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Around Acworth

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The nomination round has ended. Be ready to start voting for your favorites on May 15 at www.aroundacworthmagazine.com. The top five nominees in each category will be on the ballot, which will be open through June 30.

What’s New

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2023

Crumbl Cookies opened its Acworth location in the Butler Creek shopping center at 3330 Cobb Parkway, Suite 314, in March.

Club Pilates Acworth , a mind-body workout that’s based on contrology, opened last month at 3450 Cobb Parkway, Suite 2-250, in the same shopping center as Five Guys.

Acworth officials are excited about new signage — featuring updated branding and wayfinding information for residents and visitors — that’s beginning to roll out across the city. This project will be installed in waves over a period of time, but residents will notice new parking signs and monument signs have already started popping up across the downtown area.

Celebrate!

Help us celebrate your graduates in our May issue! Send graduation photos, as well as name, high school and future plans by April 10 to edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com.

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Erika K. Orcutt, Esq.

Letter From the Editor

This month, I want to focus on an observance that doesn’t get the spotlight other special days get — at least, I haven’t ever heard much about it. April 18 is Holocaust Remembrance Day, a 24-hour period when we should remember the atrocities inflicted on the Jews by Adolf Hitler’s regime during World War II and pray nothing like that ever happens again.

I’m acquainted enough with the Holocaust to know, without a doubt, that it happened. How anyone can call it a myth, hoax or exaggeration is beyond my comprehension. My first exposure to it was in my sixth-grade social studies class, when one of our teachers spoke to us about her relatives going through it. Occurring five decades ago, I don’t remember the details of her story, but I do remember it making a big impression on me.

Several years ago, I visited Kennesaw State University’s Museum of History and Holocaust Education, which has grown significantly since then. Seeing the photos and reading the stories made me wonder how a group of people could be so barbaric toward another group of people, especially when that group had done nothing to deserve such treatment.

I saw for myself what I had read and learned about when I visited the Dachau concentration camp, the first one built by the Nazis, in Germany in

2005. I can tell you it wasn’t a tourist attraction constructed just to perpetrate some big hoax. I saw the crematoriums — something I will never forget — and the barracks where the prisoners were forced to live, if you could call it that. Nothing will ever convince me any of that was for “show.”

My most recent experience with the Holocaust came at my last newspaper job. I interviewed a woman whose grandfather had risked his life to help Jews escape from Europe using forged South American passports. The story ended up being seen by a woman in Vermont who realized her grandfather had been saved from extermination by this woman’s grandfather. The two women eventually met and did a joint presentation about their grandfathers at a local college. It was heartwarming to see something good come out of this tragedy.

Speaking of good things, we have several articles in this issue that celebrate April as National Volunteer Month. Check out Pages 16-19 for an update on how the nonprofits featured in our Helping Hands spread in November and December were helped. Also, read about Acworth’s Horizon League for people with special needs, as well as its annual fundraising gala, on Pages 22-24.

April also is National Pickleball Month, so find out all about the country’s fastestgrowing sport on Pages 12-13.

Happy reading!

America’s Community Magazine

Volume 7, Issue 8

PUBLISHER

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Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. publishes five separate hyperlocal magazines serving the communities of Canton, Woodstock, Towne Lake, Acworth and Kennesaw. Approximately 16,000 free copies are distributed monthly in each community, through direct bulk mail and first class mail; approximately 500 copies are available in magazine racks placed around each community.

Around Acworth welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. Editorial deadline is the first and advertising deadline is the fifth of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to: Around Acworth, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, PMB 380, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189. The viewpoints of the advertisers, writers and other submissions do not necessarily reflect those of the editor/publisher. And the publisher makes no claims

to the validity of any opinions expressed by charitable, business or civic organizations mentioned, or statements made within the editorial content. The cover and inside related article, and other editorial-type submissions labeled SPONSORED CONTENT, are paid content. The publisher neither guarantees nor supports any product or service mentioned in this magazine, nor does it guarantee any assertions made by the manufacturers or providers of such products or services, or claims regarding the status of such businesses.

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 2023.

Donna Harris is the managing editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She’s a Cobb County native and a veteran journalist with newspaper and magazine experience. Email her at donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com.

Donna Harris

ACWORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Advocating for Victims of Crime

BY JESSE EVANS

I am excited to announce a new initiative at the Acworth Police Department. We are continuously seeking ways to improve the service we provide to our community, so, with our City Council’s approval, we have added a full-time victim advocate to our team.

Victim advocates fill an essential role within the criminal justice system. They are trained specifically to support victims of crime and abuse and to provide leadership and guidance that enables police department staff also to assist victims. These vital personnel are uniquely equipped with the training and compassion to provide those in need with emotional support, victims’ rights information, assistance in obtaining needed resources and guidance navigating the judicial system during criminal proceedings. Additionally, victim advocates are able to act as liaisons between the police department and a variety of partner organizations that assist victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse and opioid abuse.

Our new victim advocate is Emily Hall, who began her career with the Acworth Police Department as an intern while she was a student at Kennesaw State University. After graduating with a degree in forensic behavioral science, she was hired by our department as a records technician. However, her true desire was to work as a victim advocate, a position that wasn’t funded and didn’t exist when she first came to us.

After leaving our agency, Hall worked for LiveSafe Resources in Marietta, an outstanding organization that provides services to victims of crime. Our department works closely with LiveSafe, and we are grateful for

the services it provides. Hall loved working there, but when the Acworth Police Department opened a new full-time position for a victim advocate, she knew her hometown was where she wanted to be. We are so grateful to have her as a member of our team, and we know she will provide outstanding service to our community — a service many other police agencies cannot offer fully. We also hope you will join us in thanking our outstanding City Council and city leadership team for enabling us to provide a dedicated victim advocate for our community.

In the past, the detectives in our criminal investigations division provided as much assistance to crime victims as possible. Now, with a dedicated advocate on staff, we will have the capability to provide even better service to the public, as well as to our many community partners. Ultimately, adding a victim advocate will allow our agency to take community policing to the next level. Our staff is committed to bettering the community through collaborative partnerships that seek to improve the quality of life for all. We hope to see other agencies follow this trend and make victims a priority as they face incredibly challenging situations.

Chief Jesse Evans has served more than 20 years as a prosecutor and law enforcement professional. He is a native of Acworth and knows there is no better place to live, work and play.

Emily Hall’s role is to support crime victims.

A Message From the

Spring has sprung, and all four beaches on both of our beautiful lakes will be opening for the season this month. We are looking forward to getting back outside, enjoying our downtown districts and celebrating the quality of life we have here in Acworth.

We know there are a lot of excited families and friends looking forward to the many recreational opportunities that Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona offer our great city. Dallas Landing and Proctor Landing parks will open for the season April 8, and although Cauble and South Shore are open year-round, the beaches at these parks officially will be opening this month, as well.

For more information on our beaches and parks, please visit Acworth’s Parks, Recreation and Community Resource website at www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

Last month, the Acworth Downtown Development Authority celebrated the launch of the new Mill District in downtown Acworth. The branding of this district brings excitement to an area of Acworth that’s rich in mill history, while expanding the footprint of our downtown area. We appreciate the investment businesses in this area have made, and we’re excited for this branding to attract new businesses to this special part of the city, stretching from the Cowan Historic Mill on Southside Drive to Newberry Park on Main Street. The city is looking forward to the completion of a new public

parking lot on Maple Drive to accompany the Mill District’s revitalization. We are eagerly anticipating the district’s growth and are happy to include it in our beautiful downtown area.

Our downtown districts have some really exciting events coming up this month. The Acworth Art Fest will return to historic downtown Main Street April 15-16 with amazing artisan vendors from all across the region. This is a weekend not to be missed! On April 22, the Weekend Getaway Band will return to the stage for Live at Logan Farm Park. This free concert, hosted by the Acworth Arts Alliance, has become an annual tradition in the city’s Parkside District. We can’t wait to see you there, and we’re so grateful for our fantastic city partners, who bring such wonderful events to our community.

As always, for the latest information on any of our events and projects, you can visit www.acworth.org, sign up for our e-news blasts on our home page, “like” the city of Acworth on Facebook or follow us on Instagram at @ cityofacworthga.

May God bless you and your families.

— Tommy

Tommy Allegood was elected to Acworth’s city council in 2000 and has served as mayor since 2002. He is a community builder who is purposed to make it count!

Pickleball

Do you remember the first time you heard the word “pickleball?” By now, most people know the funny word is a sport that has taken the world by storm. April is National Pickleball Month, and there is no doubt local players will be celebrating.

Pickleball combines components of tennis, badminton and table tennis and can be played indoors or outdoors on a badminton-size court with a modified tennis net. Players use a paddle and plastic ball with holes, and they can play as doubles or singles. The game is perfect for all ages and skill levels.

Although the sport has gained major momentum in the last few years, its origins date back to 1965, when U.S. Rep. Joel Pritchard from Washington and businessman Bill Bell sought to cure their families’ boredom, according to USA Pickleball’s website. Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island had an old badminton court but no equipment. The two families got creative and played with table tennis paddles and a perforated plastic ball. Pritchard and Bell introduced the new game to a neighbor, Barney McCallum, and the three men developed family-friendly rules that closely resembled badminton. It’s been said Pritchard’s wife, Joan, named the sport in reference to the leftover rowers who raced for fun in local “pickle boat” crew race competitions.

Since 1965, pickleball has experienced many milestones, but 2020 was a pivotal year for growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, team sports were not advised, and many people swarmed to pickleball as a socially distant way to stay active and be outdoors. By February 2023, USA Pickleball memberships had reached 70,000, after a nearly 30% increase in 2022. This year, the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) named pickleball the fastestgrowing sport in America for the third consecutive year, with 8.9 million players — up from 4.8 million in 2022 — in the United States.

The explosion in popularity for pickleball has not missed Cobb County. Daneen England and Wendy Brown are local instructors whose lives have been impacted by pickleball. For England, an instructor at the Acworth Community Center who has played for five years and taught for four years, the sport changed her life. She said she was an alcoholic, and when she decided to quit drinking, she discovered pickleball, which helped her during this tough time. She lost 35 pounds, sold her Amazon business and dedicated herself to the game that had such a tremendous impact on her life. When the community center opened in 2019, she began coaching there, and she’s been sober since.

England also has witnessed the intergenerational power of pickleball and recalled a recent scene at the community center. “One court had two boys who were about 12 years old, and the other had two women who were maybe in their late 50s,” she said. “After playing separately for a while, the women invited the boys to play, and they had a wonderful time.” The pace of the game makes it a great option for players of all ages.

BY NICOLE SMITH

Pickleball is a social sport that helps people connect and reconnect. Brown, England’s best friend, is an instructor at the Kennesaw Recreation Center at Adams Park. The former tennis player got involved in the sport about seven years ago after

Wendy Brown, left, and pro player Jessie Irvine play pickleball in Kennesaw.

seeing people playing on courts near her home. A neighbor invited her to play and eventually introduced her to his friend, England. When they met, they realized they had been neighbors when they were kids, until England’s family moved away. Pickleball not only helped Brown meet her neighbors but also enabled her and England to rekindle their friendship.

As it did for England, pickleball also helped Brown through a very trying time. “Not long after I was introduced to the game, my son-in-law passed away suddenly,” she said. “My daughter had a 2-year-old and was pregnant with her second child.” Brown stepped away from the game for several months to help her daughter, but when she returned, it helped her work through her emotions and feel joy again. And her fellow players showered her with love and support. “The pickleball community is just special,” she said.

Brown recognized the opportunity to share pickleball with her young grandchildren, so she set up a court in her garage for them to play together. “I just know this is something we can grow together with,” she said. “If they think about me, they think about pickleball.”

Playing Pickleball

Acworth Community Center

6 basketball/pickleball courts

Free open play Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Lessons Wednesdays and Thursdays

www.acworthparksandrec.org

Recreation Center at Adams Park

9 pickleball courts

Open gym Mondays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Wednesdays until 9 p.m.)

$10 for city of Kennesaw residents, $20 for nonresidents

https://bit.ly/3Jmn8od

Nicole Smith is a writer, book influencer, dog mom and plant enthusiast living in Kennesaw. Connect with her on Instagram at booked4joy.

Best friends Wendy Brown, left, and Daneen England rekindled their friendship through pickleball.

Celebrations!

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE!

Email: edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com

May deadline is April 10. Please specify Around Acworth. Word limit: 25.

Jordyn

Happy seventh birthday, Jordyn!

I love you with all my heart and am so proud of the girl you are! What a great number!

Love, Mommy

Congratulations, Aidan!

Your performance is impressive. You have a natural talent for baseball. You did a superb job on your first game ever!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Jacob

Turns 10 on April 19

Happy birthday, sweet boy! Double digits! And congratulations on your art awards! So proud of you! Love you! Nonna

Margot Kitsch

Age 3 on April 28

Happy birthday, Margot! We love you so, so much and wish you a wonderful birthday!

Love, MeMe and Chip

Vanessa Lackey

April 4, 2009

Happy 14th birthday, my queen! Wear your crown like the true diva you are!

The Coleman crew

HEROES Our Hometown

In our November and December issues, we ran a listing of ways (Helping Hands) our readers could help local nonprofits and government agencies that work to enrich the lives of those less fortunate in our community. You — our hometown heroes — responded in a powerful way. Read on to see the good news about how you and your neighbors made a difference during the holiday season, as well as ways you can help throughout the year.

Acworth Police Department Christmas Shoppe

www.acworthpolice.org

From Cpl. Eric Mistretta

Each year, we have multiple volunteers assist us from the Acworth Public Safety Cadet Program, the local community and police department family members.

The number of gifts is hard to gauge, but we did receive more donations than in the previous year. We were able to partner with businesses throughout the city and neighboring counties to assist with collecting toys. With our toy drive, we were able to serve many local families who would not have been able to provide Christmas gifts for their children without our Toy Shoppe. We also were able to provide each family with a $100 gift card to help them purchase their holiday meal.

Without the support from our community, we wouldn’t be as successful as we’ve been at providing resources to families around the holidays. If anyone is interested in making a donation to the Acworth Police Community Foundation, they can contact the police department for more information. The funds donated to the foundation support many outreach programs, including our toy drive, Police Ambassador Camp and the Acworth Public Safety Cadets, just to name a few. The foundation would like to raise at least $50,000 this year to help community outreach programs.

We also have a tax credit donation option with our foundation, which helps supplement the police department with resources and equipment. We have set a goal to raise at least $250,000 this year from these donations. For more information, please contact the Acworth Police Department.

The Center for Family Resources

https://thecfr.org/thanks-for-giving

From Melanie Kagan, CEO

We can’t do what we do without the community support we receive, not just during Thanksgiving, but all year long. This is just one example of how incredibly generous people are, and we want them to know their donations are incredibly impactful and critical to supporting the needs of the clients and families we serve.

We had 263 volunteers show up the week of Thanksgiving to help on-site with packing, sorting and distributing. Our volunteers logged more than 800 hours that week.

We had an excellent donation result, with 10,000 pounds of food being brought back to our pantry to help with requests the rest of the year. Our totals were:

Shift 2 volunteers at the Center for Family Resources shop for items to donate to families in need.

• 793 boxes of food distributed (valued at $55,510)

• 12 boxes of peanut butter

• 660 loaves of bread

• 1,000 packs (28 boxes) of macaroni and cheese

• 200 boxes of miscellaneous food taken to the food pantry (valued at $17,000)

• $76,441 worth of food donated to Thanks for Giving

• 816 gift cards worth $10,870

• 345 boxes picked up by registered families

• 25 boxes given to LiveSafe Resources

• 25 boxes given to Highland Rivers

• 150 boxes given to Cobb Senior Services

• 40 boxes given to Center for Children and Young Adults

• Eight boxes given to a senior-living community

• 140 boxes plus three cases of macaroni and cheese given to Helping Hands Paulding

• 28 boxes given to Cole Street Baptist Church

• Three boxes given to Simple Needs GA

• 14 boxes of miscellaneous food given to The Porch Marietta

• Nine boxes of miscellaneous kid-friendly items sent to Kennesaw State University food pantry

For 2023, we are excited to announce our short-term housing program has expanded from five apartments to 12 apartments that will house more than 60 families this year. The CFR has a strong commitment to families with children to try to avoid placing them in congregate shelters when possible. Our families enter short-term housing with very little, so when a family moves in, we provide many basic items, such as new sheets, towels and kitchen items. We are seeking donations for our housing closet. Our Amazon wish list can be found at https://amzn.to/3FcKRpz.

The Hope Box

www.thehopebox.org/donate

From Sarah Koeppen, CEO and founder

During the holidays, we held a Mommy Mart and a baby shower for mothers and infants in need. We had such a need for gift cards, baby diapers, formula, cars seats, clothing and more. We are so grateful for all of the volunteers and staff that helped meet the needs of so many. In 2023, continued financial partners, gift cards, baby items and volunteers are needed.

Cobb Senior Services

www.cobbcounty.org

From Kathy Lathem, strategic partnerships manager

We provided Christmas gifts to 150 of our clients. We continue to accept financial donations for Meals on Wheels.

Cobb Christmas Stuff-a-Bus

www.cobbchristmas.net/stuff-a-bus

From Mark Riggans, chairman

We didn’t have a shortage of volunteers this past year. Our Christmas giveaway always has been well-supported by the community.

We served 406 families — 1,200 children.

Our biggest need is funding. We gave away every toy we had this past year, so we will need to purchase toys in bulk to supplement our toy drive.

Goshen Valley Foundation

www.goshenvalley.org

From Caitlin Brunson, marketing and community engagement coordinator

We had incredible support from the community during the holidays. Woodstock City Church sent more than 600 volunteers to help with landscaping, decorating for Christmas and wrapping hundreds of gifts for the boys at Goshen Valley Boys Ranch.

We saw huge support from the community at large, helping us to purchase gifts off our Amazon wish lists for the 117 foster kids at Goshen during the holidays. The community rallies around our kids at Christmas, and we truly couldn’t do it without its support. We are so grateful to everyone who touched our kids’ lives!

Our 2023 needs are focused around a big need for foster parents in Cherokee and Cobb counties. At Goshen Homes, we license, train and recruit foster parents to work with sibling groups in foster care. That’s because more than 75% of siblings in foster care are separated, and we believe siblings are better together. If you or someone you know might be interested in becoming a foster parent or getting involved at Goshen Homes, visit fosterwithgoshen.org to download the fostering guide.

Volunteer Melanie Duncan battles the Grinch (Amanda Yula) for a Christmas gift donated to Cobb Christmas Stuff-a-Bus.

Simple Needs GA

www.simpleneedsga.org

From Brenda Rhodes, founder

We had an increase in the number of volunteers; some were directly because of your publications, so thank you! We were able to help more children this past Christmas than in previous years. Overall, we provided gifts (plus board games, hats, gloves and scarves) for 307 kids in 108 families. Each mom and/ or dad also received a Walmart gift card.

And some of the volunteers who helped at Christmastime have returned to help us! We’re hoping a few will become regulars, including one who read about us in Around Kennesaw.

Now, our greatest need is for gently used mattresses/ box springs/beds as well as other essential furniture and kitchen/bed/bath items. We also need items that we give to our birthday children. We update this list about once a week with our most-needed items: https://simpleneedsgablog.com/drives.

Volunteers who would like to become regulars by volunteering on Saturdays once or twice a month are needed. And we need volunteers with pickup trucks and/or those who are willing to pick up furniture donations and deliver to our clients.

MUST Ministries

www.mustministries.org

From Katy Ruth Camp, director of marketing and public relations

Generally, we see about a 20% to 25% increase in the number of volunteers who serve during the holiday season. Not only do people want to give back more during the holidays, but events and programs like the Gobble Jog, our toy shops and holiday meals at the MUST Hope House inspire more people to give back.

Community support makes everything we do possible. Our MUST team could not begin to serve the 62,000 we now are serving annually without volunteers.

We always are working hard to serve more of our neighbors in need. Donations help provide food, housing, jobs, health care and clothing, plus a host of other resources like toiletries, diapers, cold-weather shelter and summer lunches for hungry children.

In 2023, our needs include:

• More food for the MUST Mobile Pantry.

• More volunteers to help serve more clients at every location.

• Volunteers to work in our new MUST Marketplace thrift store, opening in east Cobb this month.

• Support for the future health care clinic being established in MUST’s new facility on Highway 41.

Jerry Worthan Memorial Christmas Fund

www.facebook.com/KennPD

From Officer David Buchanan, Office of Community Engagement

Kennesaw Police Department had a fantastic turnout at events this past holiday season, along with numerous residents and businesses eager to offer their stores, time and/or money. We held a Dinner with Santa event at Copeland’s, had nine businesses in the community place toy donation bins in their store fronts, received a large monetary donation from the Kennesaw Business Association and received a large toy donation from the Ladies of Legacy Park. The support received was incredible and makes the Jerry Worthan Memorial Christmas Fund simple and fulfilling, while ensuring every child in Kennesaw can experience the joys of Christmas.

The Christmas fund received hundreds of new toys, and more than $10,000 was raised for upcoming years. The program provided Christmas gifts, including toys, clothing and shoes, for 33 children in the Kennesaw community.

We will start accepting applications and toy donations in November for Christmas 2023. We accept monetary donations for the program all year.

The MUST Ministries Toy Shops program provides gifts for children who might not have anything on Christmas morning.

North Georgia Angel House https://angelhousega.com

From Susan Worsley, executive director and CEO

The influx of volunteers during the holiday season was heartwarming. We had sponsors for each of our girls. All of their needs were met with each item they asked for and a whole lot more.

Our friends and neighbors donated gift cards to have a supply ready when we accept new girls in our home, to purchase clothing and incidentals. One of our neighbors donated a gift card to each of the employees as a thank you for their hard work. It was unexpected and greatly appreciated.

We had sponsors for the children of our girls who come home every year for the Home for the Holidays meal. This year, volunteers donated, catered and served dinner to almost 100 former children, spouses and partners so we could spend time visiting with our former youth.

Volunteers helped decorate the home, inventory gifts and meet the needs of our kids during the most challenging time of the year. In a world where the news is filled with crimes and sad stories, we are reminded our community is filled with many kind, giving and supportive individuals who work tirelessly to help us meet the needs of our girls. Our investment in others is more than a job; it’s a ministry. We thank God every day for the good in our community.

Our needs going into 2023 include landscaping, siding, remodeling a building for our newly established school, drying in a space for a “she shed,” adding 10 more singleoccupancy apartments to our campus and building a reception center at the entrance of our campus. Please let me know if you have time, talent or resources to lend a hand. We love our volunteers.

Campers learn theatrical and life skills and always deliver a great performance for family and friends at the end of the week!

The Turquoise Otter was a collection site for the Kennesaw Police Department’s Jerry Worthan Memorial Christmas Fund.

Forgiveness Not Easy But Well Worth It

Forgiveness isn’t always easy. We all want it when we need it. It’s just a little more difficult to extend it to others. Here are some common objections to forgiveness and how to overcome them — for others’ benefit and our own.

1. If I forgive, am I condoning what they did?

No. God forgives our sin and condones none. Forgiveness doesn’t mean what they did wasn’t that bad. It means God is that good.

2. What if the other person isn’t sorry?

True forgiveness isn’t based on the response of the other person. For followers of Jesus, it’s born out of our response to what Jesus did for us. Often, forgiveness precedes repentance. Jesus forgave those crucifying him before they ever repented. His forgiveness didn’t guarantee their repentance, but it made it possible.

3. Must I forgive if a person continues to hurt me?

Yes. Jesus forgave while they continued to spit at him on the cross (Luke 23:34-35; also see Matthew 18). However, forgiveness doesn’t mean you stay in harm’s way.

4. If I forgive a person, do I stay in an abusive situation?

No. You can forgive AND free yourself from an abusive situation permanently, if necessary, or until it changes.

5. How do I forgive?

Many offenses are beyond our ability to forgive, but none are beyond the ability of Jesus to forgive through you. For you, forgiveness might be a miracle. But God isn’t relying on your power to forgive any more than he was relying on Moses’ power to part the Red Sea. Ask Jesus to unleash in you his power of forgiveness that stems from what he did for us on the cross.

6. How quickly must I forgive?

Immediately. We’re in a self-made prison and at a standstill in our relationship with God until we forgive.

7. What if I forgive but can’t forget?

This one is just silly. Don’t think you have to forget to legitimately forgive. Forgiveness doesn’t cause amnesia. It just means you no longer carry the weight of bitterness and have chosen to forgive and move on with your life.

8. How do I know if I have forgiven?

Forgiveness is not a feeling as much as it is a decision. It’s more than just being polite. In the story of the prodigal son, the father was able to forgive to the point that he actually celebrated his son’s return.

9. What if I don’t want to forgive?

Pray to realize how much the Lord has forgiven you. Then, by God’s grace, pass on the forgiveness given to you. Grace extended (to others) follows grace received (from God). If you refuse to extend it, you’ve probably never received it. Forgiven people forgive people.

It’s been said that forgiveness is like setting a prisoner free, only to find that the prisoner was you. Allow yourself that opportunity!

Pastor J.R. Lee is husband to Devin; dad to Lexi, London and Bryce; and pastor to Freedom Church. You can catch up with him on Instagram at @PastorJRLee, Twitter at @JRLee or on Freedom Church’s YouTube Channel.

Leveling the Playing Field Horizon League Offers Sports Programs for Athletes With Special Needs

BY CLAIRE BECKNELL

The year-round Acworth Horizon League is a growing program dedicated to providing inclusive and adaptive sports for people with special needs. A part of the Acworth Parks and Recreation Department, the league offers its no-cost service to athletes ages 5 and older.

As the program expands, its leaders and volunteers make a continuous effort to introduce new sports and activities for the athletes. The league currently has coaches for baseball, kickball, lacrosse, hockey, basketball, pickleball and yoga and

offers unique pop-up events like the Minute to Win It Valentine’s Day party, pinball at Portal Pinball and groovy-themed bingo.

In just the past few months, the program has featured a wide range of activities — winter kickball, pinball, fishing, baseball, bingo, “Family Feud” and last month’s Horizon League Ability Gala, which raised more than $70,000 to ensure the athletes can continue participating in these accommodating programs.

Steve Prather, vice president

of the city’s Special-Needs Development Group, said it is rewarding to see the children happy and living their lives as normally as possible. “Having a special-needs child myself, that aspect is very important to me,” he said. “The Horizon League Field is inside of a regular field, so she always had a sister that was playing right next to her. Inclusivity is the most important thing.”

The city is focused heavily on ensuring everyone feels valued, and Prather said there is adaptable equipment integrated with standard equipment at Cauble Park and the Acworth Sports Complex. Horizon Field, which is part of the complex, is designed to accommodate those with disabilities and includes cushioned turf, wheelchair-accessible dugouts, ramps and adaptable swing sets.

Credited with expanding the Horizon League programs, Lauren Ham is the special populations coordinator, focusing specifically on the special-needs area. She works to establish a safe, comfortable environment for the athletes under her care.

Initially, Ham was in charge of the senior and special-needs populations, but the Horizon League found another team member to work with the seniors. This redirection lets Ham invest all her time into one group, allowing the special-needs programs to expand greatly in the last year.

Horizon League’s community involvement makes the program incredibly special. The volunteers who participate come from local high schools, churches and nonprofit organizations, and the program’s “buddy” system further enhances community bonding. In each sport, an athlete is assigned a buddy partner to help him or her take part in the activity. These volunteers are a vital part of continuing to build the program.

Coach Casey Weatherford has dedicated the last 10 years of

Horizon Baseball League players and their buddies and coaches. Photo courtesy of Lauren Ham.

his life to volunteering with the children. He started out buddying and coaching baseball, then decided he wanted to become as involved as possible in the program. Now, he can have up to 300 athletes show up for baseball every week, he said.

“Every volunteer that comes here gets just as much out of it as the athletes,” he said. “They come out here and see the bigger picture of what we do and why this is so needed in our community.”

Accessible programs are a much-needed and crucial element of a community. Weatherford said when these children grow up, there is nothing available to make the special-needs population feel included. But the idea of kids with special needs wanting to be included and to do the same activities as other kids is an important part of the Horizon League. “Boy or Girl Scouts don’t offer anything for special-needs people,” Weatherford said. “To build a program that adapts to certain disabilities is not going to happen at these other places.”

Volunteers who spend time with these children say the experiences have taught them gratitude. Weatherford said he believes disabled people teach lessons and help others see the bigger picture in life. Referring to the players as his “angels,” he said the kids have taught him to appreciate the things he normally took for granted on a daily basis.

That’s the reason Weatherford and other volunteers make it their goal to help these children do the same things as everyone else and to bring them outside their comfort zone. He said he’s never seen one kid hate any of the activities. He’s seen only pure joy.

Besides coaching his players, Weatherford also strives to get to know them on a personal level. He said he visits his athletes at work and follows them on social media. “I love to hear their stories,” he said. “I love to know what they like to do, their jobs, their hobbies and if they have any pets.”

Ham and Weatherford agree that seeing the children smile shows them their hard work has paid off. “When you see any one of these kids smile when they hit the ball, that’s the payment I receive,” Weatherford said.

Ham credits the community for enabling this amazing program to grow. “The opportunities are endless, and the Horizon League wouldn’t serve over 500 athletes a year without the support of our wonderful community, volunteers and coaches,” she said.

Kickball is one of the leagues offered to those with disabilities. Photo courtesy of Lauren Ham.

Antonio shows off the fish he caught at Catch and Release. Photo by Claire Becknell.

Claire Becknell is a third-year journalism and emerging media student at Kennesaw State University. She believes local media is important in modern journalism and is grateful to write for Aroundabout Local Media.

An annual soccer clinic gives kids with special needs the skills they need to play the game.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Ham.

Scoring a Win for the Horizon League

Organizers of the 2023 Horizon League Ability Gala were thrilled to see the annual event sell all 280 tickets and raise $70,000 to support the athletes who participate in the Horizon League, which offers adaptive sports programming for Acworth’s children and adults with special needs. The three-hour fundraiser, held March 3 at Tanyard Creek Overlook (Acworth Community Center), offered attendees a unique fine-dining experience, music by a jazz ensemble and silent and live auctions.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY BETH GIBBS

Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource’s therapeutic coordinator, Lauren Ham, and C.J. Delfausse were among the gala attendees.

The Kennesaw State Jazz Quartet provides entertainment for the evening.

Stephanie Kull makes a bid during the live auction.

Tim Houston and Diana DeSanto place bids at the silent auction.

Freezin’ for a (Good) Reason

The temperature on land might’ve been comfortable, but the water temperature of Lake Acworth was anything but for participants of the 2023 Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) Polar Plunge. SOGA’s largest fundraiser, which helps provide free year-round sports training and competition for its 17,429 athletes, took place Feb. 25 at Cauble Park in Acworth. The Right to Remain Frozen — the Acworth Police Department’s (APD) 27-member team — raised $20,136, the fourth-highest total. Half that amount — $10,031 — was raised by K-9 Jogi and Officer Anthony Trapani, earning them the top fundraising K-9 team award. Besides jumping into cold water in the middle of winter, the team also participated in the tug of war tournament and won first place. The day of chilly fun, organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run program, included live music, food and prizes.

APD team members, from left, Weston Maynard, Kaylee Ray, Maison Ward, Laney Dycus, Jamal Boka, Summer Sosebee and Justin Reaid compete in tug of war.

Plungers, including Acworth Police Chief Jesse Evans, left, head into the icy water of Lake Acworth.

Reason

Acworth employee Gibril Jow, left, and Lt. Brian Hunt survive the icy dip.

From left, Summer Sosebee, mascot Mikayla Estrada and Alexis Mistretta enjoy the Polar Plunge.

Officer Anthony Trapani and K-9 Jogi emerge from the cold lake.

K-9 Jogi shows his handler, Officer Anthony Trapani, how happy he is to win their award.

In the Heart of Acworth

Hill Brothers Honor Family Legacy by Opening New Design Center

The Hill brothers recently experienced a homecoming of sorts. While David and Mike Hill haven’t moved away and returned, the opening of their store, the Hill Brothers Flooring Design Center on Main Street in Acworth, has brought them back to the heart of the community where they grew up.

David and Mike were raised in the flooring business, literally at the feet of their father, Verlon Hill, who taught his sons about flooring. More importantly Verlon taught his sons the importance of honoring others and serving the community. In fact, the sons’ love for their dad and desire to honor his legacy are at the core of the business they opened in January 2020.

As children, the Hill brothers followed their dad around on job sites. “A normal day on the job with Dad would end up with one of us nailing the other to the

floor,” David said. From an early age, David and Mike learned not only the skill and craft of flooring, but also how to live with integrity, work with honor and treat everyone with respect.

“Hill Brothers Flooring is committed to putting people first. There’s a saying that it’s ‘not personal, it’s business,’ but at Hill Brothers, that’s not the case,” Mike said. “It’s our family name on the door, our father Verlon Hill’s name. It is all personal! That’s why Hill Brothers Flooring aims to be a servant in all we do for our customers, employees, vendors and this community.”

Their dream of opening a flooring company became a reality recently, after David retired from a career as a firefighter and Mike decided to venture out on his own after working for a local company.

“Business has continued to grow beyond

our expectations, even though we started just in time for the COVID-19 lockdown,” David said. “We haven’t advertised; it’s just word of mouth. Our work quality and reputation have generated all the growth and repeat business we’ve experienced.”

“When the opportunity came to open a showroom in downtown Acworth, we knew the time was just right,” Mike said. “It’s a dream come true.”

Left, David and Mike at the new design center under construction. Above: David and Mike with their father, Verlon.

PHOTO BY LARUCHE PHOTO

Testimonials

“Mike and staff were great to work with. We will 100% be using them for any of our future projects. Thanks, Hill Brothers, for a painless and stress-free remodel.”

“The best floor company in metro Atlanta. Their showroom is unbelievable. Their work is outstanding. I recommend Hill Brothers Flooring to any residential or commercial company needing flooring.”

IN THE SHOWROOM

The new showroom will be their first Design Center and will feature designer and luxury lines of flooring.

“Hill Brothers can resolve any flooring challenge customers may face, from new installs to restorations in residential or commercial settings, with the widest selection of flooring available,” Mike said. “This design center will complement our existing showroom in Cartersville, which carries our value lines, and will feature our custom bathroom work as well.”

The technology in the 2,000-square-foot showroom is the latest on the market. Large touch-screen kiosks will offer customers access to a flooring visualizer, complete with 3D Sample Viewer mode. This allows customers on-site “See in My Room” visualization of the full product line.

Customers can learn more about flooring and remodeling ideas as they relax in the comfort lounge, where they also can tune

into the news, the big game or whatever is on. “We want the space to be inviting and relaxing for our customers, and even for those passing by,” David said.

A portion of all sales goes to support the Verlon Hill Memorial Foundation, established in honor of Mike and David’s father. The foundation’s mission is to support area laborers, in the flooring industry as well as others, when they find themselves in financial hardship.

The foundation was able to help a contractor for Hill Brothers during a

difficult time. His wife was in a serious car accident, and the contractor needed time off to care for her, but he couldn’t afford to give up a week’s pay with the added medical expenses. The Hill Brothers were able to arrange for a week of pay for the contractor free of charge, allowing him to see to her recovery.

“We are truly excited to open this design center and serve the community from our new home,” Mike said. “Stop in anytime and allow us to help you with your flooring and design needs.”

Recent bathroom, kitchen and flooring projects by Hill Brothers.

Photography 5 Techniques to Improve Your

BY MARK CHANDLER

With the technology and features available in smartphones and digital cameras, everyone is a photographer. In most cases, a simple focus and shoot will create images that will be treasured for years. Photographers in today’s world have a big head start over those in the past, as the ability to create quality images has gotten easier. But what does it take to improve your photos and become a better photographer? The answer starts with learning the basics of exposure and composition. Let’s take a look at a few basic composition tips to help you improve your images.

1. Think before you shoot.

Before you start firing off shots with your camera, take a moment to think about what your subject is and what story you are trying to convey. Once you have an idea of the subject, think about what needs to be included in the photo to tell the story and what can be excluded. If something does not add to the image, can it be removed by moving in closer to the subject, finding a different angle or using shallow depth of field? It might not always be possible to remove items from the photo, but the more you tell your story without distractions, the better.

2. Fill the frame.

One of the easiest ways to isolate your subject is by moving closer and filling the frame. Whether it’s a landscape, people or other subjects, move in close enough to fill the frame with your focal point and eliminate distractions that don’t belong in the photo.

3. Use shallow depth of field.

Another technique for isolating your subject is using a shallow depth of field, or the area of your photo that is in focus. Using a shallow depth of field, you can separate your subject from the background by making the background blurry or out of focus. This is accomplished in-camera by using a wide aperture or f-stop. The wider the aperture, the smaller the number of f-stop on your lens. Different lenses open to various sizes, but common f-stops, such as f-1.8, f-2.8 or f-4 (the bigger the number, the smaller the aperture), will represent the widest aperture value of a particular lens. A wide aperture will give you a blurry background, but you will have to be more precise in focusing. In the bird photo, notice how the background is completely out of focus, making the bird stand out as the subject.

4. When to center the subject.

The best time to consider centering your subject is when you have symmetry in your image. To give a feel of balance, centering your subject might be the best way to present your photo. This image of the tunnel in downtown Kennesaw is an example of symmetry.

5. Learn the rule of thirds.

Generally, it’s best not to put your subject in the center of the frame. There’s a photographer’s technique for placing subjects called rule of thirds. Not really a rule, but a great guideline to think about when composing your photo. By dividing your image into thirds, similar to a tic-tac-toe board, it’s typically considered more pleasing to place your subject on one of the intersecting points and/or on one of the lines. The rule also applies to your horizon lines. It is generally better to place your horizon on one of the lines, rather than in the center. In the photo of the Kennesaw Mountain flags, notice the prominent flag is at an intersection point, and the horizon is in the bottom third. The main flag fills the frame to the top but is not centered, leaving space to show other flags that help tell the story.

Ultimately, how you compose your image is your choice. You are the artist and have your own style, and you should control the results. These are starter guidelines — not hard-and-fast rules — to get you thinking through the picture-taking process and to help you take the best image possible. But the most important tip is to think before you shoot. Consider your subject and the story you are trying to convey, and no doubt, you will begin to see improvement in your photography skills.

Mark Chandler is past president of the Cobb Photographic Society and teaches photography for the Kennesaw and Smyrna parks and recreation departments. See his work on Instagram @markchandlerphotography.

Rob’s Rescues

This month, I interviewed Diviya Roney, who is in charge of the Furkids Community Cat program. Headquartered in Cumming, Furkids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter in the Southeast for rescued cats, as well as Sadie’s Place, a no-kill shelter for dogs. If you missed my interview with Samantha Shelton, founder of Furkids, last month, visit https://aroundacworthmagazine.com/ archives-2.

Describe Furkids’ cat program.

The Community Cat program was launched on July 1, 2022. We focus on spay and neuter and education. We also provide resources and support to the community.

If someone has cats living in their neighborhood, what should they do?

This dog’s name is Boss. He was adopted as a puppy from the Cobb County shelter. He is a 2-year-old small terrier. He is good with kids and other animals. He was turned in because his family was moving to another state and could not afford to take him.

They can email communitycats@ furkids.org. We will provide instructions and rent out traps. Feeders are the best trappers, as they know the cats’ schedules. If you can’t physically do it, we can send our volunteers to help. Contact us first to set up a plan. Please don’t trap before a plan is in place to TNR (trap, neuter, return) the cat.

What does TNR involve?

The rule is that if you are feeding outdoor cats, you must TNR them. The only way to reduce the overwhelming cat population is TNR. The cats must be returned to their colony after spay/ neuter. We train people on how to run their colony, including deworming and providing shelter.

How many cats have you helped?

We already are in 22 counties in Georgia, and we have helped more than 800 cats. We aim to help 100 cats each month. We don’t care where you live in Georgia; we will support you.

Has it been easy stepping into this role at Furkids?

Furkids has made the transition easy. This (Community Cats program) is replicating Frida’s on a much larger scale. I am still running both. The name recognition has been helpful. (Frida’s Foundation is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in Clayton County, committed to eliminating euthanasia of healthy pets and community cats through high-volume spay/neuter, community outreach, collaboration and advocacy. Learn more at www.fridasfoundation.com.)

How can the community help?

This dog’s name is Shadow. He was a cruelty case in his old home but is a staff favorite in the shelter. He was only 24 pounds when he came to the shelter. Now, he weighs 31 pounds. He is friendly, playful and affectionate. One of the staff members wrote a message on his cage: “I have never met a dog more deserving of love. Everyone adores him!”

What story do you like to tell?

Frida’s Foundation is a story that is close to my heart. The reason I founded Frida’s was due to a human being getting no support and consequently committing suicide. Frida’s Foundation and Furkids’ mission is to help people struggling and lifting them up. Animals help people tremendously and keep them going. We are here to support people, keep animals in their homes or colonies intact.

Donations are a huge help to cover spay and neuter. We need traps, too, if you want to donate those. We also need food for our food pantry. We are supporting a lot of people with new colonies, and a lot of people who help community cats need ongoing help with their colonies. We provide medical assistance and food for their cats. Volunteers and trapping volunteers also are needed. And, just getting the word out about our mission and how we can assist is helpful. We help struggling families and are not county-specific.

Rob Macmillan is on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. On Facebook @robsrescues. www.robsrescues.com.

These dogs are at Cobb County Animal Services, waiting for homes.

Rob at the Furkids center.

Put Your Paws to the Pavement

BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

Most of us would agree with actress Gilda Radner, who said, “I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role models for being alive.”

Sadly, in some parts of the world, dogs do not have this great esteem. The Street Dog Dash is a nonprofit that exists to support the success of local rescues in Cherokee County and surrounding

areas and to put an end to the suffering of dogs in the Asian meat trade. The nonprofit’s annual 5K is set for April 29 at Etowah River Park in Canton.

“I founded Street Dog Dash 5K (SDD5K) in 2018 as a way to serve my local community and give back to the world,” Woodstock resident Haley Williams said. “I’m a strong believer in trying to leave the world a better place than you found it. Once I learned about the dog meat trade in Asia, something inside me broke, and I knew that I had to act. SDD5K was born out of my God-given love for animals and a belief that we must be a voice for the less fortunate and those who can’t speak for themselves.”

The SDD5K raises funds and awareness for the fight against the dog meat trade. Its nonprofit of choice is the Soi Dog Foundation, which has been running for more than 11 years and is committed to ending this barbaric business. Headquartered in Thailand, Soi Dog has been successful in ending the trade in its own country and getting restrictive laws passed in other Asian countries. Soi Dog works toward the enforcement of existing laws, educating the public about the health risks associated with this trade, and providing farmers with alternative ways to earn income. Progress is being made.

In Cherokee and surrounding

counties, SDD5K supports animal shelters, rescue groups and smaller organizations, such as Rescue Me Georgia.

Josh and Michelle Williams stepped into the role of directors of race operations beginning in fall 2021. Even though involvement in the SDD5K is recent, their passion for pups is not. Josh and Michelle met in 2014 at Brook Run Dog Park in Atlanta, where their three rescue dogs became best friends. They soon fell in love, married, brought everyone together as one big happy family and moved to Canton.

“I discovered SDD5K after coordinating an outdoor community event for the company I worked for at the time,” Michelle said. “Since both Josh and I love the idea of supporting rescues and dogs in need, we also participated in the race. When the opportunity arose to take on more responsibility as race directors, we happily said yes to supporting our local communities and improving the lives of animals.”

SDD5K is a fun family event to get everyone moving. Everyone is welcome, including four-legged family members. Not a runner? No problem. You can walk the 3 miles with or without your pup. Here are a few recommendations from some of your metro Atlanta neighbors:

“The SDD5k is absolutely my

favorite race! It’s so much fun to see all the dogs (and their humans) enjoying the event,” Brooke Hopkins said.

“This (year) will be my third time participating in the SDD5K! It is a great event put on in our community for runners and fur friends alike. A great course and an even better cause. Cannot wait until April 29!” Kasi Winkles said.

Katie Nix said: “Participating in the SDD5K isn’t just about testing your own limits; it’s about pushing for a greater cause. I heard about the SDD5K in the Around Woodstock magazine and knew it was a cause I wanted to support, no questions asked. When you lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement, you’re not only supporting the health and wellness of yourself, but you’re also making a difference for dogs in need and your local community. The joy of crossing that finish line is amplified by the knowledge that your efforts have contributed to something bigger than yourself, helping to create a better future for animals and people alike. I can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store for the SDD5K!”

Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher and mentor who lives and plays on the Etowah River in Canton. Connect with her on social media or at susanbrowningschulz.com.

To learn more or sign up for this year’s race, visit streetdogdash5k.org, email info@streetdogdash5k.org or scan the QR code to register. To stay up-to-date on race details, participate in contests and more, follow @streetdogdash5k on Facebook and Instagram.

Jaime Pinedo and Juniper.

Make Connections at the Library

BY TOM BROOKS

The west Cobb region libraries are great places to meet people and engage in positive conversations for the benefit of the community and you. Cobb County Public Library workers are committed to creatively supporting the civic infrastructure — schools, public parks, museums, playgrounds — designed to promote personal growth and positive change. Spring is an excellent time to discover how you can make meaningful connections by joining people at these community bright spots. We encourage you to explore the programs, events, clubs, and print and digital resources your Cobb libraries offer, and if you haven’t visited in a while, please add library visits to your calendar.

“There’s More to the Story” is the theme for National Library Week, April 23-29. Sure, most people know libraries are crowded with stories — picture books, juvenile and adult books, audiobooks, e-books, park passes, digital devices to check out. But there is more. The west Cobb region story is about children discovering their voice. They start with baby and toddler storytimes and grow into students using support they find in libraries to advance, adults gaining access to resources for personal development and economic vitality, and seniors reconnecting with libraries for enriched lives. Visit a Cobb library in April or stop by librarysponsored programs in the community. Be part of the full story.

Cobb Civic Center

548 S. Marietta Parkway, Marietta

• The Cobb Library Spring Book Sale: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 14-15 and 1-5 p.m. April 16. The sale features books for all ages, DVDs, books on CD and audiocassette, and magazines. For details, visit cobbcat.org/booksale.

Kemp Memorial Library

4029 Due West Road, Marietta, 770-528-2527

• Project Linus Blanket Circle: 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Knitters and crocheters join neighbors in making blankets, from no-sew fleece tie blankets to fancy quilts, for children served by Project Linus.

• Cooking Club: 1 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month. Share recipes and dishes in a fun and relaxed environment. Upcoming themed sessions include Plantains, Breakfast for Dinner, The Incredible Edible Tomato and Meatless Meals.

North Cobb Regional Library

3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw, 770-801-5320

• Early hearing detection and intervention event:

5:45-6:45 p.m. April 12. Cobb and Douglas Public Health will be on-site for babies, up to 18 months. Determining an infant has hearing loss through early screening and referrals to intervention services gives the child a better chance for language development. No registration required.

• The Lit Squad, A Walking Book Club for Busy

Adults: Meets at trails in the Acworth-Kennesaw area at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Join neighbors to walk, discuss books and explore the community.

Stratton Library

1100 Powder Springs Road, Marietta, 770-528-2522

• Freestyle Club: 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Freestyle involves generating improvised lyrics over an instrumental beat and is great mental exercise for music lovers. Ages 13 and up.

Swift-Cantrell Park

3140 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw

• Fall-Prevention Nature Walk: Open through May 12 on the park’s inner loop. North Cobb Library and Kennesaw Parks and Recreation are collaborating on the first installation of the Fall Walk. Developed by the Georgia Department of Public Health, in collaboration with leading injury-prevention organizations, the walk includes evidence-based information stops designed to start a community conversation on safety for all ages.

West Cobb Regional Library

1750 Dennis Kemp Lane, Kennesaw, 770-528-4699

• West Cobb Craft Club: 10 a.m.-noon each Thursday. All skill levels welcome, including beginners, to knit, crochet or create any other craft and to make new friends.

Tom Brooks is the communications specialist for the Cobb County Public Library. He enjoys walking and hiking in the Georgia mountains, photography and engaging conversations.

Dual Enrollment: Double Credit, Half the Time

BY MICHELLE BUSH

High school students can get a jump-start on their college education and career training through Georgia’s dual-enrollment program, which gives them the opportunity to maximize their education by taking courses that earn college credit and high school credit at the same time. They can enroll as a dualenrollment student on a part-time or full-time basis and take courses on a college campus. Some of the college-level courses also might be available online, on the high school campus or at local college and career academies.

Students enrolled in the program can choose from a wide variety of courses. Among them are core academic college-freshman courses in English, math, science, social sciences and world languages that transfer easily from technical colleges to four-year University System of Georgia institutions. Students also can choose career, technical and agricultural education courses that align to a Georgia Department of Education career cluster and pathway.

Another great thing about the program is state dual-enrollment funds cover the cost of tuition for the first 30 credit hours. The dualenrollment course directory (https://bit.ly/3Zz26K0) provides a list of all approved courses at participating post-secondary institutions that are eligible for dual-enrollment funding.

Dual-enrollment students can thrive from being a welcome part of a college community and experiencing the state-of-the-

art college labs and classrooms. The program is proven to enhance student engagement and improve graduation rates for high school students. It also contributes to preparing a skilled workforce for Georgia by increasing career and post-secondary educational opportunities for students.

Students, parents and school counselors should decide together whether dual enrollment is a good fit. To participate in the program, high school students must apply for admission to a participating college or university. After applying, students can complete the dual-enrollment funding application, which is available on the gafutures.org website. A student’s individual high school or school system also might have its own deadlines for the dual-enrollment process. Students who are interested in the program are encouraged to talk with their high school counselor as early as possible in order to meet all application deadlines.

Michelle Bush is director of student outreach and recruitment at Chattahoochee Technical College. The 22-year employee works with school counselors on behalf of students entering the college.

Get to Know

Matthew Moody

North Cobb High School Principal

What are your main responsibilities?

I always speak to our parents about their child’s safety being my No. 1 concern each day on campus. Naturally, we want to challenge students to reach those highest levels of academic achievement, and, along the way, we want them to enjoy their high school experience in all the many extracurricular activities that exist at North Cobb. I hope they look back on their time as a Warrior with the fondest of memories.

What is your background?

I was hired as North Cobb’s principal in the summer of 2018 after 15 previous years as a teacher, coach and administrator in Cobb County schools. I taught social studies and coached football and soccer for several years at McEachern and Harrison before becoming an assistant principal and athletic director at Harrison through the 2016-17 school year. I graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and received a master’s degree in educational leadership from Kennesaw State University in 2006 and a specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Lincoln Memorial University in 2012.

What’s been the biggest job surprise?

I don’t know if I would consider it a surprise, but it’s awesome to see how many families have a link with North Cobb in their family history. We’ve been on this site since 1958, and for years, we were the only high school in northwest Cobb County. I can’t tell you how many times, through my years as principal, I have had someone introduce themselves as a graduate of North Cobb. Usually, the conversation continues with a list of their family members who went to North Cobb. I love hearing these stories and the years that they or a family member went to our school. The community support we receive from the residents of Acworth and Kennesaw continues to be a major positive for our staff members and families.

What’s the oddest thing you’ve handled as principal?

I guess one of the more unusual things handled in the last few years was during the football season of 2021, when we hosted ESPN for a Friday night game. North Cobb Athletic Director Matt Williams did all the work on how this game would be nationally televised and what could or could not be on the field, due to sponsorships with ESPN. They pretty much take over part of the campus for two days as they get ready for the broadcast. I think we had four games on TV that year between Georgia Public Broadcasting, Peachtree TV and ESPN. I think Matt would agree that it was well worth the effort, as our players, cheerleaders, band, ROTC and student body had a great time showing off the Friday night experience at Emory Sewell Stadium.

What do you like most about your job?

I really like the busy atmosphere of high school life for our Warrior students and staff members. There is a completely separate day that begins each day on our campus at 3:30 p.m., after dismissal. Games, practices, performances, tutoring and booster meetings take over campus after school. Another thing about high school life that I’ve always enjoyed is you get to see these students come in as ninth-graders, and it’s awesome to see the different paths they take in four years, as we prepare them for life after North Cobb. I love the diversity our student body has with their plans for post-North Cobb. We have kids who will go to Ivy League schools, SEC/ ACC schools, technical schools to learn a trade, service academies, the military, and many will go straight into the workforce. This diversity in the student body is another positive that our staff continues to support.

Principal Matthew Moody with Cobb firefighters/EMTs at a football game.

What accomplishment makes you proud?

Five years ago, our guiding coalition (teachers/ administrators/counselors group) decided on trying to improve our graduation rate, which tended to be in the mid- to high 80 percentile. This past year, the graduation rate was 92.6% for our four-year cohort and 98.6% for students who spend all four years on our campus. This was an incredible effort by our entire staff to challenge and support students as they worked toward meeting those graduation requirements. In 2019 and 2020, North Cobb, along with the city of Acworth, established a “sister city” relationship with Selma, Alabama, which offered several Warriors the opportunity to travel to Selma to study its historical influence, meet fellow high school students and support local residents with community service projects. This past year, North Cobb was recognized by the Positive Athletes organization as Georgia’s Most Positive High School. I think this goes directly to the positive relationships our coaches have with our athletes and their families.

What is most exciting about the future?

As many of our Acworth and Kennesaw residents know, North Cobb has been on this site since 1958, and many parts of the original campus still are in use today. With the passage of the ESPLOST VI (educational special-purpose local-option sales tax), we will have a major upgrade in the facility in the coming years, and I’m looking forward to being involved in this planning.

What are your goals?

As principal, my goal is to continue moving North Cobb forward in all areas. Our school mission/vision statement is Warrior Nation: Inspiring Excellence, and that’s what I want to see in all areas on our campus. I want to see excellence in the classroom, on the athletic fields, in fine arts performances and from our students out in the communities of Acworth and Kennesaw. We’ve also focused on developing even stronger relationships with our elementary and middle school feeders to foster Warrior pride for these future North Cobb Warriors.

Tell us about your family and hobbies.

I’m blessed to be married for almost 20 years to my wife, Gillian, who is a counselor, competition cheer coach and gymnastics coach at Harrison. We have three wonderful daughters we’re extremely proud of, Mary Mattalyn, 16, cheerleader; Hendley, 14, gymnast; and Clara Jack, 12, soccer player. We’ve got two chocolate Labradors, Molly and Finn, that keep our girls busy, and we love going to concerts and University of Georgia football games, wake surfing on Lake Allatoona, snow skiing out West and attending NorthStar Church in Kennesaw.

3 Spaces to Remodel Into a Home Gym

BY ELISABETH STUBBS

A gym is a convenient home feature that can save you time and money. In the long run, repurposing a space in your home for gym equipment can eliminate your family’s monthly gym membership(s). Not to mention, you can squeeze in a workout in the time it would take you to drive to and from a gym.

Here are three spaces to consider converting to transform your workouts:

1. Remodeled basements make great home gyms, offering lots of space and a quiet place to work out, so other family members are not disturbed.

2. A finished attic also can work as a gym setup. Just be sure the floors are adequately braced for heavier equipment and weights. Air quality is essential, too, so make sure there’s no exposed insulation and have an AC unit or a fan to keep the attic cool as you break a sweat.

3. Extra space in your two-car garage can make an excellent space for a home gym. The point is, almost every homeowner can find somewhere to perform their daily workout rituals, even if there’s not much room for large equipment.

Since your home gym setup may include heavy equipment and rigorous workouts, it’s essential to have durable flooring that can absorb shock and be easy to clean. Consider the type of exercise you typically do. If it’s a light-impact exercise like yoga, you don’t need the same flooring strength and resilience as more intense

exercises like weight training or jumping rope. Rubber and higher-end vinyl floors — glue-down or wood-plastic composite construction with a 20 mil (one mil is .001 inches) or higher wear layer — are good options for home gyms. Luxury vinyl plank floors look quite attractive and resemble hardwoods, giving a sleek gym studio vibe. Laminate flooring also is a good choice for a home gym due to its incredible durability and impressive commercial wear ratings. There are commercial gym flooring options, such as PuzzleTile rubber flooring by Centaur Floors. This versatile flooring is made of interlocking rubber tiles that can be installed on almost any type of existing flooring, and it doesn’t need adhesive to hold it down.

Once your flooring is installed, be sure to add some color and decor that inspires you. You might want to set up speakers and mount a television to the wall so you can stream music and your favorite movies or TV shows. A home gym also is a great place to showcase your family’s medals and trophies or memorabilia from your favorite sports teams. Whatever you choose to decorate your space, make sure it motivates you to get active!

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

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A Moment of Inspiration

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CATHY GREEN

The Art House’s new exhibit, “Inspired … A Moment in Time,” features artwork by more than 60 artists, including Acworth Arts Alliance member artists.

“This exhibit is subjective, as ‘a moment in time’ means something different to everyone,” alliance Executive Director Cathy Green said. “These images inspired the artists’ creativity. The sky is the limit with this subject.”

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will run through April 15. The Art House at 4425 Cherokee St. is open noon-6 p.m. TuesdaysSaturdays.

Assorted paintings: “Coffee at Karen’s” by Heidi Hunt, “Three Little Birds” by Mary Lou Bailey Funk, “Eastern Tiger Swallowtail” by Donna Outwater, “Happy Sunflowers” by Kimberly Purcell, stained glass by Pam Buecker.

“Eden” by Kara Welborn

“Summer Breeze” by Robin Ranallo “Nightwatch” by Nila Fordyce

“Designer Tiles No. 3” by Nancy Guerine

“An Angel for Blessings” by Baba’

“Tamaulipan Savanna” by Robert McDonald

STRONGER TOGETHER

Through Networking

Aroundabout Local Media continues its mission to help local businesses grow and prosper. This is what it looks like when entrepreneurs in the community meet to exchange ideas and information and develop relationships by supporting and encouraging one another, while opening doors to new opportunities.

The Acworth Business Association (ABA)

Meets the first Thursday for a luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Acworth Community Center; second and fourth Tuesday for Morning Jolt, 7:45-9 a.m., The Cowan Historic Mill; the second Thursday for Alive After 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., various locations; and fourth Thursday for Women’s Networking Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., various locations.

Other business associations in the Acworth area are invited to send photos from their monthly meetings to edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Please include the names of everyone in each photo, along with the date, time and location of your meetings.

Brothers Garrett, left, and Craig, right, attend the February luncheon with their dad, Tom Reidy.

Moderator Mike Linch, left, leads a panel discussion with Police Chief Jesse Evans, center, and retired Police Chief Wayne Dennard at the March luncheon.

Deborah Hill and Malinda Howe of Anchor Realty Partners enjoy the monthly luncheon in February.

From left, Shannon Stahl of KAMS Automotive Service Center, ABA President Kelly Nagel of Nagel’s Bagels and Madison Stahl of Creative Cowboy.

A Master Gardener Tradition

BY RENAE LEMON

With the arrival of spring, the University of Georgia Master Gardener Extension volunteers are ready to share their passion and knowledge about all things horticulture.

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC) is hosting its 23rd annual Plant Sale and Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21-22 at Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta. Entry and parking are free.

An added bonus: The event will be in the equestrian arena, protected from the weather, so if it is raining, no worries! Spend a few hours browsing, shopping and visiting with the expo vendors and Master Gardeners. Free face painting will be available for the kids, too!

Speaking of the expo, more than 75 vendors, including plant nurseries, crafters and artisans, will be participating in the event this year. You can visit our website (www.cobbmastergardeners.com)

to see a list of the vendors, who will be offering specialty plants, native azaleas, yard art, honey, outdoor furniture, jewelry, pottery, embroidered towels, compost, birdhouses, woodworking, baked goods, macrame candies, home decor, home care, hardscaping and much more. Hint: It is a good time to buy those Mother’s Day gifts.

The Master Gardener plant sale area will have lots of Georgia native plants, perennials, shrubs, small flowering trees and native azaleas. Organically grown tomatoes and herbs will be offered, as well. We are estimating that we will have more than 1,500 plants, grown by the Cobb Master Gardeners, to sell at the event. Since the plants are coming from local gardens, they are acclimated to the Georgia climate and growing conditions. Many of the selections are difficult to find in retail stores, and the prices are much more affordable. Whether you have full sun, partial sun, a sloped area or dense shade, we will have plants that will be perfect for you. Additionally, this will be the third year for the yard sale in the arena. It’s

like a thrift resale store for gardeners. MGVOCC members have donated gently used garden-related items, such as ceramic and clay pots, garden art, tools, garden books, cookbooks, chicken wire, architectural picket fences, fence posts, rain barrels and more. There also will be new, but deeply discounted, seed-starting supplies to help you with your summer vegetable or pollinator gardens. Do you have horticulture questions? There will be plenty of Cobb Master Gardeners on hand to answer your gardening questions. There even will be a booth specifically designated for asking a Master Gardener questions. And save the date! The 20th Annual MGVOCC Garden Tour is coming up May 20, and tickets will be on sale at the expo.

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County supports the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and strives 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.

All kinds of plants and gardening supplies will be available at the plant sale.

Vendors on hand at the sale and expo will offer trees, shrubs, flowers and a variety of other garden-related items to spruce up your yard or garden.

What to Know About Car Insurance

BY JOEL WILLIAMS

If you have an auto insurance policy, pull out the declarations page that lists what is covered, and you’ll see some or all of these common coverages:

Liability: Liability coverage protects you in case you cause a wreck and injure someone or damage their property. On your policy, you will see this broken down into bodily injury and property damage.

In Georgia, you are required to have 25/50/25 liability coverage. This means your insurance company would cover damages up to $25,000 per person and up to $50,000 per incident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Based on most cases I see, 100/300/100 liability coverage usually is sufficient. However, keep in mind that you could be personally responsible for damages beyond your policy limits.

Medical Payments: This covers your medical bills, regardless of whether the wreck was your fault. The limits we see on this type of coverage generally are much lower than your liability coverage, typically ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Some insurers offer higher amounts, which might be appropriate if you don’t have health insurance.

Umbrella Policy: This is a separate policy you can purchase, in addition to your primary one, to provide an additional layer of coverage for anything beyond the policy’s limits. Individuals with a high net worth or a significant amount of assets seriously should consider purchasing umbrella coverage.

Uninsured Motorist (UM): This protects you in a situation where the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough coverage to compensate you fairly for your damages.

I highly recommend having UM coverage to match your liability coverage, and make it “add-on,” as opposed to “reduced-by.” Add-on coverage means your UM coverage is added to the at-fault driver’s policy limits to cover your bodily injuries or property damage. For example, if you have add-on UM coverage of $100,000, and the at-fault driver has $25,000 minimum limits coverage, you will have $125,000 available to cover your damages. If you select reduced-by coverage, you will have only $75,000 available from your policy because your UM coverage would be reduced by what is available from the at-fault driver’s policy.

Saving Money: Avoid insurance brand loyalty. If you stick with the same company for decades, you’ll end up paying more for the same coverage you could get from another carrier. Get quotes for the same coverage from multiple carriers, and go with the lowest cost option .

Drowning Is a Deceptively Quiet Occurrence

BY GREG FONZENO

Ten years ago, former Coast Guard rescue swimmer Mario Vittone wrote an incredible and poignant article describing how too many drownings happen quietly and unnoticed. Since we are entering the spring and summer months, now is a good time to summarize and review some of Vittone’s most salient points about drowning.

If you spend time on or near the water, whether at Lake Allatoona, a swimming pool or somewhere else, then you should know what to look for when friends, family and children, in particular, fall into the water unexpectedly. Drowning is deceptively quiet. Although most of us imagine a drowning victim thrashing, waving, splashing and yelling in the water, it is rarely that way. Drowning is a silent event, unnoticed by people as close as 10 yards away. When someone is drowning, there is very little splashing and no waving, yelling or calling for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of accidental

death in children ages 15 and younger (just behind vehicle accidents). Of the roughly 750 children who will drown this year, nearly 50% of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In 10% of those drownings, the adult will be watching them and will have no idea it is happening. There are many reasons for people having a difficult time determining if someone is drowning. Next month, we will look at some of those reasons, as well as a number of observations that can indicate a person is in distress and needs help.

Joel Williams is a partner at Williams|Elleby, a Kennesawbased personal injury law firm. www.gatrialattorney.com.

Greg Fonzeno is the public education officer and commander of the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit (Flotilla 22) at Allatoona Lake.

What Goes Into a Retirement ‘Paycheck’?

SUBMITTED BY ROBERTO DE JESUS

During your working years, you generally know how much money you’re bringing in, so you can budget accordingly. However, with some diligence, you can put together a retirement “paycheck” to meet your income needs.

Where will this paycheck come from? Social Security benefits should replace about 40% of your pre-retirement earnings, according to the Social Security Administration, but this figure varies widely, based on an individual’s circumstances. Typically, the higher your income before you retire, the lower the percentage replaced by Social Security. But in any case, you might need to draw heavily on your investment portfolio to fill out your paycheck.

Your portfolio can provide income in these ways:

• Dividends. When you were working and didn’t have to depend on your portfolio for income, you might have reinvested your dividends from stocks and stock-based mutual funds, increasing the number of shares you own in these investments. And that was a good move because increased share ownership is a great way to help build wealth. But once you’re retired, you might need to start accepting the dividends to boost your cash flow.

• Interest payments. The payments from bonds and other fixed-income investments, such as certificates of deposit, also can add to your retirement income. In the years immediately preceding their retirement, some investors increase these interest-paying investments in their portfolio.

• Proceeds from selling investments. While you might need to begin selling investments once you’re retired, you’ll need to be careful not to liquidate your portfolio too quickly. It depends on several factors — your age, your portfolio size, the amount of other income you receive, your spouse’s income, your retirement lifestyle and so on. A financial professional can help you determine the appropriate amount and type of investment sales to meet your needs, while considering your portfolio needs over your lifetime.

When tapping into your investments as part of your retirement paycheck, you’ll also want to pay special attention to the amount of cash in your portfolio. It’s a good idea to have enough cash available to cover a year’s worth of living expenses. You also might want to set aside sufficient cash for emergencies. Not only will these cash cushions help you with the cost of living and unexpected expenses, but they also might enable you to avoid digging deeper into your long-term investments than you would like.

Consider a Broker for Your Mortgages

BY JAY WHITE

As a consumer, you have many options to choose from for a mortgage — your bank, credit unions and a plethora of retail lenders. However, many people do not know there also is a world of mortgage brokers out there who can facilitate the same loan that any lender offers.

Many people might ask why use a broker when they can just go to the bank themselves. Here is why:

1. Brokers have lower costs. They do not have the overhead that other lenders have; therefore, they get lower rates.

2. Brokers offer lower rates. They do not charge processing and junk fees.

3. Quicker service. Banks and lenders who wholesale want brokers’ business and their loans. Brokers are not “captured” agents; they have the freedom to use whomever they want, and if a lender does not give them the best service and fast turnaround times, they easily can go elsewhere.

4. Expanded guidelines. Brokers have access to all products in the market, not just what the bank or lender wants to offer. They can choose commercial, full construction and nonqualified mortgages, in addition to no overlays for conventional, Federal Housing Authority, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs loans.

Brokers have a distinct advantage these days that, frankly, they did not have seven or eight years ago. They are here to serve their clients in the best way possible by offering better pricing, lower costs, faster closings and more buying power.

Roberto De Jesus is a financial adviser for the Edward Jones branch on Cedarcrest Road in Acworth.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser. Edward Jones, member SIPC

Jay White, an independent mortgage broker, ranks in the top 1% in the nation in mortgage closings, according to Mortgage Executive magazine. He has 21 years of experience and is a multimillion-dollar producer.

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Around & About

APRIL

Acworth Farmers Market

April 7-Oct. 27, 8 a.m.-noon Fridays, Logan Farm Park, 4405 Cherokee St. Customers can choose from a wide variety of garden-ripe Georgiagrown vegetables, as well as local eggs, cheese, bedding plants, fresh-baked bread, pies, cakes, honey and jams each week. For information, email Jeff Chase at jchase@acworth.org.

Beeping Easter Egg Hunt

April 8, 9-11 a.m., Horizon Field, Acworth Sports Complex, 4000 S. Main St.

The Cobb County Police bomb squad will host its second annual event for visually impaired children only. This hunt is designed to allow children who can’t spot eggs in a typical hunt to track them down by a beeping sound. To register children for the event, visit https://bit.ly/3LfJD0C.

Community Recycling Event

April 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Jim R. Miller Park and Event Center, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta

Celebrate Earth Month at the Keep Cobb Beautiful event, which will accept electronics, provide on-site paper shredding and accept Hefty Energy Program items. For a list of acceptable and unacceptable items, visit https://bit.ly/3YUEn6E.

Acworth Art Fest

April 15-16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, downtown Acworth

More than 85 artisans from across the country will be offering paintings, pottery, folk art, jewelry, photography, yard art, metal sculpture and more. Acworth restaurants and other vendors will offer food; a Kidz Zone and live entertainment also will be featured. www.visitacworth.com or www.splashfestivals.com

Spring Town Hall

April 26, 6:30 p.m., Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee St.

The city of Acworth will have its biannual meeting. www.acworth.org

Adult Field Day

April 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Logan Farm Park

Hosted by the Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department, teams of four to six will compete in a variety of throwback challenges and games, such as relay races, obstacle courses, steinhold races, team flip cup and more. Red Top Brewhouse will sell food and drinks. The top three teams will win prizes. Register at www.acworthparksandrec.org.

Spring Downtown Classic Car Cruise

April 29, 3-8 p.m., Logan Farm Park

The free event is sponsored by the Lake City Cruisers, city of Acworth and downtown merchants. A $5 entry fee is requested for vehicles in the cruise. Proceeds go to Horizon Field, an allinclusive special-needs sports facility. Contact Mary Beth Gibbs at mbgibbs@ acworth.org or 770-917-1234.

2023 Fun in the Park Photo Contest

Through Nov. 2

Capture the fun, memories and beauty of Cobb County’s parks with your camera and enter your best shots in the following categories: Nature and Wildlife, Sports and Action, and General (anything else that shows fun in the park). Visit https://bit.ly/2RJJebn for rules and entry information.

Spring Classic Car Cruise. Photo by Beth Fornuto.

MAY

Acworth Dragon Boat Festival

May 6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Dallas Landing Park, 5120 Allatoona Gateway, Acworth

The festival, which will support Loving Arms Cancer Outreach, will feature corporate and community teams racing in 46-foot-long ornamental dragon boats, cultural activities, food and fun for spectators and participants of all ages. www.acworthdragonboatfest.com

Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival

May 12-13, 5-10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.4 p.m. Saturday, Logan Farm Park

The North Cobb Rotary Club, city of Acworth and the Georgia Barbecue Association will present the 13th annual festival. This two-day event features a Friday night concert under the stars and a Saturday barbecue competition, with teams from across the Southeast competing in professional and amateur divisions. For a small fee, spectators can sample some of the best barbecue in this region. Proceeds go to local charities. www.smokeonthelake.org

Memorial Day Ceremony

May 27, 10-11 a.m., Cauble Park at Patriots Point, Acworth

The city of Acworth will honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. Engraved pavers dedicated to those who have served in the armed forces — and which have been purchased since Veterans Day — will be presented at the event. www.acworthparksandrec.org

JUNE

City Council Cleanup Challenge

June 10, 8:30-11:30 a.m.

The Acworth Public Safety Cadets — Unit 4440 is inviting Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, church groups, school clubs, business owners and city residents to participate in the quarterly challenge to help keep the city clean. For information, email Cpl. Eric Mistretta at emistretta@acworth.org.

Concert on the Green: A Juneteenth Celebration

June 17, 5-10 p.m., Logan Farm Park

Live music will be played 7-9 p.m. Food will be available for purchase. https://bit.ly/3YHXvUy

Acworth Business Association

ABA Luncheons

April 6 and May 4, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee St.

Morning Jolt

April 11 and 25, 7:45-9 a.m., The Cowan Historic Mill, 4271 Southside Drive

Alive After 5

April 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Fish Thyme, 3979 S. Main St., Suite 5657, Acworth

Women’s Networking Lunch

April 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Main Street Events by 1885, 4975 N. Main St., Acworth

School Productions

“Steel Magnolias”

April 12-15, 7 p.m., Allatoona High School theater. There’s also a 2 p.m. matinee April 15. Tickets: $10 at the door or at www.allatoonadrama.org.

“Shrek Jr.”

April 13-15, 7 p.m., Kennesaw Mountain High School. Tickets: $10 adults, $5 students.

Spring Musical

April 27-29, 7 p.m., North Cobb High School. There’s also a 2 p.m. matinee April 29. Tickets: TBD.

Art House Happenings

www.acworthartsalliance.org

“Inspired … A Moment in Time” Exhibit

Through April 15

“Summer Daze in Acworth” Exhibit

Submission deadline: 11:59 p.m. April 15. The theme is “Acworth” and “Local.”

“High School Student Exhibit”

April 22-May 13

A reception will be held 3-5 p.m. April 22.

Live at Logan Farm Park

April 22, 5:30 p.m.

The Acworth Art Alliance’s annual fundraiser will feature Ollie Patterson and the Weekend Getaway Band taking the stage at 7 p.m. A picnic on the lawn will be provided by 1885 Grill. Proceeds will help fund the Art House and scholarships for local young people who are pursuing fine arts degrees. Sponsor tables are available at the Art House or at acworthartsalliance.org/events. The concert is free and open to the public.

Ongoing

Register for spring classes and workshops offered by the Acworth Arts Alliance. Classes and workshops for kids and adults take place at the Art House in downtown Acworth. acworthartsalliance.org/classes

Cobb Photographic Society

Congratulations to everyone who entered the Cobb Photographic Society competition. The topic for February was “Texture,” and the guest judge was photographer Eric Bowles. The Cobb Photographic Society is a club open to photographers of all skill levels. It meets the first and third Monday of each month. For information, visit www.cobbphotosociety.com.

Color

Jeffrey Whittingham - First Place (Ceiling Lights)

Monochrome

Novice

Anand Saokar - First Place (Ready for Harvest Festival)

Angie Nasarallah - First Place (Sweet Gum)

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