Around Kennesaw Letter From the Editor
This Father’s Day will be bittersweet for me — bitter, because I lost my dad 2½ years ago, but sweet, because my son, Colton, became a dad to Dani Linley on May 3. My dad, Charles, was my rock, and his death left a hole in my heart that never will be filled. I depended on him for sage advice, for help around my house — he could do anything — and for a good laugh. I always could count on him, and he never once let me down. He didn’t graduate from high school — but he earned his GED diploma when he was 50 — and never went to college, but he made sure we did. He also raised me in a Christian home and taught me to love Jesus. I’m so grateful for everything he did for me. I know I’ll see him again one day, but that doesn’t make living here without him any easier. I’ve known since Colton was a young kid that he was going to be a great dad someday, and I was right. The way he looks at his newborn daughter melts my heart, and she already had him wrapped around her little finger from the second she was born. It’s amazing to see how his strong arms cradle her so gently and how he can just watch her sleep for the longest time. I’m eager to see how their relationship develops as she gets older, and I hope she’s as close to him as I was to my dad. Happy Father’s Day in heaven to my daddy, and Happy First Father’s Day to my son. And Happy Father’s Day to all you dads. If you’re blessed to have your father with you, don’t take him for granted. He’ll be gone long before you’re ready to say goodbye. In honor of Father’s Day, read about the three generations of firefighters in the Townsend family on Pages 16-17, and prepare a feast fit for a dad using the recipes on Pages 44-45. Also, on Pages 14-15, learn how St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store helps those in the community who need a little financial assistance. Turn to Page 20 to meet Tina Martin, a mail carrier who was honored for driving 1 million miles accident-free, and to Page 24 to see the two new golf simulators that were donated to Harrison High School. One final note: This month, we at Aroundabout Local Media are celebrating our 26th anniversary! Our company started in 1996 with the TowneLaker and has grown to five hyperlocal magazines in Cherokee and Cobb counties. Here’s to our continued success in the future!
Donna Harris Donna Harris is the managing editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She’s looking forward to being with her son, Colton, and granddaughter, Dani, on his first Father’s Day. Email her at donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com.
4
AROUND KENNESAW | June 2022
What’s New?
Piedmont Healthcare welcomed the community to its new medical office building in Kennesaw during a recent open house. The nearly 40,000-square-foot building at Chastain Road and Chastain Meadows Parkway houses comprehensive oncology services as well as primary- and specialty-care offices. Guests were able to meet Dr. Ashwin Sheelvanth and Dr. Mridula Vinjamuri, physicians with Piedmont Physicians Medical Oncology Kennesaw, as well as tour the on-site infusion center, radiation oncology office and imaging center.
Congratulations!
Cobb County’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved appointing Deputy Chief Stuart VanHoozer as the county’s new police chief during its May meeting. VanHoozer, who replaces retired Chief Tim Cox, has risen through the ranks during his 32-year career with the Cobb County Police Department and had served as a deputy chief since 2018. “I had no skills, I had nothing special, I had no military, I had no prior police experience, and I had no education,” VanHoozer said after the vote. “Cobb County Police hired me, and they put me in a little bitty thing called a beat, and they gave me one little section of turf to protect for eight hours. And I fell in love with this job.” VanHoozer, whose appointment took effect immediately, became a finalist for the job from a group of more than 50 candidates.
