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AROUND CANTON | August 2021
1
Contents
Contributors
August 2021
49 Kelley Archer
14 Cherokee Office of Economic Development
Homeowners Financial Group
22 Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists
On the Cover
27 Greg Fonzeno
Joshua Dean has a strong commitment to the community and to his family: wife Tina and children Judah, Gracie and Grantly.
38 Barbara Jacoby
42 Rob Macmillan
23 Dr. Scott Merritt
Pages 28 & 29
50 Linda Mummert
Photo by Maniac Agency
33 North GA Audiology 18 Kristin Norton 26 John Rodgers
53 Barbara Schirmer 36 Susan Schulz 33 Dr. Mary Swantek 30 Elisabeth Stubbs 20 Shawn Tolan 32 Ashley Velez 50 Mike Walls
16
In Every Issue
How Can You Help?
Take a closer look at the new History Cherokee center, under construction in Canton, and learn how to be involved.
18
Theatre Comes Alive
A look at the historic Canton Theatre’s past and future.
20
On the Same Page
Read why so many residents volunteered to sponsor Little Free Libraries in area parks.
2
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
4 Around Canton 8 Local News
12 Celebrations
24 Community Calendar 26 Library Events
34 Canton Dining Guide 39 School News
40 Rob’s Rescues 46 Noteworthy
48 Everyday Angels
54 Directory of Advertisers
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CALL TODAY! 470-863-2690 AROUND CANTON | August 2021
3
Around Canton Letter From the Editor
I’m happy to say that the staff at Aroundabout Local Media is busier than ever, uniting the communities we serve. That number has risen to five, with the addition of Around Kennesaw! Starting this month, 17,000 copies of this hyperlocal publication will be distributed by mail and in racks throughout that historic city. It’s become clear as we’ve prepared the first issue that Kennesaw residents and business owners are happy to hear we’ve come to their town. I’ve enjoyed learning more about the city in this process. Did you know it was called Big Shanty from the time it was established on a railroad line in the 1830s until it was incorporated as the city of Kennesaw in 1887? I’ll be sure to wave that premier issue at those who declare print is dead. I’m here to say it isn’t! Aroundabout Local Media has created a successful model of bringing positive and relevant information to our readers, while helping our local businesses prosper and grow. It began with the first issue of the TowneLaker, published 25 years ago. The longevity of this publication and its parent company, with new magazines added throughout the years, shows that our readers still love to get a sleek, glossy product in their mailboxes, absorb it from cover to cover, and keep it on the coffee table to refer to throughout the month. In a small way, I feel like we’ve become a part of your family. We often hear from our readers, and we love sharing their news with you. A perfect example is this month’s pickleball feature. Mike Walls reached out a few months ago to tell us about his teammate Linda Mummert’s efforts in making pickleball more accessible. Turn to Page 50 to find out how the country’s fastest growing sport is holding court in Cherokee County. We celebrate, with the folks at History Cherokee, the new history center being built in Canton. Learn more details and how you can take part on Pages 16-17. With these glimpses into our community, we hope to continue enhancing the local culture and fostering a sense of pride in our special county. I know that after 42 (GULP) years in the business of print media, I could not be more proud to be a part of this industry. And yes, I started when I was 10, in case you were wondering.
Kindness Challenge of the Month
Sweeten Someone’s Day. When checking out at the
grocery store, ask your cashier what their favorite candy bar is, and buy it for them. A sweet treat is almost always welcomed!
Candi Hannigan is the executive editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She has lived in Cherokee County since 1987. Send your comments or questions to Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com.
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AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Welcome!
Graphic designer Savannah Winn has joined the Aroundabout Local Media staff. The Georgia native graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s of fine arts in graphic communications and a minor in marketing. When she is not working, Savannah enjoys other artistic pursuits, including ceramics and painting. She also loves swing dancing, and enjoys local events and traveling across the country.
What’s New
Puerta de Oro Taqueria & Cantina has opened in the old Pizza Hut location at 220 Marietta Highway. www.puertadeorotaqueriacantina.com.
What’s Coming
Canyons Fresh Grill is coming to Canton, with a location at 1359 Riverstone Parkway, Suite 100. Canyons is a fast-casual, kidfriendly, American concept known for burgers and milkshakes. The team, who also has a location on Chambers Street in Woodstock, hopes to open by mid-late August. On Facebook and Instagram. www.canyonsfresh.com. A new outdoor fitness gym is being installed at Heritage Park near the staircase from the YMCA to the park. The plyometric gym will include equipment that can be used for weight-training using the individual’s own body weight. Archer Street parking deck update: Construction documents were released for bid proposals on July 1. Bid closing is Aug. 3, with a recommendation for Canton City Council approval in September. Construction should begin in late October.
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce
Cherokee County History Center groundbreaking 221 E. Marietta St., Canton 770-345-3288. www.historycherokee.org.
Legends at Laurel Canyon, LLC ribbon cutting 100 Legends Drive, Canton. 678-287-3827
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AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Around Acworth | Around Canton | Around Kennesaw Around Woodstock | TowneLaker
Our Mission
Helping local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers.
Results With Us
“We have had positive feedback and new patients come to our center after reading about us in Around Canton magazine. Many thanks!” —Laura Elledge NP TwleveStone Health partners
Advertise With Us
Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com ALM President Patty Ponder 770-615-3322 Patty@AroundaboutMagazines.com Director of Marketing Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 Jen@AroundaboutMagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 Candi@AroundaboutMagazines.com Managing Editor Katie Beall 770-852-8481 Katie@AroundaboutMagazines.com
Assistant Editor Jessica Forrester 770-615-3318 Jessica@AroundaboutMagazines.com
Art Director Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 Michelle@AroundaboutMagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford Laura@AroundaboutMagazines.com
Graphic Designer Savannah Winn Savannah@AroundaboutMagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 Denise@AroundaboutMagazines.com Social Media Manager Kathryn Holt Kat@AroundaboutMagazines.com
Market & Advertising Specialist Michelle Smith Michelle.Smith@AroundaboutMagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers
Jennifer Coleman, Director of Marketing 678-279-5502 Jen@AroundaboutMagazines.com
Get Social With Us!
@aroundcantonmagazine @aroundcantonmag @around_canton
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www.aroundcantonmagazine.com AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Around Canton, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly magazine created to help local businesses grow and prosper by offering affordable advertising opportunities in a quality publication that provides positive, relevant information to our readers. A total of 17,000 free copies are distributed monthly; approximately 16,600 are mailed to homes and businesses, with an additional 400 placed in racks around the community. Many readers catch the latest edition online each month. Around Canton welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The deadline is the 10th of each month. Yearly subscriptions are available for $24. Send a check or money order to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher and the publisher makes no claims about the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Canton 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 2021.
Around Canton
1025 Rose Creek Drive, PMB 380, Suite 620 Woodstock, GA 30189 Volume 9, Issue 5
America’s Community Magazine
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Local News
Barbecue for the Veterans
Cherokee County veterans organizations will host an event to raise money to help veterans in need. The inaugural Red, White and Blue BBQ competition is set for Oct. 29-30. The event, a Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA)-sanctioned competitive cook-off, allows amateurs and professionals to enter. “We are looking forward to hosting this event every year around Veterans Day,” said John Bruss, of Canton’s VFW Post 5262. “Cherokee County has over 15,000 veterans and over eight veteran service organizations (VSO) and we are very proud to be part of the larger Cherokee County community.” The event will take place at the American Legion Post 45, located at 160 McClure St. in Canton. Other features include live music, a classic car show, a veteran-owned business craft fair, children’s entertainment, trick or treating, raffles and barbecue tasting. Tickets are $5 per person, age 5 and older, which includes five tickets for tasting. This year’s recipients of the proceeds will be the Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program and Veteran Suicide Awareness, which is part of the Cherokee County Suicide Coalition. The organizations hosting the event are: American Legion Post 45 Canton; American Legion Post 316 Woodstock; Daughters of the American Revolution Hightower Trail Chapter; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45 Canton; Soleil and Laurel Canyon veterans clubs; VFW Post 5262 Canton, Marine Corps League Detachment 1311 of Woodstock, Wingman Motorcycle Club and Cherokee Veterans Community. For more information, contact Jim Lindenmayer at 678-983-7590 or email jlindenmayer80@gmail. com. On Facebook.
Officer Michael Crowe, left, and Sgt. Mary Turner.
Canton Police Department Adds Electric Motorcycles Chief Stephen Merrifield announced that two new electric motorcycles have been added to the Canton Police Department (CPD) fleet to enhance community safety and support the city’s sustainability goals. The motorcycles are manufactured by Zero Motorcycles, and they are designed for on- and off-road use. “The motorcycles will allow us to patrol our newly expanded park trail system, and allow us to do it without emission and noise pollution,” Merrifield said. Three CPD officers have been trained and certified to operate the motorcycles. They will be used regularly throughout the year for traffic enforcement, concerts, parades, trails and special events. “This will allow officers to engage more community members, as we continue to build relationships and trust,” Merrifield said.
Sheriff Reynolds Appointed to Driver Services Board Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds has been appointed to serve on the Georgia Board of Driver Services. Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan made the appointment, which will run a six-year term, expiring on June 30, 2027. “I am very honored to serve on this board, and I appreciate Lt. Gov. Duncan and Director Spencer Moore for giving me the opportunity to serve the citizens of Georgia,” Reynolds said. The Georgia Board of Driver Services governs the Department of Driver Services (DDS), which is responsible for enforcing and administering state laws and regulations relating to driver’s licenses. The nine-member board will meet monthly to discuss issues related to improving customer service, advancing technology and protecting the safety of the citizens of Georgia. 8
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Local News
Plan Now for Early Voting Early voting times and locations for the Nov. 2 election have been announced by officials with the Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration office. The biggest changes since the last election include: adding a Saturday, extending voting times on Saturday, and a location change. For more details, visit https://voter.cherokeega.com
Oct. 12-29 Locations
— Elections Warehouse, 400 E. Main St., Canton. — Elections Office (temporarily moved to the Bluffs Northside Cherokee Conference Center until another building is secured) — South Cherokee Annex, 7545 Main St., Building 200, Woodstock
Hours
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12-15 and Oct. 18-22 9 am.-5 p.m. Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 25-29
Oct. 23-29 Locations
In addition to the previous three: — Ball Ground Public Library 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground — Hickory Flat Public Library 2740 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton — Rose Creek Public Library 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock
Hours
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 23 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 25-29 10
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Musicians Given Trophies for Their Accomplishments During the recent Cherokee Music Teachers Association (CMTA) annual awards ceremony, trophies were given to students who had participated in the association’s judged event and accumulated sufficient points. The event took place at Reinhardt’s Falany Performing Arts Center, and featured performances by summer music camp scholarship winners and guest artist Raffi Besalyn. Students who received trophies were: Kyla Fenn, Maci Hamilton, Nina Forsythe, Logan Dodd, Jordan Battaglia, Julie Tryon, Felicity Jeong, Amonis Godfrey, Luke Griffies, Addie Balboa, Emily Dubuc, Hayden Danneman, Angela Matthews, Jonah Kim, London Kim, Amelia Oliver, Elijah Kotronis, Shaoey Pace, Robert Duffoo, Thomas Duffoo, John Thomas, Uriah Ribley, Allison Sirmon, Elsa Maxwell, Brennen Maxwell, Sophia Maxwell, Julianna Ogden, Noah Powell, Kate Fenn, Davis Fenn, Mckinley Moore, Clair Moore, Jack Dugas, Virginia Battaglia, Henry Dusseault, Joey Dagostino, Nathaneal Anderson, Colt Turner and Kyle Yuzzi. For information on CMTA, contact Linda Lokey at linda@lokey.net.
New Website Enhances Transportation Focus The latest Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) update has a new website, www.CherokeeMoves.com. The announcement comes as the county prepares for an update to its CTP, aimed at identifying current and future transportation opportunities to address the growing population. The CTP will assess enhancements to roadways, pedestrian and bicycle access, transit and freight capacity. “Transportation demand continues to rise in Cherokee County, and this update is an opportunity to enhance our network,” said County Manager Geoff Morton. “The CTP will identify infrastructure improvements that manage increasing demand, support economic development, minimize environmental impacts and ultimately promote a high quality of life for our communities. This process is key in determining the future of transportation across Cherokee County and ensuring our growth is met with the right transportation investments.” Residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to read more about the CTP on the new website. Opportunities for the public to provide input on proposed project plans will be provided later this year. Email cherokeemoves@ cherokeega.com for more information.
Discover Your New Home at Great Sky
Nestled in rolling hills of northern Georgia on the edge of picturesque Hickory Log Creek Reservoir, you will find Great Sky. A community with the perfect balance of nature and home, quiet and convenience. Over 300 acres of protected green space is the stunning backdrop for new homes with beautiful views of both mountains and water. Yet for all the wide-open space, Great Sky is still a small southern community at heart, with friendly neighbors, family activities, and award-winning schools. Nearby Canton has a vibrant downtown with great shopping, dining, and cultural events. Great Sky is where natural beauty and life-enhancing amenities mingle perfectly to create a peaceful, rewarding life for you and your family. GreatSkyGA.com
info@greatskycanton.com
(770) 704-0234
©2019. Equal Housing Opportunity. The amenities and features described and depicted herein are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. Actual development may not be as currently proposed. References to housing products, builders and prices are subject to change without notice as well.
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Celebrations!
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE FREE! Edit@AroundaboutMagazines.com September deadline is Aug. 10. Please specify Around Canton.
Iker Delgado
Aug. 31 Happy birthday! We love you Ikis!
Emery Hall
Age 7 on Aug. 19 Happy birthday!
Tiani Johnson
Age 20 on Aug. 19 Happy birthday Tink! We love you! Dad, Mom, Abygail, London and Hugo
Gram Schroeder
Age 4 on Aug. 2 Happy birthday to our sweet Gram. We are so blessed to watch him grow, love and learn. Pete, Corinne and big sister, Alice Schroeder. 12
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Christian Carnaghi
Age 7 on Aug. 23 Happy seventh birthday Christian! You are always in my heart! Love, Mommy
Ray Haygood
Happy 74th birthday to a wonderful hubby, Daddy, and Grumps. Love, Tammy
Kaya
Age 12 on July 11 Happy birthday, sweet girl! You make us so proud. We love you! Mommy, Daddy, Luke and Scout
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A REAL ESTATE SELLING EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER WITH THE Lindsey Haas Real Estate Team HOW WE TRANSFORM HOMES This home was on the market in 2020 with two other agents for a total of 154 days. The home never sold. The Lindsey Haas Team had the home cleaned, a few inexpensive changes made, staged it to sell & took superior professional photos. The Lindsey Haas Team sold this home in under 2 weeks & without reducing the list price.
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Reinvent Your Career At The Cherokee Career Expo SUBMITTED BY THE CHEROKEE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Work Readiness Wednesday Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce has a resource for those looking for a job. Work Readiness Wednesday is a no-cost service that helps with such needs as résumé building and job search tactics. It is an online initiative providing personalized support with: • résumé building • interviewing tips • job search tactics • soft skills Held on a quarterly basis, the next Work Readiness Wednesday will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 29, by appointment only. It is as easy as 1-2-3!
1.
Pre-register for assistance (required). To access the registration form:
• Scan the QR code provided. • Visit www.jotform.com/ CherokeeGAChamber/ WorkReadinessWednesday. • Contact Meagan@ CherokeeChamber.com.
2.
Complete and submit the registration form. A chamber representative will contact you to schedule your appointment.
3.
Meet virtually, via Zoom, with a local subject matter expert who is ready to assist you with creating your résumé and polishing your job search/ interview skills. 14
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
The alarm rings. You roll out of bed, check your phone, and start framing your day. For many, that means an uphill battle in traffic after guzzling a cup of coffee. While teleworking has become more commonplace since the start of the pandemic, more people are beginning to clock back in at their physical workplace. In many ways, work as we know it has forever changed. From Fortune 500 companies with massive overheads to small businesses operating on a shoestring budget, businesses and employees have reinvented themselves to survive. Much like other challenging times in history, innovation and progress arose out of necessity. Cherokee’s strong sense of community and perseverance were the bonds that held us together. Now, a year and a half later, Cherokee is seeing a resurgence of diverse, high-paying jobs. Let’s face it – gas prices are not going down any time soon and neither are the fees to hop onto the managed express lanes. But there is a solution. Forget the commute and work in Cherokee. If you have been thinking about making a life change or rediscovering your “why,” now is the perfect time. Reinvent your career and regain time by dropping the commute at the Cherokee Career Expo, 2-6 p.m. Aug. 18. This annual event, held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center, features some of Cherokee’s top employers, ranging from the awardwinning full service digital agency Black Airplane to Chart Industries – a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment for the industrial gas and clean energy industries. Roles are diverse and include high-paying careers in human resources, IT, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, administration and more. Before heading to the expo and hitting submit on your next job, try a few of these best practices. • Your cover letter is often your first impression. Improve your odds of getting in the door by showcasing your personality and highlighting key strengths that you will bring to the job. • Update your LinkedIn page and ask a former mentor/coworker to recommend your work. • Highlight quantifiable accomplishments and identify ways your work has added value or improved your workplace. • Proofread, always. “A panda eats, shoots, and leaves” is different from “A panda eats shoots and leaves.” • Practice makes perfect. Sharpen interview skills by practicing with a friend, mentor or family member. • Character matters. When arriving for the interview, treat the janitor the same as the CEO. • Dress for success. • Always follow-up with a thank-you letter.
Need personalized one-on-one resume assistance? Representatives will be available on-site at the expo beginning at 1 p.m. in the business center. We hope to see you at Cherokee’s largest hiring event on Aug. 18. Come dressed to impress and discover the opportunities that exist right here at home.
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development is the leading organization for business and film recruitment and industry retention and expansion. www.cherokeega.org.
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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A rendering of the new Cherokee County History Center, which will be located in a renovated space formerly occupied by the Canton Police Department.
History Cherokee Expansion Offers Space for More Museum Visitors, Community Resources
The history center will house exhibit galleries, a research library, archives room and a classroom for educational programming. 16
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
The new Cherokee County History Center at 221 E. Marietta St. in Canton is slated to open in the spring of 2022. The center will spotlight Cherokee County’s rich history from prehistoric times to the modern days of growth and development. In the Cherokee County History Museum’s former location, at the historic marble courthouse, attendance ranged from 2,000 to 4,000 annual visitors. It is estimated that the new center will welcome 20,000 visitors a year, who will engage with museum exhibits, research resources and quality programming. Located in downtown Canton’s former police station, which is undergoing renovations and construction, the new history center will be headquarters for History Cherokee, formerly the Cherokee County Historical Society. The center will expand the reach and impact of History Cherokee’s activities by serving as a new cultural asset for the community, with engaging exhibits, enriching educational resources and comprehensive programming. When complete, the center will feature a stateof-the-art museum, with more than 5,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as a research center and library, for a total of 11,000 square feet.
Visitors can interact with new features, including tabletop touch screens and a large projection wall showing videos chronicling the history and development of the county.
In late June, History Cherokee announced the official groundbreaking of the new history center. “This project has been years in the making, so we’re excited to begin construction,” Executive Director Stefanie Joyner said. “This expansion will allow us to reach a larger audience and really interact with our community. We can’t wait to open our doors.” New features within the center will include a large projection wall showing videos chronicling the history and development of the county, tabletop touch screens allowing visitors to explore topics in great detail, and largescale installations highlighting work and home life in Cherokee County over the centuries. The museum will feature educator-friendly resources, including an instructional guide with teaching standards, interactive children’s activities and a classroom for educational programming. It also will be a center for preservation advocacy, allowing for research into architectural history. The main hall will play host to history programs. The research library will house information about historic buildings and local topics of interest. The climate-controlled archives room will house 120,000 items in the
The lobby leads to the main hall, which will play host to history programs and topics of interest.
collection safely. The exhibit galleries will offer an engaging and mindful walk through Cherokee County’s history. Overall, the new center will allow History Cherokee to grow and reach a wider and more diverse audience, which will facilitate the preservation of our historic resources and the special places that make Cherokee County a great place to live, work and play. From January 2020, to June 2021, more than 60 families, individuals, local governments, foundations and organizations made generous investments in the History in the Making Capital Campaign. During those 18 months, the campaign raised $2.5 million, about 90% percent of the initial $2.8M million fundraising goal, and it aims to exceed that mark through additional supporter initiatives. “The level of community support for this project has been
overwhelming and shows the deep commitment of those who live here to honor our history,” said Rebecca Johnston, the campaign co-chair. “This is a project that will benefit all Cherokee County residents, and that fact resonated with our investors. We are indebted to all those who have helped make this project possible.”
How You Can Help
Donations to the capital campaign are welcome. In the future, History Cherokee will need volunteers, researchers, members, patrons and participants to help with public programs and events at the museum. Stay tuned! If you are interested in being a part in this transformational moment in Cherokee County history, please contact Stefanie Joyner at 770-345-3288, Ext. 1 or at sjoyner@historycherokee.org.
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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The Canton Theatre was known as the Bonita in the early 1900s.
Busy Season Ahead for Canton Theatre BY KRISTIN NORTON
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AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Built in 1911 as a silent movie theater, the historic Canton Theatre has been in operation for more than 100 years. The theater has seen changing times and held several names, such as The Bonita and The Haven, before finally being named Canton Theatre during a renovation in the late 1930s. The Canton Theatre played the best motion pictures of the time and was described as a “thoroughly modern sound and movie palace, with all the comfort, light and cheer that denotes a first-class picture theater housed in the larger cities.” In the 1970s, the building fell into disrepair, as Canton residents began to travel to newer, more modern theaters or drive-ins to view films. The Canton Theatre sat idle for many years and was known to local residents as “the pigeon roost” because of all of the birds that made their home inside. After many attempts at private restoration in the 1980s and 1990s, city officials saw value in the historic structure and stepped in to save it. The city acquired the property and secured financing through the Downtown Development Authority to restore the theater to the 1930s art deco style. Since a dedication ceremony in May 2000, the theater has been home to local and traveling theater productions, musical entertainment, comedians and film screening events. After more than a year of being closed due
The theater’s interior when renovation began, circa 1998, and the finished product.
to COVID-19, Canton Theatre is poised to make a comeback. Beginning in September, the theater will have a continuous lineup of entertainment the rest of the year. On Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., the theater will present a showing of the classic film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The following two weekends will be devoted to the theater’s long-standing partner, Cherokee Theatre Company, which will present “The Sweet Delilah Swim Club,” a full-length comedy about five Southern women who meet each August at a favorite beach cottage to catch up, laugh and meddle in one another’s lives. On Oct. 7, the Etowah Film Festival returns, with a weekend full of film shorts and full-length features made locally and around the world. Other film events in October include the 1991 “The Addams Family”; a special showing of “Hocus Pocus,” in partnership with Canton Historic Haunts Ghost Tours; and a Halloween weekend showing of the horror classic “The Shining.” A variety of concerts, film events and live theater productions also are scheduled for the remainder of the year. For more information and details on future events, call 770-704-0755 or visit cantontheatre.com.
Kristin Norton is a Cherokee County native with a background in the performing arts. She is the director of the Historic Canton Theatre.
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AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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On The Same Page
Canton Residents Answer a Call to Sponsor Little Free Libraries BY SHAWN TOLAN
In 2009, Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, started the nonprofit Little Free Library (LFL) as a tribute to his mother, an educator who loved to read. His idea was to offer books to anyone who would like one, and to keep the libraries brimming with books from those who can donate, while the LFLs wait for their doors to be opened by curious readers. Bol’s small project would blossom into a movement that has grown to 100,000 LFLs in more than 100 countries around the world. Three teachers from Hasty Elementary, Cristin Bell, Justine Beckebrede and Beth Cronan, approached me on April 1, to see if the city of Canton would approve the placement of two LFLs in city parks, as part of their specialist degree pursuits. City staff and council members embraced the idea. While Bell, Beckebrede and Cronan solicited book donations and funding from Hasty’s Parent Teacher Association, I wondered why the project should be limited to just two parks. After all, there are eight parks in Canton, which are visited by thousands of people monthly. I posted a call to action on the Cherokee Connect Facebook page, and, within six hours, the city had enough sponsors to put LFLs in all city parks. Many of the sponsors, such as Angela and Mark Whitaker, chose parks that had impacted them as children. All sponsors care deeply about literacy and the impact of LFL books in our parks and communities. The libraries were constructed using kits from the nonprofit. I constructed two libraries, and the rest were assembled and, if needed, painted by sponsors. Adam Dobson and Canton city staff eagerly jumped in to help. They purchased posts and concrete for the LFLs, and placed the posts in ideal spots at each park, to allow easy access. Ribbon cuttings were scheduled for all seven parks over a two-week period, with the last one dedicated on June 22. Thank you to the following donors:
• Etowah River Park and Burge Park: Cristin Bell, • • • • •
Justine Bekebrede and Beth Cronan
Boling Park: Alison Hendrix Heritage Park: Ashley and Todd Dickerson McCanless Park: Angela and Mark Whitaker Harmon Field Park: Dr. Susan Buice and Becky Buice Cannon Park: Mike and Shelly Farrar
Canton already had one LFL, located in Brown Park, that was donated by the Rotary Club. And, because of all these giving people, residents and visitors alike now can leave a book, or pick up a book, at any of the eight Canton city parks.
Shawn Tolan serves on Canton City Council, representing Ward 2. He is the general manager of Tolan Roofing & Construction. He and wife Shari have two children and three grandchildren.
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AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Etowah River Park & Burge Park
Justine Bekebrede, Cristin Bell, Beth Cronan
“As teachers, we stress the importance of reading to our students. However, many families do not have books at home. We wanted to find a way for our students and families in the community to have easy access to reading materials, whether they are at school or not. Thanks to the Hasty PTA, we were able to fund two libraries that directly impact our students and their families. We are so surprised at the outpouring of support from the City Council members and the mayor. Our hope is that everyone in our community will utilize the libraries and work together to keep them stocked with books.”
Boling Park Alison Hendrix
“As an educator, I know that access to books and daily reading are key indicators of academic success for children. I am also a regular patron of the public library, and I think of Little Free Libraries as a way to make reading even more accessible. I chose Boling Park as the location for my LFL because of the proximity to Cherokee High School, which is where I teach. I sponsored the library in honor of my uncle and aunt, Homer and Linda Brookshire. Both of them really enjoyed reading, so I felt the library was a fitting tribute to them.”
Heritage Park
Harmon Field
Dr. Susan Buice and Becky Buice
“Becky and I grew up always hearing the story of how our mother’s great uncle deeded the land for Harmon Field to the city of Canton, with the only stipulation in the deed being that the field always be used for children to have a safe place to play. We have always called Harmon Field our family’s field. “Shawn Tolan posted on Cherokee Connect, asking for sponsors for Little Free Libraries to be placed in every park in the city of Canton. Harmon Field was on the list. We knew immediately that we wanted to be a part of carrying on the family tradition of providing for the children who would play at Harmon Field. “We purchased the library and hundreds of books to be placed in the library. Some of our friends have also donated books. Our niece Haley Roderick and her daughter Julianna attended the ribbon cutting with us. Julianna makes the sixth generation of Harmon ancestors who have made contributions to Harmon Field.”
The Dickerson family
“Once our family found out about the opportunity to provide a free library, we had to jump on the chance to give back to the community. Children are amazing. They are resilient, brave, full of joy, full of laughter, full of hope. We appreciate our community wanting to provide opportunities for children to learn in a variety of settings. The free little library is one small way to encourage families to not only spend quality time together reading, but also to encourage children to let their imaginations take them up, up, and away! Happy reading!”
McCanless Park
Mark and Angela Whitaker
“For over 50 years, McCanless Park has been a part of our family’s life. This project represents an opportunity to continue its legacy as an important place of community for families like ours and those who are new to our city. We imagine these Little Libraries as gathering places where children and adults alike can explore new worlds and ideas. They are a small step that we can be a part of in the process of creating equitable access to resources and hopefully learn from those who visit our little red schoolhouse.”
Cannon Park
The Farrar family
“Our restaurants and family are big believers in supporting our community and families every chance we get. We have seen these in many other towns and always loved the idea. Being able to gift people books and the power of reading means the world to us. Shawn chose this park for us, as he said it was the heart of the city. Later, we learned it was named after the father of one of our dear regulars. We also wanted to help support the Hispanic community. One of our employees lives there and he has gotten his adorable 7-year-old reading more and giving back.” AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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A Rainbow Baby After The Storm BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PC
Ashley experienced two miscarriages in one year and feared she would never have a baby. She and her husband were devastated. Ashley discovered miscarriages are common, with one in four women experiencing at least one in their lifetime. There are many reasons miscarriages can occur. After blood tests, Ashley learned she had two clotting disorders. Determined to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy, she went to a hematologist for more answers. She started taking blood thinners after the visit. Three months later, Ashley had a positive pregnancy test. While she and her husband were overjoyed, they were understandably tentative. They waited until Ashley was 12 weeks along to share the news with family and friends. “When I figured out that I was pregnant, I was hesitant to share the news with anyone,” Ashley said. “Going through that twice in a row, you don’t want to share anything until you’re in the ‘safe zone.’ After going through two losses, you can’t help but think, ‘is it going to happen again?’” After each appointment, learning that she and the baby were healthy, Ashley’s worries and fears started to fade. She had a smooth pregnancy, until her third trimester. She went to the hospital three times with early contractions. It was during the last visit that she learned her baby was in a breech position. Because she was on blood thinner medication, her options were to be induced or to have a cesarean section (C-section). Since her little one was in a breech position, her doctor scheduled Ashley for a C-section. She was worried for her baby; however, she completely trusted her doctor. Ashley delivered a healthy baby boy, her rainbow baby. (A rainbow baby is a term for a baby born after a miscarriage, stillborn birth or early infant death.)
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“A year ago, I didn’t think I was ever going to be a mom. Today, I have the most beautiful little boy. He was the missing piece that I needed to feel completely whole.” Ashley and her husband hope by sharing their story, they can offer hope to others. As we know, the rainbow can’t come until after there is a storm.
Cherokee Women's Health Specialists, PC has seven physicians with offices in Canton and Woodstock. 770-720-7733. www.cherokeewomenshealth.com.
Start the School Year with a Smile BY SCOTT V. MERRITT, DMD
Back-to-school season is here. As summer draws to a close, make sure your child is ready to kick off the school year with a confident, healthy smile. New clothes and shoes? Check. Notebooks and pencils? Check. Backpack? Check. While stocking up on back-to-school clothing and supplies, don’t forget to include a dental exam on your checklist. During a routine dental checkup, dentists examine the state of your child’s mouth, gums and teeth. Your dental care team also will provide customized tips to add to your child’s home routine. In addition to routine cleanings and exams, good home oral health care is essential. This includes brushing twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing every day and eating a wellbalanced diet. Make toothbrushing a fun family activity. Play your child’s favorite song, and let them select themed toothbrushes; or, use a sticker calendar to mark their brushing and flossing achievements. Oral health also can impact children’s academic achievement. Skipping dental visits could spell trouble for your child’s overall health and well-being. Oral health risks include trouble eating, speaking, concentrating in class and even missed school days. Prevent emergencies, and other serious oral issues, by booking regular appointments with your dental provider. Your child’s dentist will identify any issues and recommend treatment.
While you are at the dental office with your kids, be sure to ask the dentist or dental hygienist for preventative care, such as fluoride treatments and sealants to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride helps protect those pearly whites against cavities, and sealants seal the groves in the teeth to block bacteria from creating cavities. If you have questions about what products are best for your child’s smile, ask your child’s dental care team to recommend the best oral hygiene tools for their needs. Don’t let your child lose focus in school. Early prevention and detection of dental problems will help your child stay healthy throughout the school year. It is important to swap out lunchbox sweets such as chips and crackers, candies and granola bars for healthy alternatives. Try celery sticks, carrots and cubes of cheese instead. While you are squeezing in every last minute of summer fun, remember to schedule your child’s end-of-summer checkup with your favorite dentist.
Dr. Scott Merritt founded BridgeMill Dentistry in 2002. The office is located on Sixes Road between Ridge and Bells Ferry roads.
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Around & About AUGUST
3 National Night Out
will be held 6-9 p.m. in the Park at City Center in Woodstock. Join the Woodstock Police Department and local public safety agencies in heightening crime and drug prevention awareness, and in strengthening police and community partnerships. This event will feature K-9 demonstrations, food and drinks, a DJ and more.
5 SORBA Woodstock Ladies Social Ride
will take place 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Blankets Creek trail system in Canton. This weekly ladies social meets on Thursdays near the restroom area before the ride. All ability levels are welcome, including beginners. Bring your own beverage, snacks and chair to hang out after. Visit www.sorbawoodstock.org/calendar for details.
The Market at The Mill on Etowah is 5:30-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday night on the green, featuring local makers, creators, bakers and artists. Details are available on Facebook at The Mill on Etowah page.
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The 2021 Lake Allatoona Poker Run, benefiting Folds of Honor, is hosted by the Lake Allatoona Association. This is not a race, and a vessel is not required. You may purchase a hand and select your cards at the table. Registration and details are available at https://lake-allatoona-association.square.site.
Movies in the Park will be at Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater in downtown Woodstock at 8:35 p.m. Aug. 7; 8:05 p.m. Sept. 4; and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2. The movies being shown had not been announced at press time.
Yoga in the Park is at Brown Park in Canton, 9-10 a.m.
on the first Saturday of each month, through October. The free yoga class is for everyone, beginners to advanced. Please sign up if you plan to attend; waivers must be signed before starting. Information on the Horizon Healing Center Facebook page.
14 Moo’ve It 5K, Chick-fil-A Cherokee County The 8th annual
a fundraiser for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and Special Olympics, will take place at Etowah River Park in Canton. The 5K begins at 8 a.m. Visit www.cfamooveit.com for a full schedule of events, and to register.
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16 Tournament
The 18th annual Chamber Classic Golf will be at Woodmont Golf and Country Club in Canton. Registration is at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. shotgun start. Visit cherokeechamber. com for options on how to get involved. Contact Gini Mizelle at 770-345-0400 or Gini@CherokeeChamber.com for more information.
19 Back to School Sip + Shop
is set for 5 p.m. in downtown Woodstock. Tickets are $10 per person and are available for purchase at the Woodstock Visitors Center. At the start of the event, pick up your tote bag and directory of participating merchants, and register for raffle prizes at the visitors center. For details visit, https://visitwoodstockga.com/event/back-to-school-sip-shop.
20-22 Etowah Wildlife Expo
will be at The Mill on Etowah in downtown Canton. Join the fun for a celebration of wildlife with expert demonstrations, live entertainment, fine arts and vendors. for the schedule of events and more details visit, www.etowahwildlifeexpo.com.
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A free No Fail Fall Gardening Class will be hosted by Cherokee Master Gardeners and Papa’s Pantry, 10-11:30 a.m., at 6551 Commerce Parkway. For more information, call 770-591-4707. Registration is required, and the class is limited to 15. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/33jn8fv4.
SORBA Woodstock Social Ride for men and women
will be at the Blankets Creek trail system in Canton, 1011 a.m. Join the monthly social ride; all ability levels are welcome, including beginners. Food will be provided after the ride. Bring your own beverages. For details visit, www.sorbawoodstock.org/calendar.
28 Southern Steam & Chili Cook Off
is set for 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Rock Barn in Canton. Festivities include live music, vendors, tea dueling, a costume “cosplay” contest, and an International Chili Society (ICS)sanctioned chili cook-off. Visit www.wayneevents.com/ southern-steam for details and tickets. Children under age 12 do not require a ticket. Chili cook-off contestants must be in the ICS. To join, visit www.chilicookoff.com/register.
Kid Biz Expo will support local young entrepreneurs at Sutallee Baptist Church, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be kids vending, food trucks, music and a raffle. For details visit, https://fb.me/e/ElUuOMfP.
CHEROKEE THEATRE COMPANY Performances will be at the Canton Theatre, 171 E. Main St. Visit the Cherokee Theatre Company Facebook page for more details. https://www.cherokeetheatre.org/shows
Sept. 17-19, 24-26
“The Sweet Delilah Swim Club” by Jones, Hope and Wooten. Full-length comedy-drama, five females. “The Sweet Delilah Swim Club” cast is, from left: Beth Stafford, Kristen Small, Sarah Fechter, Sharon Cline and Christine Fitzgerald.
SEPTEMBER
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The National Alliance on Mental Illness Family Support Group is peer-led, and provides support to adults who have a loved one with mental illness. The group meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Contact Ovie Hughie at 678-880-9296, or oviehughie@gmail.com, for more information.
5 Tacos and Tequila Festival
is coming to The Mill on Etowah, noon-8 p.m. Join the community in a celebration of live music, local vendors, and the best tacos and tequila around. Visit https://bit.ly/3ijol2a for details.
11 9/11 Day of Remembrance
begins at 7 p.m. in the Park at City Center in Woodstock. Remember those we’ve lost, and honor our first responders and the servicemen and women who continue to serve, fight and sacrifice for our freedom and safety. Visit www.woodstockparksandrec.com for details.
17 Relay for Life Cherokee County
begins at 6 p.m. in Etowah River Park in Canton. For details, or to donate or join the relay, visit https://bit.ly/3efwiUx.
25-26 Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival
returns for its 37th year. The Service League of Cherokee County fundraiser will take place at Etowah River Park in Canton, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Riverfest is a juried show, featuring original, creative, handmade work from artisans all over the region, as well as live music and food vendors. Admission is $5. Visit the Riverfest Facebook page for more details.
CANTON FIRST FRIDAY The monthly block party, sponsored by the Canton Main Street Program, will run 6-9 p.m. in downtown Canton. www.cantonga.gov. On Facebook.
Aug. 6: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute - On the Border Sept. 3: Trotline Oct. 1: Electric Avenue Oct. 29: No Sweat, Halloween costume contest Nov. 5: Glow Band (rescheduled from July) CANTON RIVER ROCK CONCERT SERIES The free concerts begin at 6 p.m. at Etowah River Park. Visit the events calendar on www.cantonga.gov for more information.
Aug. 21: The Ultimate Eagles Tribute - On the Border Sept. 18: Laine Hardy WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS
Join Northside Hospital experts for a weekly virtual health presentation every Wednesday at noon. Visit www.northside. com/community-wellness/classes-events for registration.
Aug. 4: Dr. Elan Golan, Northside Orthopedic Specialists Aug. 11: Dr. Karen Buhariwalla, Georgia Breast Care Aug. 25: Dr. Clay Guynn, Sports Medicine South of Gwinnett
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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@ the Library Sequoyah Regional Library System www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org
What’s Happening at Your Library?
BY JOHN RODGERS
Summer break officially is over, and families are getting back into routine for school, but libraries don’t simply close down once the summer reading program ends. They keep doing their thing all year to bring no-cost services and events to people of all ages and interests. August begins the countdown to the library card sign-up month in September, but a librarian certainly won’t turn away anyone who decides to get a card for themselves before then. As a reminder to all parents, students can search for titles assigned by their school’s accelerated-reader or Lexile lists, and libraries offer extensive resources for homeschool families. For those staying home with younger children, or anyone who’s simply a child at heart, August is a great time to discover a new hobby by checking out the “library of things” at sequoyahregionallibrary.org/library-of-things. Plan a fun afternoon using items most people wouldn’t expect to find at the library, like robotics, board games, digital microscopes and other tech items. Been wanting to learn how to sew? Borrow a sewing machine from the local library and start that passion project. Take home a library Chromebook to help with homework, or simply surf
The Woodstock Public Library hosted a “Tails & Tales” event July 2, featuring representatives from Southeast Animal Rescue with snapping turtles, snakes, alligators and more.
the net. There’s even a collection of musical instruments to enjoy, including ukuleles. (The librarians won’t “Shhh” anyone, don’t worry.) Readers who enjoy book sales will be delighted to know that the Woodstock Public Library’s new bookstore is open for business each day, inside the library, during regular service hours. It is operated by the Friends of the Cherokee County Public Libraries. Library friends volunteer their time to assist with library fundraising efforts, advocate for library services and coordinate the libraries’ book sales. Drop by the book store to stock up on good reads with great people for a very low price. Because of popular demand, weekly storytimes are back! Lap-sit storytimes for ages 1-3, and all-ages versions for families, will take place inside the libraries themselves, and at Ball Ground City Park. And, of course, a calendar full of other fun, free programs awaits adults, teens, children and families after a long day at school or work. This month is packed with events involving crafts, art, food, gardening and gaming (including a Mario Kart 8 tournament). View the full schedule at calendarwiz.com/sequoyahreglib or on the library’s Facebook page at @SequoyahRegionalLibrary.
John Rodgers is the community engagement manager for the Sequoyah Regional Library System.
Adam Boehmer, Juggler Extraordinaire performed at each library location to celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program. 26
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Safety for Paddle Crafts BY GREG FONZENO
All boaters, whether powered by engine, sail or paddle, have to look out for one another to ensure everybody has an enjoyable day on the water. For paddle craft operators of canoes, kayaks, rowboats or a stand-up paddle (SUP), it means being well-prepared and aware of surrounding boats. Paddle craft sales increased in 2020, along with the amount of deaths of paddle craft operators. Here are seven tips you can follow to ensure paddle craft safety.
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Always wear a life jacket. Experienced paddlers wear life
jackets, even when paddling a SUP (during which, waist style jackets are worn). Of all drowning victims, 86% are found not wearing a life jacket. Remain visible. Paddle crafts sit low in the water, making them harder to see, especially in low light and foggy conditions. It’s especially important for paddlers to pay attention when a power boat’s bow is raised due to acceleration, as they might not be seen. It is important to wear bright clothing, hats and a life jacket that contrasts with your shirt, as well as use paddles with reflective material on the paddle blade. Dress for immersion. Assume you are going to be in the water at some point. Choose your clothing based on the water temperature, not the air temperature. Avoid cotton clothing such as T-shirts and jeans, because they retain water and accelerate the cooling process, and wear footwear that will protect your feet from the cold. Carry paddling essentials. Paddlers are legally required to have a life jacket, a sound-producing device (like a whistle) and a light. It is a good idea to carry a communication device, drinking water and personal locator beacon (PLB) as well. Small highfrequency radios allow communication with the Coast Guard and commercial boat traffic control. A PLB relays your precise location when in distress. Know your limits. Most kayaks and SUPs are designed for protected waters and moderate currents. If you don’t feel comfortable, always return to shore. Boating under the influence laws also apply to all vessels including kayaks, SUPs and all paddle craft. Do not paddle alone. For paddle craft, there’s safety in numbers. Additionally, stay close to shore when there’s a lot of boat traffic. Take a paddling class. If you are new to paddling, and even if you are an experienced boater, take a paddling class. Paddling has unique characteristics, such as reboarding from the water, that you can learn from a class. For example, paddleboaters are advised to approach waves head-on, which reduces the chance of water getting in the boat.
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Paddling can be a wonderful way to spend the day, and a great adventure if approached safely. Keep these tips in mind, and enjoy a great day on the river or lake.
Greg Fonzeno is the public education officer and vice commander of the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit (Flotilla 22) at Allatoona Lake. AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Honest Advice + Great Experience = Record Referrals
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PHOTO BY MANIAC AGENCY
Homeowners Financial Group 225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 200, Canton, GA 30114 678-893-6404 | homeownersfg.com/location/canton
Joshua Dean hopes h to clients pays off wit to help more homebu ock in at the lowest interest rate possible, and you are good to go. While that sounds like the best goal for securing a home mortgage, and it might make sense for some, it could end up being more expensive in the long run. That is why Joshua Dean, loan officer at Homeowners Financial Group in Canton, takes a thorough, personal approach in helping his clients. Joshua starts by asking strategic questions centered around the client’s financial goals; there is a big difference between what a person qualifies for versus what he or she is willing to spend. His consultative approach empowers families to feel more confident and secure with their homebuying options, which, in turn, creates loyal clients who give positive referrals to anyone looking for good, honest advice from a trustworthy team. “As a trusted adviser with more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, I understand the larger responsibility I have when it comes to helping people manage perhaps the largest debt of their life,” Joshua said. “My referral business has grown, because of the incredible service my clients receive, not only during the mortgage process, but afterward, as well. Each year, Joshua checks in with his clients for a mortgage asset review, making sure the initial plan is sufficient, or determining if a change
his commitment th the opportunity uyers. is needed. As personal circumstances change, the financial strategy may need to be altered. “That is my commitment to the community, and how I become their mortgage guy for life,” he said.
It’s Personal
When you read Joshua’s bio, it is easy to understand his passion for helping people; he has degrees in education and theology, along with mortgage and insurance experience. At the core of his role as a sales manager with Homeowners Financial Group is a desire to educate and serve people in his community, helping them achieve their dreams of owning a home and building wealth through real estate (something not often taught in schools). “I believe in doing the right thing, and treating people with dignity and value,” Joshua said. “My perspective comes from being a former pastor, and loving people well.”
3 Goals for Each Client
Education. Statistics show that 67% of people do not make the right decision on their mortgages, according to Joshua, citing poor leadership in making the best choice. To counter this, Joshua educates his clients on factors that matter most in determining the proper loan strategy. He walks them through a total cost analysis, which shows the specifics of the
immediate terms of the loan, as well as how each decision will affect total interest paid, net worth, tax advantages, etc. “If you don’t see the transparency behind the numbers and how they may cost you over time, how do you know if you are making the best decision?” he said. “I’m more than a loan officer. I’m a consultant who can help my clients leverage their money. We work together to see how to save money, understand the return on investment and consolidate debt.” Create generational wealth. Homeowners Financial Group stresses the importance of creating generational wealth, when possible. That is a company goal that Joshua embraces. Home ownership is one of the most important aspects in building significant net worth. According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a nonhomeowner. Recently, Joshua closed on a loan for a 25-year-old who bought her first home; her parents could not have been more appreciative, as Joshua helped her achieve the dream of homeownership by finding the right financing solution to fit her budget and long-term goals. Constant communication. Whether by phone calls, texts or email, Joshua makes himself available throughout the entire process. “Our goal is to create an incredible experience for our clients, and being available for them is a significant part of that process,” Joshua said. “We want raving fans, and I want agents who refer my team to look like incredible professionals, helping Sponsored Content
them earn more business in the marketplace.” One agent’s testimonial affirms his goal. “Joshua Dean is a rock star! I was the listing agent on a property, and the buyer hired Joshua for her loan needs. I did not know him prior to this one transaction. He is an excellent communicator, as he always answered his phone. He also called, texted and emailed me with updates on a regular basis. I am very impressed with Joshua and how he handles himself professionally.”
All About Community
Joshua moved his family to Cherokee County from Buffalo, New York, 5 years ago. Commitment to the community is what drives Joshua as a businessman, husband and father of three: Judah, 9, Grantly, 8, and Gracie, 5. He cites that dedication as the reason he works hard to offer the best client experience possible. Joshua and his wife, Tina, have been married 17 years. He was fortunate to play college basketball at a high level and has earned two degrees: a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Buffalo, and a master’s in theological studies from Masters International University of Divinity. “Buying a home is often a stressful time. People get weary in the process, and often feel overwhelmed. I’m here to eradicate any doubt,” he said. “I’m convinced that relationships matter. We want our clients to be our clients for life, so we are committed to providing them with exceptional service so they come back in the future.” AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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What’s Hot in Summer Flooring Trends BY ELISABETH STUBBS
Homeowners are tackling home improvement projects this summer. Maybe you put off installing new flooring during the pandemic, because you didn’t want workers in your home, so now it’s on the top of your to-do list. If you planned on installing hardwoods, knowing what type of flooring is trending now might surprise you. It’s carpet! Carpet is like comfort food: familiar, cozy, warm. Not to mention, it’s affordable. Carpet is typically the flooring of choice for bedrooms and cold basements. If you love to play games on the floor with your kids, you’ll appreciate the softness of carpet. Popular looks include luxury cut loop patterns and Berber designs. Bold patterns often are chosen for staircases, and more subtle looks typically are chosen for other rooms in the home. Carpets with color flecks are popular choices, especially for active households. If you have kids and/or pets, be sure to take a look at triexta, a soft synthetic carpet fiber, also known as Sorona or SmartStrand. This style offers built-in, lifetime stain and soil resistance. It doesn’t wash or wear off, and it is easy to clean with just water. If you have allergies and have been told to stay away from carpet, the first step is pinpointing exactly what you are allergic to. If you have a chemical allergy, it may be latex. The latex that is used in carpet construction is one of the most common allergens for clients. Other allergens include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust and pollen. Depending on your allergy, here are new options that might work for you.
• No latex. Air.o by Mohawk
is latex-free, with no VOCs. Another option is PureBac carpet, recently launched by Dream Weaver, which contains no latex. 30
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
• Plant-based. SmartStrand
Forever Clean carpets are made with DuPont’s partially plant-based polymer, Sorona, which is free from harmful substances.
• Low VOCs. A wool carpet with a woven backing is low in VOCs, as there is no secondary backing, and wool is a proven air purifier. A synthetic fiber pad, or a rubber waffle pad, is the best choice for carpet cushion when VOCs are a concern. • Dust and pollen. A dense, tightly-woven carpet, cleaned often by a vacuum with a high efficiency particulate air filter, and occasionally professionally cleaned with a hot water extraction, can help combat dust and pollen allergies.
Carpet is also budget-friendly. Hard-surface floors, like luxury vinyl plank and hardwoods, are usually double the cost of new carpet, sometimes more. Most carpet is made in the U.S., so steep import charges do not apply. If it’s time to replace your flooring, don’t let the popularity of hardwoods deter you from choosing what you want. Carpet is in! Elisabeth Stubbs is one of the owners of Enhance Floors and More, one of Atlanta’s top-rated flooring dealers, located in Marietta.
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Become a Better Leader
Improving Work Culture One Book at a Time BY ASHLEY VELEZ
Are you looking to take a deeper dive into strategies that create an engaging and productive work environment in your company or organization? There are plenty of resources available for leaders, covering topics like organizational values, management techniques and environmental components, that can help elevate job satisfaction among employees. Here are five top-rated, culture-building books that will help you build stronger teams.
Eat Last” 1. “Leaders by Simon Sinek
The meaning behind “Leaders Eat Last” is a call for servant leadership. Sinek explains that great company cultures depend on empathetic, generous leaders. In this book, he illustrates how team members feel most valued and fulfilled when a leader elevates their needs above his or her own. He also shares how organizations with people-first cultures benefit from higher levels of collaboration and performance.
to Lead” 2. “Dare by Brené Brown
The focus of “Dare to Lead” is on the power of vulnerability and empathy in leadership. Brown makes the case that leadership shouldn’t be about status or control, but instead should recognize the potential in people and their ideas. Brown is celebrated for her lessons on courage, shame, vulnerability and empathy. She invites leaders to step up and step into daring leadership. True leaders, she says, lead from the heart, with empathy and self-compassion. 32
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Candor” 3. “Radical by Kim Scott
Honesty and open communication in the workplace are explored in“Radical Candor.” This book will help make better leaders and colleagues through a process that urges bosses simultaneously to care personally and challenge directly. Adopting this attitude can encourage employees to be honest, and inspire candid conversations across all teams. This book outlines strategies for cohesive teams, as well as practices to get, give and encourage guidance and feedback at work.
Culture Code” 4. “The by Daniel Coyle
“The Culture Code” is an exploration of different organizations, examining which working conditions foster optimal unity and cooperation among employees. In it, Coyle lays out a three-pronged approach, designed to build safety, share vulnerability and establish purpose, while also inspiring camaraderie, personal growth and positive change in the workplace.
5.
“Delivering Happiness” by Tony Hsieh
“Delivering Happiness” is a detailed account of how Hsieh built an authentic culture through a positive atmosphere that encourages creativity across all teams. This book looks at how his company, Zappos, an American online shoe and clothing realtor, made organizational happiness a priority, by insisting that customer service is the responsibility of every employee, from customer service representatives to the CEO. Ultimately, he says, that creates an organization that people want to work for and buy from. Ashley Velez is a digital marketing strategist, freelance writer and company culture advocate. She's a proud resident of Woodstock, where she lives with her family.
the Audiologist
Tips for a Successful Video Call With Family
Dear Dr. Mary, My husband just purchased new hearing devices and loves them! They can connect to his phone directly through Bluetooth, and he is able to hear phone conversations again. It has truly been amazing. The other night, however, we were waiting for a video call from our daughter, so we could check in on our grandchildren. When the call came through, we answered with excitement, but then quickly realized that only my husband was able to hear their sweet voices. We could not figure out how to get the sound to come through his phone anymore, and we had to resort to a traditional call on my phone. Any advice is appreciated. Sincerely, FaceTime Grandma, Woodstock Dear FaceTime Grandma, How wonderful that your husband can plug in to the phone conversations a little more with his hearing devices, and, hopefully, they are doing more to help his hearing than just with the phone. We hear this scenario a lot, so you are not alone. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this problem. The hearing devices are connected via Bluetooth to your husband’s phone. Depending on what kind of phone you have, there are shortcuts to get you to the Bluetooth menu. If you do not know where those are located, you can always go through the settings on your phone and locate Bluetooth. Before you start the video call, turn off the Bluetooth. This will force that audio signal to go through only the phone. This will allow you both to hear your sweet grandbabies. When the call is over, simply turn the Bluetooth back on, so your husband can stream audio through his devices again. I hope this helps. Yours Truly, Dr. Mary Swantek Do you have a question for an audiologist? Email melissa@ngaudiology.com. Dr. Mary Swantek joined North Georgia Audiology in 2019. She earned her doctorate degree from the University of Florida and her bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University.
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Downtown Canton Dining Branchwater
Local on North
Queenie’s
Downtown Kitchen
Mamma Onesta’s Italian
R&M Sandwich Shop
Goin’ Coastal
New Georgian Hills
Green Line Brewery
Panera Bread
Steak & Seafood 190 East Main St. 678-880-7540 www.bwsteakandseafood.com
Steak & Seafood 140 E. Marietta St. 770-479-1616 downtownkitchencanton.com
Seafood 125 W. Main St. 770-479-3737 goincoastalseafood.com
Craft Beer, Street Tacos, Pub Food 192 E. Main St. 770-213-4420 www.greenlinebrews.com
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Eatery & Bar 170 North St. 770-213-8970 localonnorth.com
Italian 250 E. Main St. 678-880-7770 mammaonesta.com/canton-ga
Southern 69 Waleska St. 770-479-8311 Facebook/GahillsRest2005
Sandwich Shop 205 W. Main St. 770-720-1565 panerabread.com
Southern Cooking 151 W. Main St. 770-213-4897 eatatqueenies.com
Custom-made Sandwiches 117 W. Main St. 770-479-4413 Facebook/R&M Sandwich Shop
Celebrate Life!
Active Adult Community is a Place for Pampering, Pursuing Your Passions
C
elebration Village Acworth is often referred to as a cruise ship on land, according to Michael Searcy, director of community relations. That description refers to the resort-style amenities and five-star service offered to residents of the 65-plus community. Pampering is just one way the staff helps residents enjoy life, and to live longer and be healthier. Social, intellectual, physical and spiritual (S-IP-S) needs are fulfilled and emphasized at Celebration Village to ensure residents are able to live their best lives. “Celebration Village is not a place to retire and be housed, but a place to continue living,” Searcy said. “Living your best life with no worries about maintenance, yard work, taking out the trash, house cleaning, all of the things we do at Celebration Village to serve and pamper you.”
Independent Living
National Football League, Lockheed Martin, educators, The Celebration Village campus includes luxurious farmers, veterans and more occupations and professions are two-bedroom, two-bath units, one bedroom units and one represented at Celebration Village. bedroom deluxe accommodations, each with a deck, full-size “The people at Celebration Village make the difference, washer and dryer, and stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, from the staff who really care about their work, to the food disposal, microwave and more. Two meals a day, utilities, residents. You can feel that when you walk in the door,” weekly cleaning and laundry service, internet, cable and Searcy said. transportation, if needed, are included in your monthly price. There are no long-term leases or contracts, to make sure the No Worries, No Moving residents are happy being at Celebration Village. The campus includes assisted living and memory care When residents aren’t enjoying their spacious apartments, facilities, to ensure residents don’t have to move as their needs they can swim in the heated pool (which has a lift), relax in change. one of the game rooms, take in a movie, stay in shape in the “As the years go by, if you need help getting ready in the 24-hour gym or find a seat at the bar and enjoy a beverage and morning, or assistance with medications and meals, you just watch a favorite sports team on any of the change from one area of the campus to big-screen TVs. These are just a few of the another. You retain the same friends, on-campus ways for residents to stay active. caretakers, food and activities,” Searcy Current residents represent many walks said. TASTE THE DIFFERENCE! of life. Among them is the first African“Where you live matters. We want to If you call 678-594-3570 and American pilot hired by a U.S. airline, make sure our residents realize they have schedule a tour, you and a friend a woman who was the original Minnie potential no matter what age they are, will be treated to a free meal Mouse when Disney World opened, and or what their challenges are. Celebration in the dining room. Taste the a lady who is a former administrator at Village is a place where people can thrive difference at Celebration Village! the Pentagon, even a former spy with and flourish.” the Central Intelligence Agency. The
Celebration Village | 4460 Celebration Village Blvd., Acworth, GA 30101 678-594-3570 | cvillage.com | @CelebrationVillageAcworth Sponsored Content
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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From Surviving to Thriving
How One Nonprof it Works to Strengthen Families. BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ
A student from Ser Familia’s summer camp last year. 36
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
No matter who you are or what your circumstances, everyone needs boundless, restorative love. This is the goal at Ser Familia (translates to Being Family), a nonprofit that has remained focused on investing in families since 2001. “We exist to love on people in crisis,” said Myriam Hysa, development officer for Ser Familia. “We serve the Latino community, getting them through tough times until they are thriving, whether they are documented or not. At Ser Familia, we believe strong families make our communities stronger, better and safer.” Ser Familia’s founder and executive director, Belissa Urbina, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There, she experienced a rough spot in her marriage. She reached out and got help from an organization in her hometown. After she moved to Georgia, she couldn’t find an equivalent organization offered to the Latino community. This inspired her to launch Ser Familia. During the last 20 years, the nonprofit’s life-changing programs spread to 36 Georgia counties. Last year, the organization provided services to more than 7,549 Latinos in Georgia. Headquartered in Kennesaw, the staff and volunteers are dedicated to strengthening Latino families through programs that empower them to thrive and enjoy a healthy family environment. They achieve this through educational programs that increase family members’ communication skills, while decreasing high-risk behaviors. They assist families in crisis, serve as advocates and support other organizations that wish to serve Latinos in a culturally competent manner. To better serve those in need, staffing increased, and the Acworth and Buford locations have moved into larger facilities in Kennesaw and Suwanee. The footprint in our community also includes two offices in Norcross and Smyrna. Ser Familia also received national accreditation for its mental health program. “As outreach coordinator for Ser Familia, I feel it’s not enough to just go around telling people about our wonderful organization,” said Migdalia Rivera, “but how we can bring our first responders and law enforcement agencies to work with us as one — sharing what they have to offer and how we can work together to benefit families. Our focus is not solely on supplies
Staff member Mary with bags of food for COVID-19 relief.
and donations; we also provide mental health services and workshops that allow parents and adolescents to take control and get to a healthy stable family environment. Even if at the end of the day I was able to help a family not sleep on the floor, or was able to supply food to another and the children go to bed with a full belly, I have done my job well.”
Ser Familia programs include: • • • • •
Couple’s workshops and retreats Youth workshops and retreats Strengthening Families Program Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Domestic violence advocacy, awareness and support • Mental health counseling services in Spanish • Advocacy programs • Cultural and linguistic proficiency consulting Ser Familia relies on the support of volunteers. For more information about volunteering or to make a donation, visit www.serfamilia.org, email info@serfam.org or call 678-363-3079. The new and expanded Kennesaw headquarters is located at 1100 Cobb Place Blvd. NW, Suite 170.
Wellstar staff, members of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department and Ser Familia’s Diana, right, during a COVID-19 vaccination site at the nonprofit’s facility.
Susan Schulz is a Bible teacher and mentor who lives and plays on the Etowah River in Canton. Connect with her on social media or at susanbrowningschulz.com.
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As parents, we always want to help our children have the best school year ever. Beyond ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, have the necessary supplies and our assurance they can succeed, it can be challenging to know what else we can do. Every Monday on the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, we ask top teachers a series of questions, including, “What can parents do to prepare their child for learning?” We’re sharing a few of their responses below to help you guarantee your child settles in for a successful school year.
Parents can check in with their children daily, asking them what they learned at school, practice multiplication facts anytime they are riding in the car and point out math in real life – there are always real-world applications of math. — Liane Moler E.T. Booth Middle School
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BY BARBARA P. JACOBY
Parents can teach and remind their children that it’s OK to make mistakes. Mistakes are a launching pad we can use to improve our skills or situation. School is more than academics; it is also about growing the student to be the best person they can be. — Cody Lamanac Teasley Middle School
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Back to School Advice From Top Teachers
Reading to your child is the best gift you can give. They learn that letters form words, and words can tell magical stories. Reading to your child is your opportunity to teach them about their world, expand their vocabulary and instill a love for learning. — Alicia Thrower Avery Elementary School
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Barbara P. Jacoby serves as chief communications officer for the Cherokee County School District, and is a CCSD parent with four children.
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AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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The most important thing parents can do to prepare their children for learning is to create an environment of trust, respect and support at home. When parents model positive behaviors at home, children learn how to manage their emotions, make responsible decisions and resolve conflicts appropriately. — Jennifer Dupoux Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy
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For parents to convey a love of learning! Make the simple everyday tasks of life an opportunity for them to learn. Not only will parents be instilling in them that they are valued, but also reaffirming the parent’s role as their child’s most important teacher. — Michelle Young CCSD Preschool Centers — Holly Springs
Parents can set an example by taking academics seriously, supporting teachers, encouraging time management and communicating the importance of a well-rounded education. Parents should set the tone by practicing respect and compassion in their interactions with students, teachers and other community members. — Bernard Walker Woodstock High School
I believe in promoting self-advocacy with my students, and would love for parents to push this as well. It is very important that students communicate with their instructors in person, and through email, to learn to advocate for themselves by expressing their individual concerns. Older students can practice self-advocacy by reaching out to their teachers personally when they start struggling in a course, or do not understand an assignment. — Alyx Buckner River Ridge High School
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$5 Donation at the Gate • Free for children 10 years and under • Free parking and shuttle services No coolers, bicycles, skateboards or alcoholic beverages allowed on site. See you there - Rain or Shine!
Saturday, Sept. 25
10am - 6pm All proceeds benefit Cherokee County children in need.
Etowah River Park 600 Brown Industrial Pkwy
Sunday, Sept. 26
10am - 5pm Learn more at www.serviceleague.net.
ERE! H D I K YOUR
We LOVE to share the creative photos you take of that special day in your child’s life. Send your pictures - taken of one child or a group at the bus stop - to edit@aroundaboutmagazines.com, and include the first name, grade and school. AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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School News
Ryan Wexler
Daniel McCrobie
Isabella Ayala
Parker Awarded Cheyenne Heard Scholarship
Paxton Miller
Students Receive Regional and State Honors
The recent Piedmont Regional Technology Competition was attended by 86 Cherokee County students. After putting their technology skills to the test, 36 of these students won first place in their respective categories, earning the opportunity to advance to the state competition that was held virtually in May, with entries from 870 students statewide. At the statewide event, six Cherokee County students placed first, second or third: • • • • • •
The Cheyenne Heard scholarship, sponsored by Cherokee County Farm Bureau, is awarded annually to a senior who is pursuing a degree in agriculture. This year, the $1,075 scholarship was awarded to Braesen Parker, a student from Cherokee High, who plans to attend Berry College. Parker played football, was a scholar athlete from 2018-20, and he was a member of the Football Leadership Council, Alpha-Gamma Service Club and Student Government. Parker is a member of Woodstock City Church, where he has served as small group leader of Up Street Children’s Ministry and Transit Middle School Ministry, and he was a crew member of Inside Out High School Ministry.
Marissa Migneco, Etowah, first in graphic design. Micah Kampman, Johnston, second in audio production. Ryan Wexler, Indian Knoll, second in project programming. Daniel McCrobie, Sequoyah graduate, second in 3D modeling. Isabella Ayala, Cherokee graduate, third in internet applications. Paxton Miller, Indian Knoll, third in multimedia applications.
“STEM learning is critically important to many career choices for our future graduates, and we’re proud of our students’ successes at the regional and state competitions.” Superintendent of Schools, Brian V. Hightower said. The annual Georgia Student Technology Competition offers students the opportunity to showcase their skills through 16 categories at regional and state fairs.
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William Grizzle, President of Cherokee County Farm Bureau, and Braesen Parker.
Graduates earn $2,500 Scholarships From Community Foundation
Olivia Barger
Dylan Mahoney
Braesen Parker
Abigail Taylor
Jordan Campbell
The second annual presentation of college scholarships, by the Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation, has expanded from the inaugural awarding of two scholarships to 10. The high school graduate recipients are: Olivia Barger, Dylan Mahoney, Braesen Parker and Abigail Taylor of Cherokee; Christian Deneka of Etowah; Stephanie Felonta, Victoria Kershaw and Legacy Guider of River Ridge; Jordan Campbell of Sequoyah; and Annisabelle Aguilar of Woodstock. Volunteer coach and vacation bible school teacher, Cherokee graduate Olivia Barger will study education to become a teacher. An Eagle Scout and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta volunteer, Cherokee graduate Dylan Mahoney plans to study history education. Braesen Parker, who played football at Cherokee and volunteered with service clubs, will build upon his work experience on family farms by studying agricultural science. Abigail Taylor, who was active at Cherokee in its Beat Out Cancer service club and National Honors Society, will study education to pursue a career as a teacher. A multi-sport athlete who excels at football, soccer, cross country and track and field, Sequoyah graduate Jordan Campbell plans to study elementary education to become a teacher. The scholarships are open to students planning to continue their education in Georgia, and study education, agriculture, veterinary medicine, religion or theology, or a related field. The foundation also considers applicants’ community service and their references’ recommendations. “These scholarships honor the recipients’ dedication to studies and service and are an important investment in their future and our community’s future,” Superintendent of Schools Brian V. Hightower said. “Jason has built upon the outstanding education he received as a former Cherokee County student, to grow a successful business and, with his family, is giving these graduates the opportunity to do the same.
Six Graduates Earn Scholarships From ABM
ABM Industries, which provides custodial services to county schools, has awarded $1,000 scholarships to a senior from each high school. The six winners were selected by a scholarship committee of retired educators and ABM representatives, based on a student’s involvement in school and community activities and service, as well as personal essays and references. This year, Cherokee graduate Miguel Esteban-Juarez, Creekview graduate Brinn Dameron, Etowah graduate Aneisa Jones, River Ridge graduate Legacy Guider, Sequoyah graduate Matthew Scoretz, and Woodstock graduate Sebastian Moss, were awarded scholarships. Miguel Esteban-Juarez will attend Kennesaw State University to study marketing and psychology, with plans to pursue a career as a psychologist. While at Cherokee, Esteban-Juarez served as vice president of the French Honors Club and co-leader of Students Demand Action. He volunteered at a local nursing home, where he shared his talents as a musician and his love of reading with residents. Brinn Dameron will study to become a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals at Florida Southern College. A cheerleader and honors chorus member, her service roles at Creekview included four years as class president. Dameron served as the school’s student delegate to the Cherokee County School Board, while working at a local animal hospital. A future teacher, Matthew Scoretz will study early childhood education at the University of Memphis. A 13-year baseball player, Scoretz was an active volunteer at Sequoyah, and in the community. He also volunteers with Night to Shine and his church, and he has worked at Learning Express.
Miguel EstebanJuarez
Brinn Dameron
Matthew Scoretz
David Snyder
Carson Throne
County Alumni Commit to Military Service
More than 50 Cherokee County high school alumni have committed to military service, through enlisting or other programs, including three selected for prestigious U.S. service academies. The three graduates accepted to the elite military academies are: David Snyder of Cherokee High, U.S. Military Academy at West Point; Sophia Stewart of Etowah High, U.S. Air Force Academy; and Carson Throne of Sequoyah High, U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Enrollment at the academies is limited, and appointees are selected based on outstanding academic achievement, athletic accomplishments, demonstrated leadership and school and community service. The three appointees are well-known in their communities for their many successes in school, such as Snyder’s national honors for JROTC riflery, Stewart’s salutatorian title for her graduating class, and Throne’s state wrestling wins. AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Rob’s Rescues This dog’s tag number is 630132, and he is in cage 313 at Cobb County Animal Services. He is a small, 3-year-old Poodle. He was a stray and is a sweet, gentle dog. I think he would be a very loyal and good dog for anyone. This cat’s name is Stella. She is a large 1-year-old cat. She has a great color and pattern. She is very cuddly. I don’t know why someone wanted to turn this cat in, but here she is waiting for someone else to be lucky and pick her up.
Rob met with Dr. Good earlier this year to work on a video.
Remembering the Good of Marietta Veterinarian
Dr. Michael Good was a well-known veterinarian in Marietta and the founder of the Homeless Pets Foundation. He unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack in May, but his work and program will continue. I got to see him earlier this year as part of a Dr. Good Unleashed video. He was the very first interview I ever did, so I wanted to remember him by sharing that first interview from 2014. I was fortunate to watch Dr. Good in surgery, repairing a hematoma in a dog’s ear, before I sat down with him to hear about his ambitious plans for solving the country’s homeless pet problems.
How do you help dogs and cats?
Rob with 3-year-old Poodle.
First, I am a vet. I treat sick and injured animals. I get them healthy and help them stay healthy. I also founded the Homeless Pets Foundation (Homelesspets. com). The goal of this organization is to rescue animals and foster them and find homes for them. Part of this organization is the Homeless Pets Clubs, which educate school children starting at age 4 about animal rescue and how to properly care for animals. I have big plans for Homeless Pets Clubs and want to get them into as many schools, businesses and communities as I can. I also am involved in something called the Underhound Railroad, which helps move animals from the South to the North to find homes.
How many cats and dogs do you save every year?
One thousand pets, and many more through pet clubs and partners. (The count in 2021 is more than 25,000 pets rescued.)Awareness and education is key. If an animal can be pulled into a club, it will not be euthanized.
How many helpers do you have?
In rescue, I am aiming for 1 million helpers to tell the story of shelter animals. The more people that can foster and arrange clubs in the community the more animals can be saved.
Rob Macmillan is on a mission to help shelter dogs and cats. On Facebook @robsrescues. www.robsrescues.com.
Rob and Stella the cat. 42
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
CHUNKY SOUP · CHILI PASTA SAUCE · BEANS CORN · CANNED Meats CANNED Pasta · Rice Ramen Noodles Peanut Butter Cereal · Oatmeal Our urgent food supply is disappearing quickly! Can you donate today?
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September 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 SHOWS/SHOW DATES (TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
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FOLLOW US Because CTC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization your donations are tax deductible.
ALL REGULAR SHOWS
Friday/Saturday - 8pm • Sunday - 2:30pm
Adults – $18 | Member Discount – $15 Groups 10 or more - $13 | Senior/Student/Active Military – $15 P l ay i n g at Canton Theatre • 171 Main St., Canton, GA
Box Office 770-591-0282 | info@cherokeetheatre.org Cherokee Theatre Company PO Box 5885 • Canton, GA 30114 AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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Russell Vaudrey, daughter Sharon Volk and great grandson Dennis Volk, stand behind the wooden flag made especially for the veteran. Officers are, from left: Shane Bonebrake, Martin Kiefer and JoAn Willingham of Woodstock Police.
Above, Vaudrey in a photo from 1943. Below, family and neighbors gathered on the veteran’s front lawn to greet the officers.
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WWII Veteran Enjoys Birthday Surprise Befitting a Hero World War II veteran Russell Vaudrey received a rather noisy surprise to help him celebrate his 99th birthday on July 10. Woodstock Police Officer Shane Bonebrake organized a caravan of 15 police and fire vehicles - with lights flashing and sirens blaring - to visit the veteran at his Towne Lake home. Bonebrake met Vaudrey, who served in WWII as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, at LongHorn Steakhouse. Vaudrey was wearing a WWII veteran hat, and when Bonebrake went over to thank him for his service, he learned the veteran was about to celebrate his 99th birthday. After a bit of planning with Vaudrey’s daughter and members of area public service agencies, Bonebrake organized
a drive-in birthday party. “When I met this guy, I immediately saw my grandpa in him. I thought that I wanted to honor him for his birthday,” Bonebrake said. “My grandpa was a WWII veteran; he was one of my heroes.” Vaudrey’s daughter, Sharon, and other family members, were with him in the front yard, taking birthday photos, when representatives of the Woodstock, Canton and Holly Springs police departments, Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Department and Marshal’s Office, Woodstock Fire and Cherokee County Fire/EMS arrived. “We have a living hero in Woodstock, so we were going to celebrate him,” Bonebrake said. “We were going to make some noise.” Bonebrake presented Vaudrey with his favorite cake from Alpine Bakery, a gift certificate to LongHorn steakhouse, and a wooden flag made by fireman David Sargenski and signed by public service personnel from around Cherokee County. Stay tuned. Plans for the 100th birthday celebration are underway, but don’t tell Mr. Vaudrey! It’s going to be a surprise that Bonebrake promises will be unforgettable.
R iv e r R id ge
Sequoya h
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2021 va rsit Fo ot ba ll 8 y Creekview 20 Lassiter AUG Home | 7:30 PM OCT Home | 7:30 PM
Sche d20 u leWoodstock
2021 8 Cambridge OCT Away | 7:30 PM
Mays 1 18 OCT Woodstock 27 AUG Away | 5:30 15 pmCentennial AUG Away | 7:30 PM OCT Away 7:30 PM
Woodstock
Woodstock Cambridge 20 8 AUG OCT Away Alpharetta 27 River Ridge 8 | 7:30 Away | 7:30 PM PM 15 Chattahoochee AUG Home | 7:30 PM OCT Away | 7:30 PM OCT Home | 7:30 PM
27 AUG
Sequoyah
8
OCT Away | 7:30pm 3 Etowah 22 Sequoyah
SEP Away OCT Away 7:30 PM PM Rome 3 | 7:30 22 SEP OCT Away | 7:30 PM
AUG Away | 7:30 PM
Cherokee Away | 27 7:30 PM
AUG Home | 7:30 PM
Roswell
Home | 7:30 PM 3 Cass
EtowahSEP
Away | 7:30 PM
Home | 7:30 PM
27 AUG
var s i t20 y F oSequoyah otb al l S c h1e dul e Cherokee AUG Home | 7:30 PM
Cherokee
Home | 7:30 PM
15 OCT
OCT Home | 7:30 PM
Chattahoochee Home | 7:30 PM
3 Creekview 22 Etowah 22 River Ridge SEP Away |22 OCT Ridge 7:30 PM River Away | 7:30 PM OCT Home | 7:30 3 PM Cass SEP OCT Home | 7:30 PM Away | 7:30 PM
Creekview Chattahoochee 29 Johns Creek 17 10 29 OCT PMHome 7:30 PM SEP SEP Home | 7:30 PM | 7:30 OCT Home
Alpharetta 17 Johns Creek
Johns Creek 17 10 Campbell 29 Milton 29 Riverwood 29 Riverwood SEP Away |OCT OCT| 7:30 7:30 PM Home | 7:30 PM 7:30 PM Home AwayPM | 7:30 PM OCT Home |SEP
Cartersville 17 5 NOV Away | 7:30 1 SEP Riverwood 5 PMCambridge OCT Home | 7:30 PM NOV Away 7:30 PM
Milton
Creekview Centennial 5 1 NOV Away OCT Away | 7:30 PM PM Roswell 5 Centennial 17 Calhoun 5 | 7:30 NOV Away | 7:30 PM SEP Home | 7:30 PM NOV Home | 7:30 PM
Home | 7:30 PM Home | SEP 7:30 PM
Away | 7:30 Creekview 1 PM
OCT Away | 7:30 PM
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY SEP 2
REINHARDT 8 PM | HOME
OCT 23
CAMPBELL 4 PM | AWAY
SEP 11
GEORGIA TECH 12OPM AWAY N ON||AWAY
OCT 30
GARDNER-WEBB 1 PM | HOME
SEP 18
WOFFORD 6 PM | AWAY
NOV 6
ROBERT MORRIS N ON||AWAY AWAY 12OPM
OCT 2
JACKSONVILLE STATE 3 PM | HOME
NOV 13
NORTH ALABAMA 3 PM | AWAY
OCT 9
HAMPTON 2 PM | AWAY AWAY
NOV 20
MONMOUTH 1 PM | HOME
OCT 16
NORTH CAROLINA A&T 5 PM || HOME HOME 5PM
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
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‘Corona Fairy’ Brightens Along Her Way
A couple months ago, Abby Peyton made a sweet post on Facebook about her friend Merry Quarles, and agreed to let us share it. If you know someone who has blessed you, like Merry has Abby, let us hear from you! We’d love to celebrate that special person. “Merry Quarles is a super bright ray of sunshine in our little community here in @downtownwoodstock, where she pours into other people constantly. Whether it’s volunteering
Merry captivates her young audience.
Merry is surrounded by her audience: Denver, Lenore, Shepherd, Michael and Raleigh. Photos by Abby Peyton.
for the local cultural arts center helping with productions, helping put together a beautiful wedding for a dear friend, or throwing a small party for some little kids to remember the life of an amazing author/illustrator. [Eric Carle, author of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ died on May 23, 2021] “Last year, during the thick of quarantine, she showed up at my house to surprise my three young children with an egg hunt to brighten their day while stuck at home. She and her husband, Mike, hand-delivered loads of candy-filled eggs to our home (and several other children’s homes) and left without being seen. The kids kept asking who left the eggs, and I told them it was the ‘corona fairies.’ Since then, we’ve coined her Merry the Corona Fairy (not sure how she’ll feel about that nickname.) But either way, she is a giver. Light and joy overflow from her contagious smile and kind heart! We love you @merrilymerryq!”
High Schooler Excels at New Sport
What began as a way to keep in shape during down time last year has led Avi Fox to a sport in which he is thriving, and winning awards. At the Stars and Stripes National Championship in Salt Lake City in July, the gymnast walked away with first and third place wins, while sister Talia placed 12th, 16th and 30th in her competition. The Woodstock resident and rising ninthgrader at The Walker School is a retired artistic gymnast who began trampoline and tumbling in May 2020, when school Talia and Avi Fox and most sports shut down. He joined his younger sister in the gym to keep in shape and have fun. Mom, Alison, said that with lots of hours in the gym, hard work and training, Avi qualified to compete at the USA Gymnastics Championships in June, held in conjunction with the Olympic Trials. He earned a silver medal, competing as a level 8 trampoline gymnast in the men’s 15 and older division. “Having to train with your sibling by your side isn’t the easiest thing for these two, but they have made it work, pushing each other and cheering each other on,” Alison said. “It’s never a dull moment in our household, where someone is always bouncing and flipping around.” 46
AROUND CANTON | August 2021
Optimist Club Donation Helps Youth The Towne Lake Optimist Club recently made a $1,500 donation to Give a Kid a Chance-Cherokee to help the nonprofit provide backpacks and school supplies to Cherokee County youth at its July 17 back-to-school outreach. The club regularly supports youth programs with money raised through the Flags for Kids program, which places flags at homes and businesses in Towne Lake.
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EVERYDAY Identifying people in need in our community. Summer is a good time to catch up with those whom we’ve featured in the past. It is important our readers are reminded of the impact of their compassion and donations. Michelle Nichols and Leslie White In January, Everyday Angels shared the story of two sisters, Michelle and Leslie, each in need of a kidney transplant. The sisters were born with Alport Syndrome, a genetic disorder that over time affects your kidneys. Michelle’s husband is a match, so she will receive his kidney. Fundraising efforts are underway, and include a raffle for Weber SmokeFire grills. To learn more about this raffle or support his effort, please contact Mark at nicholsmi4@yahoo.com. Leslie received the call on June 30 to report to Emory University Hospital to receive a cadaver kidney. This is huge praise because, while the wait time is typically five to eight years, she has been on the waiting list since December. Leslie is at home recovering from surgery, and feeling beyond grateful. “As I begin the long recovery process, I can’t help but think about the selfless donor and their family. I am so very thankful for my gift of life and to all who have supported me through this difficult time.” Leslie said.
Brian and Amber Miller During the time that Leslie was receiving her kidney, Brian and Amber Miller were also at Emory undergoing their kidney transplant.
We featured Brian’s story in September 2020, before they knew his wife would be his match. The long recovery process for each of them will consume their summer. “My wife literally saved my life. I cannot begin to explain how emotional this process has been. Thankfully, I am back on my feet and can resume life! Keeping up with the kids, going back to work, life without dialysis … I am so ready. Thanks, my Brian and Amber Miller are parents of two boys. love!” Brian said.
Aden Martinez In March, we featured the story of Aden Martinez, who was a third-grade student at Indian Knoll Elementary School. Since Aden’s diagnosis of anaplastic astrocytoma (APXA, grade III) in December, Aden and his family have been embraced by our compassionate community. Despite many challenges and setbacks, the Martinez family continues to stand strong in their faith. The most recent clinical trial at Duke University has not stopped the growth of Aden’s cancer, but they cling to their faith and hope of a miracle for their son. Please continue to pray for them. Follow his story at Aden’s Army on Facebook
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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Leslie White and her husband Brad.
Aden and his family met Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson at a game, where Aden prayed with him.
4 Reasons to Give Pickleball a Try BY KELLEY ARCHER
Most people have heard of tennis and badminton, where teams of two or four people square off by hitting a ball over a net. Simple and fun, right? Pickleball is very similar to tennis and badminton in regards to rules and format, and it has quickly become one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Pickleball was invented in 1965 on an island, off the coast of Seattle, and has made its way across America. Many master-planned communities, neighborhoods and clubs have added pickleball into their community plans and amenity centers, and a growing number of residents and members engage in the sport. People ages 55 and older make up a significant percentage of pickleball participants, because of the accessibility and ease of the sport, as well as the many benefits it provides. Are you ready to learn more about the sport that is taking neighborhoods and parks by storm? Here are four reasons pickleball is beneficial to people and communities.
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The sport can boost your mood and overall mental health. Pickleball has been shown to lower levels of daily stress and anxiety, while increasing energy levels at the same time.
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Pickleball specifically improves balance and agility, while giving you the benefit of regular exercise. As is the case with many fitness-oriented activities, regular participation in pickleball can reduce your risk of health issues and chronic diseases, while toning muscles and increasing stamina.
4.
Pickleball is played with two or four people. This gives players the chance to mix and mingle with new friends and neighbors around the community, while encouraging healthy social interaction.
Master-planned communities often encourage residents to stay active, whether it’s creating trails through neighborhoods, exercise facilities and classes or encouraging residents to explore the great outdoors. Now, master-planned communities are jumping on the bandwagon, and they are adding designated pickleball courts. Ready to give pickleball a try for yourself ? We’ll see you on the courts!
2.
A fun mix of badminton, tennis and Ping-Pong. Pickleball is a relatively simple sport to pick up and learn, providing players an enjoyable, low-intensity activity.
Kelley Archer is the marketing director for Great Sky in Canton.
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. T A E P E R . E T S TA . R E U Q CON TASTE OF WOODSTOCK
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Members of Pickle Brookshire enjoy playing pickleball in their community regularly.
Let’s Play Pickleball, Y’all! BY MIKE WALLS AND LINDA MUMMERT
Cathy S. Anderson was a Cobb Pickleball Ambassador for five years and continues to promote the sport in surrounding counties, including Cherokee. 50
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In 2016, we were happy to see an entry in the TowneLaker on the growing popularity of the sport with the “funny” name. This year, we are proud to report that, according to The Economist, pickleball is still the fastest growing sport in the United States! It began as a family recreational sport in 1965, and, today, there are professional leagues in the U.S. and around the world. One of the reasons the sport is so popular is that it’s easy to play a game, or several games, at courts offering open-play pickleball. With an open-play format, all you need to do is show up, find the court that is matched to your level of play, and wait for your turn to jump in and join the fun. The game can be fast or slow, depending on skill level, and most participants are hooked after just one game. Many describe pickleball as a game of outdoor ping pong, played on downsized tennis courts, so hand-eye coordination is key to success. Pickleball at the local level is usually a grassroots initiative. For example, as a Cherokee County newbie in 2019, I (Linda) reached out to the homeowner’s association (HOA) in Brookshire, to see if there were any dedicated pickleball
courts, or dual-purpose tennis courts. The answer was no, but the search continued. After discovering that the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency had two dedicated pickleball courts at Cherokee Veterans Park, the effort to persuade the HOA was renewed, successfully. Two tennis courts were dual-purposed for pickleball, which means that the borders of the pickleball court are painted within the tennis court borders, and an adjustment is available to lower the net to the height of 34 inches, 2 inches lower than a tennis net. In 2020, ambassadors from the USA Pickleball Association in Cobb County held a clinic in Woodstock. Ambassadors are county-level volunteers dedicated to promoting the sport from local to tournament levels. In April, Brookshire sponsored a pickleball social, with around 40 residents and friends participating. Today, you will find a group of regular players meeting at least weekly to enjoy a game of pickleball in the Brookshire neighborhood. In June, plans began to organize ladder play, which is age and skill level-matching among players, as well as challenging other subdivisions.
Cherokee County and subdivisions have built courts over the past few years. Dupree Park in Woodstock has two courts, and offers lessons for beginners, along with a summer mixed doubles adult league through Aug. 30, thanks to a new Woodstock Parks and Recreation program. Kenny Askew Park in Canton has six dedicated pickleball courts. Pickleball also can be played indoors, keeping church and public-access gyms busy. The YMCA in Canton is bustling with indoor pickleball at designated times during the week. We believe this game with the funny name is here to stay for a long time. It is fun for all ages, an easy game to learn, and a challenging one to master. Players from all skill ratings can play together and have a fun match, or simply enjoy a healthy outside activity for all involved. Mike and Linda are trying to “promote a good, positive outdoor experience for the community.” Visit the Pickle Brookshire page on Facebook.
Above, David Lyons and Duane Loftus Sr. in Ball Ground. Photo courtesy of Lena Lyons, Ball Ground Pickleball Club. Top, Court view of Cherokee County Georgia Pickleball players at Kenny Askew Park.
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A Discovering Pickleball program game in Dupree Park.
Tennis vs. Pickleball: What’s the Difference?
Pickleball and tennis often are compared; they are played on the same courts, after all. The pickleball nets are lower, and the court boundaries are smaller, so the sport is easier on the knees than tennis. While aerobic, pickleball is just as much a game of strategy as it is athletic ability. To give us a better understanding of the sport, Mike Walls compiled a list from Pickleball Kitchen (https://pickleballkitchen.com) and added his insight on the major differences between pickleball and tennis.
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The court dimensions are the same for singles and doubles. “This simplifies the game. You can switch easily from singles to doubles.”
2.
Overhead serving is not allowed. Serving in pickleball is underhand only. “This greatly enables a broader range of playing. A tennis serve takes a long time to master. In pickleball, you are essentially lobbing the ball over the net — unless you are an advanced player — and the return team must let the ball bounce once before returning. If you don’t have the ability to power the pickleball across on a serve, a hit into the correct quadrant (diagonally across) is all that is needed to put the ball in play!”
3.
There is no double fault with serving in pickleball. “This speeds up the game. If your serve is not good, it goes to your partner, unless you are the second server, in which case the serve goes to the other team.”
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In doubles, each player of a team gets to serve at least once until they lose their turn. “This enhances team play. You and your teammate have a different offense strategy when you have two turns at serving per team.”
5.
Pickleball players enjoyed participating in North Georgia Pickleball Club’s annual invitational in 2019. Photo courtesy of the Cherokee County Georgia Pickleball Facebook page. 52
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Pickleball is significantly easier on your knees. “Some will debate this, but the logic is that you are playing on much less real estate than a tennis court, and most pickleball is played as doubles. While aerobic, it is just as much a game of strategy as it is athletic ability.”
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Plants That Double as Bug Repellents BY BARBARA SCHIRMER, CHEROKEE COUNTY MASTER GARDENER
If you are a mosquito or insect magnet, take comfort in knowing that fighting back against gnats, flies, no-seeums and other pesky bugs doesn’t have to involve covering yourself with bug spray, or engaging in chemical warfare every time you walk out your back door. There are many different plants you can incorporate into your yard that have compounds to repel biting bugs, like mosquitoes and fire ants. Who wouldn’t want that? To help you enjoy going outdoors, try strategically placing insect-repelling plants in your home, garden or on your patio. To give the natural route a try, consider this list of six easy-to-find plants at your local nursery that repel annoying insects. While research has not been done to define how many plants are needed, or how close they must be planted to generate the best results, we do know that the smell of fragrant herbs and plants is one way to send pesky insects on their way.
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LAVENDER. Not only does lavender smell great, but it also repels moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes, both inside and outside your home. This plant can be grown in containers, and prefers sunny and dry areas. Once the plant blooms, you can cut lavender to make a beautiful bouquet for your kitchen or dining room table. Even as the flowers dry, they can be used as decoration, and they still repel bugs.
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LEMONGRASS. This can be planted in abundance; it serves as a great filler in a garden, or as landscaping. Lemongrass needs a lot of sun, making it an enjoyable annual in the summertime, and a successful mosquito repellant.
3 1.
ROSEMARY. This herb often is used in recipes and has the added bonus of repelling pests. Plant rosemary in containers near doors and windows to ward off pesky mosquitoes, and add sprigs of the plant to your clothes drawers to repel both moths and silverfish.
Petunias are brightly colored flowers that also repel bugs.
4 1.
PETUNIAS. These brightly colored flowers are not only aesthetically pleasing in your garden, but they also are known to repel beetles and aphids. They flourish in the sun, making them a great choice for window boxes.
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OREGANO. A versatile herb in the kitchen, oregano also is known for its ability to ward off the cabbage moth, which is harmful to any vegetable garden. These plants enjoy sun with occasional shade, so plant oregano in a spot that receives abundant sunshine during parts of the day, and shade at other times.
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BEAUTYBERRY. In the early 20th century, farmers crushed the leaves of the beautyberry bush and placed them in between their horse and its harness to keep mosquitoes and ticks away. Perhaps they learned this from early Native Americans, who found many medicinal uses for this plant. Crushed beautyberry leaves have been used to keep mosquitoes from biting, and research has shown that the leaves contain compounds that have the potential to be as effective as DEET in preventing mosquito bites. Whatever your gardening needs are, Cherokee County Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are here to help you find answers to all your gardening questions. Visit https://cherokeemastergardenersinc.wildapricot. org to register for upcoming gardening seminars.
Rosemary, above, can ward off mosquitoes, along with lavender, which can also repel moths, fleas and flies.
Barbara Schirmer is a resident of Woodstock and a UGA Master Gardener Extension Volunteer of Cherokee County.
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August 2021
ACCOUNTING & TAX Denson Pepper, CPA 678-797-5241 www.densonpeppercpa.com
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ANIMALS/PETS Cherokee County Animal Shelter www.cherokeega-animals.org
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AUTOMOTIVE BridgeMill Auto Care Canton location: 770-720-0765 East Cobb location: 770-641-9906
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ENTERTAINMENT
ATTORNEYS Imbriale Injury Law 678-445-7423 www.imbrialeinjury.com
Courier Express 678-626-4132 www.courierexpress.net
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Cherokee Theatre Company 770-591-0282 www.cherokeetheatre.org
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First Friday Concerts www.cantonga.gov
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Riverfest www.serviceleague.net
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Taste of Woodstock www.tastewoodstock.com
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
Edward Jones, Sarah Kendall 1 770-720-6245 Canton Business Club 7 www.edwardjones.com/sarah-kendall INWDSTK 47 HAIR SALON/BARBER SHOP inwdstk.org/events E’s Barber Shop Inside front CREDIT UNION 770-926-6488 Credit Union of Georgia 33 www.esbarbershop.com 678-486-1111 Salon La Faye 15 www.cuofga.org 678-880-0113 DENTAL www.salonlafaye.com BUSINESS SUPPORT
BridgeMill Dentistry 770-704-1812 www.bridgemilldentistry.com
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Gentle Dental Care and Georgia Dental Implant Center Inside back 770-926-2784 www.georgiadic.com
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HEALTH & WELLNESS Your CBD Store Canton 770-704-0550 www.cantonga.cbdrx4u.com
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HOME & GARDEN Bryan Plumbing Services 770-826-5277
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City Painting and Construction 9 770-462-9077 www.citypaintingandconstruction.com ckb Kitchens Bath and More 770-485-0911 www.ckbpros.com
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Enhance Floors and More 770-565-3808 www.enhancefloors.com
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Mr. Junk 678-675-8651 www.mrjunk1.com
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INSURANCE Farmers Insurance, Michael Thomas 678-880-9985
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PHOTOGRAPHY Maniac Agency hello@maniac.agency
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PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL SERVICES Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, PC 1 770-720-7733 www.cherokeewomenshealth.com TwelveStone Health Partners 844-893-0012 www.12stonehealth.com/infusioncenter/canton
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REAL ESTATE & RELATED SERVICES Atlanta Communities The Lindsey Haas Team Lindsey Haas, 678-933-1962 Laurie Swanson, 678-894-6776 www.thelindseyhaasteam.com
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For information on all of our titles, visit www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com Capital Mortgage Solutions 770-450-9717 www.cmshomeloans.com Great Sky 770-704-0234 www.greatskyga.com
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Homeowners Financial Group, Joshua Dean Cover, 28-29 470-863-7070 www.homeownersfg.com/location/ canton RESTAURANTS/FOOD 7 Tequilas Mexican Restaurant 11 www.7tequilasmexicanrestaurant.com J.D.’s on the Lake 770-213-4127 www.jdsbbq.com
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RETAIL
SPORTS
Cotton Mill Exchange 770-992-9294 www.cottonmillexchange.net Golf Cars of Canton 678-880-1156 www.golfcarsofcanton.com
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SENIOR LIVING/SENIOR SERVICES Celebration Village 678-594-3570 www.cvillage.com Manor Lake BridgeMill 678-990-5055 www.manorlakebr.com The Lodge at BridgeMill 470-863-2690 www.bridgemillseniors.com
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Cherokee Warriors Football www.cherokeewarriorsfootball.org
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KSU Owls Football ksuowls.com/sports/football
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S3 Volleyball www.s3volleyball.com
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Sequoyah Chiefs Football www.sequoyahfootball.com
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SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS 22
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MUST Ministries www.mustministries.org
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Next Step Ministries www.nextstepministries.net
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Relay for Life 5K www.relayforlife.org/cherokeega
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Since 1996, we have brought relevant, uplifting and reader-driven content to readers. We publish Around Acworth, Around Canton, Around Kennesaw, 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. 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
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