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LEADING CARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. With a vast network of practices and services, compassionate, trusted expertise is within your reach. Our team of dedicated physicians provides patient-centered care to ďŹ t your unique health needs. Experience the power of Northside in your neighborhood. Schedule your virtual or in-person visit today.
Our Locations Cherokee Breast Care Karen Buhariwalla, DO
684 Sixes Road, Suite 220 Holly Springs, GA 30115 770-721-9660 cherokeebreastcare.com
Medical Associates of North Georgia
Northside Medical Specialists
Nokuthula Msimanga, MD
Ayisha Gani, MD
470 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Suite 380 Canton, GA 30115 770-721-9250 medassoc.com
145 Riverstone Terrace, Suite 100 Canton, GA 30114 770-704-9499 northsidemedicalspecialists.com
Cherokee Lung & Sleep Specialists
Northside Cherokee Surgical Associates Madhavi Jordan, MD, FACS
Diana Denman, MD
460 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Suite 130 Canton, GA 30115 678-493-2527 cherokeelungandsleep.com
470 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Suite 230 Canton, GA 30115 770-721-9460 ncsurgicalassociates.com
900 Towne Lake Parkway, Suite 210 Woodstock, GA 30189 770-592-2300 pnfm.com
Perimeter North Medical Associates
[feature articles]
Features
Diversity Committee
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Lead Edge Design Group
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Dance of Romance
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A culturally diverse group of Canton residents serves on a new city task force to ensure every voice is heard as the city moves forward.
Few people recognize the Cherokee County Regional Airport as our nearest airport. Amanda Rostin and Phil Eberly of Lead Edge Design Group are working to change that fact.
Love in all its forms, even romantic love, is blind to age, time, and circumstance. Jodi Ceraldi and Ray Lemieux have an outstanding story of love and dance.
[special feature]
6 Tony Baker Cherokee County Superior Court Judge Tony Baker has an extraordinary story of family, acceptance, and overwhelming love. Journey with us from Tony’s early life in Vietnam to a Waleska family who said, “We’ll take him.”
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[table of contents]
Contents
Fire Station No. 9
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Marshall Shepherd
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Potters
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Birmingham
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An old fire station, a symbol of the history and diversity of the predominantly Black Pea RidgeNineteen Community just north of Canton, is now being granted a new life.
Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd, a Canton native, has achieved overwhelming success as an international expert in weather and climate, gives credit to his roots.
Cherokee County can boast at least two well-respected and exceptionally talented potters, Ron Cooper and George Lathem. Their stories are as unique as their creations.
With Black History Month in mind, read about a trip through Birmingham and the many historical landmarks, beautiful gardens, and delicious cuisines the city has to offer.
[Advertisers Index] Bonnie Dobbs Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover
Mileshko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Chattahoochee Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Mountain Education CHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Cherokee County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Nava Taqueria at The Mill on Etowah . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Cherokee County Aquatic Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Northside Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside front cover
Darby Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Northside Hospital – Ask the Doctor . . . . . . . . . . 26-27
Georgia Medical Treatment Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Olde Silos Art & Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Goshen Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Phoenix Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
History Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Pivad Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
J. Thompson Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Timbers on Etowah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Magnetize Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Cover photo compliments of UGA Photographic Services
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family
e k a T l l ’ e “W I have met and written about many interesting and talented people for Enjoy Cherokee Magazine. This story in particular moved and changed me. The people involved don’t see their roles as extraordinary or heroic. They say they merely did the right thing, the kind thing. Nevertheless, their deed—the seed they planted in Canton, Georgia, with their actions— grew, blossomed, and continues to bear fruit. —Leana Conway, author 6
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Him”
During the early months of 1975, America began its retreat from the Vietnam War. By May Saigon had fallen to the Communists, and American troops headed home.
by Leana Conway, Woodstock Resident
M
eanwhile, a Vietnamese woman who married an American was living in Waleska. Because of the unrest in her homeland, she rushed overseas to rescue her mother and sister. While there she witnessed Vietnamese people frantically trying to exit the country ahead of the Communist control. Amid the chaos was a frenzied mother who pleaded with the Waleska resident to take her eight-year-old Amerasian son, Tony, to the United States, where he might be safer. So it was that four people boarded a plane together and headed to America. Shortly after settling back into Waleska, the local Vietnamese woman met a Canton man and shared her story. With a heavy heart she explained that housing and caring for Tony was not a permanent option for her family. The boy would most likely end up in an orphanage. The Canton man was Elliott Rice Baker, a husband, father, and prominent attorney. “No! Don’t place that child in an orphanage. We’ll take him,” Elliot blurted. Offering to take a child into your home sight unseen is an overwhelming commitment, especially without consulting your wife and children. Elliott and his wife, Ginnie, already had three children, Delilah “Birdie” (seventeen years old); Beth (fourteen years old); and Howard “Jay” (six years old). After making his momentous offer, Elliott called home with excitement. His daughter Beth answered the phone. Forty-five years later Beth recalls that moment with clarity. “I picked up the phone and Daddy said, ‘How would you like to have another brother?’ I thought Mama and Daddy were pregnant. I didn’t know what to say.” uuu [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]
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to leave his family to seek a better life in the United States. Tony did not want to leave his family, but today he feels gratitude toward his birth mother for the foresight and courage she exhibited that set him on a good path. Life for Amerasian children in Vietnam soon became horrific— even worse than Tony’s birth mother probably could have guessed. Children of American troops and Vietnamese women were maliciously called halfbreeds. As a result many Amerasian children were dropped off at orphanages or left to fend for themselves. Street children in Vietnam were referred to as bui doi— children of dust.
uuu Elliot asked Beth to put her mother on The Baker family in 1976; left to right back row is Beth, Elliott, and Delilah “Birdie.” Front row is Jay, Ginnie, and Tony.
the line. Elliot’s wife took the phone, listened intently, and then said, “Well, sure. Let’s do this.” Ginnie’s loving soul and brave heart joined her husband’s in taking a leap of faith. Jay Baker, Tony’s younger brother, explains it well. “Adopting a child is a huge responsibility, and at the time, I certainly didn’t understand the magnitude of what my parents agreed to do. I now know how blessed I was to be born to Elliott and Ginnie Baker and how remarkably fortunate Tony was to find his way around the world into our home.”
“
God put him in our home, Ginnie says with a smile and a nod.
”
Despite political chaos, Tony originally had a good life in Vietnam. His family owned several restaurants, and he lived comfortably in a high-rise building with his birth mother and half-siblings. The Americans were losing the war, however, and a withdrawal was close at hand. Tony’s birth mother accurately predicted that life for Amerasian children in Vietnam was going to be tough, so she explained to young Tony that he was going
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In 2018 Jimmy Miller, an Amerasian adult, reported to Jackie Montalvo on NBC News, “Life in Vietnam for Amerasian children was full of bullying, abuse, and fear of the government. People called us names and threw rocks at us or beat us.” Amerasian children also were not given the opportunity for a good education. As expected young Tony showed signs of being traumatized. He arrived at the Baker household fluent in Vietnamese and French with a small bag containing everything he had in the world. Ginnie says, “He was such a small, sad little boy; it broke my heart.” She recalls a time she found Tony crying. The language barrier prohibited understanding on both sides of the conversation. Finally Ginnie called the Vietnamese woman in Waleska to interpret. Tony was crying for rice, a simple comfort food from a world ripped away from him.
Once the young boy decided to be part of the family, he committed heart and soul. “I’m a person who doesn’t look back,” Tony says with conviction. The baby of the family, Jay, says he doesn’t have any memories prior to Tony moving in. “One day we were a family of five and the next day we were a family of six. Tony was
always family.” Jay continues, “Tony was just a couple of years older than me, so I had an instant friend and playmate.” Beth recalls with a giggle, “Birdie and I painted Jay’s toenails until he was five, so yeah, it was a good thing Jay got some male companionship.” In August 1975, Tony entered Canton Elementary School. The situation was new for him and for his first English-speaking teacher, Marguerite Cline. Marguerite proudly shares, “I had no resources, but I loved him the instant I met him. He knew I did, and that’s how we learned to understand each other. He was one of the brightest children I have ever taught.” Marguerite walked Tony to Patsy Kononen’s little speech therapy room each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for speech therapy. On meeting Tony, Patsy’s first words were, “How precious!” Tony lovingly referred to Patsy as “Teach.” Patsy points out, “I learned as much from him as he did from me. He was a joy.” She chuckles when she explains that Tony often teased her and Marguerite that they did their job too well, because he loves to talk.” By all accounts Tony was a fun-loving rascal. Tony’s eldest sister, Birdie, reminisces, “My boyfriend used to pick me up at the house. He would come in and say hello to my parents, and then we would jump in his truck and head out on our date. One day our destination was Marietta. Once we got there, we found that Tony had hidden in the back of the truck. Surprise! We were too far from home to go back, so Tony went on our date with us. Yeah, he’s been on more than one of my dates.” Tony graduated from Cherokee High School, then the University of Georgia, and finally Mercer Law School. He married his high school sweetheart, Tiffany, who works at the Northside Cherokee Cardiac Cath Lab. Together they have two children, Tate and Anna Beth. Tony’s first job as an attorney was practicing law in Canton with his beloved father, the late Elliott Baker. In 2007 Tony was appointed a juvenile court judge and remained there for twelve years. Tony loved his time on the bench and dedicated himself to giving every young person who came through his courtroom a “fair shake.” In 2018 Tony was elected a superior court judge. He also serves
Tony Baker, left, and brother Jay Baker, right
as a board member of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and the Northside Cherokee Hospital Authority. Tony has served as a board member for CourtAppointed Special Advocates and numerous other community and civic organizations. His father, Elliott, ingrained in all the Baker children the importance of being involved in the community. By the measure of degrees and titles, Tony Baker is a big success. Words that others use to describe him include joyful, loving, gifted, and genuine. Tony is a warm soul; his success is the results of a combination of hard work and a sense of caring for the people who surround him. Tony recounts an event that meant a great deal to him. “A few years back I received a call from a young man who had come through my juvenile court. He had pulled his life together, become a professional glassblower, and was about to become a father. He wanted to thank me for giving him a chance and believing in him. He told me I had encouraged him to learn from his lesson and move on, and he thanked me for what I had told him.” uuu
A young Tony Baker pictured with his birth mother in Vietnam
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Tony and his family pictured at his swearing in as Superior Court judge in 2018. From left to right: Tony’s son, Tate; wife, Tiffany; Tony; and Tony’s daughter, Anna Beth.
A no
uuu Marguerite, Tony’s early teacher, wisely
says, “Tony was perfect for juvenile court; he understands trying to fit into a society in which you are on the edge.” Many years ago the words bui doi were spat at unfortunate street children, but it was wrong in many ways, and besides, we are all made of dust.
Each person interviewed for this article gives credit to God for Tony’s success. The Baker children are proud of their parents for opening their home to a new family member. Ginnie humbly boasts about how her children made room in their hearts for another sibling. Marguerite, to whom Tony gives boundless credit for his successes, hands her fanfare to God as well. Elliott passed away in 2009; however, the family remembers Dad explaining that he had no idea what compelled him to blurt out, “We’ll take him,” but one thing is for sure: those were exactly the right words, and no one has had an ounce of regret.
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tho he au t m o te fr
r:
mily, write a aker Fa B e h t nted to a d w n a g y n ch of lo nt the ben . I have kee Cou u o o t r o e y m h o a C t To er; Vietn letter love lett ey from my love c n r ti is u n a jo le c m is ti and h ot a ro This ar y Baker rt. It ’s n n u o o T C t r u bo Superio story a County e e love. itional k o r uncond t agape o u t the Che o g b a in t kind r y od. Tha ue stor m refer r r G t e t a m n o is a r f ti it s to a - Chris iginate a Greco ung son that or o is y e e v r v e lo h lo , ve d over of love Agape ind of lo ssly han st form k e e t h lfl a e ig h s h T e er life. d sight other to love, th e a bett ant lan els a m t v p a is h d m l o a il c d from es he w of love me. edy chil heir ho the hop t e n d in n a r a e e g s stran heart to rescu my to their couple in a d s il e ecause h ir c B t . y a r insp h o t t g was ell the s and brin Tony, it could t d I n unseen d a n y d a n a d surprise d of Tiff s aligne d r n e a ie t m r s e f e e e th akers s ng-tim At last but I’m . The B , is a lo lk is a n t n o e about, t D s g , u n d f n iti o r a r husb okee the fou worth w ur Cher ble for o ry was a o h t t r s it o e f w h com ught t g story one tho warmin y t r n a a e t h a th re the d to sha one honore love for or s . d b n h a t ig c e ll. n spe r, as we County play re e h is t d o y h n Tiffa ing eac pecial. ony and nd ribb a g in e feel s s While T m a e e t d y a m larger enjo always a little r, they s n e a e h h e t b o y n n a nd s, “To always explain nd has future a a r u y t o li d a Tiffany a to le erson a big p trust him ld u He has o c wI e. I kne many than lif ess; too c .” c ll u e s w ’s y s, ny famil teacher ed to To , t s u d n ib r ie t on clude fr eople c ne of t they in u Many p me as o b , d e e c m a a r n b all tion by ays, “em to a sm s e y v n a o to men g T at of you ntors th ve each lo you and me e h t back to May e .” m n o w c o their ay land a faraw m o r f boy er. mes ov many ti
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business spotlight
by Michael Mullet, Ball Ground Resident
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Ask anyone in Cherokee County where the nearest airport is located, and most will answer Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. Some who know the area well may mention other midsized airports nearby. Few people, however, recognize the Cherokee County Regional Airport in our backyard. Amanda Rostin and Phil Eberly of Lead Edge Design Group are working to change that fact. uuu
Phil Eberly and Amanda Rostin of Lead Edge Design Group [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]
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The Cherokee County Regional Airport has hosted a variety of visitors from congressmen, SEC coaches, and celebrities in planes of all sizes.
uuu Situated on Airport Road in Ball Ground,
“The airport is the front door to the community,” says Phil, president of Lead Edge. “The airport is important to people who live nearby and who keep their planes there, but it’s also the first thing many people see, people who fly here to do business and spend money in Cherokee County.” Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire are among those who have flown into Cherokee County Regional Airport, as it’s officially known, to do business. Both visited the area to buy horses. Other arrivals may be interested in making business investments in Cherokee County.
Amanda Rostin, Lead Edge project manager, aims to have a positive impact on the aviation community of Georgia and Cherokee County.
Phil Eberly, Lead Edge company president, is passionate about supporting the communities their projects affect.
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Famous People Visit Cherokee County Airport
Kelly Clarkson
Horse shopping brought one of America’s most talented triple threats to our neck of the woods. Kelly Clarkson, an awardwinning singer/songwriter, author, and talk-show hostess, has carried home more than seventy awards. In 2014, the same year she gave birth to a baby girl, Kelly flew into Cherokee County to shop for a horse. “Kelly didn’t want her picture taken at the airport, but she was friendly, kind, and energetic,” recalls Keena Pope, aviation coordinator for S & S Aviation of Canton.
“When you see an out-of-town jet land here, you have to ask who is in the back of that plane,” says Phil. “Maybe that person is here to do business with a local company that supports local jobs. Maybe that person is here to find a place to locate a new business that will create jobs, but those people came to Cherokee County for a reason, and the airport made it easy for them to get here.” Built in 1966 as part of Georgia Governor Carl Sanders’s initiative to develop local airports, the original iteration of the airport had a 3,400-foot runway and a terminal that was actually a lean-to on the side of a hangar. As Cherokee became one of the state’s fastest growing counties, though, the airfield underwent a substantial upgrade in 2010 that included construction of a brick two-story terminal building with a portico for dropping off and picking up passengers as well as an extension of the runway to five thousand feet, the required minimum length for any community serious about attracting business. “People think that having a longer runway means bigger planes can come to the airport, but that’s a misconception,” explains Amanda, Lead Edge project manager. “It actually has to do with stage length—how far a plane can travel after taking off without having to stop and refuel.” The math is simple, but it translates into a significant economic benefit, both for the airport and the community. A plane full of fuel weighs more than one three-quarters or half full. A heavier plane requires a longer runway to take off, so the longer the runway, the more fuel a plane can carry when leaving and the farther it can go without stopping to refuel. Airports that provide space for heavier planes to take off are more likely to have planes land there in the first place.
“Right now with a five-thousand-foot runway, planes leaving Cherokee Airport can reach an arc of states that includes Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Jersey,” Amanda continues. “That’s good, but it also means business owners in Phoenix or Denver who travel by corporate jet may be hesitant to consider Cherokee County as a location to expand their businesses because they can’t get all the way back home without stopping. With a six-thousand-foot runway, planes flying out of here can fill up with enough fuel to reach the West Coast.” For that reason, plans are underway to add another thousand feet to the runway, a project expected to begin in 2021. A road that runs more directly between the Bluffs business corridor and the airport will complement the runway expansion. Lead Edge is expected to play a critical role in those projects as well. Phil founded Lead Edge Design Group in 2015. The combined experience of its staff includes work on more than seven hundred airport projects. Phil himself has worked with more than seventy of Georgia’s 103 airports, including more than three decades as a consultant for the Cherokee County airport. He says Lead Edge is more than just a design engineering firm. When starting a new project, the company always focuses first on the communities in which its client airports reside. It works with communities all over Georgia, including Sandersville, Jasper, Calhoun, and Warm Springs, to name a few. “We have small-town hearts,” Phil says. “When we start an airport project, first we meet with community leaders and ask about their vision and dreams for their community. Sure, we can give them a set of plans and specifications, but communities want more than that, and as a company we want to give them more. That’s what separates us from others in this business. We are creative, we are passionate, and we want communities to benefit from their airports in ways they may not have envisioned.” As an example, during an upgrade to the Meriwether County airport in Warm Springs, Georgia, Lead Edge was able to incorporate two large outparcels for public exhibition spaces. Now the community has a convenient place to gather for fairs, car shows, and fly-ins, with the airport as a backdrop. uuu
How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Plane? From: Cherokee County Regional Airport For: Up to eight passengers
Finding a competent flight school is the first step toward learning how to fly an airplane. After adequate training, you can get a private pilot license that allows you to fly anywhere, so long as you stay under 18,000 feet. You still have limits, however, mostly in the form of weather conditions. As a private pilot you cannot fly in the clouds, rain, or fog, conditions that require training in the use of meteorological instruments. Anyone of any age may train toward earning a pilot license; however, you cannot solo until you are sixteen and must be seventeen to take the practical test for certification.
Take Action • Find your flight school.
We in Cherokee County are lucky to have Cherokee Flight, a pilot/flight school in Ball Ground as part of the Cherokee County Regional Airport. Cherokee Flight offers training under Part 141 and Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Only flight schools certified by strict FAA standards may offer such training. Part 141 requires thirty-five hours of flight training, five hours of solo flight, one solo cross-country of at least one hundred nautical miles and three stops, three hours of night flight to include ten takeoffs and landings, and one cross-country flight, three hours of instrument flight, and three solo takeoffs and landings at a towered airport.
• Begin your training.
Most people train two to three times a week, allowing completion of training within four to six months.
• Study.
You will be tested on multiple occasions, including a sixtyquestion exam from the FAA, as well as an oral and practical test with an FAA-designated pilot examiner. You must also pass an FAA medical exam.
• Take Off!
Once you have earned your private pilot license, you’re free to hit the runway, take off, and soar to new places.
TO > Tampa: . . . . . . . . . . $12,603 Miami: . . . . . . . . . . $13,963 Hilton Head: . . . . . $12,449 Nashville: . . . . . . . $12,449 New York City: . . . $15,529 [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]
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The Lead Edge Design Group travels to communities throughout Georgia educating residents about the many benefits that accompany a local airport.
uuu At the Wilkes County airport in Washington,
Georgia, in addition to a federal grant to extend the existing runway, Amanda helped identify funding for the facility to be rehabilitated. Less than an hour from Augusta National Golf Club, the upgraded airport now attracts private jets flying in for the Masters Tournament with passengers likely to stay and spend money in Wilkes County.
“
Amanda is really creative, very driven, and extremely passionate,” says Phil. “She distinguished herself from day one, and the people in the communities we work with recognize her talent and her spirit.
”
A 2016 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in civil engineering, Amanda was named one of the Cherokee County Chamber’s Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals this summer. In September she was named to Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40, one of Georgia’s most prestigious business honors. A native of Alpharetta, she just bought her first house, and she bought it in Canton.
Famous People Visit Cherokee County Airport
To m C r u i s e
The film industry that is growing rapidly in and around Cherokee County brought Academy Award-winning actor Tom Cruise to our local airport for filming. The 2017 movie American Made features scenes shot in Ball Ground, where locals lined the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of Tom. Airport staff was also starstruck by Tom, one of the most famous celebrities of our times.
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According to Phil, Amanda not only exemplifies the above-and-beyond ethos of Lead Edge, but she is also one of the increasing numbers of driven and ambitious professionals who are calling Cherokee County home. He should know; he lives here too, in Woodstock, where Lead Edge is based, a prime example of how the airport attracts businesses and jobs to the county. “This is the best place for us to be,” says Phil emphatically. “Cherokee County is business friendly with a positive business atmosphere, a fantastic recreational atmosphere, and a great quality of life. You can come to Cherokee and have your business here and your family here. We are excited not only to make the airport even better, but also to make sure the community continues to benefit as well.”
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Maybe that person is here to do business with a local company that supports local jobs. Maybe that person is here to find a place to locate a new business that will create jobs, but those people came to Cherokee County for a reason, and the airport made it easy for them to get here.
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Famous People Visit Cherokee County Airport
Jeff Foxworthy
NASCAR’s Talladega race in 2013 brought famous comedian and actor Jeff Foxworthy to the Cherokee County Regional Airport. His brand, Grit Chips, sponsored the race, giving him access to a NASCAR jet that flew to Cherokee County to pick him up. The airport staff remembers that Jeff entertained them with jokes during his visit. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]
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lovebirds
by Katie Wheeler, Canton Resident
♼ Jodi and Ray in formal attire for a special night out on one of the many cruise vacations they have taken together.
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Since the beginning of time, scholars, philosophers, and writers have been trying to put into words the feeling of love. Some think love is indescribable. Love is universal, appearing in many forms in every culture. Some people may have many loves in their lifetime, while others may have but one. Love in all its forms, even romantic love, is blind to age, time, and circumstance, and it can sneak up on us when we least expect it.
J
odi Ceraldi was not expecting she’d find her life partner one cold, December evening in 2009 at an American Legion dance. Realistically she and Ray Lemieux might never have met. Ray typically danced on Fridays, ballroom night, while Jodi danced at the Saturday night country events. As fate would have it, Ray changed his routine one evening and spotted Jodi at the Saturday dance. Jodi, then seventy-five, sat at a table with a large group of friends she enjoyed going to dances with, though she claims she was no dancer at the time. Ray, then sixty-two, says, “She caught my eye. She couldn’t really dance, but she had good rhythm. I thought she was cute. I could see that she was well dressed and well-mannered. I watched her all night.” Being afraid to ask the pretty girl to dance is a theme that apparently doesn’t dissipate with age, as Ray nervously approached Jodi for the last dance of the night, “The Tennessee Waltz.” Her reply to his romantic gesture? “Oh, I can’t waltz.” Ray wasn’t ready to take no for an answer.
“
Sure you can. Put your hand here, place your other hand here, and follow me. One, two, three. One, two, three.
”
Jodi recalls being stunned that she had been able to waltz with the handsome stranger simply by following his lead. Dancing with him made her feel as if she were floating. Ray walked Jodi back to her table and thanked her for the dance, knowing their evening together had come to a close. When Jodi turned around to introduce him to her friends, she was surprised and disappointed to find he had vanished. uuu
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uuu The next time they saw each other was
about a month later. The second night they danced together was equally magical. Jodi hadn’t recognized him at first, but when they started to dance, she immediately knew the feeling she’d felt back in December. Jodi wasn’t ready to fall into his arms just yet, though. Ray recalls they had chemistry and he liked Jodi, but it took persistence to win her over. Jodi, an independent woman, knew what she wanted. After she turned down a few of Ray’s offers to walk her to her car, she finally conceded, and when they reached her car, Ray went in for a kiss. It was unexpected, but they both say they drove home that night feeling giddy. After their romantic dance in January, the two became dance partners. They liked each other, but decided they both wanted a dance partner more than a romantic partner. Ray didn’t give up on showing Jodi how much he wanted to be around her, though. He registered them for dance lessons, and they practiced three times a night, four days a week, and danced at events on the weekends. Together they learned both international ballroom and country ballroom.
“ ”
♥
Ray lived in Lilburn at the time. He drove fifty miles to pick Jodi up, twenty miles to Alpharetta for their lessons, twenty miles back to take her home, and then fifty more miles to his home. During those early days they often stopped to get a bite to eat after their lessons.
Ray dips Jodi as they pose for a dancing photo on one of their cruises.
ver , e r e Wh music ’s there we e. c n da
♥
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The couple is always smiling together, especially when doing what they love—dancing.
♥ ♥ Jodi and Ray practicing for the 2011 World Championship in a courtyard of the Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
Ray says that many times they sat at a Waffle House, talking with each other and the staff members they got to know over the months. The couple often put money in the jukebox and danced around the restaurant to the delight of the staff and patrons. After six to eight months, Ray realized he wanted to pursue a relationship with Jodi outside of dancing. He asked her for a date, but Jodi was concerned. She had recently discovered that Ray was thirteen years younger than her. The connection they shared through dance and their companionship was far more important than their ages, though, so she relented. Ten years later they couldn’t be happier in their life together.
Love Stories More Cherokee County
Laura and John Gulas
“Fourteen years ago, we met through an online dating forum,” Laura Gulas relates. “I lived in Chile, while John lived in Michigan. After talking and forming a friendship, we finally made a plan to meet in person while I was vacationing in Florida. There were instant sparks between us. We saw each other only twice during the year but spent hours talking on the phone. We were married soon afterward and lived together in Michigan for twelve years. Last year we moved to Cherokee County, a place we love, and we couldn’t be happier.”
Ray and Jodi’s dancing has given them many years of rewarding experiences. In 2011, a year after meeting, Jodi and Ray both were named world champions in Newcomer Country Western Dance with the United Country Western Dance Council. Since then they both have won numerous other awards, individually as well as together. Jodi and Ray sometimes hear a good song in the background and start dancing, regardless of time or place. They have loved creating memories together on cruises, sometimes three in a year. Of course, on cruises Ray and Jodi love to dance to live band music and have even sometimes been invited to dance as part of a ship’s on-stage performance. The two have spent thirty days traveling and dancing across Europe together, creating fond memories they cherish. Ray says, “Wherever there’s music, we dance.”
Ray says his goal is “to make Jodi’s life as romantic as possible and as nice as possible. I want every minute to seem like an hour.” Although they met late in life, Jodi and Ray are a spontaneous, romantic, young-hearted couple. They note that good communication and the ability to compromise are the pillars of a good relationship. Their love story revolves around dance, but their connection runs much deeper. Now living in Holly Springs, Ray and Jodi enjoy life together and are best friends. They can’t keep their eyes off of one another. They laugh together often and smile when reflecting on the memories they’ve made.
♥
Mary and Harrison Collett Mary Collett says, “At Canton High in 1952, Harrison played football and I was on the tennis team. After practice football team members often watched us play. I don’t know what he said about me, but his teammate said, ‘I bet you fifty cents if you were to ask her out, she wouldn’t go.’ Harrison took that bet, and I agreed to a date. We dated on and off in high school and were married in 1955. We were married for fifty-six years, and it would be sixty-five years, if he were still with us today.”
♥
Ron and Mae Cooper
Ron Cooper reports, “Mae and I attended Cass High School, and I met her in our ninth grade English class. We sat together and became good friends, attending the Friday pep rallies together. Our first date wasn’t until the junior prom, and we’ve been together ever since. We were married on July 4, 1963. Mae has always supported my dreams and encouraged me to pursue making pottery full time. We celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage this year.”
Love can start from a mere spark, a fleeting moment. It isn’t affected by age or circumstance, and it captures us before we realize it. Jodi and Ray are the perfect example that no matter what stage of life you’re in, love may be just across the dance floor. Read more about Ron Cooper’s story on the next page.
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♥
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pottery
by Cindy Pope, Woodstock Resident
Cherokee County can boast having at least two well-respected and exceptionally talented potters, Ron Cooper and George Lathem. They ply not only clay, but also successful craft-related careers. Their stories are as impressive as their creations. 22
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To put the amount of work required in perspective, to build a simple teapot, Ron must make the pot, the lid, the lid knob, the handle, and the spout. “I’ll spend five minutes making the pot itself and forty-five minutes making the pieces that go on it.” It next takes two weeks for the formed clay to dry. Those pieces are placed in a kiln for twelve hours. After cooling and unloading the kiln, Ron glazes the pieces. After the glaze dries, all those pieces go back into the kiln for a second firing.
u
Ron Cooper enjoys the process of creating handcrafted pieces, where no two are the same, in the shop near his home. Ron, at age fifteen, working u at W. J. Gordy’s pottery shop.
Ron Cooper, J. R. Cooper Pottery Canton stoneware artist Ron Cooper once had a more traditional career, although he also began making pottery while young, when he worked in a pottery shop that W. J. Gordy owned. “I mixed clay, loaded kilns, and did any odd job that he needed done. I learned pottery by watching and mimicking Mr. Gordy, who saw I had a knack for the art.” Ron speculates that he had worked in the pottery shop about a year before he finally made a piece that W. J. said he would put up for sale. Ron cannot remember that exact piece, though. Life went on for Ron. He married his high school sweetheart, Mae, in 1963, went into the Army, and then worked for the Kmart Corporation. In 1979 he began making pottery on the side. “I worked fifty-two hours a week at Kmart, made pottery at night, and every other weekend attended craft shows, where I sold my pieces. “One of the scariest things I did was leave Kmart to make pottery for a living in 1981 at age thirty-seven.” All seemed well and good at J. R. Cooper Pottery until, Ron says with a chuckle, “I realized how much pottery I had to make every week, for the rest of my life. And sell it. I always had firm and steadfast goals, and I knew the dollar-amount of pottery I had to turn out every week. I worked until nine at night or got up at five in the morning to make it happen.”
u
Ron states that to this day he still gets excited when he opens the kiln. “It’s still like Christmas. Something is exciting about that heat rushing out and then peeking in there to see the stuff for the first time.”
Pictured below is Ron’s favorite piece, a brown pitcher with raised flowers that he freehanded.
Ron’s face lights up when showing one of his favorite pieces, a simple brown pitcher with raised flowers on the front that he fashioned freehand with a bit of clay and a great deal of ingenuity. Even with all of his experience, he admits that a ring jug is the hardest for him to make. “I have to get it through the drying process without cracking. I still lose about one out of four ring jugs.” He says it’s disappointing when something goes wrong with a piece, “but you get over it quickly. Usually it turns out okay.” Once he opened the kiln to find that the glaze on two ring jugs had run and melted the jugs together. He couldn’t break them apart without causing damage, so he set them in the shop. Charles Walker came into the shop, spotted them, and asked if they were for sale. “I said they were. Mr. Walker kept those pieces in his collection until the day he died.”
Ron is emphatic when he says that determination is the biggest factor in learning how to create worthy earthenware. “It takes a long time to learn, and the potter reaches higher skill levels the more he practices. When I feel myself reaching another level, yesterday’s work is less appealing to me.” uuu
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Pictured is one of Mr. Cooper’s ring jugs from 2001 finished with his wood ash glaze.
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uuu Ron relates a story from the
beginning of his ceramics career. “My brother wanted me to make him a face jug, which I did and gave to him as a present. When he passed away in 1980, I asked if anyone knew where the jug was, but no one knew what I was talking about. Years later a pottery friend called to say a piece of pottery was for sale on eBay that said I had made it, but he thought it was counterfeit. I purchased it, and when I received it in the mail, I realized it was the piece I had made my brother in 1960. I still get goose bumps remembering.”
u
At seventy-five Ron still works in clay every day. “I’ve been in pottery since I was fourteen; it’s all I’ve ever known.” While the process of making the pottery is great, Ron admits that “Dealing with people is my element. I love that part of the business.”
Various pieces, including ring jugs, handcrafted by Ron Cooper. Similiar pieces available at J. R. Cooper Pottery.
J. R. Cooper Pottery at 8794 E Cherokee Drive in Canton has flexible business hours. Call or text for an appointment. 404-630-9911.
George Lathem, Lathemtown Pottery When George Lathem retired from the trucking industry a little more than ten years ago, he needed something to occupy his time. Inspired by his pottery-making friends, including Ron Cooper, George decided he should get his own pottery wheel. He shrugs. “I just started playing with the clay and watched a lot of YouTube videos.” He eventually formed Lathemtown Pottery, and today he sells a wide variety of colorful and well-crafted pottery at shows and online at Etsy.
George remarks, “It’s amazing the pieces you can make from materials that come out of the ground.” He humbly adds, “The pieces are not pretty because I made them. What the glaze does to the clay makes them pretty.”
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u
George’s first piece was a little pot he still treasures. but by far his hardest piece was a ring jug, similar to the type of jug that challenges Ron to this day. George explains, “I had to be careful that the mud didn’t collapse and make sure the clay stuck back together.” Next he had to make handles, legs, and a top. His proudest pieces, though, are large bowls with interior designs. George and Jolene Lathem pictured in the Lathemtown Pottery studio Beautifully decorated pieces u such as this large bowl are some of George’s proudest pieces.
u
George Lathem’s expressive face jugs
A one-of-a-kind jug created by George with a bright red orange glaze. u
From the time he picks up a lump of clay to finishing a piece, George has handled it about twenty-five times, preparing the clay and putting it on the wheel and then turning it, shaping it, perfecting it, putting it up to dry, firing it, cooling it, glazing it, and then firing it again. He usually works three to four hours at a time, throwing bits of clay onto the wheel to see what comes out, and he does most of his best work during the evening. George laughs, saying, “I like to make jugs and put a face on them.” (see photo.) His granddaughter, Sadie Dynes, also makes face jugs. “We made about twelve of those, took them to Riverfest, and sold all of them. It was a lot of fun.” His eyes glisten with delight when he describes his favorite part of making pottery. “Opening up the kiln is like Christmas, to see all the different colors and pieces.” It can be the most heartbreaking part too. When pieces don’t come out to his satisfaction, he tosses them out. “The pieces that do come out make it all worthwhile,” he says with a smile. The Lathems watch YouTube videos for new ideas, and while out shopping, George and his wife, Jolene, have a knack for spotting interesting things for him to make. Jolene says of George, “I’m so proud of him that I can hardly stand it. He’s modest about it, but he has a God-given talent and an eye for color.”
During the holiday season, the Lathems sell many of their pieces for presents. Jolene reveals that when she and George get up on Christmas morning, they talk about the people opening up Christmas presents and wonder if so-and-so liked the piece that George made with his own two hands.
George also makes piggy banks and gives them to members of their church who are parents of newborns. “We’ve been so blessed, we have to give back.” Jolene tells of a time when George made a vase similar to a ring jug, with a hole in the middle. She swore no one would buy it, because she considered it ugly. “The first customer at Riverfest that day was Carol, a friend and customer who fell in love with the piece and bought it. Jolene laughs. “I had to eat crow for the longest time, so we call it the Crow Piece.” Whenever they see Carol, she tells them she still loves her Crow Piece. When asked what he gets out of making pottery, George says, “The pleasure.” His voice chokes. “I’m thankful that people enjoy having a piece of my pottery. It makes me feel good to know that someone would spend their money to buy my pottery and take it home to enjoy.”
Lathemtown Pottery at 754 Old Mill Road in Ball Ground is open from nine to five most business days, or call 404-431-2282 to confirm availability.
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BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure is an important function of the body that supplies the body’s tissues and organs with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. A hypertensive crisis, or high blood pressure, is when blood pressure rises quickly. Left untreated,
MEET THE DOCTOR
high blood pressure can cause kidney failure, blindness, acute stroke, or heart attack. It is a very serious disease that’s
Dr. Daniel McMahon Towne Lake Primary Care
prevalent in 32-38% of Georgia adults according to the CDC.
Daniel McMahon, MD is a board-certified physician in family medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He received his medical education at St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine and his residency in family medicine at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Dr. McMahon currently specializes in primary care, including chronic disease management, preventative testing, and monitoring acute illness and injury management.
Listen to
ASK THE DOCTOR on WLJA 101.1 FM First & Third Wednesday of each month at 5:15 pm
He strongly believes in preventive care strategies and recognizes the importance in maintaining control over chronic conditions. Dr. McMahon puts his patients first and believes in working closely with them and their families to provide excellent care. He prides himself on serving with compassion, dedication, and giving everyone high quality medical care.
Now accepting new patients.
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Towne Lake Primary Care – Holly Springs 684 Sixes Road, Suite 105 Holly Springs, GA 30115 | (678) 388-5170
ASK THE DOCTOR What is blood pressure and what do the numbers actually mean? Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. It is determined by both the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. When we get our blood pressure checked, we get a top and a bottom number, such as 120/80. The top number refers to the amount of pressure in your arteries during the contraction of your heart muscle. The bottom number refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. Our goal is to maintain a blood pressure of less than 140/90.
Why is blood pressure important? Why is it important to watch it closely and treat? Will it cause damage to my body?
triglyceride levels. Having just one of these conditions doesn’t mean you have metabolic syndrome, but it does mean you have a greater risk. If you develop more of these conditions, your risk of complications, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease, rises even higher. The American Heart Association estimates that metabolic syndrome will soon be the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Why do some patients with hypertension seem to be resistant to treatment? There are several potential causes why some patients might have resistance to treatment. Examples include: •
Lifestyle and dietary factors that can influence blood pressure treatment effectiveness include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, high salt intake, and heavy alcohol use.
•
You can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. However, damage to vessels and your heart will still occur. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause the arteries in our body to thicken and lead to less blood flow to essential organs, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, and puts an extra strain on the heart. By treating high blood pressure and keeping it controlled, we can significantly reduce the overall risk of developing these conditions.
Certain medications and herbal supplements, such as NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen), decongestants, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), Ginseng, licorice or other herbal products, can contribute to treatment resistance
•
What is dangerously high blood pressure? How high does it have to be before you have a stroke or heart attack?
Sometimes unknown secondary conditions are the cause of resistant high blood pressure. Such as, sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, primary hyperaldosteronism (an excessive production of certain hormones from the adrenal glands), and renal artery stenosis (a narrowing of the arteries of the kidneys).
What are the major causes of inadequate blood pressure control?
A hypertensive crisis is when blood pressure rises quickly and severely with readings of 180/120 or greater. This is considered an emergency and requires immediate intervention.
What is metabolic syndrome and how does it relate to high blood pressure? Metabolic syndrome is a combination of several conditions that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or
For those with hypertension, the most important factor in controlling blood pressure is taking all medications as prescribed. Blood pressure medications need to be taken on a daily basis in order for them to work, so it is very important that these medications are taken consistently and as prescribed. Low salt intake, healthy diet, weight management, and exercise are also key factors in maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
NEXT ON
ASK THE DOCTOR Dr. Nokuthula Msimanga Osteoporosis
Send your questions to: nswellness@northside.com
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history
Shortly after the Civil War ended, freed slave Phillip Keith established a school and church on land he received during the Emancipation in what is today the Pea Ridge-Nineteen community. An old fire station, another symbol of the history and diversity of the predominantly Black Pea Ridge-Nineteen Community just north of Canton, is now being granted a new life. 28
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Frankie Shepherd, daughter of Charlie Ferguson, and her son, Marshall Shepherd, unveil the memorial plaque in honor of Charlie at the grand opening of Fire Station 9.
Burning Desire to Preserve Community History by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident
The North Canton Volunteer Fire Station served the community for many decades and was home to the first all-Black volunteer fire department in Georgia. As the new Cherokee County Fire Station No. 9 opens its doors just across the street, plans are moving forward to renovate the old building for a community center to be owned, managed, and used by the surrounding community. Frankie Shepherd remembers when her father, Charlie Ferguson, and brother Tony began dreaming about the volunteer fire station back in the mid 1970s. “My dad and his friends decided we needed a fire station,” Frankie reminisces. “They decided to get the ball rolling, and my brother Tony went to talk to Mrs. Ernest Stone, who lived nearby, to ask her to donate land for the fire station.”
Mrs. Stone agreed, and the next step was to find the funds to build the station. Frankie points out that while the Black community had the plan to build the station, support from the White community, such as Mrs. Stone, helped the project succeed. “My dad went to talk with the sole county commissioner, Trammel Carmichael, and he agreed the county would give them a certain amount,” Frankie recalls of the time almost fifty years ago. The first committee to get the fire station rolling included J. D. Weems, Kenny Tanner, Betty Holmes, Davis Morris, and Dillard Austin, as well as the Fergusons. Reverand Alan Patrick, pastor at the nearby Hickory Log Church, was also part of the committee. Wylene Bryant of Canton, a local businesswoman, helped with many of the details. uuu
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This plaque dedicated to Charlie E. Ferguson on the exterior of the new station represents the history of North Canton and the importance of Charlie’s legacy in this community.
Things to Know About
Pea Ridge
• T he Pea Ridge community is located just north of Canton off Highway 140. • It is one of the oldest African American communities in Cherokee County. • Emancipated slaves, specifically three families— the Keiths, the Bateses, and the McMickens— founded the Pea Ridge community. • Some believe the emancipated slaves received the land for Pea Ridge as the result of the government’s promise of “forty acres and a mule,” while others believe they received the land from their former owner. • Hickory Log School is believed to have opened in 1870 on land Amos Keith donated. It later became Cherokee County Training School and then Ralph J. Bunche School. For more information on Pea Ridge and other communities in Cherokee County, visit RockBarn.org.
Frankie Shepherd speaking at the grand opening of the new station in honor of her father
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The grand opening was a special moment for many in the community, including the last North Canton Fire Chief James Perry Morris, pictured in the middle. He is joined by his wife Nina Morris, on his right, and son James O. Morris, on his left.
uuu “The fire station meant that the homes of those
living here would be safe and in the case of a fire, we would not have to wait for firefighters to arrive from Canton,” Frankie explains. Equally as important was the pride the community felt about the station. “It meant a lot to my dad and the other men. Their community had something they built, and they took pride in it. They felt that ‘This is ours; we built it,’” she says. “We were all like family here. We are a community of faith, and we loved each other.” Frankie says the people in the community also looked up to the senior leaders of the community. “We were proud of what we had and proud of our ancestors, like Phillip Keith, the former slave who donated the land for the church and the school. We are appreciative of all those efforts,” she emphasizes. Until a few weeks before his passing several years ago, Charlie could most often be found at the fire station complex, which at that time was in use by Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services. “Mrs. Shepherd said he was up there from dawn to dusk hanging out in the old community business office. He loved his fire department and the career firefighters who resided next door. Many stopped by and hung out with him,” Tim recalls. “I was fortunate enough on a few occasions to stop by and see Charlie myself. He called me when there was any kind of problem with the building that wasn’t getting repaired. I welcomed the time and opportunity to go see Charlie and find out what was happening and talk awhile.”
The original fire station building stands unused today, but not for long. Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather applauds the project to convert the old station into a community center. He points out that it honors Charlie Ferguson and those who helped establish it. “The new station is dedicated to Charlie. He brought the community together to help provide the service. Not only was the site a fire station, but it became a community and recreation center as well,” Tim says. “Charlie was commonly referred to as the mayor of North Canton. “ Frankie said she was not planning to be part of the efforts to renovate the building, but her cousin said she should join in the plans, so she attended a meeting at the church. John Heard, president of the board, soon asked Frankie to chair the committee, and in no time County Manager Jerry Cooper reached out about applying for a federal Community Development Block Grant to fund the project. Bryan Reynolds, director of Cherokee County Community Services Agency, is also involved with the project and says the county expects to award the design contract to the architects in December and complete the project in 2021. The Community Development Block Grant of $370,000 will cover all costs of the renovation. “I estimate seven to nine months to complete the design and construction phases. It could vary depending on several factors, including a complete evaluation of the building, the scope of work needed for repairs, weather, etc.,” Bryan explains. uuu
2020
2021
Wishing you a safe mayand haveprosperous been challenging ... but stillchallenging have much to celebrate! 2020 may havewe been ... but we still haveended much tohigher celebrate! • FY2020 SPLOST collections 10.52% than FY2019.
• Unemployment rates stayed well below the state and national averages consistently. • FY2020 SPLOST ended 10.52% higher FY2019. • The crime ratecollections in Cherokee County remains thethan lowest in the Atlanta Regional Commission. • Unemployment rates stayed well below the state and national averages consistently. • Cherokee still has the lowest tax burden per capita in the metro region. • The• The crime rate of in Cherokee Countyprovided remainsnearly the lowest in CARES the Atlanta Board Commissioners $1M in ActRegional grants forCommission. food insecurity, • Cherokee still has the lowest tax burden per capita in the metro region. rent and small business assistance. • The Board of Commissioners provided more than $1M in CARES Act grants for the community to be used for food insecurity, rent and small business assistance.
Despite the challenges, Cherokee County finished 2020 strong, and is ready for a better 2021!
Despite the challenges, Cherokee County finished strong, ready for a betterNew 2021! We2020 wish you a and safeisand prosperous Year!
2021 [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]
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The new station received a unique ribbon cutting at the grand opening ceremony, splitting a fire hose in half.
uuu Frankie hopes the community center will offer classes
such as yoga and computer training for folks in the community, a goal Bryan says is reachable. The center will be owned and operated by the local nonprofit group, Charlie Ferguson Community Center, Inc., Bryan points out. “When I spoke to Frankie, I told her the county stands ready to partner with the group to provide senior and youth programming for the center. It will be up to their board. I hope the board is open to the idea,” he says. “I believe the community will benefit greatly from a place where people can gather, hold meetings and special events, and take part in community programming. It could also rented for private events. How it is used will ultimately be up to the nonprofit board.”
Frankie says she always hoped the fire station would come back to the community when the new fire station was built. She first broached the idea to Fire Chief Tim Prather a few years ago, and she is glad it is becoming reality. The fire chief remembers the day Frankie asked him about the station. “The year that Mrs. Shepherd was presented the Cherokee Citizen of the Year award, I walked up to extend my congratulations. After I introduced myself, she said she had been wanting to talk with me. She told me the North Canton community would like to have the old fire station
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back to be used as a community center when we moved out of it. I thought it was a great idea, and I said I would do what I could to assist with that goal.” While Cherokee County is now served by paid firefighters, volunteers have long had a role of importance in keeping the community safe. “The Volunteer Fire Department is the original fire service in Cherokee County that we have built upon. We still occupy and operate out of some of the fire stations that were originally built by volunteer fire departments,” the chief points out, although the demand for fire and emergency medical services in Cherokee County far exceeds the resources that can be handled totally by volunteer fire departments. “We are running about 29,000 calls a year. Not many businesses today will let employees leave the job to go help. We have many career firefighters today that were originally volunteer firefighters in their communities.” Frankie, who is also the former principal of Ralph Bunche School, is glad the community center is fast becoming a reality. She hopes it will serve as a reminder of all of the people, Black and White, male and female, who have worked together to make her community strong. “We want to keep our history alive. I hope we will have a wall of history at the center to honor all who helped us along the way,” she says.
“
We were proud of what we had and proud of our ancestors, like Phillip Keith, a former slave who donated the land for the church and the school.
”
Exterior photo of the brand new fire station serving the North Canton community
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scientist
Canton-Based NASA Scientist Credits Community by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident
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With his roots deep in the predominately Black Pea Ridge-Nineteen community, Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd, the grandson of the man who founded the North Canton Volunteer Fire Station, has grown up to be an international expert in weather and climate and a distinguished professor of geography and atmospheric sciences at the University of Georgia. uuu
Photo courtesy of UGA Photographic Services
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Five Myths and Misconceptions about Weather Myth: Heat Lightning is real. Truth: Heat lighting is not really a “thing.” It is not caused by
the sky illuminating because it is hot. Light travels faster than sound, so you are seeing lightning from a storm too far away to hear the thunder.
Myth: A hot day confirms climate change. Truth: A hot day doesn’t confirm climate change,
and a cold, snowy day doesn’t refute it. A good rule of thumb is Weather is your mood. Climate is your personality. Weather is short-lived; climate lasts a long time.
Myth: Meteorologists are just on TV. Truth: Meteorologists are not just on TV. In fact most meteorologists are not broadcasters at all. Most work for the National Weather Service, private companies, other government agencies, and consulting firms. Myth: S tanding under trees during a lightning storm will keep you safe. Truth: Standing under trees during a lightning storm is
unsafe. Many falsely believe trees will provide shelter, but trees are actually one of the worst places to be during lightning. Tall trees can attract lightning.
Myth: C loud trails from airplanes represent a massive government conspiracy. Truth: Cloud trails from airplanes are a representation of physics. The process is similar to the physics of seeing our breath on a cold day. This information comes from Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd’s article “10 Common Myths and Misconceptions about the Science of Weather” from Forbes.com.
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Marshall grew up in Canton and attended North Canton Elementary School and Cherokee High School before going on to receive his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in physical meteorology from Florida State University. He was the first African American to receive a PhD in meteorology from that university. He spent twelve years as a research meteorologist at NASAGoddard Space Flight Center and was deputy project scientist for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, a multinational space mission that launched in 2014. The Canton native has testified before Congress on critical climate change issues, and in 2004 President Bush honored him at the White House with the Presidential Early Career Award for pioneering scientific research in weather and climate science.
In addition to teaching, nowadays Marshall hosts The Weather Channel’s award-winning talk show Weather Geeks, writes for Forbes Magazine, and stays involved in a variety of other endeavors. No matter how far life has taken Marshall, he still values his roots. “The Pea Ridge-Nineteen part of Canton shaped who I am in many ways. It is a modest community that valued relationships, afternoons on front porches, faith, and community. This ‘marinade’ provided me with a valuable perspective on how to treat people, communicate with them, and listen, no matter what level of education, affluence, or background a person has achieved,” Marshall says. The distinguished scientist gives most of the credit for his success to his mother, Frankie Shepherd, a teacher at North Canton Elementary in the old mill village and later principal at the Ralph Bunche school in the Pea Ridge-Nineteen community. “As a single parent my mother raised me and instilled in me the importance of education, discipline, and respect. She also somehow managed to make sure I had everything I needed, and she participated in every activity I wanted to do,” he remembers. Other family members were important in his upbringing as well. “My grandfather, Charlie Ferguson, and uncle, Tony Ferguson, also were mentors without me even realizing it, by way of the pioneering things they were doing within the North Canton and Canton communities, even at a time when race was still a barrier in the minds of some people. Those men pushed through, and that lesson stayed with me,” Marshall says. uuu
N
NASA Marshall was the keynote speaker for 2016 commencement ceremonies at Florida State University.
>
>
Marshall, far left, pictured with Bill Nye the Science Guy, far right, among others at the White House
remembering
A LIFE WELL LIVED...
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>
(left photo) Marshall is proud to show off one of the first science awards he won at North Canton Elementary School. (middle photo) A newspaper article written about Marshall after he won second place at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair in the eighth grade. (right photo) As a young boy, Marshall played football for a Woodstock team.
uuu The guidance of Lillie Mae Nash, his sixth grade science
teacher at North Canton Elementary school, is still strongly imprinted on his mind as well. “I am appreciative of all of my teachers in Cherokee County and my family too. I didn’t understand it then, but those days with family on Willie’s or RiRi’s porch or Otis’s Barber Shop were important,” Marshall recalls. As a child Marshall developed a deep interest in entomology, the study of insects, but after being stung while catching bees in his yard, he learned that he was highly allergic to bee stings and changed his course. “I shifted my interests to weather and created a science project titled Can a Sixth Grader Predict the Weather? It did well at science fairs, and I was bitten by the weather bug from that point on—pun intended,” he says. His sixth-grade science project experience is documented in a how-to book for junior meteorologists titled Dr. Fred’s Weather Watch, which he cowrote with Fred Bortz. Marshall had no interest in being a forecaster or appearing on TV, which is what most people think of when they hear the term meteorologist. “When I was president of the American Meteorological Society, our data revealed that only about 8 to 10 percent of meteorologists work in television. Most do other things. I was always more interested in the ‘how and why’ of weather, so I pursued a career in research meteorology,” Marshall explains. “I spent twelve years at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and am now a professor and researcher at the University of Georgia. I am getting paid to do what I have loved to do since sixth grade.” The scientist has also written The Race Awakening of 2020: A Six-Step Guide for Moving Forward. He says, “I wrote about a colleague at the University of Georgia who said I was a worldclass and well-known scientist, yet she was amazed at how I interacted with everyone from ivory-tower scholars to the custodial staff in exactly the same way. That ability came from the Pea Ridge-Nineteen community,” he says.
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While he has been honored at the White House and received some of the highest awards in his field, his family is the most important to him. “My wife, Ayana, and my kids, Anderson and Arissa, are the most important aspect of my career. COVID-19 has made me further realize how much I cherish them. Career is a means to an end for them, but in my case, my career is something I absolutely love. It doesn’t feel like work, so I never say, ‘Thank God it’s Friday.’” The 2020 recipient of the Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Marshall is also the 2019 recipient of the AGU Climate Communication Prize and the 2018 recipient of the prestigious AMS Helmut Landsberg Award for pioneering and significant work in urban climate. In 2017 he was honored with the AMS Brooks Award, a high honor in the field of meteorology. Ted Turner and his Captain Planet Foundation honored the local meteorologist in 2014 with its Protector of the Earth Award. Prior recipients include Erin Brockovich and former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
No matter how much Marshall has achieved, he credits his mother and teachers for taking him there. “The influences of my mother and the outstanding education from teachers at North Canton Elementary and Cherokee High School were critical. We didn’t have the fancy awards and designations for our schools back then, but they adequately prepared me for Florida State University, NASA, and the University of Georgia.”
“ > Marshall Shepherd, among others, testifying before Congress in 2019 on issues of climate change and extreme weather
COVID-19 has made me further realize how much I cherish (family). Career is a means to an end for them, but in my case, my career is something I absolutely love. It doesn’t feel like work, so I never say, ‘Thank God it’s Friday.’
Invest in You.
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Diversity
u Mayor Bill Grant proudly waves the Canton flag
u
in celebration of the city’s progress and growth.
The trials of 2020 will not stop this task force as they move to Zoom meetings to accomplish their goals. u
New Task
The Diversity Committee meets to address tasks and goals for the future of inclusion in Canton.
Force Celebrates Differences, Finds Commonalities by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident
Canton Mayor Bill Grant says the
A culturally diverse group of Canton residents serves on a new city task force to ensure every voice is heard as the city moves forward. 40
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Diversity and Inclusion Task Force supports the city’s mission of understanding, trust, and representation. “We want to look in every ward and have good, honest conversations regarding where we are, where we need to go, and how to do better,” the mayor explains. “It is more important than ever that everyone’s voice be included. We want the task force to look at everything we are doing as a city and give us recommendations on how we can include more people and learn from the past.” The goal is to promote a culture of respect for everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs, and mental or physical ability. The task force will work with the Canton City Council and the mayor to coordinate and implement initiatives and activities to promote an inclusive community that reflects the rich and diverse makeup of the city. Members of the task force include Chair Carlos T. Hill and Co-chair Lorraine Aragon as well as Tiffany Bird, Shannon Rankin, Paty Reveles, Carmen Tanner Slaughter, and Kathy Strom. Carlos moved to Canton to join a progressive community. He has been a foster
parent and most recently a chef, and he and his husband work on large-scale marathon events in Colorado. Councilman Nick Estes appointed Carlos. The mayor appointed Lorraine, who is of Jamaican descent. She is a former educator pursuing her doctoral degree from Liberty University. Councilwoman Brooke Schmidt appointed Tiffany, who is of Taiwanese descent and a stay-at-home mother heavily involved in public affairs efforts at her church and in working with the school district in diversity efforts. Councilman Shawn Tolan appointed Carmen, a native Canton resident with family reaching back to 1912 in the city’s African American community. She has a background in children’s services and preschool education, and she manages a business in Holly Springs. Councilwoman JoEllen Wilson’s appointee is Kathy, a native of Cherokee County with a background in human resources. She works part time at Cherokee High School while pursuing a master’s degree in homeland security from Liberty University.
Shannon is a new resident to the community who chose Canton for its better home values and great school. Councilwoman Sandy McGrew appointed him. Shannon has a background in technology and works for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Councilman Will Carlan appointed Paty, a native Canton resident working as a receptionist at the Cherokee County Probate Court. Paty notes that she is thrilled to be a part of the group and to have a positive impact in Canton by bringing everyone together.
“
Diversity is one of the key tenets of our roadmap for the future,” Bill points out. “This group is extremely diverse and very accomplished and impressive. It is a great group.
”
The task force already meets regularly and is discussing subjects such as understanding the Hispanic community that makes up more than 20 percent of Canton’s population and finding commonalties while being respectful of differences. “Racial tension in the past year has made it more important than ever to work toward more unity on the local level,” the mayor emphasizes. “We want to deal with it honestly and make sure everyone is included in the conversation and in our decisions as we move forward.”
Kayla Gray
Valedictorian, 2019
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While on vacation in Costa Rica, Kayla suffered a tragic accident that left her wheelchair bound for months. Facing mountains of homework absentee days, Kayla chose to enroll at MECHS. Here she was able to work at her own pace during her recovery schedule. Kayla also took advantage of the Dual Enrollment program and began earning credits at the University of North Georgia. Kayla graduated a semester early and at the top of her class. She holds a SACS accredited high school diploma and college credits.
You’re Never Late for Class No Failure Caring Teachers
The mayor and council of Canton are implementing a roadmap for the future that includes seven tenets. One of those tenets is to celebrate and encourage the diversity of culture and communities within Canton. “The goal is to let the task force decide what it wants to do. I gave the members the missions and goals we should consider, and I am letting them take it from there,” Bill says. “We have a lot of diversity in the city and want to listen and understand everyone.” The mayor acknowledges that it is a challenging and yet rewarding time to embark on such a major mission. “We started in the middle of the pandemic at the height of racial tensions, and there was a lot of good dialogue about what was going on the country. The last couple of meetings have brought the subject back to what is going on here,” he says. “We are opening doors to say we want your feedback and ideas. The task force will offer ways to reach out in the communities that have not been heard. We are turning the keys over to the task force for honest feedback,” he explains. One task is to look into creating a nondiscrimination ordinance. “Other cities in Georgia have them, and the task force is looking at those and deciding what would be appropriate for Canton. The task force can make a recommendation to the council,” Bill says. “I will receive an annual report from group members with any issues we should consider, to make sure we are being accountable.” [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]
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Birmingham
Birmingham: A Vital Visit During Black History Month by Bobbie Christmas, Woodstock Resident
Photo Courtesy of Bob Farley Photography
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Birmingham is known for having been the battlefield for the Civil Rights Movement in America. With Black History Month in mind, my sister and I visited Birmingham in February a few years ago. Our three-day trip became even more rewarding and educational than we anticipated.
T
he drive took less than three hours, and soon we parked in a hilly suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, and entered a French cafĂŠ for lunch. Online sources had called Chez Lulu funky and eclectic, and those words described it well. I ordered a roasted vegetable sandwich on rustic hearth-baked bread. It pleased my palate perfectly. My sister, the ultimate organizer, had planned our entire itinerary, so we knew our next stop would be the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The institute sits across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church that a White supremacist bombed in 1963, killing four young African American girls. The restored church has been designated a National Historic Landmark. uuu
Photos courtesy of the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The 16th Street Baptist Church, pictured above, holds much significance to Black History and the Civil Rights Movement.
A pleasant spring afternoon is well spent exploring the landscape at the botanical gardens. Cherry blossoms are among the many flowers at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]
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uuu We had no trouble finding parking, and soon we entered the
exhibition rooms of the Civil Rights Institute. Through intricate and artful exhibits, some that were even interactive, we learned dozens of details about the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. I was in college when the South finally integrated its schools in 1965, and I thought I knew all about the struggles in that era, but oh, was I wrong! Through detailed displays I learned much more than I had witnessed or read in the newspaper. The experience was moving, and one visit isn’t enough. It is a must-see museum for anyone of any age or ethnicity. We later checked into the Hampton Inn with enough time to relax and discuss our individual experiences during the Civil Rights Movement and share our reactions to the information at the Civil Rights Institute. Soon we had to freshen up, because we looked forward to dinner. Sis had made a reservation at Ocean, a Michelin Star restaurant. We were prepared to stretch our budget and treat ourselves to a gourmet meal. We found a paid parking lot nearby, but the evening was chilly and breezy, it being February, so we opted for the valet service that Ocean offered. Soon we were seated by a window in the modern establishment. We found the low lighting and quiet ambiance a delightful change from the less-than-quiet restaurants in Atlanta. Our server treated us like royalty, responding quickly to any of our questions and graciously accommodating us with anything we requested. Sis and I shared a delicious appetizer of Kobe beef carpaccio. After discussing our choices for an entrée, we asked our server if the bouillabaisse might be enough for two. He assured us that it was. The bouillabaisse arrived and smelled scrumptious.
Black
th y as Black History r y Mllyorecongnize Histo d Februar rald Ford officia y to honor
President Ge e the opportunit g the public to “seiz in every Month in 1976, tellin of Black Americans accomplishments d cte has th gle on ne M n te ry of sto the tooBlack Hi ughout our history.” icans ro er th or Am av an de ric en Af of by s area achievement of n tio ra leb ry. ce to al his cks in U.S. become an annu e central role of Bla th ng izi ed gn er nt co ce re r s fo and a time s and activitie has many museum ea ry ar a sto nt Hi tla ck -A Bla tro a The me re, including ck history and cultu town on celebrating Bla burn District down Au t ee e Historic Sw Month parade in th ry 27. on Saturday, Februa
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The huge bowl was filled with pineapple ginger jasmine rice, lobster tail, shrimp, grouper, and mussels swimming in Thai green curry sauce. Our server was right. We split the generous serving, and we each had plenty to eat. When we finished we still had some sauce left. We laughed when we both admitted we wanted to lick our plates, but we were in an elegant restaurant, so we chose a more appropriate tactic. We mopped up every drop of the remaining curry using the variety of enticing breads we’d been served. Sis and I both found the meal at Ocean so delectable that we still talk about it today. Only when we asked about the cost of the valet parking did we learn that it was free. Wow! An unexpected and pleasant surprise. We did, however, tip the driver who delivered the car. Sunday morning we ate brunch at The Veranda on Highland, a sprawling 1900 house transformed into an eye-pleasing restaurant. The place has recently changed hands, though. Chef James Boyce and his wife and business partner, Suzan, of Huntsville, Alabama, have taken over. They are redesigning the space with respect to its 106-year-old history. The new name is Galley & Garden, in reference to the kitchen (galley) and the newly landscaped surroundings. Sis and I will try it out when it opens.
Next on our agenda was Sloss Furnaces, a National Historic Landmark. It operated as a pig-iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971. The day had warmed enough that we left our jackets in the car and strolled in and out of the sun examining the workings of the blast furnace and reading inscriptions to learn about the dangerous and difficult processes associated with making steel and pig iron from the local iron ore, coal, and limestone. I found the process, the information, and all the machinery mesmerizing. After buying mementoes in the visitor’s center, we left Sloss Furnaces and drove to the Vulcan Park and Museum for a closer look at the towering Vulcan, the city symbol of Birmingham and a gargantuan sculpture we had seen several times from the road. The museum focused on the founding and history of Birmingham as well as the making of the colossal Vulcan, the largest cast iron statue in the entire world. The statue depicts the Roman god of fire and furnace and reflects the city’s roots in the iron and steel industry. Wanting the full Vulcan experience, Sis and I rode the elevator up the fiftysix-foot figure and walked out on its observation deck. Although it was windy way up there, the view of Birmingham was spectacular.
With packages from the gift shop tucked under our arms, Sis and I left the botanical gardens and headed for lunch at Bellini’s Ristorante on Chaba Valley Road. Sis described her chicken picatta as the most delicious and delicate she’d ever eaten. I raved over my shrimp scampi as well. I needed to pick up my dog in Woodstock before the kennel closed, so over lunch my sister and I bemoaned the fact that we had run out of time. We had missed seeing the Birmingham Zoo, the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Southern Museum of Flight, the Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens, and more. I shrugged and said, “We’ll just have to come back to Birmingham another time.”
Facts
Birmingham
After breakfast at the hotel Monday morning, Sis and I ambled through the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Even in February some of the plants bloomed to add color to the surroundings. Flowers were not essential, though, because of all the appealing plants and the information on the identification markers. We especially enjoyed the tasteful Japanese garden with its graceful arched bridge over a reflective pond. Sis and I are not spring chickens, so we appreciated the benches along the way that allowed us to rest a few moments here and there before we continued our tranquil meandering through the 67.5 acres of gardens. At the end we entered the warm and aromatic gift shop brimming with plants, books, games, jewelry, and more.
• Birmingham is fewer than 170 miles from Woodstock by way of I-20. • Birmingham was founded in 1871 at the crossing of two rail lines near one of the world’s richest deposits of minerals. • The city was named for Birmingham, England, the center of England’s iron industry. • Birmingham offers fine dining at five Michelin Star restaurants and has some eight hundred or more other restaurants as well. • Hikers can enjoy the Vulcan Trail, which is at the tail end of the Appalachian range. The 2.2-mile-long path scales Red Mountain and offers views of the Vulcan statue, the downtown Birmingham skyline, and the antebellum Arlington home. • All twenty-one of the Birmingham Park and Recreational facilities have reopened, with masks and social distancing highly recommended. • The City of Birmingham website has a suggested Civil Rights tour you can undertake on your own. For details see BirminghamAL.org/experiences-anditineraries/1357758/.
We look forward to our return trip.
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[calendar of events]
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Atlantic City Boys
11
Penguin Take ‘N’ Make
12
Marie Benedict, Author
13
Sushi Making with Chef Sunisa
18
Fifth Annual Chefs vs. Brewers
22
Paint Parties for Kids
23
Crazy for Patsy Cline
25
Polar Bear Take ‘N’ Make
30
Tribute to Elton John
31
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Sunday
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 2021
Monday Friday
Saturday
Monday Saturday Sunday
Sunday, Jan. 10
Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets Woodstock Public Library 7735 Main Street, Woodstock Normal Business Hours; Free SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org
Atlantic City Boys
Foxtale Book Shoppe 105 East Main Street, Woodstock 6:30 p.m.; $29 for book and ticket FoxtaleBookShoppe.com Leaning Ladder Olive Oil 105 East Main Street, Woodstock 6:30–9:00 p.m.; $85/person LeaningLadderOliveOil.com
Goshen Homes Info Session Virtual Learning Session 6:30 p.m.; FREE scoppiano@goshenvalley.org See ad on facing page.
Reformation Brewery & The Nest Kennesaw 2921 Cherokee Street NW, Kennesaw 6:00–9:00 p.m.; Tickets Available TheNestKennesaw.com/Store Cherokee Recreation and Parks 7545 Main Street, Suite 200, Woodstock 5:00–7:00 p.m.; $20/art student PlayCherokee.org
Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska 3:00–5:00 p.m. Tickets available at Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets Woodstock Public Library 7735 Main Street, Woodstock Normal Business Hours; Free SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org
MadLife Stage & Studios 8722 Main Street, Woodstock 7:00 p.m.; $32.50–$34.50 MadLifeStageAndStudios.com
Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska 3:00–5:00 p.m.; $5 Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets
WITH A
CLOUDY CHANCE OF MEATBALLS
EGGS-Traordinary EXTRAVAGANZA
Celebrate spring at the Aquatic Center with an Easter-themed extravaganza. Children will enjoy a bounce house, face painting, pool games, music, and egg hunts both inside in the indoor pool and outside on the lawn. Bring your camera for selfies with the Easter Bunny.
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Sat., March 27, 2021 | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Admission: $10 per child | Aquatic Center An event for children ages 4–12.
Registration required at PlayCherokee.org.
This event sells out quickly, so HOP TO IT!
[calendar of events]
February 2021
Kayaking for Veterans Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 7:30–9:00 p.m. PlayCherokee.org
Parent’s Night Out
Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 5:30–10:00 p.m. $15/child early; $20/child at the door PlayCherokee.org
Freaky Friday
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village February 4–7 7:30–9:00 p.m. $13.50 online; $16 at the door ElmStreetArts.org/Events
Galentine’s Wine & Charcuterie Party Leaning Ladder Olive Oil 105 East Main Street, Woodstock 7:00–9:00 p.m.; $59/person LeaningLaddierOliveOil.com
Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska 3:00–6:00 p.m.; Free Reinhardt.edu/Falany
12
Friday Valentine’s Day
Sunday
17
Goshen Homes Info Session Virtual Learning Session 6:30 p.m.; FREE scoppiano@goshenvalley.org See ad on this page.
Cherokee Recreation and Parks 7545 Main St Ste. 200, Woodstock 5:00–7:00 p.m. $20/artist per class PlayCherokee.org
Thursday
14
Daniel Shapiro, Pianist
Paint Parties for Kids
4
Wednesday Parent’s Night Out
Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 5:30–10:00 p.m. $15/child early; $20/child at the door PlayCherokee.org
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Friday
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