MEDICAL ASSOCIATES of NORTH GEORGIA
Expert Surgical Care for Cherokee County
Kevin Powell, MD, FACS Laparoscopic/Robotic/General Surgeon
Dr. Kevin Powell is a board-certified expert in General Surgery who brings nearly a decade of experience to the Medical Associates of North Georgia. Dr. Powell provides the empathetic care you deserve in a convenient location, and uses state-of-the-art laparoscopic and robotic procedures to treat abdominal, soft tissue, and thyroid disorders that range from the simplest to the most complex.
Treatments offered for: •
Gallbladder and Biliary Disease
•
Breast Disease
•
Hernias
•
Small and Large Bowel Processes
•
Skin and Soft Tissue
•
Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease
320 Hospital Rd | Canton, Georgia 30114 770-479-5535 | fax 770-479-8821 | medassoc.com
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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April 2015
Volume 3, Issue 1
14 A Brighter Economy
Cherokee in best position so far for business growth, development
15 Canton Main Street
Program dedicated to improving, developing downtown area.
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16 Craigslist Safety
Each city in Cherokee offers a safe place for business transactions.
19 Feeding the Hungry
Grant boosts efficiency of local mobile food ministry.
23 Grab your Camping Gear
Allatoona Lake campgrounds open as we enjoy warmer weather.
31 Fashion Trends
Check our list to make sure you’re on top of the latest for spring.
51 A Fun Fundraiser
Outdoor boosterthon raises money for new playground equipment.
58 Making a Mark
Woodstock senior’s project leaves legacy at Elm Street village.
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19 Contributing Writers Chantel Adams 38 Don Akridge 34 Siobhan Brumbelow 59 Cherokee Office of Economic Development 14 Amy Cobb 23 Rick Coughlin 41 Kyla Cromer 46 Pat Gold 15 Mitchell Grexa 45 Delia Halverson 20 Jan Henriques 42 Jenna Hill 54 Dan Jape 35 Kurt & Sheila Johnson 22
In Every Issue Sean Kaufman 21 Mark Kissel 46 Ann Litrel 32 Dr. Mike Litrel 27 Rob Macmillan 33 Rev. Joe McKechnie 52 Dr. Mark McLaughlin 43 Dr. Scott Merritt 44 Calvin Moss 16 Lynne Saunders 40 Jodi Tiberio 26, 31 Scot Turner 14 Dr. Mark Van Deusen 44 Shannon Wallace 16 Jamie Williams 30
EDITORIAL questions and comments Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundAboutMagazines.com
36 & 37 On the Cover Blue Horizon Air Conditioning & Heating owner Randy Hires. Photo by J King Images. 2
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
ADVERTISING questions and comments Christie Deese 770-615-3324 Christie@AroundAboutMagazines.com
Around Sixes
4
Community News
8
Birthdays 12 Everyday Angels
18
Community Calendar
24
School News
48
Faith 52 Parking Map
53
Woodstock Dining Guide 55 Greenprint Trail Map
61
Recent Home Sales
62
Advertisers Directory
70
Contact us and view the magazine online at
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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
3
Community
AROUND SIXES The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Sixes/Holly Springs What’s New
Spring Cleaning
Signarama has opened at 557 Riverstone Parkway, Suite 110, in Canton. Owners David and Stacy Anthony are BridgeMill residents. www.signarama. com/ga-canton.
We’ve done a bit of spring cleaning in our magazines. It may not be evident on the surface, but turn to pages 64-65 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.
The Salt Factory Pub has opened 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.
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
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 Free WiFi is now available downtown Canton throughout the historic downtown corridor!
Congratulations Bryanna Rusher is the new Chief Operations and Chief Program Officer of onCloud, a Canton business that offers custom cloud solutions. She has more than three decades of senior corporate and IT management, as well as Big 4 Project Management experience. 678-666-0121.
Helping Others April is National Child Abuse Prevention month 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. 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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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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 TowneLaker
http://tinyurl.com/townelaker
Budget Blinds of Canton, 1780 Blackwillow Dr., Marietta 30066-1952 www.budgetblinds.com/canton LGE Community Credit Union at the corner of Cumming Highway and Northside Cherokee Boulevard. www.LGEccu.org
The Grant Academy is a private school for special needs children at 102 Springfield Drive, Suite 100, Woodstock. www.thegrantacademy.net Around Woodstock
http://tinyurl.com/aroundwoodstock
Workout Anytime Woodstock, 6232 Old Hwy. 5, Woodstock. http://workoutanytime.com/locations/woodstock
Share Your Opinion As we continue to give you the best community magazine possible, we would like to ask for your input. Click on the QR code to fill out a brief questionnaire and let us know your favorite features in the Sixes Living. We value your feedback!
Mother’s Day 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 10 to be considered for publication.
Sixes Living
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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Community Board
Sixes Living Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc.
The Sixes Living Community Board consists of well-respected community leaders who assist us as contributors to the magazine, judges for the annual Trailblazer award and advisors who offer valuable feedback. Pat Gold moved to Canton 33 years ago when she married Dr. Homer (Nugget) Gold. After 18 years with Delta Airlines and another 12 working for the Cherokee County School District, Pat began volunteering. She serves on the boards of the Cherokee County Arts Center, the Canton Main Street Program, Canton Tourism, Inc., and chairs the Canton Planning Commission. Pat and her husband have four children and four grandchildren. Pharmacist Dale Coker owns Cherokee Custom Script Pharmacy in Holly Springs and lives in Woodstock with wife Susan. The University of Georgia graduate is vice president of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists. His community involvement has included Cherokee County Habitat for Humanity, youth league coaching and church leadership. Dale’s latest achievement is co-inventing the patented TopiCLICK, a topical metered dosing device. Cindy Crews is a longtime Cherokee County educator. She joined the Sixes community as assistant principal of Sixes Elementary School in 2011 and is now principal. Cindy and her husband, Andy, have lived in Woodstock for 20 years, and they have two young adult daughters. Her motto: Children are the future of the human race; teach them well. Dr. Joe McKechnie senior pastor of Sixes United Methodist Church, grew up in Cobb County. After earning a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Georgia, Joe spent six years as a television sportscaster. He has a master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Southern Methodist University. Joe and wife Catherine have two children, David and Grace Ann. Sonia Carruthers is the executive director and CEO of Cherokee FOCUS and the Cherokee Youth Works program, based in Holly Springs. The Cherokee County native grew up in Canton and has lived in Woodstock with her son and daughter for the past 17 years. She is very active in the community and currently serves with local and regional organizations to strengthen families and children. Chantel Adams is the founder and CEO of Forever We, Inc., a socially responsible toy company that believes every child deserves a forever family, safe housing and a healthy body. She has a biology degree from the University of Evansville, serves on the Executive Board of Highland Rivers Health, and volunteers with the Cherokee County Juvenile Court. Chantel and her husband, Gavin, live in Canton and have four children. 6
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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 Sixes Living, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly magazine created to build a sense of community and pride in the Sixes, Holly Springs and Hickory Flat areas by sharing positive stories and timely information. A total of 16,250 free copies are distributed monthly; 15,000 are mailed to homes and businesses, with an additional 1,250 placed in racks around the community. Many readers catch the latest edition online each month. Sixes Living welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of each month. Yearly subscriptions are available for $24. Send a check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher and the publisher makes no claims about the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Sixes Living 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. Sixes Living
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For Advertising: Christie Deese, 770-615-3324 Website: www.sixeslivingmagazine.com Powered by TrustWorkz Inc. Volume 3, Issue 1
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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Community
YOUR LOCAL NEWS Canton Runner Wins Marathon
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.”
Canton resident Kaye Anne Starosciak won the women’s division of the Publix Georgia Marathon last month. Kaye Anne lives in BridgeMill with her husband and three daughters and has been running competitively for the past 10 years. In addition to winning Kaye Anne Starosciak next to a poster of Peyton. the race on a rainsoaked course with a time of 3:05:01, Kaye Anne ran to honor Peyton, a beautiful four-year-old child from Snellville battling leukemia, and raised $3,000 for the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. Next up for Kaye Anne is the Boston Marathon on April 20, where she will start the race with the top 50 runners in the elite corral.
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. • 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. 8
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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 Eddie Robinson and Zach Blend celebrate of the 5K race, the victory for the Hoses team. 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.
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Community
YOUR LOCAL NEWS 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.
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 Winners from last year’s competition. 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.
School Registration 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. Registration for pre-kindergarten classes at Ball Ground, Canton, Hasty, Oak Grove and R.M. Moore elementary schools, Johnston Elementary Preschool Center, and Ralph Bunche Center is April 27-May 8. For details on the proper information to bring for registration, visit www.cherokee.k12.ga.us.
Saddle Club Donates Rescue Equipment Cherokee County’s Fire and Emergency Services recently received a donation of a new Becker Sling from the Cherokee County Saddle Club. The sling will assist firefighters during a technical, large animal emergency rescue. It’s a simple vertical lift system that will help rescue large animals that may have fallen into holes, ditches, swimming pools, and any other location where it is necessary to lift the animal in order to place them in a safer location. “The idea came to me one day when I had a horse that went down and I called 911,” said Katherine Davis, Saddle Club treasurer. “Surprisingly, the whole cavalry came. Representatives from Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services arrived to help with the rescue. It gave me an opportunity to talk with Darrell Mitchell, their special operations chief, and he told me that they had to borrow Milton Fire Department’s equipment when situations like this occurred. I invited him to come speak to the Saddle Club’s board of directors about what the department needed and that’s when we decided to step in and help.” Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services have more than 12 firefighters who have gone through the large animal rescue From left, Special Operations Chief Darrell Mitchell, Fire Chief Tim Prather training. Saddle Club members will continue to raise funds to buy and Assistant Fire Chief Eddie Robinson accept the new equipment from additional equipment needed. To make a donation, call Davis at Katherine Davis and Jim Gitzinger of the Cherokee Saddle Club. 770-289 -5295. 10
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL-CHEROKEE IS WORKING TO KEEP CHEROKEE GREAT. BECAUSE, IT’S OUR HOME,TOO. Northside Hospital-Cherokee has served the residents of this county for many years. And our commitment to bring you the very best possible care goes well beyond our walls.
BEING NEIGHBORS Most of the people who work at Northside Hospital-Cherokee live in Cherokee. They’re not just your doctors or nurses, they’re your neighbors.
INVESTING
VOLUNTEERING
We’ve invested more than $100 million to bring the best the medical world has to offer right here to Cherokee.
Our employees and physicians have volunteered more than 10,000 hours to Cherokee County schools and organizations.
CONTRIBUTING We contribute to Cherokee County schools and support local venues and community activity centers.
Cherokee’s community hospital. Northside.com
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Community
Happy Birthday!
Alden Hinkelmann
Age 10 on April 14 Double Digits ... finally! We are proud of you! We love you! Mommy, Daddy and Camden
Courtney Fallon Trudeau
Age 15 on April 14 Happy Birthday to an amazing daughter and sister. We are so proud of you. Love, Mom, Dad and Myles
Joshua Scoggins
Age 35 on April 30 Happy birthday to the best daddy and husband! With love, Apoliana, Angelina and Catalina!
Clayton Joseph Gerletti
Age 5 on April 12 I am so thankful for another year to spend with you. You will always be my little angel. Happy birthday my darling boy! Love, Mom
Brysen Alexander
Age 5 on March 26 Happy Birthday!! We love you! Daddy, Mami, Briana and Sofia
Leonardo La Fera
Age 3 on April 24 Happy Birthday Lil Man! Love, Mommy & Daddy
Matthew Jett
Age 8 on April 19 Happy Birthday to a great brother and son. We love you so much! Daddy, Mommy, Emma, Julie and Adam
Paula Gerletti
Age 61 on April 6 May your day be full of birthday wishes, hugs, and kisses! Happy Birthday, Grandma! Love, Colton and Clayton
Residents of The Lodge at BridgeMill
celebrating April birthdays are (from left) Ronald Hayes, Barbara Swaine, Susan Myers, Ken Shedd and Hortense Lawrence. Also celebrating but not pictured are Erma Shockley, Ann Sherman, Don Techentien and Roger Aschmeyer.
Celebrations! Announcements are free! E-mail to: Candi@ AroundAbout Magazines.com May deadline is April 10. 12
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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.
Scott V. Merritt, DMD Member: GDA, ADA, AGD, AACD
BridgeMill Dentistry Team
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Community
How a Bill Becomes Law BY SCOT TURNER
I recently had the honor of joining Mrs. Sonja Chapman’s third grade class at Holly Springs Elementary to give a presentation on how a bill becomes a law. To accomplish this task, I split the class into two groups, with some students in the Senate, and the rest in the House of Representatives. Mrs. Chapman played the role of governor. Scot Turner, an IT From there the fun began, as I professional, lives in the Sixes community asked one of the senators, Joshua, to with his wife and join me at the front of the room. I two children and is the State House asked Sen. Joshua what kind of idea Representative for he would like to see become a law. District 21. You can reach him on his cell He said there should be less school. phone at 678-576So we formed a small committee 2644 or follow him on Facebook at made up of five of his classmates www.facebook.com/ and called it the Senate Education turnerforhouse. Committee. Sen. Joshua was able to convince the committee that his bill should become law, and the bill was passed on to the Senate. At this point, Sen. Joshua ran into a little bit of resistance. Several of his colleagues in the Senate were alarmed at
what less school would do to the quality of their education. We had a spirited debate, after which a majority decided to pass the bill onto the House. Sen. Joshua’s first piece of business was to find a representative to carry his bill in the House. Rep. Reece was chosen for this duty, and offered amendments to the bill in the House Education Committee that would require school to be only held on Mondays and Wednesdays. The debate in front of the full House was again spirited, with several students mentioning reduced social time and potential loss of exercise time. Nonetheless, the bill passed with amendments. Because the bill was amended, it had to be sent back to the Senate for it to agree to the changes. Sen. Joshua thought the changes that the House had made were good and recommended to the Senate that it approve the House’s amended bill. The Senate agreed with him and the bill was then sent to Gov. Chapman for her signature. The students erupted in boos when they saw the governor veto the bill that they had worked hard on and was the result of much compromise between the two chambers. The only thing left was to attempt to override the governor’s veto using two-thirds of each body. First up was the Senate, and it easily met the two-thirds threshold. continued on page 60
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 14
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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. 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 continued on page 60
Canton Main Street — Then and Now BY PAT GOLD
Canton Main Street began more than seven years ago as the Canton Downtown Coordinating Committee, organized by Mayor Gene Hobgood. Our first meeting was held on Feb. 27, 2008, and was attended by volunteer representatives of the various committees and city authorities in Canton. Mayor Hobgood believed then, just as he does now, that by working together we could achieve so much more than by our individual efforts. Pat Gold has been He was right. a Canton resident for 33 years and From the days of the Canton has volunteered on Downtown Coordinating Committee many committees since retiring from and our eight original members, to our Delta Airlines and present board of directors, including 16 the Cherokee County School District. members appointed by the mayor, our efforts continue to be dedicated to the revitalization of our downtown. Four of our board members represent integral components of Canton. Their offices are also located downtown: the Canton Downtown Development Authority, Canton Tourism, the Cherokee County Historical Society and the Cherokee Arts Center. The remaining eight members live in or maintain a business interest in downtown Canton and are appointed at-large to serve fouryear renewable terms. We work together with a Main Street director, who is a city employee. What is Main Street and how does it work? Simply stated, Main Street is a community-driven, grassroots program dedicated to commercial revitalization in older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. Financial support for the program comes from the local entities that have a stake in the downtown: city government, merchants, businesses and the public. Led by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Street programs follow eight guiding principles and adhere to a strong four-point approach, which is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. Those four distinct areas of concentration include design, economic restructuring, organization and promotion. The success of the Main Street program over the years lies in the fact that it is a local initiative, both organizationally and financially. When there is local buy-in, people care more about the success of the program and become more involved. The members of our community are our stakeholders, and as such they show continued dedication to Main Street by supporting our events and by volunteering on one of our four committees. Together we endeavor to make Canton an even better place to live, work and play.
By working together, we could achieve so much more than by our individual efforts.
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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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
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
continued on page 60
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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. SIXES LIVING | 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 never-ending 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 18
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
Chase grows bigger and stronger, it is becoming more difficult to restrain him when he has meltdowns or abruptly escapes. 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.
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, and several kitchen upgrades to existing food preparation equipment. Improvements will help Forever Fed serve more Each feeding event requires the help of many volunteers shown above families at risk of food and below. 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.
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Community
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.
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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 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!
‘Always aim for the moon – if you miss – you’ll land among the stars.’
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Community
Current Trend: Cherokee is a Seller’s Market BY KURT & SHEILA JOHNSON
This month we bring you a comparison of home sales for the past 12 months (through the end of January) versus the results of the previous 12 months. Gathering and analyzing this information helps Kurt and Sheila Johnson identify trends in the are Keller Williams Top Producing Agents market. (over 80 deals in 2014) The results of the past and have been serving Cherokee County for more 12 months are almost all than 10 years. www. improved as compared to the previous KurtandSheilaTeam.com year. You will see on the above chart that there were 5 percent fewer homes available for sale at the end of January 2015 than there were in the previous year. Additionally, at the current rate of homes sales in Cherokee, there is only a four-month supply of homes available on the market overall. It is definitely a seller’s market in Cherokee County. Additionally, more homes have sold this past year as compared to the previous 12 months. The data show us that in the past 12 months there has been a 16 percent increase in the
number of homes that have sold for more than $300,000, while the number of homes that sold for less than $300,000 held constant at around 2,700 homes. There has been a 200 percent increase in the number of homes that have sold for more than $1 million. This is significant news for sellers of more expensive homes who have have been waiting to see an improvement in the higher range of the market. With fewer homes on the market and higher priced homes showing significant increases in units sold, it’s definitely a great time to sell. Interest rates can only go up from here and when they do it will negatively impact the higher priced homes first.
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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
It’s Time to Go Camping!
GET SET FOR SUMMER
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 opened March 20 and McKaskey Creek, Payne and Victoria Campgrounds opened 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!
This summer could be a busy one for your children, from the looks of this comprehensive guide.
McKaskey Creek campground opened March 27.
McKinney Campground has 150 sites. SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Community
Out & About April 11
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.
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
BridgeMill Car Show Classics for Charity and Family Fun Day will be held 2-6 p.m. at the BridgeMill Athletic Club, 1190 BridgeMill Ave. Registration is noon-2 p.m. Barbecue, bands, beer tasting, bounce house and more. All cars and trucks welcome; register online at www.bsslcarshow.org. Registration fee is $25 per car. 50/50 raffle and car awards will be given. Followed by games and music at 7 p.m. and a drive-in movie on the clubhouse lawn at dusk. For more information, call 770345-5500 ext. 4.
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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
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 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. Senior Extravaganza, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Cherokee Recreation and Parks building, 7545 Main Street, Woodstock. Free admission includes fashion show, music and entertainment, door prizes, and workshops on information on identity theft, elder abuse and scam avoidance. Sponsored by Cherokee Triad S.A.L.T. Council (Senior and Law Enforcement Together). www. saltcherokee.com.
Ongoing Towne Lake Community Church Preschool registration for fall classes, ages two through pre-K. preschool@tlcchurch.com. 678-445-8766 ext. 20.
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 9 The Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association will meet at 10:30 a.m. on the campus of Dalton State College in Dalton. Dr. John Fowler, director of the Bandy Heritage Center (BHC), is guest speaker. For details, email harris7627@bellsouth.net or call 770-425-2411.
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. SIXES LIVING | 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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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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 continued on page 60
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Lifestyle
Cherokee Photography Club Congratulations to the winners in the February competition, “Nostalgia.” If you placed in either the color or monochromatic print category, please send a digital file of your image to Dean Kelley for the website. deankelley@windstream.net
Digital Projection:
1st Naomi Shively “Weber Farm”
3rd Vicki Sellers “More Than a Name on a Wall”
2nd David Ferguson “Only Memories”
HM Martin Longstaff “Gam’s Thoughts”
Color Prints:
1st Cory Mitchell “Butterflies” 28
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2nd David Ferguson “Where’s Gatsby”
3rd L.B. Bryant “Cortona Bicycle”
HM Peter Kilpo “Waterfront Living”
Monochromatic:
1st Martin Longstaff “Bonaventure II”
2nd Eillene Kirk “Steam Locomotive”
2nd Cory Mitchell “Eastman”
HM David Ferguson “Swan House”
The Cherokee Photography Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month, and for those participating in the monthly contest, that meeting is held on the second Monday of the month. Both meetings are from 7-9 p.m. and held at the Cherokee County Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton. For more information, please contact Kim Bates at 770-617-7595 or email him at kbphotoart@comcast.net. SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Lifestyle
Rise Up: Finding Your Inner DIY BY JAMIE WILLIAMS
Spring fever abounds at my house and I suddenly find myself longing for freshness in areas of my life, especially my home. A new candle usually will subdue me for a while, but this time of year requires something along the lines of new furniture, home accents or a sprucedup exterior. Something is going to get painted or moved to a different spot. In the past, I fulfilled this need with Jamie Williams is a wife, mom of two purchases that probably cost more teenage girls and than I cared to pay and, well let’s founder of Five Talents Wealth Management, face it, I am sending my oldest off to Inc. Her goal is always college this year. Need I say more? to help her family and her clients wisely Since you can spend a dollar only one use what God has time, it is probably best that I channel entrusted to them. some creative juices, find my inner DIY (do it yourself) skills and choose savings over convenience. Because I am super busy running a business and tending my children, among other things, I often find buying items easier than working through a project. However, my tune is changing thanks to help from Pinterest
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and DIY blogs. More importantly, I changed my tune because I have learned that I can be creative, feel confidence from working with my hands, and feel satisfied because I played a role that entailed more than just whipping out my checkbook. My favorite part of all is feeling the stress drain from my body as the sun shines down on my face and my project begins to take shape and come alive in some form or fashion. Last week I gave my tired breakfast table a farmhouse look. Currently, I am trying to breathe new life into the saddest looking bookshelf in all of history. It was free from a neighbor who is moving and I desperately needed one. I figure when it is all said and done, I will have made it beautiful, had fun, saved a tree, kept more money in my bank account and risen to a new challenge. Can you see yourself taking on a DIY challenge? It might be freshening up the patio furniture with a can of spray paint or making on old wooden box into a footrest. My suggestion is to start small, extend yourself lots of mercy and just have a little fun with it. Trust me! If I can learn to run an electric sander and tackle different painting techniques, anyone can do it! In the meantime, check out a handy blog at https:// thechelseaprojectblog.wordpress.com for more fresh ideas.
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.
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Lifestyle
Pinky, Sunny, Booby, Bill, and Mister Gobbles BY ANN LITREL
Art by Ann Litrel, annlitrel.com
We spotted the turtle in our yard one spring about 10 years ago. He showed up several times over the summer, so I got curious and did some research. I found out he was an Eastern box turtle. I learned he would live his whole life in an area only 200 meters Mr Gobbles after a mushroom meal. square - that’s just a few backyards put together. Chances were good our turtle would visit often! I learned, too, he’d probably been living here for years – possibly before the subdivision was built. Turtles are as long-lived as people. A 50-year-old box turtle is common. And box turtles over 100 years old are not unknown. It dawned on me our turtle might still be with us when I’m an old lady gardener. In fact, I could get to know our turtle in a way that I couldn’t with any other wild animal - as an individual. After this epiphany, I snapped his photo every time he came by. Well, I’d thought it was a he. After comparing the photos, it slowly became apparent that he was a they. How embarrassing. I’d committed a social faux pas. There are FIVE turtles who live around our yard - Pinky, Sunny, Booby, Bill and Mr. Gobbles. Three girls and two boys, respectively. Or that’s the best we can tell. You have to look at the color of their eyes and the shape of their shells to tell their sex. And I admit if you had to rely just on their faces, identification would be a real challenge. Luckily, every box turtle has a distinctive pattern on its shell. So the first three - Pinky, Sunny, and Booby - we named for their
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markings (I’ll leave that to your imagination). The fourth already had his name when we met him: an admirer had spelled ‘Bill’ on his shell in pink glitter paint. And Mr. Gobbles was christened when we discovered him devouring a toadstool in our yard. Turtles need a natural habitat to be happy. They slowly starve in your typical sanitized yard. They’re omnivores who need moist spots where they can find water and insects, small fruiting shrubs and plants under trees, an open spot where they can sun, a sandy place to lay their eggs, and dark, leafy soil where their babies, just an inch long when they hatch, can burrow and hide for the first six or seven years of their lives. Our yard wasn’t always turtle-friendly. Seventeen years ago, when my husband and I moved here with our young sons, the backyard was a green swath of grass, attractive in a ho-hum sort of way. But it required constant watering and fertilizer, like an intensive care patient on an IV. I dreamed of something wilder, like the outdoors I remembered from my childhood. I wanted our sons Tyler and Joseph to grow up scooping tadpoles and catching katydids in their own yard. I didn’t want them to travel twice a year to see nature on vacation – I wanted them living in it every day, year-round. It’s involved the whole yard, but I’ll mention here only the backyard, where we most often see our turtles. I pulled the plug on the water and fertilizer. The grass went cold turkey - and died. On this shady, north slope, weekly mowing keeps the weeds from re-seeding, and blowing has allowed the moss to take over naturally. Under the hardwood trees, fallen leaves pile up to moisten the ground. I edge the islands with mulch, so it looks about as trim against the moss as when it was grass. And I’ve encouraged the wildflowers that re-emerged from long dormant seeds. Over the years, we’ve watched the yard bloom, encouraging the growth as gently as possible. Now it’s easy to spot the turtles as they waddle by.
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.
I TO U Q S MO R IT Y O H T AU
678.294.7597 BugsBITE.com SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Lifestyle
Are Americans Growing More Optimistic About Retiring? Pragmatism seems to be replacing pessimism, at least. DON AKRIDGE, MBA, CPA/PFS, CFP® U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN – EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS
Is it okay to retire today? Many baby boomers shelved notions of retiring during the past few years. Layoffs, the decline in home values, the crushing bear market of 200709—those memories were just too fresh, and their economic effects were still being felt by many households. In 2015, boomers seem a bit less hesitant to begin their “third acts.” In this year’s CareerBuilder retirement Don Akridge is survey, 53 percent of workers older president of Citadel Professional Services, than 60 indicated they are postponing LLC, an independent firm, founded in 1994 their retirements. That may not seem and conveniently like a statistic worth celebrating, located off Chastain Road between I-575 but five years ago 66 percent of & I-75 in Kennesaw. respondents to the survey said they Phone 770-952-6707. were putting off leaving work.1 Retirement may not mean a “clean break” from the workplace: 54 percent of this age group told CareerBuilder that they would try to work at least part-time when retired. In fact, nearly one in five said they planned to continue working 40 hours a week or more. These boomers cited two compelling reasons to keep a foot in the office: household financial pressures and the employer-sponsored health insurance they could count on between ages 60 and 65.1 Two other recent polls echo the findings of the CareerBuilder survey. Last year’s United States of Aging survey (a joint project of the National Council on Aging, USA TODAY, United Healthcare and the National Association for Area Agencies on Aging) found 89 percent of respondents 60 and older were certain that they could enjoy and sustain their quality of life as seniors. While 49 percent worried that they might outlive their money, this was down from 53 percent in the 2013 survey.2 Ameriprise Financial recently released the findings from its poll of 1,000 retirees aged 60-73; the respondents had retired within the past five years and possessed $100,000 or more in investable assets. Generally, they were happy about retiring: 76 percent reported feeling “in control” of their choice to leave work, and 75 percent indicated they were “very satisfied” with retirement life. For a slight majority of respondents, the transition was reasonable: 53 percent said they had been healthy enough to retire, and 52 percent said they were emotionally ready when they made the move.3 How many of them had retired by choice? An encouraging 51 percent; just 15 percent said they retired as a result of job loss, downsizing or buyouts.3 Remember, retirement may start unexpectedly. No one is invincible, and as the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) discovered in a 2014 study, health or disability reasons 34
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
prompt 61 percent of retirements. Workforce downsizing and elder care responsibilities were the two other most-cited motivators, but only 18 percent of respondents cited either of those factors. In surveying 1,500 retirees last year, EBRI also learned that 49 percent had exited their careers earlier than they had anticipated—in fact, 35 percent of them had retired prior to age 60. An unexpected retirement may also upend some household financial assumptions. Turning to the Ameriprise study, we see that while 28 percent of those respondents reported spending less in retirement than they had thought they would, 22 percent are spending more than they had expected.3,4 If you were to retire two years from now, would you be ready for that transition? Would you hold up financially if events forced you to retire today? If you are within 10 years of your envisioned retirement date, it might be prudent to revisit your savings strategy and retirement plan to double-check your retirement readiness. Don Akridge is president of Citadel Professional Services, LLC, an independent firm, founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. Phone 770-952-6707. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Peter Montoya, Inc. or MarketingPro, Inc. This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Citations. 1 - nbcnews.com/business/careers/could-2015-be-yearretirement-party-n308871 [2/19/15] 2 - usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/15/agingsurvey-research/11921043/ [7/15/14] 3 - benefitspro.com/2015/02/03/retired-boomers-in-controlhappy [2/3/15] 4 - tinyurl.com/qc67lyd [2/10/15]
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.
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.
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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BLUE HORIZON:
HONESTY. INTEGRITY. EXCELLENT SERVICE. The U.S. Army veteran attended heating and air conditioning school to pursue his vision of building a company based on honesty and integrity, with the customer in mind. Blue Horizon has been in Atlanta since 1992. “Our promise to you is that we will work with you to design and choose the best comfort system available to take care of your total needs,” Randy said. “We will work together to design a system to keep your family safe, healthy and comfortable while meeting your financial needs. We were founded on the idea that honesty and integrity should come first in a business.”
photo by J King Images
Randy Hires has built Blue Horizon Air Conditioning and Heating on a foundation of honesty and integrity, and providing the best customer service possible. And that means being available to his customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “I have a great team that shares my vision to make Blue Horizon a company that puts its customers first, offers excellent warranties and competitive pricing,” said Randy. “We get the job done right the first time, and work hard to keep our customers for life.”
From left, customer service manager David Reid, owner Randy Hires and office manager Lorin Rentz.
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37
Lifestyle
Spring
IS IN THE AIR
BY CHANTEL ADAMS | CHANLYNNADAMS@GMAIL.COM
There’s something altogether beautiful about spring. New life budding on trees and out of the ground inspires people to burst forth from the houses where they’ve been cooped up all winter. It’s the in-between I love so much, when snow melts, birds chirp and children play. Winter has left the building and the sweltering heat of summer is yet a long way off. I just want to dust off the rocking chairs on the front porch and put out the lemonade. This month I’m keeping it simple. Come on over, people. Let’s sit down and have a good chat.
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1. Springtime in Georgia can be finicky, and chances are you might not get
outside as much as you think, but you can light a scented candle and enjoy the smells of spring inside. With names like Sweet Tea, Southern Charm, Homemade Lemonade and Front Porch, you’ll want to purchase one for every Southern hostess you know. Especially the one you know best - you. $28 each or two for $50 at Pineapple Park.
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Recently I started following a blog by Kristin Schell called The Turquoise Table. She says, “The table has spurred a front yard revival in our neighborhood and has become a welcome place to gather and love.” Aren’t those some of the most beautiful words you’ve ever heard in your life? I was just tickled to death when I found this table. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to display it in my front yard, but I think it would be a lovely addition to my front porch. All you DIYers could even buy a plain ol’ picnic table for less than $100 and paint it yourself. The table is from Christine’s Creations in downtown Woodstock for $165.
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3.
Recently a friend gave me a yummy fig balsamic vinegar, and I love to drizzle it over hummus and feta for a quick afternoon lunch. I stumbled upon something unexpected that goes great with it. It’s called SIPS, and it’s a mixed beverage with tea as its base. Try the Blushing Cosmo, Hot Latin Mojito, Sexy Sangria, or my personal favorite, Dipped in Chocolate. You can find SIPS at Leaning Ladder. $25. 38
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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
Advertisement
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
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Lifestyle
Hiring is Heating Up BY LYNNE SAUNDERS
Spring brings a sense of rebirth and optimism. People are no longer shut inside because of cold temperatures. In fact, I think that busier traffic is a true indication that folks are rejoining the human race and marketplace. Optimism is a contagious thing. Economists speculate about the future, although most times they still differ. However, the stock exchange is doing well, overall. Employers Lynne is an author and the director of are a little less fearful about hiring, Papa’s Pantry and the although their methods of making MastersTraining Center.com. She can hiring decisions continue to follow be reached at (770) post-crash mindsets. 591-4730 or visit www.papaspantry.org. There are still more people looking for work than there are jobs, which means that it is still an employer’s market. This means that the employer can still be picky about who they choose to fill open positions. Basic employer psychology remains: “Who can I hire that already has experience, will not need an excessive amount of training, who will accept a reasonable wage (not excessive), and make the company/department more money?”
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As you might guess, job seeker psychology is very different. It may seem something like, “I want a job that pays great, offers healthcare insurance, good vacation package, 401k, flexibility, excused time off/ hours for family needs, fun people to work with, and a great boss.” Job seekers who understand the importance of putting the employer’s needs first, rather than their own, should demonstrate this from the very start of the application process. •The first paragraph of the cover letter should tell the employer why he or she would like to work for the company. This is an easy place to insert knowledge about the company and its strengths. •Today’s resumes often have a summary or introduction section. This is the place to tailor one’s skills and experiences to meet the needs of the job as it is described in the posting. •Once in the door for an interview, keep all conversations focused on the job. Know the company’s mission statement and recent successes. Let the interviewer know that you are eager to become part of their team. Be sure to ask for the job if you truly want it. •The last impression a job seeker should leave is a handwritten thank you note, reminding the interviewer of highlights from the interview conversations. Keep making progress!
Mosquitoes and Ticks are Coming BY RICK COUGHLIN
A wet yard in the spring can come back to bite you. Rainwater and melted snow that collect in potted plants, leaf-clogged gutters, muddy depressions and anything else that holds standing water can provide just what mosquitoes need to lay their eggs. All it takes is some warm weather to get the life cycle going. Before you know it, your yard can be filled with pesky mosquitoes that Rick Coughlin is the owner of The cause itchy bites. Mosquito Authority. Mosquitoes don’t just spread Email him at rick@ bugsbite.com misery, they also can transmit disease. Everyone has become aware of West Nile virus but most don’t realize that the only cause of heartworm is a mosquito bite. Swatting and yelling at the blood suckers will not get you very far. The best thing you can do is to prevent your yard from being a hospitable place for mosquito larva. The sooner you act, the better off you will be. Now is the time to get started. You need to be checking containers, wheelbarrows, buckets and anything in your yard that can collect water. It is a pretty good bet that with all the rain we have been getting, you have something in your yard that is collecting water and has become a breeding ground. The easiest thing you can do is identify all the areas collecting water and dump them. Some of the hidden areas that a lot of people miss are containers underneath your deck or in your under decking, and in your clogged gutters. It is important to clean these areas because just a small amount of water can produce thousands of mosquitoes. Eggs can hatch in as little as a cap of water. Be sure to repair leaky pipes and faucets, change water in your birdbath weekly and don’t dump grass clippings or branches in storm drains or ditches. Don’t forget about ticks, which are most common in the spring and summer. Ticks can cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and a host of other illnesses. The most common symptoms of tickborne illnesses are fever and chills, aches and pains, rashes and neurological reactions. SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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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.
Cancer Patients Benefit from NoninvasiveTreatments BY MARK MCLAUGHLIN, M.D.
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.
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 SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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Health & Wellness
Dental X-rays Valuable to Health, Treatment
It May Be Time For Allergy Evaluation
BY DR. SCOTT MERRITT
BY MARK B. VAN DEUSEN, M.D.
For most patients, X-rays are a routine and very valuable part of their biannual dental visits. The purpose of dental X-rays is simply to identify problem areas that cannot be seen via visual examination. Each type of dental X-ray is designed to provide information about different areas of the mouth, jaw and skull, as well as various conditions that may need monitoring or treatment. Dr. Scott Merritt has There are two main types of X-rays: been providing dental care to residents of intraoral and extraoral. Cherokee and the Intraoral X-rays are the most common surrounding counties since founding type, and are produced by inserting the BridgeMill Dentistry in 2002. The office is film into the patient’s mouth and having located on Sixes Road him or her bite together to hold it in between Ridge and Bells Ferry roads. place while the image is taken. These X-rays provide excellent detail about tooth decay, cavities, gum disease and the relationship between teeth that are next to each other. There are different types of intraoral X-rays, including bite-wing, periapical and occlusal. Bite-wing X-rays are used to detect decay between teeth and changes in bone density usually caused by gum disease. Periapical X-rays are used to detect abnormalities of the root structure and are very helpful in pinpointing pain in a specific tooth or area of the mouth. Occlusal X-rays help to evaluate the development of teeth in children and assist in detecting abnormal growths. Intraoral X-rays, however, do not provide very much information about larger jaw or skull issues. That’s where extraoral X-rays come in. There are a number of different types of extraoral X-rays, each with its own purpose and advantages. The most common is the panoramic X-ray, which is produced by having the film outside of the patient’s mouth. The purpose of dental (Younger patients tend to enjoy having X-rays is simply to panoramic X-rays identify problem areas taken because the machine resembles that cannot be seen via a space suit with a visual examination. rotating cylinder!) Panoramic X-rays are very useful because they show all teeth in both the upper and lower jaws as well as the jaw bones and skull. Dentists use panoramic X-rays to evaluate fully and partially emerged teeth and also those that are impacted, such as wisdom teeth. They also help diagnose tumors and problems with jaw alignment and sinus cavities or issues involving the skull. Dental X-rays are incredibly effective for catching problems before they become serious and are a valuable component to any oral health program.
More than 50 million Americans have a condition known as allergic rhinitis, commonly referred to as hay fever or allergies. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis can include nasal congestion, sneezing, increased mucous production, postnasal drainage, cough and itchy eyes. More severe symptoms include loss of sense of smell, chronic sinus infections, facial pain or pressure, headaches Dr. Mark B. Van and chronic fatigue. Depending on Deusen enjoys treating patients the allergy, some people can have with sinus disease, symptoms year round, while others nasal obstruction and allergies at Northwest have seasonal symptoms. Interestingly, ENT and Allergy allergy symptoms can develop at any Center. He can be reached at (770) 427age and symptoms can change over 0368. time. When a person has an allergy, it means his or her immune system reacts to inhaled, ingested or touched substances that should not typically cause a problem. Substances that cause this inflammatory response within the body are known as allergens. Common allergens include various tree, grass and weed pollens, molds, dog or cat dander, dust mites, and various foods. In-office skin testing is an efficient and accurate way to test a person’s response to these allergens and grade their severity. This information is valuable for the both patient and physician. Patients can attempt to avoid certain allergens (if possible) and the physician can plan the most effective treatment strategy. Treatments to control allergy symptoms include over-thecounter antihistamines, decongestants, steroid nasal sprays and antihistamine nasal sprays. Some of these medicines need to be prescribed by a doctor. Allergy immunotherapy is another treatment option. The goal of immunotherapy is to eliminate the body’s inflammatory response to allergens over time. Examples of immunotherapy include allergy shots or allergy drops. These are utilized to re-program a person’s immune system to become tolerant of allergens so they do not cause the inflammatory response that leads to symptoms. For springtime allergy sufferers, now is the time to set up an appointment with your ear, nose and throat doctor. Treatment should start before symptoms appear. A thorough history and physical exam is sufficient for an initial diagnosis and treatment plan. A discussion with your physician will help determine if allergy testing should be performed. A nasal and sinus examination can also identify any variations in anatomy that may be contributing to symptoms. Addressing allergies and any contributing factors can lead to a significant improvement in quality of life. If you have never been evaluated for allergy symptoms, now is a great time to see your doctor and start feeling better.
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Autism Awareness: What is the Right Piece to the Puzzle? BY DR. MITCHELL GREXA D.C.
While driving around your neighborhood or town, or sitting in traffic on one of the metro interstates, chances are you have seen the autism ribbon—the one that has all the jigsaw puzzle pieces on it. I asked a friend whose daughter is autistic about the design. She explained that the foundation went with that because of autism’s multi-level symptomatology and its multifaceted causes. Dr. Grexa graduated from Life College in 1994, with Upon learning this information, a Doctor of Chiropractic I was naturally curious about how degree. He is currently practicing in Canton chiropractic may help children who are Georgia, and has taken afflicted, and what parents can do to on the role of a wellness consultant. help prevent the occurrence of autism. Autism is a loss of communication between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. In simpler terms, the brain and spinal cord are not in a harmonious balance with the musculoskeletal and organ systems of the body. The loss of signaling from the brain can be caused by two broader categories: trauma to the central nervous system and nutritional Autism is a loss of deficiencies. Chiropractors communication in general view between the central childbirth as the cause of the first nervous system and subluxation; the the peripheral nervous way in which the fetus enters the system. world in a vaginal birth can produce trauma to the newborn child’s cervical spine. This is in no way meant to blame obstetricians and midwives—or even the occasional police officer or cabbie; it is just the way it is. Most chiropractors will be more than happy to check the newborn to see if there are any subluxations present and correct them. In the modern day, mothers go out of their way to provide growing babies with the proper nutrition while they are gestating in the womb. When you are pregnant, your baby eats and drinks what you eat and drink. Good dietary habits can lead to a more normal development of the fetus. Doctors of chiropractic have extensive training and instruction in identifying and restoring the communication between the brain and the body. This does not mean that all autistic symptomatology will be “cured” by chiropractic care, but even slight improvement naturally is better than no improvement at all.
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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.
child know this?
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
• 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.
Senior Projects Showcase Skills BY KYLA CROMER, MEMBER OF THE CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
student, is someone in the community who has training or work If you see a teenager dressed in business attire and talking experience in a field related to the student’s project. aloud to himself these next few weeks, he or she is probably a The Paper: The research paper is not a chronicle of “What I high school senior who is preparing for the much-anticipated did for my Senior Project,” nor is it a how-to paper or a report. final phase of his senior project: The Presentation. It is a paper that explores an aspect or issue associated with The senior project is the final phase of the school district’s the topic. The foundational skills for this Career Pathway model initiated to better paper have been well established over the prepare students to meet the needs of During the oral high school career. Some schools employers, technical schools, colleges or presentation to a panel, student’s require students use a variety of genres to universities. Students have a capstone the student celebrates highlight individual writing styles. project to showcase skills acquired over The Portfolio/Website: The portfolio their public school career. It combines the accomplishment provides tangible evidence that the judges both academic and career requirements and shares the careerneed to see regarding the project. It can intended to challenge their ability, stretch include work blogs, time logs, photos, their limitations and celebrate their based knowledge notes to and from the facilitator, product individuality. In addition to completing the gained. proposals and a reflection of the process. requirements of senior English curriculum, students also complete four components of The Presentation: During the the senior project: oral presentation to a panel, the student celebrates the The Product: The most rewarding projects are those with a accomplishment and shares the career-based knowledge rigorous learning stretch – where students challenge themselves gained. Judges are community members and teachers who and step out of their comfort zone to benefit themselves, volunteer to hear the presentations and offer feedback. their school and community. Students are encouraged to Thank you to community members who step up to be senior pick a career-focused project they are passionate about that project facilitators and presentation judges and who help our students accomplish one of the most challenging and yet will take at least 15 hours outside of class to complete. The meaningful activities of their senior year. project facilitator, who serves as a resource and a guide for the 46
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What’s in a Name? Writing Club members in grades 4 and 5 at Sixes Elementary participated in an exercise in writing Cree Indian Naming Poems. Cree Indians didn’t name a child when he or she was born. Instead the community waited until the child did something unique or special and then gave him or her a name to represent that habit or that event. Following this tradition, Cree Indian Naming Poems identify a name for an individual and then through the words of the poem, describe the special trait or habit.
Playful Monkey
A Big Surprise
By Amber Griswold, fourth grade
By Bailey Polhemus, fourth grade
Her name tells of how it was with her. She is like a playful monkey in a very odd way, She plays and climbs and wiggles around throughout the day, She is a loving, caring little girl who loves to jump around, She’s very smart and clever too, And would love to play with you, Just like a monkey She will be ready for adventure rain or shine, There’s no stopping her She’s a little playful monkey.
Her name tells how it was with her. Born prepared. Eyes sparkle in the daylight. Has a sense of humor. Gets good grades. Loves to be in open nature. She is adventurous. Loves to dance. She is very artistic. Very courageous. Powerful and strong. Such a big surprise.
Most Unusual Present By Madeline N. Skene, fourth grade
Her name tells how it was with her. Born different, Eyes that shine so bright. Special in a way that no one can understand. Like a present waiting to be opened, And when you open her it’s different, Very unique.
Weirdo Guy
By Jake Garrett, fifth grade His name tells of how it was with him Allergic to school Eating cotton Mistaking it for cotton candy What will make him happy? Having a roommate Who can only say “Derp” Living in a town Named after tacos Treasuring toenail collections This guy is weird. Yes it’s true.
Crafter of the Wilderness By Jacob Haynes, fourth grade
His name tells of how it was with him. He is the crafter everyone knows, Like the wilderness, From making new things to making new land. Both of them are alike, but they just might change.
Drama Bald Eagle
By Natalie Ferguson, fourth grade Her name tells of how it was with her. She is a great actress. She likes to try anything if it has to do with acting. She has a very beautiful voice, Just like a bird. She tries hard. She wants to be a very famous Broadway star. She has a lot of good things about her. She loves her country. She has a ton of drama. SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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School & Sports
Nursing Students Begin Clinical Rounds Students in Cherokee High School’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program have started their clinical rounds. The students will visit the Canton Nursing Center several times a month to accumulate clinical experience as required by the state in order to take the CNA license exam in June. These students have completed two years of health care courses in the classroom in preparation for this clinical training. From left, front row: Nathalie Zeleya, Brooke Putnam, Kayla Colby, Stephanie Eglitis, Brooke McArthur and Priya Patel. Back row: Hanna Prikazchikov, Alyssa Courshon, Darby Blanton, Hannah Williamson, Loren Ware, Hali Mantooth, Jhena Pennyman and Wade Hodges.
Knox Welcomes Firefighters for Visit Canton Fire Department Fire Marshal Roger Bailey and Sgt. Andy Smith recently visited Knox Elementary School to speak with second-graders about the many responsibilities of a firefighter.
Sgt. Andy Smith and Fire Marshal Roger Bailey with second-graders in teacher Robin Tucker’s class.
Woodstock Participates in Digital Learning Day In celebration of Digital Learning Day on March 13, Woodstock High School’s media specialists Pati Olton and Leslie Hicks collaborated with teachers to bring “app smashing” activities to the classroom. Students used their Students Rasheed Gibson, Abby Bolt and Zach BYLDs (Bring Your Atkins create a culture app smash for teacher Learning Devices) to Chandler Wall’s sociology class. research, create and publish content through combining various apps.
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 subregional 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 by Brandi Miller and Heidi Switzer. 48
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
From left, Coach Brandi Miller, Andy Jiang, Katie Gilliam, Camilo Rincon, Laney Broussard, Greg Carroll and Coach Heidi Switzer.
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 off the wall, as long as they had on their 3D glasses,” Ms. Students experience the 3D Rover system to study Forsyth said of the experience using the DNA and mitosis. 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.”
Student Raises Funds for Young Patients Knox Elementary School fourth-grader Kelly Shipley organized a fundraiser to purchase and donate bears for pediatric patients treated at Northside HospitalCherokee’s Emergency Department. Kelly worked for two months making and selling loomed bracelets to raise more than $200 and purchase 21 “happy bears,” which she delivered with her brother, Jack.
Oratorical Contest
The Towne Lake Optimist Club recently held its annual Oratorical Contest at the Cherokee County Board of Education building in downtown Canton. All area middle and high schools were invited to participate in this Optimist International program, through various clubs in Cherokee County. Contestants ranged from ages 12 to 16, and included students from Woodstock High School, Etowah High School, Creekview High School, plus home-schooled students. Winners will advance to the next round of competition which will culminate in the state contest held later this summer. Winners of the Contest participants included, in front: Samuel Snyder. First row state competition will from left: Grayson Snyder, Carson Newsome, Devin Snyder, Landis be eligible for a $2500 Simmons and Gabriella Ramos; second row: Paul DiCicco, Braden Peterson, Austin Cox, Jason Ogbomoh and Abigail Morris. scholarship.
Kelly and Jack Shipley donate “happy bears” to Northside Hospital-Cherokee’s Emergency Department, which were accepted by staff members Karen Hundley, Rollyn Cartwright and Tuyet Atkinson.
Winners of Creative Writing Competition Cherokee Charter Academy recently held its first creative writing competition. The theme was “Magical Creatures.” The following students were recognized for their creative writing. Kindergarten Isabella Urrea-Kinder “The Magic Ant” 1st Grade Skylee Poirrer “The Magical Bunny” Ethan Hyson “Swamp Fairy” 2nd Grade Reagan Lockhart “Happy the Horned Frog” Hannah Bryant “The Happiness of Making a Fairy Friend” Anna Knight “Good vs. Bad” 4th Grade Skylar Thompson “The Quest for the Dragon Council” Laurel Blase “Rainbow Dragons” Lilly Burmeister “The Most Unique Friendship” Competition winners, from left: Isabella Urrea-Kinder, Skylee Poirrer, Skylar 7th Grade Thompson, Lilly Burmeister, Laurel Blase, Ethan Hyson, Hannah Bryant and Reagan K.C. Phillips “Manya” Lockhart. SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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School & Sports
Girl Scouts Need Leaders for Cherokee Robotics Team “It’s really hard to put into words what I love about coaching Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta is looking for an adult leader interested in developing Cherokee County’s first robotics because the girls encounter so many life-changing moments,” team. Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes in grades 4-8 will have said RoboChicks Coach Bisa Kenney. “One of my favorite the opportunity to participate in moments is the transformation robotics First Lego League (www. from a ‘shy girl’ to a girl who can firstlegoleague.org), solving realhold the attention of a corporate world engineering challenges by CEO without missing a beat. Or building LEGO-based robots to when a team member makes a compete and complete tasks on a mistake, how the other girls will thematic playing surface. Each team pick her up and cheer her on. We would be led by a registered Girl are a team! Winning is great but I Scout adult volunteer. Peer support let the girls know we have already is available for leaders and girls from won, because we dared to show existing teams across Atlanta. up!” There are Girl Scout Lego teams in Starrs Mill High School student metro Atlanta, but none in Cherokee Brittany Clarke, 14, said there is a County. special bond within her team. “Not Girl Scouts is seeking a volunteer one of friendship, or acquaintance, leader to start a team of six to 10 but one of a family. When we girls in our community. The cost to Members of a robotics team prepare for competition. meet we put aside differences and participate is $50 per girl. Approved become a family that works together toward a common love teams receive more than $1,500 worth of materials, support of robotics.” and activity entry fees. A metro Atlanta team advanced to competition in Washington, D.C., several years ago, where the Leader training is available in April. Teams begin in August. girls received recognition and won scholarships. Contact khobba@gsgatl.org for additional details.
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 50
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A Fun Fundraiser PHOTOS BY BETHANY BEAUDRIE
Students at Sixes Elementary School enjoyed time outdoors as they took part in the Boosterthon Fun Run, a nonprofit fundraising organization that works with students to raise funds and teach fitness, leadership and character. The energetic students, who sought sponsorship pledges for each lap, ran up to 35 laps on a 1/16-mile track. The money raised will be used to purchase new playground equipment. www.boosterthon.com/about-us/
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Faith
A Lesson from Mike the Headless Chicken BY DR. JOE MCKECHNIE
It was Monday, Sept. 10, 1945 and Clara Olsen was in the kitchen of the family’s farmhouse in Colorado. She and her husband Lloyd raised chickens, among other things, and she watched him saunter into the yard to find the perfect poultry for dinner. He came across a five-month-old cockerel chicken. Lloyd raised the ax and dropped it with a thump, cutting the head off of the young rooster. Dr. Joe McKechnie is The headless chicken raced around, the senior pastor of which chickens often do before they Sixes United Methodist Church, and a member eventually fall over and die. of the Sixes Living But something strange happened. community board. This chicken didn’t die! He continued Email him at joe@sixesumc.org. to run around. This continued for a day, then two days, then a week. They named him Mike. A week later, Lloyd and Clara Olsen traveled 250 miles to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, hoping to find a scientific or medical explanation for a headless chicken that hadn’t died. The skeptical scientists were eager to answer all the questions regarding Mike’s amazing ability to survive with no head. They determined that the ax blade missed the jugular vein and a clot had prevented Mike from bleeding to death. While most of his head was cut off, most of his brain stem and one ear was left on his body. Since most of a chicken’s reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem, Mike was able to remain quite healthy. Mike the Headless Chicken grew from two pounds to nearly
eight pounds. Curious sideshow patrons in New York, Atlantic City, Los Angeles and San Diego lined up to pay 25 cents to see Mike. Lloyd and Clara Olsen even had insurance taken out on this “Wonder Chicken,” whose worth was valued at $10,000. On Sept. 10, 1945, it looked as if Mike the Chicken was doomed, yet something else was in store for him. Just when you and I feel beaten down by this world, or when we are tired or afraid, God has some awesome things in store for us. At Easter we remember, celebrate and live out the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection shows that not even death can hold down God’s love for His Creation. So I pose the question, “What’s the big deal about the resurrection?” I don’t say that with any sarcasm or irreverence. To the contrary, I say it as a precursor to the most significant event in the history of humanity. The resurrection has literally changed the world and can change your life. The resurrection shows that Jesus is who He said He was. The resurrection shows that God, despite our sin, offers forgiveness. The resurrection shows humanity that we need a Savior, and that one has been given. The resurrection shows that no matter how bleak a situation looks, God can overcome anything. The apostle Paul says that this event is the foundation of our faith. In fact, he says that without the resurrection, there is no Christianity: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). May you realize the amazing love that God has for you. So much so, that you were in mind when the most important development in history took place—a dead man rose from the grave.
Vacation Bible Schools
Faith News and Events
Plan early for Vacation Bible School. The following churches have scheduled their summer dates:
First Baptist Church Canton - Is looking for volunteers who can can do simple hand-stitching to help assemble dolls that will be distributed to children in orphanages and hospitals in Haiti and other countries. Volunteers are encouraged to meet 1 - 3 p.m. on Tuesdays at the church located at One Mission Point, Canton, in Hospitality Suite 209. For more info, contact 770-479-5538.
First Baptist Church Canton
9 a.m. - noon June 15-19 For more info, contact PennyBennett@ fbccanton.org or 770-79-5538.
Hopewell Baptist Church 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. June 15-19 For more info, call 770-345-5723.
St. Clement’s Episcopal Church 9 a.m. – noon, June 15 - June 19 For more info, contact 770-345-6722.
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Thrive Chapel - Holds a monthly men’s breakfast and Bible study led by Pastor Sean Jazdzyk, 7 - 8 a.m. at J Christopher’s Restaurant 315 Chambers Street, Woodstock. The next meeting will be on April 4. For more info, contact 770-835-5795. Cherokee Presbyterian - The Great American Cook-Off,
a benefit for the Hope Center, will begin at 7 p.m. on April 10, at Cherokee Presbyterian Church located at 1498 Johnson Brady Road, Canton. For more info, call 770-704-9564
St. Clement’s Episcopal - Financial Peace classes will be
held 4 p.m. on Sundays from April 13 to June 8 at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 2795 Ridge Road, Canton. This class will help attendees achieve financial goals by showing how to eliminate debt and save for the future. For more info or to register for the class, contact 770-345-6722.
Welcome to
photo by Darleen Prem
DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK
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
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Download the Visit Woodstock App for info on downtown businesses and events!
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Downtown Woodstock
A Focus on Fundraising and Fashion BY JENNA HILL
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, Jenna Hill is a and bid in a silent auction. Elm Tourism Information Street Cultural Arts Village will offer Coordinator at the Woodstock special entertainment. Visitors Center. The Anna Crawford center opened jehill@woodstockga. gov in 1990 to help children and families impacted by child sexual and physical abuse, neglect and exposure to 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.
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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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
$$
no
closed
no
yes
Italian
no
$$
$$$
closed
Full bar
yes
Reel Seafood 8670 Main St. 770-627-3006 Tea Leaves & Thyme 8990 Main St. 770-516-2609 tealeavesandthyme.com Vingenzo’s 105 E Main St. 770-924-9133 vingenzos.com
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
55
$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20
Casual and Upscale Dine-In Restaurants
You have so much ... they have so little Donations needed now Financial donations New socks and underwear Canned meat 路 Blankets
www.mustministries.org
1407 Cobb Parkway N. Marietta, GA 30061
56
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
57
Downtown Woodstock
Making a Mark for the Arts PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CARTER
downtown woodstock
SAT may 2. I
TRAILFEST 2015
The Reeves House in downtown Woodstock looks much brighter, thanks to Woodstock High senior Madison McColl’s senior project. She organized a fundraiser in which community members were given a chance to paint panels to cover the windows of the 100-year-old home, which is part of the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. The Reeves House will be renovated to be a space for an art gallery, classes and studio space.
58
Madison McColl
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!
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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
Experience Elm Street: BE Funny BY SIOBHAN BRUMBELOW
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 with Elm Street since Shakespeare says it best: “To be or 2002 and holds a not to be? That is the question.” BA in Theatre from Brenau University. She After working with Elm Street toured for a year with for almost 13 years, I can honestly Missoula Children’s Theatre and she answer as an actor, director, teacher currently manages and improviser that my goal for any and performs with the iThink Improv Troupe performance is to BE entertaining. I’d 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.
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
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
59
Soulmate
How a Bill Becomes Law
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 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.
In the House, it was much closer, but in the end, it also met the two-thirds majority required to override the governor’s veto. When we finished, I recapped all of the steps the students went through to get their idea made into law and then asked them if they thought making a bill into a law was easy or hard. They all agreed it was hard. I then asked them if they thought it should be easy or hard, and they said it should be easy. I shared with them at this point that I thought it should be very hard for a bill to become a law because when someone is making a new law, it will affect people they will never meet, so it is important that whatever we do is done only after a lot of thought and debate. I was honored to get to spend this time with Mrs. Chapman’s class, and I hope they learned something along the way.
continued from page 27
60
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
continued from page 14
Business Prospects Best Yet for Cherokee Co. continued from page 14
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.”
Focus to Fight Financial Crime, Elder Abuse continued from page 16
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.
Reference
GREENPRINTS TRAIL SYSTEM 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.
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
61
Reference
SIXES AREA HOMESSixes SOLD IN FEBRUARY Living Sales for February 2015 List Price
Address
Subdivision
Beds
Baths Yr Built
Days on Market
Sales Price
$$/sq ft
$
169,900
2008 Greenhill PASS
BridgeMill
3
2
1999
117
$
166,000
$
126
$
220,000
3071 Woodbridge LN
BridgeMill
3
2
2002
45
$
209,000
$
118
$
239,900
301 White Oak WAY
BridgeMill
4
2.5
2003
30
$
237,900
No Data
$
255,000
125 Gold Mill PL
BridgeMill
4
3
2004
160
$
245,000
$
$
265,000
354 Woodbrook CRST
BridgeMill
5
3.5
1998
184
$
250,000
No Data
$
489,900
4153 GOLD MILL RDG
BridgeMill
6
5
2003
3
$
495,000
$
95
$
219,900
126 Chickory LN
Bridgemill Country Club
4
2.5
2000
3
$
218,000
$
100
$
139,000
407 Pierpont CT
Canton Heights
3
2.5
2006
30
$
135,000
$
81
$
151,900
534 Broughton DR
Canton Heights
3
2.5
2014
7
$
152,550
No Data
$
159,000
403 Glenleigh DR
Creekside At Prominence
3
2.5
2004
7
$
156,000
$
78
$
239,900
566 Crestmont LN
Crestmont
4
2.5
2007
107
$
235,000
$
95
$
242,000
600 Cascade WAY
Crestmont
4
3.5
2007
100
$
228,000
$
79
100
See all the photos and details of these sold listings at http://SLFEB2015.KurtandSheilaTeam.com $
144,900
131 Cypress CT
Cypress Springs
3
2.5
2013
158
$
144,900
No Data
$
165,900
188 Diamond Ridge Ave
Diamond Ridge
4
2.5
2014
118
$
165,900
$
$
171,900
159 Diamond Ridge AVE
Diamond Ridge
4
2.5
2014
98
$
169,900
No Data
$
179,900
322 Stone Valley XING
Diamond Ridge
4
2
2005
63
$
170,500
No Data
$
364,900 204 Windermere Estates CT
Estates at the Lake
6
4.5
2003
33
$
363,900
$
$
139,100
416 Sweetgum DR
Holly Creek Estates
4
2
1987
17
$
132,100
No Data
$
219,900
314 Morning Frost
Iris Park
3
2
2014
83
$
202,000
$
95
$
239,000
818 Middlebrooke BND
Middlebrooke
5
3
2004
0
$
239,000
$
86
$
149,398
145 Lori LN
Mills Ridge
3
2
1985
99
$
142,000
$
94
$
239,900
285 Springs XING
Preserve at Holly Springs
5
3.5
2003
115
$
225,000
$
92
$
198,990
210 Providence Walk CT
Providence Walk
3
2.5
2014
142
$
198,990
$
96
$
168,900
330 ALCOVY WAY
Rivers Edge At River Park
3
2.5
2012
18
$
158,000
$
88
$
145,000
2
2
2002
281
$
150,000
$
111
201 Villa Creek PKWY The Villas At Downing Creek
Seize this opportunity to sell. Rates can only go up $ 212,763.52 AVERAGES IN FEB 2015 from here which will make homes less affordable for buyers using financing.
80.72
$ 207,585.60
Data compiled by the Kurt & Sheila Team / Keller Williams Realty Partners / www.KurtandSheilaTeam.com Sales Data derived from the FMLS (Area covered by Sixes Living)
62
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
88
81
$ 94.61
COMMUNITY INFORMATION Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce
770-345-0400
Cherokee County Government 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 Voter Registration 770-479-0407 Taxes
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 Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club 770-720-7712 Cherokee County Foster & Adoptive Parents Assoc. www.fosteroradopt.org 770-378-0759 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 Timothy’s Cupboard Food Bank www.tlcwoodstock.org 770-591-5515
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
BridgeMill Athletic Club Callahan Golf Links Cherokee County YMCA Cherokee County Soccer Assoc. www.csaimpact.com
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
770-345-5500 770-720-1900 770-591-5820 770-704-0187
Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency www.crpa.net. 770-924-7768 (Includes Aquatic Center, Barnett Park, Blankets Creek, Cherokee Mills, Field’s Landing Park, Kenny Askew Park) Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association www.cherokeelacrosse.com 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
Animal Control 678-493-6200 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
Post Office locations Canton Holly Springs Lebanon Woodstock
770-720-8164 770-345-6318 770-591-9467 770-591-0364
Police Departments
Canton Holly Springs Woodstock Sheriff’s Office www.cherokeega-sheriff.org
770-720-4883 770-345-5537 770-592-6030 678-493-4100
Utilities
Atlanta Gas Light Co. www.aglc.com Canton Water www.canton-georgia.com Cherokee Water & Sewerage Auth. www.ccwsa.com Cobb EMC www.cobbemc.com Georgia Power www.georgiapower.com Woodstock Water www.woodstockga.gov Recycling Center
770-907-4231 770-704-1500 770-479-1813 770-429-2100 888-660-5890 770-926-8852 770-516-4195
Free, Reduced-Price Health Care
Bethesda Community Clinic www.bethesdacommunityclinic.org Cherokee County Health Department www.nghd.org/CherokeeHealth
Urgent Care Facilities
678-880-9654 770-345-7371
M.D. Minor Emergency & Family Medicine, off Riverstone Pkwy, 720 Transit Ave., Suite 101 Canton Northside Cherokee Urgent Care, off exit 11 at I-575 SHEFA Urgent Care 2000 Village Professional Dr. #110 Canton 30114 Wellstar Urgent Care off exit 8, 120 Stonebridge Pkwy. Woodstock, 30189
770-720-7000 678-426-5450 678-661-3166
678-494-2500
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
63
Reference
SIXES AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Business Organizations Canton Cherokee Business and Professional Women’s Club Meets: Noon on third Thursdays at Canton IHOP Contact: Glenda Hinton 770-345-1751 Canton Communicators Toastmasters Club Meets: Noon-1:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Canton YMCA Contact: Steven Van Schooten 770-366-8224 www.toastmasters.org Cherokee B2B Network Meets: 8 a.m. second and fourth Thursdays at Best Western, 705 Transit Ave., Canton 30114 Contact: 770-781-3452 www.CherokeeB2B.com The Joy of Connecting Networking for Women Meets: Various times and locations Contact: Edeline Dryden 678-789-6158 http://xperienceconnections.com/spotlight/ woodstock/ The Joy of Connecting Networking for Women Meets: Various times and locations Contact: Edeline Dryden 678-789-6158 http://xperienceconnections.com/spotlight/ woodstock/
Charitable Organizations 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 Is a residential facility to help girls ages 12-18 learn self-sufficiency. Contact: 770-479-9555 www.angelhousega.com Anna Crawford Children’s Center Is 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 Is 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 800-334-2836 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 Cherokee County Humane Society (CCHS) Contact: 770-928-5115 or admin@ cchumanesociety.org
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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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 Is 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 Based in Ball Ground, offers high quality, low cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats throughout North Georgia. 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 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 HOPE Center Offers support for unplanned pregnancy. 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 Parkway. www.mustministries.org National Alliance for Mental Illness Is 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 Is 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 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 Is 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
Civic, County Organizations AARP Woodstock Chapter Is 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
BridgeMill-Sixes Service League Contact: Marlyn Patouillet 770- 345-7941 www.bssl.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 Canton Lions Club Contact: 678- 224-7878 www.lionsofcanton.org Canton Optimist Club Meets: 7:30 a.m. Fridays at Canton IHOP Contact: canton_optimist@hotmail.com https://sites.google.com/site/cantonoptimistclub/ home Canton Rotary Club Meets: Noon Tuesdays at the Cherokee Conference Center at the Bluffs www.cantongarotary.org
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 Cherokee Music Teachers Association Contact: Linda Lokey 770-720-1701 www.cherokeemta.org Cherokee Soccer Association Contact: 770-704-0187 www.csaimpact.com
Cherokee County Historical Society Contact: 770-345-3288 www.rockbarn.org
Cherokee Youth Lacrosse Association www.cherokeelacrosse.com
Cherokee County Service League (770) 704-5991
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
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 Service League of Cherokee County Contact: 770-704-5991 http://serviceleague.net
Political Organizations Cherokee County Democrat Party Meets: 7 p.m. second Thursdays at Holly Springs Depot, 164 Hickory Road, Holly Springs. 8:30 a.m. first Saturdays at IHOP, 3010 Northside Parkway, Canton 30014. Contact: 770- 345-3489 www.cherokeedemocrats.com/d2. Cherokee County Libertarians Meets: 7:30 p.m. third Tuesday at the Cherokee County Board of Realtors Training Center, 1600 River Park Blvd., Suite 104, Woodstock 30188. Contact: http://cherokeelp.org. Cherokee County Republican Party Meets: 9 a.m. second Saturday at Winchesters Woodfire Grill Contact: (678) 809-1411 Cherokee Tea Party Patriots Meets: 4 p.m. third Sunday at Latimer Hall in Woodstock. Contact Conrad Quagliaroli 770- 378-8232 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 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
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 Is for men interested in culinary arts. www.lesmarmitons.org Wildlife Action, Inc. Is a conservation organization on Allatoona Lake at 2075 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth. Contact: 770-924-7464 www.wildlifeactiongeorgia.com Cherokee Senior Softball Association www.seniorsoftball.com Sons of the American Revolution - Cherokee Meets: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays at the Rock Barn, 638 Marietta Hwy., Canton www.cherokeechapter.com William G. Long Senior Center Offers activities for seniors at 223 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. Contact: 678-445-6518
Support Organizations 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. http://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 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 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 Grandparents Raising GRANDchildren Meets: 7:15 p.m. second Tuesdays Transfiguration Catholic Church, Marietta (nursery available). Contact: Jeannie 770-919-9275 Hearing Loss Association of America NW Metro Atlanta Chapter For people with hearing loss looking for support and resources, holds free and informative quarterly meetings in the Woodstock area. Contact: nwmetroatlantahlaa@gmail.com 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 770517-0191 MOMS Club of Canton, West GA (serving Canton, Ball Ground, Waleska and Holly Springs) http://momsclubofcantonwest.webs.com 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 SIXES LIVING | 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
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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
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Reference
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 Sheriff Roger Garrison (R)
498 Chattin Drive Canton, GA 30115 rdgarrison@cherokeega.com
www.cherokeega-sheriff.org 678-493-4100 fax: 678-493-4228
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
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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
www.canton-georgia.gov www.hollyspringsga.us. www.woodstockga.gov
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY 3451 Cobb Pkwy, Ste. 4, Acworth
ANIMALS/PETS BridgeMill Animal Hospital 770-479-2200 www.bridgemillvet.com 9560 Bells Ferry Road, Canton
51
Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org
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Hartman Imbriale Attorneys 678-445-7423 www.hartman-imbriale.com 145 Towne Lake Pkwy., Suite 200, Woodstock
45
Kathleen McGillick, Attorney 770-591-5956 www.KathleenMcGillick.com
25
AUTOMOTIVE 41
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS Downtown BUZZ
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CLEANING SERVICES Rejoice Maids 678-905-3476 www.rejoicemaids.com
3
MiniMaid 15 770-656-2726, www.minimaid.com CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Must Ministries
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CHIROPRACTIC Grexa Chiropractic & Structural Wellness 30 770-213-7602 www.GrexaChiropractic.com 1750 Marietta Hwy., Canton North Cobb Spine & Nerve Institute 678-574-5678 70
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DENTAL
ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES
BridgeMill Auto Care Canton location: 770-720-0765 East Cobb location: 770-641-9906
Ribley Chiropractic 2453 Towne Lake Pkwy., Woodstock 770-592-2505, www.ribleychrio.com
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(Cosmetic, Family, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics and Pediatric) Advanced Dental Restorations 43 (678) 810-0881, www.BringBackSmiles. com 1505 Stone Bridge Pkwy., Ste. 220, Woodstock BridgeMill Dentistry 770-704-1812 www.bridgemilldentistry.com 3682 Sixes Road, Canton 30114
13
Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 27 770-926-9260 PediatricWoodstockDentist.com 1816 Eagle Drive Suite 200-C, Woodstock 9
S. Bruce O’Neal, DDS 25 770-924-8848, 2230 Towne Lake Pkwy., Bldg. 100, Ste. 100, Woodstock Spillane Orthodontics 32 770-928-4747 www.SpillaneOrtho.com 335 Parkway 575, Suite 200, Woodstock Werner Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 35 678-224-5722 www.ChildrensDentistWoodstock.com 250 Parkbrooke Place Suite 250, Woodstock Williams Orthodontics 770-592-5554 145 Towne Lake Pkwy, Suite 201, Woodstock 770-345-4155
EDUCATION/INSTRUCTION Goddard School, The 770-720-3003 310 Prominence Point Pkwy., Canton
35
Piano Instructor-Ralph Iossa 973-519-6863
25
The Grant Academy 770-92607827 www.thegrantacademy.net 102 Springfield Dr., Woodstock
5
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Fountain View Dentistry Inside back 770-926-0000 www.fountainviewsmiles.com 1816 Eagle Drive, Bldg. 200, Ste. A, Woodstock
Riverstone Dental Care Dr. Ruximar Linkous, 770-479-3846 www.riverstonedentalcare.com
205 Waleska Road, Suite 1A, Canton www.DrWilliamsOrthodontics.com
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Citadel Professional Services, LLC Inside front 770-952-6707 225 Town Park Drive, Suite 440, Kennesaw Schuckers & Associates, PC 770-329-8873 or (706) 745-2475 3760 Sixes Rd., Ste. 126 #127, Canton Schuckers.Consulting@gmail.com
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FUNERAL HOME South Canton Funeral Home 3147 Marietta Hwy., Canton 770-479-3377, www.thescfh.com
1
HAIR SALON/MASSAGE/SPA Azure Salon & Spa 42 770-345-8280 www.azuresalon.net 1359 Riverstone Pkwy., Suite 110, Canton Bambu Salon 7 770-345-0027 www.BambuSalonAveda.com 150 Prominence Point Pkwy., Suite 700, Canton 30114 Jyl Craven Hair Design discounthairservices.com
3
Salon Spa Venéssa 27 770-591-2079, www.salonvenessa.com 8516 Main St., Woodstock
HOME IMPROVEMENTS & REPAIR
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES
Alcaraz Drywall 25 678-949-8689, fidelalcaraz@yahoo.com Blue Horizon Air Conditioning & Heating Cover, 36, 37 678-279-2244, BHCool.com Grout Doctor, The 678-383-1311 www.groutdoctor.com
20
Hammocks Heating & Air 770-794-0428 www.hammockshvac.com
24
Mr. Junk 678-675-8651 www.mrjunk1.com
42
Reliable Heating & Air 770-594-9969 www.ReliableAir.com
57
Uptronix 770-928-0260 www.uptronix.com
13
Calvary Landscaping & Irrigation 770-720-1727 or 770-827-0346 www.calvarylandscaping.com
Medical Associates of North Georgia Inside front 320 Hospital Road, Canton 770-479-5535, meadassoc.com North Georgia Audiology & Hearing Aid Center, Dr. Jan Henriques 1 770-560-4775, NorthGeorgiaHearing.com 203 Woodpark Place, Ste. B-100, Woodstock Northside Hospital – Cherokee 770-720-5100, www.northside.com 201 Hospital Road, Canton
11
Northwest ENT and Allergy Center 45 770-427-0368 www.NW-ENT.com 134 Riverstone Terrace, Suite 202, Canton 960 Woodstock Parkway, Suite 101 Woodstock
15
Towne Lake Primary Care Family Medicine 7 900 Towne Lake Pkwy., Ste. 410, Woodstock 678-445-0819
33
Wellstar Cancer Network 770-956-STAR (7827) wellstar.org
17
Keller Williams, Kurt & Sheila Johnson 404-954-2486 www.kurtandsheila.com
Back Cover
RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT American Cancer Society Relay for Life 50 City of Canton 770-704-1548
13
City of Holly Springs Memorial day 5K
40
Cherokee Theatre Company 770-591-0282 www.cherokeetheatre.org
20
Elm St. Cultural Arts Village 678-494-4251
59
Greenprints Trailfest www.trailfest.org
58
JSL Golf Tournament
21
SERV 5K Global Hunger Walk/Run
54
Taste & Sound of Woodstock 43 RETAILERS/SHOPPING
PHOTOGRAPHY
J King Images 404-384-2794, 404-200-0881 www.JKingImages.com
56
REAL ESTATE
7
Soil Sense Landscape Group 5 678-483-5185, soilsenselandscape.com The Mosquito Authority 678-294-7597, BugsBITE.com
5
Plastic Surgery Center of the South 31 770-421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net 120 Vann St., Ste. 150, Marietta
LANDSCAPING/LAWN CARE Mclellan Excavation & Landscaping 404-520-0710, www.excavationandlandscaping.com
Cherokee Internal Medicine 678-238-0301, www.cherokeeim.com 1192 Buckhead Crossing, Ste. C
Kim Bates Photography www.KimBatesPhotoArt.com
22
Max Video Games & More 3 770-924-9300 6424 Bells Ferry Rd., Ste. 124, Woodstock www.facebook.com/maxvideogames
SIXES LIVING | April 2015
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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
Michelle McCulloch Art Director
Jackie Loudin Assistant Editor
Laura Latchford Page Designer
Patty Ponder ALM President
Denise Griffin Controller
Sixes Living Distribution Map Circulation: 16,250
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SIXES LIVING | April 2015
Christie Deese Sixes Living Market Manager
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.