Volunteer Spotlight

Honoring Those Who’ve Made a Difference

In 1991, April was designated National Volunteer Month as part of President George H.W. Bush’s 1,000 Points of Light campaign. To recognize community members who donate their time to worthy causes, local nonprofits submitted spotlights on some of their valuable volunteers.

The Dave Krache Foundation

SUBMITTED BY ALLISON GIDDENS

Stephen Archer has been a dedicated board member and volunteer for The Dave Krache Foundation (DKF) since its inception in 2012. He most recently has served as the organization’s treasurer, and DKF is better for it. The foundation aims to help local kids in need play the sports they love. Stephen grew up playing sports and understands the value and meaning it brings to a kid’s life, especially when a child is growing up in a household that finds it difficult to make ends meet.

Stephen is an asset to DKF because he genuinely cares about reaching and supporting those most in need. While sports may not fall under typical primary needs like food, safety or shelter, they are a vital piece of childhood development. Because of volunteers like Stephen, DKF (davekrache.com) has been able to help nearly 1,000 local kids play the sports they love – even when their families cannot afford the fees.

Leslie Hudson has been with DKF as a volunteer and board member since 2015, currently serving as vice chairwoman.

Leslie has been a staunch supporter of DKF and its mission long before she joined the board. She believes in the benefits of keeping kids playing the sports they love, even when their families cannot afford all the fees it takes. She not only is constantly working to connect the organization to leagues that need DKF support, but she also works to introduce those who can help support DKF and be a part of the greater mission.

Leslie has connected many longtime donors to DKF and is a key member of the Financial Assistance Request Committee. She, along with her team, has worked to evolve the application process to ensure that the DKF is capturing valid data to support those most in need and is being a good steward of donated dollars.

Tena Williams and Cuddles

Wellstar Community Hospice, Agape Hospice

SUBMITTED BY KATHLEEN FLEISZAR

Born prematurely, weighing 1.5 pounds and having sight in only one eye, Tena Williams started life with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Her appreciation for the gift of life is reflected in the drive and dedication she puts into her volunteer work.

Tena’s career as a volunteer began in Florida, where she cuddled and gently rocked fragile babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. She continued as a volunteer for hospice – her passion – bringing love and joy to those who have but a short time to live. In Cobb County, she spent 25-plus years volunteering at Wellstar Community Hospice and, most recently, at Agape Hospice.

Tena and I became hospice buddies at Wellstar. She brings her vibrant personality to her patients and always is accompanied by a therapy dog (currently a 3-pound rescue named Cuddles).

When folks ask her if she finds hospice work depressing, Tena says she believes it is her God-given purpose, an honor and a privilege to be with someone on their final journey. And she fulfills that purpose by offering comfort and support to patients and their families. Tena and Cuddles spend three days a week visiting about six patients a day. Her patients love to hold Cuddles.

Tena has a heart as big as the sky and never hesitates to share with others the importance of volunteer work and pet rescue. She has taught everyone she touches how to unconditionally love those facing the end of their lives. For Tena, life has come full circle, from cuddling infants in the NICU to bringing delight and joy to hospice patients with a rescue named Cuddles.

Twins are unique in many ways. Some even are superheroes. But few are like Austin and Aaron Eakins. Both are leaders of Hammering Hands, a volunteer group at Piedmont Church focused on community outreach. As a benefactor of their passion and generosity, Special Needs Cobb (SNC), the largest special needs group-home provider in Cobb County, knows beyond doubt that they are a dynamic duo.

Respite is a huge gift that most special needs families never get. Nearly 1,500 families wait on a list, and only 10 can be served per weekend. In spring 2021, the Eakins twins led their group to renovate their weekend respite home, the sole facilities-based respite home for special needs in the area. As Hammering Hands team leaders, Austin and Aaron created a plan, purchased the raw materials and commandeered an enthusiastic group of 50 volunteers, including their parents, to help with the remodel. How inspiring to see these volunteers hard at work renovating every aspect of the house. Not only did Hammering Hands provide all the labor, Piedmont Church provided the funds. They orchestrated a full makeover, including landscaping, a new roof on the home’s shed, painting, new kitchen appliances and countertops and updated light fixtures and hardware that totally transformed the kitchen, dining, bathroom and living room areas.

This year, the twins are joining the church and SNC on a whole-house renovation project on one of the group homes. They are securing materials and making plans to replace the roof and have proposed renovations that totally will transform the property, saving thousands of dollars that can be spent on client needs.

What a gift! Forty percent of SNC (www.specialneedscobb.org) residents are orphans, and this ministry of the heart, led by two young men who have no special needs family members, will go a long way in keeping a roof over their heads for life. The impact goes beyond dollars. They are creating a real home for those who need it most.

Hicks Malonson

Rescuing Hope

SUBMITTED BY CRYSTAL BURDETTE

Hicks Malonson was one of the first people to volunteer with Rescuing Hope (www. rescuinghope.com) when we opened our doors in 2015, and his level of enthusiasm for and dedication to our mission remains as high today. As an ambassador for Rescuing Hope, Hicks has been instrumental in spreading our message to people in houses of worship, businesses and community groups in our area. He never waits for us to ask for his help. As a successful Realtor with Harry Norman and an active member of the Rotary Club of North Cobb, Hicks leveraged his connections to secure grant funding and fundraising event sponsorships that make it possible for us to continue our work. He never misses an opportunity to tell people about Rescuing Hope and encourages them to support us. We are honored to have Hicks on our team and only wish that we could clone him!

5Volunteering Tips for Successful

BY SUSANNAH O. MACKAY

Volunteering in the community is an amazing, positive outlet and such an uplifting way to spend your time. But, for many people, it can be hard to know how to get started. Time constraints make it difficult, and sometimes it is hard to find an opportunity that is a good fit. But, with so many organizations doing good work in our community, there is sure to be a great opportunity for you. Here are five tips for making volunteer service a regular and enjoyable part of your life:

1. Give yourself some credit. You may feel compelled to get involved in the community but also feel guilty because of how little you feel you can take on. Don’t play that game! Doing even a little bit of something is better than a lot of nothing. Over time, tiny drops of water fill a glass. 2. Double dip! Volunteering doesn’t always have to be some “other” thing you do. Incorporate it into the patterns and schedule of your life. Want to find more social time? Invite a friend, or meet someone new while you’re there. Need a way to connect with a struggling family member? Go together, and serve. Looking for a fun activity for co-workers? Plan a service project. Want to do something productive during downtime at home? There are opportunities for that as well. Service can be the avenue for making other things in life better, too. 3. Keep it simple. If you are just getting started, keep it simple. You don’t have to commit to something huge. Just commit to something! Look up an organization that needs donations, and invite your neighbors to contribute, or sign up for a single shift at a one-time event. Then, you can build the habit from there. 4. Consider your passion. Be creative — find something that really sparks your interest. Is there a cause you feel strongly about or something you love to do? Consider how you could turn that skill or interest into a way to give back. From soccer to knitting, and cooking to writing, there is an opportunity for just about everything. 5. Make it automatic. The best way to keep community involvement easy is to make it automatic. Schedule a specific time in your week or month to remember to look for an opportunity. Or, when you are ready, commit to something regular you can look forward to. The less effort you put into maintaining your goal, the more likely you are to succeed.

Ready to Get Started?

Those who are active in service have been shown to have better health, greater joy and even longer life. You truly have nothing to lose. Check out justserve.org to find opportunities near you. Here are four opportunities to consider:

• Volunteer online with the Smithsonian Institution.

Looking for a way to volunteer from home? There are so many virtual options. Check out this opportunity to help the Smithsonian with their research: https://bit.ly/3hn0izf.

• Pack lunches for kids.

Looking for another way to help from home? Gather supplies and decorate lunch bags to support at-risk kids. All you have to do is drop them off when they are ready. https://bit.ly/3poU6Li.

• Help with a cemetery cleanup.

Sign up to help with a cemetery cleanup day near you. The outdoor event offers a chance to meet new people, and all ages can contribute. Beautify the community, and honor families in our area. https://bit.ly/3M9MRRj.

• Volunteer at Rise Against Hunger.

This organization works through many channels to eliminate hunger. Volunteer for a shift to help pack meals, or run a fundraiser to sponsor meals. Bring your family or co-workers for a group experience. https://bit.ly/3vlro1Q.

Justserve.org is a free, nationwide website and app that works to match volunteers with nonprofit organizations and service opportunities. If you run a nonprofit or are looking for ways to make service a regular part of your life, check out justserve.org. You can sign up for regular updates and learn more about organizations nearby, too. JustServe makes it easy to just go out and serve!

Susannah MacKay is a local JustServe specialist. She grew up in Marietta and loves helping strengthen her community through service! Follow her on Facebook @JustServeGeorgia.

Volunteers show off their muscles and the trash they collected during the 2021 Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup.

Volunteers Lead the Way to a Better Lake

BY CHRISTOPHER PURVIS

April is National Volunteer Month, and a great time to recognize the volunteers on Allatoona Lake. In 2021, more than 39,000 service hours were completed by 2,272 volunteers, in efforts such as water safety, trail maintenance, fish attractors, natural resource management, shoreline cleanups, park hosting, Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout projects and many others. Allatoona offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, such as lake events, as well as positions as park hosts at day-use areas or in the Allatoona Lake Volunteer Village.

Of course, the biggest volunteer event on the lake, and perhaps in the nation, is the Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup (GLAC). This event is held every year in September and usually is in the Top 3 Public Lands Day events in the United States. Last year, despite COVID-19 conditions, 1,625 volunteers came out for the event. The GLAC is managed by the Lake Allatoona Association (LAA) and partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on this worthy environmental cleanup. LAA also sponsors the Allatoona Lake Warriors Program, which completed an additional 943 volunteer hours cleaning the lake throughout the year. This year’s GLAC is scheduled for Oct. 1.

Volunteers also work as park hosts in many USACEmanaged day-use areas. In return for a free campsite, these volunteers open and close gates, check for fee compliance and generally maintain surveillance of the areas. You probably have seen these volunteers in places such as Cooper’s Furnace, Riverside, Blockhouse, Galt’s Ferry, Victoria, Sweetwater, Kellogg Creek, Tanyard and Stamp Creek day-use areas. Interested in working and living on the lake at one of these locations? USACE still has a number of volunteer positions available. For more information, contact the USACE Operations Project Management Office at 678-721-6700.

Some of the best volunteer work being completed on the lake is coming out of the Allatoona Volunteer Village. This 10-site campground houses volunteers who seasonally donate their time to assist the lake office. The “village people” were responsible for completing nearly 12,000 hours last year on projects, such as pressure washing ramps and day-use areas, mowing recreation areas, maintaining trails, manning phones and radios, presenting water-safety programs, assisting campground staff and many other duties. In March, we received great news that Allatoona Village volunteers Brenda Grano and her mother, Wynonna Brakeman, were named USACE National Volunteers of the Year! Brenda and Nony have built a recycling program at Allatoona that is second to none and have expanded the program into almost every area managed by USACE. Their passion and hard work finally paid off with this tremendous award.

Finally, don’t forget that April 22 is Earth Day! If you would like to volunteer for an Earth Day project, or if you’re interested in a park host or Volunteer Village position, call our office and ask for the volunteer coordinator.

Christopher Purvis is lead ranger at Lake Allatoona over partnerships, volunteers and project security. He has been a ranger on Allatoona Lake since 2005.

Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Business

BY RYAN BLYTHE

April marks the beginning of spring and is associated with renewal, regrowth and rejuvenation. Hope springs eternal on Opening Day of Major League Baseball, even for teams that have been in the cellar for years. Each year in April, Georgia proudly hosts the Masters golf tournament. There also are two great festivals this month: the Acworth Arts Festival and the Big Shanty Festival in Kennesaw.

In addition to festivals and sporting events, April is a great time for businesses to do a spring cleaning. Nothing can renew a commercial entity better than taking a step back and reviewing opportunities for improvement. With that in mind, here are some of my takeaways from the recent Fabricators and Manufacturers Association Annual Meeting in Miami.

Small businesses need to get bigger. We are in a historic supplychain crisis, and vendors will give preference to larger accounts. A candid conversation with your vendors is required here. If they cannot collaborate with you, then it is time to review your options. Good vendors are partners in your success, and that relationship is more important than ever.

Besides supply-chain problems, labor is harder than ever to find. The U.S. Labor Department released some positive news recently: February hires were the highest since last summer. But, ask any business owner or human resources executive, and he or she will tell you hiring challenges are more concerning than inflationary pressures. By offering more money, you can separate yourself from the competition. In January, I wrote that companies needed to be prepared for average salary increases of 4%, but why not 5% or even 6%, if it is merited and possible? Larger employers are offering extraordinary salaries, as I have seen from personal experience during “resignation summer,” so small businesses must do what they can to remain competitive.

It also is time for small businesses to get younger. If you have been afraid to hire Generation Z, now is the time to bring that group into your multigenerational workforce. Z is loosely defined as being born between 1995 and 2010; this means 18- to 25-yearolds are the group most likely available for work. We had an excellent presentation at our conference on this cohort, and just like millennials and Gen X, there are opportunities to better understand what they seek in a professional setting.

For starters, Zers are much closer to their parents. They may still live at home. Pay is not necessarily the biggest factor in their happiness, and that will benefit you since you are going to have to cough up some raises for your older millennials who are trying to grow their families and buy their next house in a market with a serious housing shortage. If pay is not the top motivator for Zers, what is? For one thing, they want flexibility with their schedule. Zers are looking for a real work-life balance and do not want after-hours emails from the boss intruding into their personal time. They also want to work remotely in many cases and to have employers who are progressive enough to consider it.

The Zers are extremely tech-savvy and have an entrepreneurial spirit. Smart employers can maximize those traits, especially in social media. Zers have grown up with smartphones and understand Instagram, YouTube and TikTok far better than any other group.

Still not convinced that you need to embrace the next generation? There are 73 million members of Gen Z, and 60 million of them will be entering the workforce during the next decade.

Ryan Blythe is the founder of Georgia Trade School, which for the sixth consecutive year, was named one of the Cobb Chamber Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year.

Discover a Natural Approach

to a Beautiful Smile.

IAOMT Accredited Dr. Vita

IAOMT Member

Connecting Oral Health to Whole Body Wellness

► Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal ► Biocompatibility Testing Available ► Restorative and Preventative Care ► Cosmetic Dentistry Dr. Hamel

Visit our website to learn more about holistic dentistry. BiologicDentistry.com

770.426.9994 1781 Brookstone Walk NW Acworth, GA 30101

Cobb Couple Reap Sweet Success

Honey Producers Blossom From Gardeners to National Award Winners

EQ www.atlantashometownhoney.com

PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS From left, Kim Higgins, Tyler Jasper, Brian Higgins, Aimee Prestridge and Amber Swearingen. Employees not pictured: Sandra and Bryon Wilson, Colin Moore, Brooke Cobb, Madison Ballard and Veronica Delanuez.

In 1992, Brian and Kim Higgins decided to build a few hive boxes to attract honeybees to their property. The couple wanted to grow fruits and vegetables, but weren’t having any luck. An agent of the Cobb County Extension Service said the reason was the lack of honeybees for pollination.

Fast forward to 2022. The Higgins now run Home Town Honey, a nationally known, award-winning company, and have created a line of honey products they sell at more than 100 retail outlets in metro Atlanta. Products also are available at local farmers markets, from Brookhaven to Kennesaw, including the Cobb County Farm Bureau market at Lost Mountain Park.

“It feels like overnight we went from building our own hive boxes to having five farms in Kennesaw, Acworth, Woodstock, Marietta and Cartersville, and winning the national award for the best honey in the nation,” Brian said. “We have been proud members of the Georgia State Beekeepers Association since 1995 and support The University of Georgia’s bee research lab.”

Home Town Honey is 100% pure, raw local honey; many customers buy it to help control their allergies. Other products include beeswax candles, bee pollen, honey soaps, liquid-filled honey candy, honey straws and lip balms.

In addition to the medicinal qualities of honey, some customers have come up with creative ways to share the product.

“We bottle and sell 2-ounce honey bears for baby showers. Clients will tie a blue or pink ribbon around the bear’s neck and tag them, Baby to Bee, to give as shower gifts,” Brian said. “We also bottle 2-ounce hex jars of honey for wedding favors. The couple will print their own label saying, Thank You for sharing this day with me and my Honey, and include their names and date on the label.” starting the company in 1995. Because honey is considered food, the Higgins have to obtain all the proper licenses, and meet Georgia Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements.

Home Town Honey is a member of the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers club, Georgia Beekeepers association, and the American Beekeepers Federation. In 2016, the company won first place at the American Beekeepers Federation national convention for their wildflower honey.

Brian has served six years on the board of directors for the Cobb County Farm Bureau and has served as a director on the Georgia State Honey Commodity Board for the last five years.

The couple are lifelong Cobb County residents. He is a Sprayberry High graduate, and Kim went to Lassiter High. The business has been a family affair through the years, as their children, Sandra and Branden, have helped with in-school field trips, bottling and labeling jars, making deliveries to stores and manning the booth at farmers markets.

To find a retail outlet near you, check the list of retailers and farmers markets at www.atlantashometownhoney.com.

Brookwood Christian Students Find a Path to SUCCESS

As a private academy dedicated to helping students who need extra attention, the staff of Brookwood Christian School has the opportunity to make a life-changing difference for those children.

The little red schoolhouse on the north side of Main Street in Acworth is a beacon of hope for children who have language-based learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and auditory processing disorder. Founder Kim Wigington shares a success story that sums up the difference Brookwood Christian School (BCS) can make.

The director has her own personal testimony to share, the impetus for starting BCS in 2004. Her daughter, Kristen, wasn’t reading at age 8, despite having an IQ in the gifted range. After trying private schools, resource classrooms, tutoring, vision and occupational therapy to no avail, Kim took matters into own hands.

“Her education was very disjointed and she needed her whole school day to be planned around her needs. I had the credentials and experience to put together a program that has helped many students succeed,” Kim said.

Now Kristen is teaching at BCS, along with her dad, Kevin.

Charlotte’s Story

“Charlotte began attending Brookwood Christian School in the sixth grade. She was barely reading at a first-grade level and had no confidence in herself. The teachers provided intensive Wilson Reading instruction and by the time Charlotte graduated, she was reading on level.

BCS also provided extensive college prep instruction in math, science and history. Charlotte excelled and gained confidence due to the instruction the teachers were giving. While at BCS, Charlotte began dual enrollment, attending Chattahoochee Technical College.

Again, she excelled and once she received her associates degree in computer and electrical engineering, she enrolled at Kennesaw State University. Charlotte recently graduated cum laude from KSU, with her bachelor’s degree in science in electrical engineering technology and is preparing to take the FE and PE tests to join the workforce as an engineer.

Without the care of the teachers and the focus on teaching her to read at BCS, Charlotte would have been lost in the public school system. BCS promoted her confidence and realization that she can achieve anything she wishes.”

Kim Wigington, founder of Brookwood Christian School.

Grades 1-12 accredited by Georgia Accrediting Commission.

Tate Grove’s class practicing auditory comprehension.

PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS

The BCS Difference

Students at Brookwood enjoy smaller classes of eight students or less, a specialized reading program called Wilson Reading, a math program that is computer based and reads the textbook to the students, and instruction based on their achievement level, rather than their grade level. The students are normal kids who have IQs that fall in the normal range. However, they haven’t succeeded in traditional public or private schools.

Wigington leads the 21-member staff with many degrees and years of experience. She has a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education from Kennesaw State University, a master’s degree in school counseling, an educational specialist degree in school leadership and 32 years of experience in public and private schools.

“I founded the school in 2004 as a ministry of a church, and BCS quickly outgrew the space. We incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) in 2007 and purchased property at North Main Street between Wood Street and Lakewood Drive in downtown Acworth,” she said. “Three years ago we added a second building to the campus. Both buildings are now at capacity. We have to make a decision soon about adding a third building to the campus.”

To date, the school has graduated 41 students, with 75% attending college. Truly a part of the Acworth community, students can be seen walking around Lake Allatoona, down Main Street, or shopping at the Farmers Market on Friday mornings.

“Our location allows us to be part of the historic downtown area,” Wigington said. “It is within walking distance of Lake Allatoona as well as the farmer’s market, and Acworth shops and restaurants. This community has embraced our school family.”

Brooke Wheeling and Hannah Ward working on a group project. Accepts the sb10 Georgia Special Needs Scholarship and the Apogee Tax Credit Scholarship.

Curriculum includes the Wilson Reading System for dyslexia, and other computer-based programs for reading, math and auditory processing.

Students improve 2.6 grade levels per year, on average, in reading.

Brookwood Christian School 4728 Wood St., Acworth 678-401-5855 BrookwoodChristian.com | E

4Home, Quietly Ways to Improve Your

BY ELISABETH STUBBS

You are ready to sign the papers and start that big home improvement project. Maybe you are gutting your kitchen, knocking out walls to open up your space, or your dream pool is going in. Unfortunately, construction is loud and dirty, which are big annoyances if you live in a quiet and tidy neighborhood.

Here are a few tips to keep the peace: 1. Talk to your neighbors. Understanding the project’s scope ahead of time can be helpful to work around the noise, dust and general disruption. Get in touch with your neighbors before the project begins.

Regular communication is important. How much longer will the giant dumpster be in your driveway? Has the timeline changed? Provide updates as needed. You also may need to keep your homeowners association in the loop. 2. Prepare for demolition and dust. Demolition also creates lots of dust. If the homes are very close together, ask your contractor to take precautions to keep most of the mess on your property. For example, wetting the construction site every day to dampen particles and keep them from flying around. 3. Make a plan to handle construction noise. All that pounding from construction can seriously get on your nerves. Let your neighbors know when the job site will be particularly noisy. Be aware of what times construction noise can start and end. Find out on what days of the week noise is permitted. (Many places don’t allow construction on Sundays, for instance.) 4. Share contact information with neighbors. If you will not be home while most of the work is being done, give your neighbors the contractor’s name and number so they contact them if there’s an emergency.

Keep in mind that construction is temporary. Try not to let every little thing bother you. Here is some advice to help you stay calm during your next big home improvement project: • When it gets noisy, consider putting on headphones (noise-canceling headphones work best) and playing music. • During the height of construction, get outside and take a nature walk. • If you’re working from home, plan to go to a local coffee shop for a few hours, to concentrate and grab a cup of joe.

Big projects aren’t always fun, but remember — once completed, the value of your home increases, which will increase the value of your neighbors’ homes as well.

Elisabeth Stubbs is one of the owners of Enhance Floors & More, one of Atlanta’s toprated flooring dealers, located in Marietta.

ACWORTH

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Stay Safe While Enjoying Spring Activities

BY WAYNE DENNARD

Spring finally is here, and the city of Acworth is gearing up for some great events. In just the next two months, we will have the Acworth Arts Fest, Live at Logan Farm Park, the Easter egg hunt, the Dragon Boat Festival and Smoke on the Lake. I know that everyone is looking forward to the parks opening up, and being able to spend time outdoors with family and friends. After a cold winter season, we all are ready to get outside and enjoy the warm spring weather. To make sure that your outdoor events and excursions are peaceful and safe, pay attention to the following tips: 1. Lock your car doors, and do not leave valuables within sight of anyone passing by your vehicle. Thieves love nothing more than an unlocked car door; it is an easy target. Even if you have taken the precaution of locking your doors, a purse left on a car seat is a huge temptation for a thief. 2. Do not leave children unattended in vehicles. It does not have to be hot outside for the interior of a car to heat up. Even in mild temperatures, leaving a child in a vehicle can lead to heat stroke, or even death. The same rule applies to pets. 3. Sunblock is a must, especially for children. It’s not summer yet, and the coolness of the springtime sun can be misleading. Sunburns can happen anytime there is sun exposure, whether it is hot outside or not. 4. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. If, for any reason, you become stranded, it is a good idea to have the following items in your car: first-aid kit, bottled water, nonperishable snack items, rain gear and jumper cables. There are other items that you can add to your kit, but these are a good starting point. 5. To help ensure your safety on the city’s many walking trails, use them only during park hours. Tell friends and family the route you will be taking, and travel with a partner when possible.

Photo by Jodi Holtz.

6. When you are at a city event, or relaxing at one of our beautiful parks, keep small children within sight at all times. It only takes a moment to look away and find that your child has wandered off. With older children, we recommend setting a time to meet at a specific location. Do this every half-hour or so, and you will have peace of mind, knowing that your older children are safe. 7. Keep a cellphone with you, and make sure that it is fully charged before you leave home. A charged cellphone is one of the best tools for maintaining safety in case of emergency.

We all are glad that spring finally is here, so please enjoy it, and make sure to be safe. Taking the proper precautions, and being prepared for emergencies, can help keep a minor inconvenience from becoming a major problem.

Wayne Dennard has served as chief since 2012 and has lived in this community for more than 40 years.