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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Contents
32 & 33 On the Cover The Arbor at BridgeMill
May 2019
16
28
In Every Issue
Features 16 Mother Knows Best!
ALM friends and family share words of wisdom from their moms. Roving Reporter Teddy the Spaz Man, with camera and pen in paw, covers Woodstock’s first Friday Night Live event.
The combination of a fun-loving personality and hard work make this swimmer a gold medal athlete.
48 Turn Around Kids
26
Don Akridge
8 Community News
35
Bill Bingham
36
Nathan Brandon
27
Christopher Brazelton
20
Stacy Brown
38
Cherokee Women’s
22 Downtown Events 42 Rob’s Rescues 44 Everyday Angels
34 A Special Olympian
50 Community Calendar 52 Library Events 54 School News
Local ministry has plans for expansion that will provide more children with a loving home.
58 Downtown Woodstock Dining Guide 61 Recent Home Sales 62 Directory of Advertisers
Advertising Patty Ponder, ALM President 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com www.aroundwoodstockmagazine.com @AroundWoodstockMagazine
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Contributors
4 Around Woodstock
14 Celebrations
28 Fido Fest
48
@around_woodstock
@AroundWoodstock
Health Specialists 34
Leigh Cutrone
24
Carey Hood
53
Barbara P. Jacoby
38
Harry Johnston
40
Ann Litrel
23
Premier Group
18
Merry Quarles
48
Susan Schulz
37
Robert Tidwell
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Mother’s Day Specials for Everyone to Enjoy! • Get Hydrated with our NEW Oxygen Facial- starting at $125 with Free Oxygen Bar • Vanquish ME Package $1000 • 4 Free Lipo B shots with purchase of 1 month HCG Package • Hormone Replacement Therapy as low as $99/ month • Free Oxygen Bar with Purchase of any IV Hydration Therapy • Free Nespresso Machine with purchase of any 2 Syringes of Filler (limited supply) • BOGO Chiropractic Adjustments • Free Mini Trigger Massage with purchase of Trigger Point Injection
Gift Certificates Available!
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
3
AROUND WOODSTOCK The
People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Woodstock
Letter From the Editor
The print product is far superior to any other ways of communicating. I say this at the risk of offending social media fans, but it’s my truth. The glory years of a booming Atlanta Journal-Constitution in the 1980s and ’90s certainly provided for our family a satisfying way to make a living, and a dependable salary on which we raised our three children. I was drawn to journalism, as were many others my age, in the 1970s, when being a reporter was a glamorous job. However, I decided reporting wasn’t for me, and focused on graphic design and copy editing. I was a page designer for the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times and Evening Independent when the company was leading the industry, winning awards in newspaper design. A glamorous job in its own right. There’s something so satisfying in holding the printed product, whether it’s a newspaper or magazine. It’s the best ... until you wish you could edit something that is already in print. This, coming from a person who edits her Facebook posts many times before walking away from the computer. Things changed not long after the April issues came out, with my Letter from the Editor extolling the virtues of downsizing, and being able to vacuum the entire house from one electrical outlet. It isn’t official, but, if everything goes as planned, my husband and I will be leaving our one-outlet-vacuumable ranch home for a two-story house in downtown Woodstock. We should be starting our summer with a new, more active lifestyle, as residents of an established neighborhood in Woodstock that is a short walk from the shops, restaurants and other amenities available downtown. Notice I didn’t say it’s definite? I realize things could go south, and our plans could be derailed. In fact, in many ways, I’m stretching beyond my comfort zone — facing my fears — by writing this, knowing I could be setting myself up for another correction in June. So, stay tuned. Once the boxes are unpacked, I’ll give an update! One downside of the move will be that it puts me a little farther away from my Mom, who is a happy resident of a personal care home in Canton. It’s been a long journey, finding the perfect place for my 95-year-old mother, but worth every step to see how content she is now. We’re celebrating our moms in this issue - turn to Pages 20-21 to benefit from their wisdom. Happy Mother’s Day!
Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Around Woodstock. She has lived in Cherokee County since 1987. Send your comments or questions to Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
What’s New
Woodstock Parks and Recreation will offer free workouts at 8 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, beginning in May, at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. The monthly program is an expansion of a successful quarterly trial. “What started out as a fun, free offering for folks looking to get fit has really grown,” said Amphitheater Operations Manager Jamey Snyder. “We decided to offer AMPED in the Park monthly as a way to answer a need. Woodstock wants to be healthy and we want to help.” Each month, Woodstock Parks and Recreation will partner with a different Woodstock-based fitness organization to bring varied workouts to the program. On Sept. 7, AMPED will feature a fitness, health and wellness fair with demos and vendors from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info, contact Snyder at jsnyder@woodstockga.gov.
What’s Changed
Amber Klippel has changed the name of her yoga studio from SPARC to Amber Celeste Yoga & Bodywork. The studio is at 8592 Main St., Woodstock, and offers deep tissue and stretch packages, and private and small group sessions. 770-365-5106. Woodstock Parks and Recreation Department Director
Preston Pooser has accepted a job as parks and
recreation director in Deerfield Beach, Florida, a move that takes him closer to his family. His last day on the Woodstock staff was April 12.
What’s Coming
The new three-story Johnston building being constructed at the corner of Main and Mill streets will be home to three restaurants: the familystyle Main & Mill Public on the first level, and an adult-oriented tapas bar upstairs called Lucky Cat, with live music, DJs and games. Plans haven’t been announced for the basement level. The building is designed by Place Maker Design, which did MadLife and Century House Tavern, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 1, with restaurants opening in the fall and winter. Sixes resident and chef Justin Balmes is owner of the restaurant concepts in this space.
From left: David Potts; Myriee’ Graham, Belcher Construction; Colin Ake; Scott Belcher, Belcher Construction; Donnie Henriques; Smith Johnston, property owner; Chef Justin Balmes; Mike Pennington, Path & Post; Tim Vaccaro, Place Maker Design; Stanley Johnston; Brian Stockton; Mary and Bill Johnston. Photo by Stacy Brown.
Kudos!
Half the Way Home cat rescue recently received a $20,000 grant
from the Petco Foundation. The rescue group was featured in Rob’s Rescues’ article in the March issue.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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COMMUNITY BOARD The Around Woodstock Community Board consists of community leaders from different walks of life. Our board assists us in many ways that include serving as contributing writers and providing valuable feedback.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Cousin, Sr., was appointed pastor of Allen Temple AME Church in June 2017. His degrees include a bachelor of arts in political science from Hampton University, master of divinity degree from the Boston University School of Theology, and a doctoral degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the field of marriage and family therapy. Donnie Henriques has been mayor of Woodstock
since 2006: he served on city council beginning with the creation of Ward 6 in 1999. Donnie and his wife, Dr. Jan Henriques, have three children and three grandchildren.
Kris McKeeth is team leader and
visionary for The Premier Group Keller Williams Realty on Main Street in Woodstock, and has more than 25 years experience in real estate. She’s active in many community efforts that include her position on the Business Board of downtown Woodstock and as president of Etowah Foundation.
Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com Managing Editor Jackie Loudin 770-615-3318 Jackie@AroundaboutMagazines.com Art Director Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 Michelle@AroundaboutMagazines.com Director of Marketing Katherine Amick 678-279-5502 Katherine@AroundaboutMagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundaboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 Denise@AroundaboutMagazines.com Market Support Associate Christie Deese Christie@AroundaboutMagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers
Ross Wiseman started Momentum Church in 2005 and
still serves as lead pastor. The father of five draws from his experiences in 26 years of ministry and 24 years of marriage to challenge, inspire and instruct people in what it takes for better living, loving and laughter.
Renee Gable, a sales and marketing executive for Window Expert Tinting, has been Woodstock’s Planning and Zoning Commissioner since 2015 and volunteers for many committees that work to improve downtown Woodstock. She is an avid cyclist who aligned herself with Greenprints Alliance because of her desire to help create safe trail riding experiences. Dan Thrailkill and his family love living in the “city unexpected.” He serves on several civic and private local boards and is active in YPOW. In 2016, Dan co-founded Front Porch Advisers, LLC which focuses on community relations and business development strategies for Georgia-based companies. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1988, Dan believes no one should be a victim of their disease, so you’ll likely see him at the gym.
Around Woodstock, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in Woodstock and surrounding area by providing residents with positive stories and timely information. It distributes a total of 16,500 free copies. Approximately 15,500 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 1,000 are placed in racks around the community. See page 64 for a distribution map. Around Woodstock also has many digital viewers of the magazine online each month. Around Woodstock welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of the previous month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/publisher and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Woodstock is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2019
Around Woodstock 1025 Rose Creek Drive, PMB 380, Suite 620, Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising: Patty Ponder, 770-615-3322 Website: www.AroundWoodstockMagazine.com Volume 6, Issue 7
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America’s Community Magazine AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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CALL TODAY! 770-479-4639 AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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YOUR LOCAL NEWS
Community Orchard Planted at Dupree Park Woodstock city employees planted fig, serviceberry and plum trees at Dupree Park, creating a community orchard made possible by a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Atlanta Local Food Initiative (ALFI). ALFI’s Robby Astrove helped Woodstock Parks and Recreation, and Woodstock Planning, determine that Dupree Park was the most suitable location. Some of the trees are near the fitness trail, while others are near the fallen K-9 memorial and the duck pond. The idea is for the fruits to be readily accessible to people who are enjoying the park. The trees should bear fruit in four to five years. City officials are looking at options for signage to recognize the grant and identify the trees.
Award winners Stacy Brown and Kyle Bennett with Woodstock Economic Development Director Brian Stockton and Georgia Deputy Commissioner for Tourism Kevin Langston.
Woodstock Visitors Center, Staff Win State Awards The Woodstock Visitors Center has been named the Regional Visitor Information Center of the Year, chosen from Georgia’s 64 centers, and the mobile visitors center was given the Jeffery Tatum Visionary Award. Tourism Manager Kyle Bennett and Marketing Manager Stacy Brown accepted the award at the annual Regional Visitors Center Information Center (RVIC) conference, presented by the Georgia Tourism Division. The honor, awarded by Georgia’s Tourism Division, recognizes forward-thinking tourism leaders and/or destinations that have followed their vision for tourism within their community. This award has been created to identify tourism leaders and/or destinations with a vision and commitment to making our state a remarkable tourism destination. “Kyle and Stacy put a tireless amount of effort into programs and events that aim to make Woodstock Georgia’s best downtown destination. You can see the leadership they exhibit here locally on a daily basis, but the regional recognition they receive by their peers, when they are on the road, is even more impressive,” Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques said in the award application. 8
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Above, an overhead view shows tree placement: Blue denotes plum trees, yellow for serviceberry and white for fig. Top right, Robby Astrove gives tree-planting pointers to city employees.
Honoring Girl Scouts Girl Scouts from the Riverwood and Dandelion Service Units attended a recent Woodstock City Council meeting for a meet-and-greet with the mayor and council members. Scouts in attendance also led the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard a Girl Scout proclamation read by Mayor Donnie Henriques. Troops 14601 and 14654 members are, back row from left: Luzaan Snyder, Madison Kimes and Cali Unsworth. Front row: Mia Bustelo, Kyleigh Acree, Haley Adams and Stella Bustelo.
Expert Surgical Care for the Cherokee Community
Northside Cherokee Surgical Associates is a full-service practice specializing in general surgery. Our board-certified physician, Dr. Grant Wolfe, uses the latest minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic techniques to treat the full spectrum of abdominal, thyroid, and soft tissue disorders. Grant Wolfe, M.D.
Treatments offered for: • Hernias
• Skin and soft tissue lesions
• Gallstones and gallbladder problems
• Thyroid and parathyroid disease
• Breast masses and cancer
• Diverticulitis and colon cancer
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernias
• Stomach, adrenal gland, pancreas and spleen disorders
(770) 924-9656 • ncsurgicalassociates.com 900 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 412, Woodstock, GA 30189 AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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YOUR LOCAL NEWS
Front row, from left: Bekah Seng, Cherokee; Ethan Lasenyik, Woodstock; Aarya Kothari, River Ridge; Will Dowd, Creekview; Grayson Richards, Creekview; and Emma Parker, Creekview. Middle row, from left: Chair Jessica Helms, R & D Mechanical Services; Kayli Jones, Woodstock; Jack Cody, Creekview; Brinn Dameron, Creekview; Emily Baldwin, Creekview; Will Jones, Creekview; Gabby Christian, Creekview; Abbi Gallagher, Creekview; and Vice-Chair Will Goodwin, Oak Leaf Church. Back row, from left: Ethan Nichols, The King’s Academy; Ivan Shi, Creekview; Aliyah Salame, Etowah; Josh Vickers, Cherokee; Faith Burns, Cherokee; Analise Black, Etowah; and Tori Pitts, Creekview.
Chamber’s Teen Leadership Class Graduates Twenty high school sophomores recently completed the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce 18th annual Teen Leadership Cherokee class. Over the past three months, class members attended an orientation with their parents, a retreat, and several class sessions planned by local business leaders, all of whom are graduates of the chamber’s adult Leadership Cherokee program. The classes addressed topics such as community involvement, economic and educational responsibility, personal development and team building. The class participated in an ongoing project designed to challenge the students with real-life scenarios that would instill invaluable skills and introduce them to tools in the community that could assist them in many circumstances. www.CherokeeChamber.com.
Community Prostate Cancer Screening The Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is offering a community screening for men, at no cost, to determine their risk for developing prostate cancer. Times are 5:30-8 p.m. May 16 at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology — Cherokee, 460 Northside Cherokee Blvd., Suite T10, Canton. Northside offers prostate cancer screenings (PSA blood tests) throughout the year at multiple locations. To be eligible, men must be between ages 45 and 75, and must not have a PSA blood test within the past year or a previous prostate cancer diagnosis. Qualified interpreters will be available free of charge, with advanced requests. Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Men who have a father, brother or son who has had prostate cancer, and men of African descent, may have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Pre-registration is required. Call 404-531-4444 to make an appointment or get more information. www.northside.com.
Jail Expansion to Be Complete in 2020 The Cherokee County Jail is getting an extra 580 beds with a 110,000-square-foot expansion that should be complete in 2020. The facility currently has 612 beds. The $40-million expansion also will include new special needs housing, an expanded kitchen and laundry capacity, according to Jay Baker, director of communications for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Other improvements will focus on the main lobby, as well as the existing security and video visitation systems. Studio 8 Design Architecture designed the newest addition, and Ajax Building Corp. is doing the construction/building. The six-story tower will be located on a former impound City and county leaders joined sheriff's department representatives for the March parking lot behind the current facility. groundbreaking ceremony. 10
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
DON’T LET INJURY KEEP HER FROM HER GOALS WHERE YOU TAKE THEM MATTERS
©2019 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Inc. All rights reserved. Sports Medicine Physical Therapy is a department of Children’s at Scottish Rite hospital.
When Alison Cappas tore her ACL and MCL her freshman year in high school, she knew the road to recovery would be tough. But, through hard work and the help of the dedicated surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers at Children’s, she’s returned to doing what she loves. Score one for Alison. Assist to Children’s.
Alison Cappas, Left ACL Tear
Children’s at Cherokee | 1554 Riverstone Parkway, STE 160, Canton Children’s at Town Center Outpatient Care Center | 605 Big Shanty Road NW, Kennesaw
choa.org/alison 11
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
YOUR LOCAL NEWS Woodstock Police Enjoy New Rides
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan presents a 2019 Outstanding Women in Leadership award to Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace. Also pictured are Senators Renee Unterman, left, and Freddie Powell Sims, right.
Cherokee County D.A. Receives Honor Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace recently received a 2019 Outstanding Women in Leadership award. Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan honored 25 outstanding women leaders, including Wallace, during a presentation that celebrated Women’s History Month. “I am honored to be recognized as an outstanding woman leader,” Wallace said. “I am proud to represent Cherokee County among a group of highly accomplished leaders from across our state. While this award honors me, I believe it truly represents all of the great work we accomplish in the district attorney’s office.”
UGA representative Sam Pardue congratulates Lauren and Cody Bolden for their best confections award.
Sweet Honor for Woodstock Couple Lauren and Cody Bolden, owners of Woodstock’s Pie Bar and Pie Provisions, won the prize for the best confection from the University of Georgia’s 2019 Flavor of Georgia food product contest. The annual contest, conducted by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, is a chance for food businesses to showcase their new products. A team of food industry experts and grocery buyers chose Pie Provisions’ Georgia blueberry pie filling as the best confectionary product in the contest. The berry filling was one of three confection products chosen to compete as finalists from a list of more than 130 entries. 12
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
The Woodstock Police Department has added two Can-Am Police F3 Spyders to its fleet in order to focus on traffic safety. After exhaustive research into various motorcycle options, the department decided to purchase the Spyders, based upon numerous criteria, with officer safety at the top of the list. The Can-Am Spyders give officers the stability of a 3-wheeled riding platform, so they can navigate Woodstock roads while carrying more The new Spyder Police F3. equipment. The inaugural ride was completed April 3, as the new Can-Am Spyders met with the Road Warrior Foundation in North Georgia as they made their way through the state on the foundation’s ride with four wounded veterans. This marks the Woodstock Police Department’s second time participating with the foundation in support of our nation’s wounded veterans. For more information on the Road Warrior Foundation, visit www.roadwarrior.org.
Inaugural Film Fest an International Event The Historic Canton Theatre will host a four-day film festival May 2326, featuring submitted works from around the world. Of the 73 films received to date, 29 are from other countries, with five from India. The inaugural event is a collaborative effort of co-founders Brent LambertZaffino and Laine Kirby Wood. The festival offers the opportunity to showcase the beautiful and historic theater, to bring high quality and cultural entertainment to Canton, and to raise awareness of Canton as a potential filming location to attending filmmakers. The opening night of the festival will showcase local and national student films made by high school and college students. The genres/ categories chosen to screen are: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary, Environmental Documentary and Student Short Films. The co-founders have chosen the Upper Etowah River Alliance (www.EtowahRiver.org) as the beneficiary of a special donation to further important work protecting the Etowah River. The alliance’s mission is to educate and conserve the beauty and health of the Etowah River, from the headwaters to the Cartersville Dam. Coincidentally, many of the environmental documentary films the festival received are highlight water quality issues. Each year, a nonprofit will be chosen and a genre will support the theme. Special presentations at the festival include “Peggy,” which follows a housewife who seems perfect until a birthday party tests her social graces, and “Mercy’s Kennel,” a full-length documentary, filmed over an eight-year period, about Atlanta’s problem of gangs, backyard breeding of pit bulls, dog fighting and the animal rescue efforts to stop the cycle. Tickets are $70 for all-access passes or $15 for day passes. Student Film Night tickets are $5. To purchase tickets, sign up to volunteer, or for more information, visit www.EtowahFilmFestival.com.
Pain of the or Knee? A CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY is currently evaluating an investigational drug for the treatment of moderate to severe osteoarthritis knee or hip pain. • Are you 18 years of age or older? • Have you been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in your knee or hip? • Are you experiencing moderate to severe knee or hip pain? • Are you intolerant to your current OA pain treatment? • Is your current treatment not providing adequate pain relief? If you answered yes to these questions, you may be eligible to participate in this study.
Call Us Today to Learn More. (678) 581-5252 Drug Studies America 400 Tower Road * Suite 150 * Marietta across from Kennestone Wellstar Hospital www.drugstudies.net AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Celebrations! Kayla
May 31 Happy birthday! Mommy, Dennis, Madison and Stinky Boy love you very much!
Erika and Andy
Happy fifth anniversary to my beautiful wife, Erika. Love, Andy.
Happy birthday, T! Love, Grandma and Grandpa.
Parker
May 8 Happy fifth birthday, and good luck in kindergarten this fall! Love, Mommy, Daddy and Grace.
Jackie and Wendell Dominey
Celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on May 4 with a trip to Biloxi.
Suzette and Rodney
Rodney, not only are you my soulmate, but you are my best friend. God has blessed me much more than I ever deserved. I look forward to our adventurous future together and marrying you on May 3! You have my LOVE and LOYALTY always, Suzette.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Hudson
Happy second birthday Huddy Buddy! Love, Mama and Dada
Bodhi
Happy second birthday! You continue to keep us on our toes. We love you so very much! Love, Mommy, Daddy, Rylee and Elijah.
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! E-mail to: Jackie@AroundaboutMagazines.com June deadline is May 10. Please specify Around Woodstock.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Mother Knows Best!
“Because I said so!” These are words we’ve all heard from our moms, at one time or another. It probably was valuable guidance in that moment, even though it wasn’t the nugget of wisdom we expected to hear. This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate the exceptional wisdom moms bring to our lives. Here are some sage words of motherly advice, shared by friends of Aroundabout Local Media.
Dan Thrailkill
Woodstock community board member “I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on Jan. 13, 1988, and my mother taught me more by acting than by speaking. Even before I was diagnosed, we rarely ate out. This was mainly because we did not have a lot of money, but also because my mom enjoyed cooking for our family. As I became an adult, I learned the importance of making most of my own food and seeing its impact on my health. Now that I have a family of my own, I appreciate the time we spend around the dinner table, eating healthy food that also was made with love because of Mom.”
Bettie Jolly Sleeth
TowneLaker community board member “Mind Your Manners were words I often heard from my mother, Lorena Butler. Perhaps it meant not being so unruly as those boys that I grew up with, my brother and several male cousins. But I always thought it was more than just etiquette, because of my grandmother, Betty Cox. ‘Miz Betty’ always preached respect, and don’t ‘disrespect’ others, especially teachers. Education was very important to my grandmother, since it was not valued when she was a girl growing up in rural South Alabama. Today, I sometimes still hear those words from my mother and grandmother. Being courteous, minding my manners and respect seem very important in today’s society. It is just a simple way to better understand other people.”
Beth Fornuto Photographer “Recently, my 88-year-old mother said not to overlook the blessing of suffering in your marriage and/or family — whether it be financial, spiritual or physical. It is in these times when you become the closest and discover what truly matters in life. My mother has been a widow for over 30 years. Cancer rocked our world when I was just in high school. She said, looking back, she would not wish to change a thing and that the six months of my father's fight to live was the strongest their marriage had ever been. He had also found eternal salvation during that time. She also said to never stop praying for your children. They may have seasons of rebellion and bad decisions, but they will eventually come around, Beth with her mom, Geraldine Kotecki. so just keep praying.”
Jeff Moon
Woodstock city manager “I think the best advice my mom ever gave me was: ‘Always be nice to people you pass as you move up the ladder of success, because you could see them all on the way back down.’”
Ann Litrel
Woodstock artist “When I turned 50, I gave my mom the Big Opportunity we all wish we had with our kids: I asked for her advice. “Okay Mom, what’s your ‘life advice’ for turning 50?” This is what she said: No. 1: ‘Lose those 20 pounds.’ If I’d known how much better I would feel after losing weight, I would have done it 20 years ago! No. 2: ‘Your 50s is your decade for doing the work you really want to do. If you’re a woman and you’ve been busy raising kids, this is your chance.’”
Jim Imbriale Attorney “My mom, Florence Imbriale, always said, ‘Remember to always clean behind your ears!’ This is us before my wedding 12 years ago. She passed three years ago and I sure do really miss her and her wisdom!’” Florence checks behind Jim’s ears on his wedding day.
Tim Cavender Bettie, with her mom Lorena Butler, on her wedding day. 16
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Director of public affairs, Cherokee County Fire Department “The best piece of advice that I ever got from my mother was to love unconditionally. My mom loved people, her family and her friends. She always greeted them with a hug and a smile. What a wonderful attribute to have in a mom!”
Laura Mikszan Fitness/Health Coach
Jay and mom Ginnie Baker
Jay Baker
Director of communications Cherokee Sheriff’s Office
“Keep an open mind and a sense of humor ... utilize both to compassionately serve others. Always use good grammar, and NEVER end a sentence with a preposition!” Laura’s mother, Elizabeth “Betsy” Baker, passed away on Jan. 27. Betsy with daughter Laura and granddaughters Carleigh and Shannon.
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Pam Wood Carnes
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce president and CEO “My mother, Dianne Wood, taught me from a very young age to be mindful of what you do and say, as there is always someone around that knows you or your family. Yes, I did grow up in a small town, yet I find, no matter how large the world around us becomes, there is always someone hearing our words and eyeing our actions. Just last Christmas, my mother gave me a framed message stating, ‘There are always three choices in life: Give Up, Give In, Or Give It All You’ve Got.’ My mother has always given it all she’s got, and I’m proud to have been a part of her journey.”
Cheryl McKay Price Screenwriter “The best piece of advice my mother gave me was to follow God's will for my life. Even when that meant leaving her and Dad behind in North Carolina as I moved to Los Angeles to pursue writing. She stood firm in her support of my God-given dreams. She's always been my biggest cheerleader in my pursuit of writing faith-based movies. Naturally, she's very thankful we moved to Woodstock and are no longer 3,000 miles away.”
Stacy Brown
Marketing manager, city of Woodstock “My mom has always encouraged me to cherish my relationships. She tells me to enjoy my sons and be grateful for time with them. She does the same thing about my dad, and did the same with my grandparents. It says a lot about what she values. I think that's so wise, because what's more valuable than the people in our lives?!” Stacy and her mom, Elaine Simpson, circa February 1978, at Stacy’s first birthday party.
Sonny Sellers Pam with her mom, Dianne Wood
Elisabeth Stubbs
Local business owner “My mother was a voracious reader. This philosophy, from a famous book she loved and introduced me to, has served me well in life: ‘Oh, I can't think about this now! I'll go crazy if I do! I'll think about it tomorrow. After all ... tomorrow is another day!’” Elisabeth with mom, Margaret Melton.
Pastor of Bascomb United Methodist Church “Best advice from my mom: ‘Don't do something just because everybody else is doing it.’”
Donnie Henriques Woodstock mayor
“My mom always told me that if you arrive for an appointment on time, you were late. Something that has stuck with me to this day.”
Claire Frost
Contributing writer “When I was a brand new mom, and staying home with my daughter, I couldn't understand how anyone ever was able to do this. My mom said, ‘You just need practice. You'll see. All of a sudden, it will be like you grew two new arms.’ As per usual, she was 100% right and, to this day, that's one of my favorite pieces of advice/comfort to offer to new moms … because it's true. No one was born a mother. You learn. You adapt. Your instincts take over and you're doing it.” Claire and her mom Vickie Mabry at Easter in the 1980s. AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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A Stepmom's Guide to Mother's Day being your stepkids’ mom. This is the line that never can be crossed. They already have a mom, and blurring that line can cause confusion and conflict. I know one blended family that celebrates Bonus Day in between Mother’s and Father’s days. They spend the day at a water park, have a picnic, and no friends are invited. It’s a day for just them. It is important for you and your new family to create your own traditions, without stepping on ones they created before you came along.
BY MERRY QUARLES
Stepparenting is one of the most challenging things an adult can take on, and, according to recent statistics, one in three Americans is part of a stepfamily. But, when I became a stepmother almost nine years ago, I could find very few people who wanted to talk to me about my new role, and even fewer publications and resources. As a result, most of us use the old “trial and error” approach. Every once in a while I get it right, but I’m Create your own definitely still learning. One Stepmom Day with others Merry and Michael Quarles on their wedding day on Nov. 20, 2010. thing I know for sure: While who share that special title. being a stepmom can be tricky on a normal day, it’s much I have a lot of friends who aren’t stepmoms. But, I have harder on Mother’s Day. learned that it is vital to have people around who also are on Let’s face it, even if you are crushing the stepmom this journey. I need these women to share my stories with, game, and you’ve never made a mistake (I don’t know any to ask advice from, and to encourage me. I have one friend stepmoms like this, but let’s assume they exist), you do this in particular with whom I meet for coffee weekly. So, grab job knowing you will always come in second place. And that’s your special stepmom tribe and go do a paint night or see the way it should be. a movie. If Leslie Knope can create Galentine’s Day, there is Since I have two sons of my own, I’ve always understood nothing stopping you from going to brunch with your favorite that part. I don’t expect or even want my stepsons to stepmoms. And, if you don’t already have at least two celebrate me on Mother’s Day, but it’s perfectly OK to stepmom friends, find them. celebrate the sacrifices and love you pour into children you Treat yourself! Speaking of “Parks and Recreation,” haven’t raised from birth. I choose to follow the advice of Donna and Tom whenever I’m feeling down. Now, your idea of treating Here are some tricks I’ve learned from my stepmom tribe yourself and mine are probably different. Mine actually over the years, to keep this day from becoming one of changes, depending on the situation. But, whether your heartbreak. idea of self-care involves a spa day, a hike in the woods or Talk to your spouse. This may seem like simple advice, exploring a bookstore for the afternoon, this is important but if you’ve ever been a stepparent, you know that for any stepmom. Most of us are so busy navigating the kids, bringing up your spouse’s children is the trickiest of all and their diverging schedules, that we rarely have time to conversations. Most of us say we’re fine, even when we be alone in the bathroom, much less an entire afternoon to aren’t, because we worry we’ll say the wrong thing. Keep the dedicate to something we love. This is the perfect day for you conversation focused on you, and not the children. It’s OK to to celebrate how well you are doing! say, “Sometimes, I feel hurt that …” My husband is great at getting me special cards that celebrate my contribution to his Stepparenting is tough, and watching your hard work be children’s lives. They don’t say “Happy Mother’s Day,” but, ignored can seem like the ultimate slight. But, you have to rather, thank me for being a part of the story. remember that you can write the next chapter of this story.
3.
4.
1.
2.
Plan an event, outing or special meal with your stepchildren on another day. Blended families are used to shifting dates. If you can celebrate Christmas on the 27th, you can celebrate being a stepmom any day you want, but you need to be very clear that you are not celebrating
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You can, and should, make the choice to celebrate being a blended family any day you want. The key is to remember that you married someone who truly loves and trusts you enough to allow you to co-parent the most important people in his life. That’s a celebration every day.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Woodstock Is for Mothers BY STACY BROWN
My two sons and I love our life here. When my boys, now ages 9 and 11, were babies, we lived in unincorporated Cherokee County, with a Woodstock address near Mountain Park. Then, we lived for a couple of years right in the middle of the city off Trickum Road. Now, we’re in downtown Woodstock, and it’s hard to imagine a place where we would be happier. No matter if you’re on a country road, in a suburban neighborhood, or in a downtown apartment, this community is made for parenting well. One of my goals as a mother is to create a balanced life for my boys, and teach them to find their own balance. Team sports take up a lot of their time and, like a lot of young boys, if left to their own devices, they’d play video games all day every day. Living in Woodstock makes it easy to find a balance, thanks to connections made at family-friendly events, escaping through the abundant access to the outdoors, and inspiration from the vibrant arts community. The list of can’t-miss events goes on and on: Friday Night Live, Summer Concert Series, WDSTK Roots, the July 4th Spectacular, the Discover Woodstock Scavenger Hunt, Woodstock Fire Department open house, WDSTK Roots music nights, Movies in the Park, Police National Night Out, Scarecrow Invasion,
It’s not unusual to see Stacy and her boys biking on local trails.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Stacy Brown and her sons at Woodstock’s Halloween KidFest.
Halloween KidsFest, Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights, Santa in the visitors center … there’s always an event in Woodstock to look forward to as a family. Making time for outdoor activities is one of my priorities as a mom. Thanks to a trail challenge from Greenprints Alliance a few years ago, we became a biking family. Now, we’ve graduated from casual cycling on the Noonday Creek Trail to mountain biking at Rope Mill and Blankets Creek. And, last summer, we got kayaks and began paddling on Little River and Lake Allatoona. If you don’t have a kayak or paddle board, you can find info on rentals at visitwoodstockga.com and try them out. The arts community in Woodstock is such an asset to parents of creative kids.
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village is a great place for classes and camps. In addition to the regular theater season, there is a family season, with selections appropriate for a younger audience. This year, they have partnered with Next Steps Ministries to create sensory-friendly performances for audience members with a range of special needs, featuring reduced noise, lighting effects, and seating space for a more inclusive experience. My professional passion is destination marketing, and I was born in Virginia. I guess that’s why, when thinking about a title for my column this month, a play on the iconic Virginia Is for Lovers slogan popped in my head and stuck. But, it’s not spin. Woodstock is for mothers. This town is an amazing place to be a mom.
Stacy Brown is the Marketing Manager INWDSTK for the city of Woodstock. She can be reached at 678-217-2386 or sbrown@woodstockga.gov.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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IN Town
Woodstock
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
7:30 p.m., Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater www.woodstockconcertseries.com
May 11: Mark Wills June 8: Better Than Ezra July 13: B.B. King Blues Band featuring Michael Lee Aug. 10: Little River Band Sept. 14: The Molly Ringwalds New Rules: The Woodstock City Council has approved new rules for the popular concert series, held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. No chairs or set-up of any kind will be allowed until after 5 p.m. on Thursday before the Saturday concerts. Also, the maximum size of coolers allowed in the event has been reduced from 48 quarts to a more manageable 28 quarts. Any chairs or set-ups placed in the venue prior to 5 p.m. Thursday will be removed; coolers above 28 quarts or glass containers will not be allowed in the events. The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. City officials are working on plans for a shuttle for off-site parking. More information will be released in coming weeks. www.woodstockconcertseries.com.
MUSIC MONDAYS
11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. A disc jockey will provide music from different decades. For more information, contact Jamey Snyder at jsnyder@woodstockga.gov.
May 6: Groovy, man... 1960s May 13: Can you dig it? 1970s May 20: Totally Rad! 1980s
MAY Night Live, 6-9 p.m. in 3 Friday downtown Woodstock. Shops and
restaurants will be open late, with events and live music, creating a street-party style atmosphere.
Alliance Trailfest, 4 Greenprints 2:30-8:30 p.m. at 115 Elm St.,
Woodstock, sponsored by Path & Post Real Estate, is a fundraiser for the Greenprints Trails. The community event is free and includes live music, food trucks, outdoor activities and more. See Trail X 2019 on Facebook for details.
Roots Music Nights 16 WDSTK begin with a 7 p.m. show on May
16 with Andrea Colburn. The Muckers will perform on June 20, followed by Pony League on July 18 and Reverend Hylton on Aug. 15. Concerts at the Elm Street Event Green, 113 Elm St.
& Banjos takes place 18 11Bacon a.m.-6 p.m. at the Northside
Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. The annual festival, which benefits the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation, is a convergence of the salty goodness of bacon and the downhome sounds of bluegrass music. www.baconandbanjosga.com.
A Memorial Day ceremony 27 begins at 10 a.m. at The Park at
City Center. For more details, visit www.woodstockga.gov.
MOVIES IN THE PARK
Held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater. No charge. Bring chairs, blankets and bug spray. http://georgiamoviesinthepark.com/woodstock/
May 6: “The Incredibles 2” (PG) 8:45 p.m. June 15: “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (PG) 8:55 p.m. July 20: “Captain Marvel (PG-13) 8:55 p.m.
LANTERN SERIES
7:30 p.m., Elm Street Cultural Arts Center’s Event Green, 113 Elm St. www.elmstreetarts.org/lantern-series/.
May 18: Huntertones, Jazz Brass, New York June 1: Violet Bell, Americana, Asheville, North Carolina June 22: The Lee Boys, Sacred Steel, Miami July 27: House of Waters, World, Senegal Aug. 17: The Lone Bellow, Alternative Indie Country, Nashville 22
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
ELM STREET THEATER www.elmstreetarts.org
May 10
iThink Improv Troupe Show at 8 p.m. Tickle your funny bone and spend your Friday night with an Improv Comedy show fit for the entire family!
May 16
Brew HaHa at Reformation Brewery,
7-8 p.m. Belly laughs plus beer on tap with iThink Improv Troupe every third Thursday. Join the local performers for improv games and loosen up those go with the flow vibes, plus 20% off your favorite pours all evening.
Woodstock New Construction Neighborhood Guide PROVIDED BY THE PREMIER GROUP
This is the second of a two-part guide to new home construction in Woodstock neighborhoods. There’s something in Woodstock for everyone, from families with young children, to young professionals, to retirees. If you’re planning to start your search for a new “home sweet home” in Woodstock, this is a great place to start. For the first part of the guide, see the April issue of Around Woodstock, Page 19.
• Linton & Main: Ten homes in downtown Woodstock.
Price: starting at $449,000. Square footage: 2,504-3,026. Windsong Properties. • Mason Main: On Main Street, in the downtown district. Price: starting at $400,000. The Providence Group. • Mountain Park Overlook: Single-family homes surrounded by hills and lakes – 32 homesites. Price: starting at $420,400 to $466,870. Square footage: 2,816 to 3,477. Beazer Homes. • Park Place on Fowler: Includes office space and residential units. Price: $209,900 to mid-$400s. Square footage: 850 to 2,000. Rezide Properties, a Tony Perry company. • River Park — North on Main Street: 14 live/work units. Price: starting at $119,900 for residential and $89,900 for retail/ office. Square footage: residential space approximately 800 square feet. Retail/work space approximately 500 square feet. Rezide Properties, a Tony Perry company.
• Riverside: Minutes from downtown Woodstock, The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, and two I-575 exits. Price: from $292,900 to $358,900. Square footage: 1,802 to 3,218. Ashton Woods. • Sanctuary: Oversized homesites with 50-foot setbacks, three-car side entry garages and basement homesites available. Price: $408,900 to $539,500. Square footage: 3,320 to 4,080. Lennar Homes. • Serenity: A community for age 55 and older. Price: starting at high $300s. Square footage: 1,957 to 3,284. Meritage Homes. • South on Main: Walk to Woodstock, less than 2 miles from I-575. Price: starting at $429,900. Square footage: 2,500 to 3,868. JW Collection. • Springcreek Place: Townhomes at Highway 92 and Stonecroft Lane. Price: starting at $290,400 to $341,233. Beazer Homes. • Summit at Towne Lake: Community with outdoor amenities and close proximity to shopping, dining and I-575. Price: starting at $339,990 to $431,975. Square footage: 1,915 to 3,206. Beazer Homes. • Sweet Briar Farms: Gated 55-plus community for active adults. Price: $500s. Square footage: 2,576 to 2,859. Jim Chapman Communities.
continued on page 59
FREE CONCERT Nathan Evans Fox
Friday
MAY 31
live at
7:00-10:00 PM No tickets needed. Just show up & have a great time.
400 CHAMBERS ST WOODSTOCK GA 30188
WWW.COPPERCOINWOODSTOCK.COM AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Artists’ Community Grows at Elm Street PHOTOS AND ARTICLE BY CAREY HOOD
A small group of artists and friends gathered at the Elm Street Cultural Arts Center in downtown Woodstock on March 23 to volunteer their time installing artwork from local artisans in the lobby and hallways of the center. Armed with drills, ladders, levels, and lots of coffee, the team set out to hang more than 60 original pieces of art for the public to view and enjoy. As the team installed the artwork, the walls of the arts center were transformed into a museum displaying a fine collection of paintings, sculptures, ceramics and other local creations. Elm Street patrons recognize what an absolute treasure we have in our town with the quality productions performed by local thespians. Now visitors to the center also will have the chance to support local visual artists and own original pieces of art for their homes. One of the featured artists, Betsy Khuri said, “I would like to send a huge shout out to everyone who is working to create this wonderful sense of community for artists here in Woodstock. I am grateful, thrilled to contribute, and ready to participate.” Executive Director Christopher Brazelton said Elm Street is launching a “creative consortia” to grow this group of local artisans and the work they do to contribute to the community. For more information, visit www.elmstreetarts.org.
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UPCOMING AT ELM STREET
The Huntertones Jazz Funk | New York
Violet Bell
Americana | Asheville
HUNTERTONES VIOLET BELL
MAY 18th | 7:30PM JUNE 1st | 7:30PM LANTERN SERIES PRESENTING PARTNER:
JUNE 12th-26th PRESENTING PARTNER:
Registration is OPEN for
SUMMER CAMPS ELMSTREETARTS.ORG | 678.494.4251 AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Understanding Qualified Charitable Distributions DON AKRIDGE, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS U.S. MARINE CORPS VETERAN – EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS
When you reach age 70½, there can be a new way of giving. As the owner of a traditional IRA, you are likely aware that you are obligated to make required minimum distributions (RMDs) once you reach age 70½. However, you may not be aware that the RMD can be taken in the form of a qualified charitable distribution, where a qualified charity receives all or part of your RMD, satisfying your obligation and offering a potential tax advantage. (Withdrawals from traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.)1 Keep in mind, this article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice, so make sure to consult your tax or legal professionals before modifying your charitable giving strategy. There are a few rules, naturally. First, you can make a qualified charitable contribution only after you reach age 70½. So, if your 70th birthday takes place Jan. 17, you’re not going to be able to make the qualified charitable distribution until July 17, six months later.1 There is a cap of $100,000 of qualified charitable distribution per individual; you can donate more, if you want, but the overage may not have any tax benefits.1 To qualify, the charity must be a qualified 501(c)3 organization. You also must make your distribution check payable directly to the charity in question, as opposed to a director or another individual in the organization. Were you to do that (write a check to an affiliated individual, who would then use those funds to write another check directly to the organization) that would be a taxable distribution.1 Would you be able to split your qualified charitable contribution in half, giving half or part to the qualified charity and the remainder as a regular RMD? Yes, you can. You would perform them as separate actions, but as long as they add up to the necessary RMD, you should be fine. Consult with a tax or legal professional before making any changes to your strategy.2 How do you report it on your taxes? There is a section on Form
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1040 for reporting IRA distributions. Regular RMDs are taxable events, but for qualified charitable contributions, you would enter 0 (zero) for the taxable amount (assuming that the full amount qualified) and enter “QCD” next to the line.2 If you are interested in supporting a charity, a qualified charitable contribution may be a good option for you to consider. Talk with your tax or financial professional about your options. Securities offered through registered representatives of Cambridge Investment Research Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc., a registered investment adviser. Cambridge is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Peter Montoya Inc. or MarketingPro Inc. This material was prepared by MarketingPro Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note:- Investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor a recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Citations. 1 - investopedia.com/articles/financial-advisors/032116/how-use-qcd-rulereduce-your-taxes.asp/ [12/10/18] 2 - irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-irasdistributions-withdrawals [5/30/18]
Don Akridge is president of Citadel Professional Services, LLC, an independent firm, founded in 1994 and conveniently located off Chastain Road between I-575 & I-75 in Kennesaw. 770-952-6707.
Elm Street
Finding Joy and Inspiration in Art BY CHRISTOPHER BRAZELTON
Recently, we announced the new programming for our upcoming Season to Prevail. Frankly, there are a number of reasons why I am excited about this season, which starts in August. To prevail means to prove superior, but even more, it means to exist. At Elm Street, we love our community, and how art is used to further that community. I think it is important, because art calls to the optimism within us and beckons us to be inspired. Being inspired is increasingly important. The national headlines become predictably dreary: bigotry, poverty, injustice, trauma, trouble. Working on this season, with the stellar team at Elm Street, helped me remember a simple truth: Prioritizing hope, whenever possible, is a brave and bold thing to do. Many stories for the upcoming season resonate with this truth, as well. With the many events Elm Street does, sometimes we lose track of what we are doing. So, when we announce a season, it’s a great reminder of why we do what we do, and we love seeing the community get excited about what we have planned. I think this is when Elm Street performs its best art; when you meet us where we are, and invite us to think, to feel, to wonder, to dream, to debate, to laugh, to resist, to roam, to imagine with you. Art is worthy of our interrogation, and is, in fact, an antidote for our times. Art instigates all of this. Our events celebrate and suggest ways that one can find inspiration in the present moment. Whether a filmmaker or a photographer, an author or an actress, a poet or a painter, our events are filled with people who use art as a means for dynamic optimism. As the gifted theologian Howard Thurman once wrote: “Whatever may be the tensions and the stresses of a particular day, there is always lurking close at hand the trailing beauty of forgotten joy or unremembered peace.” When you come to Elm Street, we hope you find that joy, that inspiration, that optimism amid the tensions of the day. Not just as an escape, but as an opportunity to prevail by taking part in that joy. Join us for an upcoming Lantern Series concert or theater show, and prevail with us.
Christopher Brazelton, a Florida State University graduate, is the executive director of Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Contestants line up for the costume contest.
Friday Night Live Goes to the Dogs
Mia was the costume contest winner with her UPS driver outfit.
At age 15, Hershey stills enjoys a good party.
Nixon shows off his best high-five in the talent contest. 28
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Downtown Woodstock kicked off its 2019 Friday Night Live season with Fido Fest, a fun evening celebrating the city’s canines and their owners. The event included doggie costume and talent contests. To capture the fun, we put our roving rover reporter, Teddy the Spaz Man, on the job. When he wasn’t chasing cute little she-dogs, he was meeting folks and helping us get these photos of the festivities.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TEDDY THE SPAZ MAN.
Teddy has his press pass and is ready to put his reporting skills to work.
Sophie soaks up sun in the park.
Rosie Cody the maltipoo struts her stuff during the talent contest.
Puppy parents Randi and Chris with their fur baby Sarge.
Members of Elm Street’s “Bright Star” cast provided entertainment.
Stacy and Cam brought along their dogs Penny Rose and Zorro James. AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Friday Night Live
continued from page 29
Chipper the Golden and Joey the Corgi enjoy people watching.
Rocky is a rescue and former prison dog, who used to spend 12 hours a day with inmates.
Teddy is all tuckered out. 30
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A boy, Brett, and his dog, Bud.
Emily and Amy with their lab Tommy.
Otis the golden retriever is only 7 months old, and mighty handsome.
Candy, left, and her boyfriend Pedro, enjoy a night out on the town.
GOLFING
RE ! FThe Children
WHEN: Monday, June 17, 2019 TIME: 8 AM Registration 9:30 AM Shotgun Start - Scramble LOCATION: Woodmont Golf Club 3105 Gaddis Rd. • Canton, GA 30115 For more information please visit www.serviceleague.net. For sponsorship information, email serviceleaguesponsors@gmail.com CORPORATE PARTNER
All proceeds benefit the children in need of Cherokee County
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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The Arbor at BridgeMill Senior living community with tailor-made, luxury lifestyle
T
he focus at The Arbor at BridgeMill, a 15-acre senior community tucked behind Starbucks on Sixes Road, is singular: Offer an active and luxurious lifestyle so residents remain active, engaged and fulfilled. Whether it’s independent living, assisted living or memory care, The Arbor at BridgeMill honors individuality and celebrates each person’s unique life through deep connections with the residents and their families. “I’ve been working in senior living for years, and I have never encountered a community so rich and loving as The Arbor,” Executive Director Jerry Rick said. “And on top of that, the surroundings are so luxurious.” The community’s staff believes retirement should never mean retreat.
Each resident’s desires are honored and supported, whether they want to fill their time with adventure, springtime relaxation in the many outdoor spaces, or something in between. “We recognize that there’s more to retirement than bingo,” Rick said. “Our social engagement calendars are filled daily with options from our six areas for continued growth: art and education, deep connections, health and wellness, purposeful living, recreation and leisure, and spiritual journey.” The residential choices include 26 standalone cottages, 110 independent living apartments, 54 assisted-living apartments and 16 memory-care apartments, each designed to feel as much like resort accommodations as they feel like home.
A 24-hour concierge service features a staff member who is a point of contact for residents and for family members who may be having difficulty reaching their loved one. Another safety measure requires each independent living resident push a button once a day, which sends a notice to the concierge that the person has checked in and is OK, providing a “just right” amount of safety without being overbearing. The Arbor at BridgeMill is operated by a company with strong Atlanta roots, The Arbor Company. Founded in 1988, The Arbor Company operates more than 40 communities in 11 states. “Arbor is smaller than the big national senior living companies,” Rick said. “But they are still big enough to have developed some really innovative approaches to running communities. We call it the Arbor Way.” One thing that makes The Arbor Company unique is team members are extensively trained and retrained. In addition, everyone — from the company president to all levels of staff members — goes through intense training on how to work with seniors with dementia. Another advantage that sets The Arbor at BridgeMill apart: there are no expensive buy-in fees that are common at other senior living communities. “Here, you will enjoy a truly different lifestyle and a refreshing sense of freedom,” Rick said. “Like any five-star resort, a highly trained staff is on hand to attend to your every need. We come to work each day to bring joy to the residents we serve, and our passion and pride are apparent in everything we do.”
Independent living terrace, gardens and apartments
700 Freedom Boulevard Canton, GA 30114
770-691-0022
www.arborbridgemill.com
www.facebook.com/arborbridgemill Sponsored Content 32
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
AMENITIES AT THE ARBOR AT BRIDGEMILL • Upscale, restaurant-style dining featuring chefprepared meals catered to residents’ individual tastes and dietary needs. • On-site wellness center equipped with the latest in fitness equipment.
Indoor saltwater pool
• Beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces and gardens. • Indoor and outdoor saltwater swimming pools.
Fitness center
• Outdoor grilling area, fire pit and fountain for residents and their families to enjoy. • On-site salon. • Game room, computer lounge and library. • Movie theater room. Restaurant-style dining
Movie theater
TESTIMONIALS Brooke Wall, director of sales
“The Arbor family is truly unique. We are collectively a beautiful array of people full of different personalities, talents and gifts. Each one of our residents and team members together makes The Arbor family fantastic and just a joy to be a part of each and every day.”
Roz S.
When it opened, I was in the 1st group of residents to move in and I can assure you that you will love The Arbor as much as I do. The staff is absolutely the best and they do so much to make us happy. Jerry is in charge and he will tell you we are all family and that is the way we feel. There is more to tell you and we would like you to come in for a tour so you can see what goes on. You will be very pleased. Stand-alone cottage
Fred & Rose C.
The Arbor at Bridgemill is a relaxing fun place to live. It is a group of loving people in cottages and apartments. There is always someone to talk with or if you like places to sit and read. The staff is always ready to spend time with you or answer any questions you may have. We have people from all over the states. It is a clean lovely place and we love calling it home.
Mary C.
Mary moved from Charlotte to be closer to family and has lived at The Arbor for three years. She said the food is wonderful and she loves the variety. The activities offer so much. You can do as much or as little as you’d like. The family feel was exemplified by her discovering a bag of tomatoes at her door, left for her by another resident. Game room
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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A Very Special Winner BY LEIGH CUTRONE
Meet Brady Abramson. This 37-yearold has been part of the Special Olympics swim team for five years, and Brady doesn't just swim. He also competes on the basketball, bowling and softball teams. He’s an athlete with the medals to prove it. Don't let his easy, fun-loving personality fool you. He is a hard worker and is serious about his pursuits. Brady has been working part-time for 11 years at a job he loves. He is proud of his independence, and the fact that he drives. When I mentioned his parents must be proud of him, he smiled shyly, and told me they were. Brady is a fine example of why Special Olympics is so special. In short, it changes lives, and develops self-confidence, while celebrating differences. The swim team is composed of about 35 athletes who practice at the Cherokee Aquatic Center. Merry Willis, the head swim coach of Special Olympics Cherokee County, is proud of all of “her” swimmers. She clearly makes this group tick. She explained that all Special Olympians must qualify as having an intellectual disability. Athletes are welcomed beginning at age 8, and there is no maximum age limit. This group ranges from ages 8 to 64. I was struck by the friendships I witnessed among the athletes. It is apparent that this group thrives with team camaraderie, and also because of the goals they have set to improve their individual skills, while persevering through obstacles. Volunteers work with the athletes on a one-to-one basis, or in small groups. Why is Brady interested in his Special Olympic sports? When asked, he didn't hesitate to answer. He said he loves to hang out with all his friends and to socialize at the practices. I can confirm that he likes to talk and laugh. He is an inspiration to this group of fine athletes, as well as anyone who is fortunate to meet him. Brady and the swim team began practice in February and 34
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Above, members of the Cherokee County Special Olympics swim team practice at the Aquatic Center. Left, Brady shows off some of his Special Olympic medals.
wrap up this month, with the goal of participating at the Special Olympics Georgia State Games, May 17-19, at Emory University in Atlanta. Brady is excited about the games and his swim relay. We agreed that his team has a good shot at winning the gold. The Special Olympics oath says it all: Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. In my book, Brady and all of these athletes certainly are winners. For more information about Special Olympics Georgia, visit www.specialolympicsga.org/about/facts.
Leigh Cutrone and her husband live in Woodstock. Leigh’s blog, The Senior Class: Navigating the Golden Years, is geared to retired seniors. seniorclass@yahoo.com.
Celebrate Those Greeting-card Holidays — a minor request that ended up bogarting my birthday. No cleaning, cooking or repair work was needed Remember the good old days, (although they all managed to work when you could just choose NOT to in to my day, somehow). No, she just celebrate a holiday? Ever try that with, wanted her family around her. So, say, Valentine’s Day? I gladly downplayed my birthday in A Hallmark holiday is designed to favor of she who gave birth to me. make you honor a specific person or a It’s been just over a decade since group of people, of which everybody my mother passed away. I’d be lying if knows one or two members. It’s a I didn’t admit taking some conflicting great marketing ploy to get everyone pleasure in celebrating my birthday in to buy something for a specific the years since. This year, though, is someone. Unless your birthday falls a milestone for me. As I turn 50, all I on one of those days, then it stinks. Bill and his mom, Karen Bingham-Lewis. really want for my birthday is to spend To be clear, I don’t oppose these the day doing nothing with my wife and son at my mother’s house. made-up holidays because I think these groups don’t deserve the As the adage goes, “Be where you are when you are there,” attention or accolades; quite the opposite. Bosses, secretaries, because, sooner or later, you won’t be able to be there any more. stepsisters, grandparents, teachers, parents — and I still don’t ’Course, that’s just how I see the world. Your view may be know the difference between a Valentine and a sweetheart. But, different. there is a day dedicated to each. Father’s Day, you’d think would be a big one, but no; Mother’s Day is the biggest of all, and for many years it has landed smack dab on, you guessed it, my birthday. Bill Bingham, who often can be seen walking the family husky through downtown Woodstock, is an author, public Each year, my mother would ask for the same thing. No speaker and podcast host, who writes about parenting with tchotchke of choice from the local card store was needed. All technology. bill@billyb.tv. she wanted was for us to hang out around the house for the day BY BILL BINGHAM
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Triad Is Valuable Resource for Seniors BY NATHAN BRANDON
The Cherokee County Triad/SALT (seniors and law enforcement together) organization has been in operation since 2006, when it was implemented by the Canton Police Department. Triad is the agreement of local law enforcement agencies and older adults in the community to work together. The national Triad was formed in 1988. Triad is a concept of cooperation to reduce the criminal victimization of older adults through: • Proactive community education for older adults and their caregivers. • Addressing current crime issues. • Enhancing delivery of law enforcement services as needed. The Cherokee Triad-SALT Council is in partnership with the following agencies: Canton Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, Holly Springs Police Department, Woodstock Police Department, Ball Ground Police Department, Cherokee County Fire Department, Emergency Medical Response Teams, Woodstock Fire Department, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit-Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, Cherokee County Senior Services, along with other agencies and organizations that deal with the community’s aging population. Some of the council’s activities include education through a lunch-and-learn format at several locations including the William G. Long Senior Center, Heritage Fellowship, several neighborhood HOAs and Allen Temple A.M.E. Church. Topics cover identity theft and fraud, elder abuse, senior housing options, advanced directives, and wills and trusts. Triad also provides financial support for Bethesda Clinic, Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program and emergency shelter funds for area law enforcement agencies. Annually, the Triad-SALT organization presents the Senior Extravaganza in order to fund its community outreach. Held the last Saturday of April, the event has been hosted by First Baptist Church Woodstock for the past 13 years. The extravaganza provides display space for more than 50 vendors and service organizations that deal with aging issues and services. Door prizes are provided, and demonstrations from local groups such as the line dancers from the William G. Long Senior Center and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office canine unit. Triad/SALT was originally tasked with identifying and developing programs to address the needs and concerns of seniors in our community. The organization continues to support its original purpose, and expand its reach. continued on page 59 Nathan has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1982. He retired from Cherokee County Senior Services, and remains involved in community organizations that focus on senior adults. 404-384-8533
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Understanding the Liability of Fall Injuries BY ROBERT TIDWELL
If you suffer severe injuries falling on someone’s property, it does not necessarily mean the property owner is legally responsible. One critical factor for determining if a property owner is liable is that of notice. Did the property owner have notice of the hazard that caused you to fall? There are several ways to prove notice. One is to establish the property owner created the fall hazard. We handled a case where employees of a car dealership created a step-up platform for customers to speak with the finance department. The step was defective, and fell from under an elderly man who was purchasing a car. Because the dealership’s employees created the hazard, the dealership was deemed to have legal notice of its existence. On the other hand, imagine a grocery store where a young child, shopping with his mother, grabs some grapes and drops them on the floor. Seconds later, you walk by and slip on a grape left by the child. In this scenario, the grocery store likely does not have adequate notice that a hazard exists. As such, the grocery store likely is not liable for the injuries you suffer from a fall. Another way to prove notice is to establish that the dangerous condition existed for such an amount of time that the property owner would have had notice, had the owner performed a reasonable inspection of the property. For example, as you walk through the same store, imagine stepping in a puddle of water, next to a frozen food cooler. An inspection of the area reveals rust
on the cooler, demonstrating it has been leaking water for some time. In this scenario, even if the store employees were unaware there was water on the floor when you fell, the fact that the cooler has leaked for a period of time could be sufficient to prove the grocery store had notice of the hazard. Even if you can prove the property owner had, or should have had, notice of the hazard that caused you to fall, you still may not have a valid case. Georgia law is clear: If you have equal notice of the hazard that caused you to fall, the property owner wins. There are two ways this defense comes into play. If the hazard is open and obvious, Georgia law states you should have seen it and avoided the danger. Also, if you walked over the hazard once before you fell, you are deemed, by law, to have equal knowledge as the property owner. In either instance, the property owner will not be liable for your injuries. If you are injured on someone’s property, take pictures of the hazard. Often, property owners will remedy the hazard, to keep other guests safe. Unfortunately, this may destroy the only evidence you have to prove your claim.
Robert Tidwell is a personal injury trial lawyer at Tidwell Strimban, LLC in Woodstock, where he lives with his bride Lori, and their two daughters. www.tidwellstrimban.com.
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Call 770-721-9400 for an appointment with Dr. Michelle A. Glasgow in Canton & Towne Lake. AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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A Young Mother’s Managing Growth in Emotional Roller Coaster West Cherokee County PROVIDED BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS
BY HARRY JOHNSTON
Early this year, Jourdan Adams and her family were named the March of Dimes Ambassador in Cherokee County’s March for Babies 2019. She calmly described her high risk pregnancy, the early delivery of her tiny twin boys, and the weeks of special care they received in the Northside Hospital Cherokee Neo-Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The emotional ups and downs will sound familiar to any mother who has given birth to a premature baby. “The pregnancy was good – up until about 22 weeks. That was the first time I had to go to the hospital,” Jourdan said. She and her husband, Tyler, had been trying to get pregnant, so when Jourdan’s home pregnancy test read positive, she went to the obstetrician right away. Her choice of a doctor was simpler than it is for many women. As a medical assistant for an OB-GYN practice, she made an appointment with the physician with whom she had worked closely during the past few years. Jourdan said that early in the pregnancy, she had a small bleed, which, she quickly added, is “not unusual.” But, at 22 weeks the real trouble started. Early contractions led to bedrest. At her 27-week appointment, there was more trouble. “I was dilated, my cervix was shrinking. Dr. Peahen Gandhi sent me to the hospital. The monitors showed I was having regular contractions. They gave me terbutaline, then magnesium, but the contractions continued. Dr. Gandhi had to send me by ambulance to Northside Atlanta. “After I got settled, the contractions finally stopped, and they let me go home.“ Jourdan made it to 33 weeks. And that’s when she had her boys. She was admitted to the hospital for a C-section at 7 p.m., and, by 9 p.m., her twins were born. “I had two separate NICU teams doing a full evaluation. My first baby, Briar, had to be put on a CPAP (a device providing continuous positive airway pressure), because his lungs weren’t fully developed. But, my second baby, Wyatt, was fine. And he was the smaller one!” The boys were taken to the NICU. Briar would be on the CPAP for more than two weeks. When asked how she handled the waiting period, before the boys could come home, Jourdan said, “I stayed in the hospital, as long as I could. I was anticipating that day, having to leave them. I had tried to prepare myself for it, but nothing in the world can prepare you for going home without your children. “Luckily, we only live 5 minutes from Northside Cherokee, so we were there every single day, all day long. We got there every morning and only left for lunch. The boys had feeding tubes for the first week and a half, and we wanted to hold them while they were being fed, so they would associate food with Mommy and Daddy. And after that we were working on bottles. “The boys had their own room, so it was really nice. We could kind of spread out. It was a blessing that we were in Cherokee County. But it was still exhausting to be there all day long, and recovering from surgery. It takes an emotional toil.” Jourdan smiled, with her healthy twin boys beside her, “It is hard, so hard, but they DO come home!”
West Cherokee County, north of Lake Allatoona, is largely undeveloped. The county’s land-use plan calls for low-impact development across most of it. The state plans to start widening Highway 20 west of Canton within the next 10 years, but, overall, road plans in that area are only designed to support low-intensity development. I hope that’s realistic. If not, we could face an unplanned growth problem like we have in southeast Cherokee. About 12 years ago, two huge developments in west Cherokee County were proposed, and nearly approved. Canton West was proposed on about 2,300 acres west of Canton. Part of it stretched to Highway 108. Part of it was planned to be in the city of Canton, the other in unincorporated Cherokee County. Another development, A Village in the Forest, was proposed on 5,000 acres on Highway 20 at the Bartow County line. Between them, these projects would have added about 18,000 homes, or about 40,000 people. Neither project conformed to the county’s land-use plan, but, at the time, both were approved by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Both failed to get local approval, since city and county administrations had shifted from progrowth to slower-growth majorities. Then, the real estate crash of 2008 took the properties out of play. Now, they’re looming on the horizon, again. Both properties are up for sale and development. A majority of county and city leadership remains committed to responsible, restrained growth. But, property owners are legally entitled to a reasonable economic use of their property. So, what’s reasonable? Lack of sewers has been a factor holding back development there. Sewers should respond to the demand, and shouldn’t be used as a tool to promote or block development. There’s demand for sewers in west Cherokee now, from Waleska, Lake Arrowhead and others. A revival of Canton West will create more. The bottom line is, sewers inevitably will come to that area. Of course, sewers have many benefits. They allow quality commercial development that otherwise can’t exist, as well as compact residential development in appropriate areas. More importantly, for a growing regional population, sewers return treated waste water to the river, so it can be used again downstream. Will the availability of sewers spawn a rush of development that we can’t or won’t control, resulting in high-impact development that overwhelms the current infrastructure? Are we facing another Hickory Flat scenario? Or, will we, and future leadership, have the will and strength to keep development mostly low-impact? Those are the questions that keep me awake at night. As always, I welcome your comments at hjohnston@ cherokeega.com.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Harry Johnston is chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. He's a retired CPA and accounting manager, and a former district commissioner.
Bears Make the Best Buddies The Cherokee County Clerk’s Office recently announced its spring fundraiser, Buddy Bears, to benefit Cherokee County children who are in foster care. New and gently used teddy bears will be collected 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, through July 1, in the lobby of the Justice Center, located at 90 North St., Canton. The bears will be presented to the county’s juvenile court, and will be given to children who come before the citizen review panels. In cooperation with the Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges, the Cherokee County Juvenile Court participates in the Permanent Homes for Children program. Citizen volunteers meet monthly to review the case plans developed for children in foster care. This is an opportunity for these volunteers to review cases, track how case plans are progressing, assess how parents are doing with their reunification plans, and ensure the children are receiving the services they need. “The clerk’s office felt that teddy bears could be given to these children to help ease their stress, trauma and anxiety, and would show these children that Cherokee County loves them,” said Chief Deputy Clerk Alexandra Morris. “We are so excited to help bring smiles to these little faces, and we appreciate your support!” From left, Chief Deputy Clerk Alexandra Morris, Deputy Clerk Lindsey Hagen and Clerk of Courts Patty Baker hug some of the bears collected so far.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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An Adventure BY ANN LITREL
Alligators and 6-foot-long sturgeon reputedly swim in the depths of the murky river under our boat. My friend Ginger sits behind me, steering the kayak while I periodically break to click a quick photo. We are deep in South Georgia, navigating the wildest unbroken stretch of river east of the Mississippi: the Altamaha, which flows freely for 137 miles, with no dam to break its course to the sea. The river is known as Georgia’s “Little Amazon.” We’re here on a weekend stewardship trip with the Georgia Conservancy, joined by 70 fellow paddlers from all over the Southeast. Our bright boats and life vests form a colorful parade gliding atop the water. On either side of us, the wide fingers of the Altamaha reach far inland, spreading ART BY ANN LITREL, ANNLITREL.COM 40
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Kayaking along Georgia's Little Amazon quietly between the trunks of cypress and tupelo. The silence is eerie. Small drips and splashes follow our paddles through the water, but there is no motor noise anywhere to be heard. So far, so good. I briefly recall the warning in bold print on our registration form: “Intermediate Paddlers only.” I blithely ignored it. It’s been two days since Ginger and I pulled into the Altamaha River Campground, tossing together a two-person tent that appeared designed for a single small child with a pillow. A night in the tent produced dents in my back and frozen fingers at dawn, but multiple pots of coffee and hot eggs resuscitated all of us, and, by 9 a.m., we were fortified for the all-day paddle from camp to sea. The river surged with spring rains and a slow tidal breath from the sea. But the miles of wild banks were peaceful, and even as we drew near the small town of Darien, our take-out point, no signs of humans marred the landscape. Swamp trees gave way to rustling marsh grasses. Bald eagles soared high in the blue, alighting from time to time in the few lonely trees standing in the marsh. The wilderness made its imprint on us in silence and ancient wildness. Today, our second day, is another gift. We have ventured into the deep swamp creeks surrounding the campground - the “best part of the weekend,” say returning paddlers. With each stroke we penetrate farther into the prehistoric forest. Trunks of trees loom large in our path. Ginger and I suddenly notice water inside our kayak, sloshing over our seats. Maybe a slow leak. We look up. The spaces between the trees have narrowed.
Georgia Nature Excursions The Georgia Conservancy
Georgiaconservancy.org
The Nature Conservancy Nature.org
Ginger, left, and Ann became “intermediate” paddlers.
Perhaps an intermediate paddler would know what to do. One of the guides paddles up behind us. “This is where is gets a little tough for a tandem kayak,“ he says laconically. “Y’all have much experience?” No. Experience would be handy right about now – say, when you’re paddling a leaky 18-foot kayak into a thicket of trees, and you need to execute a sudden 90-degree turn to avoid crashing into a snag of fallen logs. We weren’t the only ones having problems. Kayaks running into kayaks. Canoes stuck between trees. One boat taking on water, and getting close to capsizing. Within three minutes, our group was a floating traffic jam. Forget about enjoying the wilderness. Ginger and I wanted only to get out of the swamp without swimming with the gators. As it turned out, we finally did get untangled, and after a couple more hours made it back to base camp. As a matter of fact, we became “intermediate” paddlers. Lying in the tent that night, we heard the barred owl call. The stars shone like maybe they have since the beginning of the world. And, at dawn, we watched a great white egret hunt along the shoreline in the mist. Worth a couple of cold nights and wet bottoms.
Ann Litrel is an artist, writer and certified Master Naturalist. She works in her studio, Ann Litrel Art, in Towne Lake. AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Rob’s Rescues I visited the Atlanta Police Department's Animal Cruelty Unit and interviewed Officers Amy Soeldner and Joe Latosky. www.atlantapd.org/home
What do you do and how long have you been doing it? This dog’s name is Old Alabama. He is a great, 10-yearold, senior dog. He is a good size for a family dog and is precious with a short tail. He is super friendly, and will come right up to you, and isn’t scared or shy. He is very gentle, and pretty curious about what’s going on around him. The Cherokee County Shelter has a bunch of other dogs, and you will find your great dog there if you aren’t looking for a senior shepherd-mix like Old Alabama.
As police officers we respond to any call for assistance. We specialize in animal cruelty. Officer Soeldner has been on the police force for 21 years and Officer Latosky eight years. The Animal Cruelty Unit has been in existence for a year, but Officer Soeldner has been focused on cruelty cases for 20 years.
From left, Officer Amy Soeldner, Rob and Officer Joe Latosky.
What is the best part of your job?
Letting them "take the ride." Having offenders get picked up on a warrant. Being the voice of the animal that has been abused, or standing up for the person who owned the animal who has lost it in cruel circumstances. Getting justice for the animal. We want to send a strong message that if you hurt an animal, it will not be tolerated. Getting closure for pet owners, too. Like a case we had of a cat wrapped in a grocery bag, and left on the owner's doorstep. We thought this might have been retaliation from an ex-employee the owner had fired. We sent the cat for a necropsy that clarified cause of death as a dog attack. We could give the owner closure that this was not someone targeting her personally.
What was your first case with animals?
A dog was starved to death. The neighbors were trying to feed it, but the owner wouldn't let them. There was also a dog fighting case. The dog had been chained to a tree and almost mauled to death. We found the owner and got him put in jail.
Do you do more dog or cat cases?
More dogs than cats, but cats on the incline. We have a horse case right now and recently closed on a llama case. We have dealt with goats, too, and an abandoned bearded dragon.
How many cases do you do in a year? We had more than 200 cases last year.
What is the major problem in the community? This cat’s name is Erin. She is 1½ years old and is a calico cat. Erin is super friendly and has big green eyes. She has unusual coloring, and she loves to be held and likes to lie on comfortable surfaces. She was a stray, and when she came to the shelter she had a wound on her foot, but it is fixed now.
Follow Rob! @robsrescues 42
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
The judicial system could take the process and punishment more seriously. Also, there is little to no education for children about how to be safe around animals. We will only break the cruelty cycle by educating kids.
What are some stories that you love to tell?
Last year, there was a case that was all over the news. Video at a gas station showed a man violently kicking a young cat. The case went unsolved for a long time, despite extensive publicity and numerous tips. Then, a single sentence tip was called in. We followed it up and jackpot! We try and help the people and animals in our district as much as we can. There is an older gentleman in a rundown area of the city who has a dog called Bear-Bear. On a drive through continued on page 59
I’m Rob Macmillan and I’m on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. These animals are at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter at 1015 Univeter Road, Canton. Contact me at robsrescues@gmail.com.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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EVERYDAY Identifying people in need in our community.
The brave families we feature each month bless us in so many ways. They remind us of what truly matters in this busy and complex world. We are honored to serve as a conduit between these families and our neighbors with compassionate hearts in our community. This month, we share a letter from the Donley family, who, over the years, has been an inspiration and reminder of what selfless love is all about. Please continue to pray for strength and peace for their family.
W
Savannah Donley
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
e were so blessed that our daughter, Savannah Donley, was featured by Everyday Angels in the October 2018 edition. The outpouring of love and support from this community was overwhelming. Savannah fought hard and we were able to have seven months at home with her after her 78-day hospital stay. She improved so much, gained so much strength and was able to enjoy her time at home with family and friends as well as return to Next Step Ministries one day each week. She loved being in the car and visiting her favorite stores and restaurants around Towne. Her care became routine rather than scary as her health improved. We were able to focus on meeting her needs as well as those of our family as we struggled to adapt to our new normal through the financial support we have received. We have no doubt that God placed us in this community 27 years ago for this exact time. Thank you to those who have loved, cared for and prayed for Savannah over the years. A special thank you to those who have been supporting us since she first became sick last Mother’s Day. Savannah was unexpectedly called home to be with Jesus on Feb. 22. Our hearts are broken and our home is not quite as bright, but we feel loved and cared for and have not been in need of anything because of the outpouring of love from this community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and God bless each of you. Savannah was all about love. Please honor her by continuing to help those in need around our community. With love, Trent, Michelle, Payton, Sam and Jacob Donley
Everyday Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Cherokee County since 2000. To make a tax deductible donation, visit www.everydayangels.info to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, PMB 380, 1025 Rose Creek Drive, Suite 620, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. If you know of a special need in your community, e-mail aaeverydayangels@gmail.com
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9876 Main St., Suite 105 Woodstock, GA 30188
404-384-5366 Open noon-4 p.m. halfthewayhome www.halfthewayhome.org
IN THE SPOTLIGHT • The business.
Half the Way Home is a nonprofit cat rescue, specializing in critical situations. We pull cats from rural animal controls that are overlooked and have high kill rates. We get their numbers down, so they do not have to euthanize. We have specialized teams, consisting of experienced kitten caregivers, who’ve worked with ferals, and vet techs for our high-risk cases. We believe in teamwork, and making the adoption process easy and affordable. That’s why all of our cats have a set price of $75.
• The difference.
Half the Way Home Cat Rescue is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that focuses on the forgotten cats of metro Atlanta and North Georgia. We specialize in severe animal rescue cases in rural Georgia shelters and animal controls: feral, injured, sick, seniors, orphaned kittens, etc. These animals have no hope of rescue, because of funds, location, and/or experience of other animal rescues. They are often at the top of the euthanasia list. Donations help pull a cat out of animal control, get veterinary care, then find a forever home. Without supporters, there’s no hope. A gift to Half the Way Home is the gift of life.
• What volunteers are saying. “I get asked all the time why I don’t find a cat rescue organization to work with that is closer to home. I am always happy to answer. I have never been a part of something like this. The volunteers that band together to transport, foster, raise money, vet and love our cats, the push to save them all, the refusal to turn away, the endless thoughts and prayers, and army of available help and expertise at any hour, any time, is the heart of this organization. Success happens every day for us. Success has been so many lives saved,” said Meagan Dunn, Half the Way Home volunteer.
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Capture Life in Photos
First recognized in 1987, May is celebrated as National Photography Month. In honor of the month, we asked Cherokee County high school students to share their photographs and what inspires them. We hope their work inspires you to take a moment to capture the world through the lens of a camera − no matter what kind of camera you use.
Emily Collins
Freshman - Etowah High “This is my photo I took in downtown Woodstock. I decided to take this photo because we were stopping for burgers at Canyons, and the lights on the trees looked too pretty not to take a picture. The atmosphere in downtown Woodstock at night is just so beautiful, I could take photos all day and night! Being in downtown gives me so much inspiration to take pictures of things I love and people I love!”
Jaxon Meeks, Junior - River Ridge High “Looking through the lens of a camera opens up a whole new world through fresh eyes. I think that we should be out and about exploring every inch of our cities, suburbs, countrysides, and the untamed wilderness. We live on this planet, why not venture out into it?”
Meredith Rice, Sophomore - Cherokee High Caroline Alcott, Senior - Cherokee High
“I love using nature to emphasize my subject. Just using the natural surroundings to send a message. I love how natural lighting can impact a photo.”
“What inspires my photography is everyday life. From the different types of cars I see on the road, to the sound of barking dogs in the distance, all spark my creativity. It’s the natural patterns and coincidences that make creating a photograph so seamless.”
Morgan Guion, Junior - Cherokee High Allison Himiob, Junior - River Ridge High “When I take pictures, I take them to express my joy, confusion, excitement, anything I'm feeling. My inspiration is me. My pictures are me.” 46
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
“Photography is something I love because I can go out, and what most people would likely overlook, I can bring out the beauty. Everyone sees anything and everything differently, and I love being able to show the way I see things. I love being able to speak through my pictures. Photography is something so beautiful that has unlimited boundaries for you to express any way possible.”
Tori Kershaw, Sophomore - River Ridge High
Maddalena Lorae
Brooklyn Butterworth
“Earth inspires my photography! Photography is like a power; any image that you take tells a story in its own way. Messing with photoshop and different styles of cropping and coloring can make a world’s difference in your photography. You can take a picture of anything and make it beautiful! Beauty lies within the person.”
“My photography is inspired by the beauty in everyday life. I love to take pictures of people and capture what makes them who they are. In this picture, the subject was just working on welding, something that he is passionate about. Welding is a skill that will shape his life and change who he is. We all have our own things, big or small, that make us unique.”
Junior - Cherokee High
Junior - Cherokee High
“This photo was taken at the Skydeck in Chicago of my beautiful family friend who tends to model for me often. The bright colors of her eyes, hair, and the city below her are my favorite part. I had so much fun trying different angles in the two minutes I was able to be standing on the glass during my turn. Photography is amazing to me, because it lets me remember the best moments of my life, and make it art.”
Kathleen (Kathy) Tjim, Junior - Cherokee High “I’m inspired by photography because I’m able to capture moments that allow you to look back and relive those specific events. Photography makes you look in a different perspective to capture your view of the world. It allows you to be creative with your work and show your talent to an audience.”
Emma Snyder
Jenna Watson
“I love photography. I am always taking pictures of different life. I love the way you can see someone through the camera. You can catch a person’s mood and opinions just with the way you convey light in your photographs.”
“What inspires me to take photography is the ability to capture moments that remind me of something when I am traveling. I like the different textures of photos and circumstances of where I am traveling to!”
Sophomore - Cherokee High
Sophomore - Cherokee High
Phoebe Offenberg, Sophomore - Sequoyah High “Travel inspires my photography by providing a creative outlet as well as letting me see the world through the lens of my camera. I love travelling and I enjoy seeing the world from new perspectives and angles. Photography also allows me to capture moments and views of my travels, so I can cherish and remember the beauty of all the places I visit.” AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Turn Around Kids: Champions for Children BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ
In a land far, far away (St. Petersburg, Russia) a little girl named Caitlyn was born to alcoholic parents. Placed in an orphanage at age 4 with her brother, they stayed there for five years, until a wonderful Christian couple adopted them. Sadly, Caitlyn’s childhood trauma began to manifest itself in her early teens. Anger, rebellion and self-hatred left her adoptive parents at wit’s end. After exhausting all other options to help her, they sent her to live with Turn Around Kids. “I went kicking and screaming,” Caitlyn said. “But, because of the many opportunities to be involved in ministry while there, I started to experience God for who He really is. He is love, and He loves us, and He loves me. Now, I am so thankful. For me, it’s not just some Christian organization, it’s family. Christi and Cheryl are the hands and feet of Christ. I owe a debt to them I cannot pay. ... I am now a faithful wife to the best husband I could ask for, a homeschooling mom of seven, and, above all, a follower of Jesus.” Co-founded by Cheryl Anderson and Christi Vieira, Turn Around Kids (TAK) began in Cherokee County in 2003. This powerhouse mother-daughter team, and those in their family who come alongside to help, are champions for children, and advocates for those who have been through unspeakable trauma.
Family day with Cedric, who graduated from Marine boot camp training.
An advocate is a person who actively promotes the goals of a cause. At TAK, the cause is to support vulnerable children around the greater Atlanta area. The goals are to ease the suffering of homeless, abandoned and abused children. TAK has advocated for and rescued 90 children out of dire circumstances since it began 16 years ago. TAK’s mission is to make a difference one child at a time. This is accomplished in a family environment where siblings are kept together. “When children come to live with us, we take parental guardianship. We become their family. We are committed to them for life from that moment on,” Anderson said. Relationships in the TAK homes are nurtured through a holistic approach, addressing each child’s spiritual, physical, nutritional, academic and psychological health. Groups and independent counseling are utilized, along with spiritual and devotional instruction, classroom and hands-on education, outreach and exit strategy. “It has been my great privilege to participate with TAK for the last several years,” Bart Campbell said. “Witnessing the selfless devotion and loving kindness that’s
immeasurably meted out to the children is what inextricably drew me in to want to be involved with their great work.” TAK is growing, and presently operating in two locations, one home in Woodstock and another in Acworth. Dual homes present a set of challenges. The Acworth location, a 21-acre dream come true, was acquired in July of 2015. The property has a nine-bedroom five-bathroom house on it that was left unoccupied, vandalized, and was in bad shape. It had to be gutted. Renovations were completed, and the rooms now are filled with precious Turn Around Kids. Today, the ultimate goal is to build another house on this property, so everyone can relocate to Acworth and live together in one spot. Cheryl and Christi are inviting you to become an advocate for at-risk children. You can make a big difference by helping with the construction of the second home, volunteering, or spreading the word about the work being done there. For more information, visit www. turnaroundkids.org or call 678-388-7660. You can make a tax-deductible donation online or mail to: 2295 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite #116-102, Woodstock, GA 30189.
Susan Browning Schulz is a Bible teacher, author, wife, and mom of three grown children. She lives and plays along the Etowah River and loves serving at Woodstock City Church.
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Around & About MAY Holly Springs Job Fair is a free event, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the 1 Historic Train Depot, 164 Hickory Road. Bring copies of your
résumé, meet with potential employers, and network with fellow job-seekers. Local businesses interested in participating in the fair should contact Donna Sanders at dsanders@hollyspringsga.us.
4, 18
Story time for girls who want to learn how Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts, and experience a Daisy Girl Scout activity led by girls for girls. Parents will have a chance to ask questions. Learn about opportunities to join a Daisy Girl Scout Troop and make new friends before school starts in the fall. May 4: 1:303:30 p.m. at G. Cecil Pruett YMCA/Community Room B, 151 Waleska St., Canton. May 18: 10 a.m. - noon at Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. Contact is Sherry Saunders at 404-293-3511 or ssaunders@gsgatl.org.
The 2019 Canton Main Street First Friday season begins. 3 The The 19th annual Feed My Lambs classic golf tournament 6-9 p.m. event includes a concert and a classic car 6 will take place 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Marietta Country Club. display. Retail and food vendors abound. Main Street is closed to car traffic. www.cantonga.gov.
Feed My Lambs provides free Christian preschools in impoverished communities, including a school in Canton. www.feedmylambs.net.
Beds and Container Gardens is the topic of a The Canton Farmers Market opens for the season, which 4 Raised 10:30 a.m. seminar presented by the UGA Master Gardener 11 runs through Oct. 12, at Cannon Park. Hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Extension volunteers of Cherokee County. The location will be the Senior Services Center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. A plant sale also will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the same location. Plants include sun and shade varieties, succulents, herbs, vegetables, ferns, hostas, bee homes, garden art and more. The demonstration gardens will be open for tours during the sales. To register for the seminar, visit http://cherokeemastergardenersinc. wildapricot.org, call 770-721-7803 or email uge1057@uga.edu.
All produce is Georgia-grown and mostly organic. On Facebook at Canton GA Farmers Market.
Strut Your Mutt @ Pawtriots Park, 8:30 a.m., Patriots Park, 1484 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth 30102. Cost is $10 per dog. Pre-registration required at www.crpa.net. Dogs must be up to date on all shots. No female dogs in heat. Unruly dogs will be asked to leave. Half of all proceeds will be donated to the Cherokee Animal Shelter. For more information, contact Lindsey Collett, lcollett@cherokeega.com.
The 30th annual Cherokee County Mother’s Day at Boling Park in Canton, featuring Native American dance competition, honor dance for Chipa Wolfe, and Mother’s Day honor dance; Native American cuisine, arts and crafts, jewelry, and clothing; living village and displays; environmental and wildlife displays; children’s activities and more. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for ages 12 and younger, and free for ages 5 and younger. The grand entry takes place at 1 p.m. each day.
Holly Springs is participating in the Great American Cleanup, the country’s largest community improvement program, which kicks off each spring and engages more than 4 million volunteers in more than 20,000 communities nationwide. The event is set for 9 a.m.-noon. Location to be determined. Watch www. hollyspringsga.us for more information.
Kentucky Derby Day at the Rock Barn, sponsored by the Cherokee County Historical Society, begins at 3:30 p.m. The Rock Barn is located at 758 Marietta Highway in Canton. Guests will enjoy gourmet food, open bar, silent auction, pony pull betting, bourbon tasting, and a competitive hat parade and contest. The event benefits the society’s education programs and ends with the crowd watching the Kentucky Derby on big screen TVs. www.rockbarn.org/events. Festival of the Arts, produced by the 4-5 Canton Cherokee Arts Center, will take place in Brown Park
in downtown Canton. The festival, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is the primary fundraiser of the center, which is dedicated to enriching community life through the arts. The festival features the Artist Market, Serenity Garden, Jack Fincher Jr. Rising Artist Area, Kids Zone and Food Court. For more information, visit www.CantonArtFestival.com.
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AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
Georgia Trail of Tears Association meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.
at the Bartow County Extension Office, 320 W. Cherokee Ave. #112, Cartersville. Free and open to the public. Former Funk Heritage Museum Director, Dr. Joseph Kitchen, will talk about “The Native People of Georgia and Their History.”
11-12 Powwow and Indian Festival
13
MUST Ministries Charity Golf Tournament will take place at Woodmont Country Club, 3105 Gaddis Road, Canton. www.mustministries.org.
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The 26th annual United Methodist golf outing will take place at Bent Tree Golf Course in Jasper. The event is a fundraiser for scholarships made available to United Methodist students. www.reinhardt.edu/umcgolf.
18
Learn about Girl Scouts for girls in middle and high school during the 2019-20 school year, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Woodstock library, 7735 Main St. Learn about outdoor adventure, leadership opportunities, community service, awards, and sorority sisterhood with a Gamma Gamma Sigma chapter. Presented by girls, volunteers and Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta staff members. Contact is Sherry Saunders at 404-293-3511 or ssaunders@gsgatl.org.
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The fourth annual Galloping Against Violence fundraiser for the Cherokee Family Violence Center will take place 1-5 p.m. at Chukkar Farm Polo Club, 1140 Liberty Grove Road, Alpharetta. The event will include an unlimited buffet, wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks. The festivities include a polo match, a silent auction, music, games and contests. Individual tickets are $50 each. www.cfvc.org/events.
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The inaugural Etowah Film Festival will take place at the Historic Canton Theatre. The international event includes a Friday evening filmmaker’s reception, Sunday morning patron brunch, and screenings through the four days of the films, which will be entered to win in the following categories: best documentary (short or feature), best environmental subject (short or feature), best narrative short, best narrative feature, and best student short. www.EtowahFilmFestival.com.
JUNE Volunteer Aging Council Poker Run is a fundraiser to 1 benefit senior citizens and senior veterans. 9 a.m. registration, kickstands up at 10 a.m., last bike in at 1 p.m. Starts and ends at the Lotus Adult Day Center, 4595 Towne Lake Parkway. For details, email info@vac-cherokeega.org.
1-2
The Cherokee Chorale will perform “Days of Wine and Roses” 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Canton First United Methodist Church, 930 Lower Scott Mill Road. Scott Martin is the conductor. For ticket information, visit www. cherokeechorale.org.
FORE Charity, sponsored by the BridgeMill Sixes Service 7 Golf League, begins with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. at BridgeMill Athletic Club. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. More details available at www.bsslgolf.org.
annual Memorial Day Dinner Tribute: Sacrifices 8 Second Made, to honor fallen military members. First Baptist Church
Woodstock, 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock, in the Wearhouse location on the campus. This potluck dinner is for veterans, active duty military and non-veterans. 678-494-2680. www. cherokeeveteranscommunity.org.
Assault on Garland Mountain 10k and half-marathon trail run at Garland Mountain Horse and Hike Trails in Waleska. Shirt and surprise swag item for all runners. Free quarter-mile race for children 10 and younger. Fundraiser for Friends of Garland Mountain Trails.
17 The Children Golf Tournament
Service League of Cherokee County’s Golfing Fore! at Woodmont Golf Club, 3105 Gaddis Road, Canton. Registration 8 a.m., with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. All proceeds will go to help children in need in Cherokee County. For sponsorship information, please email serviceleaguesponsors@gmail.com. To register, visit www.serviceleague.net.
History: Sardis Baptist Church Minutes, 18 aSalvaging Topics in Time History Program, will be presented by
Bob Lipscomb at 7 p.m. at the Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Highway, Canton 30114. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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@ the Library
Sequoyah Regional Library System 116 Brown Industrial Parkway • Canton, GA 30114 770-479-3090 • www.SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org
Readers browsed hundreds of items during the March Friends of the Cherokee County Public Libraries book sale at the Rose Creek Public Library.
WOODSTOCK
HICKORY FLAT
7735 Main St., Woodstock 770-926-5859
2740 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-345-7565
May 4
STEAM Kit Day at 11 a.m. Celebrate
Georgia STEM day with us by trying out STEAM kits that are available for check-out. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
May 8
Homeschoolers' Book Club at 1:30 p.m. Join a community of readers who meet once a month to enjoy some lively conversation about literature. This month’s theme is space. Children should read a book independently or with a caregiver, and share a brief book talk about their book with the group. Refreshments are provided.
May 21
Book Discussion Group at noon. Enjoy coffee, conversation, and a book discussion with new friends. This month’s selection is “The River of Doubt” by Candice Millard. All ages are welcome; new members are encouraged. 52
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
May 3
Star Wars Escape Room at 11 a.m. Put your Jedi skills to the test! For all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required.
May 6
Teen Advisory Board Meeting at 6 p.m. The Teen Advisory Board is a way to make your voice heard by planning and implementing library events. Earn volunteer hours, help select new materials for the library, and more. Discussions will include teen summer reading program events and recognizing graduating high school seniors. All teens are welcome. To become a member of the Teen Advisory Board, pick up an application at the library.
May 13
Are You Smarter Than a Librarian? at 6 p.m. Think you’ve got what it takes to outsmart a librarian? Play this game to find out. Refreshments provided for participants and audience members. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required.
May 15
Music and Moves at 10:30 a.m. Get moving and grooving with friends
from Go Noodle! It’ll be a dance party to remember. Experience parachute play, music, gross motor skills, and storytelling in one action-packed hour. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Safety First
School Crossing Guards Deserve Our Thanks, Praise
that everyone remains safe, and to be kind and courteous as they do their job. We also ask you to consider going one step Each of us who lives in Cherokee County should be able to further: please thank a crossing guard. agree on one thing: Our roads are busy and growing busier Serving as a crossing guard can be dangerous and thankless, every day. and we all can do our part to make this job safer and more I hope we can agree on another point: Keeping these roads appreciated. safe, especially around our schools, is an important priority. A “thank you” can be as easy as waving hello or giving a We’re fortunate to have the thumbs-up, or sending a personal Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, led by note, a card made by your child or Sheriff Frank Reynolds, that’s small gift to the school to pass along dedicated to serving and protecting to the crossing guard. A $5 gift card our community. The Sheriff’s Office to enjoy a hot cup of coffee makes is an outstanding partner for our a big impact after a cold or wet (or school district in times of crisis, but both) shift. A gift card for a frozen also every day by offering crossing treat is just as wonderful on warmer guards. days. The Sheriff’s Office employs Please consider thanking Sheriff crossing guards to keep our county’s Reynolds and the Cherokee County roads safe for everyone by directing Board of Commissioners for the traffic at our most congested school investment of our tax dollars that entrances. Just like patrolling for employs the crossing guards. Mary Hulsey, top and above, is the crossing guard at speeders, careless drivers and It’s good for them to hear your Hickory Flat Elementary School. stopped-school-bus passers, the appreciation as well. office’s dedication to ensuring school entrances are safe is P.S. The fine for failing to obey a crossing guard directing crucial to the safety of everyone on our roads. traffic? It may end up costing you $1,000. There’s no more important person during the school rush hour than the crossing guard, as he or she is key to ensuring traffic moves through the school zones smoothly and slowly; Barbara P. Jacoby serves as chief communications officer that drivers – no matter how rushed – take turns; and that it’s for the Cherokee County School District, and is a CCSD parent safe for walkers and bicyclists to cross streets. with four children. It's important to remember to yield to crossing guards, so BY BARBARA P. JACOBY
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YOUR SCHOOL NEWS Woodstock Resident Wins Research Internship Amanda Ash, a 19-year-old from Woodstock, and a student at the University of North Georgia (UNG), recently earned a highly competitive undergraduate research internship for the upcoming summer. Ash is one of five students at UNG, and one of three physics majors, to win a science-based research opportunity. She received a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at the Smithsonian-Harvard Center for Astrophysics. She will work with astrophysicists for 10 weeks in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Last summer, Ash presented in Boston at the 20th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun. “I hope to get new ideas, and when I return to UNG in the fall, I can bring those new ideas to the table,” said Ash.
River Ridge TomeCon winners, from left, Grace Pfohl, Billie O’Bryant, Hailey Martin, Kora Brianas and Alicia Mazzurra.
Love of Literature Earns Accolades Several students from River Ridge High School won top honors at the Tome Student Literary Society’s annual TomeCon competition. The national organization is dedicated to promoting a love and appreciation of literature among fourththrough 12th-grade students. Students work all year on projects and papers to submit for the competition, based on books read from a list of 20 books called the It List. Some competitions, such as Reading Bowl and Book Talk, are held during TomeCon. Other projects are submitted digitally in advance. Students who won state awards are: Alicia Mazzurra, first place, It List Poetry; Grace Pfohl, first place, It List Book Review Blog Article; Kora Brianas and Hailey Martin, first place, It List Book Vlog; Alicia Mazzurra and Billie O’Bryant, inducted into the National Tome Honor Society.
Teacher in the Spotlight
Amanda Ash
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Loretta Muise of Woodstock High School has been named the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ High School Teacher of the Year. The council presents three awards — one each for elementary, middle and high school levels — which annually are given to “excellent teachers who have strong content foundations in mathematics appropriate for their teaching level, show evidence of growth in the teaching of mathematics, and show evidence of professional involvement.” Muise, who has 29 years of experience, is the school’s math department chair and teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB/BC and Multivariable Calculus. She joined Loretta Muise the school district as a math teacher at Woodstock High in 2004, and was named the department chair in 2011. Muise earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from Salem State University and a specialist degree in education from Piedmont College.
High School Graduation Dates
Dreams Do Come True!
All Cherokee County high school graduation ceremonies will be held at First Baptist Church Woodstock, 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock, 30188. May 30 Sequoyah High School, 4 p.m. Cherokee High School, 8 p.m. May 31 Etowah High School, 4 p.m. Creekview High School, 8 p.m. June 1 Woodstock High School, 9 a.m. River Ridge High School, 1 p.m.
Alanis "Laney" Broussard at Disney World.
Woodstock High School student Alanis "Laney" Broussard recently returned from her Disney Dreamer experience in Orlando, where she was awarded an internship with Essence magazine in New York City. She also will have the opportunity to be a red carpet correspondent for the Essence Festival in New Orleans in July. While at the Disney Dreamer experience, Broussard attended workshops in law and journalism. Her dream is to have her own TV show or podcast, where she can have conversations with other teens on issues they experience, and conversations that will change lives.
Scholarship Winners Honored by Chatt Tech The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation recently honored recipients of 53 different scholarships at an awards luncheon. “With scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $2,500, the total value of these scholarships was $90,800,” said Chattahoochee Technical College Advancement Coordinator Amanda Henderson. Scholarship winners competed against hundreds of student applicants throughout the college, according to Henderson. The college’s Board of Trustees scored the recipients, and then the top applicants were matched with the appropriate scholarship. In addition to meeting the special criteria for
certain scholarships, applicants had to meet specific GPA requirements, demonstrate financial need, and be enrolled for a specified number of credit hours. Six of the award recipients are from Cherokee County: Allison Edge, Angel on My Shoulder Scholarship; Anna Young, Cherokee Master Gardeners Horticulture Scholarship; Lillian Waddell, Jack Vaughan Jr. Endowed Scholarship; Alexis Ocasio, Mark Whitfield Scholarship of Excellence; Deena Shaw, Mosley Endowed Automotive Scholarship; and Aaron Bertolini, the Magnolia Garden Club of Cartersville, Georgia, Scholarship.
Chattahoochee Tech Foundation scholarship award recipients were honored at an awards luncheon held at the Chattahoochee Tech North Metro Campus in Acworth.
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Cherokee Photography Club Congratulations to the winners of the March competition, "Mechanical!"
Color Print:
1st Dayle Geroski "Clockwork Green"
2nd Russ Miller "Antique Iron"
Digital Projection:
1st Russ Miller "Have A Seat"
Above, 3rd Dean Kelley "Timeless." Right, HM Patrick Moore "The Geiser" 56
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
2nd Chastaine Kendrick "Wild Ride"
3rd Rick
The Cherokee Photography Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month, and for those participating in the monthly contest, that meeting is held on the second Monday of the month. Both meetings are 7-9 p.m. and held at the Cherokee County Arts Center, 94 North St., Canton. For more information, please contact Kim Bates at 770-617-7595 or email him at kbphotoart@comcast.net.
k Sapp "Vice Squad Member"
HM Eillene Kirk "Wheels"
Monochromatic:
1st Eillene Kirk "Short Wave"
2nd Russ Miller "Cubby"
HM Rebecca Blackwell "A Stitch in Time"
3rd Chastaine Kendrick "Out of Date" AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK DINING
Casual and Upscale Restaurants
Century House Tavern Modern 125 E Main St. 770-693-4552 American centuryhousetavern.com Copper Coin Coffee American 400 Chambers St. 470-308-6914 coppercoinwoodstock.com see ad inside front, 23
no
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
8 persons +
$
$
$
open
Full bar
no
Fajita Valley Mexican 180 Towne Lake Pkwy fajitavalley.com 770-928-2570
no
$
$-$$
open
Full bar
yes
Fire Stone Wood-fired Sat./Sun. $$ $$$ open Full bar 120 Chambers St. 770-926-6778 Pizza & Grill Brunch 11-3 firestonerestaurants.com Freight Kitchen & Tap Southern Sat./Sun. $$ $$$ open Full bar 251 E. Main St. 770-924-0144 Brunch freightkitchen.com 10:30-3
yes
Habanero’s Taqueria Mexican 9550 Main St. 678-498-8243
Sat./Sun. Brunch 11-1:30
Ice Martini & Sushi Bar Tapas/Sushi no 380 Chambers St. 770-672-6334 icemartinibar.com Ipps Pastaria & Bar Italian no 8496 Main St. 770-517-7305 ippspastaria.com
$
$-$$
open
Full bar
yes
Fri./Sat. only
$$
open
Full bar
yes
$$
$$
open
Full bar
no
J Christopher’s Diner $-$$ $-$$ no open no 315 Chambers St., 770-592-5990 jchristophers.com J Miller’s Smokehouse BBQ & no $-$$ $-$$ open Beer 150 Towne Lake Parkway Southern 770-592-8295 Sandwiches jmillerssmokehouse.com Mad Life Studios Southern no $-$$ $$-$$$$ open Full bar 8722 Main St. madlifestageandstudios.com Partners II Pizza 8600 Main St. 678-224-6907 partnerspizza.com/woodstock-ga
no
no
$$-$$$
open
Beer/Wine
no
Pure Taqueria Mexican Sat./Sun. 405 Chambers St. 770-952-7873 Brunch puretaqueria.com/woodstock 11-3
$$
$$
open
Full bar
6 persons+
Reel Seafood Seafood 8670 Main St. 770-627-3006 reel-seafood.com
Sunday Brunch 10:30-3:30
$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Rootstock and Vine 8558 Main St. 770 -544-9009 www.rootstockandvine.com
Wine bar Tapas
Sun. Brunch 11:30-3
$-$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Salt Factory Pub Gastropub 8690 Main St. 678-903-6225
Sat./Sun. Brunch 11-3
$$
$$-$$$
open
Full bar
no
American
no
$
$
open
Full bar
no
English Tea room
no
$$
no
closed
no
yes
no
$-$$
$-$$
open
Craft Beer
no
Sunday Brunch 10:30-2
$$
$$$
open
Full bar
yes
Truck & Tap Variety of 8640 Main St. 770-702-1670 Food trucks truckandtap.com Vingenzo’s Italian 105 E. Main St. 770-924-9133 vingenzos.com 58 AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
no
Weekends only
no
Semper Fi Bar and Grille 9770 Main St. 770-672-0026 Tea Leaves & Thyme 8990 Main St. 770-516-2609 tealeavesandthyme.com
Pizza
no
$ = most entrees under $10 • $$ = most entrees $10 - $15 • $$$ = most entrees $15 - $20 • $$$$ = most entrees over $20
RESTAURANT CUISINE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER SUNDAY SPIRITS RESERV. Canyons American no $ $ open Beer/Wine no 335 Chambers St. 678-494-8868 canyonsfresh.com
Woodstock New Construction continued from page 23
• The Orchards of Cherokee Station: The newest community being developed and built in the historic Hickory Flat neighborhood in south central Cherokee County. Price: $283,000 to $365,000. The Orchards Group. • The Villas at Mountain View: Active adult community with Energy Star Certified Homes. Price: $361,500 to $471,625. O’Dwyer Homes. • Towne West: Homes in the Towne Lake area. Price: Starting at $274,900 to $381,010. Square footage: 1,598 to 2,921. Meritage Homes. • Victoria Crossing: Coming soon. Piedmont Residential. • Westown: Coming soon on Rope Mill Road, 40 townhomes including the popular City Villa. A walk to downtown. Price: starting at $399,900. Square footage: 2,000. Built by Rezide Properties, a Tony Perry company. • Woodstock City Homes: Located on Arnold Mill Road, between Woodstock’s amphitheater and Reformation Brewery. Price: starting at $499,900. Square footage: 2,340. Rezide Properties, a Tony Perry company.
mINgle
After Hours Networking at Little River Clothing Thursday May 9 // 5:30 - 7:30 PM Copper Coin Coffee
MORNING INFLUENCE
Friday May 31, 2019 // 8 AM
RSVP: INWDSTK.ORG/EVENTS
Triad Is Valuable Resource continued from page 36
For more information, visit www.saltcherokee.com/ or on Facebook as Cherokee Triad-SALT.
Here is a list of helpful numbers:
Adult Protective Services (APS), 404-657-5250 AARP, 888-687-2277 Cherokee Area Transit (CATS), 770-345-6238 DFCS (Food stamps), 877-423-4746 Family Violence Hotline, 770-479-1703 Cherokee County Health Department, 770-345-7371 Canton Housing Authority, 770-479-4969 Meals on Wheels, 770-345-7440 MUST Ministries, 770-479-5397 Poison Control, 404-616-9000 Probate Court, 678-493-6160 Cherokee County Senior Services, 770-345-5320 Suicide/Crisis Counseling, 800-784-2433 United Way Helpline, 211
Rob’s Rescues continued from page 42
the neighborhood recently we saw him, and Bear-Bear was in bad shape with fleas and losing his hair. I took the dog in my patrol car to Grace at the W-Underdogs (See Rob’s article from August 2018). He got a bath and haircut and I brought him back to his owner a new dog! Another of my favorite stories is about a dog we named Smokey. He was rescued unconscious from outside an apartment complex fire. He was given CPR, and when the ambulance crew arrived they brought him around with a doggie oxygen mask. He went on to be adopted by a wonderful family.
How can I help you?
Spread awareness of the people that are available to help. If you make human lives better you make animals’ lives better. AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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WOODSTOCK AREA HOMES SOLD IN MARCH List Price Address
Subdivision
$556,748 $304,500 $414,900 $299,900 $435,000 $399,800 $499,900 $320,000 $349,900 $500,000 $225,000 $299,900 $375,000 $294,990 $499,900 $259,900 $192,500 $235,000 $280,000 $499,000 $465,000 $315,000 $750,000 $225,000 $567,500 $220,000 $269,000 $245,000 $354,000 $255,000 $535,000 $169,000 $270,000 $194,500 $235,000 $195,000 $289,000 $230,000 $275,000 $310,000 $174,900 $275,000 $279,000 $270,000 $217,500 $305,000 $295,000 $650,000 $259,900 $250,000 $275,000 $244,500 $369,000 $245,000 $330,000 $211,000 $264,900 $426,910 $275,000 $324,990 $299,990 $199,700 $239,000
Trickum Farms Woodlands Mill Park Bradshaw Farm Woodstock Knoll Arbor View Woodstock Knoll Cornerstone Park CORNERSTONE PARK Bradshaw Farm Colemans Bluff Arbor View Woodlands Hickory Mill Inwood Highland Village Riverchase None Mill Creek Crossing Oakhurst Woodstock Knoll Mill Creek Crossing none Carrington Farm Woodstock Knoll Farmington IV Wellington Manor WESTRIDGE Woodlands Whitfield Ridgewalk Woodstock Knoll Little Brook Estates Woodstock Village Cardinal Woods Weatherstone Colemans Bluff Southlands Bramble Oak The Glens @ Kingsgate Gunners Pond Sherwood Forest East Cherokee Village Woodstock Village Springfield Place Colemans Bluff Copper Ridge None Preserve at Wiley Bridge The Woodlands Indian Wells Waverly Park Woodlands Arbor View Deerchase Bradshaw Park Applewood The Woodlands Evelyn Farms Park Place Estates Evelyn Farms Hickory Mill Indian Wells Weatherstone
3036 Trickum Road 402 Beeton Court 105 Mill Park Chase 317 Oak Meadow Drive 130 Johnston Farm Lane 127 Highlands Drive 161 Johnston Farm Lane 116 Cornerstone Place 142 CORNERSTONE Place 411 Hickory Fairway Court 923 River Rock Drive 103 Arbor View Court 526 Pinchot Way 219 Hickory Chase 351 Riverton Way 236 Highland Village Lane 314 Knollwood Lane 4031 N Arnold Mill Road 1056 Inca Lane 2805 Stonecrest Alley 134 Johnston Farm Lane 106 Caracas Drive 511 Ragsdale Terrace 516 Carrington Court 147 Johnston Farm Lane 202 Lexington Drive 1412 Chatley Way 4012 Westridge Crossing 509 Pinchot Way 327 Tuggle Court 304 Harvest View Terrace 156 Little Brook Drive 450 Village View 610 Ravenwood Drive 350 Weatherstone Place 173 Colemans Bluff Drive 4506 Wedewer Way 904 LAUREL Court 411 ISLANDORA Cove 5020 Gunners Run NE 130 Robinhood Drive 545 E Cherokee Court 137 Village Trail 128 Springwater Trace 530 Bluff Court 504 Watts Way 1084 Wiley Bridge Road 103 Alice Bridge Way 207 Persimmon Trail 701 Navaho Court 414 Westchester Way 133 Churchcliff Drive 401 Edgebrooke Lane 602 Jeffrey Court 119 Bradshaw Park Drive 216 Apple Branch Drive 308 Burdock Trace 245 Neese Farm Drive 217 Park Avenue 238 Neese Farm Drive 225 Hickory Chase 311 Council Bluff 390 Weatherstone Place
Beds Full Baths Yr Built Sales Price 4 3 3 4 5 5 5 4 4 6 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 5 4 3 3 5 3 5 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 5 2 5 4 5 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3
3 3 2 3 3 4 4 2 2 5 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 4 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2
2018 2004 2018 1998 2013 1999 2015 2010 2008 1998 1986 2001 2005 2018 2018 2012 1984 1960 1999 2018 2013 1987 1986 1998 2015 1980 1994 1996 2005 2005 2016 1981 2014 1973 1997 1990 1990 1981 2000 1979 1971 1989 2014 1991 1991 1997 1988 2007 2003 1976 1995 2003 2004 1986 2003 1982 2003 2018 1986 2018 2019 1976 1999
$724,853 $299,000 $440,202 $299,900 $417,000 $395,000 $485,000 $312,000 $343,000 $479,000 $225,000 $292,000 $360,000 $294,990 $508,593 $257,000 $190,000 $230,000 $295,000 $499,000 $461,000 $319,000 $725,000 $225,000 $558,000 $225,000 $259,250 $250,000 $349,000 $255,000 $530,000 $172,000 $272,000 $194,500 $245,000 $172,000 $284,500 $230,000 $274,000 $310,000 $180,000 $268,000 $275,000 $279,000 $217,500 $305,000 $282,500 $630,000 $258,000 $250,000 $275,101 $244,500 $368,000 $247,500 $335,000 $208,000 $266,500 $405,000 $265,000 $314,000 $294,990 $188,000 $240,000
Days On Market 28 128 17 77 164 117 66 87 66 84 26 90 12 386 84 5 9 10 4 380 21 41 9 3 14 3 4 5 25 4 13 8 4 44 4 99 17 5 4 1 5 3 33 26 11 6 8 139 4 2 3 4 0 5 2 10 3 144 8 60 57 19 3
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Advertisers
For advertising rates and information: Patty Ponder, 770-615-3322 • Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com
May 2019
ANIMALS/PETS Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org
59
Furry Friends Gentle Pet Grooming 770-475-8845 www.furryfriendsgroomer.com
15
Half the Way Home 404-384-5366 www.halfthewayhome.org
Budget Blinds 678-540-1615 www.budgetblinds.com/woodstock
36
Landscape Matters 770-403-5813 www.landscapemattersInc.com
31
L. Bean Interiors 770-824-8386
31
Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 41 770-926-9260 www.pediatricwoodstockdentist.com
Mr. Junk 678-MR-Junk1(675-8651) www.mrjunk1.com
27
INSURANCE
DENTAL
45, 49
Sassy Paws Pet Boutique 678-275-2126 www.sassypawspb.com
7
Gentle Dental Care/Georgia Dental Implant Center Inside back 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com Kragor Orthodontics 770-485-8827 www.kragorortho.com
1
Imbriale Injury Law 678-445-7423 www.imbrialeinjury.com
15
Smile Doctors by Williams Orthodontics 26 770-592-5554 770-345-4155 www.drwilliamsorthodontics.com
Tidwell Strimban 678-999-8500 www.tidwellstrimban.com
19
EDUCATION/TRAINING
ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES
Giving Care Training Center 678-831-0830 www.givingcareathome.com
AUTOMOTIVE Woodstock Quality Paint & Body 770-926-3898
51
BEAUTY SALON & SPA Salon & Spa Venéssa 770-591-2079 www.salonvenessa.com
36
INWDSTK 59 inwdstk.org/events CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Next Step Ministries 770-592-1227 www.nextstepministries.net
51
CREDIT UNION LGE Community Credit Union www.lgeccu.org 770-424-0060 62
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
23
43
Woodstock Funeral Home and Cremations 770-926-3107 www.woodstockfuneralhome.com
39
5
HEALTH & WELLNESS Your CBD Store 770-627-3512 www.cbdrx4u.com
19
HOME & GARDEN Bryan Plumbing Services 770-826-5277
Main Street Nail Studio 770-928-2662
7
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES
FUNERAL SERVICES
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
5
NAIL SALON
FINANCIAL SERVICES Citadel Professional Services, LLC 770-952-6707 www.citadelwealthcare.com
State Farm Agent Sheila Geist 770-924-3680 www.sheilageist.net
9
Atlanta Gynecologic Oncology Atlanta, Marietta: Dr. Feuer 404-459-1900 Canton, TowneLake: Dr. Glasgow 770-721-9400 www.atlantagynonc.com
37
Canton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 9 770-479-8791/770-345-8670 www.cnrc.co Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta www.choa.org/alison
11
Drug Studies America 678-581-5252 www.drugstudies.net
13
Governors MedSpa & Concierge Medicine 3 678-888-5181 www.governorsmedicine.com
Northside Cherokee Surgical Assoc. 770-924-9656 www.ncsurgicalassociates.com
9
CYFA 45 www.cyfa.org
REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES Atlanta Communities/The Lindsey Haas Team 5 Direct: 678-933-1962 Office: 770-240-2005 www.thelindsethaasteam.com Coldwell Banker, Mike Taylor O:770-642-03999, D: 770-344-7720 www.cbhomes.com
27
Magnolia Cottages by the Sea www.magnolisdreamcottage.com
49
Premier Group, The — Keller Williams 678-494-0102 www.tpgsells.com
RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT
Back cover
Serenity Inside front 770-592-2404 www.treetopresidential.com
Elm St. Cultural Arts Village 678-494-4251 www.elmstreetarts.org
25
Golfing Fore! The Children www.serviceleague.net
31
Suntex Boat Club 770-331-2040 www.suntexboatclub.com
35
Wild Birds Unlimited 770-928-3014 www.wbu.com/woodstock
49
Arbor at BridgeMill, The Cover, 32, 33 770-284-4864 www.arborbridgemill.com Holbrook 15 404-445-7777 www.holbrooklife.com Lodge at BridgeMill, The
RESTAURANTS 1, 23
RETAILERS/ SHOPPING Neighborhood Nest, The 770-485-5898 www.theneighborhoodnestga.com
19
SENIOR LIVING/ SENIOR SERVICES
Greenprints Alliance Trailfest Inside front www.trailfest.fun
Copper Coin Coffee 470-308-6914 www.coppercoinwoodstock.com
Southern Sky Outlet 678-842-8411
27
7
833-358-4220 www.thelodgeatbridgemill.com Oaks at Towne Lake 770-592-2195 www.oaksseniorliving.com
41
TAX COMMISSIONER Cherokee County Tax Commissioner 47 www.taxcommissioner.cherokeega.com
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
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Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to readers. We publish Around Acworth, Around Canton, Around Woodstock and TowneLaker. We look forward to serving you, our readers and advertisers, every month. Thank you for your continued support and participation in making this truly your community magazine.
Front row, from left, Laura Latchford, Christie Deese, Patty Ponder and Jackie Loudin. Back row, Michelle McCulloch, Denise Griffin, Candi Hannigan, Karen Flaig, Katie Beall and Katherine Amick. Photo by Beth Fornuto.
Around Woodstock Distribution Map Circulation: 16,500
64
AROUND WOODSTOCK | May 2019
At Aroundabout Local Media, we believe the world functions at the community level: diverse groups of people living in close proximity, sharing commonality of culture, values and local pride, developing safety nets for those in need, and helping each other to live richer lives. It is our heartfelt desire to contribute to the fabric that helps make a community happen. Through our magazines, we aim to provide everyone in the communities we serve with uplifting, interesting information about the community they are proud to call home. We encourage you to send us your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about. It’s your community. It’s your magazine. Look on page 6 for our contact information.
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