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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.
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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. READERS’ CHOICE
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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
Value Queen Beauty School
3096 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw
Top Tech Mechanical Services Inc.
2535 S. Main St., Suite 105, Kennesaw (Photo not available at press time.)
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings
Coffee-Tea-Ria LLC — April 22 3055 N. Main St., Suite 109, Kennesaw
Ace Handyman Services — April 22
5150 Stilesboro Road, Suite 510, Kennesaw
Around Acworth | Around Canton Around Kennesaw | Around Woodstock | TowneLaker www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com
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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
Managing Editor Donna Harris 770-852-8481 donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com Content Editor Jessica Forrester 770-615-3318 jessica@aroundaboutmagazines.com Production Manager Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford laura@aroundaboutmagazines.com
Graphic Designer Savannah Winn savannah@aroundaboutmagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 denise@aroundaboutmagazines.com
Social Media Manager Kathryn Holt kat@aroundaboutmagazines.com
Market & Advertising Specialist Michelle Smith michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers
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.
