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Contents April 2022
Contributors
Joannie Bates, Keller Williams
24 Judy Abbott 22 Ryan Blythe
On the Cover
45 Jennifer Bonn
This Realtor describes herself as one who, no matter the obstacle, “will do what it takes to find a solution that works for everyone.”
48 Andrew Bramlett 20 Dana Dorris 21 Derek Easterling
Pages 28 & 29
18 Susannah MacKay
Cover photo by Red Baryl Portraits
44 Rob Macmillan 32 Speed for Need 30 Elisabeth Stubbs 34 Bill Westenberger 25 Jay White 39 Joel Williams
In Every Issue
14
4 Around Kennesaw
Hands-On Family Fun
Don’t miss this year’s Touch-A-Truck photos; all ages got up-close and personal with the transportation exhibit at Adams Park.
16
Volunteer Spotlight!
Local nonprofits brag on their volunteers, who are making a difference in our community.
48
Kennesaw’s 20th Century Physician
Bramlett introduces us to Dr. Ellis, an important part of history.
2
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
8 Local News 12 Celebrations 24 Growing Gardeners 36 School News 40 Senior Events 42 Library Events 44 Rob’s Rescues 46 Downtown Dining Guide 50 Community Calendar 52 Cobb Photographic Society 54 Directory of Advertisers
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Around Kennesaw Letter From the Managing Editor
Welcome to spring! I’m the new managing editor for Aroundabout Local Media, with a focus on the Around Acworth and Around Kennesaw magazines, and I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself. I’m happy to say I was born and raised in Cobb County – a Smyrna native and proud Campbell High Panther – and there doesn’t seem to be many of us around anymore. I did leave for a couple of years to pursue other adventures in Texas and Massachusetts, but I made it known that I would be moving back home. I settled in Kennesaw in 2001 and couldn’t be happier with my decision to live here. After earning my bachelor’s degree in journalism from Georgia State University, I began a career in community journalism that has spanned almost 25 years and has included working as a reporter for one weekly and three daily newspapers and two lifestyle magazines. During my writing career, I’ve covered different beats, but my favorites have been features and education. I like telling people’s stories and reporting on what our next generation is learning and achieving. I have one son, Colton, who married the love of his life, Casey, in 2020, and they’re about to make me a nana. My granddaughter is due May 5, and I’m beyond excited. Besides looking forward to my first grandchild, I’m also eager to discover more about my new job and our community. Being the new kid, I still have a lot to learn, but I’m thrilled to be here. Speaking of learning, there are a lot of new things to read about this month in Around Kennesaw. We celebrate National Volunteer Month (Pages 16-17) by shining the spotlight on a few members of the community who deserve a pat on the back for the time they spend volunteering with our local nonprofits. These organizations wouldn’t survive without these generous individuals selflessly donating their time to make Cobb County a better place. Also in this issue, we offer a great photo spread on the city of Kennesaw’s Touch-A-Truck event on Pages 14-15. What kid doesn’t love seeing police cars or being able to climb on a fire truck or heavy construction equipment? And look on Pages 48-49 for an enlightening article on 20th century Kennesaw physician Dr. John W. Ellis, who was a staple in the community and the medical field in Cobb County for 50 years. Happy reading!
Donna Harris Donna Harris is the managing editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She’s a veteran journalist with newspaper and magazine experience and is excited to bring her expertise to ALM. Email her at donna@ aroundaboutmagazines.com.
4
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
READERS’
CHOICE Award 2022
Prepare to
vote MAY! in
www.aroundkennesawmagazine.com
What’s Coming
Premier Martial Arts Kennesaw is scheduled to have its grand opening this month in the Publix at Cobb Parkway Shopping Center at 2774 Cobb Parkway NW in Kennesaw. For more information, call or text 470-260-4606, or visit premiermartialarts. com/kennesaw.
Aloha Poke Co. is planning to open later this month at 3348 Cobb Parkway, Suite 110, in Acworth. Owner Randy Elias is opening the new restaurant next door to Moe’s Southwest Grill, which he has owned since 2004. alohapokeco.com.
Ribbon Cuttings
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Top Tech Mechanical Services Inc. 2535 S. Main St., Suite 105, Kennesaw (Photo not available at press time.)
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AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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Around Acworth | Around Canton Around Kennesaw | Around Woodstock | TowneLaker www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com
Our Mission
Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com President Kim Dahnke 770-778-5314 kim@aroundaboutmagazines.com Vice President Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com
Helping local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers.
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Get Results With Us
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Get Social With Us! @aroundkennesaw @around_kennesaw ← Subscribe to our newsletter!
www.aroundkennesawmagazine.com 6
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Around Kennesaw, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a community magazine with 17,000 free copies distributed monthly. Approximately 16,600 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 400 are placed in racks in the community. Around Kennesaw welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to: Around Kennesaw, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, PMB 380, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/ publisher and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Kennesaw 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 2022. Volume 1, Issue 9
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Local News
2022 Fun in the Park Photo Contest Underway
As you are out enjoying Cobb’s parks and facilities, be sure to bring your camera and capture the fun and memories so you can enter the 18th annual Fun in the Park Photo Contest. Capture sports activities, the beauty of nature and wildlife in the parks and anything else that shows why you enjoy spending time there, and enter up to 10 of your best shots in the contest. The contest is open to all photographers, and the entry deadline is Nov. 3. For rules and more information, visit www.cobbcounty.org/ parks/programs/fun-park-photo-contest or call 770-528-8831.
District 1 Town Hall on Cityhood Scheduled
Join Cobb District 1 Commissioner Keli Gambrill for an outdoor town hall at 6 p.m. April 7 on the PARKS stage at Lost Mountain Park at 4845 Dallas Highway in Powder Springs. If weather is an issue, the meeting will move into the West Cobb Senior Center. Microphones will be set up for constituents to ask questions. For more information on the city of Lost Mountain, visit cityoflostmountain.com and www.protectwestcobb.com. Anyone who would like a one-on-one with Gambrill about cityhood initiatives in the county can email her at myvoice@cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-3313 to schedule a meeting.
Front row, from left: India Buckins, Melvin Craig, teacher Karen Bakshi and Bradley Coker. Back row: Elijah Hawkins, Joshua Cheshire, Tyler Owens, Brice Owens and Ethan Hall.
North Cobb Students Thank 1885 Grill
Lex Phillips, manager of 1885 Grill in Acworth, provided valuable interview experience for special education teacher Karen Bakshi’s class at North Cobb High School. Phillips gave a lesson on busing tables and even fed the students. 8
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Shrine Circus and Carnival Returns to Cobb County
The Yaarab Shrine Circus and Fair is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year by returning May 21-30 to Jim R. Miller Park at 2245 Callaway Road in Marietta. The Yaarab Shrine has partnered with Royal Hanneford Circus and Wade Shows to create the largest Shrine circus and fair in North America. The event also will feature the hilarious Shrine Circus Clowns, a number of ground acts and all the traditional carnival foods. The midway will open at 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday and 10 a.m. on Memorial Day. There also will be a Sneak-a-Peek Ride-aThon from 5 p.m. to close May 20. Gate admission, which includes unlimited performances to the circus and access to the midway, is $10 for adults and free for children 10 and younger. Parking is $5 per vehicle. For circus times, special ticket deals and online discount ticket information, visit www.2022shrinecircus.com, or call 404-419-6755.
Smith-Gilbert Gardens Features Art Bloom Exhibit
Outdoor art works will be featured during Art Blooms 2022, an annual, temporary installation taking place during April and May in various locations at Smith-Gilbert Gardens. Art Blooms is a celebration of art in nature and nature-themed works. For more information, visit https://smithgilbertgardens. com/at-the-gardens/exhibits.
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AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
9
Local News
Cultivate Food & Coffee, YogaSix to Join The Battery Atlanta
Braves Development Co. is set to welcome modern eatery Cultivate Food & Coffee and acclaimed yoga studio YogaSix to The Battery Atlanta this spring. Cultivate, a 5,341-square-foot brunch and coffeehouse located below OrthoAtlanta, is being built on the foundation of fresh, farm-to-table culinary principles, and will offer dietaryfriendly choices, including vegan and gluten-free, along with a dinner menu and full bar. YogaSix, opening in Suite 1120, will provide a variety of yoga classes, ranging from deep stretching and stress relief to high-intensity training for all ages and abilities. Two other new eating establishments, Mac McGee and Savi Provisions, are now open in the regional mixed-use development. Mac McGee is a neighborhood pub that features an open-air dining experience and will present family-friendly events, as well as live music programming on weekends. Savi Provisions offers a selection of gourmet food items, snacks, carefully curated charcuterie options, specialty coffee and teas, bakery items and a wide collection of wines, spirits and artisan beers.
County Launches Cityhood Resource Page Cityhood proposals in Cobb County have been moving quickly through the state Legislature, and Cobb commissioners have received a lot of questions about them. Like many Cobb County residents and business owners, you might be wondering what the proposals mean to you. Now, you can find facts, maps and answers about the cityhood proposals on Cobb’s new resource center, www.cobbcounty.org/communications/info-center/cityhood. The webpage contains links to hearings at the state Capitol, feasibility studies, budgets, maps and more, and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Cobb E911’s Alterio Recognized as Director of the Year Cobb County 911 Director Melissa Alterio, holding plaque, was recognized as the 911 Director of the Year during the 2022 Georgia Emergency Communications Conference awards program. Awards this year were judged by the South Carolina Association of Public Safety Communications Officials to ensure objectivity and eliminate bias. 10
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Schwaig Named President of KSU After serving as interim president since July 2021, Kathy “Kat” Schwaig has been named president of Kennesaw State University (KSU) by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, effective March 16. “There is no question that Kennesaw State University has an extraordinary story and a promising future, and I’m honored the board has confidence in me to keep that story moving forward,” the new president said. “My highest priority has been to support faculty and staff in making KSU a studentcentered university, and the university’s focus on retention, engagement and academic success won’t change.” Schwaig joined the faculty at KSU in 2002, serving in several faculty and leadership roles, including interim department chairwoman for the Department of Accounting and the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, dean of Michael J. Coles College of Business, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
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Celebrations! ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! Email to: edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com May deadline is April 10. Please specify Around Kennesaw.
Ethan Catts
River and Willow Thornhill
Age 9 on April 7 Happy ninth birthday! We love you to the moon and back! Mom and Dad
Everleigh Carroll
Age 12 on April 7 Happy 12th birthday, Everleigh! We love you lots! Mom and Jay 12
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Happy seventh and 11th birthdays! Always shine! We love you! Mommy and Daddy
Matthew Baker
Age 5 on April 11 Happy fifth birthday, Matthew! You are so loved! Daddy, Mommy, Faith and Hope
Gavin
Age 9 on April 19 Happy ninth birthday, Gavin! Shine bright! We love you so much, Mom and Dad
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
13
SWAT state trooper Royce Zah
Christine Allen and family explore the paramedic helicopter. 14
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Jeremiah and Brianna
Touch-A-Truck Hands-On Family Fun PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS
Families got up-close and personal with larger-than-life trucks, heavy construction and public safety equipment, cool cars and specialty vehicles at Touch-A-Truck at Adams Park on March 5. Kids had a blast climbing on and interacting with the transportation exhibit, meeting vehicle owners and enjoying a variety of other children’s activities.
Joyce Mutuma and family
Kevin and Zoey Miller look over Cobb County Fire Department Truck 8.
Police Explorer Isabella Arant helps kids check out police cars. AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
15
The Value of 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.
Stephen Archer 16
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Leslie Hudson
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.
Special Needs Cobb SUBMITTED BY DEBBIE DAY
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!
From left, Special Needs Cobb CEO Debbie Day, volunteers Aaron and Austin Eakins and Respite Operations Director Dru Reid work together to provide for those with special needs. AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
17
5
Tips for
Successful Volunteering
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.
Ready to Get Started?
2.
• Volunteer online with the Smithsonian Institution.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
3.
4. 5.
18
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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:
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.
32 years of 33 experience servicing the Kennesaw area.
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UPCOMING EVENTS April 7
April 9-10 Big Shanty Festival
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Saturday — 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday — noon-5 p.m. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing Downtown Kennesaw elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod
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April 12
KBA Luncheon
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Recreation Center at Adams Park 2737 Watts Drive Sponsored by iThink Financial.
April 26 Wake Up KBA
8-9 a.m. Credit Union of Georgia 4178 Giles Road
Join the KBA by visiting www.kennesawbusiness.org.
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Happy spring, Kennesaw! Spring brings so much fun and life into our community, and April means that we all get to be excited about the best festival of the year! The Kennesaw Business Association, in cooperation with the city of Kennesaw, will hold the 46th annual Superior Plumbing Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival, presented by LGE Credit Union, April 9-10. The largest festival in north Georgia begins with a parade Saturday at 9:30 a.m. It combines the rich heritage of Kennesaw with more than 200 booths, featuring arts and crafts, food vendors and merchants, along with live entertainment from local performers, as well as kids in our community schools. Marlon Longacre, festival chairman since 2003, described the Big Shanty Festival as “the ultimate hometown festival.” Why does this event mean so much to our city’s businesses and residents? Community festivals contribute to keeping spirits high Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing among residents, and encourage visitors to come back for other elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad annual events.dolore They also provide opportunities for participation, minim veniam, quis nostrud which brings communities together. In addition, festivals boost the economy and attract visitors. It is estimated that our festival brings $4 million to $6 million to our area, which supports our SPLOST efforts and school taxes. Visitors spend time and money in our community, on and off the festival site, which stimulates the growth of tourism. Plus, they learn just how great the city of Kennesaw is. For businesses, community involvement is beneficial in many ways. It increases your brand awareness, where you can build your business’s reputation, while becoming an active and contributing member. You build trust within your community. Consumers want to see that a company cares about something other than its bottom line. You also get to meet other business people to create a network of connections. Not all business requires competition. The Big Shanty Festival is the Kennesaw Business Association’s largest fundraising event, and allows us to give back more than $100,000 each year in scholarship dollars to our local schools. We take our role as an active community partner very seriously, and, as part of our commitment to help Kennesaw be the best place to live, work and play, we offer 18 scholarships each year to promising high school seniors. Whether you are a resident or a business owner, we invite you to experience the benefits of community involvement by participating in our Big Shanty Festival. When we all practice community first, we create lasting relationships. To go along with our Kennesaw Business Association theme of the year, we expect this year’s festival to be Bigger, Better and Brighter! See you there!
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Alive After 5
5:30-7:30 p.m. Trackside Grill 2840 S. Main St.
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agent with Risk & Insurance Consultants.
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AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
A Word From
Mayor Derek Easterling
W
elcome to spring, y’all! We are blessed to live and work in a community as special as Kennesaw, where we have countless opportunities to live, work and play. This month, I have more information and thoughts to write than I do space in the magazine, so I will do my best at giving you the Reader’s Digest version. Remember, you always can visit the city of Kennesaw website or the mobile app for the latest information.
The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History
The museum opened 50 years ago on April 12, 1972. Originally called the Big Shanty Museum, it showcased the famous General locomotive and was dedicated to telling the story of the Great Locomotive Chase. The event, which took place 110 years earlier, on April 12, 1862, elevated the engine and our community to prominence during the Civil War. Over the next 50 years, the museum grew and expanded its collection to include other artifacts from the Civil War period and railroading in the Southeast. Today, it boasts three permanent exhibits: “Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War;” “Glover Machine Works: Casting a New South” and “The Great Locomotive Chase,” featuring the General locomotive. The Jolley Education Center offers classroom space for programs and a dedicated area for the very young to play safely alongside older children. The museum also is a prestigious Smithsonian Affiliations member devoted to history and education and provides a family-friendly experience that fosters conversation about the strategic and economic use of railroads in the region during and after the Civil War. Join the Southern Museum in celebrating its 50th anniversary, with a variety of events taking place this month, including a special model-train layout featuring the General on display in the lobby, as well as a rare opportunity to board
the General locomotive at an after-hours event. For more details, visit www.southernmuseum.org.
Smith-Gilbert Gardens
Last month, the American Camellia Society (ACS) recognized Smith-Gilbert Gardens as a Camellia Trail Garden, a national recognition reflecting a partnership the ACS has with public gardens across the country that have notable camellia collections. Smith-Gilbert Gardens has 94 camellia plants in the collection with four different species represented, including an evergreen camellia called Camellia sinensis. Visitors will find camellias throughout the garden, but the majority of the collection can be found in the Paladino Camellia Garden. Especially noteworthy is a new camellia cultivar that recently was discovered at Smith-Gilbert Gardens. This naturally occurring sport (a mutation) has been certified as a new cultivar. A unique and somewhat rare opportunity to name this plant will be offered at the 2022 Rose Garden Gala on May 14. During April and May, the garden is inviting the community to view select pieces from the permanent sculpture collection, as they’ve never been seen before – surrounded by more than 22,000 daffodil blooms planted in unique patterns. “Art Blooms” is a two-month exhibit that includes a series of weekend artist demonstrations and workshops. On Saturdays, art ambassadors will be on-site to share behindthe-scenes stories of the artists and sculptures. Beginning May 7, experience “Designed by Nature,” a sculpture exhibit by new and emerging artists, including a collaborative piece by LaBelle Elementary thirdgrade students and artist Allen Peterson. Derek Easterling has served as Kennesaw’s mayor since 2016. He is dedicated to serving his community to the highest level possible.
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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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 22
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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-year-olds 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.
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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Managing Healthy Soil
BY JUDY ABBOTT
With planting time fast approaching, keep in mind that the average final frost date for our area is April 15. However, watch the weather forecast to help determine the best time to plant. After the last frost, and with soil temperatures on the rise, it’s safe to start your vegetable garden. For soil temperature and soil moisture levels for our area, visit www.weather.uga.edu. Soil is a composition of living organisms, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects and earthworms, all playing important roles.
• Bacteria and fungi break down dead plant and animal tissue, which become nutrients for plants. • Nematodes eat plant material and other soil organisms, releasing plant nutrients in their waste. • Specialized mycorrhizal fungi bring hard-to-reach nutrients and water directly to plant roots, and the plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates. • Worms and insects make organic material available to bacteria and fungi. • Burrowing earthworms create pathways in the soil that fill with air and water for plant roots.
It takes a combination of living organisms, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects and earthworms to create soil healthy enough to grow seeds into plants. 24
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Properly prepared and tested soil will help ensure a bountiful crop each growing season.
Whether you’re planting vegetables, flowers, shrubs, trees or grass, one of the most important steps in gardening is soil testing. The UGA Cooperative Extension Soil Test Report provides current levels, as well as personalized recommendations to amend your soil. Soil test kits are available at the UGA Cobb County Extension; for details, call 770-5284070. Once submitted, test results will be available via email in 10-14 days. Visit https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/ cobb.html to watch the video on how to conduct a soil test. Organic materials can be added to garden soil in the form of manure, compost, peat moss, leaves and green plant material. When organic matter decays, the residue, called humus, improves the soil structure and the soil’s ability to hold the water, air and nutrients that promote healthy root growth. This especially is true for heavy-clay soil. While clay is full of nutrients, its fine particles need to be broken down, so that they can release those nutrients to the plant roots. Organic matter will help transform heavy clay into a healthy environment. Be cautious about using fresh material (i.e., manure) at the time of planting, which may interfere with seed germination or injure new transplants. Soil compaction or excess tilling can make it harder for plant roots to penetrate the soil, absorb water and nutrients, and interact with beneficial microbes. Tilling also disturbs the soil and exposes weed seeds to sunlight, which increases germination and will give you more weeds than you started with.
To avoid soil compaction around plant roots, use these tips:
• Use walking paths in planting beds and in between garden rows. • Try planting in raised beds no wider than 4 feet, to allow easy access from both sides. • Instead of tilling, use hand tools to prepare garden beds. • Incorporate 1-2 inches of compost 6-8 inches deep into compacted soil, to increase air, water and nutrients for flowers and vegetables.
Apply mulch to conserve soil moisture, minimize weeds and reduce plant stress by moderating soil temperatures. Visit extension.uga.edu/ publications for best practices on how and when to mulch and water. Rotating your crops each planting season, by planting different families of plants in the same space, will reduce the chance of disease-causing microbes overwintering in your garden soil. We are fortunate to have a long growing season in Georgia, so, if you’re planting a winter garden, make sure to use the same rotation practice when replacing summer crops with winter crops. The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County support the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and strive to improve the quality of life in our community by delivering research-based horticultural information, educational programs and projects. Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County is a part of the University of Georgia Extension.
4 Benefits of Choosing a Mortgage Lender BY JAY WHITE
Clients often contact mortgage lenders after talking to other lenders about a mortgage. While their first instinct is to contact whomever they are making payments to, or most familiar with, there are benefits to first contacting a lender who specializes in mortgages.
1.
Mortgage lenders get you to the closing table quickly. Mortgage lenders with experienced
mortgage originators know what documentation is required for underwriting. They help you understand what is required, and ensure you don’t provide more documentation than needed, helping you complete your home loan transaction quickly.
2. Keep your cash reserves.
Even if you have millions of dollars in your bank accounts, it might serve you better to have cash on hand as an emergency fund, or available to make other investments. There is no true relationship between the amount of money you have and mortgage loans. Contact a mortgage lender to discuss your options.
3.
in three weeks or less and to come fully approved. Quick prequalifications no longer work. Receive an expert appraisal. Not all appraisals are equal. Some lenders use large national appraisal management companies. Appraisers who are experienced will not sign up with these companies, as they keep in excess of 50% of the appraisal fee. Rather than getting an experienced appraiser, you might end up with a novice appraising your home. For peace of mind, choose a mortgage lender who partners with highly rated appraisers.
4.
Mortgage lenders are nimbler, focusing only on mortgages, while being customer-service driven. Other lenders have many products, such as depository accounts, car loans, personal loans, credit cards and financial advisement, as well as mortgages. Mortgage lenders do one thing, and do it well. The next time you are thinking about refinancing, or buying a home, contact a mortgage lender to see the true difference.
Mortgage lenders help you win offers. In today’s
environment, a fully approved loan from a lender is more likely to seal the deal than a prequalification letter from another lender. Mortgage lenders are quicker, because they specialize in mortgage lending; others focus on multiple products. To win offers today, you need to be able to close
Jay White, top 1% in the nation in mortgage originators according to Mortgage Executive magazine, has 19 years of experience and is a multimillion dollar producer for Bay Equity Home Loans.
FIND YOUR FELLOW FOUNDERS. With 2,500 members ranging from small businesses to global corporations, you’ll always be in good company. cobbchamber.org AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Home Town Honey Inc. 770-428-4903 E Q
Cobb Couple Reap Sweet Success Honey Producers Blossom From Gardeners to National Award Winners
I
n 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
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AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS
www.atlantashometownhoney.com
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.” The Higgins incorporated in 2001, after
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.
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.
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ix a longtime interest in real estate with a desire to build a career grounded in kindness, expertise and trust, and you get a passionate and dedicated Realtor who loves sharing her knowledge to help her clients. Joannie Bates describes herself as one who, no matter the obstacle, “will do what it takes to find a solution that works for everyone. I live by the mantra: Success is the only option. The achievements I’ve had as a Realtor prove that I always find a way.”
As a Realtor with Keller Williams Signature Partners, Joannie works with a wide range of clients, from luxury buyers to investors, and all buyers and sellers in between. The concierge service she provides starts with examining each client’s individual needs, and meeting them. Her experience as a homeowner, landlord and investor, before she became a Realtor, made the move to this profession a logical one.
PHOTOS BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS
“I began my career as an investor nine years ago, and started working for clients as a Realtor two years ago,” she said. “I have always loved good design, great craftsmanship and real estate. I love to put my knowledge and expertise to use for my clients.”
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Joannie has a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Michigan State University, is a licensed Realtor in Georgia and is a member of the National Association of Realtors.
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
cess
is the Only for this Mega Agent She values her experience in raising a family: She’s a former home-school teacher to her four children, and on the board of the Harrison High School band, as head of fundraising, corporate sponsorships and community outreach. Her concierge approach is exactly what it sounds like: a customized plan of action based on each client’s situation. Depending on what’s needed, Joannie has found winning solutions for her clients: One of Joannie’s recent sellers had been in her home for decades. While Joannie truly understood the sentimental value her client had in the home, she knew she needed to help the client shift her thinking to selling a product. Some simple changes, such as moving furniture and adding special décor touches, ensured that the home was ready to sell the minute the listing went live.
he came back to me right away to buy a second property,” Joannie said. “He knew the market so well that he was able to look at one house and purchase it right away. He’s sitting pretty, and I feel great about my role in helping him get there.” Then, there was the classic real estate story where a sale fell apart after putting a home under contract four days after it went on the market. “I completely redid all the marketing. The clients had moved, so I jumped in and did what was needed — taking dogs out, meeting painters and turning lights on and off to keep things moving smoothly. I’m happy to say that this story has a fairy tale ending, because I was able to STILL finalize a deal for my clients where they sold the home for $30,000 over their asking price!”
Joannie’s dedication to the industry drives her to stay up-to-date on market trends; she admits that she “geeks out” on the numbers. Knowledge of the market has helped her earn success over the past few years. In 2021, she closed more than $6.5 million in sales, earning the designation of Mega Agent at Keller Williams Signature Partners, and putting her in the top 10% of all agents in her 350-person office. This year is proving to be strong, as well. With several listings coming on the market, and many buyers who’ve sought her services, she is optimistic about 2022, and is confident the Atlanta housing market will remain strong. Metro Atlanta, and especially the Kennesaw-Acworth community, holds a special place in Joannie’s heart. “I’ve lived in this area twice over the course of my life,” she said. “Once, right after I got married, and I’ve now been back for almost 10 years. I love Kennesaw, Marietta and Acworth. It’s where I raised my kids when they were young, and where I’ve launched this career. This area is a wonderful bubble, and it’s great to be in this season of life, where I really get to enjoy all that it has to offer.”
One client was a single mom in dire financial straits, who was about to lose her home. Joannie found an investor to purchase the home under a special type of loan called SubjectTo. The investor is leasing the home back to the client for more than two years, so that she can stay in the school district while her daughter finishes high school. Joannie spent time educating a client about how to find the right investment property, and they looked at more than 100 homes in the process. “It worked out so well that
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4
Ways to
Improve Your Home, Quietly
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.
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Crossing the Finish Line Speed for Need and F3 Help Those With Needs Experience 5Ks and More SUBMITTED BY SPEED FOR NEED
Speed for Need is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness and foster inclusion of those with a need through participation in fitness events, such as 5Ks, 10Ks or marathons — experiences that they would not be able to have on their own. Trained drivers push Track Commanders (riders) in customized, fitted racing wheelchairs to help them participate in and complete fitness events. Our impact is measured largely in the number of smiles and amount of laughter coming from the Track Commanders that we push. There is no greater impact than helping others feel included and loved.
Who We Serve
Anyone with a need (child or adult) is eligible to participate as a rider in a Speed for Need event. Examples of needs include physical or cognitive disability, recovering from a disease, or older adults, such as military veterans in events honoring our military. We coordinate with organizations that serve potential riders, as well as local race directors. We provide teams and specialized racing wheelchairs to push our Track Commanders in races and running events. This all is done at no cost to the riders.
How We Got Started
Will Farr, from Charlotte, North Carolina, had been an avid runner his entire life, but had a hard time sharing his joy of running with his son, Owen, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a rare genetic disease that causes the muscles in the body to become weak and damaged over time). Farr met Kevin Young after he joined a free men’s workoutfellowship group called F3 (Fitness, Fellowship and Faith — learn more at F3nation.com). The two men saw an opportunity for Owen and others to experience the joy of participating in a race. With the support of F3, the men collected donations to purchase a racing wheelchair they could use to push riders, like Owen, in local running/racing events. On July 4, 2017, Owen got to participate in his first race with his dad, and out of the love of a father, Speed for Need was born. 32
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
F3 Cherokee member David Zeh pushes his stepson Nicolas Medina (also an F3 Cherokee member) at the 2021 Next Step Run, Walk or Roll 5K.
Where We Are Now
Since 2017, Speed for Need has grown to nine specialized racing wheelchairs and has run with more than 315 Track Commanders in 95 races, helping raise awareness for more than 40 social causes. After running the Next Step Run, Walk or Roll 5K in October 2021, with the help of F3 Cherokee, Speed for Need officially began expanding into Georgia in January. The positive response has been incredible. Initial fundraising efforts allowed for the purchase of four racing wheelchairs to use for events in Georgia. Speed for Need is run completely by volunteers, and donations are used to purchase and maintain the racing chairs for our riders.
How Can You Get Involved?
Email info@speedforneed.org. You can help by becoming a volunteer, or donating at speedforneed.org. We always are looking to partner with organizations or events where there is a need to help get a Track Commander to the finish line. We recently partnered with the Kennesaw Grand Prix Race Series and are looking for riders to fill our chairs. For the most upto-date information, visit https://kennesawgrandprix. com. For other events, check out our event calendar at https://speedforneed.org/calendar.
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Legitimacy Brings Vision, Connection BY BILL WESTENBERGER
In February, I had the opportunity to attend a leadership luncheon presentation that highlighted leadership vision. One of the definitions mentioned was “the ability to see around the corner.” I instantly began to think of relativity in my leadership role and our leadership role as an agency in service to our community. I thought of the description and how we seek clear vision. It can be really tough when nearly 50% of our duty is focused on response and reactions to incidents along with the realistic inability to see the future. In 2015, the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing produced a report that highlighted pillars of law enforcement. As that report was released, we quickly began to measure ourselves against those pillars. Though there will always be room for improvement, we were pleased that our organizational culture was rooted in a strong foundation. As I thought more on the correlation of vision in regards to law enforcement and community service, I thought of the first pillar mentioned, “Building Trust and Legitimacy.” I thought of legitimacy, and its meaning in the context it was presented. We serve a diverse community composed of different perspectives and expectations. Legitimacy encompasses connecting with all we serve. If segments of our community do not feel connected, we will have marginal legitimacy in that community. 34
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Officer Chris Johnson visits Foundations for the Future School.
As crime trends and service needs change, it is imperative we find ways to remain connected to all we serve. Connections build relationships, and relationships reveal perspectives and, ultimately, needs. Such a revelation allows us to identify the best ways to serve. It gives us a vision of what might be coming “around the corner.” We recognize the effort necessary in establishing and maintaining legitimacy with you. It is the cornerstone of our purpose, and we are excited to
engage. We also recognize that our role of protecting is reliant on our legitimacy. Like other community successes, our foundation to a safer community relies on all of us and our collective ability to look “around the corner” and identify the vision. We love serving with you and want to continue thriving in our relations and partnerships. We thank you for your trust and will always work alongside you to maintain it. Until next time, stay safe.
Bill Westenberger has served as chief since 2008. He was given the 2019 Kennesaw Citizen of the Year Award.
FREE ADMISSION & PARKING MAY 6 - 7
Friday 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
FREE Concert | Friday 8 p.m.
featuring Georgia Players Guild Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival
Lord of the Wings Taster | Friday 6 p.m. BBQ Taster | Saturday at noon Bay Equity Beer Garden featuring
Brews from Red Top Brewhouse | Music BBQ | Kids' Zone | Delicious Food
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
35
School News
Kennesaw State Alumnus Takes Second Place
Kennesaw State University (KSU) alumnus Raymond Goslow finished in second place in the “Jeopardy! National College Championship” and took home $100,000. Crowds gathered for watch parties on KSU’s Kennesaw and Marietta campuses, and when the show ended, the contestant let everyone know how much he appreciated the support. Goslow, who works for the Cobb County Library System, graduated from KSU in December with a bachelor’s degree in geographic information science and plans to earn a master’s degree in library science to become a librarian. He is a veteran Rubik’s Cube competitor and an adult spelling bee champion. Kennesaw State graduate Raymond Goslow competes in the “Jeopardy! National College Championship,” where he finished second.
Mount Paran Hosts Rock Your School Week
For the second consecutive year, Mount Paran Christian School hosted its Rock Your School event, part of a nationwide initiative sponsored by Get Your Teach On, in March. The game-themed week, designed to bring learning to life through play and educational games for preschool and lower-school students, included the fifth-grade classes participating in a basketball tournament; a Cereal Box Domino Challenge, where students arranged hundreds of cereal boxes benefiting MUST Ministries in a 70-yard domino train in the stadium; book character dress-up day and guest readers for national Read Across America Day; a faculty kickball game and students dressing according to board-game themes; and a Fun Run that raised more than $4,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Mount Paran Christian students arrange hundreds of cereal boxes into a 70-yard domino train, later donated to MUST Ministries. 36
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Jerry Hardee and Charmaine Herman at the SABCA Black History Month Gala.
Life University Hosts Conference, Gala
More than 40 students from Kaiser University College of Chiropractic Medicine, Sherman College of Chiropractic and Life University, along with five doctors of chiropractic, attended the annual American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA) Eastern Regional Conference hosted by Life’s SABCA chapter in February. The weekend conference featured presentations, a meet and greet, technique seminars and panel discussions and concluded with the 15th annual Black History Month Gala, a yearly tradition at Life University. More than 115 students, alumni, faculty and administrators gathered to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans. The evening included dinner, entertainment by the Voices of Life choir, spoken word by Telesa Hart, a dance performance by Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta, two selections from harpist Lyrika Holmes and a keynote address by Johnny Brown. A special award was presented to minority recruiter Mackel Harris, for his 30-plus years of dedication to recruiting Black students. Sherman President Jerry Hardee, former dean of the College of Undergraduates Studies at Life, also attended.
Cobb Schools Celebrate Read Across America
In March, Cobb County students joined their peers across the country in celebrating Read Across America. While some read from their favorite books or picked new ones from their school’s media center, other students took a seat for storytime with guest readers. Students at Chalker Elementary listened to Cobb School Board Chairman David Chastain read “The Koala Who Could.” Photo provided by Cobb Schools.
Mount Paran Wins Second Black History Bowl Title
The Mount Paran Christian School Black History Bowl team claims the championship trophy for a second time after beating a field of 32 teams.
After 20 rounds of competition, the Mount Paran Christian School (MPCS) Black History Bowl team claimed its second championship trophy by defeating four other middle schools during the quiz-bowl-style tournament, which began with a field of 32 teams. The contingent from MPCS consecutively placed as the No. 1 seed. Congratulations to the 2022 championship team: eighth-graders Luke Broggi (captain) and Julienne Geffrard; seventh-graders Easton George (Most Valuable Player) and A.J. Rivers; and sixth-graders Sam Harris, Scarlett Jones and Jackson Lim. Team coaches are Hasani George, Tangye Watson, Beth Parsons and Tamareeshi Geffrard.
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
37
Brookwood Christian Students Find a Path to
PHOTO BY RED BARYL PORTRAITS
SUCCESS
Kristen Lipscomb using Wilson Reading materials with student, McKenna Cook.
Grades 1-12 accredited by Georgia Accrediting Commission.
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 38
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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. “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.”
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 created a program that worked for Kristen. Now Kristen is teaching at BCS, along with her dad, Kevin.
To date, the school has graduated 41 students, with 75% attending college. 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.
Brookwood students enjoy smaller classes of eight 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, not their grade level. The students are normal kids who have IQs that fall in the normal range, but haven’t succeeded in traditional schools.
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. “This community has embraced our school family.”
SPONSORED CONTENT
Important Steps to Take After a Car Wreck BY JOEL WILLIAMS
If you have ever been in an automobile accident, you know the feeling of being in shock, scared and overwhelmed with questions: What should I do next? Should I contact my own auto insurance company? Should I seek medical attention? Who is going to pay my medical bills? Should I hire an attorney? First and foremost, if you are involved in a car wreck, stay at the scene, call 911 and request help for your injuries. If you were injured in the wreck, immediately seek medical attention. Always take care of your medical needs first, then begin the process of handling the property-damage and personal-injury claims. If you are able to walk around at the scene, take as many photos as possible. Photograph the property damage to all vehicles involved. Photos serve as powerful evidence in proving liability in car-wreck cases. Take pictures of the damage to the body of the vehicles, as well as damage inside the vehicles, especially if airbags were deployed. These photographs will illustrate the severity of the impact. If possible, be sure to exchange contact and insurance information with all parties involved in the wreck. Insurance information will be necessary to open any claims related to the incident. It is important to contact your insurance
company as well as the at-fault driver’s insurance company to determine the total amount of coverage available. If there were any eyewitnesses at the scene, be sure to get their contact information. In cases where liability is disputed, a statement from an independent witness can be very useful in proving fault. Once the responding officer completes an investigation at the scene, request the report number for the motor vehicle accident report, which will assist you in obtaining a copy of it. After you have collected all vital information from the scene, your documentation should continue as you receive medical treatment. Medical records serve as supporting evidence to prove the extent of your injuries. It would be wise to create a folder containing your medical bills and records. All of this information will be necessary to pursue any claims for property damage and personal injuries sustained in an automobile accident, whether you decide to hire an attorney or handle the claim yourself.
T H A N KS
for participating in the nomination round!
Joel Williams is a partner at Williams|Elleby, a Kennesawbased personal injury law firm. www.gatrialattorney.com.
READERS’
CHOICE 2022
STAY TUNED for May 1, when the final voting round begins!
If you've made it to the voting round (top 5 nominees) for your category, watch for an email from michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com with helpful hints for winning the voting round. AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
39
Senior Activities ALOHA TO AGING
Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, 770-722-7641 www.alohatoaging.org
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. Meets the second Monday each month at 2 p.m. Group discussion for the person with Parkinson’s and their care partner on helpful tips and resources that provide comfort and encouragement.
Dementia Caregiver Support Group. Meets the
first Wednesday each month at 10:30 a.m. Open to family members who are assisting an aging loved one in or out of the home. Care provided during the meeting but must RSVP in advance.
Aloha Social Day Club.
Meets Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Respite care for you and engaging, social activities for your loved one who no longer drives. Visit the website for details.
VETERAN CONNECTION North Cobb Senior Center 4100 S. Main St., Acworth Meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. Join veterans for an informal get-together with coffee, doughnuts, camaraderie and special guest presentations at the North Cobb Senior Center. Call Mike Nichols at 770-528-1448 for more information. 40
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
COBB SENIOR SERVICES Registration is required for all activities; no walk-ins allowed. Call 770-975-7740 to register, or visit www.MyActiveCenter.com.
West Cobb Senior Center
North Cobb Senior Center
April 8
April 8
in for a free hearing screening where an audiologist from WellStar will answer your questions about improving your hearing.
a.m. Spring into action with smart solutions to save space and eliminate clutter.
4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs 770-528-8200 www.cobbcounty.org/ public-services/senior-services
Hearing Screenings. 10 a.m.- noon. Come
Reel Good Movies. 1-3 p.m. On the
second Friday of the month, see a new-release movie. Call for the title.
April 11
Easy Peasy Craft: Bunny Pom-Pom Wreath. 1-3 p.m. $3 fee plus $5 supply fee to instructor. This wreath needs only five items to make it. All supplies provided.
April 12
Cobb Library Services: All About Libby.
10 a.m.-noon. Learn about Libby, a free app used for borrowing e-books, digital audiobooks and magazines from your public library.
April 13
Game On: Ticket to Ride. 11 a.m.-noon. Play Ticket to Ride, a simple and tactical board game.
April 14
Tech Talk: Better iPhone Photography. 10-11 a.m. This class will have you taking better iPhone photos and videos in no time.
April 20
Fancy Fold Cards. 10 a.m.-noon. Create
fancy fold cards for special people in your life.
April 22
Parkinson’s Workshop. Noon-1 p.m. This virtual presentation will discuss the effects of Parkinson’s on fall risks and what you can do to prevent falling.
April 27
Spice It Up. 10-11 a.m. Learn to use spices and herbs to reduce salt and refined sugars, and take home a spice mixture you make.
April 28
Walk West Cobb: Lost Mountain Park.
9:30-11 a.m. This month, we’ll explore the trails at Lost Mountain Park in Powder Springs.
4100 S. Main St., Acworth 770-975-7740 www.cobbcounty.org/public-services/ senior-services
Operation Organization. 10:30-11:30
Water Conservation. 1-2 p.m. Learn how
to conduct an indoor water audit, how to check for leaks and how to do a sprinkler spruce-up.
April 13
Crafting Corner: Beautiful Bunny Decor. 1-2 p.m. Join us for a fun spring craft as we turn a rice-filled sock into a bunny, with an embroidered nose and button eyes.
April 14
Armchair Travel: Amsterdam and the Netherlands. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Explore the life and culture of the Netherlands.
Nutrition Lesson: Color Your Plate Healthy. 1-2 p.m. Discuss the benefits of
eating a colorful plate and exploring superfoods.
April 18
Step Into my Garden Craft. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Create steppingstones. Cost is $3.
April 19
Crochet a Mask Holder. 10 a.m.-noon. Evelyn Patrick guides creating unique crocheted mask holders. Cost is $5.
Culinary Creations: All About Eggs. 1-2 p.m. Learn nutritional facts,
considerations when shopping for eggs and how to make a diabetic-friendly egg salad. Cost is $3.
April 25
Driver Safety. 1-2 p.m. Join Cobb County Community Affairs Department for an educational presentation on driver safety.
April 26
Paint ’n’ Party. 9 a.m.- noon. Learn basic
techniques such as shading, controlling tones, composition and drawing methods. Cost is $3.
Brain Game: Drawing a Blank in Europe. 1-2 p.m. Try to list 15 countries on
the map of Europe, and play European trivia.
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www.mustministries.org AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
41
@ the Library
WEST COBB REGIONAL LIBRARY
NORTH COBB REGIONAL LIBRARY 3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw • 770-801-5320 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays • 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays
1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw
770-528-4699
10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays
April 6, 13, 20
Wednesday Weekly Chess Meetups include open play and family-style instruction, 6-7:30 p.m. Registration is not required for open play, but family-style participants must register.
April 7
Registration is open for the
School Age Chess Meetup, for
children in Kindergarten and older, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 7, 14, 21
Join the West Cobb Craft Club, 10 a.m.-noon on Thursdays. Do you knit, crochet or work with yarn? Or, do you want to learn how, while making friends? Join the group to craft and get inspired. All skill levels are welcome (especially beginners). Bring your own yarn.
Through April
In celebration of Earth Day, participate in an outdoor, interactive Family Flora and Fauna Walk, and learn about native Georgia plants, wildlife and conservation. After you complete the walk, receive handmade seed paper that you can plant to start your pollinator garden.
April 5, 12
Tuesday Family Storytime is 10:30-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-noon. All ages are
invited for songs, stories and rhymes that enhance early literacy and social skills. Registration is required, and space is limited. Registration for the following week’s storytime will open at 10 a.m. each Thursday.
April 5-6, 12-13
North Cobb Play Café is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Weather permitting, drop by the Play
Café in the North Cobb Library amphitheater on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for selfdirected outdoor play stations. No reservation required. Bring your own snacks. For ages 18 months-7 years old.
April 6, 13
Wednesday Family Storytime is 10:30-11 a.m. All ages are invited for songs,
stories and rhymes that enhance early literacy and social skills. Registration is required, and space is limited. Registration for the following week’s storytime will open at 10 a.m. each Thursday.
April 7, 14, 21, 28
Meetup for Adults With Special Needs will take place in the multipurpose room, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Adults with special needs are invited, along with their caregivers, to meet new friends and enjoy stories, crafts, games, movement and music.
April 21
April 9
3:30-4:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Ages 4-8 are welcome to enjoy a different activity at every meeting. Registration opens April 7.
April 12-13
Thursday Explorers meet
April 22
After School Special: Earth Day, 3:30-4:30 p.m., is for
students in grades 3-5. Learn about Earth Day, and make an earthfriendly project using sustainable and recycled supplies. Registration opens April 7.
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AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Cobb County Public Library System www.cobbcat.org
Join a writing workshop with award-winning novelist Margaret Johnson-Hodge, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. With 19 published works and 30-plus years in the business, she will show you how to get started, what to do with writing blocks, how to engage the reader and how to get your story written. This event is for all ages. Registration is required.
The Art Experience is a two-day program that meets the second Tuesday and
Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. Ages 18-plus can join Leslie Robb in exploring different styles and mediums of art. Registration is required. All supplies provided.
April 21
In honor of National Park Service Week, join local historian Andrew Bramlett for conversation and coffee to learn about National Park Service units, 11 a.m.-noon.
April 23
Ages 16-22 are encouraged to stop by the Young Adult Job Fair, noon-3 p.m. Come prepared with printed resumes, and dress to impress. No registration required.
SPONSORED CONTENT
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
43
Rob’s Rescues These animals are waiting for homes at Cobb County Animal Services.
This dog’s name is Franklin. He is still at the shelter from when I wrote about him two months ago. He is a 3-year-old, medium-sized brown and white Feist. He is really energetic, in a good way, and would be a good running companion with some leash training. He also would be a good family dog who would love his family.
Rob with Kiana Leveritte of Georgia Audubon.
This month, I interviewed Kiana Leveritte, the community engagement coordinator for Georgia Audubon, about the Urban Ecologists program.
Can you tell us about Atlanta Urban Ecologists (AUE)?
AUE was created for eighth- to 12th-grade students to expose them to environmental concepts that affect the world, and to inspire them to become ecologists. We partner with groups around Atlanta and have a monthly outing. We try to make every meetup different. They are three-hour sessions that incorporate things like visiting the zoo or planting trees.
What is your favorite thing to teach kids?
Water usage. The students meet with Fulton County Public Works, and they learn just how much water we use, as opposed to the minimum we need to survive, and how we can save water. Then, we go to the water reclamation plant and learn what happens behind the scenes there.
What are your most popular activities kids like to do? This cat’s name is Ari. She is 2 years old. She is an orange and white medium-sized cat who was a stray, because people would not want to give this cat up. She is very affectionate and would be a great pet for everyone.
They really like planting trees, birding and working with other animal groups, such as the Amphibian Society. They love hands-on activities.
Who came up with AUE?
AUE was created by Melanie Furr, director of education, for students to learn about ecology and to bring people from all walks of life together to learn about science in a way they can understand.
What do you want kids to think about when it comes to wildlife and ecology?
Have an open mind. So many aspects of science and ecology all work together. This connectivity is what I want people to appreciate.
Where could people go to learn more about this program?
Visit the Georgia Audubon website (www.georgiaaudubon.org) and Facebook page (@georgiaaudubon), and look for Atlanta Urban Ecologists.
Rob Macmillan is on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. On Facebook @robsrescues. www.robsrescues.com.
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AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
How Do You Thrive? BY JENNIFER BONN
I always think of spring as the time of the year when nature starts to thrive again. Grass and trees become a verdant green, flowers and trees are full of color, and there is a sense of health and rebirth. If we agree that we enjoy seeing this change in nature, we also should want to see the same with ourselves. What can we do to make sure we are thriving? Here are a few ideas: Feed your soul and spirit. What are those moments or things that fill you with joy? Do more of those, because life is too short. I love being outside, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. Curling up in the porch swing with a good book makes me happy. I tell everyone that I am smiling constantly when I am running or writing. If you feed your soul and spirit, you will be better prepared to help others do the same. Be open to new things and ideas. Part of thriving is always being ready to grow and improve. We can learn from everyone around us, and we can do this the best when we listen to a variety of ideas. Try new things, such as learning an instrument, to stimulate your mind.
1. 2.
3. Surround yourself with a good community.
Enjoy the friends who support you and laugh with you. Friendship takes time and effort, but it shouldn’t be difficult, or filled with drama. Spend time with the people you love, and soak up the power of being surrounded by a supportive community. Take care of yourself. We often take care of everyone else first, and ourselves last, but we can be stronger for others if we prioritize self-care. Go to the doctor and take care of necessary yearly tests. Rest enough, because how much we sleep affects everything else we do. Take time to be alone to reflect, or to have some quiet time. Make moments of joy. Laughter is the best medicine, so do it often. You can dance in the kitchen, sing at the top of your voice while you change the words, play with animals, or watch a funny movie.
4. 5.
6. Take a break from social media and your phone. 7. Move. 8. Leave the excuses behind.
Both things can be time-wasters and distractors. Interact with some humans, instead of a screen. Whether you take a walk, swim, run or do some other form of movement, you need to stay active to be at your best. You have to change from an excuse-maker to a challenge-breaker. That means, instead of saying you cannot exercise because you cannot find the time, realize your physical and mental health influence everything else you do in life, so they need to be a priority. Take some time to make a list of what you need to do to thrive, and then check items off the list as you accomplish each one. Jennifer Bonn is a freelance writer in Kennesaw and a recently retired 40-year educator. Her book, “101 Tips to Lighten Your Burden,” was recently released and is available on Amazon.
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45
Downtown Kennesaw Dining Bangkok Cabin
Fern Gully Jamaican Cafe
Pisano’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen
Bernie’s
Frozen Cow Creamery
SuBourbon Rock & Oyster Bar
Thai 3413 Cherokee St. 770-427-5287 www.bangkokcabin.net
American 2825 S. Main St. 770-627-2297 www.meetatbernies.com
Big Shanty Smokehouse Barbecue 3393 Cherokee St. 770-499-7444 www.bigshantybbq.com
BurgerFi
American 2844 S. Main St. 770-635-2800 www.burgerfi.com
Jamaican 2756 S. Main St. 678-401-3719 www.ferngullycafe.com
Ice Cream
2870 Cherokee St. 678-324-7459 www.frozenbluecow.com
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
American 2825 S. Main St. 770-575-9026 www.gusfriedchicken.com
Honeysuckle Biscuits & Bakery Bakery
2825 S. Main St. 770-627-4370 www.honeysucklebiscuits.com
Cylantros Venezuelan Cuisine Kennesaw
Kennesaw Thai Cuisine
El Taco Azteca Bar and Grill
Lazy Labrador Coffee House
Venezuelan 3338 Cherokee St. 678-324-6276 www.cylantros.net
Mexican 2689 Summers St. 678-310-0165 https://eltaco-azteca.com
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AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Thai 2754 S. Main St. 678-331-1988 www.kennesawthaiatlanta.com
Coffee and Baked Goods 2886 Cherokee St. 770-820-6091 www.lazylabradorcoffeehouse.com
Italian 2740 Summers St. 770-966-9600 www.pisanospizzeria.com
Oyster Bar 2718 Summers St. 770-726-2163 www.subourbonbar.com
The Nest Kennesaw
Barbecue 2921 Cherokee St. 678-903-6921 www.thenestkennesaw.com
Trackside Grill
Southern 2840 S. Main St. 770-499-0874 www.tracksidegrill.com
Vesuvio Pizzeria Napoletana Pizzeria 2893 N. Main St., Suite B https://vesuvionapoletana.com
SUMMER INTENSIVES
For rising 9th graders through high school seniors.
*
ART & DESIGN
Animation | Portfolio | Sequential Art | June 6-10
DANCE
Intermediate-advanced Dance | June 6-10
MUSIC
Scan to Learn More!
arts.kennesaw.edu
Brass | Strings | June 1-3 Piano | June 6-8 Choral/Vocal | June 6-10 Cobb Summer Band Camp* | June 13-16
THEATRE
Acting | Musical Theatre | Design & Technology | June 6-10
*Cobb Summer Band Camp is open only to middle school students. AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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Dr. John W. Ellis. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Kemp.
Dr. Ellis The Country Physician of Kennesaw
BY ANDREW J. BRAMLETT
On Dec. 20, 1950, an article appeared in the Marietta Daily Journal about the recently deceased “Doc” Ellis. In this memorial, the late doctor was described as someone who “saw humanity in all its facets, and often at its worst, and still he loved humanity.” Dr. John W. Ellis’ tale is a rags-toriches story that begins with his birth in Forsyth County on June 11, 1868, to Samuel J. and Sarah A. Ellis. The young John Ellis attended school in Cherokee County and spent seven years at Reinhardt Academy in Waleska. He had to pay his way through Reinhardt, so he worked as a janitor. After graduation, he accepted a scholarship from Southern Medical College (now Emory University). The scholarship covered his tuition, but nothing else, so Ellis had to work on a farm for a year to pay for two years of school. He returned to the farm for another year to pay for his final two years. After graduating, he worked as a cotton picker for 50 cents a day and used this money to pay for two years at the Georgia College of Eclectic Medicine. When he finished in 1900, he was ready to open his own medical practice. Why Ellis chose to open his medical practice in Kennesaw is unknown. Regardless, his original office opened on April 4, 1900, in a wooden building at the corner of Main Street and Watts Drive, across the street from what is now Trackside. Back in 1895, Ellis had married Carrie Boring of Woodstock, and the couple lived in a wooden house next to his office. 48
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Ellis’ office. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Kemp.
Ellis was one of several doctors living in the community at the time. Dr. Charles H. Fields practiced in Kennesaw until June 1900. Dr. J.T. Gault built an office in Kennesaw in 1901, but he relocated to Atlanta before 1912. Dr. J.E. Lester opened an office in 1903, and stayed until 1928. When Ellis fell ill in 1907, Dr. T.J. Van Sant served in his place in Kennesaw, and stayed for 18 months. Despite this large number of doctors in the area, Ellis emerged as a community leader. By 1903, the Marietta Journal already was saying “a more honest, upright gentleman never lived here than John Ellis.” The next year, he was elected to the City Council, where he served until 1906, and was elected mayor in 1916, 1917 and 1923. The doctor also began expanding beyond his medical practice. In addition to being a physician, he owned a drugstore, opened a blacksmith shop in 1904, and had farms across the area. He was a founding director of Kennesaw State Bank and served with the bank until his death. He was a member of the Meyerhardt Masonic Lodge and the
Kennesaw lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was part of the Farmers Union. Many stories about Ellis’ personal life were recorded in newspapers. While playing pin the tail on the donkey at a Valentine’s Day party hosted by the Hill family, it was the “surgical skill of Dr. Ellis [that] enabled him to re-tail the donkey.” In 1911, he purchased a car that he used to visit patients, and his Ford soon was a familiar sight. Later in life, Ellis bought a television set and “watched constantly. Milton Berle was his favorite entertainer.” In 1909, Ellis moved his drugstore to the first floor of the new Kennesaw Hotel (which sat in the middle of what is now J.O. Stephenson Avenue). In the 1920s or ’30s, he constructed a small building next to the Hill Store building (now Eaton Chiropractic).
The small white structure currently is vacant. In 1936, his wooden house was torn down and replaced by a brick bungalow that was the home of ByGone Treasures antique store. Ellis was very involved with the medical community in Cobb County. In 1935, he hosted a meeting of the Cobb County Medical Society at his house. The chicken pie he served was so large, it made the front page of the Marietta Journal. He also was a stockholder in Marietta Hospital until it closed in 1950 and was replaced by Kennestone Hospital. The doctor continued serving his community until his death on Dec. 16, 1950, at the age of 83. He was a staple in the community for 50 years, and it was hoped “the people of Kennesaw, where he spent his life as a physician, will keep his memory green through the years.”
Andrew Bramlett is vice president of the Kennesaw Historical Society and an honorary member of the Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation Commission.
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Around & About APRIL
Through April 14
Get free assistance from AARP tax aid volunteers at three Cobb County Public Libraries, by appointment only. www.cobbcounty.org/library/news/tax-information. East Cobb Library: Tuesdays through April 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mountain View Regional Library: Thursday through April 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Switzer Library: Thursdays through April 14, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Through May 24
Aloha to Aging’s spring session for HeART Strings is a dementia-based eight-week music and art exploration program, 11 a.m.-noon Tuesdays. Space is limited, and preassessments are required. Cost is $50. For more information, email info@alohatoaging.org, or visit www.alohatoaging.org.
Through Aug. 1
The Kennesaw Farmers Market is open 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Mondays at Depot Park. Applications for vendors for the 2022 season are being accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. For more information, email kennesawfarmersmarket@ gmail.com, or visit https://forms.gle/T1LQBjqTgLE2gVSJA.
hard-to-recycle items to Keep Cobb Beautiful’s 30 Bring Spring Community Recycling Event and medication disposal, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta. Hefty Energybags with plastics, as well as paper to be shredded, also will be accepted. www.cobbcounty.org/keep-cobb-beautiful/recycling/ community-recycling-events.
MAY County Republican Women’s Club is holding 2 Cobb Conversation With the Candidates, 6:30-9 p.m.,
at the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta. Invited Republican candidates include the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state school superintendent, commissioner of labor, attorney general, commissioner of fire and insurance, commissioner of agriculture and public service commissioners for Districts 2 and 3. For tickets, visit www.eventbrite. com/e/276167623797 or ccrwc.org. For information, email forums@ccrwc.org, or call 404-245-9371.
46th annual Superior Plumbing 9-10 The Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival features
more than 200 arts and crafts booths, 25 food booths, a parade, entertainment stages and more, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, in downtown Kennesaw. Admission is free. Parking is available at Adams Park and Swift-Cantrell Park. www.facebook.com/lowercase thebigshantyfestival.
Cobb County Library Book Sale is 22-24 The 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and
1-5 p.m. Sunday, at Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta. Materials for sale include books for all ages, magazines, DVDs, books on CD and audiocassettes, ranging from 10 cents to $4. cobbcounty.org/library.
to Run 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk begins 23 Ready at 7:30 a.m. at Town Center at Cobb, between Belk
and JCPenny. This family-friendly event benefits SwemKids, a nonprofit that teaches introductory swimming lessons and water safety skills. https://bit.ly/3wwGZML.
Camp Puzzle is back, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Cobb County Safety Village in Marietta. Kids and young adults on the autism spectrum can experience different roles of public safety. The free event features fire trucks, police cars, games and more. Registration is required. www.cobbcounty.org/ public-safety/safety-village/camp-puzzle. 50
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The 12th annual Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival, presented by Superior Plumbing, is 5-10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, at Logan Farm Park in Acworth. This free, two-day event features the Lord of the Wings competition, an under-the-stars concert by Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band Georgia Players Guild Friday night, a kids zone, a beer garden and Saturday’s People’s Choice barbecue taster. For information on concert tables, cook team applications or activities, visit www.smokeonthelake.org. State Athletics and the Owls Fund will 9 Kennesaw present the 28th annual Dot Martin Scholarship
Golf Classic, starting at 8 a.m. at Governors Towne
Club in Acworth. https://ksuowls.com/sports/2013/2/8/ GEN_0208135419.aspx.
MAY We Care Veterans Resource Fair is 13-14 The scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta. The one-stop source for solutions to veterans benefits and assistance is free to all veterans. More than 75 agencies will be on-site. www.wecarevetfair.com.
eighth annual Kettle Krush 5K Run/Walk, 21 The sponsored by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, starts at 8 a.m. in the Marietta Square. https://salvationarmyatlanta.org/kettle-krush-5k-info-page.
Cobb PARKS is holding Kids to Parks Day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Price Park in Kennesaw. Nature hikes are at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., biking is at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and snake demonstrations are at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. www.cobbcounty.org/parks/events/ kids-parks-day-2022.
THE SOUTHERN MUSEUM ANNIVERSARY EVENTS April 12
2829 Cherokee St., Kennesaw cobbmastergardeners.com
Visitor Appreciation Free Day. Fifty years to the day the museum opened to the public, visitors can enjoy all it has to offer, from exhibits to interactives to movies, for free. No tickets required.
April 22
Southern Spirits. Explore the museum after hours, 6-8 p.m.
while enjoying food from Eatin’ Fresh Kennesaw, live music from Mitchell Phillips and Ezra Jacobs, and the opportunity to step aboard the General. Tickets are $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers. Ages 21 or older.
April 30
Open House. Experience many of each year’s activities in a
single day, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Events include educational programs, a children’s birthday party, a living history presentation, a tour of the museum galleries and a historic firing demonstration outside, collection highlights and more.
MARIETTA HISTORY CENTER On Doing History presentations begin at 2 p.m. For more details, visit www.mariettahistory.org.
April 9: Archival Preservation and Research with JoyEllen Williams
June 11: Historic Preservation with Stephanie Cherry-Farmer Aug. 13: Cemetery Preservation with Christa McCay Oct. 1: Historic Architecture with Marietta Monaghan
KENNESAW PARKS AND RECREATION To register, visit www.kennesaw-ga.gov/parks-and-recreation.
April 14-May 19
Special Needs Gymnastics, meeting 4-4:30 p.m.
Thursdays at the Ben Robertson Community Center, is designed for children, ages 4-9, with special needs who are independent while doing gross motor skill activities, yet require a smaller class size.
Through April 18
Painting and Drawing With Jessica Geist,
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mondays at the Ben Robertson Community Center Painting Lab, is for intermediate and advanced oil painters. This class will help students improve upon techniques for creating depth and realism, as well as color theory and color mixing.
Through April 27
BSD Taekwondo, 6-7 p.m. Mondays and
Wednesdays at the Recreation Center at Adams Park, helps students, ages 6-99, sharpen their minds and learn to use their hands and feet to protect themselves.
Through April 28
Little Dragons Taekwondo begins 5:30 p.m.
Thursdays at the Recreation Center at Adams Park. Children ages 4-7 can learn balance, hand-eye coordination and self-control.
MASTER GARDENERS www.acworthartsalliance.org
April 15-16
The 22nd annual Cobb Master Gardener Plant Sale and Expo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., is coming to Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. More than 90 vendors will be selling garden tools, accessories, yard art and plants. Free admission and parking.
April 19
Master Gardener Gayle Evans will talk about which plants work best in our yards during Perennials for Georgia Gardens, 7-8 p.m. Register online for this virtual class.
May 14
The 19th annual Master Gardener Garden Tour of West Cobb, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., visits five gardens owned or managed by Cobb County Master Gardeners. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 on the day of the tour. Children ages 17 and younger are admitted free. Purchase tickets on the website. AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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Cobb Photographic Society Monochrome
Paul Shimek - 1st Place (Curved Lips)
Novice
Rob Herman - 1st Place (Sign Curve) 52
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
Congratulations to each of you who entered the Cobb Photographic Society competition. The topic for the February contest was “Curves.” The guest judge was Marvin Price. The Cobb Photographic Society is a photography club open to photographers of all skill levels. The club meets the first and third Monday of each month. For information, visit www.cobbphotosociety.com.
Color
Paul Shimek - 1st Place (Fountains Around the Curve)
Frank Seco de Lucena - 2nd Place (Timeless) AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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Advertisers
This wonderful publication is brought to you by these local businesses. When using our advertisers’ services, please let them know you found out about them from the Around Kennesaw magazine!
April 2022
ACCOUNTING & TAX Denson Pepper, CPA 678-797-5241 www.densonpeppercpa.com
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ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES Williams | Elleby 833-LEGALGA www.gatrialattorney.com
1
Georgia Trade School www.georgiatradeschool.com
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Greenlight Acting Studios 470-613-8686 www.greenlightactingstudios.com
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Kennesaw State University College of the Arts www.arts.kennesaw.edu
Cobb Chamber of Commerce www.cobbchamber.org
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Omega Private Academy 770-792-7431 www.acworth-ga.omegalearning.com
Kennesaw Business Association www.kennesawbusiness.org
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Real Estate Closing Path www.realestateclosingpath.org
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St. Joseph Catholic School 770-428-3328 www.stjosephschool.org
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Must Ministries www.mustministries.org
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EDUCATION SERVICES Brookwood Christian School 678-401-5855 www.brookwoodchristian.com
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Chattahoochee Technical College 770-528-4545 www.chattahoocheetech.edu
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Bay Equity Home Loans Jay White, Area Sales Manager 770-870-0644 www.jayclosesloans.com
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Credit Union of Georgia 678-486-1111 www.cuofga.org
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LGE Credit Union www.lgeccu.org
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HAIR SALON élon Salon 770-427-8698 www.elonsalon.com
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS
DENTAL Gentle Dental Care/Georgia Dental Implant Center 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
Low T Nation 9 866-349-5698 www.lowtnation.com/weight-loss-atlanta
Acworth Cobb Dragon Boat Festival 678-956-0062 www.acworthdragonboatfest.com
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Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival www.kennesawbusiness.org/bsf
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Alcaraz Drywall 678-949-8689
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Putts for Mutts Golf Tournament www.mostlymutts.org/putts
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Custom Craftsmen Design 678-851-2549
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Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival www.smokeonthelake.org
35
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The SpongeBob Musical www.ticketing.kennesaw.edu
5
Dayco Systems Heating & Cooling 770-336-7888 www.daycosystems.com
HOME & GARDEN
Enhance Floors & More 770-565-3808 www.enhancefloors.com
AROUNDABOUTLOCALMEDIA.COM For advertising rates and information | Kim Dahnke 770-778-5314 | kim@aroundaboutmagazines.com 54
AROUND KENNESAW | April 2022
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Exact Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating 37 770-912-0552 Findlay Roofing 770-516-5806 www.roofroof.com
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Towne Plumber 770-257-7503 www.towneplumber.com
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One Dead Bug 678-770-5699 www.onedeadbug.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY Red Baryl Portraits 815-540-0936
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PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES 19, 41
POLITICAL Taneesha Marshall for Cobb Superior Court Judge www.votetaneeshamarshall.com 22one Realty Co. 770-485-3928 www.22onerealty.com
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Keller Williams Realty, Joannie Bates Cell: 678-788-6465 Office: 678-631-1700 www.joanniebatessells.com
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Golf Cars of Canton 678-880-1156 www.golfcarsofcanton.com
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Home Town Honey, Inc. 7770-428-4903 www.atlantashometownhoney.com
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SENIOR LIVING/SERVICES
Anchor Realty Partners Malinda Howe, Broker: 404-444-0225 Deborah Hill, Realtor: 770-361-9200 Office: 770-917-0322 www.malinda-howe.com Finally Home by Chuba Amadi 404-477-4971
RETAILERS/ SHOPPING Cotton Mill Exchange 770-992-9294 www.cottonmillexchange.net
REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES
PEST CONTROL
Governors MedSpa & Concierge Medicine 678-888-5181 www.governorsmedicine.com
North Atlanta Dermatology 770-814-8222 www.naderm.com
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Abella Palliative Care 706-624-1130
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Celebration Village 678-594-3570 www.cvillage.com
Back cover
Tapestry Hospice 706-383-8812 www.tapestryhospice.com
Inside back
We have a place in the homes of our community.
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