June Issue by Aroundabout Local Media, Inc.

Around WALTON | June 2012

June 2012

Volume 1, Issue 12

Features

In Every Issue Around Walton.......................... 6

38 & 39 On the Cover Findlay Roofing: Vicki and Kenneth

Huguley chose Findlay Roofing for their new roof.

Taste of East Cobb

Fun while fundraising.

Celebrating Dads

Walton area dads are the best!

Everyday Angels...................... 33

Global Festival

Houses of Worship.................. 60

Celebrating cultural diversity.

Clubs & Organizations.............. 64

Trailblazer Award

School Information.................. 67

Ryan Humble.

DMS Band

Dr. Charles R. Jackson, Director of Bands at Dodgen Middle School.

Trip to the Holy Land

St. Annâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group take a trip of a lifetime.

Birthdays................................. 12 Community Calendar............... 29

Community Numbers.............. 68 Humane Society...................... 69 Elected Officials....................... 70 Classifieds............................... 71 Advertiser Directory................ 72

Contributing Writers As our Market Manager, Chris handles all advertising in Around Walton. He has lived and worked in Cobb County for over 20 years, and is active in the Atlanta music scene so you might catch him playing bass and singing at a local club. You can reach him at (770) 615-3311 or Chris@ AroundAboutLocalMedia.com.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Judson Adamson.............................19

Scott Lemmon.................................42

Barbara Berger................................36

Lisa Malice......................................31

Mary-Kathryn Boler.........................28

Olivia Malice...................................46

Dr. Cristi Cheek................................40 Ben Clark.........................................18 Sen. Judson Hill...............................14 Jennifer Jarosick..............................30

Zett Quinn.......................................22 Dawn Reed......................................32 Doug Rohan.....................................16

Linda & Kevin Keeton......................23

Margot Swann.................................31

Kara Kiefer.......................................34

Bryant Wright..................................58

Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

Our Community Board Doug Rohan is a bi-lingual attorney and owner of Rohan Law, PC. Doug can be reached at doug@rohanlawpc.com. Dr. Cristi Cheek is a dentist and owner of Cristi Y. Cheek, D.M.D., P.C. Dr. Cheek can be reached at dr.cheek@cheekdental.com. Caroline Whaley is the President of the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta. Caroline can be reached at carolinewhaley@ earthlink.net. Judy McNeill — Judy is the Principal at Walton High School. Judy can be reached at (770) 578-3225, x229. Judson Adamson — Judson is a 24-year veteran of the Atlanta Real Estate Industry. Judson can be reached at (770) 240-2001. Dawn Reed — Dawn Reed is a Certified Senior Advisor and the owner of Aloha To Senior Solutions Consulting. Dawn can be reached at dawn@ alohatoseniors.com. Mary Stephens — Mary currently serves as Media Director for Right From The Heart Ministries. Mary can be reached at (678) 388-1862. Zett Quinn — Zett is the owner and founder of Quality Craftsmen. Zett can be reached at (404) 483-7446.

Around Walton

Your Community, Your Magazine in East Cobb

Publisher

AroundAbout Local Media, Inc.

Executive Editor

Kara Kiefer kara@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3309

Title Editor

Lynne Lysaght lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3306

Market Manager

Chris Kennedy chris@aroundaboutlocalmedia.com, (770) 615-3311

Art Director

Michelle McCulloch michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3307

Digital Marketing Director

James Ball james@aroundaboutmagazines.com, (770) 615-3310 Around Walton is a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community and pride in the Walton area by providing its residents with positive stories and timely information. It is distributed free by mail to approximately 14,300 homes and businesses and 2,200 in racks throughout the Walton community. Around Walton welcomes your comments, stories, and advertisements. The deadline is the 20th of the preceding month. Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. Send payment to the address below. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Around Walton is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2012. Around Walton 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, GA 30189 For Advertising Chris Kennedy, (770) 615-3311 chris@aroundaboutlocalmedia.com Website: www.aroundaboutwalton.com Powered by TrustWorks, Inc. Franchise Opportunities Available: www.AroundAboutLocalMedia.com Volume 1, Issue 12

Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

AROUND WALTON by Lynne Lysaght

Lynne is the Editor of Around Walton magazine. She lives in the Walton community with her husband Martin and their three sons Kyle, Logan and Camden.

The People, The Places and The Pleasures that make Walton

As a representative of Around Walton magazine, I have had the opportunity to be involved in a number of special events in our community. On Honors Night at Walton High School, it was my privilege to present our first Around Walton Trailblazer Award of a $100 scholarship and a feature article in our June issue (see page 50). The graduating senior chosen by our Community Board was Ryan Humble.

At Around Walton’s Readers’ Choice Award ceremony, it was my pleasure to present the local restaurants, businesses and service providers that you, our readers, selected as the best at what they do with plaques and window clings that they can proudly display. Helping small local business grow and thrive is a goal that our company takes to heart. This year, Around Walton magazine was thrilled to be a Platinum Sponsor of the Taste of East Cobb held recently at The Avenue. It was a wonderful afternoon of tasting yummy samples from so many of our local restaurants, visiting with friends, taking time to sit under a tent and listen to the fabulous music of both the Walton High School Jazz Band and/ or the Dodgen Middle School Jazz Band and watching the joy on the children’s faces as they bounced on the inflatables. The Taste of East Cobb was a resounding success in so many ways, raising funds for the Walton band, replenishing MUST Ministries’ food pantry, and satisfying many appetites — it was great to be a part of it all. Keep sending us community news and happenings and answering our request for pictures to fill the pages with the people and stories that you want to know about or the good news that you want to spread. This month remember to send in pictures of graduates and kids swimming for swim teams! Please let our advertisers know that you saw them in Around Walton. They are the reason we are able to bring this wonderful community magazine to you in your mailbox each month.

For other locations and phone numbers, please visit www. paperaffair.com.

What’s Coming? Baked is coming to 1111 Johnson Ferry Road, with the hope of changing the way people think of take-out food forever. It will not be a sit-down restaurant, but a ready to devour take-out food for the car, the park or the dinner table. Customers can call ahead or order online, and the staff will bring the food to your car. Baked will offer fresh home-cooked goodness to go, and the menu will change monthly, with a few fixed items. The innovative children’s menu will offer healthy options, and everything will be prepared fresh and preservative-free. The community will have the opportunity to submit recipes that may become part of the menu. If your recipe is selected, you will earn Baked bucks as Baked customers buy your dish from the menu, and Baked will also match those funds to the nonprofit that you choose. The location hopes to be open in early June.

What’s New? Zoës Kitchen is now open at 4400 Roswell Road, Suite 157 in Merchants Exchange. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes created by the founder, Zoë Cassimus. The food is made fresh from scratch each day. To see a menu, visit zoeskitchen.com - you can even order online. For more information about this location, call (770) 509-5743. Tabula Rasa Health and Fitness is owned and operated by Hope Hughes, who is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She does fitness consulting and health counseling. She is located at 1240 Johnson Ferry Place. For more information, call (770) 595-1294 or visit her website at tabularasafitness.com.

What’s Closed?

Haven, the Dog Spot is now open at 736 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A-1 in the Fountains of Olde Towne. Barbara McRee is the owner. Haven, the Dog Spot is a facility where you can board, play, train, groom, shop for or adopt dogs and is open daily. For more information, visit havendog.com or call (770) 672-7343.

The Paper Affair, fine stationary store, located at 4250 Roswell Road, Suite 110 in Pinestraw Place has closed. The closest location of another Paper Affair is located at 7300 North Point Parkway, Suite 101 in North Point Village in Alpharetta.

Justice, a girls’ and preteen clothing store, has finished its remodeling and is back in its original location at 4475 Roswell Road in The Avenue. For more information, call (678) 5608217 or visit www.shopjustice.com.

Around WALTON | June 2012

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL CANCER INSTITUTE: RESEARCH THAT LEADS TO

Amazing Adventures

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute has the best survival outcomes in the country for both related and unrelated bone marrow transplants. And Northside is the only hospital in metro Atlanta chosen by the National Cancer Institute to be a Community Cancer

Center, which gives you access to the latest cancer research and treatments. When we say we offer a lifetime of care, we mean a long, long lifetime.

Where the Extraordinary Happens Every Day

CANCER INSTITUTE Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

What’s Happening in Walton... Girl Scout Troop Organizes Bridging Ceremony

Cobb EMC Women’s Task Force Awards Scholarships

Scholarship checks were presented to 2011 Washington Youth Tour winners (left to right) Janvi Chawla, Jacob Davis, and Alexis Fish.

Girl Scout Troop 2871 from Timber Ridge Elementary School. Front row, (left to right): Ashyln Segler, Katelyn Morgan, and Caroline Mason. Back row: Rachel Czekalla, Rachel Cronin, Madison Loppnow, Claudia Loughlin, and Sarah Davis

Local Girl Scout Troop 2871 organized and hosted the Bridging Ceremony for the Chattahoochee Service Unit in East Cobb. The girls in Troop 2871 are rising fifth graders at Timber Ridge Elementary School. The ceremony took place at East Cobb Park. The families of the girl scouts were invited to come have a picnic in the park, and Troop 2871 provided cake to everyone who attended. Almost 100 girls from Timber Ridge and Mount Bethel attended along with their families. Girl Scout Troop 2871 performed a flag ceremony, and lead everyone in the Girl Scout Promise and the Pledge of Allegiance. Then each troop of girls crossed over a bridge that symbolizes moving from one level of girl scouts to the next such as Daisy to Brownie, Brownie to Junior, or Junior to Cadette.

The Cobb EMC’s Women’s Task Force, a group of 90 volunteers from the cooperative’s service area, recently gathered for an annual dinner to honor members and award scholarships. Attendees named Genneal Buchanan of Marietta, Georgia the member of the year for her dedicated service during the previous year. Ed Crowell, the recently-elected chairman of Cobb EMC’s board of directors, also offered remarks and congratulated Buchanan. The Women’s Task Force finances Washington Youth Tour scholarships through the George R. Ford Memorial Fund and an annual quilt raffle. Since 1977, volunteers have sewn quilt squares throughout the year and joined pieces together during the group’s annual Quilt Week. The evening’s quilt raffle raised funds for 2012 Washington Youth Tour winners, Sara Dada, Camille Fish, and Dale Ernest from the Cobb district, and Dynasty Hooker from Cobb EMC’s Pataula district in southwest Georgia. Scholarship checks were also presented to last year’s Washington Youth Tour winners. Jacob Davis, the son of James and Paulette Davis, received $1,500, while Janvi Chawla, the daughter of Navinder Singh and Abha Chawla and recent Walton High School graduate, and Alexis Fish, the daughter of Paul and Victoria Fish, received $1,000 and $500, respectively. continued on page 10

We Are Your Community’s Source for Information • www.aroundaboutwalton.com 8

Around WALTON | June 2012

AP SA PO ME AV IN -D AI TM AY LA E BL NT E! S

WellStar Medical Group welcomes new practices to East Cobb! FAMILY MEDIcINE AND GERIATRIc MEDIcINE Whitney Denton, M.D. H Shravantika Reddy, M.D. Johnson Square | 1523 Johnson Ferry Road | Building 1523 Suite 150 | Marietta, GA 30062 | 678-403-4660 • Preventive healthcare for children, adults, and seniors • GYN exams/care • Blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol management

Whitney Denton, M.D. Family Medicine

Shravantika Reddy, M.D. Family Medicine and Geriatric Medicine

FAMILY MEDIcINE, INTERNAL MEDIcINE AND PEDIATRIcS Waldon Garriss, M.D., M.S., FAAP, FAcP Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP 3939 Roswell Road | Marietta GA 30062 | 770-973-2272 • Adult, child and newborn well-exams • Blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes management • Transition of adolescents from childhood to adult care

Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP Waldon Garriss, M.D., Family Medicine M.S., FAAP, FAcP Internal Medicine and Pediatrics

PEDIATRIcS Amy cooper, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. Eva Montgomery-McGuire, M.D., FAAP Susan Staviss, M.D., FAAP 3939 Roswell Road | Marietta GA 30062 | 770-578-2868 • Comprehensive healthcare for newborns, children and teens • Meet and greets available for parents to meet the physicians • Same-day sick appointments

770-956-STAR H wellstar.org

Amy cooper, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. Pediatrics

Eva MontgomeryMcGuire, M.D., FAAP Pediatrics

All practices accepting new patients and most insurance plans. Susan Staviss, M.D., FAAP Pediatrics Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

What’s Happening in Walton... Harry Norman Realty Sponsors Woodstock Concert Series Harry Norman Realtors from the East Cobb Office at the most recent Woodstock concert manning their booth. Left to right: Terry Coulston, Joyce Pulver, David Greene, and Heidi Wentz.

Harry Norman Realty is a sponsor of the Woodstock Concert Series. This is the 15th season for the free, family friendly summer concert series held in the newly expanded Park at City Center. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., and no tickets are required. For more information on the upcoming events, visit woodstockconcertseries. com.

JLCM Wins Grant for Kids in the Kitchen Program The Junior League of Cobb-Marietta (JLCM) has been selected by the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) to receive a $2,500 grant through the Kashi REAL (Renew Eating And Living) Project— an initiative designed to raise awareness of the Real Food Deficit and amplify the work of nonprofit organizations. The JLCM will use the grant money to expand upon its current Kids in the Kitchen Program, which operates through Open Gate, a division of the Center for Children and Young Adults. Caroline Whaley, JLCM president, said that the money will be used to enhance the current program and further develop the gardening aspect with Open Gate. The money will also allow for more community outreach programs through the public libraries and other organizations. Also, at the JLCM Annual Meeting held recently, the organization announced the 2012–2013 community partners who will share $22,000 in grant money between them. The recipients are the Center for Children and Young Adults; The Center for Family Resources; Cobb County Safety Village; Cobb County Youth Museum; Communities in Schools; Reconnecting Families; SafePath; and the YWCA. Through these grants and volunteer services, women of the JLCM serve as a catalyst for community change by creating a legacy of service to the children and families of Cobb County.

2012 Cobb Summer Singers The 2012 Cobb Summer Singers will sing two concerts of completely different repertoire. On Sunday, August 5, the singers will join with the Summer Singers of Atlanta to form a chorus of 250–300 singers that will sing Beethoven’s magnificent MASS IN C with distinguished soloists and large orchestra under the direction of Lynn Swanson. Dr. William Baker will conduct the orchestra in Beethoven’s SYMPHONY NO. 7. The following Saturday, August 11, the singers will sing a varied concert of classical works, spirituals, and folk songs. This annual program has become one of the most popular annual events in Cobb County. Rehearsals will be Tuesday evenings, 7– 9:15 p.m., in the nave of the St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church, 2160 Cooper Lake Road in Smyrna. The lighting and acoustics will be the best the singers have enjoyed for their rehearsal venue, and there is plenty of off-street parking. All adults, regardless of their musical background, are invited to sing. No audition is required. Mature youth in grades 9–12 are invited to participate. Youth under the age of 15 may participate only if a parent or guardian is a registered, participating member of the Summer Singers. Tuition is $75. For more information, please visit www.festivalsingers.org or call (678) 787-9189.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Left to right: JLCM President Caroline Whaley, Melanie Saltarella from SafePath, Gayle Poppom from Center for Family Resources, Brin Black from Reconnecting Families, Kimberly Borna from Center for Children & Young Adults, Holly Comer from YWCA, Karen Baker from SafePath, Capt. Scott Dodson from Cobb County Safety Village, Carol Fey from Communities in Schools, Anita Barton from Cobb County Youth Museum and JLCM VP of Community Amy Knudsen

We Are Your Community’s Source for Information www.aroundaboutwalton.com

Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

Happy Birthday!

Sam Greenberg Age 14 on May 28 Happy Birthday! Love, Mom, Dad and Ilyse

Nivedita Dileep Age 8 on June 3 Happy Birthday from Mom, Dad and little sister Neha!

Seth-Patrick Holman Age 16 on June 5 Son of Patrick and Grania Holman, bother to Trinity, Ireland, Andrew and John-Hall

Spencer Benecchi Age 5 on June 11 Happy Birthday! Love, Mom, Dad, Elizabeth and Andrew

Jennifer Thomas Age 25 on June 12 Happy Birthday! Love, the Ya Yas :)

Elizabeth Benecchi Age 10 on June 14 Happy Birthday! Love, Mom, Dad, Spencer and Andrew

LeeAnne McElvy Age 5 on June 17 Happy Birthday, LeeAnne! We love you very much! Love, Dad, Mom, Emily and Abbi

Skylar Jordan Age 13 on June 23 Happy Birthday, Skylar! Love, Mommy and Shanley

Neha Dileep Age 2 on June 28 Happy Birthday from Mom, Dad and big sister Nivedita!

Samara Dengler Age 13 on June 29 Happy 13th Birthday! Love, Mom, Dad and Jack

Ansley Williams Age 7 on June 30 Happy Birthday to our sweet girl! Lots of Love, Mommy, Daddy, Chandler and Hannah

Madalee Quinn Owens Age 1 on June 30 Happy Birthday, Madalee! You are pure joy! Love, Mimi and Granddad

Larry Greene Age 50 on July 7 The Big 5-0! Happy Birthday! Love, Lindsay, Joseph and Jet

Nicholas Shuber Age 16 on July 10 Happy 16th Birthday Nicholas! We love you so much! Mom, Dad, Zach, Nana and Papou

Paul McElvy Age 40 on July 19 Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you! Love, Emily, Abbi and LeeAnne

Around WALTON | June 2012

Anniversary

Karen & Chris Kennedy Celebrating 25 great years! June 27

Patrick and Grania Holman Happy Anniversary! Celebrating 18 years on July 7

Wedding

Brian Willson King and Kristen Brooke Hull Married April 21, 2012 At Ringgold Train Depot

Wedding, Birthday and Anniversary Announcements are Free! E-mail to: lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. July deadline is June 20.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

Leading by Example: Georgia’s Efforts to Prevent Voter Fraud by State Senator Judson Hill Georgia citizens will travel to their local voting precincts to cast ballots in a landmark election this November. For the past several months, the media has Sen. Judson Hill carefully followed serves as Chairman the Presidential of the Government race; offering Oversight rapidly changing Committee. He insight about represents the 32nd Senate District, who will which includes be selected portions of Cobb and as the Fulton counties. He Republican may be reached by nominee phone at (404) 656and also 0150 or by e-mail at about judson.hill@senate. President ga.gov. Barack Obama’s chances of serving a second term in the White House. While this race is considered the cornerstone of the November 2012 election, it is important to remember that every single legislative and congressional seat in Georgia is also considered open territory. These races, along with several local and statewide referendums, are the ballot components that will directly affect Georgia citizens. A founding principle of our country is that each individual deserves the right to freely select his or her representation in government. That isn’t to say that this effort did not require time, patience and additional Constitutional amendments. In the present day, anyone who is a legal resident of the United States and is 18 years of age has the right to cast a ballot in any local, state or federal election. Many people fought and died 14

Around WALTON | June 2012

“

In recent years, the credibility of our electoral process has come under heavy scrutiny, mostly due to the blatant mishandling of voter verification procedures and rampant voter fraud.

for this core American value. Therefore, its integrity must be upheld and protected at all costs. In recent years, the credibility of our electoral process has come under heavy scrutiny, mostly due to the blatant mishandling of voter verification procedures and rampant voter fraud. It has been reported that organizations such as the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) have allegedly encouraged assuming false identities or claiming the identity of a deceased person in order to skew ballot counts. These irresponsible actions have caused many educated and eligible voters to become disenfranchised, ultimately keeping their voices from being heard on Election Day. To further shed light on this issue, The Huffington Post, The Daily Caller and Andrew Breitbart’s Big Government website have all recently published articles about an undercover operation determined to expose voter fraud across the United States. In a video released by conservative activist group Project Veritas, a young man in Washington, D.C. assumed the identity of “Eric Holder.” Eric Holder is the U.S. Attorney General and a staunch opponent of voter ID laws. Holder is also on record as saying that instances of voter fraud are “extremely rare.” The young man was readily accepted as “Eric Holder” without any sort of identification procedure, despite repeated attempts by the young man to prompt the volunteer to check his ID. Voter fraud is still a real concern for Georgia citizens, but rest assured that the state has taken numerous steps to ensure a fair and honest electoral system. Georgia was one of the first states to require voters

to show a photo ID at the polls with the passage of HB 244 in 2005. Today, 32 other states have passed similar laws mandating that voters must present a valid photo ID before casting their ballots.

“

Voter fraud is still a real concern for Georgia citizens, but rest assured that the state has taken numerous steps to ensure a fair and honest electoral system.

The following year, Georgia set another precedent for election reform by enacting SB 84, making Georgia Voter Identification Cards available at no cost to all eligible voters. The legislation was drafted in accordance with the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and like HB 244, caused many other states to enact similar legislation.

Strangely, this common sense legislation has been strongly opposed by the Obama administration. Since its inception, Georgia’s voter law has faced a multitude of challenges from the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court and the Fulton County Superior Court. Georgia’s voter photo identification requirement was challenged in court shortly after its adoption, with the claim that it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The law was ultimately upheld in court. In 2007, Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups was dismissed in federal court after a judge found the plaintiffs could not prove the photo ID requirement placed a significant burden on the right to vote. The Court also noted that the plaintiffs as unable to show that the requirement was not reasonably related to fraud prevention.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit found that the plaintiffs failed to identify a single individual who would be unable to vote because of the Georgia statute or anyone who would be burdened by securing a free voter identification card.

Opponents argue that minorities could be negatively impacted by strict voter ID laws and may not have access to proper photo identification. However, statistics clearly indicate that voter turnout in Georgia among African Americans and other minorities dramatically increased after the implementation of HB 244. In fact, African American voters set a state record during the 2008 Presidential election when nearly 1.2 million showed up to vote at Georgia’s voting precincts. It is clear that the right to vote is within the reach of every eligible Georgia citizen. Contrary to the arguments delivered by opponents, these laws are designed to protect—not suppress— the voice of Georgia citizens. The intention of Georgia’s voter ID laws are honorable; a fact proven through the ability of the laws to stand resilient against past, present and future legal challenges. Turning a blind eye to dishonest voting measures weakens the integrity of a process paid for with the lives of our forefathers and so many other veterans. As November 6 draws closer, it will become increasingly important for everyone to work together— regardless of political affiliation—to restore credibility at the polls through honest and fair voting procedures.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

Basic Primer on Workers’ Compensation Claims for Employees and Employers by Douglas B. Rohan, Esq. ROHAN LAW, PC

Doug Rohan lives in the Walton community with his wife, Julia, and three daughters. He is a bi-lingual attorney and owner of Rohan Law, PC where he specializes in Criminal Defense and Workers’ Compensation claims. He also is a member of the Around Walton Community Board. You can email Doug at doug@ rohanlawpc.com.

One area of my practice where I have achieved some success is in the area of workers’ compensation claims. Initially, when I came out of law school, I intended to practice in the area of Labor Law. As it so happens, the only opening I found was with a firm looking for an associate in its workers’ comp department representing large insurance companies. After spending four years on the insurance side, I took my talents to the side representing injured workers. As East Cobb is likely comprised of many business owners, I have not spent a significant amount of time or resources advertising that area of my practice. However, the time has come to address this with an article that hopefully both sides can find informative.

The State Board of Workers’ Compensation is a quasi-judicial process formed by statutory provisions, which place the process under the executive branch of government rather than the judicial branch. This provides a number of positive and negative consequences, which I will not go into here except to say that the collegial body of attorneys who work in this area have done the profession a service by working together to resolve the majority of disputes that arise. Unlike property law, which dates back to the Magna Carta, and debtor/creditor law, which dates back to before our constitution, the laws related to workers’ compensation are very modern, having been significantly rewritten and updated in 1992. At its core, the Act (as we refer to the body of laws related to workers’ comp) is a balancing act between the interests of the insurance companies to keep down costs, and the parties representing injured workers, who want an efficient system to insure prompt medical attention. For the most part, as long as everyone plays fair, the system works. Anyone who works for a company that employs three or more individuals, who is injured while working their normal duties, has a valid worker’s compensation claim. There are some exceptions like drug use or horseplay, but otherwise, there is no issue of negligence that must be determined by a judge or jury. Once a valid claim is established (usually by the employer at

Around WALTON | June 2012

the time of the accident), the injured worker is entitled to immediate medical attention from a list of six medical providers. Once a selection from that list is made, the now-designated Authorized Treating Physician is in charge of all subsequent medical care. If there are multiple injuries, or if a complex case develops, that physician can refer to a specialist for additional care and treatment. In the event that the doctor takes a worker out of work for seven days, the worker becomes eligible for income benefits. These benefits are equal to 2/3 of the average weekly wage with a maximum rate of $500 per week. For those high income workers like nurses or construction workers, the compensation rate is likely to be closer to half the pre-injury wage. After seven days, the insurance company is supposed to send weekly checks to your house until you are able to return back to work. If you are out for more than 21 days, those first 7 days are paid to you as well. The maximum benefits last for 400 weeks with some exceptions in major cases. The last benefit you can receive is based on a medically provided impairment rating. Once you have reached maximum medical improvement, a doctor will assign a rating based on a large book outlining every body part and possible limitations. Your weekly wage is used to calculate your permanent partial disability benefit. This will be a fixed amount that will be owed to you once an insurance company no longer owes you a weekly benefit check. What the Act does not provide for and will not compensate an injured worker for are: pain and suffering, economic loss, future lost wages, loss of consortium, punitive damages, or any other term you might have heard related to a car accident or other personal injury claims. You will not by any means win the lottery through a worker’s compensation claim. By contrast, while you can have a life altering windfall in a personal injury claim, the claims can take years to prosecute. The number of major claims represents a tiny fraction of total claims; attorney’s fees and litigation costs significantly erode your take home portion of the settlement or award, and you have to prove that someone did something intentionally or negligently that harmed you in some significant way. For injured workers, I hope this has given you a basic start to the claim. As always, you should hire an expert to help you navigate the nuances and complex aspects of a claim. For employers, hopefully this will encourage you to secure insurance if you have been putting it off, or talk with your provider to make sure you are in compliance and are familiar with the procedures once someone is injured on your job site.

Let’s talk business.

SBA Loans, Visa®, Checking and more

This Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration

Stop by our East Cobb branch at: 4101 Roswell Rd (Home Depot Shopping Center) www.LGEccu.org n 770-424-0060, ext 10311

Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

Automatic Investing Can Pay Off for You Provided by Ben L. Clark, CFP®, AAMS®, Edward Jones Financial Advisor To achieve investment success, you don’t have to start out with a huge sum or “get lucky” by picking “hot” stocks. In fact, very few people actually travel those two routes. But in working toward your investment goals, you need to be persistent — and one of the best ways to demonstrate that persistence is to invest automatically. Ben Clark, CFP® and his wife June live in the Walton community. They have two grown daughters and five grandchildren. Ben is a seasoned financial advisor and his Edward Jones office is located at 1050 East Piedmont Road, Ste 122 You may contact him at (770) 977-4229.

How do you become an “automatic” investor? You simply need to have your bank automatically move money each month from a checking or savings account into the investments of your choice. When you’re first starting out in the working world, you may not be able to afford much, but any amount — even if it’s just $50 or $100 a month — will be valuable. Then, as your career progresses and your income rises, you can gradually increase your monthly contributions. By becoming an automatic investor, you

Around WALTON | June 2012

“

How do you become an ‘automatic’ investor? You simply need to have your bank automatically move money each month from a checking or savings account into the investments of your choice. can gain some key benefits, including these: • Discipline — Many people think about investing but decide to wait until they have “a little extra cash.” Before they realize it, they’ve used the money for other purposes. When you invest continued on page 62

Best Start for Housing in Years by Judson Adamson

Judson Adamson is the President/CEO of Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage serving the Walton community. He also is a member of the Around Walton Community Board. He can be reached at (770) 240-2001.

According to the National Association of RealtorsÂŽ (NAR), existing home sales rose to 4.62 million in April (seasonally adjusted annualized rate) from a March rate of 4.47 million. The April 2012 median price of an existing home climbed 10.1 percent from April 2011, the strongest year-to-year gain since January 2006. Investor purchases are making up a large portion of the increased activity as investors are moving quickly to take advantage of low prices and rising rents.

With low interest rates and low prices, home affordability continues to hit record levels. Owning a home remains an important part of the American Dream and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;fear factorâ&#x20AC;? among homebuyers is beginning to fade. Unfortunately, many homebuyers are unable to qualify for the low mortgage interest rates as overly tight lending conditions continue to be a problem. Many buyers are frustrated by the lack of attractive inventory in many parts of Atlanta that are in good school districts such as Walton. These districts are the first to experience a renaissance of prices, values and marketability. According to one report, mortgage delinquencies have dropped to a four-year low. For months, we have been listening to reports that at some point, there is going to be this wave of foreclosures hitting the market the banks have been sitting on. However, REO (Real Estate Owned) real estate agents that handle foreclosures have seen their inventory volume drop dramatically. Some agents believe that the foreclosure sales in 2012 will only be a third of what they were in 2010. One reason for this is that the banks are now encouraging short sales as a way to reduce their number of foreclosures. Short sales are transactions in which the borrowers sell their homes for less than what they owe, leaving the bank to absorb the losses. Banks know that short sales are less costly to them than foreclosures. Lenders are striving to improve their short sale procedures on pending foreclosures, saving them the expense of repossessing them. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced a new policy to speed up the process that mortgage servicers use to handle short sales that are backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These servicers will be required to respond to a request for a short sale offer within 30 days and to make a final decision on a short sale offer within 60 days. Short sales are much more continued on page 62 Around WALTON | June 2012

Feature

Taste of East Cobb 2012 The Taste of East Cobb once again proved to be “the most delicious Saturday of the year.” On a picture perfect day, thousands came to partake of the wide variety of delectable cuisine offered from our local restaurants, to enjoy family friendly activities, to shop unique vendors and enjoy fabulous live music. In its seventh year, all net proceeds from the Taste of East Cobb are used to fund the award winning band program at Walton High School and this year was the most successful to date. The Taste of East Cobb teamed up with MUST Ministries this year to help fight hunger in the community. Festival attendees added to the MUST pantry by donating canned goods to fill the food barrels located at the festival. The competition for the 2012 Best of Taste of East Cobb Awards was intense. The winners chosen by festival goers were: Best Taste: Seed Kitchen & Bar Best Dessert: Keegan’s Public House Best Value: Seed Kitchen & Bar Friendliest Service: Baked Most Likely to Visit: Red Sky Tapas Highest Sales: Georgia Rib Company

photos courtesy Peter Yund

The Taste of East Cobb will return in 2013 on Saturday, May 4, so mark your calendars now!

Around WALTON | June 2012

Community

Eliminate the “Pane” of High Energy Costs by Zett Quinn Are you looking for a home improvement project with a strong “return on investment?” Consider replacing your windows.

Zett Quinn is the founder of Quality Craftsmen, offering more than 20 years of experience in the construction and renovation business. To learn more, visit www.qualitycraftsmen.com or contact him at (404) 483-7446.

New energy-efficient windows can offer several benefits: they help save on heating and cooling bills; add resale value to your home; enhance curb appeal and reduce outside noise. When shopping for new windows, there are several factors to consider. For superior energy efficiency, look for a window that has double- or triple-pane glass, a low-e coating and is filled with argon or krypton gas. They also should tilt-in for easy cleaning. For basement doors and windows, I recommend shatterproof glass for extra protection.

The decorative horizontal or vertical bars on windows are called “grids” or “grilles,” and often they are between the glass panes, making the windows easy to clean. In Walton, many homes have windows with grilles on the front to maintain a traditional style, while the back windows don’t have grilles, for a clear view of the yard. While wood windows were most popular a decade ago, the

Around WALTON | June 2012

technological advancements of vinyl windows has made them today’s industry favorite. Most offer superior technology and low maintenance, since they don’t require painting. While Pella, Jeld-Wen and Andersen are all quality brands, award-winning Simonton Windows is the market leader for vinyl replacement windows. When replacing windows, seal the interior opening with lowexpansion foam to increase energy efficiency, and seal the exterior with high-quality silicone to make it weather-tight. Replace any damaged wood with PVC trim and moulding. While you can paint the PVC trim, don’t paint a vinyl window until you ensure it won’t void the product warranty. Many windows offer warranties, which must be registered with the manufacturer. A quality remodeler will offer to do this on your behalf. When choosing a remodeler, ensure his cost estimates include replacing and painting the interior and exterior trim, as well as discarding all the old windows. It’s also important to find a contractor who replaces windows on a regular basis. Don’t hire an inexperienced handyman, since an improper installation can void the windows’ warranty. Look for a contractor who’s insured, offers warranties and has references. New windows can pay you back with increased curb appeal today, decreased energy bills tomorrow and a higher home value in the future.

Time to Graduate to Your Own Insurance! Provided by Linda and Kevin Keeton

Linda and Kevin Keeton live in the Walton community with their two sons, Christian and Matthew. With a combined experience of over 36 years within the insurance industry, Keeton Insurance Services, Inc. is a Trusted Choice® Independent Agency specializing in property and casualty insurance. They may be reached by calling (770) 971-8900 or visiting www. keetoninsurance.com.

It’s a rite of passage for college students to don a cap and gown and march for graduation ceremonies. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nearly 1.8 million students will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in 2012. As those 1.8 million make the transition from undergraduates to careers, pursue advanced degrees, or move back into mom and dad’s basement, it’s critical that they understand how walking across that stage may have changed their insurance needs. While every individual’s needs are unique, here are five basic insurance coverage plans that all college grads should consider if they apply to the grad’s situation:

Auto insurance A shiny, new car, whether owned or leased, holds appeal for newly employed college grads. Auto insurance helps cope with the expenses of accidents, vandalism, or theft. A lender or leasing company that finances the vehicle will require auto insurance. Car accidents can create large liabilities for a driver, so the liability portion of auto coverage helps protect the bank account. Plus, auto insurance covers many legal expenses if a driver is sued. If a graduate is moving, especially from one state to another, this can impact coverage. It’s important for new graduates to let their insurance agent know about these moves to make sure their current coverage will still apply, or if they’ll need a new policy. Health insurance Under the new federal health care law, children can remain on their parent’s health insurance policy until age 26. With unemployment and underemployment high among those in their early twenties, this can provide many recent grads with health insurance until they are able to get it through their employer or an individual policy. Individual policies can be pricey and differ significantly in coverage, so talk with an insurance professional about what makes the most sense. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance College grads starting out may not own a home yet but may rent a residence. To make sure their

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There are plenty of insurance policies out there that new grads won’t need unless there are special circumstances, such as travel insurance, contact lens insurance, or cancer insurance. possessions are protected, homeowner’s and renter’s insurance offer comprehensive coverage whether at home or traveling. Liability insurance included in renter’s and homeowner’s coverage also helps protect against the risk of being sued. There usually are limitations on renter’s coverage plans within a group house—a typical post-graduate arrangement—so it is important to understand the details of a policy. Life insurance New grads may find a job with an employer that offers group term life insurance coverage. However, those with children may find it worthwhile to buy additional term life insurance or permanent life insurance, which builds cash value over time. Disability insurance This is a vital but often overlooked insurance coverage. It provides income when a person is injured or disabled whether on the job or off. An insurance professional can calculate the right amount of coverage to help a person while recovering. New college grads may want to lean financially on their parents’ insurance coverage plans as long as possible (though mom and dad might feel a little differently!). While that makes sense, it’s not always viable. For instance, auto insurance companies will require an owner or lessee of a car to carry his or her own coverage. There are plenty of insurance policies out there that new grads won’t need unless there are special circumstances, such as travel insurance, contact lens insurance, or cancer insurance. Typically, it is better to have comprehensive policies like renters or health. Parents of new graduates should also take this time to review their own insurance portfolios as there may be opportunities to reduce their premiums when a child moves out of the home. Used by permission from Trusted Choice® Around WALTON | June 2012

Lifestyle

P Sanders: Taking the World by Storm Peyton with his mother, Tammy

Peyton with his sisters (left to right): Amelia, Chloe and Emma.

Local teen Peyton Sanders is like a lot of 17 year olds. He attends school, he likes to hang out with his friends, he enjoys music and posting to You Tube. But here is where Peyton is different: he has more than 40,000 followers on Twitter; his songs have had more than 1,000,000 downloads on You Tube; his facebook profile had to be increased to two pages and a fan page had to be created to accommodate his followers. Why? Because Peyton also is known as P Sanders, an up and coming rapper and songwriter who is about to take the world by storm. Peyton lives with his parents, Tammy and Chad, and three younger sisters. According to Tammy, Peyton has always been a performer. “From a very young age, he captivated audiences, and we always felt he had a gift,” she recalled. “The vehicle for his talent, however, was unexpected,” she said, smiling.

Peyton with his father, Chad.

“But it ended up getting thousands of views. People would tell their friends and post it to their sites, and the next thing I knew, it went viral.” In June 2011, Peyton attended Teen Hoot (an invitation only event for up and coming teen musicians) in Nashville to support a friend with whom he had done a musical collaboration. Fans who were watching live on Ustream knew he was there and kept blowing up the mentions asking Peyton and this friend, Dylan Holland to perform their song on stage, which they did. In March 2012, Peyton was invited to join Playlist Live, an event that showcases popular artists as well as You Tube content providers. This past March, he released his first EP on iTunes titled “Underrated.”

Peyton attends online school which allows him to keep quite a hectic travel schedule. Tammy travels with him and Peyton is making a name for himself in the world of rap with helps manage his website that houses a variety of P Sanders his singing and songwriting, but not rap in the traditional sense. merchandise, including <21 bracelets. When asked what < “When most people think about rap music, they think it’s vulgar than 21 meant other than him being less than the age of 21, with less than positive messages. However, I characterize my he said, “The symbol really stands for much love for my fans. music as one with deep lyrics and no The number 21 is my lucky number (his “See, I never gave up on my dreams vulgarity or negativity. I deliver a good birthday is November 21) and when The hate I never wanna find out message, and my songs are about going you add two and one, it’s three, and But you got to accept some things after a dream, and I think they are all very in texting, when you put <3, it forms a Like I accepted myself relatable to my audience.” heart.” Like this is who I am And this is what I felt” The quality of Peyton’s rapping and Peyton has an impressive list of goals: videos would lead you to believe he’s expand his merchandising and start Lyrics from Where I Belong, which can be been honing his craft since he was very a clothing line; have a number one found on You Tube young. The truth is the first video he ever album, worldwide; win a Grammy; posted to You Tube was in January 2011. travel the world; and get involved with a Find P Sanders on You Tube, facebook, “I posted it just for fun,” he recalled. charitable organization and give back. Twitter and www.therealpsanders.com. 24

Around WALTON | June 2012

Feature

Happy Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! Right: Steve Geng with his daughters. Left to right: Stephanie, Steve and Christina Geng. Below: Scott Abel with his son Greg and daughter Bridget.

Clint Brady with his daughter Elizabeth and his son Duke at the Grand Canyon

Chris Benecchi with his family. Left to right: Chris, Andrew, Elizabeth, Megan and Spencer 26

Around WALTON | June 2012

Right: Brian Loomis with Carrie, one of his three daughters

Below: Rob Cagle with his twins, Alex (l) and Jason who just graduated from Walton High School.

Below: Michael Shuber with his sons dressed for 1940s themed party. Left to right: Nicholas (15), Michael, and Zachary (9) Shuber.

Above: Paul McElvy with his daughters. Left to right: Abbi (7), Emily (9), Paul and LeeAnne (4).

Patrick Holman with his family. Front row (left to right): Andrew (4), John-Hall (2) and Patrick Holman. Middle row: Ireland (7) and Trinity (10) Back row: Grania (expecting baby number six in Larry Greene with his son Joseph June) and Seth-Patrick (15)

Brandon Owens with his baby daughter Madalee who wants to wish Happy Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day to her devoted Daddy, doting Grandfathers and five dear GreatGrandfathers!

Around WALTON | June 2012

Lifestyle

Are Your Customers Making You Poor? by Mary-Kathryn Boler Customers are beating a path to your door. You’ll be rich, right? Maybe.

Mary-Kathryn Boler is the owner of Catapult Strategic Consulting, LLC (www. CatapultStrategies. com), located in the Walton area. Her proven approach to creating business strategies and action plans has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs grow their businesses faster and more profitabilty than they thought possible.

Many entrepreneurs are natural born salesmen and equate sales with success. While critical, sales alone do not guarantee profits. Prices must be sufficient to cover product and sales costs, but measuring these costs can be very difficult. Let me offer a couple of examples. Product Costs If you sell a product, the cost of goods sold may seem simple: the cost you pay your supplier plus shipping. But what about costs associated with product packaging, billing, credit cards and returns? Not long ago, I worked with Jeff, a sandwich shop owner. Jeff’s food was great, and his restaurant always was

Around WALTON | June 2012

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Prices must be sufficient to cover product and sales costs, but measuring these costs can be very difficult. mobbed, but he was losing money. I realized Jeff did not know how much it cost to serve his customers. I spent two days in the kitchen with Jeff noting, weighing and pricing every item in every dish — meat, sauces, bread, sides, toppings, packaging, plastic utensils and napkins — only to discover his prices did not cover the cost of the items on the plate. Jeff lost money with every dish he prepared and would have been better off financially not to have any sales. Sales Costs Sometimes we spend more closing a sale than the business will generate. Do you know what it really costs you to acquire a continued on page 62

EVENT CALENDAR: Mondays, June 4 - August 20 Grief Recovery Program Time: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Inc., Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Information: The Grief Recovery Method® Outreach Program, based on The Grief Recovery Handbook, will guide those who wish to resolve their loss issues and move beyond their grief to a richer quality of life. Facilitated by Sandra Karem, LCSW of Crossroads Hospice. Please call (678) 439-1177 to sign up.

June 13, 26, July 10 or July 26

Fire Safety Classes for Seniors Times: June 13 & July 10, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; June 26 & July 26, 1 – 3 p.m. Location: 1220 Al Bishop Drive Information: The Cobb Safety Village will be offering classes on fire and police safety topics for seniors over the age of 55. Residents need only attend one session. Participants must be county residents. Participation will be limited to 25 persons per class, and reservations are required by calling (770) 528-3270.

Thursdays, June 14 - July 26

Artscape Classes 2012 Time: 9 – 10 a.m. Location: East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road Information: ARTSCAPE! Sessions are art history/art classes for children ages 5-10, taught by Artscape Director Kent Nulty. Classes will be held at East Cobb Park’s outdoor classroom. All classes are $15 for each child. No class on June 21. For more information on specific sessions and to register, visit www.eastcobbpark.org.

June/July June 15 & 29

Y Business Network Time: 7:30 – 8:45 a.m. Location: Northeast Cobb YMCA, 3010 Roswell Road Information: Grow your business through referrals, meet other local business owners and share information about your business. Be prepared to give one-minute presentation of yourself or your business. For more information, contact Michelle Hutchinson at (770) 518-0010 or email michelle.hutchinson@wordhelper.com, Ann Pastorello at (770) 971-4776 or email apastorello@cruiseplanners.com or visit http://ybusinessnetwork.webs.com.

Saturdays, June 16 - July 28

Hollywood Musicals Time: 2 p.m. Location: East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road Information: The East Cobb Library will have a film festival of the greatest Hollywood Musicals on Saturdays in June/ July in the Program Room for adults only. For more information, contact Ansie Krige at (770) 509-2730.

June 20, July 5 & July 18

Divorce Support Group for Women Time: 7 – 9 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Road Information: Visions Anew, a non-profit organization, facilitates this support group that helps individuals going through the divorce process. The support group meets every first Thursday and third Wednesday of the month. The organization hosts a number of free support groups around the Atlanta area every week. For more information, visit visionsanew.org or call (770) 953-2882.

Send Us Your Community Calendar Events to lynne@ aroundaboutmagazines.com. July deadline is June 20.

June 28

Managing Caregiver Stress Lunch & Learn Time: 12 – 1:30 p.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Inc., Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Information: Review the top 10 things that create stress in addition to caregiving for a loved one. Discuss how to manage and alleviate stress on a regular basis. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Please RSVP to (678) 439-1177.

June 28

Wendy Wax Meet & Greet Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m. Location: 3822 Roswell Road Information: The Bookmiser-East Cobb is hosting a meet and greet with local author Wendy Wax celebrating the launch of her new book, Ocean Beach, a follow-up to Ten Beach Road. There will be refreshments and drawings, one of which could result in the winner’s name appearing in Wendy’s next book. Please RSVP to (770) 509-5611.

June 29 & July 13

Active Older Adults Lunch-n-Learn Series Time: 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Location: McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA, 1055 East Piedmont Road Information: The McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA will be hosting a lunch-n-learn series for adults over 50. The workshops and lunch are free. June 29 – Changing Budget Patterns and July 13 – Protecting Identity, Credit Scams are the scheduled topics. Topics subject to change. For more information and to RSVP, call (770) 9775991 or sign up at the front desk.

July 7

Movie Night at the Park Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road Information: Enjoy a picnic in the park, as well as entertainment prior to each film. Admission to the event is free, and Friends for the East Cobb Park will be selling concessions. The movie will be Rio. All proceeds benefit Friends for the East Cobb Park. For more information, visit www.eastcobbpark.org. Around WALTON | June 2012

Lifestyle

A Motorcade of Good Wishes by Jennifer Jarosick community and for our country.

Before staying home with her children, Jennifer was a kindergarten teacher and a kindergarten/ first grade reading teacher. She also served as co-president and board member of a local MOMS Club chapter for several years. Jennifer has three children ages 7, 2 and 1 and is expecting another child later this year. If you have any comments, feel free to contact Jennifer at jenniferjarosick@ gmail.com.

A few weeks ago, as I was driving to my daughter’s school, I couldn’t help but notice people standing along the road holding American flags and USA posters. The patriotic flag bearers dotted the road all the way to school. Curious, I called a friend to see what was happening. Was the President in town? Was a candidate coming through our area? No, it wasn’t the President, a candidate or anyone else whose name is easily recognized. But it was still someone very important. It was a local husband, son, brother, father, friend on his way home from Afghanistan for the last time. The motorcade travelled the streets of Cobb County as it brought him to his final resting place. People….strangers….heard that the motorcade would be escorting this warrior home and they poured out onto the streets to show their support for him and his family, for our

Around WALTON | June 2012

With Memorial Day just passed, July Fourth fast approaching and most of our children on summer vacation, this is a great time to take on a patriotic project that will allow them to show their support for our troops and our country. Kids can do it with friends or by themselves because it’s as simple as writing a heartfelt thank you letter, drawing a picture or putting together a care package. If the children do most of the work, they will be able to take ownership over the project and know that they are supporting the troops. If you have a friend or family member in the military, it’s as easy as sending letters to his or her unit. If you don’t know anyone serving, ask around, you’d be surprised at how many people know someone stationed overseas. Locally, Project Mail Call, a ministry of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church sends care packages to all branches of the military serving far from home. You can visit http://ettel. typepad.com/pmcsupport/ to learn more about how you and your child can help. This type of project can make a huge impact on your child and let our troops know that we are thinking of them and that we care. Just as the motorcade that recently travelled through our streets brings a painful, stark reminder to us that our fellow country men and women are risking their lives every day, we can be part of a different type of motorcade: a motorcade of good wishes to remind them that we haven’t forgotten.

Margot Swann is the Founder and CEO of Visions Anew Institute. She established this nonprofit to provide divorce resources, education, and support for divorcing individuals. Send your divorce questions to margot@ visionsanew.org, or call (770) 953-2882 or visit www.visionsanew.org.

Ask Margot

Raising Money-Wise Kids

by Margot Swann

by Lisa Malice, Ph.D.

Dear Margot, After six months of marriage counseling, my husband says he still wants a divorce. We’ve been married 25 years, and the kids are grown, but I haven’t earned a paycheck in all that time. I hear all kinds of horror stories about bitter divorces and then I’ve heard about some pretty civil ones. How do I keep things amicable between us but still take care of myself? Too Many Choices

Dear Choices, It’s always wise to keep things respectful between you and your husband. It is confusing, however, when you need to choose between mediation, collaborative, litigation and the kitchen table for making your decisions. Bob Boyd, with Boyd Collar Nolen & Tuggle, can address your concerns: When considering how to approach your divorce and selecting the right lawyer to assist you, the expression “one size fits all” does not apply. The process should be unique to your particular situation. While litigation served your neighbor well, mediation may be right for you. All lawyers – like clients – are different. Your best move is to find a lawyer whose philosophy aligns with how you hope your divorce will proceed. I recommend researching and interviewing at least two or three candidates. You should leave the initial consultation with a clear understanding of your options on how to proceed and a basic overview of the legal issues involved in your case. You should also be prepared to pay for the consultation. Some people are concerned that once a lawyer is contacted, the process automatically becomes adversarial. Nothing could be further from the truth. This first meeting is like any other important decision in your life; in order to make the best choices, you need the facts to evaluate your options. Finally, be very wary of any lawyer who makes promises about what he or she will get for you. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Choices, consider attending some of Visions Anew Institute’s free Divorce Support Groups. The next Divorce Survival Weekend is June 15-17. No one ever expects to divorce. If it is unavoidable, do it with good information, with integrity and with a team of experts. You don’t have to face divorce alone.

Lisa Malice earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Georgia Tech. She served as a PTA leader at the local and state levels for ten years. She lives in the Indian Hills subdivision with her husband and two children. Contact her at lisa@ moneywisekids.org.

Do your kids think there’s an endless supply of money in your wallet or that a little plastic card makes dreams come true? If you answered “yes,” then it’s time to start teaching your children about money – how to value it, respect it and make wise use of it.

My husband Lou and I starting training our kids, Olivia and Frank, to be “money-wise” when they were eight and six, respectively, after tiring of their incessant requests to buy them toys and sweets during trips to the store. Our first step was giving each child a small weekly allowance to manage. Thereafter, Olivia and Frank’s requests were met with a few questions of our own – “Did you bring your money? Do you have enough to buy it? What will you get for your money? What could you buy later if you save up your money?” Even at such young ages, these questions got our kids thinking about the value of money and their choices (what financial literacy curricula refer to as “opportunity costs”). A weekly school savings deposit program helped them watch their money grow, and soon each had one big goal — save $150 each to buy Nintendo DS players. They reached this goal five months later, after saving their allowances and earnings from a backyard business selling errant golf balls to passing golfers. But Olivia and Frank got more for their money than they expected the day they made their purchases — something with more lasting value than the toys they bought: personal lessons in thoughtful decision-making, goal commitment, hard work, initiative, persistence, self-confidence, and self-restraint. Lou and I were as proud of our kids as if they had made straight As on their report cards. Olivia and Frank are in high school now, and although they still have a lot to learn about wise money management, Lou and I grow in confidence each day that the character traits, values and habits instilled in them through this educational process will allow them to live their dreams as happy, financially secure and successful adults when they finally go out on their own. With that, Lou and I will have realized our fondest dreams for our children. This monthly column is devoted to helping Walton community parents and their children’s dreams come true by sharing best practices, mistakes, and resources for raising money-wise kids. I invite you to join in our discussion every month by emailing me with your questions, your proven strategies, and even your duds. Around WALTON | June 2012

Lifestyle

What We Promise Our Parents by Dawn Reed

Dawn Reed is the founder of Aloha to Aging, a 501c3 nonprofit, which includes the Aloha Day Club (adult day respite center), caregiver education and support groups. She is also the owner of Aloha to Senior Solutions. She can be reached at (678) 7777241 or at dawn@ alohatoseniors.com.

Have you ever promised your parents you’d make sure you wouldn’t put them in a nursing home? Or, maybe your parents let you know in no uncertain terms they do not want to be “institutionalized” when they get older. Perhaps this conversation evolved into the awareness that they would prefer to stay in their home until they pass away. Upon listening to this, you promised them you would do everything to make that possible, and then you redirected the conversation somewhere else because you weren’t comfortable. Years passed. Your parents became in need of assistance with driving, laundry and/or cooking. Soon there may be the need for full time care. These services may include bathing assistance, help with doctor’s visits and medication management. Would it still make sense for them to stay in their own home to

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However, sometimes the wellintentioned promise made was done with a little bit of guilt. receive these services? You have your own family, possibly a full time job, and maybe live in another city or state. So the question is this - how do you manage to keep your promise? I think we first need to understand where the promise comes from. The promise is based on love, admiration and respect. However, sometimes the well-intentioned promise made was done with a little bit of guilt. The guilt you may have felt comes from a sense of obligation or duty. Your parents took care of you, so naturally you should take care of them. Unfortunately, at the time you made the promise, you probably had no real understanding or awareness of what was involved. The local nursing home may have been your only real understanding of what care options are available. Today care options abound for those who want to age in place. There are several things to factor when considering care costs for in home care versus living in a care facility. Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, private pay and county/federal funding are options to pay for these services. In my column in August, I will review the various care options. Until then, understand the real promise you made to your parents involved ensuring you would keep them safe, healthy, fed, bathed, nurtured and loved. It wasn’t about where or how that would happen.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Everyday Perspective: A mental view or outlook-

“It is useful occasionally to look at the past to gain a perspective on the present” (Fabian Linden).

If you would like to make a donation, please visit www. townelaker.com/ everydayangels to donate via Paypal or send your donations to: Everyday Angels, 2449 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock GA, 30189. One hundred percent of your funds will go to the family you specify. Also, if you know of a special need within your community that you would like to share, please send an e-mail to aaeverydayangels@ gmail.com for consideration and qualification.

Everyday Angels often receives reader contributions based upon specific identified needs. However, we are also fortunate to have several devoted readers and monthly contributors. We have never personally met these kind souls, but we quickly recognize their handwriting when their envelopes arrive in the mail each month, accompanied with beautiful card and donation. It always warms our hearts – not just because it helps us financially to assist others but because they give of themselves and trust us. Their support is our encouragement! We take great responsibility with what they entrust us with to insure that recipients are qualified and that donors’ funds are carefully allocated. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting one of our loyal monthly contributor’s sons. He fondly spoke of his aging parents and their anticipation of receiving the TowneLaker magazine each month and reading it cover to cover. He also shared their lifelong dedication in supporting people in need, even if they themselves were struggling. His parents are currently in their 80s and were born during the years of the Great Depression. Their perspective of life isn’t based on history books or movies that seem exaggerated or fictional but from their

own life experiences and vivid memories of one of our country’s most difficult times. They grew up with no phones, televisions, or shoes and often with no food when their fathers lost their jobs. Nothing was wasted. They didn’t complain because that was the norm for everyone around them. There was no one to envy – they were all in it together. Their perspective was limited and their experiences created a different mentality about what was essential for a fulfilling life. It’s hard to imagine how anyone raised during that era has any tolerance for today’s entitled generations, much less how they find it in their hearts to give so effortlessly. Their son explained that while they live on a conservative fixed income well within their means, they always sacrifice enough to give to others. They never get rid of anything and find pleasure and comfort in the simplest things. While they will always remain anonymous, I hope they understand what a blessing they are to others and an inspiration to our Everyday Angels ministry. We need to learn, embrace and always respect and appreciate the wisdom of our elders. It is the beginning of summer and, as always, Everyday Angels will be collecting grocery gift cards to assist identified families referred by school counselors. Please see box to the left to see how you can help.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Lifestyle

Pig Nation by Kara Kiefer

Kara Kiefer is the Editor of TowneLaker. She lives in Towne Lake with her husband Mike and sons Brandon and Garrett.

When our children were much younger and we were getting into the swing of being parents, we would often be told or would read in advice books to “pick your battles.” When they were young, the choice of which battles to really pursue seemed obvious: “No, you can’t go outside by yourself. No, you can’t stay up all night. No, you can’t take the hot glue gun to your room” were peppered with “Yes, you can wear your rubber boots to the store. Yes, you can pick out your own outfit on Saturdays and Sundays…” that kind of thing.

As our children got older, the stakes got higher as far as what we chose to be on them about constantly: grades, behavior, responsibility, respect, etc. Keeping a neat bedroom was important to us, and we did our best to instill this value in both of our children. But in the spirit of picking our battles, we slowly let this standard slide, first with our oldest, and then with our youngest. And now, we are paying the price. What we have in the area that my son occupies is not a bedroom, per say, but Pig Nation. One of the predominant features of Pig Nation is the amount of clothing that never finds its way to the closet or dresser. Pig Nation bedrooms are covered in clothing from the bed to the floor. And the President of Pig Nation knows exactly what is clean and what is dirty. Another feature of Pig Nation is an unexplained odor. The President of Pig Nation can never locate his hamper, so instead of putting the smelly and damp clothing from that morning’s weight training session into an appropriate and 34

Around WALTON | June 2012

“

One of the predominant features of Pig Nation is the amount of clothing that never finds its way to the closet or dresser. vented receptacle, the President will leave it in a heap in the closet and close the door. Day after day. Yes, this is unacceptable behavior. And as the Commander in Chief, I have voiced my disgust and issued forth the order to clean up Pig Nation. One night, after needing to sleep in a different bed and not wanting to sleep in my other son’s twin bed, I ventured into Pig Nation. The President was sleeping in the basement. I could not believe my eyes. The bed was completely covered with mounds of stuff. There was a letter jacket under one of the pillows, a large and heavy book bag, several electronic devices and earphones, t-shirts, hats, and I think a few pairs of shoes. In two sweeps, I threw everything on the floor, crawled into bed, and slept. The next day, the President of Pig Nation was mad at ME! “I knew where everything was!” he exclaimed. “Why did you have to throw everything on the floor? And why are you even sleeping in my room?” After carefully choosing just the right response, and walking away, Pig Nation was cleaned up an hour later. There’s only so much “choosing your battles” one parent can handle.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Lifestyle

Two Rights Don’t Make a Wrong But Three Rights Make a Left by Barbara Berger

Barbara is a graduate of Cornell University and a member of the Bar Association of Georgia. She and her husband moved to the Walton community in 1988 to raise their family. She currently works at the Office of the Solicitor General.

Accidents— no one intends them or means them, hence the name… accident! This is small consolation if you are on the receiving end of one. Accidents from left turns are accidents we can prevent if we approach the way we drive a little differently.

intending to turn left into Merchant’s Walk from the Wendy’s off Johnson Ferry. He asked me what was he to do. Well, he could have taken three right turns instead. That way, instead of darting across a busy road like Johnson Ferry, he could have taken the cut through past Trader Joe’s, turned right onto East Cobb Drive and crossed Johnson Ferry at a traffic light to get to Merchant’s Walk — three rights.

In my experience, totaling over 10 years in Cobb State Court, at least 85 percent of all accidents I see in court occur when people are making a left turn. All that stands between you and a prayer is the hope that the other drivers headed toward you are either obeying the speed limit; noticing when the traffic light turns red; or paying attention and not texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, or being otherwise distracted.

When I was a Chauffer Mom for 14 years, driving my children from carpool to carpool, my day consisted of driving in a circle to the right. I was the mom in the carpool where the kids sat chanting, “My Mom turns left here…” and I’d say, “How nice for your mom…THIS mom turns left at the light with the ARROW!” or I would make three right turns.

In doing some research, a 2005 report from Florida on the evaluation of traffic crash fatality causes and effects determined, “Left turning vehicle movements were the most likely to cause a fatal intersection crash. Almost one half of the fatal intersection crashes involved a left turn by one of the drivers involved in the crash.” In fact, UPS Traffic Engineers design their delivery routes with fewer left turns. What brought this on? A lovely, young man and his Dad were in court. He was charged with cutting over three or four lanes of traffic with no turn signal. He was turning to the right but

Around WALTON | June 2012

My husband thought I was nuts— that is, right up until he was working from our home for a year and a half. He found he was doing it too. Our infrastructure is actually designed for right-handed people to drive. Turning left goes against all of our instincts. This puts people like my husband, who are left-handed in an advanced class of danger. A four-year study conducted by Stanley Coren, an experimental psychologist at the University of British Columbia, found that left-handed people were almost twice as likely to suffer a serious accident as righthanded people. So next time when you are coming out of a strip mall and need to go left, approach it differently. Think about going right three times instead. It may save your life or at least keep you out of traffic court because three rights DO equal a left.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Feature

Findlay Roofing Keeping A Quality Roof Over Head One of our most basic needs is shelter or “a roof over our head” and keeping that most important structural part of our home in tiptop shape is critical. The experts at Findlay Roofing know that it is not only time, but the weather conditions that your roof is exposed to over that time that lead to the need for repairs or replacement of your roof. After our most recent hailstorms, granules from roof shingles could be seen on the ground attesting to the impact the storms have on the roof. If your roof is more than 15 years old or you can see any of the following — missing shingles, blistering, damaged flashing, rotting, buckling, curling or missing granules — you may already be at risk for more serious damage from the water that the roof can’t keep out. Findlay Roofing will come to do a free, no obligation roof analysis. They have Haag certified inspectors, who have undergone specialized training, on staff, for assessing roofing damage. It is always better to find and repair a small problem than to face the big issues caused by water leaking into your home. If the damage is covered by your

Around WALTON | June 2012

insurance, Findlay will work with you and your insurance company. Replacing your roof is a big decision. There are key factors to keep in mind when looking for the right company to do the work: longevity of the company; quality of the workmanship; guarantee of the work and customer service. Our Walton community is extremely fortunate to have Findlay Roofing who has been in the roofing business since 1995. The owner saw the large volume of work available, and at the same time the need for quality workmanship with an emphasis on customer service and satisfaction. Findlay Roofing still is family owned and has grown from a small roofing company to one of 45 contractors in the nation designated as an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. Findlay also is factory authorized and experienced with many products allowing the customer to find the exact color or finish that he or she desires. Findlay Roofing, whose mascot is the bulldog

that asks, “How’s Yours? Roof Roof” and is known in neighboring states as Roof Roof, has completed more than 35,000 roof replacements and more than 20,000 roof repairs. Because Findlay is confident in its superior workmanship and quality materials, the company stands behind its work with a 10 year “No Leak” guarantee on new roof replacements. The company has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and has won the Super Service Award from Angie’s List for the last two years. Findlay also won the 2011 Top Performer Award for Owens Corning. The commitment to the customer shows from start to finish. The phones and emails are answered promptly. The company website (www.findlayroofing. com) has a wealth of information along with the option to chat live with a representative if you have a question. There is a 24-hour emergency number, (404) 797-0707 that is manned on holidays as well. Findlay is competitively priced and will not accept any payment for a job until the Customer Satisfaction Check-Up is completed at the end of the job, and the customer is completely satisfied. A large portion of Findlay’s business has come as a result of referrals from satisfied customers to their friends and neighbors.

Findlay Roofing is very passionate about its work and is a part of the Owens Corning Platinum Advisory Board and is a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association. The company has worked with Owens Corning on the new development of a lifetime shingle. Nate Farmer, the Executive Vice President is a frequent guest on Dave Baker – The Home Fix It Show on WSB radio on Saturday mornings. If it is time to replace your roof or you just want to find out the condition of your roof, pick up the phone and call (770) 516-5806 and schedule a free/no obligation roof analysis by Findlay Roofing.

Findlay Roofing also offers gutter installation as getting water off the roof is important to the health of the roof, but also found customers had a wide range of additional home improvement needs. In addition to roof repair, replacement and gutters, Findlay Roofing offers storm remediation, water and fire restoration, siding, door and window installation, flooring and attic insulation services. Customers return to Findlay for other home improvement jobs because of the excellent service and workmanship from their initial experience with Findlay. The trend these days is to stay in one’s current home, and the services that Findlay provides will allow homeowners to invest their money wisely in their homes. Findlay has financing options available.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Health & Wellness

Are Dental X-Rays Necessary? by Dr. Cristi Cheek, D.M.D.

Dr. Cristi Cheek, D.M.D., is the owner of Cristi Y. Cheek, D.M.D., P.C., Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in the Walton community. Dr. Cheek is also a member of the Around Walton Community Board. You may contact her at (770) 993-3775 or visit www.cheekdental.com.

Most dentists agree that limiting exposure to X-rays is important, but X-rays are necessary to find dental problems. Oral health suffers when people miss dental or other medical issues because they never took a radiograph. X-rays can help your dentist find and treat dental problems at an early stage, saving time, money and unnecessary discomfort. How often X-rays (radiographs) should be taken depends on your present oral health, your age, your risk for disease and any signs and symptoms of oral disease you may be experiencing.

If you are a new patient, the dentist may recommend radiographs to determine the present status of your oral health and to help identify changes that may occur later. Because many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen when your dentist examines your mouth, an X-ray examination can help reveal: • small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations; • infections in the bone; • periodontal (gum) disease; • abscesses or cysts; • developmental abnormalities; • some types of tumors. With children, the major reasons for taking dental radiographs are to detect cavities and to evaluate growth and development

Around WALTON | June 2012

so that abnormalities can be treated before they become serious problems. X-rays can detect the lack of formation of a permanent tooth which would alert the dentist to take every precaution in maintaining a baby tooth as long as possible so that more complex (and expensive) treatment can be delayed or perhaps even avoided. While children are more sensitive to x-rays than adults because they are still growing, the amount of radiation from needed dental radiographs is extremely small — equivalent to a few hours of natural background radiation, which we have around us all the time. It is less radiation than they would receive if they made a trip to the mountains (higher background radiation at high altitudes) or flew in an airplane (increased cosmic radiation at flight levels.) Even if you are pregnant, a radiograph may be needed for dental treatment that can’t wait until after the baby is born. Because untreated dental infections can pose a risk to the fetus, dental treatment may be necessary to maintain the health of the mother and child. A leaded apron minimizes exposure to the abdomen and should always be used for dental x-rays. Dental X-ray exams do not need to be delayed if you are trying to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Radiation dosages can be lowered by taking certain precautions. Dentists should be offering lead-lined vests with thyroid collars that offer further protection of that sensitive glandular area. Also, advances in X-ray technology, such as high-speed films, have lowered radiation doses by half or more in the last couple of decades, and taking x-ray images by digital processes further reduces the dose of radiation. If a previous dentist has any recent radiographs of you, request that copies of them be sent to your new dentist.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Health & Wellness

Keep Feeders Clean to Reduce Risk of Illness by Scott Lemmon

Feeding birds is a very popular hobby in North America, second only to gardening. So whether you’re older, younger or in between, you’re in good company! The days of bird feeding being your grandmother’s hobby are long gone. Taking proper care of bird feeders, including periodic cleaning, is an important part of responsible bird feeding. Keeping your bird feeders clean is crucial to reducing the spread of bird illnesses and diseases. Individuals who feed the birds often do not receive complete and accurate information on bird diseases or how to safely offer food and water to the birds. It is essential for those who enjoy the hobby of backyard bird feeding to understand the importance of proper feeder cleaning. When you provide the birds with food and water, you should think of yourself as the owner of a restaurant. You always want to properly prepare the food and beverages so your customers enjoy their meal and will return to your restaurant. Would you want to eat off of the same plate night after night for a year without washing it? Of course not, and neither do your birds.

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Give the birds more space if you notice a sick bird at your feeders. If using multiple feeders, put more distance between them. This will reduce crowding and the potential for disease transmission between sick and healthy birds.

The following strategies will help improve the health and safety of birds:

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Only use feeders that can be easily cleaned. Wooden feeders are difficult to sanitize.

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Use only feeders that do not allow the birds to stand in or directly above their food.

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The right brush makes the job easier. Different brushes are available for birdbaths, hummingbird feeders and tube feeders.

Limit the amount of seed you provide. Offer only as much food as the birds will eat in a week or so. Rake up waste material in the area before refilling.

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Always discard any seed that has become wet.

Always keep the ground below and around feeders clean. Discard seed debris and bird droppings on a regular basis.

Scott Lemmon can be reached at (770) 928-3014 or e-mail him at wbuwoodstock@comcast.net.

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Clean bird feeders, bird baths and all hardware at least four times a year (when the seasons change) with a mild bleach solution - one part bleach to 10 parts water. Rinse thoroughly and allow to completely dry before refilling.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Feature

herit age

Celebration Of

“When I get older, I will be stronger, They’ll call me freedom, Just like a waving flag.”

And

by Catherine Niu As the music surged from the speakers in the Walton High School (WHS) cafeteria, a colorful line of student models emerged through the hanging streamers, and the packed crowd erupted in cheers. “This is the finale,” Mrs. Garcia, WHS Spanish teacher and mentor for the event, whispered to her friend as she beamed proudly. Sparkling Indian saris, elegant Chinese red qi pao’s, traditional African clothing, modest Korean han bok’s, familiar western suits and ruffled dresses mingled in a festive celebration of culture, tradition, and friendship. The first annual Global Festival hosted by Walton’s Global Connections Club (GCC) brought together people from all different walks of life in a celebration of diversity and freedom— as the audience slowly filtered out, a woman gushed, “That was incredible. Incredible.”

Around WALTON | June 2012

The GCC in its second year at WHS, took on this large project with the hope of bringing the entire community together. The co-directors of the event Farha Pirani and myself, with the help of GCC members, club sponsor and WHS teacher Tripp Madden and student volunteers worked for months to put the event together. Students devoted their afternoons to fashion show rehearsals, decoration-making, making passports and posters to publicize the event and to making the Festival theme of “traveling around the world in two hours” a reality. On the day of the Festival, students and teachers alike helped set up the country booths. Colorful welcome banners in different languages hung from the ceiling, and a string of paper lanterns framed the stage. Cultural performances took place on the stage throughout the Festival, while the audience freely moved between the stage area and the country booths where diverse food samples and activities like henna and cultural games were available. The performances included Filipino tinikling, a Chinese handkerchief dance, Indian dances, Korean and Chinese instrumental performances, rap, Mexican dancing, salsa dancing, and Flamenco dancing. The final act of the night was the cultural fashion show. Sophomore Erin Davenport, an officer of GCC, said, “Planning the event was amazing, and seeing it all come together was magical. The festival was such a big success!” Mrs. Diaz, commented, “I enjoyed how the students could have a forum to showcase their beautiful cultures with pride. This global festival brought the community together...as a teacher I felt very proud to be part of this global community called WHS. I think the festival was successful because it is generational. There were children and grandparents there!” As a co-director of the Festival and president and founder of Global Connections Club, I was extremely excited to organize the Global Festival, and its success made me realize all over again how much potential we have as people to love one another and create something beautiful together. We hope to continue the Festival as a tradition at Walton, a way of celebrating the cultural diversity and depth of heritage in our community. Farha said, “Organizing the festival was one of the most meaningful things I have done during my time at Walton. The Global Connections Club is a club full of great people that truly value the beauty of the many cultures in our community.” Around WALTON | June 2012

Schools & Sports

How to Make an Awesome Photo Slideshow by Olivia Malice Photo slideshow production is no longer limited to professional photographers. With advances in technology and easyto-use software, anyone can make a fun, creative, and memorable slideshow for any family celebration! Photo selection The photos set the tone, so decide which photos you will use before Olivia Malice is a rising getting into the technical aspects of senior at Walton High your slideshow. Sentimental or playful, School, a member of the robotics team, Team your subjects determine the vibe you WALT and the team will want to portray in other features photographer. of the show, such as the music and transitions. Scan older prints to your computer or have a photo printing store do it for you. Be sure to use high quality photos to keep the look professional. Organization Typically, photos are organized chronologically, but creative themes also are fun. For example, a theme could be smiling grandchildren or shots from the family dog’s viewpoint. Editing software Windows Movie Maker is straight-forward, free software from Microsoft.com for Windows computers. iPhoto comes standard on Macs. PhotoStage Slideshow Pro is specialized slideshow software with many effects and transitions that make a slideshow pop and costs about $30. The slideshow software walks you through the process of uploading photos from your computer, placing them in show

Around WALTON | June 2012

order and adding transitions and special effects. Play with the options and see what you like best. Presentation Burn the show to a DVD or plug your computer into a projector or TV screen with an HDMI cable. Before the premiere, test, test, test! Check the slideshow runs seamlessly without pauses or jumps. Additional Tips • Vary your pictures, incorporating portrait, landscape, action and group shots. • Add movement. Slideshow editing programs allow photos to migrate adding ambiance and making each shot seem more natural. Transitions between photos keep the show flowing smoothly. Make sure each photo is displayed for three to four seconds. • Keep it up-beat with music from collections available on the slideshow software, or buy music online. Songs that everyone can sing along to make the slideshow fun and interactive.

Around WALTON | June 2012

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Celebrating Our One Year Anniversary! The June issue of Around Walton is our twelfth, and we are so happy to be part of this vibrant community! We look forward to the future, and we are excited to share all the good news, achievements and milestones of the families that call the Walton area of East Cobb home. Please continue to send in your stories and photos, the content of this magazine is 100 percent reader-driven, we welcome your feedback and suggestions! We are the only magazine in the area to be directly mailed to everyone in the Walton school district (14,250 homes and businesses).

We are offering a Special Anniversary advertising package available during the month of July. Contact Chris Kennedy (770) 615-3311, chris@aroundaboutlocalmedia.com for details. 48

Around WALTON | June 2012

Feature

the

Trailblazer award

Ryan Humble Around Walton is pleased to establish the tradition of presenting the Trailblazer Award to one graduating senior from Walton High School each school year. The winner of the Trailblazer is a student that blazes the trail for others by showing exceptional leadership, high academic accomplishment and commitment to the community through service. The Around Walton Community Board selected the winner from many worthy applicants - never an easy task!

Katie Nelson

On Honors Night, the 2012 Around Walton Trailblazer Award was presented to Ryan Humble. Ryan’s academic accomplishments include a weighted GPA of 4.65, and unweighted GPA of 4.0. Students that take and do well in Advanced Placement Courses have the opportunity to earn quality points above the standard 4.0. Ryan has taken 14 Advanced Placement courses over his career at Walton, a staggering number, and his grades reflect his success. Ryan has won numerous academic accolades while at Walton, including the prestigious Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medalist in 2011, awarded to the most outstanding overall math and science student; the 2011 University of Pennsylvania Book Award, presented to the most outstanding scholar and citizen in the junior class, and the winner of the 2011 Principal’s Award, the school’s most coveted award for academic achievement, contributions in athletics and depth of community service. Ryan also received the Raider Pride Award in 2010, a special award given to students that display exceptional character, honesty, integrity and kindness. Ryan has shown leadership skills in many areas of his life, including school, church, athletic teams and his many volunteer activities. He has been the co-captain at Walton on both the Varsity cross country and track teams as well as team member for all four years and team captain

Ryan painting in New Orleans on a mission trip. 50

Around WALTON | June 2012

in the East Marietta basketball league. Ryan won additional awards based on academics, community service and athletic contributions, including the Discus Award, Semi-Finalist in the SAMMY Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year and the Wendy’s High School Heisman. At Ryan’s church, he volunteers as a peer leader and retreat counselor. On mission trips, he has been a small group leader and found that as he was willing “to get dirty doing any task,” his enthusiasm became contagious. Ryan has enjoyed serving the community through many endeavors such as volunteering as a tutor through his honor societies and speaking to middle school students about the Project Lead the Way engineering program available at Walton. He has volunteered in community parks by rebuilding trails, removing invasive weeds and organizing activities. Through his church, the Catholic Church of St. Ann, Ryan has attended mission trips to New Orleans and El Salvador. In New Orleans, he had the opportunity to help those still struggling from the disastrous effects of Hurricane Katrina. He most recently worked on a new project aimed at helping homeless veterans. It started as a Christmas project to provide backpacks of clothes, blankets and personal hygiene items. The money donated to the project surpassed the goal and has allowed the project to set up three distribution locations, as well as to help a food pantry by replacing a commercial refrigerator so that they will continue to serve hundreds of meals per day.

Ryan will be attending Yale University in the fall, the first in his family to attend an Ivy League School. He plans on earning a double major in economics and mechanical engineering. His plans for after school are to work for a top aeronautical firm or possibly head to Wall Street. Ryan is the son of Patty and Clark Humble and brother to Colin, who attends Walton. As the inaugural winner of the Around Walton Trailblazer Award, Ryan has set a very high standard. Congratulations, and we wish you great luck at Yale and for your future.

When asked what in his life thus far makes Tyler Bryant him beam with pride, Ryan said that it was being selected and participating in the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP). At the time, GHP was a six-week summer program at a college completely funded by the state. It is an extremely selective program and is designed to offer students opportunities for study not usually available in high school. Ryan said, “There, I studies mathematics and science with a broad array of very talented students. It was the best time of my life, challenging me in new ways and inspiring me in the classroom.”

Ryan making the final turn in the 4x800M relay for his team’s victory at the Regional Championships. Around WALTON | June 2012

Feature

Dr. Charles R. Jackson the dodgen middle school bands

The Dodgen Middle School Eighth Grade Band recently performed at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Performance Evaluation. The Band is under the direction of Director of Bands Dr. Charles R. Jackson and Assistant Director John A. Jeffres. The band performed three selections and sight-read and performed another selection for a panel of seven judges. The performance was evaluated in 50 subcategories. The Dodgen Eighth Grade Band received an “A” in all categories, resulting in an absolute perfect Superior rating for all three selections and for the sight-reading. In a letter to the parents, Dr. Jackson shared that one of the nationally known judges commented that he,“could not possibly imagine a band anywhere at this grade level performing better.”

Most of the students in this band have had the privilege and opportunity to study with Dr. Jackson since sixth grade. This was Dr. Jackson’s 14th year as Director of Bands at Dodgen and his 33rd year as a professional educator. Dr. Jackson earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and continued until he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Shenandoah Conservatory. Each step he worked toward perfecting the craft of teaching music. Dr. Jackson is a professional trumpet player with the Cobb Wind Symphony. For Dr. Jackson, it is all about sharing the world of music with his students and the community. Dr. Jackson and his family moved here in 1985, drawn to the strong music programs in the Cobb County School District. At one time, Dr. Jackson was at the high school level, but made the choice to move to middle school because he felt that the foundation given to the newly-training musician was the most important, and that is where he wanted to make an impact. Dr. Jackson treats his students with respect and sets high standards for behavior, which his students rise to meet. He strives to make each student realize that he or she is an integral part of the group, and without each student, the entire group would suffer; each student gains a sense of importance and responsibility.

Left to right: Dr. Jackson and Dodgen students Edward Jennings, Harris Helberg and Chase Vermaak enjoying a ride at Disney. 52

Around WALTON | June 2012

Dr. Jackson writes and arranges music for the bands because there is very little available for their level. Each year, he invites guest clinicians to share their knowledge and skills. Dr. Jackson and Mr. Jeffres offer a morning ensemble program that allows students to work on advance techniques and the opportunity to play with other grade levels, which they do not have during the school day.

Schools & Sports

Dr. Jackson working with Dodgen band students in the band room.

There is an ensemble group for almost every instrument and some special group ensembles, like the Low Brass Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band and the German Band. These groups meet before school one day per week and get the opportunity to perform in the community. After submitting a recording of the Seventh Grade Band Spring Concert in 2011 as an audition tape to Disney World, the band was invited to present a public performance at the Waterside Stage in Downtown Disney World. Dr. Jackson had never taken a group out of state but felt this was a group of students that would represent their school and community well. Cheri Dexter, whose son Nick has been in the band since sixth grade and is now moving on to high school, stated, “My husband, Scott and I have seen our son grow to love and appreciate music. Dr. Jackson has that ability to draw the love of music out of each of his students and through his love of music and teaching, they create beautiful music together.” Dr. Jackson has a valuable asset in John Jeffres, who has been at Dodgen for the past 17 years, working alongside him. At the Eighth Grade Spring Concert, the

evening began with a pre-concert slide show of the students prepared by Dr. Jackson, titled “The Stars of Our Show.” Dr. Jackson dedicated this concert to Will Olson, a former Dodgen Band Percussionist, who recently lost his life after a long battle with cancer. He wrote in the program that Will had been his Dr. Jackson performing on the bass trumpet with the Cobb teacher and he the Wind Symphony. student in learning how a Star Student as the teacher that had to live life to the fullest. A bagpiper came the greatest impact on that student’s in to the auditorium playing “Amazing education. He has students return to Grace,” and the band joined him, the audience sang, and the bagpiper continued him after college who have become music teachers and/or band directors to play as he left the auditorium. Dr. and attribute their career choice to his Jackson presented Will’s mom Nancy, who influence in their life. But for Dr. Jackson, is a teacher at Dodgen, with a poem that it is about the music, the teaching and the he wrote. After the concert and awards, students. Dr. Jackson encouraged all the parents to keep supporting their children in their Dr. Jackson will celebrate his 31st wedding musical pursuits. Dr. Jackson’s love for his anniversary with his wife Jane this year. students was shown in many ways that They are the proud parents of four evening. children, Mary, Vince, Stephen and Angela. The Walton community is blessed to have Dr. Jackson does not want accolades such a caring, dedicated musician to work himself and instead spreads the news with our children. of his students’ accomplishments. He has been chosen as the Star Teacher by Around WALTON | June 2012

Schools & Sports

School and Sports News Walton Bus Driver Wins Consecutive Roadeo Michael Graham, who drives a bus for Walton High School, has won the Cobb County Bus Driving Competition for the second year in a row. Considering that there are about 800 bus drivers in Cobb County alone, this is quite a feat. Four out of the top ten drivers are East Cobb bus drivers. Michael Graham from Walton won first; Penny Padget, who drives for Pope High School, came in second; Jeannie Wheeler, who drives for Wheeler High School, came in fifth, and Sharon Mann, who drives for Walton, came in ninth place. Michael and Penny will move on to compete on the state level. Michael said, “I am proud that of some of the best schools in the county, we also have some of the best drivers.” Congratulations and good luck at the next level. Bus Drivers that all placed in the top ten at the Cobb County Bus Driving Competition known as the Roadeo (left to right) Jeannie Wheeler, Michael Graham, Penny Padget and Sharon Mann.

Mackenzie Kruse Wins Scholarship Mackenzie Kruse received the PTSA Raider Pride Scholarship Award of $1,000 to use towards her college education at Walton High School’s 2012 Honors Night. To be eligible for this scholarship, the recipient must have been awarded the Raider Pride Award sometime during their high school career. The Raider Pride Award is given to a student who consistently shows exceptional character traits, including honesty, integrity and kindness. Mackenzie is the daughter of Christi and Stephen Kruse.

Outdoor Pools Now Open! The outdoor pools opened on Tuesday, May 29. Cobb County has two outdoor pools: Powder Springs pool and Sewell Park pool. The Powder Springs pool is located at 3899 Brownsville Road in Powder Springs and the Sewell Park pool is located at 2055 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta. Pool hours are 1 – 5 p.m., Tuesday– Saturday. The pools are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Beginning July 8, Sewell Park pool will be open 1 - 5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information regarding the pools, visit http://prca. cobbcountyga.gov/Aquatics-OutdoorPools.htm.

Lisa Wang Named 2012 Georgia STAR Student Walton High School senior Lisa Wang and her AP Biology teacher Dr. Tina Link were chosen as 2012 Georgia STAR Student and Teacher by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators at a recent ceremony. Lisa was one of 21 high-performing students from across the region selected as finalists for the honor. Lisa is among just ten in that group to score a perfect 2400 on the SAT. She received a $5,000 scholarship from AT&T Georgia. Lisa’s parents Larry Wang and Lily Liu attended the ceremony with their daughter. Lisa said that they were all surprised when her name was called. She will be attending Harvard University in the fall. Each STAR student selects a teacher that has made the greatest impact on his/her education. Lisa chose Dr. Link because she said that she helped her see the purpose of science and that it was not just memorizing facts. Jake Albert, another Walton High School senior, was among the 21 finalists, and he was one of the others to score a perfect 2400 on the SAT. 54

Around WALTON | June 2012

Lisa Wang, 2012 STAR Student from Walton High School and her STAR Teacher Dr. Tina Link

Cobb EMC Mentors Visit Georgia Aquarium with Timber Ridge Students Cobb EMC recently took nine students from Timber Ridge Elementary to the Georgia Aquarium for a fun-filled day to celebrate the end of the school year and learn about aquatic life. Students toured the aquarium with their employee mentors from Cobb EMC, who provide guidance and support throughout the school year. The group also attended the Dolphin Tales show, a live musical theatre performance with dolphins and aquarium trainers. Cobb EMC’s Timber Ridge mentor program is one of the many ways the company gives back through its Partners in Education program. Cobb EMC mentors and Timber Ridge Elementary mentees stand outside the Georgia Aquarium before viewing the Dolphin Tales show.

Public Library Launches Summer Reading Program Cobb Public Library System staff is launching its 2012 Summer Reading Program, and dreamers of all ages are invited to participate. This year’s theme is “Dream Big — READ!” The program begins June 1 and ends July 31, with an end-ofsummer reading celebration Saturday, August 4. More than 700 programs and activities will be hosted this summer to celebrate reading and encourage development of lifelong literacy skills.

Children from birth to fifth grade may register to participate in the program at any library. During registration, they will receive folders to log the books they have read. Kids in grades 6-12 are encouraged to submit book reviews. Everyone who completes the library’s reading program will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad 2. Participation is free and open to the public. For more information, visit cobbcat.org/srp.

Eighth-graders join workforce at Cobb EMC Career Day Cobb EMC recently hosted 15 eighthgraders from Dodgen Middle School at the company’s headquarters for Career Day, which was designed to help students experience a day in a professional atmosphere and learn job search skills. Prior to the event, approximately 40 eighthgraders filled out job applications to shadow Cobb EMC employees. During the application process, students were asked to explain how their personal qualities matched the job opening and what they hoped to learn about the career for which they applied. The event kicked off with a networking session for students and Cobb EMC employees to teach the eighth-graders to

communicate in a business environment. Students then participated in mock interviews with human resources professionals, who asked the students about their skills, interests and future goals. Students received certificates of achievement, copies of Sean Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens,” journals and other small gifts from Cobb EMC. The grand prize, an iPod Touch, was won by Mary Kate Kriscovich, daughter of Scott and Ann Kriscovich. Mary Kate spent the day as a public relations specialist, interviewing participants and writing an article on the event. Career Day is part of Cobb EMC’s long-standing Partners in Education program with local schools. Around WALTON | June 2012

Feature

excursion to the

Recently, 30 parishioners of the Catholic Church of St. Ann spent two weeks touring the Holy Land on a trip led by Father Ray Cadran, Associate Pastor and Father Tom Reilly, Pastor of St. Ann’s. The trip included more than 80 sights and using a pedometer, the group walked more than 73 miles as they toured. Most of the group were first time visitors, experiencing places that had until now been names on pages in the Bible. The group boated on the Sea of Galilee, visited the Mount of Transfiguration, the city of Beit She’an, the Arbel Cliffs, floated in the Dead Sea, walked the Palm Sunday Procession down the Mount of Olives and had the opportunity to celebrate mass in Nazareth and Bethlehem. These were just a few of the many sights the group visited. Father Cadran said that two of the most memorable experiences were hearing their guide sing a hauntingly beautiful song about Jerusalem in the Bell Cave at Beit Guvrin with the extraordinary acoustics and the second one was their own group singing the St. Ann theme song – Build a Family when they visited the Church of St. Ann in Jerusalem. “All in all, this truly was a memorable meandering in the land that is itself called the ‘Fifth Gospel.’ This is the place where one encounters the Lord Jesus in His own cultural context, where one’s faith is nourished anew in the places He himself walked from Galilee to Jerusalem. One cannot come home from this pilgrim journey anything but enlivened to re-read the scriptures with new eyes and heart, to hear the Gospel message with ears newly attuned and to pray with all one’s heart for peace and hope to descend upon the land so many (Jews, Christians and Muslims alike) call ‘holy’,” stated Father Cadran. 56

Around WALTON | June 2012

Faith

Avoiding the Danger Zone by Bryant Wright

Bryant Wright is the Senior Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and the founder and chairman of Right from the Heart Ministries. He currently serves as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He can be reached at (770) 9736561 ext. 2962.

Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?—Proverbs 6:27

• Do I look forward in a special way to my appointments with this person? • Do I seek to meet her away from the office in a more casual environment? • Do I prefer that my co-workers not know that I’m meeting with her again?

Adultery begins by developing an emotional attachment with a person who is not your spouse. That attachment can most easily develop in the workplace, where people often share conversations, crises and successes with one another. Those activities can create intimacy, making the workplace a virtual warehouse of vulnerable situations.

We are living in a real danger zone if we answer yes to any of those questions.

In his book Strategies to Keep From Falling, Randy Alcorn offers three questions that will identify when you are approaching an improper relationship:

Around WALTON | June 2012

How can you avoid having necessary business relationships cross into that danger zone? Use the “Barney Fife” rule. If I would be embarrassed in any way for my wife to witness the way I’m talking or interacting with another woman, then it is time to Nip it! Nip it in the bud! If we can immediately nip it in the bud, we don’t have to worry about falling into actual sexual sin, and that will save our spouses and ourselves from a ton of heartache. Copyrighted material. Used by permission of Right From The Heart Ministries, Marietta, GA

When you go on a vacation this summer, take Around Walton with you. Submit a photo of yourself holding the magazine. Two contest winners will be determined by the contestant who travelled the farthest in the U.S. and in the world.

Email to lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Please identify where you are, city, state or country and people in photo from left to right.

Deadline is August 20.

Happy Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! from the staff of Around Walton magazine Around WALTON | June 2012

Faith

WALTON AREA Houses of Worship Anglican

Mt. Arbor Baptist Church 2235 Morgan Road, NE, (770) 971-9339

The Church of Our Redeemer 2625 Canton Road (770) 421-1928 Rector: Fr. James Danford www.ourredeemeracc.org

New Life Baptist Church 4010 Canton Road, (770) 592-6880 Pastor: Roger Brink www.thenewlife.org

Apostolic

New Providence Baptist Church 3740 Providence Road, (770) 971-3519 Pastor: Charles Whittaker www.newprovidencebc.com

Northside Apostolic Church 2115 Northfield Court, (770) 975-3001

Baha’i Faith Baha’i Faith of Marietta 2601 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-0070

Baptist Bible Baptist Church 2025 Eula Drive, NE, (770) 592-2660 Pastor: D.L. Cooper Chattahoochee Baptist Church 375 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-2058 Pastor: Rick Shoup http://cbc.us.com Cornerstone Baptist Church 1506 Sawyer Road, (770) 422-3579 Pastor: Carl George Crossview Baptist Church 1100 Piedmont Road, (770) 973-0063 Pastor: John E. Johnson www.crossviewbaptist.org East Cobb Baptist Church 1940 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-2233 Pastor: David York Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2323 Pastor: Dr. David H. Chauncey www.ebcfamily.org Eastwood Baptist Church 1150 Allgood Road, (770) 973-9011 Pastor: Mike Hatton www.eastwoodbaptist.org Elizabeth Baptist Church 315 Kurtz Road, (770) 427-3325 Pastor: Steve Echols Galilee Baptist Church 2050 Bentley Lake Road, (770) 422-6487 Holt Road Baptist Church 675 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-3052 www.holtroadbaptist.org Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 973-6561 Pastor: Bryant Wright www.johnsonferry.org Liberty Hill Baptist Church 1053 Liberty Hill Road, NE, (770) 422-1406 Pastor: Amos Williams

Around WALTON | June 2012

Northside Primitive Baptist Church 5265 Roswell Road, (678)481-2793 Pastor: Jason Solomon www.northsidepbc.org Piedmont Baptist Church 570 Piedmont Road, Marietta, (770) 422-2566 www.piedmontchurch.tv Sandy Plains Baptist Church 2825 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-8525 Pastor: Dr. Alvin Southerland www.sandyplains.org

Sewell Mill Baptist Church 2550 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 971-3746 Pastor: David Watson www.sewellmill.org Shady Grove Baptist Church 1654 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 428-0216 Shallowford Free Will Baptist 1686 Shallowford Road, (770) 926-1163 Pastor: Len Blanchard www.shallowfordchurch.com

Catholic Holy Family Catholic Church 3401 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-0038 Pastor: Darragh Griffith www.holyfamilycc.org St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road, (770) 552-6400 Pastor: Tom Rielly www.st-ann.org Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road, (770) 977-1442 Pastor: Monsignor Patrick Bishop www.transfiguration.com

Christian Atlanta Chinese Christian Church Northwest 1837 Bill Murdock Road, (770) 971-1837 Pastor: Rev. Christopher Pu

Pastor: Jason Burchfield Walking By Faith Christian 1821 Kinridge Road, (678) 560-1144

Christian and Missionary Alliance Marietta Alliance Church 1787 E. Piedmont Road, (770) 973-2189 Pastor: David Hayes www.macweb.org

Christian Science Christian Science Churches & Reading Rooms 2641 Old Sewell Road, (770) 565-7271

Church of Christ Church of Christ at East Cobb 5240 Roswell Road, (770) 587-5888 Pastor: Ray Hawkins Church of Christ-Piedmont Road 1630 Piedmont Road, (770) 971-9933 Minister: Neil Richey www.pr-coc.com Emmanuel Tabernacle Christ Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A32, (770) 422-3268 Pastor: Dwight Graves

Church of God Church of God of Prophecy 3393 Canton Road, (770) 427-5923 First Church of God 592 Shannon Drive, (770) 461-1925 Mount Paran North 1700 Allgood Road, (770) 578-9081 www.mtparan.com Town Center Church of God 1040 Blackwell Road, (770) 424-4004

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 3195 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 509-9074 Pastor: Bishop Ho Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — Paper Mill Ward 95 Holt Road, (770) 578-8734

Community Churches

Chestnut Ridge Christian Church 2663 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-8888 Pastor: Byron Wells

Cobb Community Church at Highlands 4649 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 992-3330 Pastor: Alan Daniels www.cobbcc.com

Northside Christian Church 3535 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-6613

Shallowford Falls Community Church 3662 Shallowford Road, (770) 565-7468

Pastor: David White www.shallowfordfalls.com Vineyard Community Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, #A25, (770) 565-1505 Pastor: Tommy Papevies

Episcopal Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul 1795 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 977-7473 Rector: The Rev. Dr. Robert G. Certain www.peterandpaul.org Episcopal Church-Annunciation 1673 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-7916 Rev. Paul McCabe www.annunciationepiscopal.org St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church 571 Holt Road, NE, (770) 971-2839 Rev. Jim Nixon www.stcatherines.org

Greek Orthodox Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church 3431 Trickum Road, NE, (770) 924-8080 Rev. Father Panayiotis Papageorgiou www.HolyTransfiguration.info

Jehovah’s Witness Jehovah’s Witness 2065 Bells Ferry Road, (770) 427-1881 Pastor: Hope Torkornoo www.watchtower.org

Jewish Chabad of East Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 565-4412

Faith Lutheran Church 2111 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 973-8877 Pastor: Carl Schneidert www.faithLCMS.org

Overcomers World Church

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 2922 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4600 Pastor: Ronald Grunke www.holytrinitymarietta.org

Restoration Life Church 2692 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 509-1481 Pastor: Ken Kessler www.lifeschoolinternational.org

Lutheran Church of Incarnation 1200 Indian Hills Parkway, (770) 971-2738 Pastor: Rev. Jerry Reynolds www.lcilutheran.org

Orthodox

Lutheran Church of Resurrection 4814 Paper Mill Road, (770) 953-3193 www.lcrmarietta.org

Methodist East Cobb United Methodist 2325 Roswell Road, (770) 971-3643 Pastor: Brian Germano www.eastcobbumc.org Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road, (770) 971-2880 www.mtbethel.org Mountain View United Methodist 2300 Jamerson Road, (770) 928-0050 Pastor: Bill Burch www.mvumc.org Mt. Zion United Methodist Church 1770 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 971-1465 Pastor: Dr. Joe Peabody www.mtzionumc.org

Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy, (770) 973-0137 Rabbis Shalom Lewis and Paul Kerbel www.etzchaim.net

Powers Ferry United Methodist Church 245 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5271 Pastor: Jane Nugent www.powerumc.com

Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road, (770) 973-9205 Rabbi: Stephen Lebow www.kolemeth.net

Sacred Tapestry UMC 3000 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 605-5083 www.sacredtapestry.com

Korean

St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road, (770) 926-4961

Bethany Korean Presbyterian Multi-cultural (Korean, Brazilian and American) 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 643-1459 Pastor: Byeongho Choi www.bethanykorean.org Korean Covenant Presbyterian 2100 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 565-4777 Pastor: Paul Sim www.sungyahk.org Korean United Methodist Church 945 Old Canton Road, (770) 321-0020

Lutheran Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 2240 Shallowford Road, (770) 928-7919 Pastor: John Guse www.bslc.us

St. Paul United Methodist Church 244 Kurtz Road, (770) 422-1089 Pastor: Dana Overton-Garrett Wesley Chapel United Methodist 4495 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 993-4919 Pastor: Jim Bocian www.wesleychapelumc.com

Non-Denominational Marietta Vineyard Church 1492 Roswell Road, (770) 977-9496 Pastor: Jeremy Graves www.mariettavineyard.org North Atlanta Church 2800 Johnson Ferry Road, (770) 518-0303

2300 Shallowford Road, (770) 924-0607 Pastors: Allison and Isaac Crawford overcomerswc.org

St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church 2263 East Cherokee Drive, (770) 485-0504 Priest Frederick Watson www.stelizabethga.org

Presbyterian Christ Presbyterian Church 495 Terrell Mill Road, (770) 956-7572 Pastor: Legree Finch www.christpreschurch.org East Cobb Presbyterian 4616 Roswell Road, (770) 973-4114 Pastor: Richard Holmes www.ecpca.org Eastminster Presbyterian Church 3125 Sewell Mill Road, (770) 977-2976 Pastor: Dr. Tim McConnell www.epres.org Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian 3605 Sandy Plains Road #240-161, (404) 786-9815 Pastor: John Fesko www.genevaopc.org Hope Presbyterian Church 4101 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-4673 Pastor: Martin Hawley www.hopepca.org John Knox Presbyterian Church 505 Powers Ferry Road, (770) 973-5050 Pastor: Fritz Bogar www.johnknoxpcmarietta.org Ray-Thomas Memorial Presbyterian Church 4644 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 998-9321 Pastor: Carrie Scott www.rtmchurch.org

Unitarian Universalist Emerson Unitarian Universalist 2799 Holly Springs Road, NE, (770) 578-1533 Pastor: Rev. Jeff Jones

United Church of Christ Pilgrimage Church UCC 3755 Sandy Plains Road, (770) 971-0007 Pastor: Kimberleigh Buchanan www.pilgrimageucc.org

Unity Unity North Atlanta Church

4255 Sandy Plains Road, (678) 819-9100 Acting Spiritual Leader: Rev. Richard Burdick www.unitynorth.org Around WALTON | June 2012

Automatic Investing Can Pay Off for You continued from page 18

automatically, you’re essentially taking a spending decision “out of your hands.” And as you see your accounts grow over time, your investment discipline will be self-reinforcing. • Long-term focus — There’s never any shortage of events — political crises, economic downturns, natural disasters — that cause investors to take a “timeout” from investing. Yet, if you head to the investment sidelines, even for a short while, you might miss out on some good opportunities. By investing automatically each month, you’ll maintain a long-term focus. • Potential for reduced investment costs — If you invest the same amount of money each month into the same investments, you’ll automatically be a “smart shopper.” When prices drop, your monthly investment will buy more shares, and when prices rise, you’ll buy fewer shares — just as you’d probably buy less of anything when prices are high. Over time, this type of systematic investment typically results in lower costs per share. Furthermore, when you invest systematically, you’re less likely to constantly buy and sell investments in an effort to boost your returns. This type of frequent trading is often ineffective — and it can raise your overall investment costs with potential fees, commissions, and taxes. (Keep in mind, though, that systematic investing does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Also, you’ll need the financial resources available to keep investing through up and down markets.) Clearly, automatic investing offers some major advantages to you as you seek to build wealth. Of course, if you’re contributing to a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan, you’re already automatically investing because money is taken out of your paycheck at regular intervals to go toward the investments you’ve chosen in your plan. But by employing automatic investing techniques to other vehicles, such as an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you can continue your progress toward your long-term goals, including retirement. So, do what it takes to become an automatic investor. It’s easy, it’s smart, and it can help you work toward the type of future you’ve envisioned.

We are advertiser supported, tell them:

“I saw your ad in the Around Walton!” 62

Around WALTON | June 2012

Are Your Customers Making You Poor? continued from page 28

new client? The more complex the sales process is, the greater the cost will be. Anita, owner of a kitchen and bath cabinetry business faces this challenge. She sells ten lines of cabinets in an 8,000 square foot showroom. Her company gets paid via the markup on cabinet sales. Design services are provided free of charge, regardless of how much (if any) the client spends on cabinets. Anita pays her designers an hourly rate and a bonus for booked projects. Even without advertising, Anita’s cost to acquire clients is high. Hundreds of dollars per sale are spent guiding clients through the showroom and designing kitchen and bath layouts. This is not a problem when selling high-end cabinetry, but it can be problematic when selling lower end products. Management Options If costs and prices are out of balance, your only option is to reduce costs or increase prices. Increasing sales will not solve the client profitability dilemma. Jeff, the sandwich shopper owner, raised his prices by 50 percent. Much to his surprise, he lost few customers, and his restaurant is profitable. Anita is looking to drop less expensive lines of cabinetry. She also is considering charging a fee for design services, which can be applied to the cost of any cabinets purchased. As you look more closely at your sales process and costs, you may see dozens of ways to tweak your business model and enhance profitability. The analysis is worth the effort, because what you save will fall directly to your bottom line.

Best Start For Housing In Years continued from page 19

complex than regular home sales, as they may involve multiple parties with each one having their own negotiating procedures. Lenders are also rolling out incentive programs that will help delinquent borrowers facilitate a successful short sale. Bank of America says it will provide up to $30,000 in relocation assistance to delinquent borrowers who work with the bank to obtain a preapproved short-sale price before submitting a purchase offer. Overall, there seem to be many positive signs for the housing market. According to NAR, the first quarter of 2012 was the best first quarter for real estate in five years, and pending contracts suggest that the second quarter of 2012 will be the best second quarter in five years. Hopefully, the second half of the year will be even better.

RECENT CONSUMER PRODUCT RECALLS Around Walton wants to help keep you and your family safe. The following items have been recalled by their manufacturers in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).

1. Banzai Inflatable Pool Slides

A woman died and a man became a quadriplegic after the slide partly deflated while in use. Slides sold at Walmart and Toys R Us.

2 Bassinets Recalled by Kolcraft

The bassinet latches that attach the base to the frame can appear to be locked when they are unlocked. The bassinet can detach, fall and injure baby.

3. Tots in Mind Crib Tents

One death and a serious brain injury reported. The crib and play yard tents can trap and strangle infants and toddlers if the dome portion inverts inside the product or if the tent becomes partially detached.

4. Aqua-Leisure Recalls Children’s Trampolines

Handlebars on the child-size trampolines can break, posing a risk of fall or laceration from sharp metal. Sold exclusively at Toys “R” Us stores.

5. Circulon 13-Piece Cookware

The glass lid for the 5-quart sauté pan in the cookware set can crack, break or shatter, posing a laceration hazard to consumers. The cookware sets were sold exclusively at Costco.

6. Clip-on Desk Lamps

The power cord of these pink and blue lamps can separate from the lamp and expose energized wires. This poses an electric shock risk. Sold at Lowe’s.

For more information on these and many other warnings issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, visit www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772.

Around WALTON | June 2012

Reference

WALTON AREA CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Business Organizations APICS, The Association for Operations Management Meeting: 3rd Tuesday for 5:30 p.m. networking; 6:15 - 8 p.m. dinner & speaker Location: Villa Christina, 4000 Summit Blvd, Atlanta Contact: www.atlantaapics.org or programs@ apicsatlanta.org East Cobb Business Association Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216 www.eastcobbba.com East Cobb Open Networking A referral network for professionals Meeting: Fridays at 7:30 a.m. Location: Capozzi’s NY Deli, 4285 Roswell Road Contact: Tim Langley, (770) 289-9711 East Cobb PowerCore Team Meeting: Thursdays at 7 a.m. Location: IHOP, 3130 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (404) 816-3377 Northeast Cobb Business Association Meeting: Third Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Road Contact: crba@cantonroadba.org or (678) 229-2893 www.northeastcobbba.org

Cobb County WWII Veterans Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 1 p.m. Location: Windy Hill Senior Center East Cobb AARP Meeting: 1st Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Road East Cobb Civic Association Meeting: Last Wednesday at 7 p.m. Location: See website for location. Contact: Jill Flamm, President www.eastcobb.net East Cobb Civitans Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 12 noon Location: Old Towne Athletic Club, Marietta Contact: Mary Karras, (770) 422-6485 East Cobb Community Friends for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Contact: Suzanne Strickland, (770) 992-2882 East Cobb Lions Club Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Eastside Baptist Church 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta Contact: Susan Hampton, (404) 218-6216

Y Business Network Y membership not required. Meeting: Every other Friday, 7:30-8:45 a.m. Location: Northeast Cobb Y, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Rosemary Macmillan, (678) 569-9622

East Cobb Optimist Clubs Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Shillings on the Square 19 N. Park Square NE, Marietta Contact: Jim David, (404) 683-0196

Charitable Organizations

Kiwanis Club of East Cobb Meetings: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Paradise South of the Border 3605 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Johnny Johnson, (770) 977-2026 www.eastcobbkiwanis.org

Aloha To Aging, Inc. Support Programs for Seniors and their families. Contact: Dawn Reed, (678) 439-1177 Animals Deserve Better, Inc. Animal rescue and adoptions Contact: Kimberly Brenowitz, (770) 402-0297 kimberlyadb@aol.com Boys and Girls Clubs Contact: (770) 427-0418 Foundation for Hospital Art Contact: Scott Feight (678) 324-1695 www.hospitalart.org Meals on Wheels Contact: Shelia Perkins, (770) 528-5381 MUST Ministries Contact: (770) 426-7667 SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. Contact: Elizabeth Underwood (770) 801-3465

Civic Organizations American Legion Post 29 Meeting: 2nd and 4th Wednesday and Saturday at 11 a.m.. Location: 921 Gresham Ave. NE. Contact: (770) 427-5900 Cobb American Association of University Women Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Contact: www.aauwcobb.org

Around WALTON | June 2012

Kiwanis Club of Marietta — Golden K Meetings: Thursdays at 10 a.m. Location: East Cobb Senior Center 3332 Sandy Plains Rd. Contact: Joe Van Horn, Sr., (770) 428-3419 gajosbarb@comcast.net League of Women Voters of Marietta-Cobb Meeting : 2nd Monday Location: Various Contact: mariettacobb@lwvga.org or Elizabeth at (770) 592-0625 President’s Club Toastmasters Meeting: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Services Building, 4400 Lower Roswell Road Contact: Judi Rogers, missiontur@aol.com Rotary Club of East Cobb Meeting: Wednesdays at 7 — 8 a.m. Location: Indian Hills Country Club Contact: (770) 971-2605 www.eastcobbrotary.com VFW Post 2681 Location: 140 Powers Ferry Road Contact: (770) 977-2088 www.vfwwebcom.org/ga/post2681

Political Organizations Cobb County Democratic Party Committee Meeting: 2nd Saturday at 9 a.m. Location: Piccadilly Cafeteria, 536 Cobb Parkway Contact: (770) 420-7133 ccdc@cobbdemocrat.com Cobb Democratic Women Meeting: 2nd Thursday at 6 p.m. Contact: Beverly McMurry, (770) 426-6916 btmcmurray@comcaStreet.net Cobb Young Democrats Meeting: Wednesdays at 12 noon Contact: webmaster@ydcobb.org www.ydcobb.org Cobb County Libertarian Party Meeting: 1st Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Location: Council Chamber Marietta City Hall Contact: Ted Skirvin, (770) 795-1331 www.cobblp.org Cobb County Republican Party Meeting: 1st Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Location: Williamson Bros. BBQ, Marietta Contact: Billy Dendy, (770) 272-0458 dendyjoe@gmail.com, www.cobbgop.org Cobb County Republican Women Meeting: 4th Friday at 11:30 a.m. Location: Marietta Conference Center 500 Powder Springs Street Contact: (770) 785-2522, www.ccrwc.org East Cobb Democratic Alliance Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m. Location: Delkwood Grill, 2769 Delk Rd. Contact: Tom Barksdale (770) 592-9424

Recreation and Hobbies American Needlepoint Guild Meeting: 2nd Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mountainview Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road Contact: Penny Boswinkle, (770) 394-0065 Bridge Club Meeting: Mon. – Fri. 10:30 a.m., Mon. – Sat. 7:30 p.m. Location: 1089 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 973-7717 Cobb Alley Cats People who help stray cats Contact: Sue Verner, (770) 436-6758 Cobb County Special Olympics Contact: (770) 819-3223 www.prca.cobbcoga.org Cobb County Stamp Club Meeting: 2nd and 4th Sundays at 1:30 p.m. If new to club, call contact below. Location: Atlanta Ballet Studio, 2000 Powers Ferry Rd. Contact: C. Rejent, (770) 330-0790 crejent@stampsclubs.com www.stampclubs.com/cobb Dog Hikers of Georgia Meeting: Sundays at 10 a.m. Contact: Dan Batchelor, (770) 992-2362

Sope Creek Garden Club Meeting: 1st Wednesday at 10 a.m. Contact: Karin Guzy, (770) 955-1303

For parents with children who have ADHD. Contact: east-cobb@chadd.net Website: www.chadd.net/300

Support Groups

Families Anonymous (FA) Support group for families who have loved ones struggling with addiction. Meeting: Every Tuesday at 7:30 Location: Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Youth Center, 1770 Johnson Ferry Rd. Contact: jawadta@yahoo.com

Al-Anon Meeting: Location: Contact:

Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling

Alzheimer’s/Caregiver Support Group Meeting: 1st Monday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (678) 439-1177 Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group Meeting: 1st Monday at 6 p.m. Facilitated by Dawn Reed of Aloha to Aging Location: Arbor Terrace at East Cobb, 886 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: Shelly Ealey, (770) 977-4420 Autism Support Group Meeting: 3rd Thursday at 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road, Room F002 Contact: (770) 971-2880 Blended Families Support Group Meeting: 3rd Sunday at 7 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-2880 Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting: 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7 p.m. Location: St. Andrew United Methodist Church 3455 Canton Road Contact: Sandy, (770) 926-3488 sandy@thepumpkinchurch.org Cancer Support Group Meeting: 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling Career Quest Ministry Meeting: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church 4905 Roswell Road Contact: (770) 552-6400 x 6104 Codependents Anonymous Meeting: Monday and Thursdays at 7:30pm Location: Unity North Church, 4225 Sandy Plains Road (Administration Bldg upstairs) Contact: Janet D. 770-578-6368 Website: northgeorgiacoda.org Compassionate Friends Support group for bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. Contact: Kathy, (404) 429-4953, tcfmarietta.kathy@hotmail.com Erica, (404) 539-4287 erica_beltz@yahoo.com Website: www.tcfmarietta.org Dad 2 Dad For stay-at-home dads Contact: Richard Collins, (770) 579-5445 Diabetes Support Group Contact: Wellstar, (770) 793-7828 East Cobb CHADD

Location: Contact:

Friday at 10 a.m. St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Betsy, (404) 226-4931, www.oa.org

Parents of Prodigals Children with self-destructive lifestyle. Meeting: 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling

Family Caregiver Support Group Meeting: First Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Facilitator: Dawn Reed, (678) 777-7241

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: 2nd Sunday at 4 p.m. Location: Roswell UMC, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Bldg. A Contact: Robin Cleveland, (678) 819-3915 rcleveland@visitingangels.com

Foundation for Ensuring Access and Equity Contact: Mychal Wynn, (678) 395-5825 or (678) 620-3685 Website: www.accessandequity.org

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: First Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Location: Aloha to Aging, Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (678) 439-1177

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. Location: Transfiguration Catholic Church Blackwell Road Contact: Jeannie DeCarlo, (770) 919-9275 Grief Support Group Meeting: First Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: Aloha To Aging, Inc. , Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Rd. Contact: (678) 439-1177. Job Seekers Meeting: 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8 a.m. Location: Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3125 Sewell Mill Road Contact: (770) 977-2976 Moms In Touch — East Side Elementary Meeting: Mondays at 10 a.m. Contact: Movita Stallworth, (770) 321-1783 Mo633@bellsouth.net Moms In Touch — Walton High School Meeting: Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road, room 332 Contact: Cynthia Eller (770) 578-6301 eller2905@aol.com Mothers and More Meeting: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Location: Saint Catherine’s Episcopal Church, 681 Holt Road Contact: www.mmeastcobb.homestead.com Newcomers of Cobb County Meeting: 3rd Tuesday at 10 a.m. Location: John Knox Presbyterian Church, 505 Powers Ferry Rd. Contact: (770) 234-5068 newcomersofcobbcounty@yahoo.com Next Century Youth, Inc. Location: 791 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell Contact: Mary Brooks Green, (678) 278-9278 Website: www.nextcenturyyouth.org Northwest Atlanta Moms of Multiples Club Meeting: 2nd Monday at 7 p.m. Location: North Metro Church on Barrett Pkwy. Contact: (678) 404-0034, www.NOWaMOM.org. Overeaters Anonymous Meeting: Monday, Wednesday, and

PASA (Parents of All Stages and Ages) Meeting: Fridays at 10 a.m.Free child care available Location: East Cobb UMC Lower Level Activities Building, 2325 Roswell Road Contact: Lisa Hunt (770) 984-0699 Road to Recovery Divorce Support Group Meeting: Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church 4385 Lower Roswell Road Mission House Contact: (770) 971-2880 Sexual Assault Support Group Meeting: Mondays at 7 p.m. Location: YMCA of NW GA, 48 Henderson St, Contact: Marie Mertilus, (770) 423-3589 Single Adult Ministry Location: Mount Bethel United Methodist Church, 4385 Lower Roswell Road Contact: (770) 971-3447, www.mtbethel.org Single’s Ministry Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 973-6561, www.jfbc.org Treasures in Heaven (miscarriage/infant death) Meeting: 4th Monday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Road Contact: (770) 794-2978 www.johnsonferry.org/counseling VOICE Today Survivors of child sexual abuse Meeting: 1st & 3rd Tuesday at 7 p.m. Location: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Room 334 Contact: Tom Scales, (678) 578-4888 Website: www.voicetoday.org Widowed Helping Others Meeting: Twice each month Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 4905 Roswell Rd Contact: Marguerite Williamson, (770) 977-8438 Women’s Divorce Support Group Meeting: 1st Thursday & 3rd Wednesday, 7 - 9 p.m. Location: East Cobb Government Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Rd. Contact: Facilitated by Visions Anew, (770) 953-2882 Website: www.visionsanew.org Around WALTON | June 2012

Our purpose: At AroundAbout Local Media, we believe the world functions at the community level: diverse groups of people living in close proximity; sharing commonality of culture, values and local pride; developing safety nets for those in need; and helping each other to live richer lives. It is our heartfelt desire to contribute to the fabric that helps make a community happen. Through our magazines, we aim to provide everyone in the communities we serve with uplifting, interesting information about the community they are proud to call home. We encourage you to send your photos, ideas, stories or anything else you think the community would like to know about to lynne@aroundaboutmagazines.com. Sincerely, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your community. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your magazine.

Your Friends at Around Walton

The Community Of

WALTON

Around WALTON | June 2012

SCHOOL INFORMATION Elementary Schools East Side Elementary School 3850 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-7200 Principal: Elizabeth Mavity Mount Bethel Elementary School 1210 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-7248 Principal: Joan Johnson Murdock Elementary School 2320 Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 509-5071 Principal: Cynthia Hanauer Sope Creek Elementary School 3320 Paper Mill Road SE, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 916-7085 Principal: Martha Whalen Timber Ridge Elementary School 5000 Timber Ridge Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 642-5621 Principal: Dr. Tracie Doe

Middle Schools Dickerson Middle School 855 Woodlawn Drive, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 578-2710 Principal: Dr. Carole Brink Dodgen Middle School 1725 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-2726 Principal: Robin Lattizori

High School Walton High School 1590 Bill Murdock Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 578-3225 Principal: Judy McNeill

School Websites: School District Website Pinnacle Picasso Meal Pay

Private Schools East Cobb Christian School At East Cobb Presbyterian Church 4616 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 565-0881, www.eccs.org Grades: K — 8 Principal: Teresa Staley Eastside Christian School 2450 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-2332, www.eastsidechristianschool.com Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Judy Cripps Faith Lutheran School 2111 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 973-8921, www.FaithLCMS.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Principal: Jack Hibbs Mt. Bethel Christian Academy 4385 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 971-0245, www.mtbethelchristian.org Grades: K – 8 Head of School: Jim Callis Lower School Principal: Vivian Lovett Middle School Principal: Jack Grimm

School Calendar at-a-Glance August 13 First Day of School for 2012/2013 September 3 Labor Day, School Closed October 22 - 26 Conference Week - Elementary and Middle Schools Early Release November 6 Election Day, School Closed

Omega Private Academy 2960 Shallowford Road, Marietta, GA 30066 (770) 529-1717,www.Omegaprivateacademy.com Grades K – 12, Certified Teachers, SACS Accredited/GSNS Approved Director: Kathy Keeton Shreiner Academy 1340 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, GA 30067 (770) 953-1340, www.shreiner.com Grades: Toddler – 8 Director: Sarah Walker Woodacres School 1772 Johnson Ferry Road , Marietta, GA 30062 (770) 971-1880, www.woodacresschool.org Grades: Pre-K – 8 Head of School: Judy T. Thigpen

y o j En er! m m Su

www.cobbk12.org https://pinnacle.cobbk12.org/Pinnacle www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/picasso www12.mealpayplus.com Around WALTON | June 2012

Reference

COMMUNITY INFORMATION Emergency — 911 • Around Walton (770) 615-3311 Cobb County Chamber of Commerce Driver’s License Health Department Post Office Recycling Center

Cobb County Government:

Business License CCT Bus Service Commissioners Engineering Office Traffic Signals Extension Office Jury Phone — State Court Jury Phone — Superior Court Keep Cobb Beautiful Planning and Zoning Senior Services Tax Assessors/Evaluation Taxes: License Plates/Tags Property Tax Voter Registration

(770) 980-2000 (678) 413-8400 (678) 784-2180 (800) 275-8777 www.usps.com (770) 528-2500

(770) 528-8410 (770) 528-8465 (770) 528-1000 (770) 528-1616 (770) 528-1600 (770) 528-4070 (770) 528-2626 (770) 528-1804 (770) 528-1135 www.cobbcounty.org/kcb (770) 528-2004 (770) 528-5355 (770) 528-3100 (770) 528-8247 (770) 528-8600 (770) 528-2581

Children/Family:

Aloha to Aging, Inc. Family Caregiver Support

(678) 439-1177 ww.alohatoaging.org Child and Adolescent Services (770) 514-2300 Child Support Enforcement (770) 528-2410 Department of Family and Children’s Services (770) 528-5000 Meals on Wheels (770) 528-5381 Mothers Making a Change (770) 499-2422 Next Steps (Child/Adolescent) (770) 514-2300 MUST Ministries (770) 427-9862 YMCA of Northwest GA, Rape Crisis Center (770) 427-3390

Clubs/Groups:

AARP Kiwanis Club Lions Club Rotary Club

Public Service:

Fire Departments: 2905 Library Lane 4431 Trickum Road 3892 Oak Lane Georgia State Patrol Non-Emergency 911 Sheriff’s Department

Hospitals:

North Fulton Hospital Northside Hospital Atlanta WellStar Kennestone Hospital Around WALTON | June 2012

(678) 290-9895 (770) 912-9632 (404) 218-6216 (770) 422-7551

Hotlines — 24 Hour Help Lines:

Cobb Judicial Victim Assistance Domestic Violence Unit Drug Tip Poison Control Center Public Outreach/Programs

(770) 528-3047 (770) 499-4665 (770) 590-5520 (404) 589-4400 (770) 499-4719

Libraries:

East Cobb Library East Marietta Library Gritter’s Library Mountain View Regional Library

(770) 509-2730 (770) 509-2711 (770) 528-2524 (770) 509-2725

Parks and Recreation: Aquatic Centers: Mountain View Sewell Park East Cobb Park Fullers Park Harrison Park Harrison Tennis Center Main Office Mount Bethel Park Sweat Mountain Park YMCA

(770) 509-4927 (770) 509-2741 (770) 591-3160 (770) 509-2737 (770) 591-3150 (770) 591-3151 (770) 528-8800 (770) 509-2748 (770) 591-3160 (770) 977-5991

Pets:

Animal Control Animal Shelter and Pet Adoptions Cobb County Animal Control Cobb County Humane Society Emergency Veterinary Clinic Good Mews Animal Foundation

(770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 499-4136 (770) 428-5678 (770) 424-9157 (770) 499-CATS

Schools: Board of Education

(770) 426-3300 www.cobbk12.org

Utilities: (770) 528-8000

(770) 205-5400 (770) 499-3900 (770) 499-4600 www.cobbsheriff.org

(770) 751-2500 (404) 851-8000 (770) 793-5000

AT&T Broadband/Comcast

AT&T Residential Phone Service Atlanta Gas Light Co. Cobb County Water System Cobb EMC Georgia Power Water Emergency

(404) 266-2278 www.comcast.com (888) 757-6500 www.att.com (770) 907-4231 www.aglc.com (770) 423-1000 water.cobbcountyga.gov (770) 429-2100 www.cobbemc.com (888) 660-5890 www.georgiapower.com (770) 419-6201

Lucy

We need a home!

ADOPTION INFORMATION: Please call first to see if we have what you are looking for. We have many resources to help you find what you are looking for if we do not have it. (770) 428-9882 We screen potential adopters to make sure our pets will be a good match for your family and vice versa. New adoptive dog owners will also need a home check before they can take their new dog home.

Barney

DOGS: We only house small breed dogs. Our adoption fee is $200 for dogs. All of our dogs or puppies will be altered before they can be adopted. They will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. If the dog is over six months old it will have been heart worm tested negative and be on preventative. All of our pets are micro chipped and will have flea preventative on them.

Ziggy

Blanche

Progresso

CATS: Our adoption fee for cats is $125. All of our cats and kittens (10 weeks and up) will be altered before they are adopted. If you would like a kitten younger than 10 weeks old, we can refer you to other resources. Our cats or kittens will have as many vaccines as we can give them for the time they have spent here. They are all tested negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV, and will have been micro chipped.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP: Please visit our wish list on Amazon at www.humanecobb.com. It is a fast and convenient way to support the pets at our shelter. Items chosen can be shipped directly to our shelter. Use the, â&#x20AC;&#x153;this is a giftâ&#x20AC;? section to let us know your name and address so we may acknowledge your kind gift(s).

Around WALTON | June 2012

Reference

ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS United States Government: President Barack Obama (D) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Website: www.whitehouse.gov e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

(202) 456-1414 fax: (202) 456-2461

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R) (202) 224-3521 Senate Russell Courtyard-2 fax: (202) 224-0103 Washington, D.C. 20510 Website: www.saxby.org e-mail: saxby_chambliss@chambliss.senate.gov Senator Johnny Isakson (R) 1 Overton Park, Suite 970 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30339 Website: http://isakson.senate.gov

(202) 224-3643 GA: (770) 661-0999

Rep. Tom Price (R), District 6 3730 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 Website: http://tom.house.gov e-mail: tom@tomprice.com

GA: (770) 565-4990 fax: (770) 565-7570

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R), District 11 219 Roswell Street Marietta, GA 30060 Website: www.gingrey.house.gov e-mail: gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov

(202) 225-2931 GA: (770) 429-1776 fax: (770) 795-9551

fax: (770) 661-0768

State Government: Governor Nathan Deal (R) 203 State Capitol Atlanta, GA 30334

(404) 656-1776 fax: (404) 657-7332 www.gov.ga.gov.com

Senator Chip Rogers (R), District 21 chip@SenatorChipRogers.com

(404) 463-1378

Senator Judson Hill (R), District 32 judson.hill@senate.ga.gov

(770) 565-0024

Rep. Sharon Cooper (R), District 41 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov

(770) 956-8357

Rep. Don L. Parsons (R), District 42 repdon@gmail.com

(770) 977-4426

Rep. Matt Dollar (R), District 45 matt.dollar@house.ga.gov

(404) 656-0254

County Government:

Juvenile Court Presiding Judge James Whitfield Director of Juvenile Court Services Michele Marchant-Wellmon

(770) 528-2290 fax: (770) 528-2214

Solicitor General, Barry E. Morgan

(770) 528-8500 fax: (770) 528-8578

District Attorney, Patrick H. Head cobbda@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-3080 fax: (770) 528-3030

Cobb County Coroner Brian Frist 150 North Marietta Pkwy Marietta, GA 30060 Cobb County Board of Commissioners 100 Cherokee Street Marietta, GA 30090 www.cobbcountyga.gov

(770) 528-3300 fax: (770) 528-2606

(770) 528-3300

Helen Goreham, District 1 hgoreham@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-3313

Bob Ott, District 2 bob.ott@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-3316

JoAnn Birrell, District 3 joann.birrell@cobbcounty.org

(770)528-3317

Woody Thompson, District 4 woody.thompson@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-3312

Cobb County Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office Sheriff Neil Warren 185 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060 www.cobbsheriff.org

(770) 499-4600

Cobb County School System www.cobb.k12.ga.us Superintendent, Dr. Michael Hinojosa 514 Glover Street, Marietta, GA 30060 (770) 426-3453 michael.hinojosa@cobbk12.org fax: (678) 594-8559 Board of Education Kathleen Angelucci, Post 4 kangelucci.boardmember@cobbk12.org

Superior Court Judge Reuben Green

(770) 528-1800

Magistrate Court Chief Judge Frank R. Cox

(770) 528-8900

Probate Court Chief Judge Kelli Wolk

(770) 528-1900

Around WALTON | June 2012

(770) 528-2200

Commissioners: Tim Lee, Chairman tlee@cobbcounty.org

(770) 528-2220

David Banks, Post 5 dbanks.boardmember@cobbk12.org Scott Sweeney, Post 6 ssweeney.boardmember@cobbk12.org

City of Marietta:

Mayor Steve Tumlin stumlin@mariettaga.gov

(770) 794-5501

classifieds HELP WANTED Mompreneurs Needed. Flexible, fun, homebased business with excellent opportunity to advance. Selling functional stylish products. Visit www. mythirtyone.com/BagsOfJoy. CityWide Maintenance (Marietta) is looking for a quality individual to join our team. Part Time; Account Manager to visit our customers; ideal for a mother while children are in school. www.gocitywide.com or call Scott 770990-3334

Education/Tutoring Math Immersion sessions. Tuesdays at Mountain View Community Center from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon. Learn math and problem-solving through games, puzzles, and interaction. EAGAtlanta - 678-770-2761, info@ eagatlanta.com

HOME SERVICES FIX-IT-FAST: carpentry, drywall repair, kitchen/baths, painting/caulking, tile/ laminate installation. Call Dean 770-294-0138.

Voiceover Services Does Your Business Sound Professional? Voiceover with G2 Voice is your source for professional voiceover services. Company greeting, In-Store Commercials, AudioBooks, narration, and more. http://g2voice.com or call 678-439-9490.

Where to Find the Magazine Around Walton is mailed free directly to homes and businesses in the Walton community. If you do not receive a copy and would like to pick one up, you can find us at any of these fine establishments:

Need an Extra Copy?

Johnson Ferry Rd: Houlihan’s Restaurant J Christopher’s Restaurant Wells Fargo Bank Caribou Coffee Nail Eagle Chick-fil-A Publix Wellstar Physician’s Group North Atlanta Women’s Specialists Arbor Terrace EH Sellars Dr. Cristi Cheek, DMD Urgent Medical Care Jazzercise Kids R Kids Piedmont Road: YMCA

Roswell Road: Panera Bread at the Avenue Dance Stop LGE Community Credit Union Marietta Eye Clinic Rick’s Farmer’s Market Frankie’s Italian Restaurant HealthSource Chiropractic Atlanta Community Realty Parc at Piedmont Robinson Road: Fullers Recreation Park Lower Roswell Road: Johnny’s Pizza Legends Elite Aloha to Aging Let us know if you would like some at your place of business. Around WALTON | June 2012

Support Local Business Owners and this Magazine Tell Them You Saw Their Ad in Around Walton!

Advertisers Directory attorneys/legal services Brosnahan, Carpenter, Lyons & Smith, LLP (678) 805-4458 www.bclslegal.com

Rohan Law, P.C. (404) 923-7570, www.rohanlawpc.com

33.

Sellars Goodyear (770) 973-5780, 648 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 992-7977, 2950 Johnson Ferry Road (770) 509-1422, 3621 Sandy Plains Road

Simoniz Professional Car Wash (770) 579-0000 1274 Johnson Ferry Road

Banking/Financial Services Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Ben Clark 25 (770) 977-4229 1050 East Piedmont Rd Suite 122, Marietta 17

HealthQuest Chiropractic Center, PC 37 (770) 509-3400 1205 Johnson Ferry Rd, Suite 122, Marietta www.HealthQuestChiro.com HealthSource Chiropractic & Progressive Rehab 43 (770) 578-0785

Cleaning Services 35.

Computer/ Web Services Trustworkz Back Cover. (770) 615-3275, www.TrustWorkz.com

Dentists/Orthodontists Chattahoochee Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry (770) 977-8644, www.docdavidskids.com

Findlay Roofing (770) 516-5806 www.findlayroofing.com

Cover, 38, 39

Hardwood Services, Inc. (770) 871-0322

Landscape Matters (770) 403-5813

Outdoor Environments Unlimited, Inc. (678) 796-4991

Plumbing Doctor, The (770) 516-9000

Quality Craftsmen (404) 483-7446 www.quality-craftsmen.com

5, 17

Southeast Tree.com (770) 977-8733

Insurance 43

Pets Hot Dogs and Cool Cats (770) 858-1000

Humane Society of Cobb County (770) 428-5678, www.humanecobb.com

69.

Photographers Studio 7 Photography Inside Front. (770) 685-7391, www.studio7hub.com

Physicians & Medical Services Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center (770) 425-7575 111 Marble Mill Road NW, Marietta

Atlanta Communities Real Estate (770) 240-2000 3173 Roswell Rd., Suite 101, Marietta www.atlantacommunities.net Reflection at Lake Nantahala www.reflectionlakenantahala.com

Inside back

Big Liquor Wines (404) 551-3074

Inside Front

Good Measure Meals (404) 815-7695

Retail /Miscellaneous Bookmiser East Cobb: (770) 509-5611 Roswell: (770) 993-1555

H.M. Patterson & Sonâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Canton Hill Funeral Home (770) 977-9485 Honey Mountain Quilt www.HoneyMountainQuilts.com

11 47

Sterling Estates (678) 946-4454 4220 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta www.sterling-estates.com

Shenk Dental Care (770) 992-6568, www.drshenk.com 4690 Woodstock Rd. Suite 100 Roswell

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute www.northside.com

Pearle Vision (770) 509-8480 1401 Johnson Ferry Road

Around WALTON | June 2012

Real estate

Northside Sleep Disorders Center (404) 851-8135

Family Medicine, Internal Medicine & Pediatrics: (770) 973-2272 3939 Roswell Road, Marietta

Parc at Piedmont â&#x20AC;&#x201D; East Cobb 999 Hood Road, Marietta, GA 30068 (770) 565-8828

18.

Pediatrics: (770) 578-2868

Cristi Y. Cheek DMD, P.C. (770) 993-3775, www.cheekdental.com

Get In Shape for Women (770) 605-8788 3822 Roswell Road, Ste. 114, Marietta www.getinshapeforwomen.com

WellStar Medical Group 9, 49 Family Medicine and Geriatric Medicine: (678) 403-4660 1523 Johnson Ferry Rd. Ste. 150, Marietta

Senior Services

North Atlanta Spine and Pain Care (770) 771-6300

Health & Beauty

WellStar Health Systems (770) 956-STAR, www.wellstar.org

Arbor Terrace (770) 977-4420

Georgia Hypnotherapy Associates (678) 938-7274

Resurgens OrthoNow (770) 423-2172, www.resurgens.com

REstaurants/Food/Beverages

Keeton Insurance Services (770) 971-8900

chiropractors

Carpet Dry-Tech (678) 368-5991

Home & gARDEN

automotive

LGE Credit Union (770) 429-0103

Nail Eagle (770) 565-5634

Plastic Surgery Center of the South (770) 421-1242 www.plasticsurgerycenterofthesouth.net

40 .

Progressive Audiology Center, Inc. (770) 592-4744, (706) 253-7244

To Advertise Call Chris 770-615-3311 For Rates & Info Today!