D A W S O N
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Club celebrates Earth Day May 2011
The Member Newsletter of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce
Post Office Box 299 292 Hwy. 400, North Dawsonville, GA 30534 (706) 265-6278
Chamber takes on health, wellness By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
Michele DeBlois sat down for a vision screening April 26 having an idea about the results. “I’ve known I’ve needed new glasses for a while now,” she said. DeBlois was among dozens
who took advantage of a free health fair at Rock Creek Park, sponsored by the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce. The fair was held in conjunction with the groups monthly after hours and showcased local health and wellness providers. Stephanie Mathis, chairwoman of the chamber’s board
of directors, said the event was designed to raise awareness about health care available in the community. “This is a way for the citizens of Dawson County to recognize what type of health services we have here in Dawson County,” she said. See HEALTH | 3
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Lions Club volunteer Kathryn Higgins gives Marty Williams a glucose screening April 24 during a health fair at Rock Creek Park.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
We’re ready for our close up Dawson County Lights, camera, action. You just might be hearing that exclamation on Dawson County soil one day in the future. In case you missed it, Dawson County has been designated Camera Ready by Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music and
Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. This means Dawson County can promote our community’s assets directly to production companies interested in shooting in Georgia. Marty Williams, our vice
president/tourism at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau is our Camera Ready Liaison and has been instrumental in getting our county’s designation. Thanks, Marty. Did you know that Georgia is among the top five states in the
nation for film and television production? There were more than 300 productions shot in our state just last year. On www.georgia.org, under Georgia Industries, you can click on “entertainment” and learn all about the film industry in Georgia and how much growth this sector has seen in
recent years. I think it’s fascinating. How does that Mathis benefit Dawson County? Following is some information I found on georgia.org See READY | 2
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Congratulations to all of the local graduates Graduation marks a milestone in a person’s life. I clearly remember one of my graduation ceremonies and one of the speakers referred to graduation as a landing on a long staircase of learning. Learning is a lifelong process and we pause along the way to celebrate our accomplishments before we begin the next chapter of our lives. I congratulate all of our Dawson County High School graduates, as well as our home school and private school graduates. I also send praise to the graduates from our own Lanier Technical College and all of the surrounding colleges and universities. Each of you has persevered to insure that your future is as promising as it can be. You have increased your career opportunities and provided yourself the means to earn a salary far beyond that of an unskilled person.
Here at the chamber, we have had the honor and pleasure of having Abbey Williams Redmon serve as a high school intern in our office this school year. Abbey is part of the Work-Based Learning Program at Dawson County High School, a program that provides real world job experience to students. Abbey has learned a variety of skills, from simply helping to stuff our many mail-outs to greeting visitors and answering the phones. One of her big tasks was to upload hundreds of photographs to the state’s Web site for Georgia’s Camera Ready project. The project encourages film production in Georgia and gives location scouts a head start in locating sites for filming. Film scouts can now
search the state through a photo bank before visiting a community in person. Thank you Abbey for the many projects you have worked on for the chamber! We wish you all the best as you move forward and begin your college career. The chamber also congratulates Cody Garrett, another Dawson County High School senior. The chamber board of directors partnered with R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Association of Dawson County) to provide a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving senior and Cody was selected from a number of applicants. On behalf of the board of directors and R.E.A.D., I congratulate Cody on his determination to earn his college degree. We wish him all the best at North Georgia College & State University. Another very important group graduating this month is the
Leadership Dawson Class of 2011. These 26 citizens are candidates for graduation on May 17. The class is made up of emerging leaders, as well as citizens who have already stepped up to accept roles of responsibility in our community. These adults range in age from twenty-something to retirement age. Each person has a unique skill set to offer in service to Dawson County. The group began its adventure in January with an overnight retreat, they have visited the state capitol to observe our legislators in action, conducted a diversity tour of our county and of course had numerous class room sessions on topics including education, government, leadership development, team building, local demographics and the many service opportunities available here. They also developed and implemented a community project to enhance
Veteran’s Park. They have placed benches and other upgrades there for everyone to enjoy. Look for great things to come from this diverse group of people! Education, economic development and quality of life all go hand in hand. I encourage our graduates, as well as every citizen, to continue learning throughout life. There is no shortage of
new topics to consider. So pause and celebrate our graduates, then choose something new to learn for yourself. I hope to see you at a chamber event soon. If you are not a member already, won’t you join us?
of your world. FROM 1
Ready about the benefits of having a Camera Ready Designation: Why camera ready? • To provide easier, faster and better access to county production resources and location information. • A variety of shooting locations are needed due to a dramatic increase in film and television production across the state.
• Local economic impact from productions can be significant, including hiring of local residents, hotel stays and purchases of goods and services. If you want to learn more, don’t miss this month’s chamber luncheon with Craig Dominey, senior location specialist/project manager with the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office as our guest speaker. OK, I think we all can agree, this is so cool. You’ve seen the credits roll at the
end of a movie. There are a lot of people to house, feed and entertain while shooting. The bigger the production, the bigger the economic impact to the area. Who better to take care of these folks than our Dawson County business owners? So, I hope we make the cut for a future production and we have the chance to experience Hollywood coming to town. I may audition to be an extra.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS May 12: Chamber luncheon will held at noon at the Lakeview Center. The guest speaker will be Craig Dominey of Camera Ready. For more information, call (706) 265-6278. May 13: Ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. for Jeni’s Bread Basket. The business is in downtown Dawsonville in the white historic building with the gas pumps on the left, just before the square. May 14: WEE Books presents its annual “Barn Dance.” For more information, call Jane Graves at (706) 216-0177. May 16-20: National Small Business Week. Join the chamber in recognizing and supporting the small business members and remember to shop local. May 17: The University of Georgia SBDC and Dawson County Chamber of Commerce present “Navigating Health Care Reform,” helping business leaders better understand the complexities of Health Care Reform. The event will be held from 910:30 a.m. at United Community Bank, in the upstairs conference room. Admission will be $10 for both members and nonmembers. Members will receive a $5 voucher redeemable toward any 2011 chamber membership luncheon. For more information, call Linda Williams at (706) 265-6278 or Morgan Blakely at (770) 531-5681. May 20-21: Dawson County Relay for Life will be held at the Dawson County High School track. For more information, call (770) 297-1176, Ext. 23 or visit www.dawsoncountyrelay.org. May 24: Hill Design Architects Inc. and Longhorn Steakhouse of Dawsonville will
host the May Business After Hours event from 5-7 p.m. The business is located at 436 Academy Ave., Dawsonville. Special thanks to AFLAC – Sharon Reagan, Anderson Family Medicine – Dr. Larry Anderson, Weddings and Wellness Enterprises – Barbara Roberts, The Norton Agency – Kristie Myers and United Community Bank – James Askew for sponsoring the cash drawing. Remember, you must be present to win. May 28: There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. for the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. There will be all day activities for young and old. The museum is located in downtown Dawsonville at the Dawsonville Municipal Complex, 415 Hwy. 53 East. May 30: The Veterans Affairs of Dawson County invite the community to attend the Memorial Day Service at Veterans Memorial Park. The service will begin at 4 p.m. and will start with the retiring of flags. Wayne Watkins will be the Master of Service. Vietnam Veteran Bill Sextion will be the keynote speaker. June 11: Georgia Mountains on My Mind Festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center on Ga. 400. A regional event, not specific to one chamber of commerce or convention and visitors bureau, the festival will feature participating vendors selling wares, giving demonstrations, offering interactive activities and conducting wine tastings – all contributing to a party-down atmosphere. The event will provide exposure for the businesses that make the north Georgia mountains the place to be. There will be food vendors, activities for children, including a petting zoo and more. For more information, call (706) 265-6278.
Floral art exhibit set for May 12, 13 By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
Big Canoe organizers have scheduled an art show May 12-13 as a precursor to the annual Big Canoe Tour of Homes this month. Art in Bloom chairperson Alice Eachus said the exhibition is a “thank you to the community for all the money we’ve been able to raise for local charities.” In its 23rd year, the Big Canoe Tour of Homes has raised nearly $1 million for Dawson and Pickens county charities. Eachus said the Art in Bloom event is more of a “friendraiser” than a fundraiser. “We wanted to get people aware of the work that has been done to help people.” She said 20 artists will interpret dif-
FROM 1
Health “You don’t have to drive to Atlanta to meet with a doctor or to see a chiropractor. We have those things right here and there are a variety of services that most people might not know about.” More than 20 local businesses associated with the healthcare industry provided educational literature, talked about wellness issues and offered a variety of screenings, from vision and hearing to glucose and blood pressure at no charge. Kirsty Russell, a certified medical assistant with Chestatee Emergent Medical Care, offered blood pressure readings to attendees. “There are several factors that could raise blood pressure—being a smoker, or maybe they just ate. I always ask about their medical history and if they’ve been seen before for hyperten-
ferent types of artwork by using floral designs. The art will be on display at The Chimneys at Big Canoe. The event is free to the public. She added that there will be hundreds of flowers represented including gardenias, red carnations, forsythia and daisies in bloom. Eachus said there will be auction items available for bidding during the Art in Bloom exhibition, but the major fundraising will take place the following week during the tour of homes. Art in Bloom will be held from noon 5 p.m. May 12 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 at The Chimneys at Big Canoe. The tour of homes is scheduled for May 21. For more information about the Big Canoe Tour of Homes and directions to Art in Bloom, visit www.bigcanoetour.org.
sion,” Russell said. “If they say no, I ask them to schedule a time to come into the office for a consult.” Medical professionals consider 120 over 80 a normal reading. “Blood pressure is just not something you can play around with,” Russell said. Organizers said they hope to hold the health fair annually. The chamber’s next business after hours event will be held from 5-7 p.m. May 24 at Hill Design Associates, located at 436 Academy Ave., when the monthly cash drawing will grow to $1,050. If Warren King with RIC Rack Thrift Store and Food Pantry had of been in attendance during the April event, he would have won $950. Cash prize drawing winners must be present to claim the money. For more information on the May after hours event, that will be catered by Longhorn and feature live music, call (706) 265-6278.
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Greg Oberkrom and son Carter, 2, hunt for eggs last month during the annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at Veterans Memorial Park.
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce celebrated administrative professionals during the group’s April luncheon.
Chamber celebrates local professionals at luncheon
Frank Reddy Dawson Community News
By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
Kids hunt for Easter fun KARE event ‘a good time’ By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
Children of all ages rushed the field to grab fistfuls of multi-colored eggs during the 25th annual Community Easter Egg Hunt on April 23 at Veterans Memorial Park. Volunteers with KARE for Kids hid more than 10,000 of the hard plastic shells among the grass as well as several dozen stuffed animals. KARE for Kids President Calvin Byrd said the egg hunt was a success. “We’ve had a lot of people show up today,”
said Byrd as he supervised the hun. “Not as many people as last year but still a pretty good crowd.” Egg hunt attendees like Linda Glattli showed up with her children for an afternoon of festive fun. “We thought it would be a good day to bring the kites too,” said Glattli as she watched her children sprint around the park. “It’s just beautiful weather today.” In addition to the egg hunt, the event featured a miniature hamburger eating contest, inflatable bounce house for children and photo opportunities with the Easter bunny. Dawson County resident Joseph Decoteau won the hamburger eat-
ing contest for downing 11 Krystal burgers in three minutes. “Drinking lots of water is the secret,” Decoteau said. “Lots and lots of water.” Decoteau won a $50 gift certificate for his victory. KARE volunteer Robin Smith said it was a good “family atmosphere. Everybody’s having a good time,” she said. KARE is a local nonprofit organization that provides for Dawson County’s children in need. Formerly known as the Moss Easter Egg Hunt, the annual event is one of the biggest of its kind in Georgia. For more information about KARE, visit www.kareforkids.us.
The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the women and men many consider to be the backbone of the business community, administrative professionals, during the group’s April luncheon. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, there are more than 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants working in the United States, and 8.9 million people working in various administrative support roles. The chamber recognizes the impact administrative personnel make in the workplace and honors them each year at the April business luncheon, said Stephanie Mathis, chairwoman of the chamber’s board of directors. Also during the luncheon, Lynn Jackson, administrator at Northside Hospital-Forsyth, spoke to
the group about the hospitals recent growth and the group’s presence in Dawson County. She said the hospital’s women’s unit is flourishing and many Dawson County babies are delivered at the center, which was designed to rival the nationally acclaimed Women’s Center at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. Jackson also focused her talk on health care available in Dawson County through Northside Hospital, adding additional services are hopeful in the future. The guest speaker for
Office: 706-216-4806 Fax: 706-216-4807 kfuller@alltel.net
the chamber’s May 12 business luncheon will be Craig Dominey, program manager for the state’s Camera Ready program. Dawson County was among 70 counties designated ‘Camera Ready’ by Gov. Nathan Deal recently. The designation places Dawson County on the forefront when movie and television productions come calling for locations to film. The luncheon will be held at noon May 12 at the Lakeview Center on Dawson Forest Road. For more information, call the chamber at (706) 265-6278.
P.O Box 1096 137 Prominence Court Suite 240 Dawsonville, GA 30534
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Ink business opens branch in Dawson By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
Dawson County resident George Parson will be running the local branch of franchise Cartridge on Wheels. Chamber of Commerce members and staff met with Parson and wife Kerri to help mark the occasion with a ribbon cutting April 6 at chamber headquarters. The genius of the imaging supply business, said Parson, is that “we bring everything to you. “From ink and toner equipment to the actual printers themselves,” he said. “We also specialize in selling original printers and/or refurbishing current printers.” Other features offered by the business are “print solutions.” Parsons said it allows businesses to “actually capture everything printed ... so you can truly tell how much each time you
Commission approves massive development Construction could take 10-20 years By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
Frank Reddy Dawson Community News
George Parson runs the local Cartridge on Wheels. The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce met April 6 to celebrate the grand opening of the business.
click the mouse costs you to print ... and then we come up with strategies to reduce your overhead.” Headquartered in Monroe, La., Cartridge on Wheels has 21 locations in 13 states. Kerri Parson will be helping her husband as office manager.
Said George Parson: “It’s always good when you can come home and high-five your office manager after a successful day.” To contact Parson, call (706) 225-7623. For more information, visit www.cartridgeonwheels.com.
Nearby property owners applauded a plan presented last month that could bring more than 1,500 new homes to northern Dawson County. Marty Horne, former president of the Gold Creek Homeowners Association, said homeowners are in support of a proposal by Forestar Real Estate Group to develop a 1,068 acre mixed use village between Hwy. 136 and Burt Creek Road. A site plan for the Villages at Burt Creek shows more than 1,500 housing units, 100,000 square feet of commercial office space and 23,200 square feet for retail. A school, hotel, day care and recreational facilities are also planned. “We think it will be an asset to Gold Creek and Dawson County. When this project will take place, it will create jobs in the county,” Horne said. Earlier this year, Larry Long with Forestar, formerly Temple Inland, filed an application to rezone the property from residential agriculture and residential planned community to mixed use village. During the April 21 rezoning hearing
before the Dawson County Board of Commissioners, Charlie Auvermann, executive director of the Development Authority of Dawson County, called Forestar a refreshing break from developers who bring “cookie cutter projects … without a vision or understanding of local ideas” to the county. “Working with Larry has been an absolute pleasure,” he said. “They bring a vision and flexibility. They don’t just put out a cookie cutter … type project. These projects, I believe, are innovative and appropriate for our times.” Auvermann also told commissioners of Long’s steps to improve relations with adjacent land owners who expressed concern with the project last month at a planning commission meeting. Since presenting the conceptual plan to the planning commission, Long met with property owners and revised the northern section of the conceptual plan to create a buffer around adjacent land and moved residential lots away from the property line. The board of commissioners approved the rezoning. While Long did not give a time frame for the project to begin, he did say phase one would offer a senior living component. The overall project could take 10-20 years.
Work on broadband network is moving forward From staff reports
According to a news release from the North Georgia Network, the organization has kept up “a good pace” since it began construction on the 260mile core of its 800-mile fiber optic network in March. Crews working in Rabun, Towns, Union and White coun-
ties have installed more than 35 miles of fiber along the core — or the backbone of the network. While some connections for large bandwidth users will be made directly on the core, several hundred miles of lateral lines will be built out from the core as well to reach public and community institutions,
businesses and homes. Additional core construction is scheduled to take place in Lumpkin, Dawson, Habersham and Forsyth counties. The network core is scheduled to be completed in Fall 2011. It could deliver broadband speeds as fast as those anywhere in the world, according to the news release.
The North Georgia Network is a non-profit company that is building and managing a fiber optic network to deliver broadband access to thousands in a rural, eight-county area of North Georgia. The initiative was chartered by economic development officials in Lumpkin, Dawson, Union, White and Forsyth
counties — together with Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Habersham EMC and North Georgia College & State University — to stimulate economic growth by improving the broadband infrastructure in the North Georgia region. For more information about the network, call (706) 8642196.
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County manager earns public service award By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
A local official was recently recognized by his peers for contributions to public service in county government. Dawson County Manager Kevin Tanner received the inaugural Jerry R. Griffin Leadership Award during the 2011 Association County Commissioners of Georgia annual meeting in Savannah on May 2. Commissioner James Swafford made the nomination. “I have known Kevin for a long time and when I read the criteria for the award, I said that’s got Kevin Tanner written all over it,” he said. “It makes me very proud that we have a county manager who stands out among county managers across the state of Georgia.” For his part, Tanner said he “was honored and humbled” to
receive the recognition, adding that there are “hundreds of deserving public servants across the state.” “I could not begin to do my job if it was not for the leadership and support of our board of commissioners, our citizens and the fine staff here at Dawson County,” he said. “They are both my co-workers and my friends.” Named in honor of Jerry Griffin, who served as the association’s executive director for nearly two decades, the award salutes those who have made significant contributions through public service in county government. A recognized leader whose career encompassed state and local government, Griffin was involved in establishing many programs and services. Ross King, the association’s director, said Tanner fits the mold of Griffin. “His outstanding work in
For the Dawson Community News
Kevin Tanner received the Jerry R. Griffin Leadership Award on Monday. Commission Chair Mike Berg and ACCG President Melvin Davis presented the award.
Dawson County and demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of citizens set a high standard for future recipients of this distinguished award,” King said. Tanner’s accomplishments include revising the local recycling program, establishing a citizens’ government academy and working with the school
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
WOMAN’S CLUB CELEBRATES EARTH DAY Dawson County Woman’s Club member and ornithologist Georgann Schmalz, left, talks about native birds and plants April 22 at Rock Creek Park during the county’s annual Earth Day event.
system to teach county government at the high school. He also worked to lower spending in all governmental departments, as well as rehabilitated the county’s buildings and fleet operations to save thousands, according to the nomination form submitted to ACCG. “As county manager, Kevin established a bridge of trust and understanding between the people in the county and their government,” the nomination read. Dawson County Commission Chair Mike Berg said he was honored to present Tanner with the award. “This is a well-deserved award for Kevin, who has worked very hard for county government,” Berg said. A county native whose Dawson roots run seven generations, the 39-year-old Tanner has held the position of chief operating officer since 2008. Tanner began his service to the county in 1989, when he
worked as a volunteer fireman. In 1990, he joined the sheriff’s office, rising to second in command for 10 years. Additionally, Berg was sworn in as the organization’s second vice president and Dawson County was one of six governments recognized for its Building Educated Students for Tomorrow program. The collaborative effort with the local school system introduces ninth-graders to community government. Berg said he looks forward to working with the association “to place a continued focus on education and lifelong learning.” “We will be working with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia to redesign and expand our training programs, which will ensure that we are offering the best possible continuing education opportunities for county officials,” he said.
• Congratulations to AmeriVap Systems, a pioneer in dry steam vapor cleaning and sanitizing, for marking its 20th anniversary this month. • Congratulations to Dawson County Manager Kevin Tanner for recently being recognized as the first recipient of the Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award at the 2011 ACCG annual meeting at the Savannah Civic Center. • Congratulations to Mike Berg. He was sworn in May 2 as the second vice president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia after being selected by his peers to serve on the organization’s board of managers. • Congratulations to Dawson County for receiving its third County Excellence Award in six years from ACCG and Georgia Trend. The county’s Building Educated Students for Tomorrow (BEST) program was selected for its innovation in connecting citizens with government and the next generation of community leaders. • Past issues of the Dawson County Chamber Chronicle can be found on the chamber’s Web site, www.dawson.org. Please let the chamber know when you have a special event.
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Teams on track to break 2010 campaign By Michele Hester mhester@dawonnews.com
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Jason Nix and the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority team were the overall winners during last month’s Keep Dawson County Beautiful Cleaning Spring event.
Cleanup yields trash By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
A friendly competition last month cleared more than 700 pounds of litter from local roadsides. Keep Dawson County Beautiful’s inaugural Cleaning Spring event on April 13 challenged teams to try to collect the greatest amount of litter in honor of the Great American Cleanup. “We usually collect an average of around 615 pounds of litter during the Great American Cleanup, which lasts three months and includes several events,” said Cathy Brooks, executive director for Keep Dawson County Beautiful. “Participants collected nearly 700 pounds of litter in just two hours not including tires, mattresses or other debris.” Overall, volunteers picked up 138 discarded tires, 23 bags of trash, three bags of aluminum cans, eight bags of plastic bottles, two mattresses, three recliners and an office chair. Other items collected included more than 20 pounds of shingles, several blocks of Styrofoam, a vacuum cleaner, a satellite dish, one mailbox, several metal posts and a street sign. “I’m overjoyed by the enthusiasm and
commitment these folks have shown for our community,” Brooks said. Etowah Water and Sewer Authority’s team was the overall winner for the 70 tires they picked up at various dumping areas around the county. For their efforts, organizers awarded the team $100 to donate to the charity of its choice. The team chose the Veterans Affairs of Dawson County. The Kiwanis Club was awarded for the most difficult item to retrieve after team member Becky Holbrook said she encountered several snakes while picking up dozens of old tires throughout the county. “We’ve always supported this county in clean and beautiful efforts,” said Holbrook. “Anything to help this community stay clean and beautiful, we are for and support 100 percent.” Members of the Dawson County Woman’s Club Conservation department volunteered during the event to judge and calculate points for the teams. “The Dawson County Woman’s Club focuses on recycling as an opportunity to serve our community. This was an ideal event and we were thrilled to partner with Keep Dawson County Beautiful and Etowah Water and Sewer Authority,” said club co-president Cindy Jensen.
Teams preparing for the 2011 Dawson County Relay for Life are poised to exceed last year’s fundraising effort. According to campaign chair Jay Walker, 30 teams have signed up to participate in the American Cancer Society’s signature event to be held at 7 p.m. May 20 at Dawson County High School. “We’re already ahead on fundraising because of the number of teams we have this year,” Walker said. Dawson County raised more than $50,000 through Relay for Life in 2010. Teams stepped up fundraising efforts this year and held multiple cash collecting events. In April, several teams participated in Paint the Town Purple, a countywide event to raise awareness that Relay for Life is near. From car washes and yard sales to car shows and donut sales, several activities and events were held throughout the county. Earlier this month, Relay for Life
teams and organizers held a survivors dinner to honor local men and women who continue to win battles with cancer. Walker said more than 130 survivors attended the event, which included several guest speakers who told their stories of survival. Diagnosed in August, Glenda Brandt said the support she has received from the community has been a guide through the journey. “I’ve drawn so much from God, my family, friends and co-workers, and that’s made it a lot easier to go through what I have gone through with their support,” she said. Brandt said despite the troubles she has faced the last eight months, she knows she must maintain a positive attitude “Instead of putting all the energy into worrying, you put that energy into knowing you’re going to be OK and that everyone’s praying for you,” she said. For more information, call (770) 2971176, e-mail suzanne.hendricks@cancer.org or visit www.dawsoncountyrelay.org.
File photo
A car show organized by the United Community Bank Junior Board of Directors was one of several fundraisers held during Relay for Life’s Paint the Town Purple fundraiser last month.
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MEMBER RENEWALS Special thanks to the following members that renewed memberships last month: Amicalola Propane Inc. Appalachia Grill Around Back at Rocky’s Place Atlanta Gear Works Best Western Big Canoe Homeowners Association Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan GA Bradley M. Maple, CPA, P.C. Brogdon, CPA Chattahoochee Insurance Agency Chestatee Regional Hospital Church of the Apostles Clarke’s Cleaners Comfort Keepers Darlow, Marcia and Doug Dawson Pediatrics, PC Dentistry for Children Discovery Point No. 50 Edward Jones
Glazing Rubber Products Inc. Goodson’s Pharmacy Joh, John & Jane Jos A Bank Clothiers King, Nancy and Warren Mark Heard Fuel Company Miller, Bob Mountain Wireless Premier Landcare LLC Puckett’s Mini Storage RIC Rack Sears Superior Arbor Management Inc. The Norton Agency The Outside World Tri-Star Trophy Company Ward, Sandy White Interiors
Thank You Chamber Building Fund Sponsors
NEW MEMBERS Oaks Senior Living Tiffani Sweazey (770) 888-4683 3875 Post Road Cumming, GA 30040 tiffani@oaksseniorliving.com Category: Assisted Living Lab Resource Doug Powell (706) 265-1335 400 Dawson Commons Circle, Ste 410 Dawsonville, GA 30534 Pat.jebbia@gmail.com Category: Drug Screening Jeni’s Bread Basket Jenisha Neal (706) 216-7675 23 Hwy. 9 North Dawsonville, GA 30534 Jenisha.neal@gmail.com Category: Discount Bread Outlet
April totals Walk-in visitors: 477
Telephone referrals: 2,013
Property Investment Associates
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New ambassadors welcomed By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program welcomes two new volunteer members, Tommy Hosea and Andy Clemons. Hosea joined the chamber’s Ambassador Program in an effort to further promote the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, where he also volunteers daily. The racing hall of fame will have a grand reopening celebration May 28. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. “We have a lot of new cars in the museum and a lot of Dawsonville’s history there at the museum,” he said. “We hope you all join us for the event.” Clemons represents Liberty Tax Service and is a retired middle school math teacher. Liberty
Tax Service has been a chamber member for several years and was ready to become more involved with the chamber through Clemons Hosea the Ambassador Program, he said. Clemons is also a member of Grace Presbyterian Church where he serves as treasurer. Ambassadors are a group of volunteer chamber members who act as liaisons between the business community and the organization. They attend ribbon cuttings, grand opening celebrations and volunteer at chamber functions. For more information on the ambassador program, call (706) 265-6278.
2011 chamber board of directors James Askew United Community Bank Brooke Anderson (ex-officio) Etowah Water and Sewer Authority Pat Zebbia Anderson Anderson Family Medicine Charlie Auvermann (ex-officio) Development Authority of Dawson County, executive director Jennifer Baker (2012 Chair Elect) United Community Bank Mike Berg (ex-officio) Dawson County Board of Commissioners Carla Boutin State Farm Insurance Doris Cook Etowah Water and Sewer Authority
AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH: DENNY PUTLAK Name: Denny Putlak Age: 46 Putlak, his wife Jennifer and their sons Michael and Jeff have lived in Dawson County for five years. A graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Putlak has a bachelor of science in finance. When he has free time, he enjoys relaxing, playing golf and tennis and “tinkering with stuff.” Putlak said he earned his “15 minutes of fame” when he bought his first home. “I camped out overnight for a bond mortgage at my mortgage broker’s office due to the limited number of loans available. The next morning the local TV station showed my story on the evening news,” he said. “It was great until the sprinklers came on, but hey, I got a mortgage rate five points below market rates at the time.” He owns and operates Denny Insurance Group Inc. at the intersection of Ga. 400 and Grant Road. “As a local independent insurance agent, we sell home, auto, boat, medical, business and just about all lines of insurance,” he said. “We work for you, not the companies, to shop the best rates. We treat our customers like family.” Putlak joined the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce about four years ago and attrib-
James Grogan (ex-officio) Dawsonville City Council Kathy Fuller K.C. Fuller and Associates Peter Hill Hill Design Associations Architects Warren King Individual Kristie Myers The Norton Agency Keith Porter (ex-officio) Dawson County schools
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
Angela Harben, co-chair of the chamber’s Ambassador Program, presents Denny Putlak with a certificate and gift card for being selected Ambassador of the Month during the group’s April breakfast meeting. utes much of his local business success to the organization. “The chamber has the same philosophy. They do so many wonderful things for the community and it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this organization,” he said. “If you don’t believe me, get involved. You can join as a business or an individual. You will be glad you did.”
Denny Putlak Denny Insurance Group Carol Tyger Ambassador representative Mike Underwood (2010 chairman) First Citizens Bank of Georgia Jay Walker Kroger Linda Williams (ex-officio) Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Stephanie Mathis (2011 chair) Bank of the Ozarks
dawsonnews.com | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | 13
MAY 2011
Mountains on My Mind fest planned By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
Frank Reddy Dawson Community News
Dressbarn employees, from left, Donna Roman and Kay Patterson, examine a display at the store. The business held a grand reopening celebration last month following renovations and remodeling.
Dressbarn reopens after renovations By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
Cindy Bearden, dressbarn’s district sales manager, wants her customers to feel comfortable when they shop at the women’s clothing store. “Being a specialty fashion retailer, we want it to be a bright, nice environment. We want to provide great customer service and an excellent experience when our customers walk through the door,” Bearden said. Bearden and members of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce gathered at the store last month to celebrate the business’ grand reopening after undergoing extensive renovations and remodeling. “Now our store is as stylish and contemporary as our clothing,” Bearden said. “All of our changes were designed to make our store a warmer, inviting place for women to shop for great styles at great prices.”
‘All of our changes were designed to make our store a warmer, inviting place... .’ Cindy Bearden District sales manager Bearden added that the store’s associates “take pride in getting to know their customers and are happy to use their detailed product knowledge to offer suggestions and assistance.” She added that in the company’s 49year history, the company has “grown steadily and has always shown a profit.” Dressbarn in Dawsonville is located at the North Georgia Premium Outlets. For more information, call the store at (706) 216-4144, or visit www.dressbarn.com for company information.
Officials with the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce hope to see a large crowd come out June 11 for the inaugural Mountains on my Mind Festival. Vice President Marty Williams said the event’s aim is to provide some Saturday entertainment, while at the same time educating those in attendance as to the attractions that can be found in Northeast Georgia. Williams added that the chamber’s new location on Ga. 400 shouldn’t hurt attendance. “All those 30,000 cars that go by on Saturday mornings headed to the mountains … some of them know what they’re going to do and some of them don’t,” Williams said. “If we can get
them in for the festival, we can tell them what all there is to do in the mountains.” The festival runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 and will feature vendors and representatives from surrounding counties and destinations. Williams said it’s the first year, but hopefully it won’t be the last. “We hope to build it each year,” said Williams, adding that he’s pitched the idea to the Northeast Georgia Travel Association — which includes the 17 counties in Northeast Georgia. “They all seemed to love the idea, so hopefully it’s going to take some good shape. We’re looking forward to it,” he said. For more information about the Mountains on My Mind Festival, call (706) 265-6278, or visit www.dawson.org.
Memorial Day service planned for May 30 By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
Residents plan to assemble May 30 for the yearly tradition of honoring those who lost their lives defending the United States of America through military service. The yearly gathering at Dawson County’s Veterans Memorial Park will begin at 4 p.m. and feature the changing of the flags and a speech by keynote speaker and veteran Bill Sexton of Dawson County. Wayne Watkins, Georgia State President of the Vietnam Veterans of America, will serve as Master of Service. Said Watkins: “We hope to continue to bring newer generations out to
remember what veterans sacrificed for the freedoms they enjoy.” Originally known as Decoration Day to memorialize soldiers killed in the Civil War, Memorial Day was first observed as a national holiday in 1971. The Veterans Affairs of Dawson County holds the local service each year. A memorial wall at the park has paid tribute for more than two decades to local veterans killed in service. Said Watkins: “Hopefully, the weather will be nice. We’re hoping for a good turnout.” For more information on the service, call (706) 265-6278. Veterans Memorial Park is located at 186 Recreation Road.
14 | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | dawsonnews.com Licensed massage therapist Cindy Sedor works with clients whose needs range from individuals who want to relax to people who have more specific issues, which could include chronic pain.
MAY 2011
Services run gamut at counseling center By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce welcomed one of its newest members to the organization May 4. Chamber staff and members celebrated the grand opening of Wellspring Counseling Center, a business dedicated to a variety of behavioral counseling services. Counselor Doug Klesius, an addictions specialist, said the business had a “diverse group of counselors, and that’s the wonderful thing here. “We really have the gamut of behavioral healthcare needs, so we’ve kind of gathered a group of folks that have diverse backgrounds
Michele Hester Dawson Community News
so we could be helpful to most anyone in the community,” Klesius said. According to its Web site, Wellspring Counseling Center offers help for addictions, anger management, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, relationship issues, trauma and many other issues. Said Klesius: “We’re here to help folks. That’s what we do.” The business offers free initial phone consultations to evaluate whether or not patients would like to schedule an appointment. Wellspring Counseling Center is located at 121 Old Dawson Village Road, Building 100, Unit 010. For more information, call (706) 265-2244, or visit www.wellspringlife.com.
Licensed massage therapist offers customized sessions By Michele Hester mhester@dawsonnews.com
Licensed massage therapist Cindy Sedor loves the holistic side of trying to help people. After working as a respiratory therapist for 26 years, Sedor went to massage school to pursue a more holistic and healing career, she said, adding her passion is to work with an individual “to integrate body, mind and spirit.” Clients range from individuals who want to relax to people who have more specific issues, which could include chronic pain. She is currently working with a client, who experiences blurred vision and has seen positive results with Craniosacral Therapy, one of Sedor’s specialties. Craniosacral Therapy is a non-evasive, light touch treatment that helps the client to rebalance the entire body, “mainly in the central nervous system,” Sedor said. “The therapy is able to help her deal with the issue and has improved her
‘The therapy is able to help her deal with the issue... .’ Cindy Sedor Massage therapist sight a bit more after each session,” Sedor said. Sedor graduated from the Atlanta School of Massage and has been a massage therapist for 14 years. She is certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She also practices Reiki and customizes her bodywork sessions according to individual needs of each client. Her office is located at 400 Dawson Commons Circle, Suite 430, Dawsonville. She also works from the Big Canoe Fitness Center. For more information, call (770) 7576240.
Frank Reddy Dawson Community News
Wellspring Counseling Center held its ribbon cutting ceremony May 4. Representatives with the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce were on hand to help the business mark the occasion.
dawsonnews.com | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | 15
MAY 2011
Grace Presbyterian Funeral home offers honored with grant bereavement care From staff reports
Church is one of five awarded in nation By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
Grace Presbyterian Church has been honored with a very exclusive accolade. The church is about to get some muchneeded renovations thanks to a grant received by only five churches nationwide. The local church in downtown Dawsonville was selected last month for the 2011 Walton Award of $50,000 for capital improvements. “It’s a huge blessing for us,” said Grace Presbyterian Church Interim Pastor Dana Hughes. “It’s going to mean that we are a stronger church with a stronger foundation, literally.” Hughes said the funding will likely be used to fix “window issues, painting and interior and exterior changes that we’ll need to address.” In December 1991, Sam and Helen Walton, founders of Walmart, made a gift through the Presbyterian Church (USA) that included an endowment in the amount of $3 million. The earned interest was set aside to be used by new church developments that
have placed emphasis on building acquisition and improvement. Grace Presbyterian Church was founded in the fall of 2005 by organizing pastor the late Mark Weaver. The church received its charter on Nov. 11, 2010. According to the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Web site, the General Assembly Mission Council of the church awards new church developments “that are working in creative ways to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to their local communities, nurture members in discipleship and exhibit the Kingdom of Heaven to the world consistent with the highest ideals of the Presbyterian heritage.” Grace Presbyterian is located in downtown Dawsonville at the intersection of Hwys. 9 and 53. Sunday morning services at Grace are at 11 a.m. with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Grace Café offers a free meal from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Good Shepherd Clinic — located inside the church — is open at 3 p.m. on Thursdays. Hughes said the grant was a godsend. “We’re really, really blessed,” she said. For more information about the grant, visit www.pcusa.org.
Bearden Funeral Home in Dawsonville recently joined other leading funeral homes in North Georgia to offer Angel Wings services for their clients. Angel Wings is an organization of professional bereavement specialists and trained volunteers who work with member funeral homes to provide extending bereavement support to families in the days, weeks and months following the loss of a loved one. Phillip Williams, CEO of Angel Wings’ parent company, Professional Bereavement Support, and an ordained minister, said the partnership allows families to receive grief support weeks and months after the death of a loved one. “For years, funeral homes have provided grief support to families, but professional care dropped off a few days after the funeral, when in fact, families take weeks and months to return to normal life,” he said. “We formed Angel Wings to help families following a loss.” According to Williams, Angel Wings is selective in their partnerships with funeral homes. “The home must be genuinely compassionate and really care about fami-
‘The home must be genuinely compassionate and really care about families and better serving their community.’ Phillip Williams CEO of Professional Bereavement Support
lies and better serving their community,” he said. Bearden said he felt he needed to offer more support regarding follow up care with families. “This is a good fit for us and this community to be able to offer more in the nature of counseling than we have in the past,” he said. With Angel Wings, families have access to a 24-hour phone number if they need to talk, as well as access to counselors trained in grief issues. “The most important thing for me is that our families know there is always going to be a friend here for them as long as they need one,” Bearden said.
Health care reform meeting planned for May 17 By Frank Reddy freddy@dawsonnews.com
The Dawson County Chamber of Commerce and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center have teamed up to present a public information session regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
According to a news release from the Chamber of Commerce, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes “many complex provisions that will ultimately impact every citizen, employer and health care provider.” The program will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. May 17
at the United Community Bank Conference Room at 6372 Hwy. 53 East. The fee is $10 for members and nonmembers. Presented by Employee Benefits Consultant Ken K. Bohrer, the program will include discussions on key components of medical costs and projected trends, a basic
overview of PPACA and timeline for implementation, employer responsibilities and status of repeal efforts. Bohrer, who works for the McCart Group in Duluth, has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry and is a leading expert in the design, implementation and administration of employee
benefits programs. Those who wish to attend should register on the Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.dawson.org or by calling (706) 265-6278. Dawson County Chamber of Commerce members will receive a $5 voucher redeemable at any chamber membership luncheon.
16 | DAWSON CHAMBER CHRONICLE | dawsonnews.com
MAY 2011
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