www.christianpraisecenter.com
New Covenant Bible 1095 Scott Road, Canton 770-479-6412 www.newcovenantcanton.org
CITY ON A HILL 7745 Main St., Woodstock 678-445-3480 www.coahumc.org
Church at North Gate 9876 Main St., Suite 250, Woodstock 678-494-2193 www.ngca.org
North Atlanta Church 6233 Old Alabama Road, Acworth 770-975-3001 www.northatlantachurch.org
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2205 Bascomb-Carmel Road, Woodstock 770-733-2585 www.mormom.org
Oak Leaf 151 East Marietta St., Canton 678-653-4652 www.oakleafcanton.com
Fields Chapel 1331 Fields Chapel Road, Canton 770-479-6030 www.fieldschapel.org Hickory Flat 4056 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-345.5969 www.hickoryflat.org Hillside 4474 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-924-4777 www.hillsideumc.org Holly Springs 2464 Holly Springs Parkway 770-345-2883 www.hollyspringsumc.com Liberty Hill 141 Railroad St., Canton 678-493-8920 www.libertyhillumc.org Little River 12455 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-2495 www.littleriverumc.info Mt. Gilead 889 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591- 0837 www.ngumc.org Sixes 8385 Bells Ferry Road, Canton 770-345-7644 www.sixesumc.org Woodstock 109 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock 770-516-0371
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST Emerson 4010 Canton Road, Marietta 770-578-1533 www.emersonuu.org
OTHERS
Action Church 271 Marietta Road, Canton 770-345-3030 www.actionchurch.tv
Church of the Messiah 4115 Charles Cox Drive, Canton 770-479-5280 www.churchofthemessiah.net Cornerstone Community 503 Hickory Ridge Trail, Suite 160, Woodstock 678-439-5108 www.ccchurchonline.org Dayspring 6835 Victory Drive, Acworth 770-516-5733 www.dayspring-online.com Empowerment Tabernacle 507 Industrial Drive, Woodstock 770-928-7478 www.EmpowermentTabernacle.com The Factory 9872 Main St., Woodstock, 770-517-7265 www.thefactoryministries.org Faith Family 5744 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth 770-926-4560 www.ffcacworth.com Fivestones Church 155 P Rickman Industrial Drive, Canton 770-720-2227 www.fivestoneschurch.info God’s Rolling Thunder Latimer Hall, 103 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock www.godsrollingthunder.org His Hands 550 Molly Lane, Woodstock 770-405-2500 www.hishandschurch.com Life Church 224 Brown Industrial Blvd., Suite 103A 770-847-0170 www.lifechurchcanton.com
Prayer & Praise Christian Fellowship 6409 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock 770-928-2795 www.prayerandpraise.org Resurrection Anglican 231 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-591-0040 www.rezwoodstock.org Revolution 125 Union Trail Hill, Canton 770-345-2737 www.therevolution.tv Sojourn Community Church 231 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-769-7495 www.sojournwoodstock.com Sovereign Grace 471 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 678-494-2100 www.sgcatlanta.org Thrive Chapel 400 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-835-5795 www.thrivechapel.com Towne Lake Community 132 North Medical Parkway, Woodstock 678-445-8766 www.tlcchurch.com Victory 4625 Highway 92, Acworth 770-794-7366 www.victoryga.com Watermarke 2126 Sixes Road, Canton 678-880-9092 www.watermarkechurch.com Woodstock Christian 7700 Highway 92, Woodstock 770-926-8238 www.woodstockchristian.org
Love Community Church 5598 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth
Woodstock Church of Christ 219 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8838 www.woodstockchurchofchrist.org
Branches of Christ 5946 Jacobs Road, Acworth 770-917-4964 www.branchesofchrist.com
Ministry House 347 Holly St., Canton 678-459-2347 http://MinistryHouse.org
Woodstock Church of the Nazarene 874 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock 770-366-7515 www.wcnga.com
BridgePointe 233 Arnold Mill Road, Suite 400, Woodstock 770-517-2977 www.bridgepointechurch.org
Momentum 110 Londonderry Court, Suite 130, Woodstock 678-384-4919 www.MomentumChurch.tv
Woodstock Community Church 237 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock 770-926-8990 www.wcchurch.org
Awakening 180 Parkway 575, Suite 140, Woodstock 770-924-4150 www.awakeningwoodstock.com
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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G R EE NPRI N T S T RAI L SYST E M WOODSTOCK, GA
Town to Creek Trail - This 0.57 mile paved trail begins at Market Street in downtown Woodstock one block west of Main Street. It continues downhill toward Noonday Creek where it intersects with the Noonday Creek & Towne Lake Pass trails. Noonday Creek Trail - This 0.86 mile paved trail is a continuation of the Town to Creek trail meandering along Noonday Creek. It intersects the future Towne Lake Pass trail and the bridge to Woofstock Park. Trestle Rock Trail - This 0.40 mile paved trail is located in Olde Rope Mill Park and is an easy flat trail on the banks of Little River. Towne Lake Pass (2015) - This approx. 1.2-mile trail will connect the Towne Lake community to downtown along the banks of Noonday Creek. It will begin at the interesection of Towne Lake Parkway and Towne Lake Hills South. Rubes Creek Trail (2015) - This 1-mile paved trail runs along Rubes Creek and will ultimately connect into a larger run of trails. 60
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
CHEROKEE COUNTY CONTACTS Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce
770-345-0400
Cherokee County Government
Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency www.crpa.net. 770-924-7768 (Includes Aquatic Center, Barnett Park, Blankets Creek, Cherokee
www.cherokeega.com Building Permits, Business Licenses 770-721-7810 Commissioners 678-493-6001 Engineering Office (Traffic Signals) 678-493-6077 Environmental Health 770-479-0444 Extension Office 770-479-0418 Jury Phone 770-479-9011 Justice Center (Courts, Judges, etc.) 770-479-1953 Planning & Land Use 678-493-6101 Senior Services 770-345-2675 Sheriff’s Office www.cherokeega-sheriff.org 678-493-4100 Voter Registration 770-479-0407
Mills, Field’s Landing Park, Kenny Askew Park)
Taxes
Animal Control
License Plates/Tags, Property Tax – Canton office Woodstock office Renewals online https://mvd.dor.ga.gov/tags/ Tax Assessors/Evaluation
678-493-6400 770-924-4099 678-493-6120
Children and Family
Anna Crawford Children’s Center 770-345-8100 Bethesda Community Clinic 678-880-9654 Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club 770-720-7712 Cherokee County Foster & Adoptive Parents Assoc. www.ccfapa.com 770-560-2624 Cherokee Family Violence Center 770-479-1804 Cherokee FOCUS 770-345-5483 Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) www.casacherokee.org 770-345-3274 Division of Family & Children Services 770-720-3610 Goshen Valley Boys Ranch www.goshenvalley.org 770-796-4618 Hope Center www.hopectr.com 770-924-0864 MUST Ministries - Cherokee www.mustministries.org 770-479-5397 Never Alone www.neveralone.org 770-363-5272 Next Step Ministries www.nextstepministries.net 770-592-1227 North Georgia Angel House www.angelhousega.com 770-479-9555 North Georgia Pregnancy Center www.ngapregnancy.org 706-253-6303 Papa’s Pantry www.papaspantry.org 770-591-4730
Hospitals
Kennestone North Fulton Northside Hospital — Cherokee
Hotlines — 24-hour help lines
Battered Women Hotline Drug Tip Line (Cherokee Co. Sheriff) Poison Control Center Poison Control Center (outside metro Atlanta) Probate Court Information Line Sexual Assault & Family Violence Center
Parks and Recreation
770-793-5000 770-751-2500 770-720-5100 770-479-1703 770-345-7920 404-616-9000 800-222-1222 770-704-2610 770-427-3390
Cherokee Hockey In Line League (CHILL) roller hockey www.cherokeehockey.org Cherokee Outdoor YMCA, 201 E Bells Ferry Road www.ymca.net Cherokee Senior Softball Association www.cssasoftball.com Cherokee County Soccer Assoc. www.csaimpact.com 770-704-0187
Cherokee Tennis Association, www.cherokeetennis.org 678-909-0252 Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Assoc., http://cherokeelacrosse.uslaxteams.com South Cherokee Recreation Association (SCRA)
770-928-5917
Cherokee Youth Football Association, www.cyfa.org
770-710-2835
North Atlanta Soccer Association: www.nasa-ga.org
770-926-4175
SCRA Baseball www.scrabaseball.com Wildlife Action, Inc. www.wildlifeactiongeorgia.com
770-924-7464
Pets 678-493-6200
Cherokee County Animal Shelter & Pet Adoptions www.cherokeega-animals.org
770-345-7270
Cherokee County Humane Society www.cchumanesociety.org
770-928-5115
Emergency Veterinary Clinic
770-924-3720
Funds 4Furry Friends
770-842-8893
Lost Pets:
www.townelaker.com.
(click on lost and found pet button to report missing pet) Pet Buddies Food Pantry
www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org
Community Veterinary Care www.communityveterinarycare.com
678-640-3512
Utilities Atlanta Gas Light Co. Canton Water
www.aglc.com
770-907-4231
www.canton-georgia.com
770-704-1500
Cherokee Water & Sewerage Auth. www.ccwsa.com
770-479-1813
Cobb EMC
770-429-2100
www.cobbemc.com
Georgia Power
www.georgiapower.com
Woodstock Water
www.woodstockga.gov
Recycling Center
888-660-5890 770-926-8852 770-516-4195
Free, Reduced-Price Health Care Bethesda Community Clinic www.bethesdacommunityclinic.org
678-880-9654
Cherokee County Health Department www.nghd.org/CherokeeHealth
770-345-7371
Urgent Care Facilities American Family Care, 6440 Bells Ferry Rd. Woodstock, 770-200-1220 Northside Cherokee Urgent Care, off exit 11 at I-575
678-426-5450
Physician’s Express Care at Towne Lake 900 Towne Lake Pkwy. #104 Woodstock
770-693-5880
SHEFA Urgent Care 2000 Village Professional Dr. #110, Canton
678-661-3166
Wellstar Urgent Care 120 Stonebridge Pkwy. Woodstock (off exit 8)
678-494-2500
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
61
Reference
Proven Solutions = Stable Families
Focus to Fight Financial Crime, Elder Abuse
More Than a Food Pantry Targeted Training to Unlock Potential
focus on white-collar crime in Cherokee County. We are currently working to establish a county-wide White Collar/Elder Abuse Task Force that better links the district attorney’s office with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as well as senior service agencies. The task force will focus on improving our response to these serious cases through partnership and collaboration. Our office has joined the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators and the National White Collar Crime Center, which will provide more resources and training opportunities for our staff. We are also pursuing At-Risk Adult Crime Tactics Certification through the Georgia Division of Aging’s Forensic Special Investigations Unit. Finally, we are in the process of enhancing our website to increase community awareness on prevention methods and steps to take if one becomes a victim of a financial crime. As we go into National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in, we must all work together to empower victims to report financial crimes and to provide the necessary support and resources they need to move forward and rebuild their lives along with holding offenders accountable.
770-591-4730
Help families achieve stability and donate today
We are mobile! You can view the Around Woodstock magazine on your mobile device Scan this QR code and flip through the magazine
Join the Around Woodstock magazine Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/AroundWoodstockMagazine
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continued from page 16
Business Prospects Best Yet for Cherokee Co. continued from page 17
Just after the global manufacturer of high-end automotive sunroofs opened its 165,000-square-foot Cherokee facility, company executives announced plans to expand another 45,000 square feet. Now, Inalfa is getting ready to construct a second building at its Cherokee campus. The company also expects to add 300 new jobs to its Cherokee workforce by 2019. Next up is MSK Covertech-Group. MSK will soon break ground on its new North American headquarters, which will also be located in Cherokee 75 Corporate Park. MSK is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of packaging and logistics systems for pallet load units and large containers. It’s expected to generate at least 30 high-paying new jobs. And like Inalfa, more jobs are expected in the years ahead. “When the economy first started to turn, we knew the worst thing we could do is stand still,” said Marshall Day, COED chairman. “We used the recession as a time to plan, and position Cherokee for success.” Day said he feels COED’s work is now coming home in the form of new jobs that will provide meaningful career opportunities for Cherokee residents. “We’re tired of losing our well-educated and highly skilled workforce to neighboring communities,” he added. “Our time is now.”
The Job of a School Board Member continued from page 46
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
an outstanding education for each student. Application of policies and implementation of processes to achieve goals are performed by professional administrators with years of experience and expertise in these matters. Together, we strive for educational excellence!
Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to the residents of Towne Lake, Canton and Woodstock. We look forward to serving you, our readers and advertisers, every month. Thank you for your continued support and participation in making this truly your community magazine. At AroundAbout Local Media, we believe the world functions at the community level: diverse groups of people living in close proximity, sharing commonality of culture, values and local pride, developing safety nets for those in need, and helping each other to live richer lives. Candi Hannigan Executive Editor
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Denise Griffin Controller
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Karen & Jon Flaig Owner/Publisher
It is our heartfelt desire to contribute to the fabric that helps make a community happen. Through our magazines, we aim to provide everyone in the communities we serve with uplifting, interesting information about the community they are proud to call home. We encourage you to send us your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about. It’s your community. It’s your magazine.
Around Woodstock Distribution Map Circulation: 16,300
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY ACCOUNTING/FINANCIAL SERVICES LGE Credit Union Inside back 12186 Hwy. 92, Ste. 111B, Woodstock www.LGEccu.org, 770-424-0060 Michael & Company, PC 770-420-8020 ext. 225 195 Chastain Meadows Court, Ste. 110 Kennesaw, www.MichaelCPApc.com
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Schuckers & Associates 770-329-8873 or 706-745-2475 3760 Sixes Rd., Ste. 126 #127, Canton Schuckers.Consulting@gmail.com
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ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES Hartman Imbriale Attorneys 678-445-7423, www.hartman-imbriale.com 145 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 200
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BEAUTY, MASSAGE & SPA Bambu Salon and Spa 150 Prominence Point Pkwy., Suite 700, Canton 30114, 770-345-0027
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Main Street Nails 770-928-2662 Salon Spa Venéssa 770-591-2079, www.salonvenessa.com 8516 Main St., Woodstock
The Grant Academy 770-92607827, www.thegrantacademy.net 102 Springfield Dr., Woodstock Tutor Doctor 770-308-6300 www.InHomeTutorNorthAtlanta.com
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HOME & GARDEN
Blue Horizon Air Conditioning & Heating 678-279-2244, BHCool.com
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EM Universal Construction, LLC Reese, 678-773-2804 Grout Doctor, The 678-383-1311, www.GroutDoctor.com
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Landscape Matters 13 770-403-5813, LandscapeMattersInc.com Mr. Junk 678-MR-Junk1, www.mrjunk1.com Rejoice Maids 678-905-3476, www.rejoicemaids.com
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Reliable Heating & Air Cover, 28, 29 770-594-9969, ReliableAir.com
North Cobb Spine & Nerve Institute (678) 574-5678 3451 Cobb Pkwy, Ste. 4, Acworth
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Ribley Chiropractic 2453 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock 770-592-2505, www.ribleychrio.com
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Soil Sense Landscape Group 678-483-5185, soilsenselandscape.com
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(Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics and Pediatric) Fountain View Dentistry 51 770-926-0000, www.fountainviewsmiles.com 1816 Eagle Drive, Bldg. 200, Suite A Hickory Flat Dental Inside front 7840 Hickory Flat Hwy., Woodstock 770-479-8654 40
Cherokee County Animal Shelter 770-345-7270, cherokeega-animals.org 1015 Univeter Road, Canton
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County Line Kennel 678-653-7136 10350 Main St., Ste. 120, Woodstock
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PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists 770-720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com
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North Georgia Audiology 1 and Hearing Aid Center, 770-560-4775 203 Woodpark Place, Ste. B-100, Woodstock www.NorthGeorgiaHearing.com Northside Hospital – Cherokee 770-720-5100, www.northside.com
201 Hospital Road, Canton Thomas Eye Group 770-928-4544
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Wellstar Cancer Network 770-956-STAR (7827) www.wellstar.org
41
Woodstock Pediatric Medicine 7 770-517-0250, www.woodstockpeds.com 2000 Professional Way, Bldg. 200, Woodstock
PHOTOGRAPHERS J King Images 404-384-2794, 404-200-0881 www.JKingImages.com
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Kim Bates Photography www.KimBatesPhotoArt.com
Inside back
REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES Ashton Woods 605 Stone Hill Dr., Woodstock 770-517-9114 or 770-592-3375 ashtonwoods.com Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage, Tara Daigle, Realtor 404-925-6351, tara@keatingbrs.com
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The Premier Group, Keller Williams 678-494-0102 Back cover 8604 Main St., Woodstock www.TPGsells.com RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT American Cancer Society Relay for Life
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Elm St. Cultural Arts Village 678-494-4251
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Greenprints Trailfest www.trailfest.org
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JSL Golf Tournament
25
SERV 5K Global Hunger Walk/Run
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Taste & Sound of Woodstock
25
RETAILERS/SHOPPING
PETS/ANIMALS
DENTAL
AROUND WOODSTOCK | April 2015
EDUCATION/TUTORING
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CHIROPRACTIC
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Williams Orthodontics 35 770-592-5554 145 Towne Lake Pkwy, Suite 201, Woodstock 770-345-4155 205 Waleska Road, Suite 1A, Canton www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com
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Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 770-926-9260 www.PediatricWoodstockDentist.com 1816 Eagle Drive Suite 200-C
Werner Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 7 678-224-5722 www.ChildrensDentistWoodstock.com 250 Parkbrooke Place, Ste. 250, Woodstock
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BUSINESS
Colby Family Chiropractic 770-592-1915 10917 Hwy. 92, Suite 160, Woodstock www.colbychiropracticlifestyle.com
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Alcaraz Drywall 678-949-8689, fidelalcaraz@yahoo.com
The Pampered Peacock 42 7031 Main St., Woodstock 678-540-7601, thepamperedpeacock.com
Downtown Buzz
Spillane Orthodontics 770-928-4747 www.SpillaneOrtho.com 335 Parkway 575, Suite 200, Woodstock
Piano Instructor-Ralph Iossa 973-519-6863
AUTOMOTIVE Frankfurt Foreign Automotive 678-505-8907, FrankFurtAutomotive.com 9817 Main Street, Woodstock
For advertising rates and information please contact Patty Ponder, 770.615.3322, Patty@AroundAboutMagazines.com.
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B.loved 36 191 E. Main St., Canton 770-704-7447, www.shopbloved.com Max Video Games & More 26 770-924-9300 6424 Bells Ferry Rd., Ste. 124, Woodstock www.facebook.com/maxvideogames Spirited 8670 Main St., Ste. 2, Woodstock 678-214-5304, www.spritlala.com Trickum Wine 678-503-2269, www.TrickumWine.com 3333 Trickum Road, Woodstock
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Urban Renewal Consignment Boutique 40 678-398-7691, www.urcwoodstock.com 1085 Buckhead Crossing, Ste. 120, Woodstock
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*Membership eligibility and $5 minimum balance required to maintain base savings account. Fees could reduce earnings on accounts. Current APY (Annual Percentage Yield) as of 04/01/15 for qualifying HRC accounts is 1.00% APY for Level 1 rate, and 1.50% APY for Level 2 rate, for balances up to $25,000. A lower rate will be paid on balances over $25,000. This is a variable rate account and rate may change without notice after the account is opened. If qualifying criteria are not met, it will become a non-dividend bearing account. Visit www.LGEccu.org/checking for qualifying criteria for HRC. **Account eligibility requirements apply. If eligibility is not met, a message will appear. Federally insured by NCUA.