Enjoy Cherokee Magazine, May/June, 2018

K ristina L aurendi H avens, Page 6 Woodstock ’s community-minded A rtist

M ayor Gene HobG ood, Page 26

Be Autiful community ties

r icH ard sM it H, Page 32

conquering the A ppA l Achi A n tr A il

You don’t need to be an athlete to have shoulder problems. Or issues with your joints, hips, hands or knees, for that matter. That’s why the orthopedic specialists within the Northside Cherokee Sports Medicine Network provide comprehensive care based entirely on your needs, no matter your age or athletic level. From the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries to knee and hip replacement, we’ve got you covered. Call 770-517-6636 to find the location near you. Because there’s a lot riding on your health.

Features

Big Healthcare. Bigger Impact. Cherokee

County is home to some of the nation’s best healthcare systems. But it’s the people behind the scrubs—our neighbors—who make those services outstanding. Personal stories of hardship coupled with touching acts of kindness from our favorite healthcare providers are the inspiration for this article.

Community Ties

Gene Hobgood, Canton’s seasoned mayor, enjoys colorful hobbies outside of his rigorous daily schedule. Join us as we chat about his artistic endeavors of painting silk ties and playing the ukulele.

No Age Limit on the Appalachian Trail

More than 20,000 people have hiked the entire fourteenstate, 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. Of those, only fifty of them were aged seventy or older. Richard Smith, a seventyfive-year-old Canton resident, is one of the elite.

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A Touch of Torrit Grey

Kristina Laurendi Havens is a Cherokee County treasure. She’s a gifted artist, talented teacher, and generous supporter of our community. Her work is found on prominent walls throughout Cherokee County and will rest in your soul like a touch of home.

The cover of this magazine displays one of Kristina’s paintings entitled “Canton.” This painting hangs in the cafeteria at Northside Hospital Cherokee. Enjoy Cherokee Magazine thanks Northside for permission to print this and the other paintings found on pages eight and nine of this publication.

CEO/PRESIDENT

Randy Gravley

Randy@EnjoyCherokee.com

VICE PRESIDENT

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PUBLISHER

Jodi Drinkard

Jodi@EnjoyCherokee.com

EDITORIAL

Angela Chambers

Julie Smith

Leana Conway

Cindy Pope

Bob Pepalis

Bobbie Christmas

ADVERTISING

Elaine Hawkins

Elaine@EnjoyCherokee.com

Michael Searcy

Michael@EnjoyCherokee.com

Jennifer Allen

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Nathan Fowler Director of Marketing at Mileshko www.Mileshko.com

Copyright© 2019 by Enjoy Magazine, Inc. (EMI). All rights reserved. Every effort is made to ensure the contents of this publication are true and accurate. EMI assumes no responsibility for misinformation. Correction requests are always welcome at Jodi@EnjoyCherokee.com. Reproduction in whole, or in part, without permission of Enjoy Magazine, Inc., is strictly prohibited.

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Contents

Gilmer County Getaways

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gilmer County is about an hour’s drive north of home and offers exciting day and weekend adventures.

Master Gardeners

We’ve heard the term “Master Gardeners” and admire their yards. Learn what it takes to become a master and how master gardeners serve our community at large.

Colorful Poolside Picnics

Warm weather means it’s time to invite friends and family to a poolside picnic. Add spice to the picnic with new recipes and color to the pool area with imaginative landscaping.

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Bookmark: Local Authors

A Dandelion Girl: A Hero at the Beach and Timeless: The Becoming of a Teenage Witch come with rave reviews.

Silk Road of Georgia

Before Georgia was known as a pillar of the denim industry, silk was slated to be a cash crop to rival that of the ancient silk road between Asia and Europe.

Art Show Review

Cherokee County middle schools participated in an art show and demonstration at the Cherokee Arts Center. Meet a few of the artists and what they aspire to in the future.

46 32 47 29 48 44

Calendar of Events

Look no further for local entertainment and activities ideas. Live music, children’s camps, and art festivals abound in Cherokee County.

Helping Heroes

Did you know that there are hundreds of homeless veterans in our community? These heroes need a little help from their neighbors. Will you help?

Poolside Picnic Recipes

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at a poolside picnic with some new recipes. Pick up a couple of helpful tips on grilling veggies.

Photography provided by Nathan Fowler of Milsheko.

by Leana Conway, Woodstock Resident

Kristina Laurendi Havens

Touch A of

Torrit Grey

Unlessyou’re an oil painter, you may not know that on Earth Day each year Gamblin Oil Paints releases a limited-edition paint color by the name of Torrit Grey. Intriguingly the company makes the unique oil paint color from the actual dust particles collected in the filters at its manufacturing plant after a year of production.

Torrit Grey happens to be a favorite paint color of gifted Cherokee County artist Kristina Laurendi Havens. Kristina often uses that color choice to tone down a common feature of her art—bright color. The gritty grey color takes the edge off bright hues a little like dust does to a rug. “The addition of Torrit Grey turns out to be the perfect foil to one of the characteristics of my painting,” explains the artist. “I love color—maybe too much at times.” Havens is personally much like her art; vibrant and upbeat with shades of strength and grit.

It is not surprising that Havens grew up to be an artist, because she says creating art was merely a part of being alive when she was growing up. Nurtured in her talents, she earned a bachelor of fine arts with honors from Buffalo State College in New York and a master of fine arts at Texas Christian University.

Like many artists, painting is not Havens’s only gift in the artistic arena; she also enjoys fashion design, mainly employing used denim, and has a great passion for dance. For her MFA thesis exhibition titled Blurring the Line, she married her two passions of art and dance. She says it was “all about capturing the movements, the energy, and the dynamics of dance in my paintings.”

Fifteen years ago, after moving around the country, Havens and her family moved to Woodstock, Georgia. Here in Cherokee County she found a great place to settle, raise her family, and focus on her art career.

For quite some time Havens shared an art studio with fellow artist Ann Litrel in downtown Woodstock. The location inspired Havens to paint a stunning series of thirty-six Woodstock vignettes—homey depictions of everyday life in downtown Woodstock. Havens generously donated the collection to an auction that benefited the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. In recognition of her generosity and efforts to preserve the history of Woodstock through her art, Havens received the Citizen of the Year award for Woodstock in 2015.

“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

—Pablo Picasso

Torrit Grey Touch A of

Havens accepted a commission for a set of sixteen portraits of saints for Our Lady of the Mountains Roman Catholic Church in Jasper, Georgia, about four miles north of the Cherokee County line. From the hands of Havens, the personality of each saint leaps off the canvas with depth and emotion, bringing a new complexity to each. Havens says, “I truly hope that these paintings will provide a small measure of comfort to those who need it when they look into the eyes of the saints and gaze upon my interpretation of their likeness.” It’s mesmerizing how the portraits bridge the centuries to bring familiarity to our generation.

In 2017 Northside Cherokee Hospital in Canton unveiled its new state-of-the-art hospital building. The hospital commissioned Havens to create six paintings. Each reflects a scene from Cherokee County and the extended local community.

Havens’s artwork is not just for patients. Elise Torney, a nurse who works at Northside Cherokee, also enjoys Havens’ work regularly. “The original art livens up what would traditionally be a very sterile space,” Elise says. “The scenes evoke a thought of pleasant days gone by, which is the kind of distraction we need when faced with health concerns.” Healthcare workers, patients, and loved ones all find a brief escape through the beauty of Havens’s paintings.

Havens’s home studio is as exhilarating as her artwork. The aroma of oil paint permeates the senses while brushes, pencils, and well-loved palettes patiently wait to transform blank canvases into masterpieces.

It’s been said that “Not everyone who can do can teach, and not everyone who can teach can do.” Kristina Havens clearly rises above this label. Cheryl Ruffer, a resident of BridgeMill in Canton, is a testament to the fact that Havens can both do and teach successfully.

There’s a story behind every commissioned painting—some carry a sad story. The portrait above features a young boy from the Northwestern US who passed away. “It’s a sad story, but this is a happy boy. I’m trying to capture the true essence of his zest for life,” Kristina explains. “I hope that his family finds happy, loving memories in this painting.”

Havens says, “The paintings represent the community, home, and vibrancy through colorful themes.” Havens believes that much healing comes from within, and beautiful art can help accelerate the process. She is thrilled that the hospital chose to invest in works of art by local artists. It’s a unique way to assist patients in recovery.

Northside Hospital chose to display Havens’s paintings in the cafeteria. One day in February, Sarah Lenz was eating a sandwich at a table underneath the painting of the Burger Bus. When asked how the paintings made her feel, the Woodstock resident responded, “I’m here visiting a sick family member, so I am stressed out, but these pictures are bright and cheerful. They remind me that outside the hospital, life is carrying on with happier times.” Sarah added, “I particularly love the perfectly blue skies in the paintings. They remind me good times will come again.”

Cheryl has been a student of Havens’s for more than five years and has been commissioned to create pieces and also sold her artwork on the market. Cheryl explains that each class is an intimate group of four to six people and lasts about three hours. Cheryl has found kinship with Havens and the other students and recognizes that one of the fundamental functions of the class is to keep all students committed to consistent progress on their painting. Cheryl enjoys the attention Havens gives each student. “As a teacher one of her greatest traits is her encouragement. Kristina

“‘I am an artist.’

It’s written on a little note, stuck to my forehead.”

—Kristina Laurendi Havens via Twitter

“Canton”

“Woodstock” “Tate”

Cheryl Ruffer (Canton) studied painting and sculpting at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. Cheryl is currently under the tutelage of Kristina. Pictured here is Cheryl’s portrait of Andrew, the son of Cheryl’s friend.

Havens meets people at the level where they are and challenges each to push forward.”

Despite all the work Havens has done portraying local scenes and long-departed saints, her primary subject matter remains live models. She enjoys the challenge of capturing a living, breathing person. Havens points out that there are subtle changes to a subject during a session because of a model shifting, lighting changes, or deviations following a break, so allowances for these variations are required, keeping an artist engaged. On her Etsy shop

If you dine in the cafeteria at Northside Hospital Cherokee, you’ll be surrounded by six stunning oil paintings by Kristina Laurendi Havens. Displayed at the top of the page are photos of these paintings.

Subjects include (left to right):

• Canton—Our County Seat

• Woodstock’s Historic Dean’s Store

• The Tate House in Pickens County

• The Burger Bus in Ball Ground

• The Holly Springs Train Depot

• Reinhardt University’s Administration Building in Waleska

Kristina

is

where Havens sells custom portraits, figure drawings, and original art, she says, “Whether I’m painting portraits or drawing from a live model, the human figure is a never-ending source of inspiration.”

Laurendi Havens

a bold, colorful soul balanced with a touch of Torrit Grey. She is one of Cherokee County’s vibrant treasures.

“Ball Ground”

“Holly Springs”

(Above) Kristina comes from a family of talented artists. Here she shares some works by her maternal greatgrandfather and great-aunt. Behind her is a sample of work from her master’s thesis. The wood on the wall, above the fireplace, is re-purposed flooring from Canton’s old rollerskating rink.

(Right) Kristina’s studio is home to a variety of beautiful paintings, a Bob Ross bobble-head, and her loving pooches, River and Boo.

CHEROKEEfinds

e LLy HobG ood’s siLK scarves

The First Lady of Canton, Elly Hobgood, is a talented artist in multiple mediums— watercolor and silk scarves, to name a couple. Read the article on page twenty-six of this magazine for details on how she inspired her husband to become an artist. Elly’s scarves and paintings are available at Chamberhouse Fine Gifts & Home Decor.

Chamberhouse Fine Gifts

145 West Main Street, Canton Facebook: chamberhouse

never fee L GuiLty aG ain. For those on a quest to lower sugar and carb intake, a glass of wine can seem like a distant dream. Not anymore. Fitvine has less than one gram of sugar per liter— less than 0.09 grams per glass. A glass of Chardonnay rings up at 2.5 grams of total carbs, 115 calories, and 13.4% alcohol. Oh, and it tastes great!

barre L s of bourbon c offee

Pepper and Mandi (pictured above) are enjoying a cup of coffee at Barrel House Coffee Co. in downtown Ball Ground. Each cup delivers flavor from seasoned bourbon and whiskey barrels. Buy a cup ’a joe, a bag ’o beans, or the big ol’ empty barrel. Ryan Turnage will give you an interesting tour of the aging and roasting room at no charge.

Barrel House Coffee Co.

275 Gilmer Ferry Road, Ste. 5, Ball Ground Facebook: @barrelhousecoffeeco www.barrelhousecoffeeco.com

sL it H erinG sty L e Spotted by Enjoy Ambassador Charolette P., this hand-carved walking stick is made from a single tree branch. A twisted vine created the natural spiral formation. J. Hines Manous of Canton (pictured) carved and detailed the piece into his personal walking stick. Each scale of the snake is hand-burned into the wood. Truly a masterpiece!

J. Hines Manous Resident of Canton

If you find unique items, food, or activities around Cherokee County that everyone needs to know about, take a pic and send it to CherokeeFinds@EnjoyCherokee.com. That’s all it takes to become an Ambassador. (Items and businesses named in this article are not paid advertisements.)

Available at limited retailers in Cherokee County. Check the website for exact locations. Enjoy Cherokee Ambassador James T. found it at Luckys Beverage World, 610 Claremore Professional Way, in Woodstock. www.fitvinewine.com

ce L ebrate cinco de M ayo in sty L e at t H e c opper c oin.

Clase Azul Tequila Reposado is available at an unexpected place in Woodstock—The Copper Coin. Baristas Shelley, Cassidy, and Anna are excited to serve this ultra-premium elixir from the hand-made/hand-painted decanter. Rumor has it that The Coin sells it for $10 per shot. Just try to beat that price!

The Copper Coin, Historic Downtown Woodstock www.coppercoinwoodstock.com

by

Cherokee County is home to some of the nation’s best healthcare systems. But it’s the people behind the scrubs—our neighbors—who make those services outstanding. Personal stories of hardship coupled with touching acts of kindness from our favorite healthcare providers are the inspiration for this article.

Image of Jennings Peppers is courtesy of Victoria Lee Photography.

Angela Chambers, Canton Resident

Big Healthcare BIGGER IMPACT

Caring Professionals

Make the Difference

Type 1 Class Act: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Jennings Peppers is a happy, active, five-yearold boy. His mother, Julie, is the assistant principal at Sixes Elementary, and his dad, Billy, is the Canton city manager. As parents Julie and Billy wanted nothing more than to protect their child from harm and keep a smile on his face.

In March 2018, Jennings began having unexpected issues with bedwetting. Julie sought help and was advised that it was most

Big Healthcare BIGGER IMPACT

likely nothing more than potty-training regression. The bedwetting subsided, and all was well until August, when the symptoms resurfaced. After additional bloodwork was done, the family was in for the shock of a lifetime. Jennings has Type 1 diabetes. His admission to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) was to be immediate.

In a blink of an eye, Julie and Billy needed to rely on others to help protect their son. That helping hand came from CHOA.

“From the moment we walked into CHOA, it was the happiest place.” Julie smiles as she describes the experience. “The staff distracted Jennings with an iPad, so he didn’t even know he was about to be given an IV until the needle slid in.” Julie went on to explain that the doctors and nurses became like family. “Jennings thought he was in a hotel. In fact when he tells the story, he never says he was in the hospital.”

Part of CHOA’s treatment is to train the family on how to manage the disease. The Peppers family attended classes at the new CHOA facility on North Druid Hills Road. They took cooking classes and learned volumes of information about how to manage Type 1 diabetes. CHOA offers classes to parents, extended family members, and even babysitters.

SNEAKPEEK

Enjoy Cherokee Magazine thanks Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Piedmont Healthcare for their cooperation in presenting the touching stories in is publication.

The July/August issue of Enjoy Cherokee Magazine will spotlight similar pieces from Northside Hospital Cherokee and WellStar Health System.

Jennings’s new reality is harsh for a kid. To monitor and balance his blood sugar level accurately, his little finger gets pricked about four times a day, and he receives five to six shots of insulin daily. He has adjusted well, though. “He’s a trooper!” his mother exclaims. “After that first shot, he hasn’t cried at all.”

Jennings teaches his classmates at Sixes Elementary about the disease and is quite an advocate for himself. When meeting someone for the first time, he says, “Hi! I’m Jennings, and I am a Type 1 diabetic.”

Jennings attended Camp Kudzu last summer—a camp for children with diabetes. Another exhilarating opportunity that surfaced

was the chance for the Peppers family to participate in the Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon, the first time a child with Type 1 diabetes had been featured.

“I’m excited to share our experience with people,” Billy Peppers declares. He shares the family philosophy about dealing with this disease: “The good part of this whole ordeal is that we get to help and educate other families.”

In November Jennings came down with strep throat. Being able to go to the CHOA urgent care clinic on Riverstone Parkway in Canton was essential to the Peppers, because most medication interferes with his blood sugar. Julie places a hand on her heart. “It is a blessing to have the CHOA urgent care in our county. It gives us peace of mind, because it is virtually in our backyard.”

A Thinner Shade of Healthy Piedmont Healthcare

“I’ve been struggling with weight most of my adult life,” says Terri Seward of Woodstock.

Many readers can relate.

Terri could lose weight but was unable to keep it off. Her life changed forever when her primary care doctor referred her to Dr. Jeffrey McDaniel. Terri says she went into the weight management office feeling hopeless, yet left full of hope.

Dr. McDaniel specializes in obesity medicine and dedicates his career to the comprehensive care of patients with obesity. He moved to Cherokee County in 1996 and joined Piedmont Healthcare in 1999. Dr. McDaniel’s primary practice is in Atlanta, but he now operates an office in Canton as well.

From Terri’s first meeting with Dr. McDaniel, she felt a connection. “He lived through a similar weight loss journey and was open and honest about the details,” Terri recalls. “He showed me before and after pictures of both him and his wife.” Terri adds that Dr. McDaniel never cast judgment on her about excess weight or her weight-loss struggles.

Dr. McDaniel has an interesting story that led him to study bariatrics, the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity. He started medical school in 1983 overweight and interested in studying weight management, but that was a different time. At that time the predominant theory

“The good part of this whole ordeal is that we get to help and educate other families.”

—Julie Peppers

The love of his family surrounds Jennings Peppers as he battles his lifelong fight with Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes KNOW THE SYMPTOMS

Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. It is the most common type of diabetes found in children and young adults. When a child has Type 1 diabetes, his/her pancreas can no longer make insulin. The immune system gets confused and attacks (kills) the pancreas cells that produce insulin rather than recognizing them as a normal part of the body.

About 1 in 7 people with Type 1 diabetes will have a family member who also has Type 1 diabetes. Children who have Type 1 diabetes can stay healthy by taking insulin injections every day. They can become very sick and even die if they cannot get insulin.

Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms can appear relatively suddenly and may include:

• Urinating a lot

• Drinking a lot and often feeling thirsty

• Eating a lot and often feeling hungry

• Energy loss or often feeling tired

• Weight loss

• Headaches, stomachaches, back pain, nausea, or vomiting

• Blurred distance vision or not being able to focus vision properly

• Repeated skin infections

The above information is provided by the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. For further information visit www.choa.org/medical-services/diabetes.

Big Healthcare BIGGER IMPACT

on how to lose weight was simple and not questioned: eat less and exercise more. Serious study of weight management as a disease was not yet on the radar.

In 1990 McDaniel became a family physician. He says, “I was embarrassed to be overweight as a physician. I tried every diet, and I would be successful for a while but eventually gained it all back, and more.” By 2013, he and his wife had given up on losing weight, and they decided to go to a bariatric conference to explore their options. There Dr. McDaniel learned that obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease that should not be blamed on the patient. As a result he decided to go back to school, where he became board certified in bariatric medicine. “It’s the best medicine I’ve practiced and the most rewarding,” Dr. McDaniel says with a twinkle in his eye.

When Terri first met Dr. McDaniel, she was not considering surgery, because she thought it was only for extreme cases. She learned that her struggle was not because she lacked willpower; she just needed a different approach. “Surgery is just one tool in the battle against weight and is not the only solution,” Dr. McDaniel clarifies. After much thought and prayer, Terri decided that surgery was the right choice for her. As part of the process of preparing for bariatric surgery, Terri spent six months meeting with a nutritionist, a psychologist, and Piedmont support groups. She chose not to tell anyone about the surgery at first because of the stigma—the belief that overweight people are lazy or lack self-control. However, because she is the type of person who does not live life hiding, she decided to talk about

the surgery and be a vocal advocate for all who struggle with weight issues. “This was a gift given to me,” Terri proclaims. “Why wouldn’t I share it?” The surgery was a success, and she has already lost ninety pounds and her overall health has dramatically improved.

Bariatric surgery is not just a matter of reducing the size of the stomach; it forces the body to process things in a new way. The most significant change in Terri’s diet has been eliminating sugar. She also eats protein first in her meal, drinks plenty of water, makes sure to take daily vitamins, and avoids refined white carbs.

“Piedmont is top-notch,” Terri says with passion. “The people there have been strong proponents of the bariatric specialty.”

Dr. McDaniel told Terri that she was not in the fight alone, and he hasn’t disappointed her. “I know he is with me for the long haul,” Terri says with confidence.

Dr. McDaniel and Terri Seward agree that insurance companies need to catch up with the advances in bariatric medicine and cover procedures to help more people improve their health and reduce— or eliminate—the need for medications for various obesity-related issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, acid reflux, and sleep apnea. At this time, Medicare covers bariatric treatments for those who meet minimum qualifications, but the Georgia State Benefit Program does not cover bariatric surgery for any state employee. Both vocal advocates hope for a change in legislation and the public perception of obesity.

Before & After. Terri Seward, Woodstock

Dr. Jeffrey McDaniel and his wife Roxanne transformed their health with the help of bariatric surgery. “I was literally fat and happy,” explains Dr. McDaniel while presenting these images at a workshop. “But now I’m happy and healthy.” He works tirelessly at educating people on the truth behind medical-assisted weight loss.

Terri Seward generously granted permission for Enjoy Cherokee to print her before and after pictures. “It’s painful seeing the before picture,” Terri explains. “But thank you for the opportunity to help spread the word on this life-changing weight loss tool and the services of Dr. McDaniel and the Piedmont Healthcare team.”

Before & After. Roxanne and Jeffrey McDaniel, Towne Lake

“I was embarrassed to be overweight as a physician. I tried every diet, and I would be successful for a while but eventually gained it all back, and more.”

—Dr. Jeffrey McDaniel

University Education

The Need for a Four-year Degree is Being ‘Rethunk’

we are experiencing paradigm shifts in the realms of both formal education and the workforce. A college degree no longer assures a graduate a good job, because the job market craves folks who have more hands-on skills than colleges usually offer. University students are tossing their graduation caps into the air with a dream of landing a high-paying career. Unfortunately, those opportunities are rare and leave fresh graduates with a large student loan and an entry-level salary. Vocational jobs, on the other hand, are bountiful and pay well. Many employers are seeking skilled workers and pay top dollar.

Cherokee County offers opportunities that balance the shift in the workplace.

by Angela Chambers, Canton Resident

(Top Left) Cherokee High School offers students the opportunity to study healthcare science and become certified in patient care before graduation.

(Top Right) Georgia Trade School offers welding certification training in as little as fourteen weeks.

(Bottom Left) Chattahoochee Technical College offers a highly respected cybersecurity associates degree program featuring a CISCO networking lab.

(Bottom Right) Both high schools and technical schools provide automotive certification opportunities in Cherokee County.

R Hi i

Chloe Chambers is a 2016 graduate of Sequoyah High School. She’s also my daughter. Since Chloe was a toddler, her father and I made it clear that we had aspirations of her attending a four-year college. “A degree from a good university will pave your way to a comfortable and successful life,” we preached. We were “over the moon” when Chole announced her acceptance into the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, and we cried the day we sent her off to begin the next chapter of her life.

Four months later, Chloe returned from college explaining that it wasn’t her cup of tea. She found her heart drawn to the field of welding. That change in direction was a difficult dish for her father and me to digest, but after we listened to Chole’s reasoning and visited the Georgia Trade School welding program, we were sold on the idea of our daughter pursuing a career in a field that was in high demand. It was also refreshing that vocational education cost only a fraction of that of a four-year university.

My story has become quite common. The high cost of a traditional college education, coupled with the need for more vocationally trained skilled workers, is changing the way society views post-secondary education.

The average annual cost for Georgia’s in-state university tuition and fees is $9,410, for a total of $30,640 in four years (https://bigfuture. collegeboard.org). According to Student Loan Hero (www.StudentLoanHero.com), sixty-nine percent of university students take out loans and graduate with an average debt of $29,800. To top it off, a vast majority of four-year college

graduates enter the workforce underemployed. Yes, after graduation most college graduates take a position that does not require a fouryear degree. According to Forbes and a recent report issued by the Strada Institute, forty-three percent of college graduates are underemployed in their first job out of college. Of those, twothirds are still underemployed after five years. In contrast, the cost to complete a full academic program at Chattahoochee Technical College hovers at about $9,500, only about a third of the cost of a four-year college program. The school boasts a ninety-five percent placement rate with starting salaries between seventeen and twenty dollars an hour, for an annual of salary of between $35,360 and $41,600.

Chattahoochee Technical College has eight campuses, two of which are in Cherokee County. Between the Canton and Woodstock campuses, the school offers more than forty programs of study to prepare students for entry-level employment. Jennifer Nelson, vice president of Student and External Affairs at Chattahoochee Technological College, boasts, “We have a ninety-five percent job-placement rate, and our programs are in high demand. Chattahoochee Tech meets recent high school graduates where they are. We don’t turn them away if they didn’t have good grades or great test scores. We have resource classes to catch them up.” The technical college offers certificate programs and hands-on practice to prepare graduates to enter the workforce.

Cherokee County high schools also have responded to the importance of preparing students to be educated, skilled workers. The

Chattahoochee Tech boasts a ninety-five percent job-placement rate, and our programs are in high demand.

—Jennifer Nelson, vice president of Student and External Affairs

Chloe Chambers of Canton found that a university education was not fulfilling her career aspirations. She left college and participated in a 500-hour welding course. Today she is gainfully employed in the field of welding.

school system has become a national leader in the arena of vocational programs. Todd Miller, principal of Cherokee High School, is proud of the programs his school offers students. “Our automotive students take an automotive certification exam endorsed by the industry; healthcare science students take the certified patient care exam; business students complete a Microsoft Office exam certification; and our welding students receive certification.” Miller continues, “Upon graduation, our students can immediately enter the workforce in their chosen fields.”

Principal Miller notes that parents and students both recognize that the job market has shifted and our community needs skilled workers to fill essential positions. “A vocational education provides critical thinking skills in addition to technical skills,” Miller says. “The main advantage of vocational courses is that our students are provided with real-world skills to prepare for the next phase of life.”

When it comes to training welders, Georgia Trade School bills itself as The Nation’s Premier Welding School. The institution is located in Acworth and boasts an intensive welding training program that lasts from fourteen to twenty-four weeks, depending on the program of study. Eighty-five percent of the classroom time includes handson welding experience. Sydney Hinesley is the director of recruiting at Georgia Trade School and aspires to get more people involved in welding. “The general population doesn’t think about welding, because you can’t see it,” Hinesley explains, “but it is an important field. It’s a serious job. People’s lives depend on welding, and you can have fun doing it.”

Hinsley relays a time when she worked at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was a part of a team that examined the U.S.S. Cole after it was bombed in Yemen in October 2000. She notes that some of the welds failed because of the explosion, but no welds failed because of quality. Imagine how much more devastating the disaster would have been if the welds were not of the highest quality. Being part of something so important hit home for Hinsley. Georgia Trade School is the school Chloe chose to attend. The structural-plate and pipe-welding program entails five hundred hours of classroom/lab experience and rang up at a total cost of $9,500. I’m excited to share that Chloe is the first female to receive pipe certification there, and she is gainfully employed.

“Georgia Trade School provided me with more practical knowledge and hands-on learning than I experienced at UNC Charlotte,” Chloe explains. She went on to express that the instructors are patient and supportive and provide encouragement.

Our world will always have a place for people with four-year academic degrees; however, that path is not for everyone—nor should it be. Vocational and trade schools keep a close eye on the changing needs of the workforce. They add and hone courses of study to feed the job market with work-ready skilled candidates. As Cherokee County residents, we are fortunate to have a plethora of post-secondary educational opportunities that pave the way for a comfortable career.

Tommy Grizzle Air Conditioning Technology Instructor Canton Campus

“Our high school automotive students take a certificate exam and can immediately enter the workforce after graduation.”

—Todd Miller, principal of Cherokee High School

(Top Center) Dylan Brown, proprietor and executive chef of the Burger Bus. “It’s been a labor of love to give #1386 a new life,” he explains with a smile.

(Center Left) Chili Cheese Tots Supreme.

(Center) 1386 Burger and Onion Rings.

(Center Right) Cowboy Up Dog.

(Bottom Left) Dylan Brown pointing out some of the details of the Burger Bus prior to renovations.

(Bottom Right) A friendly group of folks enjoying an early dinner on-board Bus #1836. From left to right, Charlie and Suzanne Schroeder, Janice Mowey, and Maurice Mason.

(Page 23) This is a photograph of a painting titled “Ball Ground” by Kristina Laurendi Havens. This piece is part of a series of six works depicting iconic scenes of Cherokee County. For more information, see complete article on page six of this magazine.

in Ball Ground, Georgia

Life’s too short for ordinary fast food and mediocre customer service. Today I present you with a challenge: switch your routine from eating in your car to dining on a bus. Adding bus #1386 in downtown Ball Ground to your day will make your life exponentially more enjoyable.

is an authentic electric trackless trolley that shuffled people around Downtown Atlanta from 1948 to 1963. After it and others completed their final route, Cecil Ingram of Ball Ground purchased several of the trolleys, including #1386. Shortly after that, brothers Harrold and Lamar Harris of Harris Lumber Company bought that bus and used it as their office building.

T. Y. Brown visited the Harris Lumber Company many times and became enamored with the stationary vehicle. Eventually T. Y. Brown’s son, Dylan, purchased the rusty bus, intending to turn it into the fine eating establishment it is today.

“It has been a labor of love to give number 1386 new life,” states T. Y. Brown. He explains that the bus has had a longer life in Ball Ground than it did in Atlanta. T. Y. is proud that he and his son have taken significant measures to maintain the authenticity of the original bus. The success of the restaurant is a testament to the love the Brown family has put into the business. Even at three o’clock in the afternoon on an average Tuesday, downtown Ball Ground’s Burger Bus is teeming with customers and tourists taking pictures. I have to admit that this is not my first visit, and today there is a noticeable and unexpected change. The ceiling of

#1386 has a bright new 1960s psychedelic design. It looks beautiful and fits the decor seamlessly; however, I couldn’t help wondering why the drastic change was allowed by a family that has worked tirelessly to keep the bus authentic. Dylan (aka Burger Doc) was excited to share the news. “Disney just wrapped up filming a movie in Ball Ground, and the Burger Bus became a member of the cast,” Dylan explains. “The ceiling was from the Disney special-effects team, and it looked good. We decided to leave it as a new part of the bus history.”

The Burger Bus builds its culinary reputation on fresh food made from scratch with imaginative names and recipes. Dylan’s kitchen team cuts and grinds its non-GMO black Angus beef daily. The veggies are crisp, local, and bursting with flavor. Even the condiments are scratch-made, my favorite being the signature 1386 Sauce. Hannah, my extraordinary server, admits, “Our 1386 Sauce has at least one secret ingredient. They don’t even tell me what’s in it.” One taste of the smoky, flavorful sauce will have you asking for more. I can’t help dunking my crispy fries in that killer sauce repeatedly.

Menu Says: 1386 Burger. Fresh Ground Black Angus, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onion, Prohibition Pickles, 1386 Sauce.

Hayden Says: A classic, perfectly seasoned burger paired with the signature 1386 Sauce to complement and bring out the flavor. The twist comes with the Prohibition Pickles— fresh, house-made pickles soaked in gin.

Menu Says: Fried Green Jacket Burger. Fresh Ground Black Angus, 2 Fried Green Tomatoes, Pimento Cheese, Wasabi Ranch.

Hayden Says: Easily my favorite bite of the day, this burger is topped with melted pimento cheese, two fried green tomatoes, and a piquant wasabi ranch sauce. It bursts with mouthwatering flavor. Your palate will beg for more.

Menu Says: Dad’s on Death Row Burger. Fresh Ground Black Angus, Cheddar Cheese, Fried Egg, Fried Grits, Bacon, Maple Syrup.

Hayden Says: If you were on death row, what would you eat as our last meal? This is it.

A Ball Ground tourist with good taste

One bite, and you’ll know this is the burger “to die for!”

Menu Says: Momma Says (Eat Your Veggies). Fresh Veggie Patty, Chipotle Mayo, Pepper Jack Cheese, Served on Pita Bread.

Hayden Says: Like everything else in this bus, this burger is fresh. The scratch-made veggie patty is nutty, hearty, and satisfying. It’s more than just a nod to those who aren’t in a bovine state of mind.

Menu Says: Goin’ South Dog. Deep Fried Dog, Sweet & Sour Slaw, Mustard, Pretzel Bun.

Hayden Says: A beautiful array of fresh, bright colors sits atop a dark, deep-fried hotdog. Each bite combines cool slaw with a beefy dog. It’s heaven wrapped in a pretzel bun. This dog could defiantly win Best in Show.

Menu Says: Chili Cheese Tots Supreme

Hayden Says: While listed as a side dish, this bad boy can hold its own as a meal. Crisp tots smothered with a warm blend of chili goodness and topped with sharp cheddar, homemade salsa, and a fresh slice of jalapeño. Completely satisfying.

Menu Says: Fried Green Tomatoes

Hayden Says: A classic dish paired with homemade ranch dipping sauce.

Menu Says: Sweet Potato Fries

Hayden Says: Nicely seasoned thin slices of locally grown sweet potatoes. Crisp on the outside and tender inside. Ya can’t eat just two!

Menu Says: Onion Rings

Hayden Says: If you like greasy onion rings, get off the bus. These golden rings of flavor are light and flakey with a savory flavor. Try them with the homemade chipotle mayo. “Ay, caramba!”

288 Gilmer Ferry Road | Ball Ground Monday: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Friday - Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

454-2422 | BGBurgerBus

Pictured on left from top to bottom. (First photo) Sweet Potato Fries. (Second photo) Lone Star Burger and French Fries. (Third photo) Jeff and Kathy Hansen enjoying lunch on the Burger Bus. (Fourth photo) Fried Green Jacket Burger with Tots. (Fifth photo) Dad’s on Death Row Burger.

Photography provided by Nathan Fowler of Mileshko.

“The Burger Bus is more than a restaurant—it’s an experience. A destination. A Ball Ground icon.”

— Cassie Ewerdt

Closing a Retirement Income Gap

Earlier in life, you most likely determined how much income you’ll need during retirement based on the type of lifestyle you plan to sustain. As retirement draws near, you may discover that your income won’t be enough to meet your needs. Adopt a plan to bridge this projected income gap.

Delay Retirement—65 is Just a Number

One option is to stay in the workforce longer. Support yourself with a salary rather than dip into your retirement savings. Extended employment may also increase your Social Security retirement benefit.

Spend Less. Save more.

Adjust your spending habits. Consistently saving a little money can add up quickly. Permanent changes to your spending habits can extend your savings. Prepare a budget to see where your money is going.

Stretch Your Retirement Dollars:

▶ Refinance your home mortgage if interest rates are lower than your current rate.

▶ Downsize to a less expensive home or apartment.

▶ Sell one of your cars if you have two.

▶ Need a new car? Consider a used vehicle.

▶ Pay off high-interest debts utilizing the equity in your home (second mortgage/home equity line of credit).

▶ Transfer high-interest credit card balance(s) to a lowor no-interest card. Cancel the old account(s).

▶ Ask about insurance discounts and review your insurance needs (e.g., your need for life insurance may have lessened).

▶ Reduce discretionary expenses such as dining out.

Immediately Invest Your Retirement Money

Take advantage of an IRA, 401(k), or other tax-deferred retirement plans, as your money may grow more rapidly than in a non-tax-deferred account.

Consider Investing More Aggressively

Be cautious, but not overly conservative. A higher risk (generally) reaps a greater reward. The longer you have until retirement, the more aggressive you can typically afford to be. However, there’s no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful; all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Get advice from a financial professional if you need help deciding how to allocate your assets.

Accept Reality—Lower Your Standard of Living

If your you’re close to retirement and the projected income shortfall is severe, you must face reality. It’s possible that you won’t be able to afford the retirement lifestyle of your dreams no matter the measures you take. In this case, you’ll need to lower your expectations and accept a lower standard of living.

by Julie Smith, Woodstock Resident

Gene Hobgood was born and raised in Cherokee County. He attended elementary school in a building that later became Cherokee High School and is now Canton City Hall. Ironically his mayoral desk sits precisely in the spot that was once the floor of his home economics classroom. Talk about coming full circle!

Mayor

Gene Hobgood never strayed far from home. He obtained his bachelor’s degree at Reinhardt College in Waleska, wandered off to Carrolton just long enough to earn a master’s degree from West Georgia College, and then came right back home. He became an educator and taught biology and chemistry at both Cherokee High School and Reinhardt College. Currently Gene Hobgood is completing his twelfth and final year as the mayor of Canton.

Gene doesn’t spend all his time in that office in City Hall, though. He has many other interests as well. He is married to Elly Hobgood, a gifted watercolor artist who has become quite well-known throughout Cherokee County, and she inadvertently helped him find his artistic ability. “My wife was painting beautiful silk scarves,” Gene recalls with a snicker. “I believe she got tired of me saying, ‘You need to do this or that’ on the scarves, so she told me to get my own project!”

At that, Gene ordered some plain white silk ties and began to experiment. Today the Hobgoods’ basement houses two artist studios, where the husband and wife create their individual versions of colorful masterpieces.

Without giving away too many trade secrets, Gene orders white silk ties and paints beautifully abstract designs using layers of fabric paint, wax, metal washers, glitter, or anything he finds around the house that might produce an unusual design. For example he spotted a big mechanical spring in his basement and decided to give it a go. Perfect! Salt is another element—or should we say compound—that makes its way into the layers of design. No doubt his chemistry background has helped cultivate his creative hobby.

The result of his experimental artistry always surprises him. “Painting ties

“Painting ties is not a skill and not an art, but it’s simply having a good time.”

is not a skill and not an art, but it’s simply having a good time,” Gene says humbly. Although the tie he is wearing may look like he had taken a lot of time to paint sunflowers on it, the design was unintentional. It was created, in part, by a chemical reaction with a metal washer.

He pulls out one tie after another from his collection as if he were a magician pulling connected scarves from his sleeve, each piece drastically different from the one before. His face lights up as he explains the specific technique used to create each tie. By the end of the presentation, his mayoral desk is covered with silk ties in every imaginable color combination and design.

But wait, there’s more!

His creativity doesn’t stop with fashion design. Mayor Hobgood has recently taken up the

that he and his offspring sang together, accompanied by his guitar. He’s amazed that his children still remember many of those songs. Today, with a little help from technology, he’s is doing the same with his grandchild. “She and I sit on the sofa and Google chord charts for songs we want to play.” He smiles at the thought.

No one has to see a hand-painted tie or a top hat decorated with fresh holiday flowers to witness Mayor Hobgood’s colorful personality. He’s a warm, friendly, and humble gentleman. When asked whether he has any family connection to Cherokee County’s Hobgood Park in Towne Lake, he responds, “It was named after my great, great grandfather.”

Angela Thompson, Canton’s Communications and Outreach Director quickly pipes up and makes a correction. “Don’t let him fool you! Hobgood Park was named after Gene.” Angela continues with admiration, “Usually a park is named after someone posthumously. It’s very rare to have that honor bestowed upon you while you are living.”

Mayor Hobgood acknowledges some of the goals he accomplished while in office, such as revitalizing downtown Canton and reducing the city debt. However, he is most proud of one agenda item he accomplished: banning the sale of commercially bred pets, mostly puppies and kittens, in pet stores. Canton was the first city in Georgia to accomplish this feat, and many others have followed suit. As a result pet stores in Canton can no longer buy animals from puppy mills, inhumane high-volume breeding facilities that mistreat and over-breed their animals in an effort to make a profit.

Hobgood’s dream for the City of Canton is to house a cultural arts center downtown that would be similar to the Booth Museum in Cartersville. “It could be a strong focal point and economic draw for Cherokee County and downtown Canton,” Mayor Hobgood points out. “Having that kind of attraction says a lot about the people of Cherokee County and what is meaningful to them.”

Such a dream says a great deal about Gene Hobgood as well. It isn’t surprising that he would have such a vision, since it’s a combination of things that are important to him—a venue to showcase local artists in the city where his roots run deep—a perfect way to tie all things together colorfully.

to ban the sale of commercially bred pets in pet stores.

Silk Road THE OF GEORGIA

What does the Republic of China, a mulberry tree, Cherokee County, and Mayor Gene Hobgood’s ties have in common?Silk.

During the seventeenth century, upperclass Europeans created a large market for fancy fabrics. To meet that demand, England experimented with textile production in its new colony of Georgia. Silk was one of those extravagant textiles. Textile workers planted abundant mulberry trees as feed for silkworms. Many areas of Georgia were part of the growing textile business, and a particular portion of the colony was dubbed the Silk Road, mimicking the ancient Silk Road that spanned a vast area between Asia and Europe.

One of China’s leading producers of silk during the seventeenth century was Guahgzhou. The English pronunciation of that word is “CAN-ton,” so the original town of Etowah was renamed Canton.

After workers made several attempts to produce silk in Georgia, they learned that the state’s seasonal temperature fluctuations didn’t lend itself well to silk production, and the operation ceased. Cotton, however, flourished, and Canton became a hub for denim production. You might be surprised to learn how many of your neighbors and family members remember denim being the fabric that held Cherokee County together.

The primary purpose of the Georgia Master Gardener Association is to support and advocate for master gardeners and master gardener organizations throughout the state. In Cherokee County master gardeners volunteer thousands of hours to help county residents with their gardens and landscaping.

Cherokee County Extension Agent Josh Fuder (http://extension.uga. edu/county-offices/cherokee.html) allows the gardeners to use his office to reach more people and answer questions from anyone in the county who has questions about gardening and landscaping. Interested growers train for fifty hours with experts to gain Master Gardener Certification. They then volunteer for at least fifty hours the first year and twenty-five hours in later years. Some of the sixty-nine Cherokee County master gardeners in 2018 volunteered for 200 to 300 hours. In 2019 the number of local master gardeners grew to eighty-five.

Gerald Phillips, a certified master gardener, moved to Cherokee County in 1992. At that time the master gardener program seemed an ideal way for him to learn about the state’s growing conditions, since he already loved gardening. In addition to horticulture, he has used knowledge from the program to maintain bee hives for the past twelve years.

Joan McFather joined a friend in the master gardener program after retiring from teaching at Cherokee High School. The program offered

her a good way to learn how to care for her yard, since she no longer spent her extra time grading papers. After completing the training, she was ready to share her knowledge. She started out answering phones in the Cherokee County Extension office. While she initially worried about not knowing all the answers on the spot, she enjoys researching to get answers for the public. “Maybe that’s why I like working with young people who are open to helping find out the answers,” McFather says. She helped out when the master gardeners held an after-school junior program. McFather also enjoys working as a docent at the Funk Heritage Center at Reinhardt University. There she talks about the agricultural processes of the Southeastern Indian culture and European settlers.

Interested growers train for fifty hours with experts to gain Master Gardener Certification.

Master gardeners present monthly seminars at the Cherokee County Senior Center in Canton and at local libraries. Phillips teaches many courses, and McFather enjoys working with a team of master gardeners. About forty residents attend the seminars to learn topics such as how to grow vegetables, how to plant trees properly, how to cut flowers, and even how to create a holiday wreath from seasonal vegetation. At local farmers’ markets the master gardeners hold plant clinics. They also maintain an educational demonstration garden at the senior center.

Phillips says that people who move from the North all seem to ask the same thing: “How do I grow anything in this clay?”

In 2018, Cherokee County master gardeners volunteered 257 hours to teach our youngsters how to grow flowers, trees, food, and more in our unique Georgia soil.

Volunteer citizens who crave knowledge of local growing trends and practices, tackle extensive training, and become certified to teach others the craft of gardening.

by Bob Pepalis

The questions McFather fields the most are, “What should I grow here?” and “What’s wrong with this plant?”

The benefits master gardeners provide even extend to Papa’s Pantry, a local food ministry, where they teach gardening. As a result, the food pantry also grows its own fresh vegetables in the summer to supplement donations.

If you have questions for a master gardener, or if you are interested in becoming one of Cherokee County’s elite master gardeners, call (770) 721-7803 or email uge1057@uga.edu.

2018 Cherokee County Master Gardener Statistics

69 Master Gardeners

4,503 Volunteer Hours

5,971 In Person Contacts

43,209 Miles Traveled

Master Gardener Project Areas and Volunteer Hours Recorded

Environmental Stewardship, 2,527 hours

Home Food Production, 165 hours

Gardening with Youth, 270 hours

Value of Landscapes, 160 hours

Health Benefits of Gardening, 143 hours

by Cindy Pope, Woodstock Resident

APPALACHIAN

The Appalachian Trail

was not the first long hike a member of Smith’s family undertook. On April 9, 1942, a few months after the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States surrendered the Bataan Peninsula to the Japanese. At that time the Philippine territory held about 75,000 Filipino and American troops. Those soldiers were forced to make an arduous sixty-five-mile march to prison camps. The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards. Thousands perished in what became known as the Bataan Death March. Richard’s future uncle, Dick Smith, was one of the soldiers who beat the odds and survived both the death march and four years of prison camp under Japanese control.

Around that same time in 1944, Richard Smith was born and named after his uncle who had survived the death march and who was living in a prison camp. In 2019, at the age of seventy-five, Richard Smith of Canton began and finished hiking the fourteenstate, 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail. “During difficult times in my life, and during my weaker moments on the hike,” Richard explains, “I’m reminded that the same blood that flowed through Uncle Dick’s veins flows through mine.”

All photos in this section are provided by Richard Smith.

TRAIL

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy reports more than 20,000 people have hiked the entire fourteenstate, 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. Of those 20,000 hikers, only fifty people were age seventy or older.

“I wanted to be in that group,” says Richard Smith, a seventy-five-yearold Canton resident. He smiles with pride and adds, “I completed the trail in seven months and two days.”

As a child Richard fell in love with nature and outdoor adventures while hunting and fishing with his father. When the time was right, Richard and his own sons joined a local Boy Scout troop. Something unexpected happened during this experience; the fathers discovered they were having just as much fun as the boys. “When my son was a Boy Scout, I began spending a lot of time in the woods with monthly activities,” says Richard, who eventually led two troops through an extended hike in New Mexico. “Scouting is a great learning experience for kids, but I believe I got more out of the involvement than my son did.”

In 2012, long after his children were grown and had moved away, Richard lost his wife and found himself alone in a four-bedroom house. He invited his daughter, son-inlaw, and grandchildren to move in with him. Now three generations of Richard’s family live under one roof on a dead-end street in Canton that backs up to nearly forty acres of wooded land. “My grandson and I camp in those woods often,” Richard says with a snicker.

Hiking more than 2,000-miles is a lot of pressure on the feet. Richard explains that blisters are one of the most feared conditions on the trail. He recalls one fellow endured blisters to the point that it ended his journey. About seventy percent of AT hikers choose trail runner shoes over hiking boots/shoes because the fewer spots a shoe hits skin, the less chance a blister will form.

During

“My daughter says I’m the only man she knows who goes out to hang a hammock when it starts to rain, but it’s more comfortable than sleeping in my bed.” Richard continues to serve as an active Boy Scout leader for the very troop his son was once a member; however, his grandson shares membership in the troop today. Richard learned many things to prepare for the seven-month journey through the eastern mountain range, including how to hang a hammock, sleep under a tarp, pack lightly, eat wisely, and navigate the trails, but education was only part of his training. “The moment I decided to hike the AT, I set up a regimen of hiking two hundred sixty-seven miles in ten- to fifteen-mile segments over three months,” Richard explains. He also studied the trail through books and online accounts of experienced hikers who had completed the same path.

The Appalachian Trail consists of one main path from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the northern terminus at Mount Katahdin, Maine. Many hikers take the trail from start to finish from Georgia to Maine or vice versa. Richard chose to start his journey in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and work his way north to the Maine terminus. From there he traveled back to Harpers Ferry, a grueling jaunt entailing seven modes of transportation, and then jumped back on the Appalachian Trail and made his way south to Georgia.

Knowing how and what to pack on a 2,000mile walk was critical to his success. “I found that a twelve-pound base weight was comfortable for me,” Richard relates. “It contained about five days’ worth of food and water. However, in the winter the weight could

more than double because of the need for heavier sleeping gear and clothing.” Richard made arrangements with his daughter for shipping things to and from points along the trail, for when he needed more supplies or needed to abandon items.

Although he carried a cell phone and employed it a few times for communication, he mostly used it as a camera and timepiece. “As a hiker your day begins and ends with the sun,” Richard says. “I don’t keep a schedule out on the trail; I let my feelings dictate how far I travel each day.” Some days he walked eight hours, and other days twelve. “If I found a pretty place that moved me, I sat down and enjoyed it.

“I don’t listen to music or books while hiking,” Richard explains. “When I’m in the woods I like to hear what’s around me or nothing at all.” He can wander for days without seeing another human being and not feel lonely. “I spent much of my career as a commissioned salesperson, so the quiet of nature is a welcome change.”

Eating is an essential challenge of life on the trail. “Hikers burn a great deal of fat, build a great deal of muscle, and need a great number of calories.” Richard’s gaze turns serious. He adds that hikers must know the caloric content of food, because they need at least one hundred calories per ounce to sustain a healthy stride on the trail. “I do what’s called cold soaking,” he notes. “Around noon I put a dried rice side dish in my Tupperware container and fill it with water for rehydration. Later in the afternoon I add tuna fish, chicken, or summer sausage to spice it up. That’s my dinner.” He also ate a lot of Honey Buns, Snickers, granola, M&M’s, and his favorite—Fritos. “A nine-ounce bag of Fritos contains 1,460 calories,” he says with a satisfied smile. It’s common that hikers load up on junk food at nearby gas stations and grocery stores wherever main roads intersect the trail.

“Completing the trail was the most successful thing I’ve accomplished in my life,”

—Richard Smith

This is a glimpse into Richard’s portable living quarters on the Appalachian Trail. When Hurricane Michael came through, he spent three days under the tarp.

warm months, Richard’s backpack weighed about twelve pounds. When the weather turned cold, the backpack nearly doubled in weight. Carrying food enough for five days was a priority.

Maine’s Mahoosuc Notch is the most tretcherous mile of the journey. Hikers need to climb, crawl, squeeze, and cling to succeed. Richard did not escape without injury.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy reports that most throughhikers lose about thirty pounds. After completing the full trail, Richard had lost only thirteen pounds, demonstrating his ability to balance his intake and burning of calories exceptionally well. He admits with a mischievous giggle, however, that at least one time he miscalculated his food needs and went more than a day without sustenance.

No matter how much experience hikers have, they’re always only one step away from ending their trip. Somewhere in New Hampshire, Richard befriended a younger hiker of only seventy-one years of age, and the two of them occasionally hiked in tandem. Richard recalls a horrifying moment. “We were in an area called the One-Hundred-Mile Wilderness in Maine when my partner fell. He was able to walk, but with difficulty. I assisted him three miles to a road crossing before I was able to phone for help.” A hostel employee picked up the two men from the crossroads and took them to a hospital. The x-ray showed only a sprain, but they were both off the trail for four days. Richard stayed with his friend during recuperation.

Richard wasn’t immune to injury either. “The most difficult area I ever walked through is called the Mahoosuc Notch. That one-mile stretch of the AT consists of a deep gap in the Mahoosuc Range of western Maine.” There hikers must climb over or under boulders the size of houses. They have to

BLIZZARD of ’93

Inthe early spring of 1993, Richard Smith took six Boy Scouts on a weekend hike along a portion of the Appalachian Trail.

“We knew a storm was coming in, so we prepared to be stuck on the trail an extra day,” Richard recalls. The group began the hike at Springer Mountain and headed north.

The snow started falling, and at first it was fun, but then it became a challenge. Eventually the snow was falling so hard the troop had a hard time identifying the trail. Finally the team found a shelter and holed up there for seven nights. By the end, their food was nearly gone.

“It was a Thursday night when two Army Rangers arrived,” Richard recollects. The rangers explained to the group of stranded hikers that they were out helping the State Patrol find people in trouble. Without hesitation one of the Scouts turned to the ranger and declared, “Well, you’d better get out there and find someone who needs you, then. We’re fine!”

“I was on the Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.”

Richard’s eyes light up. “I was above the tree line with a three-hundredsixty-degree view of mountains, valleys, lakes, and lush greenery. That was a beautiful day.”

—Richard

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

remove their backpacks and push through tight spaces and endure an occasional ten-foot drop. On the socalled “killer mile” Richard slipped, fell, and wedged his leg between a boulder and the trail.

After releasing himself from the earth-and-rock chokehold, Richard completed the steep uphill killer mile in much pain and with blood running down his shin. Mimicking a novice’s idea of rock climbing, Richard grabbed onto strategically placed rebar and convenient tree roots to hoist himself to the top of Mahoosuc Notch. It took him three days to reach a road where a person from a nearby hostel was able to pick him up and deliver him to a hospital. “The good news was that my leg wasn’t broken,” Richard states. “The bad news was that it took a couple weeks of recuperation.” Although his leg was noticeably injured, the pain subsided, and he returned to the trail.

Maine may hold some memories of pain and injury for Richard, but it is also where he was awestruck with the beauty of nature. “A heavily forested area opened up, and, oh, my goodness! I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.” Richard closes his eyes and slowly exhales. “When you’re above the clouds and looking down, your heart just soars.” Overcome with emotion, he gently pats his chest.

Seven months on the trail means traversing the terrain in all types of weather—rain, snow, heat, wind, and deluge. “Hiking through New York State during a heat spell was difficult. I seriously thought of quitting.” The heat index exceeded one hundred ten degrees and lasted several days. Richard thought back to his uncle who battled the heat during the Bataan Death March and found the strength and drive to continue. “The cold and snow is much more comfortable than enduring extreme hot conditions,” explains Richard, “but you’ll find yourself capable of doing far more than you think you can.”

Earlier Richard had purchased a knitted cap from a business run by an autistic young man who imports handmade hats from Nepal. For years Richard wore the cap during hikes through frigid weather. His grandson Gabe often asked to wear the hat. While on the Appalachian Trail, Richard made arrangements for a hat like his to be delivered to Gabe. On Richard’s final day of hiking, his family was waiting for him to arrive at the Springer Mountain terminus. Gabe was especially excited to see his grandpa, so he hiked a short distance up the trail to wait for the reunion. As Richard crested a hill, he stopped and admired what was in front of him—Gabe, in his favorite Naipaulian cap, sitting on the edge of the trail, alone with his thoughts, soaking in an awe-inspired view. “I took a picture and later posted it on

Smith

No Age Limit on the

“Hiking through New York State during a heat spell was difficult. I seriously thought of quitting.”

Facebook with the caption, ‘Future through-hiker contemplating his hike,’” says Richard with a broad smile.

“Completing the trail was the most successful thing I’ve accomplished in my life,” Richard declares, but he’s not just sitting around remembering a life of adventure. Richard continues to stay in shape by visiting the YMCA daily, and he has taken up jogging three times a week in preparation of an upcoming 5k run. He also hikes the trails of

When asked if he would consider hiking the Appalachian Trail again, he responds, “Yes! I look forward to it. But I’m going to wait until I turn eighty.” He continues. “Only two people over the age of eighty have completed the Appalachian Trail. I want to be the next.”

On the final day of Richard’s hike, his grandson Gabe was patiently waiting at the Springer Mountain terminus for the reunion. Together they pose in their favorite hats to commemorate the completed journey and those yet to come.

Bowling Park, Garland Mountain, and Pine Log Creek in the Canton area.

Future through-hiker contemplating his hike.

One of the many benefits of living in Cherokee County is that we’re next door to a variety of mountain adventures. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gilmer County is about an hour’s drive north of home and offers exciting day and weekend adventures.

Mulberry Gap is like a summer camp for adults. Play hard on the trails all day and then relax in rustic luxury with old and new friends. Truly a vacation to remember.

Ellijay, Georgia, is the county seat of Gilmer County—an outdoor lover’s paradise. The quaint community offers trails for hiking and mountain biking as well as other attractions, such as boutique shopping, golf, and the best of North Georgia wineries. Whether you prefer pitching a tent, renting a cabin, or sleeping in a hotel room, Gilmer County awaits your visit.

One popular nature trail in Gilmer County is Bear Creek Trail. Hikers and mountain bikers are both welcome on the scenic ten-mile, single-track trail. You can conquer the full trail up and back or take in only as much as you can handle at one time. A novice may set a goal to reach roughly one mile up the path. At that point you’ll find yourself gazing onto the majestic Gennett Poplar, the second largest living tree in the state of Georgia. If you brave the entire trail, your reward will be a breathtaking view of the lower Appalachian Mountain range. Here’s a little secret: visitors can access the summit by way of a fire road, so you can drive to the top, and we won’t tell a soul!

If mountain biking is your passion, Mulberry Gap, which calls itself a mountain bike getaway, must be at the top of the list of your places to visit. It’s like a summer camp for adults. Spend your waking hours biking, hiking, or walking some of the best trails in the southeast—Bear Creek, Mountaintown Creek, Windy Gap, Milma, and feeder trails to the 315-mile Pinhoti Trail. Mulberry

Bear Creek Trail attracts hikers and mountain bikers from around the nation. A one-mile jaunt from the trailhead brings visitors faceto-face with the second largest living tree in Georgia. This magestic Gennett Poplar serves as a striking photo backdrop for Wisconsin travelers Tom, Vicki, and their dog Roxie.

Shopping in the Apple Capital of the World is fun for all. Ample parking, walkable streets, and welcoming shopkeepers make for an enjoyable day. Don’t miss the antique shops!

Ellijay becomes the perfect base camp for exploring hiking, water sports, mountain biking, horseback riding, golf, and just about any other outdoor activity you can dream up.

Photo Credit: Pam Leonard of nomadicnewfies.blogspot.com

Gap offers cabins, campsites, guided tours, and shuttle services to surrounding trails. After a full day of outdoor adventure, all guests are welcome at the big barn for a hearty familystyle meal. Mulberry Gap hosts events and clinics throughout the year. For example, Ninja Mountain Bike Performance will be there this Father’s Day weekend to encourage dads to get out and ride with their kids fifteen years and older. For Cherokee County resident Leigh Pruitt, Mulberry Gap offered just what she was looking for in a weekend bike getaway. “We were able to ride the trails during the day and come together in the evenings for some amazing food and hang out with other bikers.” Leigh smiles at the memory. “Some of our group camped, but I preferred the comfortable air-conditioned cabins.” Mulberry Gap also provides day use if you make reservations. Let the folks there know if you want to stay for dinner. You’ll want to. Want to get wet? The Cartecay River Experience offers tubing, canoeing, and kayaking from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The outfitter offers experiences for all ages and includes all the safety gear you need to enjoy a perfect summer day on the water. As the closest tubing outfitters to Cherokee County, the Cartecay River Experience is something that can easily be a singleday trip.

If boutique shopping is more your speed, you’ll be pleased with the variety of shops in Gilmer County. Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company is an inviting store that offers tastings of more than sixty varieties of fine olive oils and vinegars. You’ll also find unique culinary seasonings and gifts for purchase there.

Antique shops abound in Gilmer County. Black Bear Antiques, Main Street Antiques, Millies, and 28 Main Curiosities are just a few of the shops brimming with nostalgia and conversation pieces. And don’t miss Gunpowder & Lace, a country-chic clothing boutique that will captivate any fashion diva for hours.

If eighteen holes of spectacular views is your idea of fun, Whitepath Golf Club is your destination. The public course is dotted with several par fours and challenging fairways that wrap around the mountain it calls home. Good luck on hole number nine! Another must-visit place in Ellijay is R & A Orchards. Family-run since 1947, R & A has fresh fruits, vegetables, and a variety of other goods at its store. Peach picking season begins at the beginning of June, and apple picking starts around the first of August. For more information, check out its website.

If sipping wine on a beautiful day is more your speed, you’ll be happy you chose Gilmer County. In one of the fastest growing areas of wine country in North Georgia you’ll find a variety of pristine vineyards and award-winning wines. Ellijay River Vineyards, Ott Farms and Vineyard, Little Red Dog Vineyards, Engelheim Vineyards, and Cartecay Vineyards are all tucked inside the border of beautiful Gilmer county.

Engelheim Vineyards boasts more than a dozen outstanding wines and has an unmatched mountain view. Gather with friends in the tasting room or relax outside on the terrace. Every Friday evening from May through October, Engelheim provides free live music for its guests. For more information, see its advertisement on page 49 of this publication.

Cartecay Vineyards is another outstanding place to experience Georgia wines. Its thirteen acres of vines produce a variety of wines, including Vidal blanc, Catawba, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Chardonel. Enjoy live music with your wine every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

People across the country travel long distances to visit Gilmer County for a short time.

Cherokee County is just a sixty-minute drive away from that natural outdoor wonderland. The next time someone asks, “Hey, what are you doing this weekend?” tell him you’re heading to Gilmer County for adventure and relaxation.

Beautiful Gilmer County is the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend adventure. Get out and Enjoy! nature.

Poolside Picnics COLORFUL

Warm weather means it’s time to invite friends and family over for a poolside picnic. This year don’t rely on your tropical fruit salad to make it a colorful party . Add color to the pool area and the landscaping, and you’ll bring your picnic to life.

Most homeowners limit their landscaping choices to the ordinary—dare we say boring—choices for their paths and trails around their pool. The standard pea gravel and mulch found at big box stores offer little more than bland browns or shocking whites.

Brandi Kent, CEO of Klein & Co of Canton, advises using decorative stone for your pathway for “a spectrum of colors people don’t think they can use.”

Her company sources reds, greens, and cremes, but homeowners have many other choices too. Some landscapers ask for emerald greens, recycled glass, and turquoise glass chunks, among other options. Many more colors can brighten your property as well.

Professional landscapers also use decorative stones to add accent colors around a fire pit.

The colorful design doesn’t need to fall short of poolside. Kent says that using decorative stone in the concrete brings color to normally drab slabs. After the concrete is poured, the small colorful stones can get blown into the slab before it dries and hardens.

Yummy Recipes on Page 44!

Not only can your parties be more colorful, but they should also be safe. With stone and cement underfoot and children rushing around barefoot, any pool party can quickly become a disaster when a plate filled with artichoke pasta salad and lemon basil potatoes crashes to the ground. Broken glasses or ceramics are no laughing matter. It’s bad enough when your burger or hot dog hits the ground before you’ve had two bites, but if the broken plate or glass ends up in the pool, along with some fried zucchini and baked beans with pineapple, you’ll need to play lifeguard and call everyone out of the pool. Those bits of ceramics and glass endanger your guests as well as your pool filter.

Save your poolside party and your guests while you add even more color to your party by serving food on brightly colored unbreakable plates and serving dishes. You don’t have to sacrifice style by using paper plates. And don’t forget plastic wine glasses. Keep your pool environment both colorful and safe while you save your wallet by buyiing polymer dishes and glasses. Unbreakable polymer dishes look like real china, but they won’t ruin a pool party if one ends up in the water.

Poolside Picnics

Cinco de Mayo Pasta Salad with Chipotle-Lime Vinaigrette

Pasta Salad Ingredients:

1 (16 ounce) package of tricolor rotini pasta

2 cups cherry tomatoes

1/2 pound queso fresco

2 cups fresh broccoli florets

Black olives to garnish

Alternative Veggies:

Rather than broccoli, consider adding a drained can of sweet corn kernels and black beans.

Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon chipotle chile in adobo, minced

1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro

2 teaspoons ground cumin

Salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Begin the fun:

1. Prepare the dressing. Place all dressing ingredients (except olive oil) in a food processor. Secure the top of the food processor and quickly pulse the ingredients twice. Drizzle the olive oil through the top of the processor with the food processor on low. Set aside.

2. Cook the rotini according to instructions on package. Cool pasta completely.

3. Wash and halve the cherry tomatoes.

4. Dice the queso fresco into quarter-inch pieces.

5. Wash and pat dry the broccoli florets.

6. If you choose to replace broccoli with sweet corn and black beans, drain and rinse each thoroughly.

7. Combine cool pasta and all salad ingredients into a large bowl. Gently combine.

8. Slowly pour dressing over pasta salad until it covers all components to your liking.

Tips:

Cinco de Mayo Grilled Corn with Chipotle Aioli Drizzle

Ingredients for Roasted Corn:

4 ears of corn

1 stick melted butter

1 lime cut into wedges

1 cup cilantro (fresh, coursely chopped) sea salt to taste smoked paprika to taste

Ingredients for Chipotle Aioli Drizzle:

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

2 minced garlic cloves

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder or chipotle hot sauce salt and pepper to taste

Begin the fun:

1. Prepare the aioli drizzle by mixing the mayonnaise, chives, garlic, and lime juice in a bowl. Add chipotle seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Chill.

2. Heat grill until hot.

3. Pull back a few of the husks on each ear of corn.

4. Place the corn directly on the grill, husk side down, cover, and grill for 15 to 20 minutes or until the husks are charred on all sides, rotating occasionally.

5. Remove roasted cobs and let cool until they can safely be handled.

6. Remove the husks and silk from each ear of corn. You can either discard the husks completely or fold them back to use as handles.

7. Use a pastry brush to spread butter over each ear of corn.

8. Place the corn on a serving platter.

9. Squeeze a wedge of lime over each cob.

10. Sprinkle with smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper.

11. Drizzle aioli over the corn and serve.

Grilled Salmon Steaks with Mustard Dill Sauce

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon dill weed

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon pepper, optional

4 salmon steaks (1-inch thick and 6 ounces each)

Mustard Dill Sauce:

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons dill weed

1 tablespoon sugar

4 teaspoons white wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon pepper, optional

Begin the fun:

1. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first five ingredients. Add salmon; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 1 hour, turning occasionally.

2. In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients; cover and refrigerate until chilled.

3. Discard marinade. Grill salmon, covered, over medium heat for 6-7 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with mustard dill sauce.

Cast Iron Skillets are perfect for grilling delicate foods like fish and vegetables. You’ll infuse the smoky flavor of the grill without losing anything to the fire.

Capture attention with grilled veggies that are cut in unique ways. Large slices of zucchini and whole carrots won’t fall through the grate and will produce beautiful markings.

Ingredients:

Grilled Whole Pineapple Pistachio Ambrosia Pudding

1 fresh pineapple peeled

1 cup of local honey

2 teaspoon of real vanilla extract

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Begin the fun:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar

2. Coat pineapple well with cinnamon and sugar mixture.

3. In a small bowl, mix honey and vanilla extract.

4. Drizzle pineapple with honey mixture and coat well.

5. Place pineapple directly on a hot grill grate.

6. Cook for 30 minutes total rotating occasionally

7. Remove from grill and drizzle with additional honey.

8. Slice and serve.

Ingredients:

12 ounces whipped topping (like Cool Whip)

1 box instant pistachio pudding mix

20 ounces pineapple, crushed with the juice

2 cups marshmallows (mini)

1/2 cup coconut

1/4 cup pistachios, crushed (optional)

1 cup mandarin oranges, drained

Begin the fun:

1. Fold together whipped topping and pistachio pudding until blended.

2. Add crushed pineapple and gently fold in until combined.

3. Gently fold in mini marshmallows, mandarin oranges, and coconut until combined.

4. Best when refrigerated for at least an hour.

5. Prior to serving, sprinkle pistachio nuts on the top.

rememberingA LIFE WELL LIVED...

bookmark Your Favorite

A Dandelion Girl: A Hero at the Beach

by Christopher Jude

Author Christopher Jude has all the warm fuzzies for you and your wee tots in A Dandelion Girl: A Hero at the Beach. It’s a heartwarming story about fathers, sharing, and a family vacation. Adults will enjoy the thoughtful details in the illustrations of Debbie Byrd, who lives in Canton.

A father of three, Cherokee County resident and author Christopher says that writing children’s books is his calling. The A Dandelion Girl series captures the sweetness of a child’s heart. Christopher is currently working on two new books where A Dandelion Girl visits a campus and watches Sunday baseball.

Initially employed in the IT world, Christopher has found joy and freedom in his new calling. As he puts it, “The older I get, the more I understand the importance of not rowing against the river.”

Available At: Amazon.com

Facebook: @ADandelionGirl www.adandeliongirl.com

Timeless: The Becoming of a Teenage Witch

by Jessa Lynn Pease Garrett

Jessa, a graduate of Creekview High School in Cherokee County, has released a bewitching tale of magic. The story follows Emlyn Perry, a young woman who finds out after her mother’s death that she has a secret lineage of Celtic magic. As Emlyn accepts her magical powers, she becomes the target of a dark coven of witches.

“I wanted to create relatable characters in a real place like Savannah, so the story feels real to the readers,” Jessa says. “I hope this tale of teenage witchcraft brings a little magic into your life.” Mission accomplished, Jessa!

Jessa is busily working on a sequel to Timeless that will take place in New Orleans, another one of America’s “bewitching” cities.

The young adult novel is best suited for ages fourteen and older.

Available At: Amazon.com Fox Tale Book Shoppe, Woodstock

Canton: Images of America

by Rebecca Johnston

On Christmas Eve of 1833, Canton received its charter. Situated along a broad curve of the Etowah River, Canton was ideally located to become the economic center of the region. The discovery of gold lured white settlers to the area. Early resident leaders included William Grisham, Judge Joseph Donaldson, John P. Brooke, and Joseph Emerson Brown, who later served as Georgia’s governor during the Civil War. Canton: Images of America is a photographic walk through local history. Rebecca Johnston, author and lifelong resident of Canton, penned the book with the assistance of many contributions by friends and neighbors. Each home in Cherokee County should proudly display this compelling publication as a showpiece.

Available At: Cherokee County Historical Society, Amazon.com, and local retailers around the community. https://shop.rockbarn.org/collections/books-dvds

MORE THAN MUSIC—

The Legend of Lee Roy Abernathy

A Southern gospel musician, songwriter, and performer hailing from Cartersville, Georgia. On exhibit through July 20.

Cherokee County Middle School

Art Show Review

ARTS

There are homeless veterans living in cars and tents all around Cherokee County. Let’s show these people that we will forever appreciate their bravery, hard work, and tireless service to our country.

Below is a list of items that our homeless veterans need to survive. With a helping hand from you, Cherokee County will make a difference in the lives of these heroes.

• Tarps (small)

• Gift cards

• Ponchos

• Back packs

• Sock (white)

• Foot Powder

• Energy Bars

• Toiletries (small)

• Toothpaste

• Tooth brushes

• Dental floss

• Para chords

• Foot warmers

• Flashlights

• Batteries

• Fire blankets

• First aid kits

• Ziplock bags (gallon)

• Phone cards

• Wet wipes

• Facial tissue (small packs)

pAbygail Johnson, age 7: Abygail used colored pencils to create a beautiful fish. She would like to be a teacher when she grows up.

Payton Armstrong, age 10: Payton was inspired by Christmas trees and wanted to include valleys into her artwork. She aspires to be an artist and a zookeeper. Her favorite animal is a giraffe.

t Lorraine Davalos and Gini Vose: Even the volunteers had a good time at the Cherokee County School Art Show. The cookies were masterpieces!

pCharli Huck and her brother Wallace:p Charlie created an imaginative replica of Pete the Cat. She’s interested in becoming a biologist or a children’s book author. Wallace designed a multimedia piece of lightning, waterfalls, and rapids.

Morgan Moon, 10 years old:u Morgan captured the essence of a fainting goat, her favorite animal. Excellent work!

Cinco de Mayo

3 Friday “Willy Wonka”

4 Saturday

by Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Acad. Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

6:00 - 8:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cantontheatre.com

“Willy Wonka”

by Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Acad. Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

6:00 - 8:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cantontheatre.com

Glenn Miller Orchestra

Falany Performing Arts Center

Live on the Vine at Engelheim

Engelheim Vineyards

127 Lakeview Rd., Ellijay, GA 30450

5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE Live Music www.engelheim.com; 706-635-9463

Canton Festival of the Arts

Brown Park, Downtown Canton 10:00 am - 5:00 pm; FREE CantonArtFestival.com (770) 704-6244

Great American Cleanup

Holly Springs

The Return (Beatles Tribute)

First Friday Celebration

Historic Downtown Canton

6:00 - 9:00 pm; FREE Live Music www.cantonga.gov

Strut Your Mutt

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

1485 Kellogg Creek Road, Acworth

8:30 am; Advance Registration crpa.net; lcollett@cherokeega.com

Canton Chalk Walk

Canton Festival of the Arts

Friday Night Live

City of Woodstock Downtown Woodstock Shops & Restaurant Extended Hours

5:00 - 9:00 pm; visitwoodstock.com

Chip McGuire Trio

Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

6:00 - 9:00 pm; Reserve Space at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Mother’s Day

11 Saturday

7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska

7:30 - 9:30 pm www.reinhardt.edu/falany

5 Sunday 7 10 Friday 14 12 Tuesday

Sunday

Canton Festival of the Arts Brown Park, Downtown Canton

10:00 am - 5:00 pm; FREE www.cherokeearts.org

(770) 704-6244

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

“The Papers”

by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

8:00 - 10:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cherokeetheatre.org

“The Papers”

by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

8:00 - 10:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cherokeetheatre.org

Mark Wills Woodstock Summer Concert Series

Northside Cherokee Amphitheater

7:30 - 10:00 pm; FREE Live Music woodstockconcertseries.com

“The Papers”

by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

2:30 - 4:30 pm; Tickets Available www.cherokeetheatre.org

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

Trevor Patillo

Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reserve Space at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Parents’ Night Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

1200 WellStar Way, Canton

5:30 - 10:00 pm; Advanced Reg. www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

Mother’s Day Morning

Kayak & Fish

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

Hollis Q. Lathem Reservoir

9:00 am; Advanced Reg.; crpa.net

9:00 am - 12:00 pm; Details TBD www.hollyspringsga.us/calendar (770) 345-5536 15

Brown Park in Downtown Canton

10:00 am - 3:00 pm; Artists can register in advance or at the door.

iThink Improv

City Center Auditorium

8534 Main St, Woodstock, GA 30188

8:00 - 9:30 pm; Tickets $5/$10/$15 elmstreetarts.org; (678) 494-4251

Canton Farmers Market

City of Canton Cannon Park, 130 East Main Street

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

FB - Canton-Farmers-Market

Dylan & Davis Big Band ATL

Feather’s Edge Vineyards 10061 Ball Ground

Ball Ground 7:00 - 10:00 pm; Reserve Space at www.RAOjazz.com

Randy Dobson Feather’s Edge Vineyards 10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reserve Space at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

8:30 am - 12:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

Movies in the Park

“The Lego Movie 2” Brown Park in Downtown Canton

8:45 pm; FREE Facebook: DowntownCantonGA

Armed Forces Day

18 Saturday

“The Papers”

by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

2:30 - 4:30 pm; Tickets Available www.cherokeetheatre.org

Canton Farmers Market

City of Canton Cannon Park, 130 East Main Street

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

8:30 am - 12:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

Orange Walls

Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

Huntertones

Lantern Series Elm Street Event Green

7:30 - 9:30 pm; Tickets available www.elmstreetarts.org; (678) 494-4251

19

Sunday

20 Monday 21 Tuesday 23

Thursday

Memorial Day

Friday

25

Elm Street’s Visionary Cookout

Elm Street Event Green Main dish provided. 6:00 - 8:00 pm; Reservations

FB - Canton-Farmers-Market 24

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

Etowah Film Festival

Great Films in an Amazing Theater Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

Etowah Film Festival

Great Films in an Amazing Theater Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

All Day; Tickets Available www.EtowahFilmFestival.com

Memorial Day 5k Holly Springs; Details TBD 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Parents’ Night Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

1200 WellStar Way, Canton

5:30 - 10:00 pm; Adv. Registration www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

Farm. Fresh. Market. Details the same as May 18 event.

RAO Jazz Under the Stars

Feather’s Edge Vineyards 10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

Sunday

Saturday 27 26

Monday

28 Tuesday

www.hollyspringsga.us/calendar (770) 345-5536

Richard Benson

Feather’s Edge Vineyards 10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Adult Summer Basketball

Registration Begins Cherokee Recreation & Parks 7545 Main Street, Bldg. 200, WDSTK crpa.net; cthomas@cherokeega.com

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

- 8:00 pm FREE 31 Friday Family Fun Night Cherokee Recreation & Parks 1200 WellStar Way, Canton 5:00 - 7:00 pm www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

Canton Farmers Market Details the same as May 18 event.

Etowah Film Festival

Great Films in an Amazing Theater Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street All Day; Tickets Available www.EtowahFilmFestival.com

6:00 - 9:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Live on the Vine at Engelheim Engelheim Vineyards 127 Lakeview Rd., Ellijay, GA 30450

- 8:00 pm; FREE Live Music www.engelheim.com; 706-635-9463

Cherokee Chorale at Falany PAC

7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy., Waleska

5:00 - 8:00 pm; $15 Adult, $5 Student www.cherokeechorale.org

1 Saturday Days of Wine and Roses

Red Cross

Babysitting & Pediatric CPR

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

1200 Wellstar Way, Canton

9:00 am-4:00 pm; Register at crpa.net

Canton Farmers Market

City of Canton Cannon Park, 130 East Main Street

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

FB - Canton-Farmers-Market

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

8:30 am - 12:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

Battlefield Collective

Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:30 - 5:30 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Poker Run

Volunteer Aging Council Lunch and a cold one Provided!

9:00 am - 1:00 pm info@vac-cherokeega.org

Violet Bell

Lantern Series

Elm Street Event Green

7:30 - 9:30 pm; Tickets available at www.elmstreetarts.org

2 Sunday Days of Wine and Roses

Justin Monday (electric violin)

Cherokee Chorale at Falany PAC

7300 Reinhardt College Pkwy., Waleska

3:00 pm; $15 Adult. $5 Student www.cherokeechorale.org

Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Tennis Morning Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

Cherokee Veterans Park

9:30 - 11:30 am; Adv. Registration at www.crpa.net; cafussell@cherokeega

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

Parents’ Night Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton

5:30 - 10:00 pm; Adv. Registration www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

8 Saturday

CYS Registration Begins

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

7545 Main Street, Bldg. 200, Woodstock, Advanced Registration crpa.net; slong@cherokeega.com

Monday

3 Monday 4 Tuesday 7 Friday 9 Sunday 11 10

Tuesday

Billy Wilkie

Feather’s Edge Vineyards 10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Tennis Morning Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

Cherokee Veterans Park

9:30 - 11:30 am; Adv. Registration at www.crpa.net; cafussell@cherokeega

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

Teen Night @ CCAC

Cherokee Recreation & Parks 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton

Friday

7:00 - 9:00 pm; Adv. Registration at www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

Canton Farmers Market City

Cannon

Live on the Vine at Engelheim

Engelheim Vineyards

127 Lakeview Rd., Ellijay, GA 30450

5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE Live Music www.engelheim.com; 706-635-9463

Zoso (Led Zeppelin Tribute)

First Friday Celebration

Historic Downtown Canton

6:00 - 9:00 pm; FREE Live Music www.cantonga.gov

Honeywood

Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

5:00 - 8:00 pm, Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Friday Night Live Downtown Woodstock

5:00 - 9:00 pm

Shops & Restaurant Extended Hours visitwoodstock.com

Better Than Ezra

Woodstock Summer Concert Series

Northside Cherokee Amphitheater

7:30 - 10:00 pm; FREE Live Music woodstockconcertseries.com

Silver Roamers

Braves Game

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

5:00 PM; Advanced Reg. at crpa.net Activity for Active Senior Adults

CYL Registration Begins

Cherokee Recreation & Parks 7545 Main Street, Bldg. 200, WDSTK Register at www.crpa.net brfirnbach@cherokeega.com

Orange Walls Feather’s Edge Vineyards

3:20 PM

Sunday

Father’s Day Discount

Cherokee Recreation & Parks 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

Dad’s FREE w/ the purchase of 1 child

Richard “Bad Man” Benson Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

17 Monday 21 Friday 22 Saturday 24 Monday 28 25 Friday

Camp Imagine Session 2 Begins Cherokee Arts Center June 24-28

Advanced Registration Required Only $125 plus $25 supply fee

Tennis Morning Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

Cherokee Veterans Park

Silver Roamers Painting with a Twist & Sweet Tomatoes

7545 Main St., Bldg. 200, WDSTK

8:15 am; Adv. Reg. at crpa.net Activity for Active Senior Adults

CPR/AED First Aid Class

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

1200 Wellstar Way, Canton

Kids Summer Art Camp www.CherokeeArts.org • 770.704.6244

9:30 - 11:30 am; Adv. Registration at crpa.net; cafussell@cherokeega.com

“Smoke on the Mountain” by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

8:00 - 10:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cantontheatre.com

“Smoke on the Mountain” by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

Painting • Games • Music • Visual Arts Ages 5-18

Four weeks of summer camps taught by amazing art instructors.

Adult Fall Softball

Registration Begins

Parents’ Night Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

1200 Wellstar Way, Canton

5:30 - 10:00 pm; Adv. Registration

www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

Canton Farmers Market

City of Canton

Cannon Park, 130 East Main Street

8:00 - 10:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cantontheatre.com

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

8:30 am - 12:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

“Smoke on the Mountain” by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street 2:30 - 4:30 pm; Tickets Available www.cantontheatre.com

Camp Imagine Session 2 Begins Cherokee Arts Center June 24-28

Advanced Registration Required Only $125 plus $25 supply fee

Farm. Fresh. Market. City of Woodstock Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

Tuesday

5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE www.visitwoodstock.com

“Smoke on the Mountain” by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street

8:00 - 10:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cantontheatre.com

“Smoke on the Mountain” by Cherokee Theatre Company Canton Theater, 171 E Main Street 8:00 - 10:00 pm; Tickets Available www.cantontheatre.com

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

FB - Canton-Farmers-Market

Jeffrey Alan Byrd with Justin Monday

Feather’s Edge Vineyards, Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Ian Nathanson (Men in Blues) Duo Feather’s Edge Vineyards

10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground

2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

Tennis Morning Out

Cherokee Recreation & Parks

Cherokee Veterans Park

9:30 - 11:30 am; Adv. Registration at crpa.net; cafussell@cherokeega.com

Cherokee Recreation & Parks 7545 Main St., Bldg. 200, Woodstock crpa.net; cthomas@cherokeega.com

Leisure Roamers

Fields Landing Park; 9:00 - 10:30 am Adv. Registration at www.crpa.net jlfischer@cherokeega.com For individuals with Special needs

The Lee Boys

Lantern Series

Elm Street Event Green

7:30 - 9:30 pm; Tickets Available at elmstreetarts.org; (678) 494-4251 23 Sunday

Family Fun Night

Cherokee Recreation & Parks 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton

5:00 - 7:00 pm www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760

10:00 am - 12:00 pm; Adv. Registration www.crpa.net; 678-880-4760 29 Saturday

Farm. Fresh. Market. Details the same as June 22 event. Canton Farmers Market Details the same as June 22 event.

“Smoke Surrender Hill Feather’s Edge Vineyards 10061 Ball Ground Hwy., Ball Ground 2:00 - 5:00 pm; Reservations at www.FeathersEdgeVineyards.com

FLYBETTYBAND

16 Father’s Day Live on the Vine at Engelheim Engelheim Vineyards 127 Lakeview Rd., Ellijay, GA 30450 5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE Live Music www.engelheim.com; 706-635-9463 Live on the Vine at Engelheim Engelheim Vineyards 127 Lakeview Rd., Ellijay, GA 30450 5:00 - 8:00 pm; FREE Live Music www.engelheim.com; 706-635-9463

FIREWORKS Ball Ground’s Annual Concert & Fireworks Show June 29, 2019 Ball Ground City Park Concert at 7:00 pm Fireworks at 9:45 pm FREE

RAO Jazz Big Band ATL

Beginning June 17 ENJ0506-CherokeeArtsCtr-SBx.indd 1 4/9/19 2:55 PM FIREWORKS & Concert! City of Ball Ground’s City Park Fly Betty Band Concert at 7:00 pm, FREE Fireworks at 9:45 pm, FREE

WELLSTAR AT HOLLY SPRINGS CHEROKEE HEALTH PARK

Opening September 2019

Whether you need to schedule a mammogram, a heart screen or a routine health check-up, come see what WellStar Cherokee Health Park at Holly Springs will be able to offer you and your family. Located just off I-575 and Sixes Road.

SERVICES OFFERED:

• Urgent Care Center

• Primary Care Physicians and Specialists

*Services of WellStar Kennestone Hospital

• Imaging Center*

• Sleep Center*

• Lab Outreach Services

For more information on services offered and physician referrals, please call 770-956-STAR (7827) or visit wellstar.org.

• Cardiac Diagnostics*

• WellStar OrthoSport* (Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine)