Enjoy Cherokee Magazine - Nov/Dec 2020 by Enjoy Cherokee Magazine

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LEADING CARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. With a vast network of practices and services, compassionate, trusted expertise is within your reach. Our team of dedicated physicians provides patient-centered care to ďŹ t your unique health needs. Experience the power of Northside in your neighborhood. Schedule your virtual or in-person visit today.

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460 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Suite 130 Canton, GA 30115 678-493-2527 cherokeelungandsleep.com

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[feature articles]

Features

Santa’s Christmas Crew

Giving from the Heart

Judy and the Gingerbread Houses

The holidays, joyous as they are, can be stressful for those who run the show. The makers of merriment behind every holiday function deserve a night of stress-free fun. Follow along as we dive into the lively antics of Santa’s Christmas Crew.

A head for business and a heart for giving has a Canton man on a journey to give back to his community. Jason Dickerson’s mission began in 2001, just weeks before Christmas, when he and his family heard of a mother and father who could not heat their home and keep their children warm. Nineteen years later the Jason Dickerson Foundation reaches more people than ever.

As “home for the holidays” takes on new meaning this year, one family in Canton is readying time-honored family traditions, such as a table full of gingerbread houses to make this Christmas especially warm and bright.

[special feature]

6 Better than the best Christmas Gift After enduring years riddled with addiction, trauma, and homelessness, Rick Twist found redemption and the gift of a new life and family. His Christmastime once was a hard time of separation and sadness for Rick. Now it shines with light and joy.

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J. Thompson Ross Investments: Review Your Estate Plan Imagine this: Since implementing your estate plan five years ago, you divorced, remarried, sold your house, bought a boat, reconciled with your estranged daughter, sold your business, and invested enough money to provide you with ample income. No more nine-to-five for you.

Now imagine how those life changes affect your estate. You have also evolved through five years of tax law updates, stock market shifts, economic climate changes, and a myriad of other external factors. Through all of this, your wishes may have changed; the advantages you once sought may have eroded or vanished, and new opportunities have come to light. A periodic review can give you peace of mind.

When should you conduct an estate plan review? Every year for large estates Every five years for small estates Upon 20% change in estate valuation Upon personal economic changes Upon changes in occupation or employment Upon changes in insurance coverage Upon the death of trustee/executor/guardian Upon changes in family situations • marital status of your child/grandchild • a child/grandchild has been born or adopted • death of your spouse, child, or grandchild • you or a family member has become ill or incapacitated • NOTE: Some states revoke all or part of your will if you divorce or remarry.

Upon changes in your closely held business interest • • • • • •

formed, purchased, or sold a closely held business reorganized or liquidated a closely held business instituted a pension plan executed a buy-sell agreement deferred compensation changed employee benefits

Upon major transactions • • • • • • •

received a sizable inheritance, bequest, or similar disposition made or received substantial gifts borrowed or lent significant amounts of money purchased, leased, or sold material assets or investments changed residences changed significant property ownership become involved in a lawsuit

And more! We don’t have a crystal ball. We can't think of all the conditions that should prompt you to review your estate plan. From time to time, think about your estate plan and contact an investment professional to make sure your estate plan is exactly what you want.

— Prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions

This information, developed by an independent third party, has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but Raymond James does not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. The material is general in nature. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. does not provide advice on tax, legal, or mortgage issues. These matters should be discussed 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. JThompsonRoss Investments, 3201 S. Cherokee Lane #340, Woodstock, GA 30188. 770/345-8008 Copyright 2020.

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[table of contents]

Contents

Thanksgiving Traditions

Alma Coffee

Winter Wonderland

Lights on the Lake

Pastors from three local churches share their families’ Thanksgiving traditions.

Coffee is a catalyst for community. A warm cup o’ joe can bring together strangers and friends alike, and there is a coffee gem sparkling right here in Cherokee County. Alma Coffee is a direct-trade coffee roastery in Holly Springs.

Few places on earth offer more grandeur than the wintry, breathtaking vistas in Snowmass, Colorado, or Park City, Utah. Luxury meets adventure in these alluring destinations.

[Advertisers Index] A New You Skin & Body Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Bonnie Dobbs Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Chattahoochee Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Cherokee County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Crescent Farm Rock Barn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Darby Funeral Home, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 G&P Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Georgia Medical Treatment Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Holiday Lights at Veterans Park Outside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . back cover Infiniti Roofing–Remodeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 J. Thompson Ross Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Mack Aaron’s Apple House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Magnetize.me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Mileshko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Mill on Etowah, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Mountain Education Charter High School . . . . . . . . . 47 Northside Hospital Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26/27 Northside Hospital Cherokee . . . . . inside front cover Olde Silos Art & Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Pivad Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Play Cherokee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Savage Axes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tate House, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

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life changing

by Michael Mullet, Canton Resident

Rick Twist remembers Christmas 2010. He even knows what he got. “Drunk,” he says. “I got drunk. Probably stoned too.”

It was another holiday in a string of fourteen Christmas seasons for which he was not invited to celebrate at home with his parents and sister. 6

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wo years out of the military and tired of couch surfing back in his hometown of Tampa, Rick flew to Atlanta a week after Christmas to stay with an Army buddy in Marietta and get sober. His plan didn’t work. By February 2011 he had worn out his welcome at his buddy’s house in addition to another friend’s house in Alpharetta. He found himself homeless. Rick eventually settled in downtown Atlanta, living under the bridge at the Five Points MARTA station. He was thirty. “At that point my plan was to die on the streets of Atlanta,” he says. “Maybe I’d get up the nerve to do it myself, but maybe I would overdose or my body would just give out.” Fortunately those things didn’t happen either, and if you met Rick today you would never guess that a mere decade ago he was homeless, an addict, and wanting his life to end.

“

It’s been a hell of a journey,” Rick says as an understatement. “I am thankful for where I am today, and that is the power of recovery.

”

Rick’s challenges started early. He grew up poor. His family bounced from one apartment to the next in southwest Tampa, the not-so-nice part of town. Even as a young child his behavior was erratic. “I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was six, and the doctors kept adding medications,” he says. “By the time I was eight I was taking four medications.” uuu

The Extension

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Rick Twist during his deployment to the 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad

uuu When his behavior grew increasingly volatile, Rick was hospitalized in psychiatric facilities, once when he was eight and again when he was ten. “Both hospitalizations were traumatic for me as a child,” he says. “After those experiences I lost trust in everyone: my parents, the doctors, and humanity.”

Rick was still living in an area rife with drugs and gangs, and before long he found both could ease his emotional pain. Always big for his age and entering adolescence armed with anger, he developed a reputation as a fighter. And he started using drugs. During the Civil War, both mounted cavalry and infantry units would designate a standard bearer, who carried the flag into battle.

“I started drinking when I was twelve and smoking weed daily at thirteen,” Rick says. “I was running with a gang in my neighborhood, the only white kid. I never officially joined, but gang members had my back and I had theirs.”

The flag is worn on the right shoulder, and wearing it backward gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward.

“Recovery is better than the best Christmas gift.” Trying anything to help him, his parents moved the family to rural north Tampa when he was fourteen. Rick quit school midway through his second attempt at passing ninth grade, found out his girlfriend was pregnant, and became a father at age fifteen. “Her family wouldn’t let me see the baby; didn’t want anything to do with me,” he says. “Finally, when my daughter was nine, I got to be in her life. We have a good relationship today, and I am grateful she was able to forgive me.” Over the next dozen years, Rick was arrested multiple times for possession of marijuana, DUI, and theft. By the time he was twenty-five, he’d finally had enough. The Army had loosened its recruiting standards in preparation for the surge in Iraq, so he enlisted.

In Baghdad, Iraq in June of 2007, Rick was in a convoy of vehicles such as the one above that was blown up by an IED. Tragically, two fellow soldiers were lost in the incident.

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“

I loved being in the Army,” Rick says, “the sense of belonging, the structure, the discipline, and the opportunity to really show my potential. I sobered up, got in shape, discovered my leadership abilities, and received praise.

”

After basic training and jump school at Fort Benning, he was stationed at Fort Bragg. In April 2007 he was deployed to the 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad. That September, tragedy struck. A troop transport carrying eight of his fellow soldiers fell off a bridge, killing seven of them, along with five Iraqi detainees. Had Rick not been ordered to staff the radio on base that night, he likely would have been among them. “It was one of the worst nights of my life,” he says. “I could hear it all on the radio. I had tremendous survivor’s guilt.”

You too can help at-risk and homeless veterans in Cherokee County have a merry Christmas and give them hope for the New Year. Below are some places that welcome your donations to help veterans.

Stateside in 2008 he failed several drug tests and was discharged from the Army under circumstances other than honorable. When he left the gates of Fort Bragg, he was homeless and broke. He finally scraped together enough money to get back home to Florida. “Once I did, though, I was right back to the same old ways,” he admits. “After a couple years working as a cook at Hooters, I’d saved enough money to make the trip to Atlanta.”

• Homeless Veterans Program •

In Atlanta, though, after months of homelessness and despite having resigned himself to dying, Rick heard about a rehab facility in Marietta called The Extension. A man from The Extension came to pick him up on September 20, 2011.

• Adopt a Veteran •

“I’d been up drinking until three a.m. to come down from crack, and he picked me up at ten,” he says. “They didn’t want to let me in the program, but I wouldn’t take no for an answer. That was the last day I ever drank or used drugs.” Rick describes the next thirteen months as recovery boot camp. “I talked about my trauma every day, worked with counselors and therapists, attended AA meetings, and worked through all the crap and pain I was carrying around inside me,” he says. “Once I talked about it and dealt with it, I began to feel free.” In 2012 Rick got a job as a cook at Kennestone Hospital, eventually taking a food cart around to all the nurses’ stations on the overnight shift. There he met a nurse named Niki and felt an instant attraction. The feeling was mutual. “I remember meeting Rick and being drawn into deep conversations about the value of what he was working toward and his perspective on life since being sober,” Niki says. “There aren’t many people who have lived through what he has and are able to share those struggles in a way that is truly empowering so others may overcome their addictions too.” uuu

The Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program helps support homeless veterans and those facing housing insecurity. The program accepts financial donations, which are tax deductible, as well as furniture and household items, clothing for veterans and family members, food, and toiletries. For more information visit the program’s Facebook page or contact Program Coordinator Jim Lidenmayer at jlindenmayer80@gmail.com or 678-983-7590. The Adopt a Veteran program, a collaborative effort of the Cherokee Homeless Veterans Program and American Legion Auxiliary Post 45 in Canton, links sponsors with veterans and families who are financially challenged, disabled, homeless, or elderly to ensure every veteran has a great Christmas. If you know of a veteran family in need or if you, your group, or family would like to “adopt” a veteran this holiday season, contact Jim Lindenmayer at jlindenmayer80@gmail.com or 678-983-7590.

• Cherokee Veterans Community •

Cherokee Veterans Community, a ministry of First Baptist Church Woodstock, provides support groups, counseling, and connections to community resources specifically for veterans. Financial support is always welcome. The organization also accepts nonperishable food and hygiene products for care packages for actively deployed troops and food donations for the church food pantry. For more information visit CherokeeVeteransCommunity.org.

• United Military Care •

Located in Marietta, United Military Care provides Georgia veterans with food, clothing, and hope through direct help and referrals to local resources. In addition to financial donations, United Military Care accepts seasonally appropriate clothing, toiletries, and food items for veterans and their families. To see lists of needed items and volunteer opportunities, see UnitedMilitaryCare.org and visit the Get Involved page.

• Hope Atlanta •

A leading provider of homeless services in a twenty-eight-county region of metro Atlanta, Hope Atlanta has programs specifically for homeless or housing-insecure veterans. The agency welcomes financial donations and accepts donations of food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, gift cards, travel vouchers, and more. View Hope Atlanta’s donation wish list at Old.HopeAtlanta.org/ Giving/Wish-List. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

uuu Their romance blossomed, and Niki gave birth to their son, Hudson, in 2015. They moved to Canton later that year and married in 2019.

“We did it backwards,” Rick says. “First the baby, then the house, then the wedding, but backwards is fine with me, because this is the absolute best time of my life.”

Rick holds his newborn son in May 2015. He says it was the happiest day of his life.

Rick earned an associate’s degree from Georgia Highlands in 2015 with a 4.0 grade point average and transferred to Mercer University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2017. In 2018 Rick went to work for Highland Rivers Health as a veterans specialist, where he works with veterans living with the same traumas he experienced. He calls it a dream job. In December he’ll complete his master of social work at Arizona State and is starting a PhD program in January.

Rick’s oldest daughter, Kiana, holding Rick’s youngest son, Hudson, on Christmas Day 2018

“There were so many times when I could have died, that I probably should have died, but I always survived,” Rick says. “I live with PTSD and I always will, but I can’t help believing there is something or someone out there who watched out for me and had a plan for me. First, though, I needed to get sober to fulfill that plan.”

Rick’s three children: daughter Kiana, stepdaughter Joey, and son Hudson on Christmas Day 2019

He adds, “Recovery is better than the best Christmas gift; it is the most awesome thing in the world. For the first time in my life I am thankful to be alive.”

We Care Boxes

The Cherokee Veterans Community provides “WeCareBoxes” to support Armed Forces members while they are deployed. The boxes are especially appreciated during the holidays while soldiers are away from their families. Items needed and instructions can be found online at CherokeeVeteransCommunity.org/rally-point. Monetary donations are always helpful as well.

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To learn more about the Cherokee Veterans Community, scan the QR code to read Enjoy Cherokee Magazine’s captivating story.”

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friends

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by Leana Conway, Woodstock Resident

Other Cherokee County residents may love Santa as much as I do. Our hero, jolly old Saint Nick, set the trend for embracing gray hair, plus he shares my philosophy that if we don’t eat carbs, the devil wins. Most importantly, he’s all about joy and world peace. As I aged, though, a certain passive-aggressive resentment grew inside me toward Kris Kringle and the chaos he created. 12

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Let’s go back about twenty years.

I stood in the wreckage of Christmas morning. My children were just little elves at the time and had finished playing with their new presents. They were watching a movie while sitting on their favorite Christmas gifts, bean bag chairs. They looked snug, smug, and satisfied. Me? Not so much. Yes, it brings me great pleasure to create a meaningful and event-filled Christmas for my family, but I was bone tired. I had a crushed ornament stuck to the bottom of my slipper. Pieces of board games and Christmas wrap littered the floor. My schnauzer had a candy cane stuck to its fur that the cat was trying to lick. And my kitchen? Oh, the kitchen! While I cleaned, an idea bubbled up in my brain. Starting with the next Christmas, I would have a party just for the women who made Christmas happen, those makers of merriment, Santa’s Christmas Crew. I began planning my Santa’s Christmas Crew event that very day.

Keeping up with the Ch ristma zapped the Ho Ho Ho rig s Crew shenanigans ht out of this little elf.

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I have cultivated a close group of female friends over my years in Cherokee County. All my family members are back in Canada, so I created some family here— friends who are like family. uuu [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

attend your church’s fabulous fruit-cake exchange, but I have an important prior commitment.” This year we set the date for our party on September 27. One thing that has not changed over the years is we have always worn pj’s. Wearing pajamas brings out the little girls lurking inside us. We want to feel the thrill of the season.

The event started as a brunch and then became an evening event. Now it involves a weekend at one of the women’s mountain cabin.

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uuu I’m going to tell you what I do for my Santa’s Christmas Crew Party, but you do you. The event could have two or twenty people comprising friends, family members, or both.

First understand it is not another event to be added to Christmas calendars. Our Christmas Crew Party is the event around which our lesser commitments orbit. We set the date early, so with glee we can turn down other things, such as a husband’s office Christmas party. Conversations like this can be heard countywide: “Oh, Aunt Martha, I’m so sorry I cannot

If you want to see some eye-rolling from our children, mention Miss Leana’s Christmas party. My daughter, Amanda, claims it was not my finest moment of motherhood when one year I made her at ten years of age get out of bed to judge our freezedance contest. Amanda claims she had a test the next day; I don’t remember that fact. Even if she did, I was teaching her life skills: dealing with unforeseen obstacles on her path to success. My party is over the top because I’m an over-the-top kinda gal, but you don’t have to do anything that stresses you out. I enjoy being extra. Each year I put together a video of the women at the party. For one of my favorite parties I got pictures of everyone at Christmas when they were little. It was sweet to see the little girls inside those wonderful women. Once the games and silliness start, the little girls come out to play. Games are essential to our girl’s gatherings. I don’t force my friends to play games; they will tell you I do, but they are being dramatic. We play silly games like pass-the-present, freeze dance, and musical chairs. We also have a white elephant gift exchange.

NEXT PARTY R U O Y E K A M

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I am a party planner by nature. One of my quotes is, “What’s a party without a theme? A bunch of people standing around.” Every one of my Santa’s Crew Christmas Parties has therefore had a theme. We have had The Grinch That Stole Christmas, Elf, Bad Mom’s Christmas, A Cozy Cabin Christmas, and others. My biggest failure was the year I chose the theme I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas. I made sure to use white everything: food, plates, and decor. I even bought a machine that made it look like it was snowing on the walls. Oh, the cruel irony! The morning we were to leave for the party, it started snowing. I was ecstatic. I was jumping around packing and shouting with glee, “I did this! I made it snow.” By afternoon a weather alert came out, and I was sobbing and saying, “I did this. I made it snow. I wrecked everything.” The weekend was called off. If you run into me, please don’t bring it up; I’m still not over it. Seriously. I will never be over it. One constant every year is that I have made an ornament for everyone with the year on it. Last year for A Cozy Cabin Christmas, I brought the supplies and the Christmas crew members made their own ornaments. Each year when I decorate my tree, I get to reminisce about each Santa’s Crew Christmas Party and all the shenanigans that went on that year—things like the year we fought like tweens over a life-size cutout of Justin Bieber or the year I made a Christmas piñata we clobbered with hockey sticks. Of course being the party enthusiast that I am, by December 26 I’m thinking about the next year’s theme. Hmmmm? Adding Santa’s Crew Christmas Party for us, the makers of Christmas mirth, has reignited the childlike wonder of the season for me. We laugh our slippers off; play freeze dance like we are competing for medals, not miniature wine bottles; and forget our responsibilities for a while. When it’s time to host our own holiday gatherings, it’s a marathon. It starts at Thanksgiving and ends after the last Amazon package is sent back after New Year’s. Over a short period of time we women often cook and serve two full holiday feasts plus shop for everyone’s gifts, because really, Author Bio L e a n a C o n w ay when was the last time your Leana Conway has been a husband went Christmas Cherokee County resident shopping for his mother’s gift? for twenty-two years. She’s And what about presents for originally from Canada, but the extras, the teachers, the calls the South her home now. neighbors, the pastor, and the When she’s not writing about friends? Don’t forget that we’re the fascinating neighbors she also the ones who wrap all those meets for Enjoy Cherokee presents, and guess who buys, Magazine, she’s busy as a writes, signs, seals, and mails full-time caregiver to her the Christmas cards. husband. She’s also a blogger, All those things are good; they are evidence of our abundance, our love for one another, and recognition of the reason for the season, but still it all must be organized and executed. Go on. Take time just for you and the other tireless makers of Christmas magic. Gather your friends for a pre-Christmas Christmas Crew Party. You deserve it.

mom, and new oma (grandma in Dutch). Her life philosophy is “Find your calling, and you will find joy.”

Happy Holidays, Cherokee County.

Santa’s Christmas Crew The Date Set the date in June. You must be armed with legitimate reasons to happily turn down other invitations.

Dress Code A strict dress code of pajamas and slippers. The comfier the better. House coats with coffee stains are considered haute couture.

The Menu Simple wins. Pancakes, mimosas, wine, hot cocoa, and Christmas cookies, of course.

Activities Games are essential. Be prepared to pass the present, freeze dance, and play musical chairs. Bring a few white elephant gifts wrapped like they were being presented to Queen Elizabeth. This game is the perfect chance to unload your mother-in-law’s gift from last year.

Now laugh your slippers off and cherish the joys of Christmas with your Santa Crew.

Theme A holiday theme is a must. Make one up or search the Internet for creative ideas. Themes to consider might include Roaring Twenties, Cozy Christmas (this year especially), Reindeer Games, or Santa’s Luau.

Commemorative Ornaments Bring supplies and let everyone make their own ornament. Later you can view the older ornaments and reminisce over each Santa’s Crew Christmas Party and all the shenanigans that went on that year. Christine’s Creations in Downtown Woodstock sells wood slices and all sorts of adornments to make your ornaments unique and sentimental. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

giving

A head for business and a heart for giving has a Canton man on a journey to give back to his community. The mission began for Jason Dickerson in 2001, when just weeks before Christmas he and his family heard of a mother and father who had no way to heat their home and keep their children warm.

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from the

Heart by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

‘‘We heard from some of the elders at Orange United Methodist Church that a family in the area could not afford to heat their house, didn’t have any firewood, and didn’t have much food,’’ Jason says. His business, Quest Trucking, was headquartered in the Free Home community at the time. After learning about the family’s needs, Jason, along with his parents— Robert “Terry” Jason and Judy G. Dickerson—his two brothers, and some employees of the company, decided to buy a load of firewood and deliver it to the needy family’s home. “Once we got there and saw the situation, we decided we needed to do more. We asked the mother and if it was okay, and she said yes. Originally our help was to be for the children, and we decided to give the family a Christmas lunch as well. That’s how it started,” Jason remembers. uuu

Adopt-A-Senior

tly in need is consisten ounty y it n u m m C co The senior ce, and the Cherokee way to of assistan r program is a perfect ntact s” co enio Adopt-A-S Each December “elve ential . ss d e e e lv in eterm get invo ur area to d then matched up o in rs io n re se rs a need. Senio enerously purchase items they g o h w rs e ve and te with volun uested. Many go abo q re r s io n m e se the it help our beyond to feel loved. rs o b h neig ditional a r Look fo d n at informatio m/ A.co CherokeeG lunteering vo s/ e ic rv e S Senior-

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asking fo g at ys Ranch is ce for foster youth livin th o B y le al V n u n e yo ri r e e p Goshe st ex fo time for Christmas memorable e holidays are a difficult strives to provide a ch h the ranch. T their families, so the ran itions, talking about t ad u tr o g h it in w ild of the bu living that includes mas, and fulfilling some them ay lid o h y p w ap st o h ri giving, to sh aning of Ch the true me and needs through gift to purchase gifts for, youth’s wantsloved. With many youths community to fulfill e that they are on the generosity of th h GoshenValley.org/ s g u lie ro re th n e e onat Gosh hList.org, s. You can d Wish List at GoshenWis e h is w se e th the Amazon Donate, visit ions through the mail. ch or send donat 3 ey Boys Ran Goshen Vall Waleska, Georgia 3018 y, a W h rc u h C 5 387 Goshen 770-345-953

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a at s family ional assist of twelve a group home a n n p girls. B lanning to ce, shelte d twenty-o in Canton for gir r ne, o , em e m c a a use o to pur f limit ke the holi ployment a ffers life skil ls c h a s e d e s ls, d stor player ays br sistanc items Xbox gs, headphon as needed age, the An ighter for r e, and es .I ge es ift card s. Mon , gift cards tems neede l House pr ident efe d f e or tary do m To help nation stores and ost are M rs contac P3 s are w a worsle t Executiv elcom ctivities, and y@ang e Direc e. elhous t e.com or Susan Wo or call r 2260 S North G 770-47 sley at susan eo am Ne 9-9555 . lson R rgia Angel . oad, C House 770-4 anton, G 79-95 eorgia 55 30114

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Jason and his wife, Carey, at the Georgia National Cemetery for Memorial Day celebration

uuu The group paid to have the family’s electricity turned on, bought them groceries, and went Christmas shopping for the children. The Dickersons even wrapped all the gifts in festive paper and ribbon.

On Christmas Eve, after the Dickersons finished their own family dinner, they loaded their cars and made the delivery to the house after the children were in bed. Seeing the needs of the family was an epiphany for young Jason. “My dad was extremely poor when he was growing up, and he always told us stories of what he had to do to survive,” Jason remembers. “It was heart-wrenching to see that in today’s time we still have families that can’t even afford to heat their house. All they had was a fireplace, and they couldn’t afford firewood.” Jason’s parents in 2001 when the family began their work in the community

GIVING

from the Heart

From that first time of helping out, the desire to reach out to others grew in Jason and his group, leading to his helping more families at Christmastime each year and then giving to others year-round. “For the years following, we heard about various families from members of the Orange United Methodist Church, and we also worked with the Cherokee County Department of Family and Children Services to find additional families,” Jason says.

Giving back continues today through the Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization with plans this holiday season to help a number of veterans and their families. The stated mission of the foundation is to improve the quality of life for the veterans, children, elderly, and animals—particularly those in need or distress—in Cherokee, Bartow, and Pickens counties. “We officially formed our foundation in 2015, because we wanted to give back in a larger way. It was either donate to other public charities or start our own,” Jason explains of the decision. “To me it’s always been extremely important to make sure that the most dollars get to the end user, and I wanted to have control over that part of it.” Giving to others is much more than dollars and cents for Jason. “When we hand deliver items, it warms our soul and gives us a better appreciation for how blessed we are every day,” he says. uuu

t n e m l Enrol

CA I D E M

l a u n n A t. 15–Dec . 7 Oc

Visiting the Brian Center on Christmas Eve in 2016 to deliver their annual gift bags

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uuu One of the top holiday priorities for Jason and the foundation this year is to help veterans with presents and Christmas dinner. “Most veterans are extremely prideful and won’t tell you when they need help, so like in years past, we will work a lot with Jim Lindenmayer, the director of the Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program at the American Legion Department of Georgia, Post 45, in Canton,” Jason says. He will also donate the use of his company trucks and trailers to transport wreaths from Maine to the Georgia National Cemetery in Cherokee County for the Wreaths Across America program, something he has been doing for a number of years.

The family will also follow its family tradition of personally delivering gift bags to senior residents at The Brian Center. “Unfortunately we may not be able to go inside this year and give the bags to people personally, because of COVID-19,” he says with regret. When asked how the community can help, Jason says he would like to see people think outside the box when they search for ways to make a difference. “A lot of veterans are homeless, and many seniors no longer have family members to visit them. Jim Lindenmayer says he has about 230 veteran families this year in Cherokee County that need some type of Christmas help,” Jason explains. “Seniors often get forgotten when their families send them to assisted living centers and then rarely, if ever, go back to see them.” Jason says the family and the foundation is always looking for new ways to help out. “We are constantly getting suggestions, thoughts, and ideas on how we can better serve the community. We have done it behind the scenes for so many years that I really enjoyed the anonymous aspect of it,” he says. “I wasn’t keen on coming out of the shadows, but one of the byproducts of a growing foundation is that it gets noticed, and that’s one of the reasons we decided in 2019 to be more public about our giving.”

uuu

Jason and Carey donating boxes of fresh produce to food pantries, restaurants, individuals and families in need

To learn even more about the foundation, visit JasonTDickersonFamilyFoundation.org

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

By being more public, he hopes to help get other people and businesses involved as well. “Our thought was if being more public inspired other people to be nicer to their neighbors and help their fellow brothers and sisters, it would be worth it,” Jason says. Getting others involved is one of his personal rewards, he says, and relates a recent incident. “One night about three months ago I was on my nightly walk through Downtown Canton and an older woman walked up to me and started talking. We chatted for a few minutes, and she kept saying, ‘You look really familiar.’ Finally after about five minutes she said, ‘You’re that guy that keeps doing so much good in the community. You inspired me to buy a grocery card and give it to my neighbor, who was laid off from work.’” Inspiring others by being charitable yourself? “To me, that’s what it’s all about,” Jason says. Jason also noted that he likes to bring a smile to others. “I was also approached in a local grocery store and told that it’s so nice and refreshing to see something positive on social media instead of all of the negativity. If I can bring a smile to someone’s face either through our giving or by someone reading it on social media, then I’ve done my job,” he declares. Jason says that the Bible verse Luke 12:48 is often misquoted, with people thinking it is expected for people to give. He says it is much

more than that. The verse says, “To whom much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

“

When something is expected, you wonder when the right time to do it is, but when it is required, you do it all the time, today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, and even ten years from now. It doesn’t matter if it’s one dollar or one million. When it’s required, you give what you can every day.

”

In addition to serving as chairman of the Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation, Jason serves on the board of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion, Rotary Club of Canton, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, and National Skeet Shooting Association. Jason and his wife, Carey, actively attend Woodstock City Church and reside in the Canton area with their miniature poodles.

Our Causes THE JASON T. DICKERSON FAMILY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH CARING FOR OUR SENIORS SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS ADVANCING ANIMAL WELFARE

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

family

Judy and the Gingerbread Houses by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

Adelyn Bishop decorating her gingerbread house.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

As “home for the holidays” takes on new meaning this year, one family in Canton is readying time-honored family traditions, such as a table full of gingerbread houses, to make this Christmas especially warm and bright. From the moment you walk to the front door of Judy and Barry Bishop’s Canton home, where you are greeted with bells pealing holiday songs, you know you are in an exceptional place.

nce you step inside, the dazzling spectacle of Christmas in every nook and corner captivates you. Judy loves Christmas, and her energy, spirit, love, and family traditions add sparkle to each room. A massive tree in the living room twinkles with thousands of lights and ornaments. Vignettes display beloved nutcrackers, carolers, and figurines. Arrays of Santa mugs and gingerbread houses adorn many areas. Making those gingerbread houses with the young people in her life is one of the most memorable and distinct holiday traditions for Judy each year. “Anyone who knows me knows how I love family and traditions. Decorating gingerbread houses has been a tradition with my family for more than thirty years, beginning when my son Chris and daughter Stephanie were very young,” she explains. The tradition continues with her grandchildren, Jack Ford, eight; Adelyn Bishop, five; and Brinley Bishop, three. Each child bakes and decorates a Christmas gingerbread house that is then lovingly displayed in the dining area. Judy is known for her ability to arrange decorations tastefully and in memorable ways, and her gingerbread house display typifies her talent. “The houses are like doll houses to me. When my children were young we built one- or two-story houses and used Stephanie’s Fisher-Price figures and furniture to furnish the interiors, even putting a light inside. I can still remember the white-headed grandma sitting in her rocking chair in the upstairs bedroom of the gingerbread house.”

The memorable tradition continues. “Year after year we decorated houses and cookies, making memories for my children, so it was only natural for me to continue the tradition when my grandchildren were born,” she says. While the custom remains, she incorporates some shortcuts these days, although the end results are still spectacular. “When my children were growing up I baked all the gingerbread, cut it into the house shapes, and built the house. With my grandchildren, I mostly use boxed kits now.” She laughs. “The fun for the children is decorating the house, and they love theme houses, so with the premade houses the fun can begin immediately.” The kits to make the houses are available at many supermarkets. uuu

n a P d o o F e n o l A r Neve

Germans probably created gingerbread houses in the nineteenth century, perhaps inspired by the witch’s candy cottage in the German fairy tale of “Hansel and Gretel.” Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited with originating the first gingerbread men. She had them made to resemble visiting dignitaries and presented them to the dignitaries as gifts. To follow a Swedish tradition, put gingerbread in your palm and make a wish. Next break the gingerbread with your other hand. If the gingerbread breaks into the three pieces, your wish will come true. Both the Greeks and Egyptians used gingerbread in their ceremonies. The town of Bergen, Norway, creates an entire city made of gingerbread houses each year.

try

red ays gathe als e g the holid Celebratin ble with delicious m er v e ta N e e th h d T ilies. aroun for all fam ere to help. le b ia v ’t h n is d Pantry is n be Alone Foo table donations ca nate. o p e -d cc to -wantA list of a lone.org/i are Monday rA e v e N t ours found a 0 and drop-off h Donation ay from 8:30 to 3:3 d h ri c F a e h f g o u y thro d Saturda on the thir om ten to one. month fr antry ne Food P Never Alo emill Road 291 Rop Georgia k, Woodstoc

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Jack Ford mixing batter for his gingerbread

uuu Years of photographs reveal that the gingerbread houses have become more elaborate as the grandchildren have grown.

For others who want to make gingerbread houses and establish a new family tradition, Judy says, “I am happy to be sharing some of my hints.” One hint is to start early, searching stores such as Michael’s, Dollar Tree, and specialty candy shops for cute candies to decorate the houses. “I often use candy canes as trees around the houses and make a cute Santa riding on a sled from candy canes. Using many cups of powdered sugar makes the house look as if it is sitting deep in snow,” she offers.

Jack Ford creating his gingerbread train Stephanie Ford, Judy Bishop’s daughter, creates a gingerbread decorating table.

is the meeting place for the Cannon family Christmas Eve gathering, which usually attracts about fifty family members. “Starting from newborns and going up to teenagers, college students, and adults, we have all ages. We often invite the in-laws or visiting family members too. We welcome new babies to the family almost every year,” she says. She has welcomed the Cannon family at Christmas since 1995. Prior to 1995 the family gathered at her mother’s and grandmother’s homes.

Another hint is to display the gingerbread house on footed cake plates stacked on top of each other to add drama and height. She says to incorporate vintage pieces with special meaning when possible. “Using my mother’s vintage Cape Code cake plate brings back fond memories of my mother’s cakes at Christmas,” Judy explains.

“The tradition of baking and decorating gingerbread houses has now been passed down to my children and grandchildren. My daughter Stephanie has an annual gingerbread-decorating party for Jack’s friends, and my son Chris bakes cookies for his girls and they enjoy decorating themed gingerbread houses together,” she says with a smile. “Family traditions passed from generation to generation warm my heart.”

Judy, the daughter of the late James Cannon, a former mayor of Canton, and Sue Tippens Cannon, is one of five children. Her home is always open to family during the holidays and Left to right, back row is Judy’s son Chris Bishop, his daughter Adelyn Bishop, Judy Bishop, Barry Bishop, Judy’s daughter Stephanie Ford. Front row is Brinley Bishop and Jack Ford. [www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

“Any time we vacation, the first place I look is the Christmas shop,” Judy admits. “I started collecting for the children, with names and dates. Those start in 1976, when my son was born. I love to have decorations that are dated. I also have the dolls my father collected on his travels.” She also has ornaments that her children made. At the center of the Christmas experience in the Baker residence are the traditions that make a house a home. Judy enjoys keeping those customs alive. They are a special gift to her children, similar to those she shared with her mother.

The children in Judy’s family enjoy the houses placed front and center on the dessert table surrounded by glass apothecary jars and Fitz and Floyd cookie jars filled with specialty cookies and candies.

Each room in Judy’s house features a reminder of Christmases past for the family. In the dining room a set of carolers that were her mother’s are beautifully displayed. In the living room, crystal Faberge eggs that Judy’s mother gave her over the years are a highlight. The hundreds of decorative ornaments on the Christmas tree tell of the family’s more than forty years in their home.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

BACK PAIN Did you know up to 80% of the population will experience some kind of back pain in life? Back pain can be a result of surrounding muscle strain, disc degeneration, nerve conditions, or other complex spinal conditions. Ranging from

MEET THE DOCTOR Dr. Steven Spitz Southeastern Neurosurgical Specialists Dr. Steven Spitz is a Neurosurgeon specializing in minimally disruptive surgeries. A noted author and

mild to severe, this pain can be caused by a variety of factors such as age, genetics, weight, and lifestyle choices. Today, advanced technologies and minimally invasive techniques can help provide relief to patients experiencing back pain.

recipient of numerous academic awards, Dr. Spitz is internationally recognized for his contributions to his field. Dr. Spitz isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. “You truly have to commit and love what you do in order to make it through this field,” says Spitz. “Within neurosurgery, minimally invasive techniques are my passion,” he says, “when I was

Listen to

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

an assistant professor, I taught these techniques to aspiring neurosurgeons.” Dr. Spitz continues to teach these techniques across the country at various conferences. When it comes to his patients, he believes listening is a vital role in the relationship. “I was very ill as a child, and my mother took me to several doctors, all of whom brushed off her concerns,” says Spitz, “I have learned from this to always take my patient’s stories seriously and take care to listen to the small details.”

Now accepting new patients.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Southeastern Neurosurgical Specialists 470 Northside Cherokee Blvd, Suite 375 Canton, GA 30115 | (770) 422-0444

ASK THE DOCTOR

Herniated Disks: what do you get asked the most about these?

The biggest contributing factors causing degenerative disc disease are age, obesity, tobacco use, injury, and poor posture. Conditions arising from spinal deformation, infection, and tumors can all cause back pain but usually have little to do with lifestyle choices.

Herniated discs are one of the most common findings on MRIs. Many will shrink in size over time. The goal of conservative treatment is to decrease discomfort and pain while the disc heals. Typically, this will take six weeks. Other herniated discs can persist, and symptoms may last despite conservative measures. In these cases, surgery is a great option and will likely lead to a faster recovery to baseline.

When should I go to the doctor about back pain?

Do back braces (and similar DME) really help with heavy lifting and back pain?

If the pain persists for at least six weeks with no improvement, or if the pain travels down your arms or legs, you should schedule an appointment. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re experiencing difficulty with balance and hand dexterity; fever; history of cancer; history of infection; recent trauma; or new and/or worsening numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, it is recommended to seek more immediate medical attention.

Braces and other durable medical equipment can help in that they physically limit your range of motion. They are great after fusion surgeries in that they indicate where a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limitations begin. However, such items can never really cure any progressive underlying spinal disorder. If they are worn too long, there is a possibility of weakening the muscular support structures of the spine.

What is the leading cause of back pain?

What should I look for when selecting an MD to see about my back pain? You should look for someone who possesses additional specialized training of the spine, such as a fellowship. Many orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons may be capable of performing the same procedures, but second opinions always help patients who are unsure of a recommended course of action. It is advantageous to look for someone who has mastery of both traditional and contemporary techniques, such as minimally invasive surgery.

What can be expected for recovery from back surgery? Typically, one can go back to sedentary jobs between one to two weeks. It takes approximately three months or more to return to heavier duty jobs such as construction or farming. Unless otherwise specified, it is recommended to walk immediately after surgery, as it lessens the chances of dangerous blood clots, wound infections, and pneumonia. Typically, pain is experienced in the first four to six weeks post-operatively.

What should I expect if I see an MD about back pain?

If I have spinal surgery, will it lead to another one down the road?

Typically, a primary care physician will suggest physical therapy or spinal injections through a pain management physician. If the pain persists for longer than six weeks, an MRI is usually ordered. This allows the specialist to visualize your spine and determine if surgery is needed. A spine specialist may order more specific tests depending on the results of the MRI.

One spinal surgery does not always beget another. This is truer when the original surgery was done properly with attention given to the global spinal alignment matched with the pelvic anatomy. Spinal anatomy is very complex and is made up of 33 vertebrae, over 120 muscles, and 220 ligaments. Typically, as one area is treated, it is possible for other areas to degenerate.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

traditions

How do you and your family celebrate Thanksgiving? We celebrate Thanksgiving with about three or four big F’s—our Faith, our Family, our Friends, and Food. Lots and lots of food. We also love to watch football, but mainly it’s about thanking God for his goodness and blessing in our lives. Thanksgiving is inherently Christian. All blessings come from God (James 1:17), so before we gather around the table for feasting, we pause as a family, recount God’s faithfulness over the last year, and express our gratitude.

[ 28

Jeremy Morton, Lead Pastor, Woodstock First Baptist Church

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

[

What makes Thanksgiving a special holiday for you and your family? Thanksgiving is special to us because it’s one of the few weeks of the year we have a slower pace, and we are also with our loved ones, a privilege we get

“

only during the holidays. We often travel to be with family far away or family members come to visit us. It’s a privilege to be unhurried and enjoy the slower pace and feasting together.

How do you and your family Give to others during the Thanksgiving season? Our family is very involved in our church ministry and outreach. I can’t say enough about the giving, generous people of First Baptist Woodstock. Our CARE ministry provides food, clothes, rent, and utility assistance and much more to thousands of people during the year, and it’s been especially the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our family counts it an honor to support the efforts of our church during the holiday season both by giving financially and volunteering to serve.

Thanksgiving is inherently Christian. All blessings come from God (James 1:17), so before we gather around the table for feasting, we pause as a family, recount God’s faithfulness over the last year, and express our gratitude.

”

by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

How do you and your family celebrate Thanksgiving? Like most families, we love spending time together during the entire week of Thanksgiving. We host my extended family on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. I love my Big Green Egg and usually smoke a turkey that morning. Everybody brings their favorite dishes, and we usually eat in the early afternoon and then spend the rest of the afternoon watching football.

[

Dr. Rob Nash, Senior Pastor, Heritage Fellowship, a Cooperative Baptist Church

The day ends with a meal of leftovers and with a fire in the firepit where we fix s’mores. We then head to South Carolina on Sunday and spend a week at the beach visiting with my wife’s extended family. We are big fans of Rodney Scott’s barbecue, and we buy about eight pounds of it to snack on during the week and to have for the Thanksgiving Day lunch at the home of one of my wife’s nieces or nephews.

What makes Thanksgiving a special holiday for you and your family? At this stage of our lives, my wife and I don’t get to see our children often, so the highlight of the holiday for us is to be able to spend time with them. Both our children live in the Washington, D.C., area, and one or both of them,

together with their significant others, usually join us at the beach. We have the best time simply walking the beach, playing card games, eating barbecue, and watching football.

How do you and your family Give to others during the Thanksgiving season? Since we are with family for the entire week of Thanksgiving, we let the rest of the holiday season be the focus for giving to others. I was fortunate enough to marry one of the most giving and compassionate people that I know. She makes sure that giving back to others is a major part of the holidays every year. As a high school student she and friends bought presents for poorer families in town. On Christmas Eve they went to a few select houses, put the presents on the porch, knocked on the door, and then ran away as quickly as they could. She now makes sure we pick names of children off the Christmas tree in the foyer at Heritage Fellowship and buy really nice presents. She also is constantly identifying other ways we can help other folks have a great holiday. I’m grateful to God for having someone like her in my life to ensure that I never forget to give back to others out of the abundance with which she and I have been graced. uuu

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

uuu How do you and your family

celebrate Thanksgiving?

[

Kenny Ott, Lead Pastor, Canton First United Methodist Church

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

[

Thanksgiving is all about family. Our kids and grandkids, even our nieceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family, all want to come to our house for Thanksgiving. There will be lots and lots of food. Cathi loves to cook and have the family together, so she will spend all morning cooking and putting the finishing touches on things. I try to help but get in the way more than help. Once the family arrives there is lots of talking and laughter until the feast begins. We will gather in the kitchen for a prayer and then fill our plates. Afterwards we usually go outside for a wiffle ball game or some other activity to make room for dessert. After dessert everyone gradually leaves

(with leftovers) until it is just Cathi; our dog, Ben; and me. Sometimes we go for a walk, but normally we sit around full of food and fulfilled in love.

What makes Thanksgiving a special holiday for you and your family? Thanksgiving is the being together. We all have such busy lives that it is nice to have a time to slow down and spend time together.

How do you and your family Give to others during the Thanksgiving season? Cathi and I serve at a local outreach, such as Cherokee Thanksgiving or MUST Ministries.

How do you and your family celebrate Thanksgiving? Our family looks forward to Thanksgiving each year, and we celebrate the day with as many friends and family members as possible in a couple of homes across North Georgia.

What makes Thanksgiving a special holiday for you and your family?

[

Zip Cain, Missions Minister, Revolution Church

[

It’s special to us because we have a group of people together who want to gather and give thanks to God for everything he’s blessed us with. It also gives each of

us time to strengthen our relationship with one another while we’re gathered together.

How do you and your family Give to others during the Thanksgiving season? During the Thanksgiving season our family looks for opportunities to bless our community, whether that means donating items to local food drives or riding around Thanksgiving morning handing out fresh hot biscuits to people walking down the streets of Canton.

remembering

A LIFE WELL LIVED...

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

community

ee f f Co

Creating Community by Katie Wheeler, Canton Resident

Coffee is a catalyst for community. A warm cup o’ joe can bring together strangers and friends alike. It’s a staple in the morning routine of millions of people around the globe and it’s a staple of the holiday season. A warm, cozy holiday blend, a pumpkin spice latte, or a peppermint mocha inspires the Christmas spirit in all of us. This fact we all know. What you may not know, however, is that Cherokee County has its own coffee gem that spreads its sparkle to folks as far away as Central America.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Children in Honduras line up to be fitted for new shoes for Christmas.

Alma Coffee is a farm-to-cup coffee roastery in Holly Springs. Alma means soul in Spanish, and soul truly represents what the founders stand for, believe in, and carry out daily. On visiting the roastery, I was greeted with an enthusiastic welcome and my favorite question, “Would you like some coffee?” Step through the front door of the roastery, and you are met with a smile and the earthy aroma of coffee beans. The head roaster and her husband are hard at work prepping packages to be sent out. Bags of beans line the walls. At the coffee station in back, the team can whip up a cappuccino, latte, or regular brew. A table welcomes you to sit and get to know your neighbors and fellow coffee conniseurs. All the equipment for receiving shipments, roasting the beans, and packaging them for sale is centralized in one building behind a renovated home they plan to convert into a coffee shop. Alma Coffee is owned and operated by husband and wife Leticia and Harry Hutchins as well as Leticia’s father, Al Lopez. Leticia grew up visiting her family’s coffee farms in Copan, Honduras, where her father was born and raised. She cherishes the unique opportunity she was given at such a young age to experience life on coffee farms, and as an adult she recognized the need for proper and sustainable farming practices.

Both Leticia and Harry grew up in Cherokee County, where their love story began in high school. Two years into their corporate accounting careers in Chicago, they felt they could be doing more. “We had that millennial mindset of wanting to make the world a better place,” she says of their transition out of corporate life. After many business trips with her father down to the farms, working, and learning more about coffee farming, the couple fell in love with the industry. Leticia says she was inspired by the impact her father’s coffee farm was able to have on the community. It changed people’s lives, and it changed their family’s lives. “We fell in love with everything, so we decided, ‘Let’s do something that five generations before us were never able to do. Let’s roast our own coffee,’” she explains. uuu

o o P e h t r o f d o Fo

ities in commun o. Food s rt o p p u can to Alma s , and you the poor in a c ri e m orts Latin A can and oor supp for the P teen Latin Ameri need help as ven about se untries. These are water, g o in c k n n a ri e d b , Carib unsafe f o children e d s e u n a bec abando edical care. d n a d e orphan , and lack of m asing a gift, ion rch malnutrit r the Poor by pu ng money. ti fo a n d o o d o r F o Help child, a g n ri o or spons r The Po Food Fo ns Road 6401 Lyo Florida 33073 [www.EnjoyCherokee.com] Creek, n Coco ut 4-427-2222 95

uuu The next step? Leticia and Harry created a business plan, quit their corporate jobs, and dove wholeheartedly into what would become Alma Coffee.

When faced with choosing a location to headquarter their dream business, Leticia and Harry decided to go back home. Cherokee is where they started their journey together, and it felt fitting to continue it here. Leticia says she loves the community and entrepreneurial spirit that Cherokee County provides. “We couldn’t imagine starting this business anywhere else.”

“

Alma Coffee is founded on three pillars: improving lives, sustainability in everything the company does, and creating extraordinary coffee. All decisions are focused on these three elements.

”

Part of the Alma mission is to create direct trade from farm to cup. Leticia’s family owns two coffee farms in Copan and operates an “Almadoption” program in which Alma partners with other local coffee farmers that the family knows. This arrangement ensures high-quality beans while also investing further into the coffee industry of Honduras and the community there–a mission Leticia is passionate about. Alma bridges the gap between farmers and consumers.

Honduran child trying on clog style BOBS by Sketchers

Leticia Hutchins, founder, giving away bags of shoes and clothing to children in Copan

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Typically about seven middlemen handle coffee beans, each taking a cut in the profits, before the beans even get to the port to leave the country of origin. The saturated system reduces values to farmers and lowers the quality of the coffee. Alma eliminates the middlemen. By participating in direct trade, Alma works with farmers directly, which guarantees a high-quality product and provides a living wage for the growers. The holiday season urges us to give, and Alma Coffee complies. Leticia, Harry, and the Alma family take every opportunity to give back to the community, a deed that has always been important to Leticia’s family. Much of Honduras is impoverished, which can also lead to high crime rates. “It’s really sad, but you’ll see kids with no shoes. Many people still don’t have floors in their homes,” Leticia explains. She and her family have long been a positive force in the community. Leticia’s grandmother began a tradition of putting together gift baskets filled with essentials and giving them to families who gathered for Christmas. For more than fifteen years, those baskets provided items such as soap, toothpaste, clothes, rice, beans, and more. The project grew, and now the family works with CEPUDO, a Central American partner of Food for the Poor. The partnership allows for bigger donations from retailers such as Walmart, Sketchers, and Crocs. It now reaches more people and provides more substantial items. In 2019 Alma provided mattresses to many of the impoverished members of the Honduran community. Integrating the community in Honduras with Holly Springs is important to Alma. Poor families struggle throughout the year, and Christmas increases their struggle and stress. Providing gift baskets to children and their families relieves some of the burden, even if briefly, and reflects the spirit of community, hope, and family. Alma brings the sense of community and family back home to Cherokee County. Leticia says, “When you buy a bag of coffee, it’s not just a bag of coffee. You can get coffee anywhere. You’re buying and supporting a neighbor that’s 3,500 miles away in Honduras.” You support farmers from across the Copan region as well as their families. You also support a neighbor down the road in Holly Springs. A little goes a long way, and supporting direct-trade businesses such as Alma Coffee creates a straight line of assistance and livelihood to farmers and their families, whether local or elsewhere. uuu

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Leticia giving tamborines to young children in the community

uuu Leticia reveals her family’s Christmas tradition, which involves celebrating at midnight on Christmas Eve. Family members open all of their presents that night, and Christmas Day is dedicated to eating. She can’t pinpoint the origin of the tradition, but her family has followed the same custom for generations.

Consider integrating a new tradition or a new focus on community and family this Christmas. Community doesn’t have to be defined by city or state limits or even your close circle of friends. You can create community through the intentional choices you make every day to support people you may never meet. Alma Coffee spreads Christmas cheer all year long through its respectful business practices and community-driven actions.

The next time you restock your morning coffee or are stumped for a good Christmas, birthday, or other gift, consider Alma Coffee for a sustainable high-quality product. You can purchase a bag online at MyAlmaCoffee.com. You can also visit Reformation Brewery in Woodstock, Great & Plenty Café on Main Street in Canton, or visit the roastery to pick up a bag as well as a freshly brewed cup. Alma Coffee Roastery 3448 Holly Springs Parkway Canton, Georgia 404-369-0850

Gingerbread

Latte

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • 1 cup of coffee • 2 oz. shot of Alma Coffee espresso roast • ½ cup steamed milk • 1 tbs molasses • ½ tsp vanilla extract • ½ tsp freshly ground ginger TOPPINGS • A pinch of nutmeg (or cinnamon) PREPARE Step 1: In your cup of coffee, pour and mix a two-ounce shot of espresso with molasses, vanilla extract, and ground ginger. Step 2: Pour in steamed milk. Step 3: Sprinkle nutmeg (or cinnamon) as a garnish.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

travel

by Shannon Sickmon, Woodstock Resident

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

If you want to forget your pandemic blues and finish this year in style, few places on earth have more grandeur than the wintry, breathtaking vistas in Snowmass, Colorado, or Park City, Utah. Airline travel may make some folks nervous, so take comfort in the fact that both cities are about only a two-day drive from Atlanta. For folks unafraid of air travel, airlines are offering deep discounts to both cities right now. In addition the hotels have increased their already impeccable standards of cleanliness to follow important protocols. uuu

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

The Breathtaker Alpine Coaster is a thrilling experience for many who visit Snowmass, Colarado.

Viceroy Snowmass Resort as sunrise crests the Aspen mountains

uuu Snowmass used to be Aspen’s poor relation, but in 2019 everything changed. The resort town underwent a massive $600 million development last year. The area offers dozens of things to do, including skating at the public ice-skating rink. A new community center called The Collective opened recently and features a bar and a game lounge with classic arcade games. Restaurants galore please every palate and offer a large price range, particularly in the new One Snowmass building. Check out Fuel for breakfast or the Stew Pot for hearty soups and stews perfect to warm you up après ski.

For a place to stay in Snowmass, the best option is the ultra-luxe—and LEED certified—Viceroy Snowmass. LEED— Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is a green building certification program used worldwide. The resort got a massive facelift in 2019, and it’s a great family playground during ski season. The lower-level ski shop offers rentals, and on-staff ski valets ensure that all your equipment is attended to. A concierge will arrange lift tickets and instructors for you, ensuring that you can enjoy the maximum amount of time on the slopes with a minimum of fuss. All the rooms

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are furnished in a style that strays from the typical Colorado mountain resort and veers toward Scandinavian simplicity. The larger suites come with fully equipped kitchens and a washer and dryer, a boon for parents dealing with wet gear after a day of winter sports. Four-star Viceroy is located just above the Assay Hill lift, so guests have access to more than three thousand acres of trails. The site is a self-contained unit, and the variety of luxurious amenities means you never have to leave the resort. The massive seven-thousandsquare-foot subterranean spa can indulge you and alleviate even the worst altitude sickness, while the daily s’mores and hot chocolate are a perfect ending to a day on the slopes. The Viceroy offers the best in kid-friendly luxury. Be sure to ride the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster while it traverses more than a mile of forest on an elevated track at speeds of up to twenty-eight miles an hour. The same folks also offer ice skating, snow biking, and tubing all throughout the ski season. Eager to explore new cities? Nearby Aspen also offers world-class dining, cocktails, and culture. If you want to mix your sports with a bit of creep factor, check out Ashcroft Ski

Touring, where you can take a guided ski trip through an old ghost town full of history. The resort also offers a Very Important Kid program for when the kids are tired of skiing. It has games, movies, and a variety of entertaining activities for the younger set. Viceroy Snowmass has everything you need for a luxury yet family-friendly ski vacation. Ready for a bit of pampering? Head over to Park City, Utah, to the palatial Montage Deer Valley. The hotel is certainly kid friendly. Children can immediately cuddle with the hotel’s friendly Bernese Mountain dogs on arrival and are offered a choice of stuffed animals as well. Lugging around heavy ski equipment is no issue; the Montage ski concierge has ski valets who assist guests with everything. Your kids will have help donning their boots and mittens, and when you exit the concierge office to the Deer Valley slopes, your equipment is ready to go. One codicil: Deer Valley does not allow snowboarding, so be sure to plan accordingly. When you’re finished skiing for the day, just leave your gear, and the valets will whisk it away with the magic efficiency of a Disney movie. Hot cider and cookies await you back at the hotel. Every afternoon guests can dine on gourmet s’mores with house-made marshmallows in a mind-boggling variety of flavors. When you need something more substantial, the resort

has award-winning dining options, including Daly’s Pub, Apex Restaurant, and Best of Park City winner Yama Sushi. Nearby Park City has copious dining options as well. The hotel has myriad activities for both adults and children. In addition to nightly swims at the indoor pool, the resort offers an outstanding children’s program called Paintbox, geared toward children ages five to twelve. On weekends the resort boasts a Children’s Night Out. Kids have dinner, enjoy featured activities, and watch a movie. Parents then can enjoy a romantic evening alone. During the holidays the program is available every night. The concierge can also arrange for sleigh rides and other happenings, so be sure to inquire. For the family members who like a bit of an adrenaline rush, Utah Olympic Park, built in 2002 for the Olympic Games, is a modern sports complex that is the training center for Olympic winners and hopefuls. You can tour the museum, learn about the Olympics in Utah, and even see elite athletes perform. Olympic Park also offers adventures for the whole family, including bobsledding, ice skating, Nordic skiing, and extreme tubing. After a day of extreme sports, head to the spa at Montage. This 35,000-square-foot sanctuary, the largest in Utah, offers signature Tata Harper floral facials and boasts

The resort is frequently blanketed in fresh white snow that adds a crisp beauty to an already magnificent destination.

eighteen therapy rooms. Its Elements of Wellness experience, customized to each guest, ensures that sore muscles disappear and worries float away. This elite hotel experience delivers everything for guests from upscale amenities to fine dining. Hitting the slopes might be secondary once guests experience the service at the Montage Deer Valley.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

LOCAL AUTHORS

Your Favorite

The Christmas Gift

by Taylor Griffis Illustrations by Brenda Reinhardt

bookmark

How Santa Gets Down the Chimney and Other Unexplained Mysteries

Hometown Holidays: Memories Throughout the Year

Have you ever wondered how Santa gets down the chimney, how to get rid of cooties, or if the Easter bunny lays eggs? Have you ever laid awake at night wondering how dogs became watchdogs, where babies come from, or why it takes so long to go to sleep? Now you’ll know. In ten short stories How Santa Gets Down the Chimney and Other Unexplained Mysteries unlocks the secrets of the universe, but keep an eye out; there are always more questions to answer and secrets to reveal. For now, though, it’s time to unlock some of the greatest mysteries of all time—or at least of childhood.

Hometown Holidays is a collection of columns celebrating special occasions throughout the year. Written during the last fifteen years for Cherokee Tribune, this assortment of some of the best-loved writings of Rebecca Johnston make a heartwarming read wherever you are from and whatever the season. From memories of Christmas mornings and special family times to small-town Fourth of July celebrations to sometimes humorous musings about Thanksgiving Day, Hometown Holidays counts down the year in an entertaining and enjoyable way. Meaningful stories of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, of Easter services and New Year’s resolutions, make this book something to cherish and read again and again each holiday season. This nostalgic look at holidays past will keep you remembering what makes each time of year significant and unique and will put your own holiday celebrations in a new light.

by Alexa Andres

It’s Christmas and you want to give your mom the best gift she has ever received. What could it be? The Christmas Gift is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that teaches children the true spirit of giving and shows them that sometimes the best gift is making others happy. Taylor Griffis is a freelance writer from Canton and a graduate of Kennesaw State University.

Alexa Andres is a writer and storyteller from Woodstock. Alexa has published multiple books, and a portion of the proceeds from each book is donated to a local charity.

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

by Rebecca Johnston

Canton writer Rebecca Johnston is a Cherokee County native and graduate of Cherokee County High School and the University of Georgia. Rebecca has won several Georgia Press Association awards for her writing, including the 2007 First Place Award for Serious Columnist. She currently writes for Enjoy Cherokee Magazine.

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For years Mark Lallathin and David

Many cherished holiday memories include loading up the family and searching for the best light displays. Look no farther than Veterans Park. Cherokee County is excited to welcome the fourth annual Holiday Lights display at Veterans Park beginning November 21.

Pitts of 112 Events have been changing the holiday season landscape in Cherokee County. Their creative vision, passion for the holidays, and the ability to make things happen help spread the holiday cheer to tens of thousands of people each year. Their initial venture into the holiday lighting business surfaced when they volunteered to handle the fundraiser Holiday Lights of Hope in Hobgood Park. They learned the ins and outs of creating captivating designs and finding the best lighting vendors. The success of the Holiday Lights of Hope prompted Cherokee County to create something similar in the northern part of the county. Mark and David worked with the county to develop a drive-through event at Veterans Park, and it has since become a wild success. Although the light event is holiday centered, visitors also pass by a sixteen-by-twenty-foot American flag—a reminder that the park is fundamentally a tribute to our veterans. Last year more than 100,000 people from forty-five states drove through the exhibit. This year will be bigger and better, with more lights, more trees, several new displays, updated programming on animated trees, and extended tunnels. Mark and Dave spend all year planning and dreaming up new displays. As citizens of Cherokee County, they are thrilled at how the exhibit has grown. Mark recalls the moment he and Dave knew Holiday Lights

was a success. In the first car that completed the exhibition, the passengers rolled down their windows, gave a thumb’s up, and said it was better than the lights at Lake Lanier. As cars wind through the breathtaking exhibit, they can tune into WLJA radio 101.1 FM for uninterrupted Christmas music. A popular gospel/classic country music station, WLJA covers local news, weather, and sports. Cherokee County listeners tune in every autumn Friday to listen to play-by-play coverage of high school football games. WLJA also broadcasts the University of Georgia football games and the Atlanta Braves from opening day through the postseason. WLJA is an award-winning community service station and a proud sponsor of Holiday Lights at Veterans Park. One ticket admits a carload of happy holiday riders. Proceeds from the entrance fee are filtered back into the Cherokee County community. Holiday Lights at Veterans Park benefits Papa’s Pantry/Encompass Ministries, Skills USA, Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency’s Pay It Forward Foundation, and various veterans’ charities throughout the community.

Open Daily | Nov. 21 - Dec. 31 Sunday ‑ Thursday, 6:00 ‑ 9:00 pm Friday ‑ Saturday, 6:00 ‑ 10:00 pm $20/Carload or $50/Season Pass 7345 Cumming Highway Canton, Georgia

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Corn Casserole

Cranberry Brie Bites

by Janet Read, Woodstock Resident

by Betty Matthies, Woodstock Resident

Ingredients

1 1 1 1 1

1 1 ½ ¼ 6

box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix stick margarine, melted can (15-ounce) creamed corn can (15-ounce) kernel corn, slightly drained container (12-16 ounce) sour cream

Begin the Fun 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Preheat oven to 350º. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour batter into a 9” x 13” pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm. This is a great side dish with ham. Leftovers are delicious when reheated in the microwave.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Christmas Morning Raspberry French Toast Bake by Mary Collett, Canton Resident

(8-ounce) tube crescent dough (8-ounce) wheel of brie cup whole berry cranberry sauce cup chopped pecans sprigs of rosemary cut into 1-inch pieces Cooking spray Flour for surface

Begin the Fun 1. Preheat oven to 375º and grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray. 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out crescent dough and pinch together seams. 3. Cut dough into 24 square pieces. 4. Place squares into muffin tin slots. 5. Cut brie into small pieces and place inside the crescent dough. 6. Place a spoonful of cranberry sauce atop the brie. Sprinkle chopped pecans and garnish with a little sprig of rosemary. 7. Bake until the crescent pastry is golden, about 15 minutes.

Ingredients 1 loaf brioche bread sliced 3/4-inch thick 8 ounces raspberries rinsed ¾ cup sugar, divided 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, divided 1 teaspoon kosher salt 8 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Maple, blueberry, or butter pecan syrup

Begin the Fun 1. Arrange the bread in a 2 ½ to 3-quart baking dish. 2. Arrange the berries atop the bread evenly and place some between the slices. 3. Whisk together 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl. 4. To the above ingredients add eggs, milk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until combined. 5. Pour egg mixture evenly over the bread and berries, pressing down to submerge the bread. 6. Let the dish sit on the counter for one hour or refrigerate overnight. 7. Preheat oven to 350º. 8. Mix together the remaining cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the dish. 9. Bake about 60 minutes or until puffy and golden brown. 10. If it starts to get too brown, cover loosely with foil. 11. Remove from the oven and let stand ten minutes. 12. Serve with warm maple, blueberry, or butter pecan syrup.

Mistletoe Margaritas (Big Batch!)

1. In a medium bowl, toss cranberries with 1 tablespoon lime juice and then drain.

½ cup whole cranberries ¼ cup granulated sugar, divided 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 wedge lime, for rim 2 cups cranberry juice

2. Toss cranberries with 2 tablespoons sugar.

12 ounces silver tequila 8 ounces triple sec ½ cup lime juice, divided 12 cups ice Mint for garnish

3. Pour onto a baking sheet to dry. 4. Combine remaining sugar with salt on a shallow plate and mix to combine.

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Cream Cheese-filled Pumpkin Bread by Christie Horejs, Woodstock Resident

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Filling 1 ½ 1 1 1

(8-ounce) package of cream cheese, softened cup granulated sugar tablespoon all-purpose flour egg teaspoon vanilla

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Ingredients for Bread 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice ½ cup vegetable oil 1 ½ cups granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 cup pumpkin puree

Begin the Fun 1. Preheat the oven to 325º.

Cream Cheese Filling 2. In a medium bowl use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, egg, and vanilla. 3. Beat until smooth. Set aside.

Bread 4. Grease a 9” x 5” loaf pan with nonstick spray. 5. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside. 6. In a large bowl use an electric mixer to beat together the vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin puree until well combined. 7. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture a little at a time. Stir until evenly combined.

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Assembly 8. 9. 10. 11.

Pour 1 1/2 cups of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Spoon the cream cheese filling atop this layer and spread evenly. Add the remaining bread batter atop the cream cheese filling. Bake for 85 to 95 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 12. For softer edges cover with foil the last 15 minutes of baking. 13. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing and then place on a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.

5. Using the lime wedge, wet rim of each glass and then dip wet rim in sugar/salt mixture. 6. Combine cranberry juice, tequila, triple sec, remaining lime juice, and ice in a large blender, working in batches if necessary. Blend until smooth. 7. Pour into prepared glasses and garnish each with a sprig of mint and a couple of sugared cranberries.

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christmas spirit

Lights on the Lake Floats the

Christmas Spirit by Cindy Pope, Woodstock Resident

The Fourth Annual Lights on the Lake boat parade, a festive Christmas treat for the entire family, kicks off the holiday season for many families and boating enthusiasts. Intricately decorated boats float across peaceful Lake Allatoona and bring the Christmas spirit close to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart. Sponsored by the Lake Allatoona Association, the floating light show takes place Saturday, December 5, 2020, and is free for kids from one to ninety-one. uuu

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Kayla Gray

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choose. however they eme. te ra o ec d Boaters may r a tropical th ant opted fo This particip

For Boaters and Sponsors • Registration to participate in the Lights on the Lake Parade closes November 23. Registration fee is $50 for each boat and includes a 2020 Lights on the Lake T-shirt. • Line up for the parade begins Saturday, December 5, at 5:15 p.m. • The parade begins at 6:00 p.m. in front of the Allatoona Yacht Club • Participants make two circles in front of the dam and then travel to Park Marina’s gas dock for judging and prizes. • Become a parade sponsor for $250. Parade sponsors may enter one boat in the parade and will receive two 2020 Lights on the Lake T-shirts with all the sponsor company names on the back of all T-shirts. For more information go to Christmas-reg-fikket.com.

For Viewers • Viewing is free! • T-shirts will be available for purchase, and donations are welcome as well.

Best places to watch the parade: Gatewood Park/Bartow Beach 224 Bartow Beach Road Cartersville, GA Cooper Branch #1 Boat Ramp 1121 GA Spur 20 Cartersville, GA

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Olaf from Dis ney’s Frozen spreads holiday chee r from this po ntoon.

uuu The annual Lights on the Lake Parade is an evening cruise that gets the community in the festive spirit, brings joy to participants and viewers, and helps children in need. About forty boats participate each year, and it’s hard to tell who delights more in the parade, the participants or the viewers.

Dave Matthews and Linda Hartsfield of the Lake Allatoona Association organized the event, and the association awards prizes for the most festively decorated boat in the categories of Houseboats, Cabin Cruisers, Pontoons, and Other. So far the prizes that have been donated for the event include a floating bar and a floating waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Other prizes and sponsors are still being confirmed. For 2020 the proceeds of the entry fees will benefit The Children’s Haven in Canton, Georgia. This year’s parade promises to be extra special. “The year 2020 has been rough on us all,” says light-parade enthusiast Gabe Harrison. “Everyone who shows up is not just bringing a boat with a bunch of lights on it; they are bringing a little bit of hope, the same hope that came to us some two thousand years ago.” Dave concurs. “It’s been a tough year for everyone, but we’re excited to raise money for The Children’s Haven in Canton and have the best parade and decorations yet.” Gabe continues, “It is a lot of hard work, but being on the water with fellow boaters is rewarding.” It can take from eight hours to several hundred hours to prepare a vessel for the floating light show and requires using generators and/or extra batteries on board to supply the power needed for the decorations. Some participants begin decorating their boats as early as October for weekend cruising as well as for the parade. The Lights on the Lake Parade on Lake Allatoona began in the 1980s and was a huge event in Cherokee, Bartow, and Cobb counties. After years of wildly successful light parades, however, the group organizing the event became defunct for about fifteen years.

eady rina r a M rk at Pa ers. dges the boat u J t s to cou Sea S out prize e v i g to

Four years ago Lake Allatoona Association members decided to bring back the Lights on the Lake parade because of how much fun it provided, and they wanted to raise money for charities. That first conversation occurred in October 2016, “which didn’t leave much time to put a charity benefit and boat parade together, but we pulled it off,” says Dave. “We had a dazzling parade with about forty boats. All were decorated well, and about a hundred people gathered on shore to enjoy it.” “The Lake Allatoona Association took over the sponsorship to become involved with more fun-filled and family-oriented activities, formalizing the event four years ago to bond together lake users and businesses on and around the lake,” says Linda.

As Christmas is for kids, “over the past years, the Lake Allatoona Association committee has donated proceeds from the light parade to nonprofit organizations that assist children.” Linda’s voice chokes for a moment. “These funds allow nonprofit organizations to help children in need.” The first year the Lake Allatoona Association sponsored the parade, “We raised money for the Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, a wonderful organization that helps lead older foster youth, male and female, into lifelong thriving independence,” Dave says proudly. “Last year the Lake Allatoona Association donated to Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter in Bartow County,” Linda continues. This year for the first time the event offers sponsorships to companies and individuals who want to donate to a children’s nonprofit organization, “spreading the love each year to one of the three counties the lake encompasses,” Linda says with pride.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

events

Christmas at The Mill

• Saturday, November 28, 2020 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Mill on Etowah will host its first Christmas event on the year of its opening. The event will host a Holiday Market featuring about 220 makers and artists inside The Mill for all your Christmas shopping in one spot. Lighting of the Christmas tree will take place at 7:30 p.m. The Mill on Etowah 225 Reformation Parkway Canton, Georgia

Tate House

• Holiday boutique and Christmas Tours December 1 to December 23, 2020 Built in 1921, the southern romantic Tate House mansion was constructed using pink Etowah marble of Lumpkin County. The historical beauty offers Christmas luncheon and afternoon tea tours. Each room of the home will be decorated differently and features Art Deco, eighteen Christmas trees, and a dining room table centerpiece of a pink Cadillac convertible, complete with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. For times and event details, visit the website below. The Tate House 61 Georgia Marble Road Tate, Georgia TateHouse.com/ChristmasTour-Reservations 770-735-3122

Ball Ground Christmas Home Tour 2020

• Saturday, December 3, 2020 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The A. W. Roberts home, on the National Register of Historic Homes, and four other residences will be highlights of the Ball Ground Christmas Home Tour. For tour hours and ticket prices, visit the website below. The Christmas Shoppe at the A. W. Roberts Home will be open to everyone, whether taking the tour or not. The Christmas Shoppe features items from local businesses that are perfect for gift giving. The A. W. Roberts Home 185 A. W. Roberts Drive Ball Ground, Georgia BallgroundBusinessAssociation.com

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

Holiday Lights 5K at Veteran’s Memorial Park

• Saturday November 21, 2020 5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. A 5K at night? That’s right! Avid runners, committed joggers, and leisurely walkers will immerse themselves in the holiday spirit by traveling through the most spectacular holiday light show in Cherokee County. Proceeds benefit Papa’s Pantry/Encompass Ministries. Organized by Five Star NTP. Cherokee Veterans Memorial Park 7345 Cumming Highway CantonActive.com/Canton-GA/Running

A Christmas Carol (stage reading) • Thursday to Saturday, December 17 – 19, 2020 I 7:30 p.m.

The Falany Performing Arts Center will be performing a stage reading of A Christmas Carol. A series of ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve and force him to face the bitter, heartless reality of his life. Scrooge must decide whether his future will hold death or redemption. In the staged reading of the timeless Charles Dickens tale, actors play multiple roles in an intimate setting that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. Falany Performing Arts Center Reinhardt University Waleska, Georgia Reinhardt.edu/Falany

A Christmas Carol: The Musical • Friday December 4, 2020 I 7:30 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 2020 I 2:30 p.m. • Friday and Saturday, December 11 and 12, 2020 I 7:30 p.m.

• Sunday, December 13, 2020 I 2:30 p.m. • Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19, 2020 I 7:30 p.m. • Sunday, December 20; Wednesday, December 23; and Thursday, December 24 I 2:30 p.m. Join Elm Street Theatre for a must-see holiday tradition in North Metro Atlanta. On Christmas Eve ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge and offer him a chance for a better future. His old partner Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future teach him it is never too late to change. Celebrate the holidays with this beloved Dickens classic reimagined by the creative team of Elm Street. The musical and cast will warm your heart with joy whether it is your first or fiftieth time, whether you are nine or ninety-nine. Tickets on sale at ElmStreetArts. Secure.Force.com/Ticket Elm Street Theatre Elm Street Cultural Arts Village 8534 Main Street Woodstock, Georgia

The Best

Christmas Tour in Georgia.

ExperienceChristmas at THE TATE HOUSE B o o k Yo u r R e s e r v a t i o n s N o w

Ta t e H o u s e . c o m

770.735.3122

Chattahoochee Tech Instructors

Soar Higher Devon Parks

Automotive Collision Repair Instructor Appalachian Campus

Experts in Their Field. Strong Industry Connections. Dedicated to Student Success.

ChattahoocheeTech.edu 770-528-4545 A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Equal Opportunity Institution.

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

SIMPLY THE BEST Enjoy Cherokee Magazine

is the Best Community Magazine in the nation. The Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards recognize excellence in engaging content and outstanding design in the publishing community. Enjoy Cherokee Magazine was awarded first place in the national category of Full Issue: Consumer, Culture/Community.

Make Your

Holiday Brighter 16’ x 20’ American Flag

STOP

❅ NON

❅

as m t s i r h C usic M Open Daily | Nov. 21 - Dec. 31 Sunday - Thursday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm Friday - Saturday, 6:00 - 10:00 pm $20/Carload or $50/Season Pass

[www.EnjoyCherokee.com]

This fundraiser benefits Papa’s Pantry/ Encompass Ministries, Skills USA, the Cherokee Parks and Recreation Agency’s Pay It Forward Foundation, and various local veteran charities.

❅ More than TWO MILLION LIGHTS! ❅ Two-miles of breathtaking holiday lights. ❅ Three drive-through tunnels. ❅ Animated Christmas displays.

7345 Cumming Highway, Canton, Georgia | Brought to you by 112 Events

Last year more than

100,000 people from

45 states

drove through the exhibit.