Enjoy Cherokee Magazine - Jan/Feb 2022 by Enjoy Cherokee Magazine

MAGAZINE

VOL. 10 | ISSUE 1 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

ZACH YODER—CHEROKEE’S

HOCKEY PRO page 20

LIGHTS! CAMERA! CHEROKEE!

THE TOP CHOICE page 6

AEROSMITH • KANSAS • GARTH BROOKS • ZAC BROWN

SPEEDY PRODUCTIONS page 16

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[table of contents]

Contents

Lights! Camera! Cherokee!

Georgia is the new Hollywood. More movies are being made in Georgia now than in California or New York, and Cherokee County has emerged as one of the state’s top filming locations. Cherokee County and its residents are reaping the economic rewards of the entertainment industry here at home.

To the Rescue

Heart, Soul, and Sound

County Kid Nice on Ice

The good folks at WarAngel farms in suburban Canton have spent the last three years fighting for horses that otherwise face abandonment, neglect, and abuse. While the farm’s main focus is rescuing horses, it also has rescued pigs, donkeys, cows, sheep, goats, a flock of chickens, and even a pair of alpacas. Speedy Smith spent more than forty years traveling the world with some of the biggest names in rock music, mixing concert sound for the likes of Aerosmith, Kansas, and the Zac Brown Band. Today you’re more likely to find him volunteering at Canton’s Action Church than running a thirtytwo-track arena sound board.

Cherokee County can now boast a professional hockey player as one of its notable sports figures. Woodstock High School graduate Zach Yoder signed with the Atlanta Gladiators, a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth.

Cover photo courtesy of Dale Zanine

[special feature]

[Advertisers Index] Art Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

J. Thompson Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Chattahoochee Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Kitchen Tune Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . outside back cover

Cherokee FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Magnetize Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Cobb EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Mileshko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Darby Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Northside Ask the Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27

Debranski Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Northside Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside front cover

Falany Performing Arts Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Page Relocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Fowler’s Florist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Paula’s Zzerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Georgia Medical Treatment Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Pritchard Injury Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Goshen Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Tutton Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

History Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Your Pie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Homewatch CareGivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

COUNT ON US TO POWER YOUR PRECIOUS MOMENTS At Cobb EMC, we take pride in powering some of life’s most precious moments, which is why we continuously work to improve our smart grid — a state-of-the-art system that allows us to restore outages fast and often times without sending a crew. Because of our smart grid, we’re ranked 1st in the nation for restoring outages quickly. This means you spend more time focused on the moments that matter most.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com] 770-429-2100 | cobbemc.com

[feature articles]

Features

Shop Local

This Valentine’s Day, shop local for all his or her favorite gifts. Find features from Art Jewelers in Woodstock, Fowler’s Florist in Canton, and Paula’s Zzerts in Canton. You just might find the perfect present for your special someone.

Sutallee Trace Trails

Carving Memories

Hayden’s Review

Your Favorite

Your Favorite Bookmark

Each edition of Enjoy Cherokee Magazine spotlights three books by members of our community. In this issue find new books you’ll want to read as you start a new year. Support local!

Recipes

Calendar of Events

Warm up by the fireplace with dishes like hearty potato soup or scrumptious brown sugar maple cookies. January and February weather might leave you chilled to the bone, so we hope you’ll cozy up with these warm recipes.

The Enjoy Cherokee Calendar of Events brings you news of just some of the many events going on through the course of January and February. Don’t miss out on the exciting things happening in our community.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

FILMING

By Michael Mullet, Ball Ground Resident

State tax credits for the movie business have made Georgia the new Hollywood. More movies are made in Georgia now than in California or New York, and Cherokee County has emerged as one of the state’s top filming locations. With a variety of scenic vistas, welcoming municipalities, and a county film project office second to none, Cherokee County and its residents are reaping the economic rewards of the entertainment industry here at home.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

W Director Jonathan Southard, of the independent film High Expectations starring Kelsey Grammar, gives the actors direction on location at Mama Onesta’s in Canton.

hen a film director shouts, “Action,” it is not only the beginning of a scene,” it is also the culmination of months or even years of planning. Whether it’s a television show, streaming series, independent film, or big-studio blockbuster, the process takes time. First it is an idea, a story, and a script. The next moves involve hiring a director, securing financing, casting actors in the roles, creating a production schedule, and finally, filming. Even with the best people in all those jobs, what makes a good movie into a great movie isn’t a person at all. It’s the setting, the environment, the scene. If it’s done right, the scenery may be what you notice least, yet scenery can create emotion—joy or foreboding—a sense of place that drives the plot before an actor utters the first word of dialogue. And it’s the scenery that’s drawing directors and producers to Cherokee County in record numbers. “Cherokee County, from a practical and visual sense, has a broad array of looks,” says Molly Mercer, film project manager and camera-ready liaison with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED). Because her job involves working with location scouts to find the right location for a proposed production, the Cherokee County native can tell you all about the diverse scenery within the county’s 434 square miles. “Canton is an iconic and charming small town. Woodstock has a bit of a quirky and hip vibe. Ball Ground could be a mountain town. Holly Springs has both older and evolving looks,” Molly says. “Waleska has a beautiful college campus and of course rolling farmland with mountains in the distance. We have a lake (Allatoona), we have the Etowah River. We have mansions, churches, a railroad, busy streets, and country roads. If a production company needs a specific look or building or environment, we can almost always find it right here in Cherokee.” uuu

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Southard

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

If you want to learn more about opportunities in Cherokee County’s burgeoning film production industry, the Cherokee Film Summit is a must. The 2022 Cherokee Film Summit has the theme of “Reel. Community. Connection.” It will be packed with panels, speakers, networking, and much more, all focused on supporting the film industry in Cherokee County. “This is our third summit,” says Molly Mercer, film project manager at the Cherokee Office of Economic Development. “Every year it gets better, because every year the industry grows in Cherokee and there are more opportunities for people to get involved, to partner, and to find something new. We want people to be bold and connect.” Sponsored by Cherokee By Choice, a public-private partnership, the 2022 Cherokee Film Summit will be held Thursday, January 27, from 5:00 to 9:00 at the YANMAR Evo Center on Old Alabama Road in Acworth. Tickets are $50 and available on Eventbrite. For more information visit Cherokeega.org/Cherokee-Film-Summit/

Scenes from the Oscar-nominated Hidden Figures were filmed at the former Canton Elementary School building.

uuu Dodd Vickers, a professional location manager and

scout for the past decade, likewise has a lot of good things to say about filming in Cherokee County. “I did two productions in Cherokee recently,” says Dodd, whose Internet Movie Database listing includes several dozen movies and TV series, all filmed in Georgia. “One called High Expectations is about an athlete and his relationship with his father, played by Kelsey Grammar. We filmed all over downtown Canton. We were in Woodstock and then at Kennesaw State too.

“

Cherokee is beautiful,” Dodd continues. “Filming in Canton, we were able to use the old cotton mill area, the downtown, and houses in the area that fit the story. We filmed in about half the restaurants downtown, and we were able to find all of it in Canton. We spent several weeks there.

”

While clearly a lot draws directors and producers to Cherokee County, Molly explains that keeping them coming back is perhaps even more important. Fortunately the commitment to make filming in Cherokee County a positive experience extends well beyond the COED

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Compassionate Home Care with a Personal Touch Actor Jason Bateman in HBO’s The Outsider in a scene filmed at Legion Field in Canton.

film office, with municipalities, public safety agencies, land owners, property managers, and local businesses all working to make production companies feel welcome. “Cherokee values relationships, and we build relationships,” Molly says. “Our county leaders do, our city leaders do, and they work with us to foster good relationships that keep production companies coming back.” uuu

678-753-9114 | HomeWatchCareGivers.com/Canton [www.EnjoyCherokee.com] 9

uuu As Dodd explains, a large production may have two

hundred people on location, so it is important to be able to work with the community to manage everything that needs to happen. “A lot of logistics and management go into a large production,” he says. “If we need to close down a road for half a day to film, I might work with the city and the police agency. We need space for two hundred people to park. Is there a landowner nearby I can work with? Is there a local company where I can rent bathroom trailers for the location?

“

Sometimes filming in a location becomes more difficult than you think it should be, and when a town gets a reputation for being difficult, you get less filming,” Dodd says frankly. “Cherokee is not like that at all. Here the neighbors are good, polite, and accommodating, and the cities and county are all great. I really commend them for being able to come up with creative solutions to help us get our work done.

FILMED

” IN

Having a national reputation as a good place to make movies has another important benefit: every time a production crew comes to Cherokee County, it creates a positive economic impact in many and lasting ways. Molly says, “When they were in downtown Canton filming Hawkeye for Disney+ in early 2021, there were about 185 people on that shoot for ten days, so just the motel/hotel tax revenue was significant. They also had a crew of about thirty people here for eight weeks before filming, building sets and getting ready for production, and those people ate in the restaurants downtown, bought coffee, and shopped, so that was great.” Filming also drives film tourism, and not just movie buffs who might be crossing the county using the Filmed in Cherokee app (see sidebar). “Say a series is filming in downtown Woodstock. People driving by may stop and watch, see what’s going on,” Molly explains. “And while they’re downtown, they look around. Maybe they see a restaurant they didn’t know was there or a unique shop they want to visit or even an attorney’s office they’ll remember if they ever need a lawyer. That too is an economic benefit of the film industry being here.” More film and video productions are coming to Cherokee County every year; big names too. Netflix, ABC, Showtime, HBO, HGTV, CBS, CNN, Disney+, Bravo, and Starz have all filmed here, though few people may

CHEROKEE

• Ozark • Doctor Sleep • The Resident • Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk • Hidden Figures • Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made • Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings • The Outsider • American Made • MacGyver • Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul • Noelle • Champion • The Founder The Filmed in Cherokee app is a great resource for residents to learn all about the films and shows being made in our backyard. Each spot on the map tells you more about the project, main cast members, and “Why Cherokee.” It gives you some insight into the movie magic that occurred at the site and what made our community a good fit for the production. The app includes a feature that lets you take your own selfie at the site of the film. Only movies that have been released are listed in the app. Also, in respect of private property, some movies are not listed.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Condor cranes flanking the Historic Jones Mercantile building provided consistent lighting for Marvel’s Hawkeye scenes filmed inside the building.

ever know. Most productions want to keep their work location secret, and the consistent ability of COED to guard their privacy is another reason producers like working here. Ultimately the numbers speak for themselves. Molly shares, “If we are winning projects eight percent of the time, we’re doing pretty well, beating the odds, but Cherokee County is winning about twenty-five percent of the time. In 2021 COED had 173 inquiries by Thanksgiving and forty-five projects filmed here. That’s a record breaker right there. That’s phenomenal. Filmmakers are coming and asking more often, and I attribute it to Cherokee’s persistent willingness to work with filmmakers.”

COED Film Project Manager Molly Mercer with Ozark’s award-winning Key Assistant Location Manager Kevin Dowling on the last day of filming at the Blue Cat Lodge on Lake Allatoona

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

RESCUES

3. 1. Jubilee, left, grey, and Lulu, right, love

frolicking in the fields at WarAngel Farms.

2. Minnie is one of two alpacas who are

a fun addition to the farm and love to have visitors.

3. The mother-daughter pair, Rumor and

Jubilee, have grown so much since coming to the farm.

4. Oink! Tater the pig is grateful for his new home at WarAngel Farms.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

e u c s e R e h T To By Shannon Sickmon, Woodstock Resident

WarAngel Farms

According to the American Horse Council, some 90,000 to 140,000 equines are deemed unwanted, and most are sent to slaughterhouses. Canton resident Casey Montana and her family ensure some of those horses have a home where they can live out their natural lives in comfort and safety. The good folks at WarAngel Farms in suburban Canton have spent the last three years fighting for horses that otherwise face abandonment, neglect, and abuse. While the farm’s main focus is rescuing horses, it also has rescued pigs, donkeys, cows, sheep, goats, a flock of chickens, and even a pair of alpacas.

Casey explains how she got started on her mission, and it is a mission for her whole family. She has always lived on a farm and had horses, but only in the past three years has she been able to build her own rescue facility. The family members have always been animal lovers, and they translated that passion into rescuing animals.

Casey Montana says she sometimes finds her rescue cases through social media. Horse lovers all over the country use social media and internet message boards to help save animals. Individuals post videos, pictures, and stories of horses that have only weeks—or sometimes days—left to live. Rescue organizations appeal to the public to raise funds to pay for the animals’ release and subsequent care.

Casey is a pretty woman with a slender build and delicate features, but when she talks about WarAngel Farms and all the animals on it, she glows. She has a degree in music and entertainment management and works remotely for a music management company out of Nashville, in addition to her work at the farm. “My husband and I rescued a horse out of the slaughter pens a few years ago. I fell in love with the horse, but I couldn’t save him. He died three months later. When he passed away, I decided, ‘This is what I’m doing. I’m rescuing animals.’” She started the rescue facility in Canton, and the rest, as they say, is history.

A visit to WarAngel Farms is a story of transformation. The farm is an enclave away from the hustle of daily life. When you drive through the iron gate at WarAngel Farms Way, you hear nothing other than the whisper of falling leaves and the gentle nickers of horses. Once you pull up to the main barn, you’re greeted by one or more of the farm’s many ambassadors—charming barn cats. Curious, friendly eyes of various animals peer at you over a fence. The vision of WarAngel Farms is simple. Casey pictures a future where all animals are safe, loved, and protected. In her small corner of Cherokee, Casey and her family hope to make their vision a reality. For animals her farm cannot save, she gives them the last act of kindness so they may die with dignity instead of terrified and filthy at a kill pen.

On a tour of the farm you get to know every animal on the one-hundred-acre spread. Every animal that you meet at WarAngel Farms has a story, and Casey knows them all. The animals are as much her family as her biological one, and they are loved. She relays some of the more harrowing stories and talks at length about how much each animal has changed since its arrival. uuu

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T O WN C A N T O N W O N

Catty Shack IN October 2016 a colony of cats had taken up residence at

Canton City Hall and the Cherokee County Board of Education. Woodstock resident Ginger Sardina was contacted through a local lost-and-found cat page to help trap the felines and find a viable solution for their livelihood. Ginger had previously worked with trap, neuter, and rescue (TNR) programs in the area. After assessing the situation, Ginger and friend Bri Bankston were able to have the cats neutered and returned safely to a new home behind City Hall that would keep the kitties dry and warm. From there Ginger and Bri created The Grey Project. After receiving calls from all over the county about stray cat colonies that needed managing, Bri and Ginger created a page on Facebook for people to follow along. Eventually volunteers joined, and The Grey Project grew with the help of many volunteers. Ginger and Bri have traveled across our county feeding, trapping, rescuing, and loving on the cats they found. In 2019 The Grey Project neutered and spayed more than 250 community cats—their highest number to date. The goal of TNR is to control the cat population in the area. The team sends as many cats and kittens to rescues as they can, in an effort to give them better lives than they might have living outdoors. Many community cats still need help, although through group efforts, the feral feline population has decreased. In November 2021 The Grey Project came full circle with the addition of a new kitty colony dubbed The Catty Shack that will house free-roaming community cats in the city of Canton. Volunteer Debby Sloss organized the project. The house is located in the parking lot behind City Hall. It provides a warm, dry shelter for the cats. Members of The Grey Project will continue providing food for the cats as well. The Grey Project team maintains the colonies it has now. Volunteers visit mobile home parks and other locations to feed the cats daily. The group works with spay/neuter clinics that receive grants for free TNR. The nonprofit organization comprises volunteers with a passion. To keep up with the cats, follow @TheGreyProjectGA on Facebook.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Galveston the donkey loves to bask in the sunlight and keep the horses company.

Sheldon, the goat, is pictured here with his BFF Jack, the steer.

uuu Miniature Charlie Brown is being trained as a therapy

horse. When Casey rescued Charlie Brown out of a kill pen, he was abandoned and ill. He had shipping fever and could barely walk. Shipping fever happens when the stress of being transported compromises a horse’s immune system, and fluid builds up in the animal’s lungs. As a result of neglect, he was also blind in one eye. After a year at WarAngel, Charlie Brown is a new horse. At less than thirty inches high and only one hundred pounds, tiny Charlie is a feisty, cuddly miniature horse that demands petting. He is so gentle and well-trained that he often stays in the main house with the family. Casey describes the story of Dreamer and her colt, DC, two wild mustangs rescued from a herd in Wyoming while Dreamer was still pregnant. Dreamer was sick, scared, and starving. She was wild and untrained. She broke through three fences at the farm in her panic, but after training, love, and excellent veterinary care, both Dreamer and DC are ready for riding. They love children and nuzzle up to you the minute you get near their stalls. The farm’s newest rescue, Dutton, is a massive Amish draft horse, an ebony wall of muscle with mammoth hooves. If you look at the pictures from even weeks prior, Dutton’s eyes were a well of despair. He was unable to work because he was blind in one eye and sore from pulling. His owner had surrendered him to the slaughter pens. Casey had been watching Dutton for weeks on social media. She asked for donations over Facebook and other avenues and managed to raise the $4,000 needed to bail him out and bring him home to her farm. Dutton arrived with pneumonia and still isn’t completely cured, but he still rallies to greet Casey when she walks over. She spent the first few nights after his arrival monitoring him. When his fever spiked, she stayed up all night bathing him in alcohol until his fever finally dropped. For the first time, Dutton’s gentle face expresses hope. The stories from the farm are endless. Every animal has been rescued from horrendous conditions. Now they are all happy, healthy, and cherished. Some hope is on the horizon for suffering animals like the ones Casey has rescued. In 2021 the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act was introduced in Congress. The bill, if it becomes a law, would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the United States and ban their export, as well. Until and unless the bill becomes a law, though, senseless and cruel practices will continue. Despite the many horse rescue organizations across the county, America still has far too many animals and too few rescues.

DONATE TO WARANGEL FARMS

To support WarAngel Farms you can book a private tour, purchase a coloring book, buy a digital print online, make a one-time donation, become a monthly animal sponsor, or become a business sponsor. The farm hosts a Run for Rescues 5K for the more athletically minded and a Ride for Rescues for the motorcycle buffs.

Ringo the Sulcata tortoise is a gentle giant. He’s not your average pet.

These barn cats, Foghat, Fleetwood, and Binx, keep a watchful eye out over the farm.

The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that facilities do not have enough capacity or resources to accommodate all the unwanted horses. On average rescues are turning away more than one-third of the horses that need help. The numbers are heartbreaking, but even more distressing is that the unwanted animals aren’t gently euthanized. It’s a brutal end for the horses, and many are pregnant mares. To fund their rescue and pay for the prodigious monthly vet bills, the family offers a variety of fun-filled events for the public. It hosts movie nights as one fundraiser. You can also have private, themed photo shoots with any of the animals, and the gorgeous mustang, Dreamer, makes a beautiful unicorn. The family offers an artsy animal camp for children too, and women can enjoy Ladies’ Night Out, where groups can paint a portrait of one of the horses. Anyone can reserve a private tour to meet and cuddle with all the animals.

To donate visit the website for more information, WarAngelFarms.com/Sponsorship, or contact Casey directly at rescue@warangelfarms.com. All donations are tax-deductible. WarAngel Farms has a wishlist on Amazon and at Tractor Supply, as well. WarAngel Farms also created a 5K run for the athletic minded, plus motorcycle buffs can venture out on the WarAngel Farms Ride for Rescues. All proceeds of these events go to the animals’ care, shelter, and food.

How You Can Help While the folks at WarAngel Farms love and appreciate their volunteers, managing a rescue for large animals is a formidable undertaking. Family members work from dawn to dusk, and they don’t get paid for their work. You can volunteer your time, particularly if you will help with cleaning. WarAngel Farms mostly relies on donations to keep the farm running. To help, visit WarAngelFarms.com. You can send donations through PayPal, contact Casey at rescue@warangelfarms.com, or call 770-317-8476. All donations are tax deductible. WarAngel Farms has a wish list on Amazon and at Tractor Supply too.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

SOUND

By Michael Mullet, Ball Ground Resident

Speedy Smith spent more than forty years traveling the world with some of the biggest names in rock music, mixing concert sound for the likes of Aerosmith, Kansas, and the Zac Brown Band. Today you’re more likely to find him volunteering at Canton’s Action Church than running a thirtytwo-track arena sound board. Although others who have worked with music stars may have big heads, Speedy has a big heart. 16

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Life on the road with rock and roll bands is not merely fast and fun. Speedy is pictured here while working for David Allen Coe around 2010.

Speedy is pictured with his granddaughter Kazarah, who is rocking her balloon tiara.

I met Speedy Smith sometime in the 2010s. I was performing at Canton Festival of the Arts and Speedy was the sound man, mixing the microphones, amplifiers, monitors, and speakers so the performers sounded good when they played. He gave me a firm handshake. “Good to meet you, brother.” He calls most people brother. He looked at the stage and said, “I’ve got you a mic, a direct-input box you can plug your guitar into, and a monitor. What else do you need?” I didn’t need anything else, because Speedy is a pro. He’s got the stories to prove it too, if you can get him to tell you any. uuu

The author, performing at The Mill on Etowah, can rock on with sound production by Speedy Productions. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

uuu A

Heart for Helping

When I called Speedy to arrange an interview, he told me to meet him at Action Church, the former IGA grocery store on Marietta Road near downtown Canton. It was early November, and I found him surrounded by pallets of food. Nearby a freezer was full of turkeys. “Hey, brother!” he says. “So we are getting ready for Giving Canton the Bird, which is the annual Thanksgiving dinner giveaway Action Ministries does. I picked up all the side dishes this week. We’re going to reach about three hundred families.” He continues, “This Sunday (the Sunday before Thanksgiving) people can drive up in their cars, and we give them everything they need to make a complete Thanksgiving dinner.” Speedy has been involved with Action Church for about ten years, volunteering to do whatever needs to be done. “I’ll take charge of it if I can,” he says, “the food giveaways, the warming shelters, school celebrations, and the audio production for the church services. I don’t get a paycheck. This is something that’s got to be in your heart, that you want to help people out.” Speedy was hired by Steven Tyler himself right as Aerosmith was beginning their ascent to mainstream success.

uuu

Speedy says working with Kansas helped him learn the trade. Locally Speedy helps with running sound at events like the Etowah Film Festival. Speedy is involved in many of the festivals and live music productions around Atlanta, including this performance at the Atlanta Beer Festival.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Eventually we make our way to a small room in the back of the church where we can talk about how he does earn a paycheck and some of the world-famous musicians he’s worked with over the years.

Music Man

“First thing you need to know, I’m not a name dropper,” he says, which is not quite true. He’ll tell you the names of the bands he’s worked with and when and where. What he won’t tell you is the nitty-gritty, the lurid tales of a rock band on the road in the 1970s and 1980s. “Whatever you imagine it was like, that’s probably what it was like,” he says. “And then some.” Born in Detroit in 1959, Speedy made his way to Maine in the late 1960s, determined to work in the music industry. He got his start with a chance meeting that very likely wouldn’t happen today. “Back then the bands used to hang out with the people who came to the shows,” Speedy recounts. “I had gone to see the J. Geils Band, and I went see if they were hiring. They weren’t, but sent me to talk to the warm-up band.”

He found a man who went by the name Cowboy, who in turn told him to go talk to the warm-up band’s singer, Steven. Steven was Steven Tyler, and that band was Aerosmith,” Speedy says. “They put me to work. Grunt work, carrying equipment, a roadie basically. The Get Your Wings album had just come out, and I went on tour with them.

“

”

Interestingly, in a 2018 episode of American Pickers on the History Channel, a Massachusetts property owner had unearthed an old van on his land and worked with the show hosts to authenticate it as the van Aerosmith used to tour in the early 1970s. Speedy could

authenticate it just by looking. “That’s what we used to travel in, that van. It was a few years later that they finally got a big tour bus.” He worked with Aerosmith for about five years before moving on to Kansas—the band—his employer for the next twenty-eight years.

Sounding Good

“Kansas taught me a trade, teaching me to do front house,” says Speedy, referring to the big—and often loud—speakers that face the audience. “I toured around the world with them, Europe, Australia, China, Japan, Central America, and South America. We were never home.” By 1995 he found himself ready to give up never being home and settled in Florida, where some members of Kansas also lived. In 2000 he started Speedy Productions, his own concert production company. He worked his way north and eventually to Canton in 2008. He remains well-known in the music industry. “I was hired by Garth Brooks when he did the first concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” he says. “It was a really difficult show. That place was designed for sports, not concerts, and the sound was bouncing off everything. The audience was disappointed, Garth was disappointed, and so was I. We all returned our pay for that show; it was the right thing to do.” The stadium reportedly invested several million dollars in upgrades, and subsequent concerts have generated few complaints about sound quality. Speedy continues to be in demand for shows all over metro Atlanta. “I did several shows with the Zac Brown Band a few years ago,”

Business

Computers

Bands can trust their performance will sound great with Speedy’s help.

Speedy says. “I ran one of the stages when the Super Bowl was in town. I did Music Midtown years ago and will be doing Atlanta Beer Fest. In Canton I’ve done First Fridays and run the sound at The Mill on Etowah stage. Between those shows and Action Church, I stay pretty busy.” He’s never been starstruck, so when he shows up, he does his job. Even if the audience doesn’t understand why the sound is so good, the performers certainly do. Despite having worked with some of the biggest musicians in the world, Speedy is still generous to musicians who will never be famous. For example last fall I was hired for a ninety-minute set at The Mill on Etowah before a Monday Night Football watch party. Speedy did the sound, so I knew I would sound good. The worst thing that happened was that I lost my clip-on guitar tuner. Two days later Speedy called to say he found it. “Just call me when you want to come pick it up. I’ll meet you there,” he said.

Media

ChattahoocheeTech.edu I 770-528-4545

Health

Technical

A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Equal Opportunity Institution.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

HOCKEY

By Leana Conway, Woodstock Resident

Although football and its star players have traditionally been the “sports love language” of the South, times are changing. Cherokee County can now boast a professional hockey player as one of its notable sports figures. Woodstock High School graduate Zach Yoder signed with the Atlanta Gladiators, a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth. 20

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ZACH

isn’t alone in his fame. Cherokee County takes pride in all the professional athletic talent it has produced over the years. Some names include Woodstock graduate Nick Markakis, formerly of the Atlanta Braves; Woodstock High School graduate Kent Emmanuel, former Houston Astros pitcher; current San Francisco Forty-niner and Etowah High School graduate Buster Skrine; Cherokee High School graduate Charles “Too Mean” Martin, former Atlanta Falcon; and current Braves prospect and Etowah graduate Drew Waters. Atlanta Gladiators President Jerry James, who signed twenty-seven-year-old Zach and another Atlanta native on July 21 says, “Atlanta is continuing to build on a rich hockey tradition. We could not be more excited to sign two local products with such bright futures.” Cherokee County’s first professional hockey player had a long, hard journey to get to where he is today. At six feet, five inches, Zach is taller than the average hockey player. He does have hockey hair, though, the kind that blows gently when he glides across the ice. Unfortunately the effect is ruined by those pesky helmet rules. Zach also has a lot of teeth for a hockey player, but he still has time to have a few knocked out. His demeanor is so chill and relaxed that you might think he is a surfer; however, conversations with those close to him reveal the secret to his success is a will of iron. uuu

Zach played in his first Atlanta Gladiators game in November of 2021. Looking sharp!

Professional game photos courtesy of Dale Zanine

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uuu Nick Bonatucci, a neighbor of the Yoder family and Zach’s

coach for his first team, the Flyers, comments, “I witnessed a five-year-old Zach Yoder watch his first hockey game. It was clear the sport and the kid were meant to be together. As the years have gone by, I can honestly say that in the twenty-seven years I have known this young man, only his character and dedication to succeed exceed his athletic prowess.” Zach says he had a great childhood growing up in Deer Run on a cul-de-sac full of boys, including his little brother, Jacob. Roller hockey games were on more than off.

ATLANTA GLADIATORS Schedule 2022 JANUARY Date Time

1 2 7 8 9 12 14 16 17 21 22 28 30

7:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3:05 p.m. 7:35 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m.

Opponent Florida Everblades Florida Everblades Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville Swamp Rabbits Cincinatti Cyclones Jacksonville Icemen Norfolk Admirals Florida Everblades Florida Everblades Florida Everblades Jacksonville Icemen Jacksonville Icemen

Home/Away Home Home Home Home Away Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Home

FEBRUARY Date Time

2 5 6 9 11 12 18 19 20

7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 7:35 p.m. 7:10 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m. 3:00 p.m.

Opponent Norfolk Admirals Norfolk Admirals Norfolk Admirals Cincinatti Cyclones Wheeling Nailers Toledo Walleye Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville Swamp Rabbits

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Home/Away Home Home Home Away Away Away Away Away Home

Zach’s mom, Tish, gave up trying to get her boys to remove their skates when they came in to use the bathroom or get water. Things were broken and paint was scraped, but Tish and Fritz Yoder look back on those years with great fondness. When asked what she thinks as she watches her son whipping around on the ice as an Atlanta Gladiator, Tish replies, “He can skate better backward than most people can walk forward.” She chuckles and adds, “It isn’t that Zach has been the most talented that has gotten him to where he is; it is that he has been the most driven. My son is not perfect; none of my children are, but they are all blessed with a great work ethic and inner drive. There have been a lot of highs and a lot of lows for Zach on this road, but Zach is always all in. All in for his family, and all in for the goals he set for himself.”

Zach says it was the speed that was the real draw of hockey. I tried pretty much all the sports and loved them all, but going so fast and having to think quickly is what made me focus on hockey.

“

”

Dennis Conway was Zach’s lacrosse coach at Woodstock High School before Zach left the sport because of the demands of his hockey schedule. Dennis says what coaches of other sports would probably have said: “We would have loved to have Zach on our team. He was really good, but he was at a point where he had to choose to play hockey and nothing else. Aside from his talent, we wanted someone with his character on our team—humble and hardworking but a fierce competitor. It’s a rare combination. Plus, his parents let him be his own man. Many parents with talented kids micromanage.” Ice time in the South is at a premium, so practices and games often take place at insanely early hours. Zach’s family, including his older sister, Sarah, and his younger brother, Jacob, had to get up, load into the family car, and travel all over the place for Zach to play the sport he loved. Jacob, who says he always looked up to his big brother, didn’t mind too much because, “Zach said he was going to play professional hockey, so that was going to happen, and there was no point in fighting all the driving and games.”

Zach has had a love for the sport of hockey since he was a kid. He’s a natural. Zach loved his time playing in Woodstock colors for the high school club team.

The Yoder family is a close-knit bunch, taking time for vacations to together.

Zach’s siblings, Jacob and Sarah, have supported his dream since a young age, and they have the stories to prove it.

Sarah, however, doesn’t mince words and says those times were miserable. She sounds a tiny bit nostalgic, though, as she recounts being squished into the family Suburban, the smell of a stinky hockey bag wafting through the car, riding hours to games before most of the world was awake. She laughs when she says, “Once we got close to the rink, Zach insisted we put on his pump-up music, ‘Cecilia’ by Simon and Garfunkel. Jacob and I call it our PTSD music.” Folk music from the 1970s was an unusual musical choice for a millennial, but Zach played goalie for a long time, and hockey goalies are known for being a different breed. Zach played on travel hockey teams, but one of his fondest memories comes from winning the state championship with the Woodstock club team with all of his friends. A broad smile spreads across Zach’s face when he talks about that accomplishment. “Winning with the guys you’ve grown up with is special. Plus, being a defenseman, I normally don’t score many goals, but I got to score some goals in those club games. Winning in Cherokee County was awesome. It’s home for me. The effort so many people have put into me from that community helped get me where I am.” uuu [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Zach will represent Cherokee County well as he continues his career in hockey. You can spot him on the ice this season at some of the upcoming Gladiators games.

5 INITIATIVES

1 FOCUS

Drug Free Cherokee | Suicide Prevention | Cherokee Youth Works | Cherokee Youth Council | Cherokee Collaborative

A VERY SPECIAL

Thank You to our Sponsors

Pam & Rob Logan

and family

Renee & Michael Zenchuk

and family

Jennifer & Bob Kovacs

and family

Celebrating 20 Years of Service “People, Partnerships, and Possibilities.”

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

uuu Zach hasn’t always been able to play hockey in Georgia,

though. Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey for players between ages sixteen and twenty-one. To play in this league Zach moved to Muskegon, Michigan, where he played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks during his junior and senior high school years and lived with host families. Toward the end of his senior year, Zach sustained an injury that brought him home to graduate from Woodstock High School. After high school Zach spent two years playing for the Janesville Jets in Janesville, Wisconsin. Zach says the Huss family in Muskegon, the Runde family in Janesville, and the Van Zandt family in Janesville played a huge part in his hockey career by welcoming him into their homes and families. After high school Zach played one season at the Air Force Academy before transferring to Ferris State University as a Bulldog, where he graduated with his master of business administration.

In 2020 Zach was supposed to be playing with the Toledo Walleye, but the league shut down during the pandemic, so again he returned to Woodstock. A traveling nurse, his sister Sarah was twenty-seven and living in Salt Lake City at the time and was shocked by a breast cancer diagnosis. For the Yoder family hockey suddenly did not seem as important.

When asked if her brothers were supportive during her battle with cancer, Sarah grows emotional and silent for a moment before saying, “My parents and both my brothers were amazing when I was diagnosed. Zach is my more emotional brother and more likely to cry. Zach applied his intense drive to my cancer treatment. He looked at it as a challenge we had to get through together.

“Both brothers texted and called me, encouraging me during my treatment, saying, ‘Only ten radiation treatments to go,’ and so forth. When I finished all my treatments, the family had a Zoom celebration with champagne. My brothers and I are close.” Today Sarah’s cancer is in remission. In January the Gladiators will play a game to raise money for cancer research, and Zach will have a sign that says, “I fight for my sister.” Zach readily acknowledges the tremendous sacrifices the entire family made to make his hockey dreams come true. While thanking his family he pauses and says, “Really, I don’t know how to thank them enough. They sacrificed their time, their weekends, their social life, and a lot of their money. I’m not sure I would let my kids play hockey.” He thinks and then says, “Well, I would have to, wouldn’t I?” His siblings might think karma would be served if he had male triplets who became hockey stars one day. Playing in Atlanta is a dream come true, Zach says. “I am super excited to be able to play where it all started. It’s nice to have my friends, family, and my girlfriend, Jordyn Berger, who have been so supportive of me while I played up North, finally be able to come to games. I used to go to Gladiator games as a kid, and now being able to play for the team I grew up watching is super special to me. I hope to represent Woodstock well.” By all accounts Zach is sure to make the Cherokee County community proud on and off the ice.

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COLORECTAL CANCER

MEET THE DOCTOR Dr. Mohammed Al Fayyadh Northside Cherokee Surgical Associates Dr. Mohammed Al Fayyadh is board-certified in general surgery and board eligible in colon and rectal surgery. With unique training in minimally-invasive surgical procedures, Dr. Al Fayyadh collaborates with his patients to best guide them to healthier, happier lives. He enjoys working closely with his patients to make sure they receive the best care and understand their health needs and treatment plans.

Colorectal cancer is when cancer cells develop in the colon or rectum. This is currently the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Recently, colorectal cancer cases have been increasing in younger ages likely due to changes in our diets. That’s why the recommended age for a colonoscopy is as young as 45. If detected early, colorectal cancer is completely curable, so it’s important to get screening tests. You can support a healthy colon by following a high-fiber diet and staying physically active.

Listen to

ASK THE DOCTOR on WLJA 101.1 FM First & Third Wednesday of each month at 5:15 pm

Dr. Al Fayyadh has over eight years of highquality training and has completed over 2,000 surgical procedures. He is proud to provide exceptional care in our community and works hard to improve the quality of life in his patients.

FPO 26

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Northside Cherokee Surgical Associates Canton - 470 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Suite 230, Canton, GA 30115 • 770-924-9656 Woodstock - 900 Towne Lake Pkwy, Suite 412, Woodstock, GA 30189

PRODUCIONS

ASK THE DOCTOR What part of the body do you refer to when talking about colorectal cancer? There are two types of intestines in the abdomen, the small intestine and large intestine. Colorectal cancer affects the large intestine which consists of the colon or rectum.

How common is colorectal cancer? Colorectal cancer is extremely common. It is the third leading cancer type in the United States for both men and women.

Who can get colorectal cancer? Anyone can get colorectal cancer. There is a current trend in colorectal cancers developing in younger patients, likely related to changes in our diets.

Is colorectal cancer preventable? Absolutely, getting screenings at the recommended intervals can help prevent colorectal cancer from developing, because we can remove precancerous polyps when they are small during a colonoscopy.

What’s the age to start getting a screening colonoscopy? Given the increase in colorectal cancers in younger ages, the new recommendation is to get a colonoscopy starting at age 45. It might need to be done at an earlier age if there is higher risk. Talk to your doctor to get scheduled for one.

How painful is colonoscopy?

Are there any risk factors that increase my chance of getting colorectal cancer?

Colonoscopy is not painful. You will be asleep during the procedure, which typically lasts from 10 to 30 minutes. The bowel cleansing is usually the most painful, but we use bowel cleansing agents that are tolerable.

Yes. Risk factors include getting older, personal/family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, and inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis.

How would I know if I have colorectal cancer?

Lifestyle risk factors include lack of regular physical activity, low-fiber and high-fat diet, a diet high in processed meat, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

How can I keep my colon healthy? To keep healthy, make sure to get regular screening tests including a colonoscopy and eat high-fiber diets including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The recommended fiber intake is 25g per day for women and 30g per day for men. Diet changes can be done gradually by eliminating certain foods and adding others that keep you healthy.

Unfortunately, polyps and early tumors are asymptomatic therefore a screening colonoscopy can help identify precancerous polyps early. Listen to your body. If you notice abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, bleeding from the rectum or weight loss, these could be symptoms of colorectal cancer and you should get checked right away.

Is there a cure for colorectal cancer? Absolutely, there are currently great advances in treatment that would allow complete cure of colorectal cancer if detected early.

NEXT ON: ASK THE DOCTOR Thoracic Surgery with Dr. G. Andrew Helms Send your questions to: nswellness@northside.com [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

SHOP LOCAL

Art Jewelers

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Art Jewelers is a family-owned business in Woodstock that provides high-quality gemstones, metals, and handcrafted jewelry. Started by a Canadian immigrant with a passion for fine jewelry in 1926, the business has grown and relocated, and the Woodstock store has been serving our community for thirty years, passing from one generation to another. Dave Meadows owns the business now, while Angelica and Andrew McDeermond, Dave’s daughter and son-in-law, run the store. Custom jewelry is the passion of Art Jewelers, and it will intimately work with you from start to finish in crafting your perfect, personalized piece. Its certified gemologists expertly design your dream piece and make repairs to other pieces as well, all in house at the Woodstock location. The store carries everything from earrings to engagement rings and a variety of gemstones and materials, all at good prices. Art Jewelers’ highly trained staff will help you discover a gift that your special someone will adore. Special features for Valentine’s Day include elegant diamond solitaire earrings, a diamond eternity band, and a sparkling diamond solitaire ring. Don the diamond earrings and sparkle or drop a few hints to your special someone for the diamond solitaire ring. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a new piece of jewelry for yourself or those you love. Hours of Business Tuesday–Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday & Monday: Closed Visit ArtJewelers.com to learn more or visit the store at 136 Woodstock Square Avenue, Suite 400, Woodstock.

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Fowler’s Florist

Paula’s Zzerts

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Fowler’s Florist has been a staple in the Canton area for more than forty-five years, serving the community with fresh and beautiful arrangements for all occasions. Fowler’s Florist boasts the experience of owner Larry Fowler, who has worked in the floral industry for more than fifty years.

Paula Elias of Paula’s Zzerts explains that her bakery in Canton produces the perfect treat, just like Grandma used to make. Paula describes the heart of the business as family recipes and family techniques. Paula’s Grama Zagata called desserts “z-zerts,” which inspired the name of Paula’s business. “Baking is a way to honor what I’ve learned from my grandmothers and mother,” she says.

Creating a personal relationship with each of his customers is important to Larry. “I have some customers who started with me when I started, and I try my best to take care of them,” Larry shares. The same staff members have been with Larry for more than twenty years, ensuring a perfect bouquet for each order that comes into the shop.

For the Valentine holiday Paula’s Zzerts offers a variety of chocolate truffles, including the classic dark, milk, and white chocolate. Toppings include nuts, powder, or flavored drizzles. Paula serves truffles perfect for every palate.

Many of Fowler’s flowers come from South America. “We get topof-the-line flowers that are vibrant and last longer,” Larry says. “We take steps to ensure the flowers will last, and our customers tell us they do.” The team sees that deliveries are not left outside in bad weather and notify recipients over the phone if they are not home.

Zzerts commits to using only high-quality ingredients, which includes organic and local ingredients as much as possible, including apples from R & A Orchards in Ellijay, among others. These qualities won Paula’s Zzerts the 2021 Best of Georgia Desserts Award.

This Valentine’s Day Fowler’s Florist offers the classic dozen roses in addition to colorful mixed bouquets custom designed and sure to please your special someone. Whether it’s a holiday, anniversary, other special occasion, or simply a chance to brighten someone’s day, visit Fowler’s Florist for a carefully crafted bouquet as a special gift. Fowler’s offers custom orders and walk-ins as well as online ordering.

The new retail location, just opened in November 2021, features many of the bakery’s options on a rotating basis. “It’s exciting to see a dream come to pass with our new retail location,” Paula shares. Guests can visit the store in Canton, order online for pickup, and find goodies from Zzerts featured at farmer’s markets and local events.

Hours of Business Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Hours of Business Tuesday–Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Pick up your fresh bouquet at 430 East Main Street in Canton. Visit FowlersFlorist.com or call 770-479-3392 to order.

Visit Paula at 140 Keith Drive, Canton, call 404-382-8543, or visit PaulasZzerts.com to shop and read more about the bakery.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

TRAILS

There are a variety of landscape views located within the Sutallee Trace with both wide and narrow trails.

The trails can become an untouched winter wonderland when it snows. Pictured here snow covers the Frank Stone memorial foot bridge.

By Katie Wheeler, Canton Resident

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

The Etowah Trails system is the perfect place for taking a walk in the woods to disconnect from our busy world.

All photos courtesy of Alison Christou.

*Unless otherwise noted.

The Etowah Trails System comprises several trails that stretch from Boling Park in Canton to the area known as Rock Creek Estates and also west toward the Georgia National Cemetery. The trails explore undeveloped wooded areas that border along the Etowah River. Almost fifteen miles of paths pass through historic 1800s settlements, traverse bridges, offer scenic river views, and walk hikers through history.

s a youth in the 1950s, Dan Owen, now the trail system liaison, was a member of Boy Scout Troop 142, a forerunner of the current Troop 241. Troop 142 gave Dan a foundational love of hiking, backpacking, and being in nature. “After returning to Canton following college and a stint with the Air Force, I was invited to assist with an Appalachian Trail backpacking trip with Troop 241 in the early 1970s,” Dan recalls. He continued assisting with troop events and was appointed scoutmaster when former leaders Al Schwamlein and Charles Raines were no longer able. “I ‘retired’ as scoutmaster some ten or fifteen years back but continue to assist the troop committee and act as a liaison for trail work,” Dan says.

When America celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, so did various groups and organizations in Cherokee County. Part of the planning process for the bicentennial project involved the reprinting of the 1895 map of Cherokee County, the first official map. Earlier in the year Dan and members of Canton’s Troop 241 had been out camping on former Jones Mercantile land, wandering around the empty wooded areas in what is now the middle of the Fairways of Canton Golf Club. As they enjoyed the peaceful sounds of nature and forging their way alongside the Etowah River, the troop discovered what seemed to be parts of an old road. uuu [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

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Many are eager to learn about the history of the land that the trails system runs through.

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Dan “the Man” acts as a liason for all maintenance and repairs along the trails, both for Troop 241 and the Trace Trail Stewards. Boy Scout Troop 241 and the Trace Trail Stewards built a new foot bridge in 2021 to keep the trails accessible for hikers.

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Continuous maintenance is required to keep the trails usable and safe. Volunteers are kind to donate their time to building bridges and keeping trails clear.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

▼

At the trailhead at Hightower Church, you will find a map of the Etowah Hiking Trails. There is also a QR code available for hikers to pull up a map before they begin their hike.

uuu“The 1895 Cherokee County map clearly showed a

roadway on the north side of the Etowah River connecting Canton to the Sutallee community, long before the waters of the new Allatoona Lake covered much of the land area,” Dan explains. Intrigued by history and nature, Troop 241 approached the Bicentennial Commission to request permission for the Scouts to establish a nature and historic trail along the historic roadway. Along with assistance from consulting attorney Mike Bray, the troop secured approval and landowner permission to start the trails. Dan shares, “As far as we know, the Scout Trail project and the Cherokee County Historical Society (History Cherokee) organization are the only two Cherokee County Bicentennial projects that remain.” Early on, Dan and the troop continued to research the history of the land and explore the areas for the trails. The old roadway was unnamed on the 1895 map, so the troop coined the name Sutallee Trace because the land reminded the group of the famous Natchez Trace, a 444-mile recreational road that passes through three states. “We said, ‘This looks like the Natchez Trace here . . . and it goes through Sutallee . . . so let’s call it the Sutallee Trace,” Dan explains. The land is mostly owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA). Contractual agreements with the

Corps and CCWSA were required for the troop to gain permission to build trails on the land, but there was a small hiccup: Boy Scout troops are not a legal entity. They operate under an approved sponsoring organization. Undeterred, Dan and Troop 241 decided to self-sponsor by forming a nonprofit Georgia corporation, Scouts Canton, Inc. The corporation then served as the figurehead for all necessary agreements in making the trails a reality. From there and for the past forty-five years, the group has blazed trails, built bridges, and made a large tract of western Cherokee County accessible to the public. In the years since beginning the project, Dan has learned a great deal about the rich history of the area the trails traverse. History books tell us that around the year 1540, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto explored the area of Northwest Georgia. After that time—it is uncertain exactly when—European Americans settled the area known as Sutallee, derived from sutali, the Cherokee word for six. The settlement in Western Cherokee County revolved around the Etowah River. Today the Sutallee Trace is the remnant of a longabandoned roadway that once passed through that community. The land around the trace was first inhabited by Cherokee and Creek Native Americans who lived on the land for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of European immigrants. uuu

▼ In the upper left is the original map of Cherokee County from 1895 where the old roadbed of the trace is first visible. The current day map, in color, depicts the many trails and areas they traverse. This map is available online for hikers to reference.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

This magical winter scene is just one of the special spots along the Sutallee Trace.

uuu In the past two to three years, a newly formed group of

dedicated and local trail enthusiasts called the Trace Trail Stewards have assisted Dan and Troop 241 in caring for the Sutallee Trace. The group began when Mike McCoy, a local resident and frequent runner of the Trace Trails, noticed trees down across trails or leaves that needed clearing from his beloved trails. “I’d bring out my chainsaw and cut up the tree—no big deal, because I cared about the trails and enjoyed being out there,” Mike says. After several months of clearing and maintaining the trail on his own, he realized the need for other volunteers. “Around the trailheads I posted signs asking anyone who wanted to get involved in trail maintenance to meet at the Frank Stone Bridge in Boling Park where the trails start,” Mike recalls. “At that first meeting there were twenty people, so that was the beginning of the Trace Trail Stewards.” The Trace Trail Stewards operate under the auspices of Boy Scout Troop 241 and intend to preserve the natural beauty of the Sutallee Trace wilderness. “The Boy Scouts have done so much for these trails over the years, but when they aren’t available to care for the trails, the Stewards step in and take care of keeping the trails clear and nice,” says Mike. Along the routes you’ll see various references to Troop 241, through bridges they’ve built and maintenance they’ve done. Scout Troop 241 remains the legal entity behind the Trace Trails, while the Stewards are a supportive volunteer group. Dan explains further, “You might say it’s almost like a hamburger franchise. The Scouts have a franchise over the trails. Because we are the entity that holds agreements with the landowners, we become responsible for the land the trails go on and what can and can’t be done.”

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The trails include the White Trail, or Trace Trail, which roughly follows the old Sutallee Trace road for about four miles. Two miles in length, beginning and ending at Hightower Church, the Green Trail is the only loop trail in the system. The Yellow, Orange, and Purple trails are all connector trails. The Orange Trail was considerably damaged by clear cutting along Shoal Creek Road in 2020, but the Trace Trail Stewards plan to restore the path. All trails other than the Green Trail are linear, out-and-back trails that don’t end where they began. Hikers must retrace their steps or take connecting trails to get back to where they began, which can add considerable distance to a hike. Dan and the Trace Trail Stewards hope to blaze more loop trails along undevelopable river wetlands. Cell phone service and GPS tracking can be lost in remote areas of the Trace, so bringing a compass and paper map is always a best practice. It is also important to be aware of hunting seasons, especially deer-hunting season, when hiking on Corps of Engineers land. The rich history of the area continues to be a point of interest for both Dan and Mike, who are always seeking to learn more about the trace and its origins. The Sutallee Trace Trails provide access to largely untouched beauty in our rapidly growing community, and the stewards plan to keep the trails intact even as Cherokee becomes more urbanized.

VOLUNTEER WITH THE TRACE TRAIL STEWARDS To help maintain Sutallee Trace Trails, contact Mike McCoy at michaelmccoy0829@gmail.com. To send monetary donations to Boy Scout Troop 241 and/or the Trace Trails, contact Dan Owen at lindanowen99@windstream.net. Find more information about the history of the Sutallee Trace and the Etowah Trails at EtowahHikingTrails.org or EtowahTrail.com.

When you’re in need to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, consider a walk through the woods in Cherokee’s backyard.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

WOODWORKING

a Lifetime of Memories By Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

Sara and Hines Manous have carved a lifetime of memories together during their sixty-one years of marriage, and memories are not the only thing Hines loves to carve. The talented artist is a master of woodworking. As a student at Canton High years ago, he made a cedar chest in Kleven Boston’s industrial arts class. Hines entered it in the Cherokee County fair and won a blue ribbon. His interest in woodworking never stopped.

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Hines Manous is known for the realistic snake sticks he creates from pieces of wood that have grown in a distorted way because they are wrapped in honeysuckle, such as the one he holds here. His wife, Sara, displays one of his finished sticks, burned into the pattern of an Eastern diamondback rattlesnake.

ince his retirement in 1999 from the poultry industry in Cherokee County, Hines spends time creating a variety of imaginative yet functional pieces for his family and others. Whether it is a baby cradle, an armoire, a dining table, a handcarved figurine, or a decorative bowl, each piece is a work of art. “I have to imagine anything I am going to do, and I work toward that end. Once I know the direction I want to go, I put it down on paper and draw it,” Hines explains. Among his most acclaimed pieces are his snake sticks, eye-catching walking canes. He makes them from a single piece of wood, and they look as though a live snake is climbing along a branch. Hines’s interest in snake sticks was piqued by one his sister created around the time he retired. Since then he has created more than two hundred of these pieces of art, each one unique. While making the snake sticks is time consuming, Hines says it is rewarding. Those who purchase the exceptional creations cherish them for their artistry and beauty. Hines searches for wood wrapped in a honeysuckle vine that distorted the branch. Hines removes the vine to reveal what will eventually become the snake. “Each one is different. I look at the wood, and whatever I saw there is what I carve. Sometimes I might start by seeing an eye and then carve the rest around that eye. The wood guides me,” Hines explains. He creates the snake’s patterns with various branding tools, adding no colors, “since you can vary the color by increasing and decreasing the heat.” Sara points out that while the snake sticks are memorable, Hines has created many other pieces of beauty, including much of the furniture in their home in the Avery community. The couple bought the land where they built their home about fifty-seven years ago from long-time Cherokee County Commissioner Trammel Carmichael and have lived there since then. uuu

< Hines creates stunning bowls such as this one from burls, abnormal growths on trees, mostly oak or maple. He signs each one.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Hines built this striking armoire, one of the many pieces of furniture he made in the couple’s home in the Avery community. Photographs of the couple’s two children, Michael and Susan, who are both deceased, are displayed next to the armoire. The baby clothes are those of Susan.

Hines carves many decorative figurines, including this vignette of a farmer, his cart, and his animals. The only part of the artwork he did not carve are the leather straps.

Sara Manous especially loves the grandfather clock her husband surprised her with one Christmas. Hines carved and created the entire clock except for the works and face.

uuu Among the many functional and decorative

pieces of furniture are several tables, a dry sink, a large bread box, and a small kitchen cabinet for the pantry. While Sara says she loves them all, her favorite is the grandfather clock. “Hines made it for me one Christmas, and I didn’t even know he was making it. He started after Thanksgiving,” Sara remembers. “He made the spindles, front, and sides; everything but the works.”

Hines discovers burls growing in forests and cuts them off the trees. Once again, he lets the wood direct him as to the pattern for the artistic piece. He has made more than twenty, many of which are displayed in his and Sara’s home.

< Hines and Sara are pictured here on their first date, which was to Hines’s junior-senior prom for Canton High School in 1956 at the Canton Golf Club. He was in the last graduating class of Canton High.

While she treasures the grandfather clock, she loves displaying Hines’s wooden burl bowls. Burl bowls are highly collectible and have a place in American history. A burl is an abnormal growth on the side of a tree that creates a protrusion. The slow-growing irregular bulge can come from a fungus, insects, or stress to the tree. Hines uses mostly oak or maple burls. Once people recognized the potential of burl wood in the early days of American history, it was made into a variety of bowls and other utilitarian wares. The tricky component of working with burl is that it is dense, and working with it can be difficult. The more varied the patterns in the burl, the harder it is to chisel or lathe.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Sara, now eighty-two, and Hines, who is eighty-four, began dating when they were in high school. Sara recalls, “He asked me to go to the junior-senior prom when he was in the eleventh grade. I agreed to go, and we met at Mary Ann Morgan’s house in Canton.” Hines graduated

in the last class from Canton High School in 1956 and Sara was in the first graduating class of Cherokee High School in 1957. She is heading up the effort for the class’s sixty-fifth reunion. The couple dated for about five years before they were married. Hines served in the United States Navy during that time. Their wedding took place in 1960 at Macedonia Baptist Church. Sara wore the same wedding dress her sister, Mary Beavers Johnston, wore a year earlier, when she married William “Bill” Johnston from Woodstock. The sisters and their family grew up in Macedonia.

A service person was really a bit like a chicken doctor, Sara points out. Hines cut open chickens

Sara had a prestigious career with the Bank of Canton, where she went to work in 1958 in bookkeeping and rose to be a vice president at the Free Home branch by the time she retired in 2000. She was the first female loan officer at the local bank in Cherokee County. Despite some health issues for Hines and the tragic loss of both their children, Sara and Hines continue to carve out a beautiful life together in a house decorated and filled with love.

Hines and Sara revisit the Canton Golf Club in 2002, scene of their first date in 1956, for Sara’s forty-five-year class reunion. Sara was a member of the first graduating class of the new Cherokee High School.

Hines went to work for Central Soya, the poultry plant in Canton, as a service person in the early 1960s. His main responsibility was to visit the chicken growers who supplied Central Soya with their broilers and inspect the chicken houses and chickens.

if they were sick to see what was causing the illness. He then gave the chickens their needed medicine to make sure the crops were in good condition. Cherokee County was the broiler capital of the world during the 1950s and 1960s, producing more chickens than any other region in the world.

remembering

A LIFE WELL LIVED...

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

HAYDEN’S REVIEW

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

UNION HILL (Top Left) The Ahi Tuna Tartare is a crowd favorite, featuring seasonal ingredients and flavors. The special appetizer is a fresh bite to start your meal. (Top Center) The full bar includes Marcus’s carefully curated whiskey list, one of the most select and affordable in the area. (Bottom Left) The Union Hill Bar and Grill chicken wings are a prime game-day choice. This offering keeps the Cheers crowd coming back. (Bottom Right) The dining room is a blend of farmhouse and fine-dining elegance. Beautiful interior design make the space feel intimate and warm.

On the west side of Cherokee County, surrounded by open land and horse farms, is a hidden gem of upscale dining. Locals, however, know that the Union Hill Bar and Grill is the Cheers of Hickory Flat. Union Hill Bar and Grill has created an elegant menu complete with a curated high-profile drink list, all while maintaining the friendly atmosphere locals love. Although the Union Hill Bar and Grill is only a twenty-minute

drive from upper-echelon restaurants in Milton and Alpharetta, this local eatery holds its own. The dining experience combines the nostalgia of a local hangout with the refinement and attraction of a fine-dining menu.

The intimate dining room blends farmhouse décor with tablecloths and elegant place settings. Along the walls are paintings and photos of horses, barns, and farm landscapes, all images from customers’ properties. The space exudes rustic elegance with Mason jar glasses on the tables and a large wooden bar with high-top seating.

The co-owning families Marcus and Carlie Bifaro and Bob and Kim Brandsma are the third owners since the restaurant opened in 2011. Their goal in taking over ownership was in Marcus’s words, “To keep the Union Hill Grill the grill but adapt to the times and modernize the look, while keeping our new, elevated Southern menu.”

In the center of the dining room is a fully stocked bar that features 150 bottles of whiskey that owner Marcus handpicked. His pride in the prime selection comes from months of diligence in collecting whiskeys from distributors and creating the most affordable list in the area. The curated wine list is also top notch, complementing each dish featured on the elevated menu. uuu

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

uuu Marcus says he appreciates the support

of customers, some who often eat at the grill three times a week, some even sitting in the same seat on each visit. “It is the local eating and watering hole where customers know us, and we know them. They order their favorite specials and drinks and enjoy the environment.” Many of the regulars look forward to the blue-plate specials, dishes such as grilled chicken breast, the Local Burger, veal meatloaf, and fried Gulf shrimp. The chef’s addition of specialty sides and sauces gives these Southern staples a lift. Marcus shares that the community has made owning a business in Cherokee special. “People reach out to me personally; they know my kids’ birthdays. It is an extremely neighborhood-oriented location. I chose this to be my home, and our customers reflect that fact. The people here are honest, great, and loyal to our business.”

Using the freshest, highest quality ingredients available, Marcus and the exceptional staff serve up handcrafted, appetizing dishes for their Cherokee community. MENU SAYS: Ahi Tuna Tartare, Avocado, Scallion, Sesame Seed, Ponzu, Wasabi Aioli, Yellow Sriracha HAYDEN SAYS: A favorite among locals, this dish has secured a place on the menu, bearing a variety of garnishes according to the season. In summer you’ll find tangy mango interspersed among the bites of tuna. In fall and winter the chef shifts to dressing the dish with a wasabi aioli to give a kick balanced by the fresh tuna. A delectable crunch of crispy wonton crackers completes each bite. (Top) The signature Joan Rivers cocktail is a fruity Aperol spritzer that Marcus brings to each of the restaurants where he has worked. (Center) Each photograph in the space features animals and landscapes from customers’ properties, bringing the community into the restaurant. (Bottom) Pan roasted snapper is a light dish that comes on a bed of ginger Thai basil risotto and haricots verts with a corn curry cream and pepper relish.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

MENU SAYS: Shrimp & Grits, Jalapeno Cheddar Grits, Tasso Ham, Andouille, Onion, Pepper Medley, Herb Tomato Cream HAYDEN SAYS: This dish will highlight your Southern roots and bring a touch of New Orleans to your backyard. Delightfully creamy grits are mixed with a sautéed pepper medley accompanied by savory andouille sausage and jumbo Gulf shrimp. The elements are brought together in perfect creole harmony by the white wine and tomato crème sauce.

MENU SAYS: Pork Chop, Whipped Potatoes, Broccolini, Mushroom, Tomato Bacon Cream HAYDEN SAYS: Made with the finest North Carolina Heritage bone-in pork chop, this dish is a decadent taste of home. The richness of the mushroom and bacon tomato gravy urges you to dive in bite after bite until it’s gone and you’re wishing there were more. Humble sides of whipped potatoes and sautéed broccolini are elevated to a new standard of deliciousness. MENU SAYS: Roasted Beet Salad, Whipped Feta, Spiced Sunflower Seed, Arugula, Lemon Gastrique HAYDEN SAYS: The roasted beet salad is full of fresh ingredients and flavor. The red beets are a succulent addition atop a bed of arugula and whipped feta cheese. Bursting with flavors, the sweet, tangy lemon gastrique beautifully pairs with the tang of the whipped feta and the sweetness of the beets. Light and flavorful, this dish is delightful. MENU SAYS: Joan Rivers, 229 Vodka, Aperol, St. Germain, Grapefruit, Lemon, Prosecco HAYDEN SAYS: Marcus’s own famous “Joan Rivers” recipe is an Aperol spritzer that Joan Rivers herself has even tweeted about. This boozy drink has delicate flavors, making it a perfect aperitif for lunch or brunch. MENU SAYS: UHG Old Fashioned, Weller Special Reserve, Demerara, Peychaud’s, Lemon, & Orange Peel HAYDEN SAYS: Made with Weller, a highly sought-after whiskey, the Union Hill Bar and Grill’s featured old fashioned recipe is one customers ask for by name. Demerara adds a molasses-like sweetness balanced by the Peychaud’s bitters. Garnished with the classic orange peel, this drink is an instant favorite. MENU SAYS: Mary Jane, Ford’s Gin, Apple Cider, Fresh Lemon, Charred Rosemary HAYDEN SAYS: The care taken to create this refreshing cocktail is remarkable. The taste of charred rosemary is infused into the smoky simple syrup, enhancing the flavors of the gin and cider. Each Mary Jane cocktail is served in style with a flaming piece of rosemary.

J. Thompson Ross Investments: Am I prepared for a family emergency if it happened tomorrow?? In a perfect world, we would all understand where we are financially and if that is the best place for us to be. Unfortunately, many people don’t question their financial preparedness until they are in a crisis. We’ve prepared a list of thought-provoking questions that pertain to financial fitness and preparedness. It will be time well spent reviewing this list, determining what you have already done, and speaking with your financial planner about any issues that affect you and your family. Longevity Planning: • Am I going to capture the “longevity dividend?” • What steps do I plan on taking for enhanced aging? • What is my risk management approach for longevity? Wealth Succession: • When was the last time I dusted off my estate plan? • Do I have a will, and is it current? • Have I determined what I will owe in estate taxes? • Have I funded my estate-tax liability? • Have I explored and taken advantage of wealth-transfer techniques? • Do I wish to provide for charitable giving? • Are my Power of Attorney document and my Living Will up to date? Retirement Cash Flow: • Are my assets being managed effectively? • Do I have a well-diversified portfolio? • What are my assets, and where are they located? • Will my retirement assets provide a comfortable and secure retirement for my life expectancy? • Are my investments appropriate in today’s economy? • Are my assets appropriately titled? • Do I have an emergency fund? • Am I taking advantage of techniques to reduce my taxes? Business Exit: • Is my business marketable? • Do I understand what it would sell for when I am ready to exit? • Should I put a buy-sell agreement in place? • Are there strategies to take advantage of to mitigate taxes when I sell? • What is the best way to get paid for selling a business? Accumulation: • Am I saving enough now to fund my short-term and long-term goals? • Am I thinking about how to keep up with college inflation for my kids? • What kinds of investment accounts are best for my future? • Do I have the right growth strategy in place? Medical/Insurance—Do I have enough insurance coverage to: • cover medical expenses? • provide for disability/long-term care? • provide for family members’ security? • fund estate-tax liability?

The information contained in this article does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Judy Thompson Ross and not necessarily those of Raymond James. This material is being provided for information purposes only. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Investing involves risk and investors may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. J. Thompson Ross Investments is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

Your Favorite

LOCAL AUTHORS

Reunion at the Triple Blossom Resort

Livy's History Notes

TBI: Shaken, But Not Stirred

When Dad is late for the family reunion, ten-year-old Berg Miller must find his relatives by himself in a huge resort hotel, The Triple Blossom Resort. After he locates a group of Millers, a dishonest counselor unfortunately puts Berg with kids almost half his age.

Kristin shares her lifelong interests in traveling, archaeology, and all things ancient in Livy's History Notes. It is an entertaining and informative account of a three-month trip she and her husband, Andrew Miller, took through Greece and Italy, especially Rome. They traveled with Livy, their rambunctious six-month-old English springer spaniel.

Berg, however, becomes friends with nine-year-old Riley, who helps him when he runs into trouble. They go on a journey through the gardens, beaches, and swamps of three coastal islands. Through his adventures, Berg learns to fend for himself, stand up for the truth, and appreciate all his new Miller friends and relatives.

Kristin and Andrew developed a list of destinations based on events or people they wished to know more about it. Slowly an itinerary materialized that allowed them to see most of their dream sights. Traveling with their beloved pup, the couple ate, laughed, shopped, and experienced Italy and Greece in style.

After suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI), Joyce Little Fahl wrote TBI: Shaken, But Not Stirred to recount her recovery and triumph over a fraternal and biased judicial system. When attempting to recover medical expenses and while being sexually harassed by her own attorney, she confronted a legal system that assaulted her on several levels, accusing her of “milking the insurance industry.”

by Lisa J. Street

Lisa J. Street lives in Hickory Flat. She was a professor of art history for years while learning to write for children. She is currently learning how to create computer illustrations for her first picture book.

by Kristin L. Fredrickson

Kristin says, “I hope the book inspires a desire to pack a bag, grab the dog, and go.” Kristin Fredrickson is a resident of Canton. Her husband, Andrew, has encouraged her to write for years. Livy's History Notes is her first book. It is available in paperback or digital format.

Interested in submitting recommendations for Your Favorite Bookmark? Local authors are encouraged to submit a book summary, personal photo, and book cover image. Contact Katie@EnjoyCherokee.com for more information.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

by Joyce Little Fahl

Traumatic brain injuries are often called The Silent Epidemic, as they are many times undetected by a CAT scan or MRI, leaving victims to go untreated. Joyce writes to share her experience and show anyone suffering with a TBI that there can be a rewarding life after this journey. Joyce's efforts in the judicial system led to the most significant changes to the Georgia State Bar Association in twenty-five years. This story of triumph over tragedy is extremely inspirational for those with TBI. Joyce has lived in Canton since 2003. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Brain Injury Association of America for research and other beneficial programs. The book can be purchased on Amazon and iUniverse.com.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Creamy Mushroom Gnocchi

Homestyle Hearty Potato Soup

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients

1 2 2 1 2 2 ½ ½ 1 1 ½

3-4 1 3 8 4 1 3 ¼ 1 2 ½-1

4 1 2 ½ 1 1 1 2

package potato gnocchi tablespoons unsalted butter pounds brown cremini mushrooms, sliced small yellow onion, diced garlic cloves, minced teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced cup dry white wine cup chicken broth teaspoon Dijon mustard cup heavy whipping cream cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Cornstarch Salt Cracked black pepper Fresh chopped parsley

Begin the Fun 1. Prepare and cook gnocchi according to package instructions. 2. Prepare mushroom sauce: add butter, mushrooms, a sprinkle of salt, and pepper to a medium skillet on medium heat. Cook until mushrooms have lightly browned, about five to six minutes. Remove mushrooms and set aside. 3. Add in one tablespoon olive oil and sauté onion until softened, about three to five minutes. Add garlic and rosemary and cook until fragrant, about one minute. 4. Add the wine to deglaze and loosen any bits off the pan and simmer a few minutes until the wine has almost evaporated. Whisk in the chicken broth, Dijon mustard, heavy whipping cream, and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for five minutes or until reduced by half. 5. To thicken the sauce further if desired, combine two teaspoons cornstarch with two tablespoons of water (or broth) and mix well. Add cornstarch mixture into the broth a little bit at a time to reach the desired consistency. 6. Add cooked gnocchi to the sauce and mix together. Top with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

46 [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

slices thick cut bacon, cut in half yellow or white onion, chopped cloves garlic, minced potatoes, peeled and cubed cups chicken stock, or enough to cover potatoes chicken bouillon cube tablespoons butter cup all-purpose flour cup sour cream tablespoons chopped cilantro teaspoon chili powder Salt and pepper to taste Shredded cheese for garnish

Begin the Fun 1. In a Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until done. Remove bacon from pan and set aside. 2. Cook chopped onion in reserved bacon drippings until onion is translucent, about five minutes. Add in garlic and continue cooking for one to two minutes. 3. Add cubed potatoes and chicken bouillon cube. Toss potatoes to coat. Sauté for three to four minutes. Add chicken stock to just cover the potatoes. 4. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about twenty minutes. 5. In a separate pan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for one to two minutes. 6. Add in the sour cream and one tablespoon chopped cilantro and stir until heated through. 7. Stir the cream mixture into the potato mixture. Using an immersion blender, puree about one-half the soup and return it to the pan. 8. Add in salt, pepper, and chili powder, if using, as well as half the crumbled bacon. Adjust seasonings to taste. 9. Garnish with remaining cheese, cilantro, and crumbled bacon.

large red bell peppers pound ground turkey cup cooked rice cup frozen corn 10-ounce can of black beans cup salsa tablespoon taco seasoning cups Mexican cheese

Begin the Fun 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rinse black beans and thaw corn. Combine beans, corn, cooked rice, ground turkey, taco seasoning, one cup of cheese, and salsa. 2. Cut bell peppers in halves and remove seeds. 3. Stuff each half of the bell pepper with the mixture. Bake for about thirty minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for about fifteen minutes. 4. Serve right away while the tops are still covered with melted cheese.

ed eese,

. ven ut

Chicken Taquitos

Maple Brown Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

Cookie Ingredients

3 1 1 1 1 4 ½ 12

2 1/3 1 1/2 1/2 1 1 1/3 1 1 1

cups cooked, shredded chicken teaspoon chili powder teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon cumin cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese ounces cream cheese, softened cup salsa of choice small corn or flour tortillas Salt and pepper to taste Oil or cooking spray Sour cream, avocado, tomato, cilantro, and lime or guacamole for topping

Begin the Fun 1. Combine shredded chicken, spices, and cheeses in a large bowl. 2. Lay the tortillas on a flat surface and divide the chicken and cheese mixture among the twelve tortillas. Roll up each tortilla tightly. Spray all sides of taquitos with cooking spray or brush with a light layer of oil. Bake or Air Fry 3. To bake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place taquitos on a sheet pan in a single layer and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the outside is super crispy. 4. To air fry: Place taquitos in the air fryer in a single layer without overcrowding. Air fry at 400 degrees for twelve to fifteen minutes or until crispy. Open the air fryer after twelve minutes to check on taquitos to avoid burning.

ith

French Kiss Cocktail Ingredients 1 bottle Prosecco Champagne 2-4 ounces Raspberry Chambord Fresh raspberries for garnish

Begin the Fun 1. Add 1/2 to 1 ounce of Raspberry Chambord to each flute and top with bubbly. Add more Chambord for a stronger raspberry flavor. 2. Garnish with fresh raspberries and cheers!

cups all-purpose flour teaspoon baking soda teaspoon salt cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature cup packed dark brown sugar large egg cup pure maple syrup teaspoon pure vanilla extract teaspoon maple extract cup pecans, chopped

Maple Icing Ingredients 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted Pinch salt, to taste

Begin the Fun 1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside. 2. Using a hand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar together on medium speed until smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. 3. Add the egg and beat on high until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. 4. Add the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and maple extract and then beat on high speed until combined. 5. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Add the pecans and beat on low speed until combined. Dough will be creamy and soft. 6. Cover and chill the dough for two hours in the refrigerator (and up to 3 or 4 days). If chilling for longer than a few hours, though, allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling and baking, because the dough will be quite hard. 7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 or 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside. 8. Roll cookie dough into balls, about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough per cookie. Bake each batch for 12 to 13 minutes until lightly browned on the sides. The centers will look very soft. 9. Remove from the oven. If your cookies look puffy, lightly bang the pan on the counter to slightly deflate the cookies. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack for cooling. 10. Make the icing: in a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and maple syrup together, whisking occasionally. Once the butter has melted, remove from heat and whisk in the sifted confectioners’ sugar. Taste. Add a pinch of salt if desired. Drizzle over cooled cookies. Icing will set after about one hour. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com] 47

[calendar of events]

Sunday

January 2022

Polar Plunge

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. | $25 PlayCherokee.org

Reformation Brewery 105 Elm Street, WDSTK 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. | FREE TheMakersMash.com

Decoupage Workshop

Creative Kids Exhibit

Music Bingo

Parent’s Night Out

Wicks and Sips

Master Gardeners

Storytime

Thursday Friday

Saturday

This Valentine’s Day, share your heart with someone special! Each year Empower Cherokee surprises our special needs neighbors with Valentine’s goodie bags—but Cupid depends on you. We’re looking for donations of Chapstick, sticky notes, pens, markers, word searches, art or music activities, candy, and other festive Valentine’s items. Deliver the unwrapped items to the Recreation Center, and they’ll take care of the rest. Donations will be accepted January 3 – February 7, 2022.

Family Storytime

Wednesday

Winter Cornhole League

Project Valentine

Monday

Maker’s Mash

Rose Creek Public Library 4476 Towne Lake Pkwy, WDSTK 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | FREE SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org Woodstock Arts 734 Reeves Street, WDSTK Open through Feb. 13 | FREE WoodstockArts.org/Events

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. | $15/child PlayCherokee.org WDSTK Public Library 7735 Main Street, WDSTK 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | FREE SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

M&M Mercantile 225 Reformation Pkwy, Canton 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. | $45/person MMMercantileco.com

DJ Trivia

WDSTK Beer Market 240 Chambers Street, WDSTK 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. | FREE VisitWoodstockGA.com/Events

Woodstock Candle Company 8636 Main St., WDSTK 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $60/person MadeMercantile.com FoxTale Book Shoppe 105 E. Main Street, Ste 138, WDSTK 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. | FREE FoxTaleBookShoppe.com

Cars & Faith Car Show First Baptist Woodstock 11905 Highway 92, WDSTK 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Donations Taken FBCW.org

10 11

Senior Health Screenings Tamale Tuesday William G. Long Senior Center 223 Arnold Mill Road, WDSTK 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | FREE WoodstockParksandRec.com

Leaning Ladder Olive Oil 105 E. Main Street, Suite 126, WDSTK 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. | $85/person LeaningLadderOliveOil.com

Paint Party

Bubbles and Bubbly

Friday Flights & Little Bites Rising Stars RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $15/person RockSolidBrewingCo.com

RockSolid Brewing & Music Authority 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. | FREE RockSolidBrewingCo.com

Bracelets, Beads, & Bourbon

Planning a Garden

Inklings Writing Group

Live Music: Ben Bostick

Discovering Pickleball

Kayaking for Veterans

Adult Improv Class

Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Wednesday

M&M Mercantile 225 Reformation Pkwy, Canton 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. | $40/person MMMercantileco.com

Woodstock Parks and Recreation 223 Arnold Mill Road, WDSTK 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | $5 WoodstockParksandRec.com Woodstock Parks and Recreation 513 Neese Rd., WDSTK 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. | FREE WoodstockParksandRec.com

48 [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE PlayCherokee.org

RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE RockSolidBrewingCo.com

Winter Cornhole League Cornhole ATL 111 Elm Street, WDSTK 7 weeks; Register by Jan. 3 WoodstockArts.org/Events

Kayaking for Veterans

Keep up with community events online:

SCAN

Adult Eclectics Book Club The Matrix Trivia R.T. Jones Memorial Library 116 Brown Industrial Pkwy, Canton 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | FREE SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

Dirty Unicorn 8636 Main St., WDSTK 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | $60/person MadeMercantile.com

WDSTK Public Library 7735 Main Street, WDSTK 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | FREE SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE PlayCherokee.org

The Blue Ghost Arcade 164 Towne Lake Pkwy, WDSTK 8:00 p.m. | $15 entry fee TheBlueGhostArcade.com

Enjoy Cherokee Community Calendar of Events

Music Bingo

RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE RockSolidBrewingCo.com Bamabelle 8636 Main St., WDSTK 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | $60/person MadeMercantile.com Rootstock 8558 Main Street, WDSTK 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. | FREE RootstockNow.com/Events

Woodstock Arts 734 Reeves Street, WDSTK Six-week course | $189/person WoodstockArts.org/Classes

Laugh Lines & Stretch Marks MadLife Stage and Studios 8722 Main Street, WDSTK 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. | $19.50–$22.50 MadLifeStageandStudios.com

Acrylic & Oil Painting Class Parent’s Night Out Woodstock Arts 734 Reeves Street, WDSTK Four-week class | $180/student WoodstockArts.org/Classes

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. | $15/child PlayCherokee.org

Coffee with Veterans

The Lasting Laugh

Friday

Saturday

Cherokee Veterans Community 11905 Highway 92, WDSTK 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | FREE FBCW.org

iThink Improv Troupe

Woodstock Arts 8534 Main St., WDSTK 8:00 p.m. | $8 online, $12 at door WoodstockArts.org/Events

Woodstock Arts 8534 Main St., WDSTK 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. | $10 online, $14 at door WoodstockArts.org/Events

Day Trip: Booth Museum Grand Opening

Beer & Food Pairing

Ink and Drink

Chefs vs. Brewers: Beer Dinner Discovering Beekeeping Reformation Brewery 2921 Cherokee St. NW, Kennesaw 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. | $75/person TheNestKennesaw.com/Store

Woodstock Parks and Recreation 223 Arnold Mill Road, WDSTK 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | FREE WoodstockParksandRec.com

Trivia Nite

Music Bingo

Volunteer Trail Clean Up

Seed Starting

Temptations Revue

Tuesday Thursday Saturday

William G. Long Senior Center 223 Arnold Mill Road, WDSTK 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | $15 WoodstockParksandRec.com

Cherokee Recreation & Parks 6900 Bells Ferry Rd., WDSTK 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | FREE PlayCherokee.org

Paula's Zzerts 140 Keith Drive, Canton 10:00 a.m. | FREE @PaulasZzerts on Facebook

Woodstock Parks and Recreation 223 Arnold Mill Road, WDSTK 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | $5 WoodstockParksandRec.com

RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $50/person RockSolidBrewingCo.com

Made Mercantile 8636 Main St., WDSTK 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. | $50/person MadeMercantile.com

Reformation Brewery WDSTK 105 Elm Street, WDSTK 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE ReformationBrewery.com

RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE RockSolidBrewingCo.com

Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy, Waleska 3:00 & 7:30 p.m. | $35–$40 Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets

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[calendar of events]

February 2022

A Chorus Line– High School Edition

Friday

Woodstock Arts 8534 Main St., WDSTK Runs Feb. 4 – 13 | 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. WoodstockArts.org/Events

Parent’s Night Out

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. | $15/child PlayCherokee.org

Black Garlic with Chef Oakley Leaning Ladder Olive Oil 105 E. Main Street, Suite 126, WDSTK 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. | $75/person LeaningLadderOliveOil.com

Garland Mountain Day Hike Master Gardeners Cherokee Recreation & Parks 1411 Garland Mountain Way, Waleska 10:00 a.m. | FREE PlayCherokee.org

WDSTK Public Library 7735 Main Street, WDSTK 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | FREE SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

Maker’s Mash

Dr. Daniel Shapiro

Valentine-ing!

Lego Lab

Bubbles and Bubbly

Woodstock’s Earliest History Trivia Nite Woodstock Parks and Recreation 223 Arnold Mill Road, WDSTK 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $5 WoodstockParksandRec.com

Reformation Brewery WDSTK 105 Elm Street, WDSTK 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE ReformationBrewery.com

Night to Shine 2022

Parent’s Night Out

Friday Flights & Little Bites Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Guns & Hoses 5K

Galentine’s Sip & Shop

Forever Simon & Garfunkel Live: Kurt Lee Wheeler

Restorative Yoga + Storytime Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Saturday Sunday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Reformation Brewery 105 Elm Street, WDSTK 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. | FREE TheMakersMash.com Ball Ground Public Library 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | FREE SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org Dirty Unicorn 8636 Main St., WDSTK 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | $60/person MadeMercantile.com First Baptist Woodstock 11905 Highway 92, WDSTK 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. | FREE FBCW.org

Cherokee Rec & Parks 6688 Bells Ferry Road, WDSTK 8:00 a.m. | $25 early registration PlayCherokee.org

Canton Chocolate Walk Downtown Canton Main St., Canton 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. | FREE CantonGA.gov

Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy, Waleska 3:00 p.m. | Price TBA Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets Hickory Flat Public Library 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | FREE SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. | $15/child PlayCherokee.org The Corner District 330 Gilmer Ferry Road, Ball Ground 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.| FREE @TheCornerDistrict on Facebook

Fantasy/Sci-Fi Book Club Woodstock Parks and Recreation 101 Arnold Mill Road, WDSTK 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $5 WoodstockParksandRec.com

RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $15/person RockSolidBrewingCo.com

Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy, Waleska 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. | $35–$40 Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets

Horizon Healing Center 182 North Street, Canton 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | $30 HorizonHealingCenter.com

Canton Theatre 171 East Main Street, Canton February 11–13, 18–20 | Various Times CherokeeTheatre.org

French Desserts Class

Kayaking for Veterans

New Media

Trivia Nite

Music Bingo

Oliver Twist

iThink Improv Troupe

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Sunday

Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Leaning Ladder Olive Oil 105 E. Main Street, Suite 126, WDSTK 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. | $89/person LeaningLadderOliveOil.com Woodstock Arts 734 Reeves Street, WDSTK Open Feb, 17 – April 17 | FREE WoodstockArts.org/Events Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy, Waleska 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. | $12.50 Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets

50 [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Cherokee County Aquatic Center 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE PlayCherokee.org Reformation Brewery WDSTK 105 Elm Street, WDSTK 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE ReformationBrewery.com

Woodstock Arts 8534 Main St., WDSTK 8:00 p.m. | $8 online, $12 at door WoodstockArts.org/Events

RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE RockSolidBrewingCo.com Canton Theatre 171 East Main Street, Canton February 11–13, 18–20 | Various Times CherokeeTheatre.org

Canton Theatre 171 East Main Street, Canton February 11–13, 18–20 | Various Times CherokeeTheatre.org

Rootstock 8558 Main Street, WDSTK 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. | FREE RootstockNow.com/Events

Prince Tribute

The Lasting Laugh

Music Bingo

University Wind Ensemble

Friday Flights & Little Bites Live Music: Local Artists RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | $15/person RockSolidBrewingCo.com

Canton Theatre 171 East Main Street, Canton 7:00 p.m. | $20–$38 MadeMercantile.com

Classic Croissants Class

The Queen’s Cartoonists

Acting Discoveries I

Harry Potter Trivia

Saturday

Thursday Saturday

Sunday

Monday

MadLife Stage & Studios 8722 Main St., WDSTK 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. | $29.50–$59.50 MadLifeStageandStudios.com RockSolid Brewing Co. 345 Gilmer Ferry Rd., Ball Ground 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | FREE RockSolidBrewingCo.com/Events

Leaning Ladder Olive Oil 105 E. Main Street, Suite 126, WDSTK 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | $89/person LeaningLadderOliveOil.com Woodstock Arts (Grades 3-5) 734 Reeves Street, WDSTK Eight-week course | $189/person WoodstockArts.org/Classes

Woodstock Arts 8534 Main St., WDSTK 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. | $10 online, $14 at door WoodstockArts.org/Events

Picasso at the Lapin Agile Canton Theatre 171 East Main Street, Canton February 11–13, 18–20 | Various Times CherokeeTheatre.org

Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy, Waleska 7:30 p.m. | Tickets for Patron Members Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets

Falany Performing Arts Center 7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy, Waleska 3:00 p.m. | Tickets for Patron Members Reinhardt.edu/Falany/Tickets The Blue Ghost Arcade 164 Towne Lake Pkwy, WDSTK 8:00 p.m. | $15 entry fee TheBlueGhostArcade.com

gile

mes

What’sthe

Haps?

got plans?

Wha’s

goin’

on?

If ya really wanna know ya gotta go.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com] 51

canton • woodstock

Jim & Gina Brown jbrown@kitchentuneup.com

(470) 808-9905