9-23 Around Canton webfinal.pdf

BACK IN TIME TakeYourSkin

On the Cover

The Beauty Barn

While a time-traveling DeLorean accomplishes the impossible in the film “Back to the Future,” Brian Palm and other medical professionals use skin-care treatments to make their clients feel they’ve been transported to an era when they looked younger.

Pages 28 & 29

Cover photo by Silvia Adams

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Around Canton

What's Coming

The Ball Ground restaurant Choate BBQ is opening a second location in downtown Canton at 186 North St., the former location of Bananas & Beehives. The owners hope to be open by the middle to end of this month. www.choatebbq.com. Bananas & Beehives is keeping an online retail aspect of the business. Watch for more details on that. www.bananasandbeehives.com.

What's New

For sales inquiries, contact Jennifer Coleman, Vice President of Advertising and Integrated Media 470-263-8414 | jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Laurel

Canyon Brewing has opened at 15 Laurel Canyon Village Circle, Suite 100. The small, local neighborhood brewery offers fresh beer and a gathering place indoors or on the patio. 404-819-3214. Laurelcanyonbrewing.com.

Featuring beer, wine, food and a retail store with running shoes, The Holler has opened at 301 W. Main St. Running groups are available for beginning to experienced runners. 470-863-9398. On Facebook.

Ribbon Cuttings

It’s CONTEST Time!

SCAN TO ENTER

Sept. 1-15

WIN FAIR TICKETS!

Learn a new activity to try with your kids at home and enter for a chance to win free tickets to the North Georgia State Fair.

Sept. 16-30

WIN A COFFEE

GIFT CARD!

Test your coffee knowledge and enter for a chance to win a gift card for a local coffee shop.

Oct. 1-Nov. 15

ALL THINGS

BRIDAL!

Vote for your favorites in our Best for Bridal contest … promote your business for a chance to win!

Letter From the Editor

This month, I’m happy to write about something that’s near and dear to my heart. Next to God, Glenn, Julie, Drew, Becca, Ellie and Bertie, John Henry and Bunny — well, maybe not next to, but high on the list right under cruises — is coffee. I was getting a little carried away there, wasn’t I?

One of this month’s features takes a look at coffee, which I’m comfortable saying could be declared the official beverage of Cherokee County. It’s clear after reading the reflections of Chantel Adams, owner of Copper Coin when it closed last year, and the reasons why so many folks spend time in coffee shops, that we’ve stumbled onto something here. And so have the many coffee shops that are opening across the county. See Pages 18-22.

I had the pleasure of enjoying a few hours at Woodstock Coffee Co. recently, where I met Mike Anthony, our new content editor. We spent a few hours there training, diving deep into the processes that bring you this magazine each month. Mike brings a lot of journalism experience to the team, especially in sports reporting. Look for him out and about. He likely will be wearing a shirt or pullover with a Masters Tournament logo. Ask him what it was like to be part of a team that covered the event

for a large network of newspapers and TV stations and to have a frontrow seat during Tiger Woods’ press conference when he won in 2019.

I wonder if coffee shop owners mind if you bring your favorite mug from home? My favorite is my Lucy and Ethel mug. Just as we love our coffee, don’t we also have our favorite receptacles for it? My friend Polly gave me that mug years ago. She’s tall, thin, pretty and funny, so naturally she became Lucy. I am not sure what that says about me as Ethel in the duo, but oh well. I’ll take it because I love my friend! To her credit, her reasoning when I asked was that “Ethel is a faithful friend who can be trusted. You love to laugh. We’re both writers, journalists, moms and wives who share the same Christian values.” OK, I’ll be Ethel.

Yes, there are other features to highlight this month. Amazing high school gymnasts on Pages 30-31. Opportunities to help keep our rivers and streams clean with the Upper Etowah River Alliance on Pages 1617. And a personal story on survival after suicide claimed another victim on Page 14.

So grab your favorite cup of java, and enjoy this month’s issue. Mine is a medium roast with lots of halfand-half. What’s yours?

America’s Community Magazine

Volume 11, Issue 4

PUBLISHER

Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com

VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING AND INTEGRATED MEDIA

Jennifer Coleman | 470-263-8414 jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Candi Hannigan | 770-615-3309 candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Donna Harris | 770-852-8481 donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com

CONTENT EDITOR

Mike Anthony | 770-615-3318 mike@aroundaboutmagazines.com

PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR

Michelle McCulloch | 770-615-3307 michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com

CONTROLLER

Denise Griffin | 770-615-3315 denise@aroundaboutmagazines.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Laura Latchford laura@aroundaboutmagazines.com

Savannah Winn savannah@aroundaboutmagazines.com

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIST

Kathryn Holt kat@aroundaboutmagazines.com

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

Michelle Smith michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com

COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Amanda Bowen | 678-348-0378 amandabowen@aroundaboutmagazines.com

COPY EDITORS

Bill King, Eliza Somers

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

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

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

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2023.

As executive editor, Candi has two cups of coffee in the morning — especially tasty in her Lucy and Ethel mug — to help her get through each day.. Some say she likes a little coffee with her half-and-half, but no judging, please.

Canton IN town

SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER

“The Curious Savage”

Sept. 1-3 and 8-10, Canton Theatre

Directed by Jeannie and Wally Hinds, the play tells the story of a wealthy woman who is committed to a mental institution by her greedy stepchildren.

www.cherokeetheatre.org

Canton Multicultural Festival

Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Etowah River Park

The free event will feature a soccer tournament, food tasting, performances, music and more. www.cantonga.gov/events

Chili Cook-Off

Sept. 9, noon-5 p.m., The Mill on Etowah

The fundraiser for Project Hero will take place in the gravel lot at The Mill’s entrance. For more details, email info@ weareprojecthero.org.

www.etowahmill.com/events

Natural Wine and Jazz Festival

Sept. 23, 5-8 p.m., The Mill on Etowah

Taste 25 wines, enjoy jazz music and mingle with wine importers and distributors.

www.etowahmill.com/events

Riverfest

Sept. 23-24, 10 a.m., Etowah River Park

The 39th annual arts and crafts festival will feature more than 150 vendors, local entertainers and more. Admission is $7. https://serviceleague.net/ fundraisers/riverfest

Taste and Brews Fall Festival

Oct. 14-15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Etowah River Park, Canton

Taste, sample and enjoy the flavors of Georgia and listen to live music by regional acts. Admission is free, and there will be a variety of children’s activities. www.tasteandbrews.com

Denim Fest

Oct. 27-28, 4-10 p.m. Friday noon-10 p.m. Saturday

The Mill on Etowah

An ode to history that includes trick-or-treating, barbecue tasting, a kids’ costume contest, an adult denim jacket contest, live music and more. www.etowahmill.com/event/ denimfest

“The Tell-Tale Heart”

Oct. 27-29, Nov. 3-5, Canton Theatre

An evening of spooky adventures in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, “Sorry, Wrong Number” by Lucille Fletcher and “Cheating Death” by Kamron Klitgaard. For tickets, contact boxoffice@ cherokeetheatre.org or 770-591-0282.

Canton First Fridays

Great food and live music

6-9 p.m. downtown. Check for updates at www.facebook.com/ CantonGAFirstFriday.

Purple Madness: Sept. 1

On the Border: Oct. 6

Shoppers browse the tents of 150 vendors and concession stands at the 2022 Riverfest.

A Golden Opportunity

Unearthing the Secrets of Cherokee Treasure Tunnel

BY THE WANDERER

In early November 1932, three boys — Roy Tippins and Bob and Jack Stuman — found a large granite stone with symbols carved on it, near the border of Cherokee and Forsyth counties. After asking the landowner for permission to dig near the spot and being refused, they returned several days later and found a second stone a few hundred yards away. Beneath it, they unearthed a clay pot, of Cherokee origin, containing 37 pounds of gold — what would be about a million dollars worth at its current market value.

The property owner, a Mr. Groover, filed a lawsuit for possession. The courts sided with the youths, saying the landowner had no legitimate claim to it either, and the boys were allowed to keep it.

The stone, which subsequently was moved to the University of Georgia, was carved by the Red Bank Tribe of the Cherokee people and was used as a center point, around which 25 clay pots, each containing between 6 and 37 pounds of gold, were hidden just prior to the Cherokees being forcibly relocated to Oklahoma on what has become known as the Trail of Tears. None of the other 24 stashes has ever been located, even though all of them were buried within a mile of the symbol stone.

The complete listing of each stash, its distance from the symbol stone and the amount of gold each contains can be found in Forest Wade’s “Cry of the Eagle,” published in 1969. If we believe the tally in its entirety — and the fact that the first entry matched exactly what was unearthed by the boys in 1932 — there is another $11 million of buried gold somewhere near the confluence of the Bruton and Red Bank creeks, just before they empty into the Etowah River, where the 30 or so families of the Red Bank Tribe lived.

The tale of buried Cherokee gold is even larger than this. As it turns out, the Red Bank Tribe had chosen to do on their own what several other tribes had banded together to do. In 1835, a chief named Rising Fawn suggested to a host of local tribes in the area that they build a secret tunnel with separate vaults, or niches, to store the wealth of individual families of each tribe.

The Red Bank Tribe did not trust the caretaking arrangement and opted to hide its own treasure. But many other tribes, including the Long Swamp and Big Savannah Cherokee, agreed to Rising Fawn’s plan.

Legend says that the natives labored for two years to construct the tunnel, 200 feet in length, cut into a steep hillside in Cherokee County near the Etowah River. Tribes from as far away as Dahlonega and Dawsonville were said to have brought their gold here and hidden it in the cave, which then was sealed, to escape detection. They entrusted the task of watching over

the hoard to a white man, Jacob McCarty Scudder, a Bureau of Indian Affairs agent who had been sympathetic to the Cherokee cause and had lobbied, in vain, against their forced removal. This arrangement was necessary, as it was believed that any native left to safeguard it likely would be deported at some point.

Forest Wade and a great many others were convinced that this tunnel existed. In his book, Wade catalogs a fair number of stories from independent sources claiming to have seen the various Cherokee communities collecting their riches, transferring them into clay pots and moving them at night — on foot, by wagon, by sled or by boat — to the secret location.

In each instance, any white man who came across the activity as it took place was unharmed by the Cherokees but was obliged to stay the night with them until those transporting the treasure returned, so they could not be followed to discover the hidden location.

In some cases, later information actually comes to us from relocated Cherokees in Oklahoma, who could read the symbols on the stones — symbols that told where to go from that spot in order to find the tunnel.

There are even stories of a Cherokee family member returning to the area later and finding Scudder, who then, as promised, retrieved their gold for them so that the family member could take it back to Oklahoma.

The tunnel’s location consistently is said to be close to the Etowah River, either in western Forsyth County or eastern Cherokee County. One report suggested it is in what is now Canton, in the vicinity of a “Mount Etowah.”

Does the secret Cherokee Treasure Tunnel proposed by Chief Rising Fawn really exist? Many have looked for it, without success. Still, the boys’ find in 1932 makes a strong case that there was a lot of gold buried by the native population in the late 1830s that has yet to be unearthed.

As to whether each tribe buried its own or whether there is a huge storehouse of gold in a long tunnel in Cherokee County, that’s anybody’s guess. I’ve left out a lot of work (and speculation) by folks who have tried to ascertain its location over the years because, if it does exist, I think we might be better off if it stays buried.

Quoting from The Message version of the New Testament: “Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.”

• “Cry of the Eagle: History and Legends of the Cherokee Indians and Their Buried Treasure.” Forest C. Wade. 1969.

• www.newspapers.com/newspage/384658189.

The Wanderer has been a resident of Cherokee County for nearly 20 years, and constantly is learning about his community on daily walks, which totaled a little more than 2,000 miles in 2022. Send questions or comments to wanderingga@gmail.com.

This couple will have a festival souvenir when their caricature is complete.

Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye rev up the crowd for Sammy Kershaw. A fan records Sammy Kershaw’s performance.

Rodney Bell was one in a line of vendors preparing fresh food for the crowd.

ROCKIN’ by the River

The two-day, free Canton River Rock Festival in July featured daily live music, plenty of food and beverage vendors, craft booths and children’s activities.

PHOTOS BY JAXON MEEKS

Sammy Kershaw waves a U.S. flag while Aaron Tippin performs.

Mr. Nice Guy had command of the grill, likely the hottest spot at the festival.

The henna tattoo tent was a popular stop.

National SU IC ID E PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

September

Support Groups Are Available to Help Deal With This Illness

BY MARGARET MILLER

The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) has declared September Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide has been labeled a mental health issue in this country. NAMI wants the public to become more knowledgeable about this illness.

The dictionary defines suicide as ”the act of intentionally causing one’s own death.” The World Health Organization reports that one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds.

On June 4, 2022, just one day before his 51st birthday, Canton resident Stanford Sullen became one of those statistics. Dr. Michelle Francis Sullen, his wife, was taken by surprise. “To my knowledge, he had never talked about suicide nor had he ever attempted this,” she said. According to Michelle, her spouse was a loving husband, father of two, and was employed by R&L Carriers (Kennesaw Freights) as a heavy-equipment operator.

“I saw nothing about him, nor our lives, to indicate that this would happen. He was kindhearted and good-spirited.

He gave freely to his family and his friends,” she said. “He was a man of God who began his day by reading a devotional, which he said set the tone for his day.”

Stanford also was a recovering drug addict who had struggled with substance abuse since his teen years in New Orleans, their hometown. Even after Stanford and Michelle married, his struggles continued. Their move from New Orleans to Canton didn’t help.

It was August 2005 when the couple and their 11-yearold son were forced to relocate to Georgia as Hurricane Katrina approached New Orleans. Their decision to remain here was dictated partly by the fact that Michelle was 5 months pregnant with their daughter.

After 25 years of addiction, on Feb. 11, 2014, her husband finally sought professional help and admitted himself into The Extension, a licensed long-term residential treatment program in Marietta. “When in treatment, he learned to embrace spiritual principles that transformed his life for the better,” she said. He had eight years of sobriety before his death.

Stanford completed the program and became an active member of The Extension Alumni Association. He devoted his time and resources to the recovery community. Through The Extension and HOW Place programs, the former addict mentored adolescents who were struggling with substance abuse.

He also was a mentor/sponsor for others who were recovering from an addiction. Stanford received many awards for his acts of service.

In hindsight, his widow said, “We were together for 34 years. I stayed with Stanford through his many years of addiction. Those were rough times, but he eventually got himself together. He had been drug-free for eight years at the time of his death.”

Thinking back to those days, she recalled: “I was definitely a co-dependent during his addiction. He always had a roof over his head, food to eat and a car to drive. I often wonder, if I had not been a co-dependent or if I had left him early in his addiction, would he have gotten clean sooner?”

Michelle, an educator, advises anyone who is thinking about suicide, who is worried about a loved one or who would like emotional support to call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). She also recommends finding a support group on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website, afsp.org/find-a-support-group.

Support groups also exist for families. She encourages survivors to join one of these. Grief from suicide loss is different from all other types of grief. The goal of a

Survivors of Suicide support group is to give survivors a place where they can be comfortable expressing themselves and find support, resources and hope in a judgment-free environment.

Michelle takes part in two support groups:

1. Canton SOS — Meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:30-8 p.m., at The Oak House in downtown Canton. Contact Faith Sims at soscherokee@gmail.com.

2. Marietta SOS — Meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m., at Marietta First United Methodist Church, Building A. (Teens meet separately.) Contact Terri Johnson at Chose2Live@aol.com.

Other SOS groups, along with online groups and local chapters, can be found on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website at https://afsp.org/find-a-local-chapter.

Margaret Miller has been a resident of Cherokee County for the past decade. Her writing hobby led her to become a columnist for community and daily newspapers.

Michelle Francis Sullen and husband, Stanford Sullen.

What’s Up

All Hands Needed to Care for Local Streams, Rivers and Lake

BY LAINE KIRBY WOOD

The Upper Etowah River Alliance (UERA) has a whole bunch of interesting activities coming up in which you, your neighbors, friends, co-workers or club members are invited (and needed) to participate.

Bacteria Day

One of our most important events is scheduled for Sept. 9. This is the fifth annual Bacteria Day, where we send trained AdoptA-Stream (AAS) volunteers and lay volunteers out into the watershed to collect water samples of the headwaters from Lumpkin County to Lake Allatoona. Supplies and training on how to collect a water sample will be provided. You must provide your own transportation. All samples will be plated for E. coli, and results will be reported. This event will identify areas of concern that need to be monitored more closely and fix any problems.

If you’re looking to spend some quality outdoor time with a buddy, sign up to spend a few hours as a true citizen scientist helping us take our annual snapshot of the river. We meet at the alliance at 180 McClure St. at 8:30 a.m. If science is your thing, this is right up your alley. Sign up by emailing Lori Forrester at brenaucrew@hotmail.com.

Etowah River Cleanup

The Rivers Alive Etowah River Cleanup is Oct. 14. Gather your friends, fellow club members, co-workers and neighbors and help us get the trash off the riverbanks and out of the river. We try to get to as many places as possible in the watershed that we can access safely, including creeks and streams. We supply you with gloves and trash bags, fortify you with breakfast grab-and-go goodies, and we feed you lunch when you’re done.

Collecting water samples from Conns Creek for Bacteria Day last September.

Up in Your Watershed?

We start at 8:30 a.m. at the alliance, where you sign your waiver, and we give you bags, gloves and breakfast, then send you out into the watershed. At the end of the day, our partners at Cherokee County Stormwater Management collect your bags of trash, tires and whatever you find that doesn’t belong. It’s a fun day, getting dirty while doing a feel-good deed, cleaning up the Etowah. Oh, and you get a cool Rivers Alive T-shirt if you get there before we run out.

Little River Cleanup

Next up is the Oct. 21 Little River Cleanup at Old Rope Mill Park in Woodstock. Everything is the same except, for this one, we meet at the park near the pavilion at 8:30 a.m. to get your waivers signed, give you bags, gloves and breakfast goodies, then send you out into the park. You bring your trash bags back to the pavilion for pickup later by the city of Woodstock. Come get dirty while cleaning up the Little River – it’s a great opportunity for Scouts, too!

Call to Action

Adopt-A-Stream is how we monitor the water continuously in the five-county watershed that encompasses the Upper Etowah. If you live on a tributary of the Etowah and are willing to devote just an hour or two one day each month to gathering a water sample, we need you!

We train you, give you the supplies needed and meet you at the alliance lab on McClure Street to take your samples. If interested, email Lori Forrester at brenaucrew@hotmail.com.

News

Robert Morrison, a member of the Upper Etowah River Alliance board of directors, has stepped down after 18 years of service. Robert brought expertise in finance, water management and always-needed funding sources to the alliance. He will continue as an active member but has decided that now that he’s in his mid-80s, he’s going to spend more time on Lake Allatoona, water skiing. We thank him for his steady hand as a valued board member.

Need Support!

We need donations to fund our mission of keeping the Upper Etowah clean and safe. Please join the alliance or donate today at EtowahRiver.org or call 706-407-1115. Every dollar helps.

Upper Etowah River Alliance

The mission of the alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been keeping an eye on the Etowah River since 1999, is to provide regional leadership, resources, consultation, education, training materials and events to protect and enhance the natural and economic resources of the watershed for present and future generations.

Covering five counties — Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Lumpkin and Pickens — the UERA began as a forum for watershed stakeholders and soon developed a strong, volunteer-run program with Georgia AAS. The UERA provides training, equipment and chemicals for citizen scientists to test the river and tributaries at selected sites at regular intervals, returning the results to the state’s online AAS records. These records form an important database for environmentalists and local governments to use in water utilities planning, as well as commercial and residential developers and other businesses, including recreation outfitters. The UERA operates entirely on grants, donations and membership dues.

Laine Kirby Wood, Canton resident and the executive director of The Upper Etowah River Alliance, is a writer, adventurer, wildlife enthusiast and grandmother to seven.

Jane Graves, board chair, and Laine Kirby Wood, executive director of Upper Etowah River Alliance, clean up the river.

Cherokee’s Cafe CULTURE

Coffee Shops Stir Emotions, Special Memories With Each Cup of Java

Whether the temperature is 95 degrees, or below freezing, it’s clear that Cherokee Countians love their coffee. Look at the networking photos that we feature quarterly, and you’ll see most people clutching a cup of coffee. Walk into any local coffee shop, and you’ll find busy baristas cranking out the caffeine as individuals or groups gather to discuss business or enjoy friendships.

Since Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day, we take a deep dive to discover the value coffee shops bring to our community. Chantel Adams, former owner of Copper Coin, offers her perspective. Famous for its laid-back vibe and homemade cinnamon rolls, the decade-old shop closed permanently on Sept. 3, 2022.

BY CHANTEL ADAMS

Tell me about your favorite coffee shop without telling me about your favorite coffee shop.

Whenever I ask this, eyes glaze over. A warm smile curls upward. The person will place one hand over their heart, sigh deeply, and then tell me a story

that starts like this: Imagine entering a place where words like grind and steam and swirl and drip are tossed around with careless abandon. Imagine a tray of fluffy rolls laced with cinnamon and enrobed in a silky cream cheese frosting. Imagine a place where “your table” waits for you to unplug so you can recharge.

Yep, you don’t have to be a classically trained barista to guess we’re talking about coffee. And whether you take it black or with cream or a single pump of caramel and light foam, you would be in good company.

As early as the 18th century, locals have been visiting coffeehouses for stimulating conversation, to meet lovers and friends, and engage in political debate. Johann Sebastian Bach even wrote a 10-movement piece that became known as the Coffee Cantata, which pokes fun at coffee’s addictive traits. After the famous Boston Tea Party, American colonists switched to drinking coffee as part of their rebellion. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Bush drank so much coffee that their habits are the

foundation of American coffee lore. Here in Woodstock, the tradition continues. You might have heard the phrase don’t cry over spilled milk, but what about spilled coffee? When Copper Coin closed last year, tears flowed like cold brew on tap. And it wasn’t just because friendly faces with names like Logan, Kevin and Mary Margaret knew exactly how you liked your brew (extra hot and with a light sprinkle of cinnamon). It was because your third place locked the doors and closed, not just for the night, but forever.

What is the third place? In his 1989 book, “The Great Good Place,” Ray Oldenberg describes it as that sacred space apart from home or work where conversation, creativity and connectivity provide solace and escape. The third place is the cornerstone of a strong community. So how did Copper Coin become that place? What did it mean to our little town, and what are people doing now?

Just ask Nicole, a local entrepreneur who visited the coffee shop on her first visit to Atlanta and decided that any community that could support a place like this was worth putting down roots. Ask Quinn, who spent day after day sipping peppermint tea and shooting the breeze with the locals. Ask Marco, a quiet entrepreneur addicted to cinnamon rolls, who settled into his favorite corner every Tuesday to be inspired and work on his laptop.

This is the place where strangers become friends who become clients. It is here that first dates turn into true loves (Meet the Bentleys and the Taylors on Page 22), where students cram for big tests like the MCATs, and where young families meet Realtors who help them purchase their first homes. If you are lucky enough to find your third place, your heart will know it. You will be like the many Woodstock neighbors who still sigh, put one hand over their heart, and whisper, “This place was my sanctuary. It was my home. It gave me friends. It saved me.”

Local entrepreneur Chantel Adams lives in Woodstock with her husband, four (almost-grown) kids, and two feisty kittens.

Our Advertisers Share Their Thoughts on Coffee and Community

Woodstock Beer & Coffee Market

240 Chambers St., Woodstock https://www.thestoutbrothers.com/ woodstock-ga-beer-market

“Our dear friends, the legendary Copper Coin, closed last year and our downtown area was left with a coffee spot void. We had customers ask if we served coffee and when we said no, we knew we had to change our business model. Now, we’re a hybrid store, where you can hang out with us in the morning, afternoon and at night. We bring the immediate downtown area a quiet place to work, a great cup of Alma roasted coffee, a light lunch and an adult beverage when work is done. We hope we can attract local residents to come across the tracks and bring more business to our neighboring store owners and be the cornerstone of our side of the street.”

— Megan Conn, event coordinator The Stout Brothers

Alma Coffee

3448 Holly Springs Parkway, Canton www.myalmacoffee.com

“We hope Alma Coffee will always be a warm, welcoming spot for our community where every guest is guaranteed to receive impeccable service and consistently extraordinary coffee. Cherokee County is where Harry and I met, it’s where we grew up, and it’s where our families live. It only made sense to plant Alma’s roots in the same place where we got our start.”

— Leticia Hutchins, co-owner

Circle of Friends Coffee With Purpose at The Circuit

1 Innovation Way, Woodstock www.circleoffriendsinc.org

“When I realized that this unique group of people faces a diverse set of daily challenges, more severe than those who are neurotypical, it created a greater sense of empathy in me and others to find more ways to help them find purpose by enhancing their lives through supportive employment and socialization activities. Cherokee County is where we live, work and play. We’ve seen the warmth of this community toward those with special needs, so it was a logical decision to plant our roots here. We’ve seen such a need that Circle of Friends will open its next location, Flourish Cafe, in early 2024 in Hickory Flat, so we can cover much of the county with each of our locations to serve up coffee, food and smiles.”

— Nick Carberry, vice president of operations

Barrel House Coffee Co.

275 Gilmer Ferry Road, Suite 5 Ball Ground

barrelhousecoffeeco.com

“As the owners of Barrel House Coffee Co., our primary goal is to make our community proud. We chose to open in Ball Ground because there’s nowhere else like it. We live, eat and shop in Ball Ground. We’re raising our babies here. This place — and this community — is home to us.

“At Barrel House, we strive to ensure that every guest (those from Ball Ground and visitors alike) enjoys our coffee. We work to make sure every guest feels welcome; we know their names, we catch up since the last time we’ve seen them, and ensure coffee is ordered to their liking. Barrel House is more than a coffee shop; meetings are conducted at our tables, friends and family catch up, relationships begin and lives are changed here ... including ours.”

— Katie Turnage, co-owner and general manager

A Very Presidential Drink

• A pound of coffee per day was consumed at Monticello after Thomas Jefferson’s retirement.

• Teddy Roosevelt was known to drink nearly a gallon of coffee each day by the time he went to bed.

• George Washington imported 200 pounds of coffee in 1770, and Martha Washington had her own recipe for brewing and serving.

• President George H.W. Bush drank up to 10 cups a day and started the tradition of serving only American-grown beans at state functions.

• The Kennedy family used coffee as a campaign tool, hosting Coffee With the Kennedys in the living rooms of prominent families in Massachusetts to propel John F. Kennedy to the U.S. Senate.

Sources:

www.whitehousehistory.org/ coffee-and-the-white-house https://blog.greenwellfarms. com/10-intriguingpresidential-coffee-habits.

Copper Coin photos courtesy of Chantel Adams

A Community’s Heartbeat or Just a Good Cup of Coffee?

Some of our county’s most frequent coffee shop patrons tell us about their experiences.

Dan Thrailkill

Outsourced Executive

What value is a neighborhood coffee shop to you?

I don’t think I realized the full value of the local coffee shop until Copper Coin closed. Personally, the local coffee shop gives my spouse and me a place to grab coffee in a different scene after a good dinner. As much as restaurants try to have great coffee, they rarely do. It’s never as good as the product from a good coffee shop. Professionally, the local coffee shop offers me a place to meet new contacts, entertain potential clients, or catch up with a client and thank them for their business.

How can a coffee shop enhance a community?

Whether for professional or personal reasons, the local coffee shop offers me a place to showcase my community, what it has to offer, and the people that make it cool. It’s a place for people to have a first date or could be a place to pick up someone for a first date. It’s a place where business is created and closed. When it’s done well, it can be the heart and soul of the local community it serves.

What interactions have you witnessed?

Lois Songster Artist, Graphic Designer

What value is a neighborhood coffee shop to you?

Personally: I love coffee shops as a way to decompress and to enjoy being around others without the need to actually interact. I can have a lovely drink and snack and be able to meet friends, draw or just choose to sit and enjoy.

Professionally: I work from home as an artist. Having a coffee shop to work in is wonderful to get out of the house and get my creative ideas going. The snacks and drinks don’t hurt, either! Changing one’s location is sometimes so important to not feel trapped in one space.

How can a coffee shop enhance a community?

It’s a local gathering place. They can be considered an important third place for societies. This article by Psychology Today does a wonderful job of speaking about third spaces: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ live-long-and-prosper/201503/comforting-third-spaces. I think coffee shops are really important for gatherings and for personal enrichment.

What is your favorite coffee drink?

I love luxurious lattes and affogatos.

One of the most impactful meetings for me was six or seven years ago. Jerry King, an awesome local photographer, and I knew each other and were what I would consider acquaintances, but had never sat down and talked one on one. When we did, I got to hear his amazing story and felt comfortable and compelled enough to ask him: “What is it like to be Black in Woodstock?” He was not at all offended by my question and proceeded to give me his opinion. I don’t recall how long he spoke, but when I think he felt like he’d given me his take, he casually asked me: “What’s it like to be gay in Woodstock?” I then gave him my take. I do not recall how long we spent in that booth, but it had to be at least a few hours. Writing this, I now feel guilty for not purchasing more coffee, since we occupied a booth for so long.

What is your favorite coffee drink?

People who order coffee as the vehicle for sugar and junk make no sense, but when you drink bad coffee, you must cover up the taste. My favorite drink is black coffee with a light pour of oat or almond milk or an Americano with the same.

Dan Thrailkill relaxes with coffee and computer after meetings.

David Samaha

Owner of Diesel David Inc.

What value is a neighborhood coffee shop to you?

Economical environment for a community connection, whether it be an open floor plan with coffee, a desktop and cubicle workspace, light food menu or full kitchen. A coffee shop is a hub to meet, make a plan or manage a busy schedule with a midafternoon pick-me-up.

How can a coffee shop enhance a community?

Communities benefit when an outlet for connections and creativity exists. Some people don’t regularly meet at a church, brewery or bar. A coffee shop fills that need.

What interactions have you witnessed?

We celebrate the firefighter that puts out the fire, but not the mom who turns the stove off when she’s finished or blows the candle out before leaving home. We celebrate the person who loses 100 pounds, but not the one who wakes up a little earlier to make it to the gym. We celebrate the graduate and honor school that issues the degree, but not the coffee shop where hours were spent making that piece of paper a reality. The remarkable thing about the coffee shop isn’t the one significant moment, but the thousands of moments that make those in the community significant.

What is your favorite coffee drink?

Cubano cappuccino.

Sheena Johnson Advisor/Partner with Copia Advisors

What value is a neighborhood coffee shop to you?

Personally, it’s an easy escape when I need a moment to just sit. Professionally, it’s an environment where I can meet with other people to discuss opportunities. I can use the space to work without interruption when a change of scenery is needed. It’s also nice when you can interact with other like-minded individuals and have a constructive conversation when you’re stuck trying to figure something out.

How can a coffee shop enhance a community?

It becomes the link that connects people who may have never spoken otherwise. I see a sticker from Bizarre or Black Rifle Coffee on a water bottle or laptop, someone with an Alma Coffee mug, etc. while being out in public, and can comment on it to that person because I’ve been there or have swag from the same purveyors on my personal items.

What interactions have you witnessed?

I’ve noticed small Bible study groups and students lifting each other up as they cram for finals or to get that last project finished. I had an interaction with a barista at Starbucks on Highway 92 — it was a good day, but I had made a very difficult decision and wasn’t feeling the best. She gave me a unicorn cake pop and a smile. I almost cried saying thank you.

What is your favorite coffee drink?

Weather dependent — hot or iced — coffee with half-and-half.

Mike Sena

Fee-only Certified Financial Planner ™

What value is a neighborhood coffee shop to you?

It amplifies the spirit of the community, the camaraderie. It gets me out of the house and interacting with others, talking about business or everyday life. I love the casual comfort of coffee shops.

How can a coffee shop enhance a community?

It serves as a gathering place, a magnet drawing others in, a place to talk about nothing or the issues of the day.

What interactions have you witnessed?

All sorts. Casual conversation and relaxed, easy smiles for the most part. I remember a fervent sales proposal, the backand-forth negotiating and eventual sealing of the deal. I remember the hand-wringing anxieties of a young teen model getting ready to pose for a portrait photographer.

What is your favorite coffee drink?

Small black coffee.

David Samaha, left, chats with Nick Carberry at the Circle of Friends Coffee With Purpose.

Mike Sena, right, visits with Alexander Bryant at Alma Coffee.

Cherokee’s Cafe CULTURE

… in a Coffee Shop Not Far Away Once Upon a Time

David and Wynelle Taylor

It was 2011. I can’t remember if it was the music, the chugging espresso machine or the barista/minstrel singing Tom Petty cover songs that made me smile more, but the first time my friend and I walked into Copper Coin in downtown Woodstock, I was hooked. It was my first local coffee shop experience by which all others are now measured. Yet almost two years (and many lattes) later, I was standing in that same line, nervously waiting to order. Nervous because I was there on a double-date with a handsome man who intrigued me. Mutual friends set us up, and the four of us finished the evening nestled on comfy couches in the back room laughing and sharing stories.

That’s where my happily-ever-after began with my beloved husband, David. It’s been almost 10 years since we said our “I do’s,” and Copper Coin was the backdrop of some very special days: engagement pictures outside, coffee with Mama and Daddy — who now is with Jesus — moments of laughter over cups of java shared with friends.

Trevor and Jessie Bentley

Before I met my wife, Jessie, coffee wasn’t a priority to me. That changed in March of 2021 at Copper Coin, when I met my future wife for the first time. We had been talking for about a week before we made a plan to meet somewhere in the middle between where we lived. Copper Coin was the best option because of the cozy ambiance and relaxed setting. Not knowing someone can be nerve-racking, but we felt a calmness on our first date because coffee shops like Copper Coin feel more casual, a no-pressure kind of date.

We spent four hours at Copper Coin and probably would’ve talked longer if we didn’t have somewhere to be, but the rest is history. We returned many times to Copper Coin before it closed; it was a great spot to chat and grow closer. We got engaged in October 2021 and married in April 2022, just over a year after our first date! Copper Coin holds a special place in our hearts as the place we met and began our future together.

Rotary Club Expands Community Assistance

The Rotary Club of Canton is spreading hope in the community through its new Heart for Service campaign. Club members will complete a monthly hands-on service project as part of one of the weekly lunch meetings. These projects will be in addition to the community service completed outside of weekly meetings by the club.

For the first project, club members traveled to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office headquarters, where they heard a brief presentation by Sheriff Frank Reynolds while enjoying lunch. The second half of the hour-long meeting was spent creating care baskets for the sheriff’s office precincts. Each basket was filled with packaged snacks for deputies to enjoy and was accompanied by handwritten thank you notes from club members. A donation of $250 was made to the sheriff’s office foundation.

Rotary President Francisco Lozano envisions the campaign as a way to help the community and engage club members in more service.

“Community service fills our hearts with joy and spreads hope in the community,” he said. “Our club for many years has spent one meeting each summer packing lunches for the MUST Ministries summer

meals program for children. It is one of our most popular meetings and the service project that engages the most club members. Through Heart for Service, we will have the opportunity to similarly help another dozen organizations that serve our community.”

The club meets at noon Tuesdays

for a luncheon program at the Cherokee Conference Center at The Bluffs or offsite locations for the service projects. Residents interested in joining the club are invited to visit. For more information and a meeting schedule, visit www.therotaryclubofcantonga.org. Also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ rotarycantonga.

Nicole Lawson Doll, Sheriff Frank Reynolds, Lynne Saunders and Francisco Lozano.

Diverse Community

BY TIFFANIE CROMER

The Canton Multicultural Festival, set for Sept. 9, is a free event created to celebrate and strengthen community relationships among the different cultures that coexist in our wonderful city. The festival is not only a community outreach event for the Canton Police Department, but also is a joint event to unite our community through partnerships.

Our vision is to provide residents within our community a glimpse of the many different cultures and their heritages. People from countries all over the world will be preparing tastings of specific foods native to their culture. In previous years, countries like Cuba, China, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and Guatemala were represented. We currently have 17 countries signed up to participate. We also will have traditional live performances, music and interactive demonstrations to provide an authentic cultural celebration and learning experience for all of those who attend.

11 a.m.: Food tastings begin

11:35 a.m.: Manga African dance performance

Noon: Brazilian dance performance

12:30 p.m.: Mariachi America performance

1:30 p.m.: UPCI musical performance

2 p.m.: Mexican dance

2:30 p.m.: Forsyth County dance troupe

The event will end with closing words from the sponsor, Georgia Power, and raffle prize and soccer tournament winner announcements.

Through this event, we have strengthened our relationships with our diverse community to make a safer Canton, and we strive to continue our mission each year. We would love to see you there!

Canton Multicultural Festival

Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Etowah River Park

600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton Free admission. www.cantonga.gov/mcfest

Moo’ving It for the Children

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KARA CHATHAM, IN SIGHT CREATIVE

On Aug. 12, 2,117 runners gathered at Etowah River Park to participate in the 10th annual Chick-fil-A Moo’ve It 5K. Aside from burning off enough calories to make up for a few of the chicken biscuits offered to attendees, the charitable event raised more than $93,000 that will benefit the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and the Cherokee County Special Olympics. All six Cherokee County Chick-fil-A locations sponsored the event and - along with the aforementioned biscuits - helped to provide face painting, a petting zoo and a balloon artist to add even more fun to an active and charitable day.

Take Your Skin Back in Time

Medical Professionals Help Transport Clients to Youthful Era

While a time-traveling DeLorean takes Marty McFly on journeys through time in the film “Back to the Future,” Brian Palm uses skin-care treatments to make his clients at The Beauty Barn feel like they’ve been transported to an era when they looked younger.

“We help clients address the unwelcome signs of aging, such as static lines, sagging skin, pigmentation, or whatever their greatest concerns might be,” said Brian, who is a certified physician assistant on staff at the Canton medspa.

From Hospitals to Aesthetics

Brian has been practicing medicine for nearly 10 years, and working with traumatic facial injuries in the emergency department gave him a passion for cosmetic reconstruction. Brian entered the world of aesthetics by traveling to Beverly Hills, California, where he trained with a world-renowned plastic surgeon.

“The Beauty Barn owner Dr. Amy Hubert followed a similar path, working as an emergency room physician at Northside Hospital Cherokee, which is where she met Brian.

“I first crossed paths with Brian when the concept for The Beauty Barn was just starting to come to life,” Dr. Amy said. “As I talked with colleagues about my plans, it was clear Brian had a passion for facial aesthetics.” She invited him to come on board, and he joined the team in March 2022.

“Time Reversal” Treatments

Brian and the team at The Beauty Barn offer many skin-care services, including Juvederm dermal fillers, Botox, microneedling, chemical peels and more to achieve beautiful back-in-time results for their clients.

Juvederm dermal fillers bring back the volume skin loses as we age. There are several other noninjectable, regenerative

treatments designed to return a more youthful glow to the client’s complexion. Providers also can advise on at-home routines using medical-grade skin-care products to maintain skin health between visits.

Botox offers an FDA-approved, safe and effective treatment for lessening the appearance of crow’s feet at the outer corner of the eyes and fine lines in the forehead and between the eyes by inhibiting muscle contraction in those areas.

It’s a realistic approach to skin care that makes the professionals at The Beauty Barn successful, according to Brian.

“I’m going to make you look natural. Each of my clients is a walking billboard for The Beauty Barn, but we don’t want it to be obvious you had any kind of treatment,” Brian said. “We want people to notice your fresh glow and radiance but have no idea why you look so good.”

PHOTO BY SILVIA ADAMS

The Keys: Listening, Educating

Like many services, what is right for one client may not be best for another, and that’s where The Beauty Barn’s thorough consultations help to achieve the most desirable results for each individual.

“Educating clients is so important. We ensure there are no questions left unanswered about the treatments and how they are administered and what kind of results to expect,” Brian said.

In addition to the team’s shared goal of educating their clients, they are actively creating a feeling of community amongst individuals who want to feel like younger versions of themselves.

“We love giving clients the confidence boost that comes with having more radiant, youthful-looking skin,” Brian said. “Unfortunately, we cannot actually rewind time in real life, but The Beauty Barn aims to erase some of the unwanted effects of time and help you look and feel your best.”

The Beauty Barn’s Future

Since Dr. Amy opened The Beauty Barn in the summer of 2021, the business has grown fivefold; in fact, the team is planning a grand opening in October at the new space that will offer more room for pampering. Sign up to be notified and entered into a raffle prize drawing for services!

The success of The Beauty Barn was heralded by the Georgia Business Journal, with the Best of Georgia 2022 award in the spas category. The Beauty Barn also has amassed an impressive 300-plus five-star Google reviews.

Team Offers Medical Approach

In addition to Brian and Dr. Amy, The Beauty Barn’s team of medical professionals includes Dr. Julie Thorne, DNP, FNP-C, Cam Lowe, FNP-BC, and Teresa Huber, NP-C. The three board-certified nurse practitioners and master-trained injectors bring real-world medical experience that makes them uniquely qualified to provide aesthetic treatments that are safe and effective for the client.

Dr. Julie has been with The Beauty Barn from the beginning and manages the recently launched weight-loss and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) programs, striving for optimal patient outcomes.

Cam has an eye for natural results and loves collaborating with patients to choose the right treatments to achieve their skin-care goals.

Teresa specializes in weight loss and HRT, as well as facial aesthetics, and emphasizes patient well-being, quality of life and igniting their inner radiance.

Dr. Amy works hard to stay ahead of the curve with new techniques and treatments so the team can customize services to each and every client. They participate in monthly continuing education sessions, along with regular training on injectables, to ensure they’re keeping up with the latest and greatest.

Dr. Amy Hubert, center, surrounded by her staff, clockwise from lower left: Camlyn Lowe, Ellie Lusk, Teresa Zittrauer, Amy Murphy, Ramsie Cook, Brian Palm and Julie Thorne.

PHOTO BY KATELYN LUSK

Beyond the Leotards

Cherokee’s Rising Gymnasts Defy Gravity and Rake in Trophies

BY HAILEY WEINER

Roundoff. Backflip. Full. Though these words are like any other in the dictionary, they typically fill the daily vocabulary of dancers, cheerleaders and, most of all, gymnasts.

When someone pictures a gymnast, they often visualize flashy leotards and chalky hands, but there is so much that lies within some of the world’s most talented athletes. In reality, these girls have the ability to move their bodies in ways that few can mimic.

Despite the intense mental and physical strength needed to become a prolific gymnast, there are a multitude of talented young girls who have stepped up to represent Cherokee County.

Three athletes, from Etowah and Cherokee high schools, have worked hard to achieve their prestigious status at the high school and club levels, with intense conditioning and hours of practice each week to perfect their flips and tricks for events — vault,

floor, beam and bars — defying the laws of gravity in the process.

If anyone were to be the face of “tiny but mighty,” it would be Alexis Cua. The Etowah junior knew gymnastics was for her when she was just 4 years old, as nothing could compare to the joy of flying in the air and feeling completely unstoppable.

Unstoppable she is. In 2015, as an 8-year-old Level 3 gymnast, Alex swept the title of floor state champion with a score of 9.25 out of 10.0 while competing for World of Gymnastics & Cheer. No stranger to the champion title, her list of accomplishments goes on. In 2017, she won beam state champion and beam regional champion with a 9.575 and 9.6 at the Xcel Level. In 2019, she won bars state champion with a 9.6 competing as a Level 6 gymnast. And in 2023, she added yet another beam trophy to her shelf with the Level 9 runner-up state title and a 9.0.

Recently, Alexis has made major strides outside of our community, landing herself a spot as a Gatorade gymnastics representative, where she was featured in a commercial and photo shoot for the brand’s website. In a few years, Alexis aspires to study biomechanical engineering, with hopes of continuing her love of gymnastics in college and possibly beyond.

Although Alyssa O’Keefe flew away from the Eagles' nest in May, she has left behind a reputation of success. Despite not starting gymnastics until she was 9, she excelled almost immediately and fell in love with the opportunities it gave her to express herself. Alyssa became quite the prodigy, beginning her eight-year streak as a state qualifier in 2015 when she also won her first state meet on the bar with a 9.4.

In 2018, Alyssa was the regional bar champion with a 9.475. And, in 2021, she placed second at state on vault, bars and floor. In her final year in high school (2023), she finished fourth at state for floor with a 9.25. Also in 2023, she became captain of the Etowah gymnastics team and

It’s a sport that challenges you every day and teaches you life’s lessons about perseverance. I also like the feeling of flying through the air. My favorite event is the floor exercise.

— Haley Courtwright Haley

was awarded an athletic scholarship for acro and tumbling at a Division I school, Presbyterian College, where she continues her gymnastics career.

Alyssa also is a big part of the local community, contributing to her prestigious nomination for a positive athlete scholarship. She is sad to leave her high school team behind, but she is ready to spread her wings at college, where she is pursuing a biology major.

Haley Courtwright, a Cherokee High senior, is a force to be reckoned with. She boasts 15 years under her belt and has worked hard to earn the title of a level 10 USA competitive gymnast, one level before Elite status. Her favorite gymnast is Simone Biles, and Haley may even one day follow in her footsteps.

Haley is entering her fourth year as a varsity member of Cherokee’s gymnastics team and has earned a multitude of trophies. Not only has she qualified for several state and regional championships, she was also the Smokey Mountain Classic allaround champion, with scores totaling 35 out of 40, and the Miami Classic floor and beam champion, with a 9.2 and 8.9 in 2022. Along with these accomplishments, she was the level 8 floor and vault state champion in 2019 with a 9.5 and a 9.4.

While she has gathered quite the resume, her goal is to eventually compete on a college gymnastics team and earn a sports management degree, to take over her parent’s current family gymnastics business, World of Gymnastics. Though Haley is still undecided about where she wants to go to college, she is sure that she never wants to quit the sport she loves.

These gymnasts may be on different paths in life, but one thing is for sure; they are all phenomenal athletes.

I fell in love with gymnastics because I got to express myself through routines and show off my very outgoing personality. It has helped me in the long run, as well as now that I work for a gym and get the opportunity to help children learn and pursue their passion in the sport I love. I have created lifelong friends as well as a second family who loves me for who I am.

Alyssa Alexis

Hailey Weiner is the head of staff on The Talon, Etowah High School’s newspaper. She aspires to pursue a career in journalism or law, and her dream is to make it to New York.

— Alyssa O’Keefe

I love gymnastics because it allows me to work hard toward something, and be able to accomplish it. That feeling when you finally get a skill you have been working on for weeks is incomparable. It’s equally as amazing when you have your teammates cheering you on when you do finally get that new skill.

— Alexis Cua

Detailed Design Standards in Cherokee?

BY HARRY JOHNSTON

Is it time to develop more detailed standards for development in unincorporated Cherokee County?

We already have basic standards for lot size, building setbacks, buffers and quality facades on commercial buildings. And of course, all buildings must conform to the Georgia building code.

Past attempts at elevated design standards in some areas have mostly failed. It’s a bit controversial. There’s a natural resistance to being told how a site and building should look. And we all have somewhat different ideas about what looks good. Governmentimposed standards don’t always make things better, but maybe it’s time to try again.

In my early days as a district commissioner 20 years ago, the Board of Commissioners invited each of the major rural communities to work with the county to create a township plan, with unique, high-quality standards for site layout, architecture, landscaping and signage for new commercial development. A plan was adopted for the conservation-minded Union Hill community. One plan reached the final stages for the Free Home/Lathemtown community. But opposition from independentminded property owners erupted at a big meeting under an arbor there one evening. During the heated discussion, a huge oak tree on the property split and fell onto some of the parked cars. It dramatically marked the end of that effort. The Union Hill plan was withdrawn, and the township concept died.

Years ago, the county implemented plans for unincorporated Highway 92 and south Bells Ferry Road. Both allowed developers to bypass the zoning process in exchange for higher quality standards. But most Highway 92 developers opted not to use the standards. The Buice Lake community is the first significant new development to use the even higher standards required on Bells Ferry

Road. It’s nice, but the intensity of development allowed under that plan will add significant traffic.

About four years ago, we attempted a detailed plan for the Hickory Flat business district and immediate surrounding area. Some missteps in that process led to widespread belief that it was intended to accelerate development when most area residents felt there was already too much. The plan was postponed indefinitely.

We successfully created a small-area plan for the Highway 92 area west of Woodstock Road. It’s less about architectural standards and more about the limits of industrial development and attracting some quality retail development.

We’ve recently agreed to create a small-area plan for the area between Old Highway 5 and Interstate 575, south of Toonigh Road. Overlooking I-575, it’s potentially a place for some needed high-end offices, but the road access is terrible. The goal is to decide

what uses are appropriate and how to configure the roads to serve the area.

The county’s new comprehensive plan calls for a detailed corridor plan to be created along Highway 20, east of Canton, which is being expanded to six lanes. We need to avoid letting it become a haphazard commercial corridor.

I’ve asked that we try again in Hickory Flat, this time clearly focusing only on managing and shaping the commercial growth that is already arriving. How do we make it better, attracting desirable uses like quality shops and sit-down restaurants instead of fast-food, auto services and storage? And perhaps most important, how do we provide sufficient roads and otherwise manage traffic?

You probably know other unincorporated areas that would benefit from more detailed planning.

As always, I’m interested in your thoughts. Please email me at hjohnston@cherokeega.com.

Harry Johnston is chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. He’s a retired CPA and accounting manager, and a former district commissioner.

Celebrating Encompass Ministries

Helping People Get on Their Feet

BY SUSAN BROWNING SCHULZ

At Encompass Ministries, independence is celebrated every day. This celebration started in 1998 after Lynne Saunders, founder of Encompass (originally Papa’s Pantry), and a friend returned home from a life-altering mission trip to India.

“Here I was, back in the good ol’ U.S. of A,” Lynne said. “Billboards boasting expensive watches and fashion (that) contrasted old apartments and hotels covered with graffiti. A church steeple spiked the background. The visual stopped me, as many questions began to stir in my heart, questions that changed my world and the world of thousands of families since.”

Lynne said she thought, “In this country with so many resources, why isn’t it working? In India, there were no government social services or churches to give aid. Why are families here still struggling to survive? Why were people not able to dig out of poverty? Why was childhood hunger becoming such a hot topic? Why, why, why?”

While wrestling with these questions long and hard in prayer, Lynne kept feeling a call to start a food cupboard.

“It wasn’t audible, but I began to sense God continuing to stir a solution in my heart,” she said. “I didn’t think I was qualified to start anything for the kingdom. Sure, I was a strong Christian, but I doubted what I had been taught — that God had a special call and purpose for every believer. Yes, even me.”

Papa’s Pantry (the original name and the spirit that will never change at this nonprofit) soon was launched in Lynne’s basement. She and her army of volunteers stayed busy visiting homes and distributing food to those in need.

“We help people get back on their feet and off government assistance,” Lynne said. “We give them the tools they need to do life successfully by getting behind the ‘why?’ of what keeps them from self-sufficiency.”

Within five years — in early 2004 — the first “open to the public” Papa’s Pantry opened. It was in one room of an older house (shared with Christian counselors) in downtown Canton that had turned into a business. In 10 short months, the pantry outgrew this space. In March 2005, the nonprofit moved into the building at 6551 Commerce Parkway in Woodstock, where it remains under the name Encompass Ministries.

Staff member Nick Mikell, center, with volunteers Jeanne Menna, left, and Lisa Feather.

Empty cabinets mean empty stomachs.

25 Years

The tools available to help get people back on their feet is the origin of The Master’s Training Center. Courses offered are:

• Stability: Career and Employment and Money Management.

• Goal-Setting and Life Skills.

• At-Risk Youth Training (off-site).

• Addictions Recovery Training (off-site).

Of course, the food pantry services remain constant, and the nonprofit also offers organic gardening. A bountiful organic garden has flourished behind the building for years and has provided countless families with fresh, healthy produce.

Encompass also offers community outreaches like school supply giveaways, free medical care in partnership with Bethesda Community Clinic and more. Its reach has expanded to surrounding counties, including Cobb and Pickens.

It’s easy to understand the meaning behind changing the name to Encompass in August 2019. So much of what the nonprofit does encompasses the whole person, restoring many to stability. The 2022 statistics reveal its impact on our communities: $1.1 million worth of food given, 24,706 people fed, 5,581 children fed, about 555,945 meals provided and 481 organization pickups. Even pets are covered, with 8,463 pounds of pet food being distributed. Restoration of independence always is worth celebrating, and you are invited! Encompass Ministries will be having a gala Sept. 14 to celebrate 25 years of helping people achieve stability and having the tools to stay there. Organizers have planned a wonderful evening, filled with beautiful music by four-time Dove Award-winning musician Stan Whitmire and an inspirational message from Fox News contributor and retired Staff Sgt. Johnny “Joey” Jones, who was wounded in combat. He will share his story of triumph and gratitude over his life-changing injury and disability. Joey’s story lines up with Encompass’ mission of helping people get back on their feet, even though he lost both of his legs. If you would like to get on board with the mission of changing lives at Encompass Ministries, visit encompassministriesinc.org. Encompass is still growing, and the biggest need is a new building with more space. To learn more, volunteer, donate or sign up for the celebration gala, visit the website or follow the nonprofit on social media.

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.

Encompass’ core staff is made up of, from left, Valeri Walker, Faith Moody, Nick Mikell and Lynne Saunders.

The on-site organic garden provides fresh produce for countless families.

School News

Lemonade Stand Earns Elementary Student Award

Woodstock Elementary School fifth-grader Eli Fox received the 2023 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. The award recognized the outstanding business plan Eli created for the chamber’s Lemonade Day Cherokee County program.

Eli’s business plan included investors and paid employees for his Eli’s Hero Lemonade stand, which raised more than $500. Eli also received $100 from First Horizon Bank and a $100 Amazon card from the national Lemonade Day program.

During the Good Morning Cherokee chamber meeting, President and CEO Pam Carnes interviewed Eli about his experience and what he planned to do with the money he earned.

“Spend some, give some to charity, save some, give some to my employees,” Eli said, mirroring the “spend, save, share” model the program encourages students to follow.

When asked about his future aspirations, Eli didn’t hesitate: “Sell some more lemonade.”

Etowah JROTC Instructors Garner Top Honors

Etowah High School Air Force JROTC program lead instructor retired Lt. Col. Stephen Bergey and instructor retired Technical Sgt. Ciarra Malto earned 2023 Air Force JROTC Outstanding Instructor Awards.

“The AFROTC program not only prepares our students for successful careers in the military, aviation and aerospace, it also instills in its cadets life skills and values that will be useful to them no matter their future path,” Superintendent of Schools Brian V. Hightower said. “The program is successful due to the experience and enthusiasm that Steve and Ciarra bring to their roles.”

Rowing Comes to Middle Schools

The Cherokee County School District earned a $45,000 national grant from the George Pocock Rowing Foundation to add rowing to its middle school physical education program.

“We’re excited to expand our middle school PE program, thanks to the support of the Allatoona Rowing Association and this generous grant,” Superintendent of Schools Brian V. Hightower said. “The rowing lessons will offer our students another path to fitness and the chance to learn a competitive sport, and we look forward to seeing our students succeed through this new opportunity.”

Erg Ed is a classroom-based indoor rowing education program that teaches students rowing fundamentals on Concept2 RowErg machines. The curriculum emphasizes not only rowing, but also goal setting and teamwork.

Career Pathway Program Gains Funds

The Cherokee County School District (CCSD) earned a competitive Cultivating Teachers grant of $10,000 from the Georgia Department of Education to expand its career pathway program for future teachers. The funding will help CCSD to add a career pathway program in Teaching as a Profession at Etowah High School for the 2024-25 school year.

“We’re very fortunate in Cherokee County to be a destination district for teachers, but part of our success is due to growing our own future educators through our career pathway teaching program,” Superintendent of Schools Brian V. Hightower said.

Eli Fox earned the 2023 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award for his Eli’s Hero Lemonade stand.

Retired Technical Sgt. Ciarra Malto

Retired Lt. Col. Stephen Bergey

Avery School Nurse Receives Top Honor

Superintendent of Schools Brian V. Hightower recently presented the 2023 Cherokee County School District School Nurse of the Year award to Sandra McFarland from Avery Elementary School (Creekview Zone). The presentation was made in front of her colleagues from across the school district at the annual back-to-school professional development event for school nurses held at Cherokee High School. McFarland received prizes, including a $500 Visa gift card, engraved plaque and honor banner, sponsored by Children’s Healthcare, in honor of her recognition.

“Our school nurses provide critically important care at our schools every day,” Hightower said. “They not only make our schools safer, healthier and happier places, they also save lives. We have seen students, staff and visitors experience medical emergencies at school and are so thankful for our heroes in scrubs who intervene and save lives. Nurse Sandra is highly deserving of this honor and an outstanding representative of her profession and our exemplary nursing team.”

The School Nurse of the Year Innovation Zone winners, who each received a $100 Visa gift card and an honor banner, are: Cherokee Zone, Kim Dorris, Clayton Elementary School; Etowah Zone, Tracy Cavanaugh, Bascomb Elementary School; River Ridge Zone, Kathy Cox, Johnston Elementary School; Sequoyah Zone, Christine Lynch, Dean Rusk Middle School; and Woodstock Zone, Amber Palmer, Sixes Elementary School.

Junior Scores Scholarship

Sequoyah High School junior Noah

Popp earned the $5,000 Student Scoreboard Scholarship from Formetco Sports in recognition of his success using the company’s video LED scoreboard technology to make school football games and other events more engaging. Noah also was tapped to advise the company this school year as its high school student engagement manager.

Noah is a third-year student in Sequoyah’s career pathway program for audio/video technnology and film, led by teacher Brad Mann.

“Noah’s commitment to excellence and his exceptional skills in audiovisual production have made him an invaluable member of our school community,” Mann said.

Noah was honored at the company’s recent annual scoreboard training event for high school students, athletic directors and coaches.

The career pathway program for audio/video technology and film is offered at all CCSD high schools, and Sequoyah’s program has achieved prestigious industry certification.

From left, Superintendent Brian Hightower, Chief Operations Officer Debra Murdock, Sandra McFarland, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta community development officer Janet Read Welch and Cherokee County School Board Chair Kyla Cromer.

Noah Popp

New Resource for Foster Families

A new resource center has opened to assist foster families navigating challenging times. The Goshen Family Resource Center (FRC), home to Goshen Therapeutic Services, offers mental health and family support services designed to prevent families from experiencing a crisis and that lowers rates of addiction and self-harm in the community.

Through the FRC, families can access mental and behavioral health counseling, parenting classes, addiction-based resources, affordable housing information, employment coaching and community navigation resources. Also available will be access to other holistic, preventative services.

With the help of community partners, Goshen leadership and staff hope to open this resource to any family needing support. A fundraising drive is underway to raise money to renovate the back half of the building, which is located at 230 Marietta Highway, Canton. Visit www.goshenvalley.org for more information.

County Communications Team Wins Awards

The Cherokee County Communications Division earned four national awards for communications materials to keep Cherokee County residents informed. The awards were given by the National Association of County Information Officers, part of the National Association of Counties (NACo), during a recent NACo annual conference.

Cherokee was one of three Georgia counties recognized. Forsyth and Rockdale counties’ communications teams also were acknowledged for their work. This was the first year Cherokee entered the competition and the third year of the department’s existence.

“It’s an honor to be recognized on a national level for our work here in Cherokee. As a small two-person department, we serve as both an internal and external communications team,” said Communications Director Erika Neldner, who works alongside Andrea Barker, assistant communications director. “We work to assist county departments, staff and elected officials with a variety of projects, from news releases, coordination with media, graphic design and branding to training, social media and newsletters.”

DanceSport Team Performs Oscars-Style

Six members of the Cherokee County Special Olympics DanceSport team recently attended LIFCON2023, the annual LaBlast Fitness convention at the Pink Palace, The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, Florida. They were invited to perform an exhibition dance for the Oscars Theme Gala night.

Laura Mikszan, DanceSport coach and founder of the nonprofit Fitfully Forward, choreographed and taught the group an Oscars-themed production, which included dancing to Oscar-winning music in small groups, trios, duets and solos, complete with costume changes. The dancers worked hard in preparing for their gala performance, and their dance production brought the audience to its feet.

However, the highest form of praise came when Louis Van Amstel was spotted doing the LaBlast disco moves to the song “Fame” along with the group as they performed their disco dance. Van Amstel is the creator of LaBlast Fitness, a “Dancing With the Stars” pro, three-time world dance champion, Emmy-nominated choreographer and Special Olympics Dance Ambassador.

DanceSport coach Laura Mikszan and group members Kristin King, Justin Swantek, Erica Revalski, Cora Beth Browning, Ryan Ellis, Reed Rogers and Special Olympics Dance Ambassador Louis Van Amstel.

Erika Neldner

Andrea Barker

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

Rob’s Rescues

This month, I interviewed Sarah Carney of Hidden Acres Animal Sanctuary (HAAS) in Canton. Learn more at hiddenacresanimalsanctuary.org.

What is your mission?

This dog’s name is Zane. He is 6 years old and was a stray. He is scared in the shelter. He has good energy and would be a happy and active companion. He loves to walk outside and seems like a dog that would be good and loyal to you.

Hidden Acres Animal Sanctuary Therapy and Rescue is a nonprofit with a mission to spread hope, healing and love to rescue farm animals and human hearts and a purpose to bring joy to all who cross our path. We pay forward the hope, healing and love we instill in our rescue animals to local seniors, memory-care patients, hospice patients and individuals struggling with mental and emotional health through the natural and amazing benefits of animal therapy. We also have a youth empowerment program for middle and high school students. We believe animals are powerful healers, making us both an animal rescue and a human rescue.

How many animals are on the farm, and what type?

We have 87 animals, including goats, ducks, chickens, pigs, rabbits, birds, donkeys and a Holstein cow at the sanctuary. Each of these animals is personally touched and inundated with tremendous love and care every day by teams of volunteers.

Why did you choose a goat for your logo?

We have more rescue goats than any other animal. We take our goats to senior centers and have a lot of goat-related activities, such as goat yoga.

How do your animals come to you?

Mostly through large-animal vets and animal controls across a number of counties. Harley the pig wandered around homeless in Atlanta for two weeks. Bucky the donkey was 28 years old when he came to us. During all that time, he had never been touched. His hooves were so overgrown, he could barely walk. He also had a severely infected face as a result of being attacked by other animals. Rosie was the first pig in our therapy program. She was sold to college students by a breeder when she was just 2 days old. The kids tried, but couldn’t keep up with her needs, so I took her into the sanctuary. The residents of Camellia Place in Woodstock bottle-fed her, and she has brought lots of joy on her visits there.

This cat’s name is Wilson. He is a 4-year-old orange tabby. He came to the shelter as a stray. He is a pretty calm cat who doesn’t make much noise and enjoys being held a lot. He deserves and would love a great home.

Next month, my interview with Sarah continues, as she explains how farm animals are used as therapy animals.

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

Rob with Sarah Carney of Hidden Acres Animal Sanctuary.

Around & About

SEPTEMBER

Tennis Fundraiser

Sept. 8, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Cherokee Tennis Center

The Circle of Friends event at 155 Brooke Blvd., Woodstock, is the inaugural Mary Ann Crowe To Serve With Love tennis fundraiser, a women’s team doubles tournament. Register at www.circleoffriendsinc.org.

Community Sale

Sept. 9, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Little River Methodist Church, Woodstock

A missions fundraiser, individuals and businesses will have items for sale. Free to the public. For more details, visit www. littleriverumc.info or call 770-926-2495.

Cherokee Music Teachers Association

Sept. 9, 10 a.m., R.T. Jones Library Canton

First meeting of the season. Guests are welcome, and a potluck brunch will be served. For more information, contact Linda Lokey at linda@lokey.net.

Concert in the Park: Guardians of the JukeBox

Sept. 9, 7-10 p.m., downtown Ball Ground

https://cityofballground.com/events

9/11 Day of Remembrance

Sept. 11, 7 p.m., The Park at City Center, Woodstock

To honor our first responders and to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Kid Biz Expo Golf Tournament

Sept. 11, Bridgemill Athletic Club

There will be breakfast, lunch, a practice session, door prizes, swag bags and a silent auction. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cherokee County first responders.

https:// golf2grow.com/ kid-biz-expo

Taste of Woodstock

Sept. 14, Woodstock Arts Event Green, 1156 Elm St.

Don’t miss this opportunity to try tasty delights from some of the best restaurants in the area. Event is free, but you must buy tickets to forage. Ticket booths open at 4:30 p.m. For more information, http://tastewoodstock.com.

Special Olympics Golf Tournament

Sept. 15, Lake Arrowhead Yacht and Country Club

Sponsored by the Kathy B. Davis Foundation, under the direction of Dave Davis, a state-certified Special Olympics golf coach. www.kbdfoundation.net/ upcoming-events.

Stand Up for Seniors

Luncheons are 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. the third Friday of each month. $10 donation. https://vaccherokeega.org

Sept. 15: The Landings of Canton Hills, 1100 Reinhardt College Parkway

Oct. 20: Merrill Gardens, 12730 Highway 92, Woodstock

Nov. 17: The Retreat at Canton, 3333 E. Cherokee Drive

Plant Sale

Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-noon, Cherokee County Senior Center

The Cherokee County Master Gardeners propagated all the plants, shrubs and trees for this sale to assure they will grow in our climate. The center is at 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. www.facebook.com/ cherokeemastergardeners. www.cherokeemastergardeners.com.

North Georgia State Fair

Sept. 21-Oct. 1, Jim. R. Miller Park Marietta

The fair features live music, free attractions and shows, farm animals, local entertainment, rides, food and more. www.northgeorgiastatefair.com

More than 1,500 people registered for the 2022 Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup. Photo courtesy of John and Cyndee Perry.

Family Friendly Festival

Sept. 22, 6-9 p.m., Woodstock City Church parking lot

The outdoor event includes live music, face painting, cornhole, free food and special guests. Hosted by Hopedealers Worldwide and The ROCC (Recovery Organization of Cherokee County) to celebrate individuals in recovery from drugs and alcohol use. www.betherocc.org.

Movie on the Green

Sept. 22, 7-9:30 p.m., the Woodstock Green

The free community event features the Woody Harrelson movie “Champions” (PG-13). Details at www.circleoffriendsinc.org.

Sunset Symphony

Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m., Woodstock Amphitheatre

Enjoy an evening with the Cobb New Horizons Concert Band at 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. For more information, visit https://cobbnewhorizonsband.com.

Lights on the Lake Registration

Sept. 25-Nov. 8

Registration is open for Lights on the Lake Parade on Nov. 11. To register click on https://lakeallatoonaassoc.com/events/

3- and 6-Hour Mountain Bike Race

Sept. 30, 9:30 a.m., Blankets Creek Trails, Canton https://mountaingoatadventures.com/ blankets6hour

Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup

Sept. 30, Lake Allatoona

Registration is open through Sept. 25. www.lakeallatoonaassoc.com

Kickball Extravaganza

Sept. 30

Hosted by American Commercial Roofing, the Circle of Friends fundraiser is open to neurotypical and neurodiverse friends to play kickball together. Check the website for more details. www.circleoffriendsinc.org/ fundraisers.

OCTOBER

Kayak Run

Oct. 7, Location TBD

Cherokee Recreation and Parks is hosting an approximate threehour kayak run. Snacks and drinks provided. All ages are welcome (minors must be accompanied by an adult). Register through 5 p.m. Sept. 23. Contact Nick Holt at nrholt@cherokeega.com or 770501-8002.

Run, Walk or Roll 5K

Oct. 7, 8 a.m., First Baptist Woodstock Next Step Ministries’ 10th annual fundraiser; registration opens at 7 a.m. For more details, visit www.runwalkorroll.com.

Volunteer Trail Cleanup and Maintenance

Oct. 7, 9 a.m.-noon

Join the effort to clean and maintain parks operated by Cherokee Recreation and Parks. Cleaning tools will be provided. Register by 5 p.m. Oct. 6. Contact Nick Holt at nrholt@cherokeega. com or 770-501-8002.

Luau on the Links Golf Tournament

Oct. 12, BridgeMill Athletic Club Canton

Grab your best Hawaiian shirt and support the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m., shotgun start at 9 a.m. Individual $125, foursome $500. To register and/or to sponsor a hole, contact Brittany Page at bpage@woodstockga.gov or visit bit.ly/WPSFGolf.

The Great Pumpkin Fest

Oct. 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cherokee Veterans Park, Canton

Includes DJ, craft and food vendors, hayrides, ax throwing, archery, a costume contest and more. Wear your costumes and trick-or-treat with vendors. Admission is free. www.playcherokee.org.

Empower Cherokee Golf Tournament

Oct. 23, Eagle Watch Golf Club

Support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities while golfing at Eagle Watch Golf Club. Entry fees start at $125. Check in at 8 a.m., shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. For more information, contact William at 770-883-8493, william@golf2grow.com or visit https://golf2grow.com/empower-cherokee.

Red, White and Blue BBQ

Oct. 27-29, American Legion Fairgrounds

Enjoy a Georgia-sanctioned barbecue event at the American Legion Fairgrounds, 160 McClure St., Canton. Music, games, a cornhole event and a pro barbecue competition are featured. For more information and to register for the amateur competition, contact Jim Lindenmayer at jlindenmayer80@gmail.com.

Garland

Mountain Day Hike

Oct. 28, 10 a.m., Garland Mountain Horse and Hiking Trails

A moderate hike along an approximate 4-mile loop to enjoy the natural beauty of the Appalachian foothills. Contact Nick Holt at nrholt@cherokeega.com or 770-501-8002.

Der Grosse Bären Kampf (Strongman Competition)

Oct. 28, 10 a.m., Victoria Beach, Lake Allatoona

The second annual USS-sanctioned event features teens, open and masters competitions in power stairs, basket deadlift, UPS truck pull and more. For more information and athlete registration, contact Emily Bernhardt at 770-713-4594 or teambernhardtstrong@gmail.com.

September Is for Exploring

BY SARAH CHILDERS

There’s so much to be excited about at your local public library this month. Join the Sequoyah Regional Library System (SRLS) as we celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month. With programming for all ages, experience passes, books and more, your SRLS library card is your ticket to discovery.

Then, visit one of our seven locations Sept. 18-22 for Sequoyah Space Explorers Week, where you can gaze at the stars and dream about Mars. Our libraries will be offering multiple space-themed programs for all ages to enjoy. Visit our Woodstock Public Library Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. for Astronomy 101 for Kids. Spend the evening with an astronomer from the Atlanta Astronomy Club Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at our Rose Creek Public Library. On Sept. 20, join us at R.T. Jones Memorial Library at 5:30 p.m. for Constellation Cross-Stitch. Finally, test your Jedi skills at our Star Wars Family Fun Night Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. at our Ball Ground Public Library. For a full calendar of events, visit SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org.

If you want to start your own adventure, look no further than your local public library. During National

Library Card Sign-Up Month, you can begin your journey of discovery by signing up for a SRLS library card. Our library cards are always free for those who live in Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer counties. Visit our website or one of our locations to sign up for a library card.

If your child enjoys computers, start their adventure with coding skills at Ready, Set, Code! For Kids from 4-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays during September at the Woodstock Library.

If you always wanted to try a yoga class, the free Yoga at the Library on Sept. 9 from 11 a.m.-noon is perfect for beginners. Bring your mat to the Woodstock Library for a relaxing session. Another way to relax while learning is through our Adult Art Night on Sept. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Woodstock Library. Paint and supplies will be provided. Adults can continue their art adventure on Sept.

28 from 6-7:30 p.m. with ceramic dish painting at the Ball Ground Library.

Kids also can develop their journey into art skills at the Apple Tree Painting for Kids on Sept. 26 from 5-6 p.m. at the Ball Ground Library.

And don’t forget to take some time to celebrate with us at the R.T. Jones Library 100th Year Birthday Bash on Sept. 9 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Eat, play and sing “Happy Birthday” as we end our celebration with a bang!

Whether you’re looking for your next read, your next hobby or your next storytime, Sequoyah Regional Library System is proud to be your dynamic destination for discovery. Stop by your local library to see what you might discover next or visit https://sequoyahregionallibrary.org/. We hope to see you soon!

Sarah Childers is the marketing manager of the Sequoyah Regional Library System.

A Wildlife Wonders representative introduces Priscilla the monkey to the crowd at Woodstock Public Library.

A young patron pets a hedgehog from Wildlife Wonders at the Summer Discovery Finale at Rose Creek Library.

IRS Announces Intent to Begin Collections Again

BY DENSON PEPPER

Hoping for an IRS payment plan? It’s possible, but if you have not filed your income tax returns for the past six years, the IRS will not accept any repayment proposal from you. If you owe taxes from prior years but have not filed all returns, IRS collections will send you notices, which might result in a levy action. It is best to file all required income tax returns before the IRS begins its collection protocol.

If you haven’t heard from the IRS lately, you’re not alone. The IRS put its usual collections efforts on pause for about three years but recently announced that collections will begin again in late summer. You might receive notices threatening liens or levies. If you have not filed all your returns, you will need time before you can address the liabilities. It’s best to file the returns before you deal with any tax liability. The IRS might file a return for you and assess a liability. This is called a substitute for return. The IRS calculation of your tax owed usually is higher than if you had filed yourself.

How long can the IRS collect unpaid taxes?

The federal government has 10 years to collect assessed, unpaid income taxes. The key word is assessed. If a tax return has not been filed by the taxpayer or the government, then the statute of limitations does not begin, resulting in potential liability in the future.

Always open — and reply to — notices in a timely manner. If you ignore them, your options decrease with time. It then might become costly to appeal any governmental decisions.

Call a tax specialist to help you determine the next steps. In a nonthreatening manner, taxpayers can reach a resolution to their tax situations.

Denson Pepper is a CPA in the Acworth/Kennesaw area with 30-plus years of experience. He is an expert at helping people resolve their income tax problems. Call 678-797-5241 to make an appointment.

Thrift Stores: More Than a Good Deal

BY SUSANNAH MACKAY

This month, we are focusing on an often-overlooked way to support local nonprofits: thrift stores. We all know they are great for finding bargains, but how often do we stop to consider what an essential role thrift stores are playing in the support of others? Not only do they offer items at remarkably lower prices, their revenue often helps fund essential programming at local nonprofits.

You can help by cleaning out closets and donating items or by volunteering your time in the stores. From sorting and shelving to customers and cleaning, these stores depend on volunteers to keep their operating costs low and to make sure any profit goes where it is needed most. Check out these two great options that are listed on JustServe.org:

MUST Marketplace: Volunteer with MUST Ministries in Marietta as a greeter, cashier or stocker. All funds are reinvested in its programming.

Bascomb Mission Thrift: With two shifts to choose from each day and a variety of positions to fill, there’s no reason not to check out this standing opportunity in Woodstock.

Alternatively, you also can volunteer at these community closets that offer apparel at no cost to their clients:

Keep Families Together by Sorting and Preparing

“Shop”: Sponsored by Together for Families, this great resource center in Kennesaw even allows children to volunteer and sort with their families.

Help Dress Those in Need: Volunteers can help sort and hang clothes every Tuesday morning at House of Hope in Canton. All are welcome!

Be sure to check out these great projects and many others on JustServe.org. Or join the JustServe Georgia Volunteers Public Group on Facebook for additional ideas. You can make a difference in someone’s life. Sign up on JustServe.org today.

JustServe.org is a free international website and app that works to match volunteers with nonprofit organizations and service opportunities. We have local representatives right here in our area. If you run a nonprofit or are looking for ways to make service a regular part of your life, check out JustServe.org. You can sign up for regular updates and learn more about organizations nearby, too. JustServe makes it easy to just go out and serve!

Foster Kids Face Tough Financial Hurdles

BY CHARLICE BYRD

There is little doubt that children in foster care have more burdens to bear than we truly can appreciate or understand. These children face challenges that make life outside of the care system challenging. Simple, yet life-affirming, chapters that mark the transition into adulthood, like getting a driver’s license, obtaining car insurance or opening a bank account, are among the barriers that these kids face.

Children in traditional home settings have a parent sign a form, and they can obtain a driver’s license, be added to their parent’s car insurance or open a checking account. But for foster children, whose legal parent is the state of Georgia, it is not as easy.

If a foster child’s birth parent still is working on a case plan to reunify or has not lost their parental rights, they may consent for their children in foster care to achieve these ends. However, finding these parents often is challenging if children have been in long-term care. If they are available and willing to sign the necessary documents to open an account, the next hurdle is safeguarding the money in the account for the child.

Parental signatures often allow parents to access cash that children have worked to save up on their own. Unfortunately, financial exploitation often morphs into maltreatment for children who just want the benefit of a checking account to safeguard their hard-earned money. As a precaution, children

in foster care have an annual credit report check to ensure that parents, and others who have access to their information, are not using their credentials for credit.

For children who are freed for adoption, the foster parent or case manager often is approached and asked to become the signature on file, in order for a foster child to obtain a driver’s license or get automobile insurance. Regrettably, many foster parents or case managers are hesitant to do this because of the inherent legal risk incurred.

Similarly, finding an adult to sign off on car insurance means the assumption of legal liability, in addition to the large premium that new drivers face.

Children in the foster care system have unusual burdens that many do not understand. Learn how to get involved, and help children in the foster care system have a better chance of survival outside of the system, through North Georgia Angel House at www.angelhousega.com.

Susannah MacKay is a local JustServe specialist. She grew up in Marietta and loves helping strengthen her community through service! Follow her on Facebook @JustServeGeorgia.

Rep. Charlice Byrd represents Georgia House District 20. If you have any feedback, call 404-557-2218, email charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov or engage on Facebook.

Gift to Circle of Friends Inspires Fundraiser

SUBMITTED BY CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

Circle of Friends recently received a generous $500,000 donation from a longtime friend and client of the Keen family, founders of the nonprofit. As part of her will, Mary Ann Crowe (1940-2022) of Alpharetta left the organization this sizable gift to be used to enhance the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the expansion of the team and programs that directly impact this population.

Founders Glenn and Diane Keen share mixed emotions about the generous gift.

“My family has known Mary Ann for over 30 years, first as a client of my father’s in the 1980s and then as a client of mine at Keen & Co.,” Glenn said. “Getting to plan with her to do the things she wanted before she passed was eerie on one hand, but so encouraging on the other.”

According to Diane, “While seeing her last days was hard to accept, we’re grateful for her heart and are thankful for how we got to walk hand in hand with her. She was such a joy in life, and her gifts are allowing others to experience the same.”

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Crowe, a retired Delta pilot. Mary Ann also gave to other organizations that were near to her heart, including Phi Mu sorority, of which she was a member for more than 60 years, and Angel Flight, a program in which volunteer pilots serve the medically in-need community.

Mary Ann often could be found at the golf course and tennis courts, as she was a yearround Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association tennis player into her later years. Fitness was important to her, and much of her social life revolved around those she played with, especially from Webb Bridge Park.

To celebrate her legacy, a group of faithful volunteers, chaired by Gina Ulicny, has organized the first Mary Ann Crowe To Serve

With Love charity tennis fundraiser to benefit Circle of Friends. The event is set for Sept. 8 at Cherokee Tennis Center in Woodstock. Head pro Cameron Leslie is assisting in the round-robin format, with generous prizes for winners. To register a team and participate, visit www.CircleOfFriendsInc.org/Tennis.

EVERYDAY

Identifying people in need in our community.

Woodstock resident Cherry Klein is no stranger to Cherokee County’s fitness community. The 51-year-old has spent the past 15 years serving our community as a Zumba and AquaFit instructor at LA Fitness and Onelife Fitness. She also works as a line cook for Sunset Grille and over the years has worked for MadLife, Marlow’s Tavern, Prime 120 and Tavern at Towne Lake.

Cherry’s friend Venus describes her as “a tiny little fireball of positive energy. She always has at least two jobs that she’s running to.”

In May, Cherry was gaining weight. “Cherry normally weighs 105 pounds soaking wet, and before our eyes, she had gained about 35 pounds within two weeks,” Venus said. Cherry also experienced abdominal pain and difficulty urinating, which caused her to retain water and rapidly gain weight. After several doctor appointments, she was diagnosed with cancer in her bile duct and a golf ball-sized tumor in her liver. Bile duct cancer, also called cholangiocarcinoma, is cancer that starts in the bile ducts, which are tubes that connect the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. Cancer that forms in the bile ducts inside the liver is called intrahepatic bile duct cancer. Bile duct cancer typically is discovered in the later stages, as it takes time for the symptoms to present themselves. Cherry was diagnosed with Stage 2.

During surgery on June 1, a third of her bile duct and half of her liver were removed. A follow-up surgery was necessary to remove more cancerous polyps. Cherry needs another surgery to remove cancerous polyps in her pancreas, but she has to wait until her body has had time to heal. Chemotherapy finally began last month.

Cherry is married, with three children; two are grown, and her 16-year-old is still at home. Her husband is on medical disability, which makes her income critical for

her family. “I have always worked two-three jobs to help provide for our family. I love my jobs and the people I work with and for,” Cherry said.

After her diagnosis, Cherry’s insurance policy termed out, causing delays in her treatments. Thankfully, she now is covered by a new but expensive policy.

Her Zumba students set up a GoFundMe account, so others can help her get through this difficult time. “The amount of support she has garnered from the community is proof of the lives she touches every day. Cherry would never ask for help from anyone. She is strong and self-sufficient, but this is bigger than her. She would unquestionably do anything for us, and we now have the opportunity to show her how much she means to each of us. She has always been an inspiration to her students and is even more so now. Her positive attitude and energy shines, even though we know she doesn’t feel well,” Venus said.

Cherry believes God has given her this second chance “so that I can be a positive example to others, and I fully intend to win this. I am eternally grateful to my dear friends, students and strangers who have helped me so far. I still have a lot ahead of me, and I cannot tell you how much relief your generosity has provided us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

If you would like to help the Kleins, you can donate through GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/6676696d or through Everyday Angels, where 100% of donations go directly to the family.

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 our community, email aaeverydayangels@gmail.com.

Cherry Klein is battling bile duct cancer.

Claiming a Share of Creative Crown

BY LIBBY WILLIAMS

Did you know Atlanta was named the Most Creative City in the United States last year? To determine this, a study by Workamajig analyzed the state of each city’s creative economy and atmosphere by looking at the “number of museums, artists and musicians, creative jobs in industries such as marketing, arts and design, as well as the number of film and music festivals per capita.”

Now, Woodstock might not be inside the perimeter, but we are comfortably nestled in the Atlanta metro area, so we will happily include ourselves as a contributor to the city’s creative reputation. With such a vibrant and thriving community of artists, Woodstock Arts is excited to be constantly creating platforms for locals to share their art.

Speaking of those platforms, we have two major opportunities in our visual arts gallery, The Reeves House, to celebrate our local artists. Back by popular demand, “Small Town: Small Works” returns Oct. 12-Dec. 12. Featuring artists who live within a 15-mile radius of Woodstock, this show will display works of art that are small in size but big in impact. The walls are filled to the brim, making it a huge celebration of our local art community. By bringing people together in a shared space to appreciate and discuss art, we hope to foster a sense of community and belonging, while also providing opportunities for connection and creative exchange.

After “Small Town: Small Works,” our focus shifts to fostering the next generation of artists who will help us maintain our stake in the Most Creative City honor. From Dec. 14-Jan. 14, we will feature our “Creative Kids!” exhibit, showcasing the incredible talent of our artists in grades K-12. By celebrating the next generation and providing a platform for children to show off their artistic talent, we are encouraging their creativity and inspiring them to continue pursuing their passion for art, while also providing an opportunity for the community to enjoy and appreciate the unique perspectives of our young artists.

UNDER THE STARS

Art has an extraordinary way of transcending boundaries and building bridges between people. It sparks emotions and opens conversations that otherwise might have remained unspoken. Through our visual arts initiatives, we aim to cultivate a sense of unity and openness within our community, while putting our artists’ talents on display. Make sure you join us at The Reeves House to connect with your local arts community.

Libby Williams is the marketing manager for Woodstock Arts. Look for @woodstockgaarts on social media.

Celebrations!

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Gram Schroeder Age 6 on Aug. 2

Grateful parents, Pete and Corinne, and big sister, Alice

Graden and

Happy seventh birthday!

Lennon Age 4 on Sept. 20

Happy birthday, Lennon! Love and hugs, Gamma & Grampa

Ada Happy second birthday, baby Ada!

We love you so much! Mom, Dad and Izzy

Carol Duda Happy 70th birthday!

You are the best mother and grandma that anyone could ask for! Love, your family

Charlotte

The Incredible Shrinking Uterus

BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PC

Pregnancy and childbirth are remarkable experiences that bring joy and change to a woman’s life. One fascinating aspect of postpartum recovery is how the uterus, the remarkable organ that nurtured your baby, gradually returns to its pre-pregnancy size.

During pregnancy, your uterus expands to accommodate your growing baby. It undergoes significant changes to provide a nurturing environment, with its muscle fibers stretching and thinning to accommodate the increasing size of your little one. By the time you reach full term, your uterus has grown from approximately the size of a lemon to the size of a watermelon!

After delivering your baby, your body begins the process of uterine involution, which is the gradual shrinking and returning of the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

• Immediate postpartum stage. After giving birth, your uterus starts contracting because of the release of the hormone oxytocin. These contractions help to expel the placenta, reduce bleeding and initiate the involution process. You may feel these contractions, commonly known as afterpains, which can be more pronounced during breastfeeding.

• The first few days. The uterus continues to contract and shrink. By the third or fourth day, it’s typically about the size of a grapefruit. These contractions, often called cramps, can be mild to moderate and are a sign that your uterus is healing and returning to its original size.

• Weeks following delivery. The involution process continues as the uterus gradually reduces, reaching approximately the size of a pear by two weeks postpartum. By the end of six weeks, it typically returns to its pre-pregnancy size. Several factors can influence the rate and effectiveness of uterine involution, including breastfeeding, subsequent pregnancies and delivery method.

Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin, which enhances uterine contractions and helps speed up involution. If you have had multiple pregnancies close together, the uterine muscles may not have had enough time to fully recover, potentially slowing down the involution process.

Vaginal births typically involve more intense contractions during labor, aiding in the initial stage of involution. However, regardless of the delivery method, your uterus will still undergo the involution process.

The journey of pregnancy and childbirth is awe-inspiring, and the body’s ability to recover and heal is truly remarkable. As you embark on your postpartum period, remember to give yourself time, rest and proper care to support healing and recovery.

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, PC has seven OB-GYNs and five advanced practice providers, with offices in Canton and Woodstock.

Celebrating Yom Kippur, Teshuvah and Fall Feasts

BY DANIEL ROBITSHEK

Repent! How many times have we seen someone on a street corner shouting that word? Or perhaps we’ve watched a movie where one of the characters is portrayed as a crazed religious figure carrying signs with that word on it, claiming the world is coming to an end?

We have a natural aversion to that word and what it might represent, but did you know that the word for repent in the Hebrew is the word “teshuvah,” which comes from a simple root — lashuv — meaning to turn or to return?

The Jewish Fall Feasts — Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 15-17), Yom Kippur (Sept. 24-25) and Sukkot (Sept. 29-Oct. 6), called the High Holy Days — are a culmination of a 30-day season of teshuvah. The Jewish nation is called to look inward, to self-reflect and return to the “source of life.”

We are encouraged to prepare for the High Holy Days by slowing down and reconnecting with what matters most of all — our vertical relationship with our creator and our horizontal relationships with our fellow human beings. We are called to undergo what is described in Hebrew as “cheshbon ha-nefesh” — literally an accounting of the soul.

This self-examination is not for the purpose of counting all the good and the bad we’ve done, in the hopes that the positive has outweighed the negative. It is, in fact, an acknowledgment that, as part of the human condition, there is good and bad in our hearts, minds and actions.

During this season of teshuva, we are encouraged to walk ourselves

through the difficult and sometimes painful process of turning inward to acknowledge our shortcomings honestly. Then, we are to turn outward and ask forgiveness from those we may have hurt, intentionally or otherwise. Most importantly, we are called to open wide our hearts to our creator, with a sense of humility, owning our flaws and asking his forgiveness.

However, true teshuvah is more than just recognizing our faults and asking for forgiveness. It is an opportunity to hit a spiritual reset button. It is a chance to let go of the greatest sins of all — the sins of apathy and forgetfulness — apathy toward hurting ourselves and others and forgetfulness over our eternal need for God’s love, grace and truth.

Of course, teshuvah is an enduring process, a daily struggle that is not one-and-done. On the contrary, it is a slow-motion activity that should be genuine and lifelong. The 30 days before Rosh Hashana and the subsequent intense 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur offer an opportunity to remind ourselves of this critical need to return to God and godliness and the transformative healing that this teshuvah can provide.

Our Christian friends will recognize this concept in many of the New Testament writings. The letter

to the first-century Jewish believers, Hebrews 12:1-2, states: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Teshuvah leads us to cultivate godliness while eradicating habits that lead into sin.

Yom Kippur is indeed the highest of the High Holy Days — the Day of Atonement, when we present ourselves to God, trusting in his forgiving grace, as it marks the climax of this period of teshuvah. For the believer in Yeshua (Jesus), it is a reminder of the atoning power of his sacrifice, once and for all, and the ongoing cry of the heart to follow that message of forgiveness, with a commitment to living a life of teshuva — a life of turning and returning to our creator.

Daniel Robitshek is senior rabbi, and he and his wife, Tracey, are honored to celebrate God’s love, with Jews and gentiles, at Congregation Beth Yeshua North Georgia.

Make Intentionality Part of Your Faith

BY DAVID STEIN

When I was a kid in Pennsylvania, school didn’t start until after Labor Day. Whatever day school starts up, though, it’s still a shock to the system, as we all have to reorient our lives and schedules.

Parents have to plan everything around when the kids go to school and when they come home. Meal planning, helping with homework and extracurricular activities may make it seem like you’re an underpaid and untipped Uber driver. With or without school-age kids, back-to-school time means that adjustments have to be made.

It takes a lot of intentionality. The daunting traffic takes you from “it only took me five minutes to get through the intersection at Hickory Flat” to “I’m never leaving the house again!” Your palms may be getting sweaty just reading this. There is some good news, though. For many, back to school also means back to church.

Vacation season is over. High school and college football means Fridays and Saturdays are about to rock. In the chaos of life, there’s no better place to gather, be encouraged and be refreshed than the local church. Thinking ahead to schedule time for your family to gather on Sunday is not just important, it’s life support.

Let me tell you why.

I grew up Jewish and spent 45 years as a blaspheming atheist. On Sept. 26, 2006, my therapist (of all people) told me about Jesus over the phone. Immediately, I knew I needed a savior. I fell to my knees and trusted that Jesus died for my sins, took the penalty that I deserved for my sin and was raised from the dead three days later.

This truth alongside the community of church have been the biggest gifts in my life. Today, I love my Jewishness and embrace that perspective in my role as a pastor, and I can’t imagine a weekend without the gathering of God’s people. So, as life continues to get back to normal and you’re settling into new schedules, consider the intentionality of something I’ve heard many times: “Going to church on Sunday is a Saturday decision.” See you Sunday!

Tell ’em I sent you.

David Stein is the Campus Pastor at Revolution Church Canton. He is a former sports talk show host and current host of ‘The Rise and Stein Morning Show’ with his wife, Leanna. They live in Hickory Flat with their two chihuahuas, Pickles and Pretzel.

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Native Alternatives to Replace Invasive Evergreen Shrubs

BY MARY TUCKER

Evergreen shrubs are among the most functional plants for a homeowner’s landscaping needs. They have many uses, including foundation plantings, privacy screens and accent plants.

Unfortunately, some of the most commonly used evergreen shrubs are non-native plants with invasive or weedy tendencies. These popular landscaping plants include nandina or heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei), silverberry or thorny elaeagnus (Elaeagnus pungens), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and the many species of privet (Ligustrum species).

These shrubs invade natural landscapes through seeds, usually dispersed by birds and other wildlife, or vegetative means. They can do extensive harm once they take over woodlands, meadows and other natural areas. They shade out or outcompete native species, degrade natural ecosystems and reduce food and shelter for native wildlife. Large stands of invasive plants also can change the course of waterways and affect the water table.

Fortunately, there are many worthy native evergreen shrubs that serve as excellent alternatives to these invasive shrubs. The ones listed below typically grow to a height suitable for use in home landscapes:

Florida hobblebush (Agarista populifolia)

Shiny, lance-shaped leaves, 2-4 inches long on arching stems; new foliage is an attractive coppery red; 5-10 feet tall; small, white, bell-shaped flowers in the spring that are loved by pollinators; prefers moist, acidic soil in shade to part sun.

Dwarf yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’)

Small, leathery, dark green, oval leaves; 3-5 feet tall; tiny white flowers in early spring, which mature into red berries on the female plants; tolerant of a variety of soil types, moisture conditions and sun exposures.

Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Finely textured, oblanceolate, aromatic leaves; 15-25 feet tall; tiny and relatively insignificant blooms, but fruits on female plants are an attractive bluish white and are relished by many songbirds; fast growing and tolerant of a variety of conditions.

Rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)

Leathery, simple, elliptic leaves, up to 8 inches in length; 6-10 feet tall; early summer flowers, which are white to pink and clustered in trusses; prefers well-drained acidic soil in shade to filtered sun.

Inkberry (Ilex glabra)

Mounded growth habit; 5-8 feet tall; simple, elliptic, glossy leaves, 1-2 inches long; tiny white blooms in the spring, followed by black berries on female plants; often found in wet areas but adaptable to average soil in sun to part shade.

Florida anise (Illicium floridanum)

Glossy, spicily fragrant, dark green leaves that are simple, elliptic and 3-6 inches long; up to 10 feet in height; spreads easily via suckers; star-shaped flowers are maroon to red and borne in the spring; prefers moist, rich soil in full to partial shade.

Mary Tucker, a North Carolina native, has lived in Cherokee County for more than 25 years. She is a lifetime Master Gardener whose special interest is native plants.

Florida hobblebush

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