Enjoy Cherokee Magazine—July/August 2023

Enjoy Cherokee Team

Randy Gravley, CEO/President

Jodi Drinkard, COO/Publisher

Bill West, Vice President of Sales

Jaye Grimes, Managing Editor

Raymond Werner, Creative Coordinator

Bobbie Christmas, Senior Editor

Laurie Parente, Designer

Rebecca Johnston, Writer

Britni Treadway, Writer

Emma Tyler, Writer

Ashley Velez, Writer

Susan Overcash Walker, Writer

Jennifer Allen, Account Executive

Robin Barnes, Account Executive

Nick Feehery, Intern

Copyright 2023 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 SimplyTheBest@EnjoyCherokee.com. Reproduction in whole, or in part, without permission of Enjoy Magazine, Inc. is strictly prohibited.

Contents

Georgia National Cemetery

America is the land of the free because of the brave. On 775 acres of Canton’s gently rolling hills, Georgia National Cemetery serves as a final resting place for our nation’s heroes.

Still Here

Led by Cyndi Church, the Creekview High School Winter Guard paid homage to the more than 6.7 million people nationwide diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, raising funds and awareness for the cause.

Top 10 in 10 Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and Enjoy Cherokee Magazine present the 2023 honorees of Cherokee County’s Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch.

[special feature]

[advertisers index]

6 12 16

Feelin’

Check out Woodstock alumni Ben Raney and Kelly Boyer’s beachside

hut serving exotic teas, coffees, and signature frozen shakes in beautiful Panama City Beach. pg30 Salute

some of our many heroes in blue: police officers who serve and protect our community and the people in it.

pg34

Read All About It

An estimated 61 percent of low-income families in our country do not own a book. Ferst Readers of Cherokee County is working to promote children’s literacy in the face of that disparity.

pg36

Sixty Years of Success

Chattahoochee Technical College celebrates sixty years of offering students of all ages and backgrounds a variety of vocational and technical training.

pg38

Hayden’s Review: Taste of Canton Special Edition

Taste of Canton welcomed thousands of attendees who sampled delicious dishes from two dozen local restaurants. Now we’re highlighting some local foodie faves.

Photo Credit: Brett Landry

Georgia National Cemetery:

by Rebecca Johnston,

Georgia National Cemetery, off Knox Bridge Road in Canton, is the second national cemetery in Georgia and the 123rd in the national cemetery system. A private citizen donated the 775-acre site to the National Cemetery Administration in 2001. Today thousands of veterans are buried at the cemetery, many of them from Cherokee County. Visitation hours are daily from sunrise to sunset at the beautiful site that is a fitting resting place for those who served this country.

Canton Resident

Row upon row of white marble headstones mark the final resting places of those who served our country through many of its wars. Paths through the beautiful yet somber setting of gently rolling hills make it a pleasant place to visit those who helped keep our country free.

The late Scott Hudgens, a World War II veteran, land developer, and philanthropist, donated the 775-acre property to the National Cemetery Administration in 2001. The location west of Canton off Knox Bridge Highway offers 33,000 gravesites, three thousand columbaria niches (display vaults for cremation urns), and three thousand in-ground sites for cremated remains. At maximum capacity 330 acres of the site will be developed for burials. The remaining acreage is too steep to be used for interments. Historically the land was used for logging and as a hunting ground.

Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds says he is glad our community offers such a moving way to honor veterans: “On any given day of the week, the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office has the distinct honor of providing our nation’s veterans a police escort to their final resting place at the Georgia National Cemetery. Our deputies welcome all funeral processions with flashing red, white, and blue emergency strobe lights and offer a safe and secure escort on their final journey. Often citizens can be seen stopping on the side of the road, exiting their vehicle, and placing a hand over their heart. It is quite moving for all to see,” Sheriff Reynolds explains. The sheriff’s stepfather, Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Reynolds, Jr., United States Naval Reserves, is one of those buried at Georgia National Cemetery. For Frank, his mother, and his family, having his stepfather there is a meaningful honor. “My stepfather spent twenty years as a naval aviator, and he took great pride knowing that he would be laid to rest at the Georgia National Cemetery. Every time we visit him, our hearts are filled with sincere fondness and appreciation for his service and all of our military veterans. There is nothing more solemn than passing row upon row of those magnificent marble headstones.”

Roy Reynolds, a Canton native who graduated from Canton High School in 1948, served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1951 to 1971. The lieutenant commander served on the USS Wasp from 1953 to 1954 during its World Cruise with the Attack Squadron VA-175, the “Devil’s Diplomats.” He was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Atlanta from 1955 to 1971, with the Fighter Squadron VF-673. He flew naval aircraft such as the AD-4 Skyraider, FJ-4 Fury, and F-8 Crusader, among others. He was an Eastern Air Lines captain from 1968 to 1989.

Since April 24, 2006, when the Georgia National Cemetery opened for burials, hundreds of services have been held there. Among those was the funeral of Andy Roach, a local attorney and state senator and representative. Thomas A. “Andy” Roach was a native of Holly Springs born on March 13, 1924. He spent the majority of his life living in Canton. Raised during the Great Depression, Andy graduated from Canton High School in 1943, where he excelled in sports and distinguished himself as an outstanding football player. In August 1943, like many eighteen-year-old men in America, Andy joined the United States Army. He left his home in Canton for the first time at nineteen years of age to fight in the South Pacific, assigned to Company G 35th Brigade 25th Infantry Division.

Andy was awarded the Bronze Star for service to his country and fellow soldiers while fighting on the Philippine island of Lupao. Andy put his life at risk to rescue a wounded comrade pinned down by enemy crossfire. Following the longest battle in the Pacific Theater and the surrender of Japan, Andy participated in the Japanese occupation force. Andy was honorably discharged from the United States Army in January 1946, having achieved the rank of sergeant and squad leader.

Nestled in the heart of Cherokee County and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills and Allatoona Lake, the 775-acre Georgia National Cemetery offers a fitting resting place for our country’s veterans.

Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Reynolds, Jr. United States Naval Reserves

Sergeant Thomas A. “Andy” Roach United States Army

Cathy Lacy says finding a penny on her father’s grave is meaningful because it signifies another veteran or military service member has stopped by to remember her father. A coin left on a headstone or at a gravesite is meant as a timehonored message to the deceased soldier’s family that someone visited the grave to pay respect.

After leaving the Army, Andy attended West Georgia College and Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law. Upon graduation from law school in 1950 Andy again served his country as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Andy left the FBI to return to Canton and “hang up his shingle” in December 1953. He began practicing law in downtown Canton with Marion Pope before establishing his own firm, where he practiced in all areas of the law for more than fifty years.

Andy was also a member of Georgia General Assembly and was first elected state senator in 1956 serving the 51st Senatorial District. Andy was then elected state representative, where he served five consecutive terms.

Daughter Cathy Roach Lacy says her father never talked about his military service until later in life, when the son of one of the men he served with approached him about writing a book about his time in the military. She says it “unleashed many memories for him of his time in the war.” Of the National Cemetery Cathy remarks, “It is such an honor for us and a privilege to know it is right there. I still get a thrill when I see a penny on his tombstone and know that a service member placed it there. That makes me feel good knowing that someone paid him that honor.”

Cathy is referring to a custom for visitors to cemeteries to leave coins on headstones of military personnel. A coin left on a headstone or at a grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier’s family that someone visited the grave to

Canton resident

pay respect. The coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of veterans, which vary depending on the denomination. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited. A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with the person in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the soldier when he or she was killed. According to tradition the money left at graves in national and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.

Another meaningful time for Andy’s family, and many others, is the Wreaths Across America ceremony each December at Georgia National Cemetery to honor our veterans through the laying of remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes and the act of saying the name of each and every veteran aloud.

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day volunteers donate and place wreaths on each of the graves at the Georgia National Cemetery to remember and honor those who served our country. This year’s event will be on Saturday, December 16, 2023. There is no better time to express our appreciation than during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with this moving tradition.

Each grave receives a wreath provided through donations to the organization. Families can lay the single wreath on their loved one’s grave if they choose.

Cathy’s younger sister, Christie Geiger, has participated by placing the wreath on their father’s grave and says that several members of the family always attend. Cathy says, “It is so moving. I am glad the cemetery is there and thankful to the man who donated the land.”

Georgia National Cemetery is the second national cemetery in Georgia and the 123rd in the national cemetery system. Burial arrangements are made after death, as with all national cemeteries. Veterans or spouses wishing to be buried in national cemeteries should have the veteran’s military separation papers available to establish eligibility. Under certain circumstances dependent children may also be buried at the site.

The cemetery, located at 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive in Canton, welcomes visitations from sunrise to sunset. For more information visit Cem.VA.gov.

Visit the Georgia National Cemetery

Observance of Korean War Veterans Day Saturday, July 29, 2023 11:00 a.m.

Observance of V-J Day WWII Veterans Recognition Saturday, September 2, 2023 11:00 a.m.

Following will be Wreaths Across America in December.

Events are held at the Assembly Area in the cemetery.

by Rebecca Johnston,

Will Hattendorf: WORLD WAR II HERO

World War II veteran Wilbur “Will” Hattendorf, Sr., lived in Canton for more than half a century before his death in 2015 at the age of one hundred. He is one of thousands of veterans buried at the Georgia National Cemetery. A distinguished businessman, community leader, and decorated war hero, Will left a legacy of valiant service to his country.

Months before the United States formally entered the war raging in Europe in 1941, Will and his younger brother, Richard, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, the aerial warfare branch of the military in World War II. The brothers grew up in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

“My brother, Rich, attended the University of the South at Monteagle. I drove down to get him one time, and on the way back we saw an Army convoy. On a whim we decided to join the Air Corps,” Will told an area newspaper in a 2012 interview.

That decision marked the beginning of the military careers of the two men who went on to earn the name the Flying Hattendorf Brothers.

Will and Rich soon found themselves in Texas taking flying lessons and training at Randolph and Lubbock fields where they earned their wings while awaiting orders. They then joined the 55th Fighter Squadron, a Lockheed P-38 Lightning Fighter Group in Washington. The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was the newest and most impressive American fighter plane at the time and was armed with four fifty-caliber machine guns and a twenty-millimeter nose cannon. The P-38 incorporated a distinctive twin-boom design that led the Germans to dub it “Fork-tailed Devil.”

The brothers first saw their planes three days after arriving at the base. “We walked across the tarmac toward a cluster of bumps that turned out to be horseshoe-shaped revetments [embankments]. We stopped in the first revetment and couldn’t believe our eyes,” Will told the newspaper. “The Lightning had counter-rotating props that made for smooth handling, gentle to the touch, and fast as, well, lightning.”

In the summer of 1942, four weeks after marrying his long-time sweetheart, Elizabeth “Betty” Wernle, Will headed for action in Europe and Africa alongside the 82nd Fighter Group and his brother, Rich.

After completing fifty-one combat missions with several victories, Will was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with sixteen oak leaf clusters, and other awards. During his tour of combat Will was credited with three confirmed kills and downing two fighter jets and one twin-engine aircraft.

“A lot of the guys made Ace [five kills] by intercepting flights of trimotors out of Italy,” the Airman recalled. “They were slow and vulnerable, but the rest of us would have to pour on the coal to engage their German escorts, usually the respected Messerschmitt Bf 109s. As flight leader it was my responsibility to protect my men.”

When Will rotated back to the States, he was promoted to captain and became base operations officer at the Santa Rosa Army Air Base in California until 1946. While there he was reunited with his brother, who was wounded in action, and they lived next door to each other.

Will and Betty returned to the Midwest in 1947, where he began a twenty-three-year career in the building-stone business, first in the Chicago area and then as vice president of the Georgia Marble Company headquartered in Tate, Georgia. In 1971 he began a new career with the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he rose to southeast regional director for the Economic Development Administration.

In his community, during his four decades of service with the Cherokee Hospital Authority, he served as board member and secretary. Following the hospital’s transition to Northside Hospital-Cherokee, he remained on the board of the Hospital Authority of Cherokee County and served as its chairman until his death.

Will also served as president of the 82nd Fighter Group Association, attending its reunions every year. Following his death the group hailed him as the statesman and conscience for the association.

Others remember him as well. “Will Hattendorf is fondly remembered by Thomas M. Brady American Legion Post 45. He was a fifty-six-year member,” Post 45 Adjunct Lynn Rollins states. She recalls that Will was honored during a Post event celebrating members with more than fifty years in the American Legion, and he also spoke about his experiences growing up with the American Legion.

Will was also an active commissioner of the Housing Authority of Canton and member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, and the Chamber of Commerce. Over the years he was president and board member of the National Building Stone Institute, a trustee and former choir member of Canton First United Methodist Church, and president of the Canton Men’s Golf Association. For many years he was a member of the Canton Tree City Commission as well.

Will and his wife had two children, Wilbur S. “Bill” Hattendorf, Jr., of Massachusetts, and the late Delia Hattendorf Fine.

Canton Resident

Siblings Will and Rich Hattendorf earned the title of The Flying Hattendorf Brothers during World War II.

Will Hattendorf spoke to the American Legion Thomas M. Brady Post 45 in Canton about his time serving as a fighter pilot in World War II.

by Leslie Holland, Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter

CREEKVIEW WINTER GUARD

DANCES TO END ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Cynthia “Cyndi” Church has long used pageantry as an outlet to express herself. Her mother, Judith Birdsong, known to family members as Honey, was always her biggest supporter.

“She was a glamour mom,” Cyndi says. “My sisters were tomboys and involved in sports, and there I was in sequins. My mom would put on sequins and join me to show her support.”

Cyndi turned her love of pageantry into a career. A costume designer by trade, she has also been the winter guard coach at Creekview High School in Canton for seven years. Winter guard is an indoor color guard sport in which teams perform choreographed dances and routines at performing arts competitions, such as the Southern Association for Performance Arts and Winter Guard International championships.

When Cyndi realized the creative position allowed her the opportunity to honor her mother and their relationship, she knew just what she wanted to do.

Sweet Tribute to Honey

Cyndi used her talents and those of the team to honor Honey’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Honey, now eighty, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at sixty-two.

“Mom was a very high-functioning, multitasking woman before the disease, and when I saw her health deteriorating, I wanted to come up with a concept to honor her,” Cyndi explains. She designed a routine for the Creekview Winter Guard team that combined her love of pageantry and her mother’s Alzheimer’s journey in a way that would be meaningful without being sad or depressing, but the effort was more difficult than she expected.

When we first started working on this program,” Cyndi reports, “I was having a hard time. I was really struggling with it. I sat with all those feelings, and the anger at this disease was coming through. I had to acknowledge it, sit with it, and process it. Then I was able to move forward and make it a real tribute.

Still Here

Cyndi’s tribute became the Creekview Winter Guard’s 2022-2023 competition season performance, a program titled Still Here. Throughout the competition season, the team performed on a sixty- by ninety-foot vinyl tarp with the words “Still Here” and forget-me-not flowers printed on it. The students released flower petals as they performed. Forget-me-nots are symbols of remembrance and are often associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

She also incorporated verbiage from Still Alice, a novel turned into a critically acclaimed film starring Julianne Moore as a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The performance also included inspirational lines from One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, a primetime special featuring musical icon Tony Bennett, now ninety-six years old, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2017.

Monica Standridge helps support Jasmine Lutin during the team’s choreographed performance.

Photo Courtesy of Cyndi Church

Creekview senior Madi Auces performs the Still Here Winter Guard routine

Photo Courtesy of Cyndi Church

Senior Christian Viviers dances in the team’s Winter Guard International performance.

Photo Credit: Adam Sweet Photography

HOW to REGISTER

Across the nation, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is full of flowers, each carried by someone committed to ending this disease, because, like flowers, Walk to End Alzheimer’s participants don’t stop when something’s in their way. They keep raising funds and awareness for a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other forms of dementia.

Register today and add your flower to the fight to end Alzheimer’s.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera, or visit GeorgiaWalk.org, where you can register to walk, join a team, or donate to a fundraising team for the 2023 Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

DID YOU KNOW?

• More than 6.7 million people nationally have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease

• Over 150,000 Georgia residents are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease

2023

Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Opening Ceremony at 9:00 a.m.

Etowah River Park

600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton

ABOVE: Cyndi’s mom, Judith “Honey” Birdsong, bundles up against a chilly October morning to lead the 2022 Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

CENTER: 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s participants and supporters gathered at Etowah River Park in Canton.

RIGHT: Creekview students Isabella Morrero, Shelley Holman, and Madi Doiron helped lead the 2022 Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s event.

Cyndi wanted the performance to be beautiful and moving, but she wasn’t sure what the reaction of the team would be. She feared members wouldn’t connect with it, but her fears were unfounded. “[The students] opened up and started sharing their stories, and they are dealing with the Alzheimer’s and dementia journey way more than I thought,” she says.

One student shared with Cyndi that his grandmother moved into his home so that his family could become full-time caregivers. Another student lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s during the performance season. Yet another student shared about her own grandmother’s Alzheimer’s and how a complicated family dynamic made it even more painful, but because of the team’s theme and support, she felt for the first time like she wasn’t alone. The performance helped her deal with her emotions and talk about her family’s struggles.

Strong Support

Cyndi also supports the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Cherokee County and combined the competition experience with fundraising for her Walk to End Alzheimer’s team. Before each competition performance the students sat in the crowd, greeted audience members, and gave them a card with a QR code to donate to the fundraiser if they felt led. According to Dan Phillips, manager of the Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the Creekview Winter Guard team raised a whopping $4,345 for the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s event and was one of the top five fundraising teams in Cherokee County.

So many people shared their personal stories with the team members. The money we raised was great, but what it did for the students was even more wonderful, Cyndi says.

Creekview rising senior Madi Auces says her first reaction to the routine was, “Wow, this is a really heavy subject. Programs are usually upbeat and fun, so I had to wrap my brain around it, and it turned out to be a really impactful experience.” Madi says her great-grandfather died of Alzheimer’s a few months ago. “It took doing the show for me to really see every side of it, not only the days when he was angry or he was upset with the world, but also when I could see glimpses of his old self.

When he passed away [I was able] to tap into the beauty of it, because the whole time I thought, ‘This is so sad.’ I had to tap into that piece of it to see that it’s not sad; it’s a beautiful story. You can tell the story of their entire life, which is beautiful,” she shares.

Rising senior Christian Viviers says the program hit home with him also. “I was really excited about the program at first. My abuela [grandmother] moved in with us in the middle of last year’s season, and she has frontotemporal dementia. I literally see it every day, and the program gave me a different perspective. I saw only the hardships [of the illness], and I didn’t see the beauty of it before.” Christian adds that Alzheimer’s and dementia have affected many members of his family, and this season’s program showed him the importance of taking in every moment with his grandmother. He shares that his family has had four generations affected by the disease. A lesson he says he learned is that it’s important to carry on each person’s legacy.

Class of 2023 Winter Guard member Colby O’Connor was the highest team fundraiser during the season. She created an online fundraiser, and many people responded to her request, shared their stories, and donated. “It was inspiring to see all those people donating and coming together for this cause,” Colby says, “and when we met new people at our performances, it was really cool to make a common connection with them. When we performed I wanted to send this message directly to them, to let them know they’re not alone in this journey.” Colby adds that she will always remember the camaraderie of the experience and how the team members all learned together and worked together to tell this important story.

As for the coach, Cyndi said the season and the team was better than she had hoped. “They impacted a lot of people. They were lovely and giving. It was a heavy topic, and they took it on and took pride in it. They dove in completely and made it something I never even imagined it could be.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, there is support available. The Alzheimer’s Association has a Helpline staffed by master’s-level social workers available day and night. That number is 800-272-3900.

To get involved in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit GeorgiaWalk.org

Hidden Acres Animal Sanctuary [HAAS] is a nonprofit with a mission to spread hope, healing, and love to rescue farm animals and human hearts. Making full use of the natural benefits of animal therapy, HAAS brings hope, healing, and love to local seniors, special needs superheroes, individuals struggling with mental and emotional issues, and people in nursing homes, memory care units, and hospice care.

Canton resident Diane Houser, a therapy volunteer with HAAS, is hosting a Goat Gala fashion show fundraiser in partnership with Samantha Seitz, life enrichment director of Cedarhurst Assisted Living & Memory Care. Some of Cedarhurst’s fashion-forward residents will even be modeling in the show.

You’re Invited

to join this fun-filled event on Saturday, August 12, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Cedarhurst Assisted Living & Memory Care, located at 3100 Hidden Valley Drive in Canton.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages five and up, and free for children under five. Refreshments are included with the show.

All proceeds from the event benefit HAAS and the Cedarhurst Assisted Living & Memory Care 2023 Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s team.

HAAS Volunteer Diane Houser with Gilbert, one of the sanctuary’s resident goats.

by Britni Treadway, Woodstock Resident

Imagine a breezy summer morning in Panama City Beach. You’re on the sand at sunrise, enjoying the sound of the waves hitting the shore. You reach for the signature Tikiccino you bought at the nearby tiki hut, and you know all’s right with the world. Ben Raney and Kelly Boyer, formerly of Woodstock, made that Tikiccino possible.

Get Your Beach On Childhood best friends

and 2020 Woodstock High graduates

Ben Raney and Kelly Boyer took their entrepreneurial dreams to the beach of their childhood and opened Tiki Mike’s Exotic Tea and Coffee Bar in 2022. After a couple months shadowing their friends in the area who run their own shop, Kelly says he and Ben knew they could make their own, “With a twist.”

Both Ben and Kelly appreciate their community and the support they’ve received, especially from Ben’s mother, Lori Raney, owner of an interior design company in Georgia. Ben says she has been “an insane mentor” for the boys. “She definitely deserves more than just praise.” He says she helped them with their love for entrepreneurship throughout their teens and now. With support and their management experience, they have created a home for themselves and the locals in Panama City Beach, sharing exquisite drinks sprinkled with happiness.

Where Customers Are Friends

People from the Cherokee community have shown their support when they visit, as well. Some may count grabbing a bubble tea or dollar coffee from Tiki Mike’s as their favorite part of the day, but what is Ben and Kelly’s favorite part? Ben says that along with “setting up shop with the early morning dew, feeling peaceful, and being able to see the beach and the wind on the waves before it gets bright out,” his favorite is when the locals visit. “I don’t consider them customers. I see them as friends coming to hang out with me at work. They’re the heart and soul of this town.” (Sounds like a dream, right?)

Kelly says he strives to keep a family-friendly and mellow vibe and “give the younger kids around this area some inspiration to look up to,” like big brothers. The love is reciprocated as the locals have welcomed the young men into their community. Kelly smiles. “They even bring food for us sometimes.”

Kelly Boyer & Ben Raney: from childhood best friends to business partners.

Kelly expresses, “Tiki Mike’s taught me more than what I would have learned in my first year in college. It was awesome. I wouldn’t change anything.”

A lot is at stake when building your own business, but Ben said they decided they “might as well take that chance now.” He didn’t realize how fulfilling and exciting Tiki Mike’s would be. “This work is constant,” he says, “I’m always doing something for the business, always thinking about it, and I love it.”

Leap of Faith

Working with your best friend may sound a little scary, but not for these two. Kelly states that they both wanted Tiki Mike’s to take off, so working together on issues was vital. “As long as we put in the struggle now, we’ll get to enjoy our dreams later.”

Ben adds that communication, spewing out the entire idea, and keeping each other up-to-date is key to preventing conflict.

Leaving home and stepping away from their norm to live a dream, or as Ben puts it, “risking comfort right now for style in the future,” is a true testimony to taking the leap and leaning on each other, according to Kelly. He urges others not to stress about life, but rather “Try new things, because you never know where it could take you.” He says that when he graduated from Woodstock High he wouldn’t have believed this would be his life, and now that he’s here, “It’s surreal.”

Ben never wants to look back and feel regret, noting, “It didn’t matter what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to be my own boss. With my work ethic, I knew I would be successful no matter what.” He encourages others, “Just keep your head down and improve your work ethic.”

The two entrepreneurs are excited to see how they’ll continue to grow and expand in the future and to show how far two young men from Woodstock can thrive on a dream by the sea.

Try Everything

The next time you’re in Panama City Beach, join Kelly for The Zombie (formerly known as The Kelly Boyer Special). He’ll surely be enjoying one himself as he “drinks one at least fifteen times a day.” The flavorful black-tea-based drink features raspberry, mango, peach, and orange. While Kelly prefers the drink fully caffeinated, a decaf option is also on the menu.

Or if you’re in the mood, snap up a Tikiccino, the duo’s twenty-four-ounce frozen signature shake. Try Kelly’s favorite flavors, the Grasshopper or Cookies & Cream.

Ben, however, prefers the refreshing Ocean Blue, a thirty-two-ounce exotic iced black tea with berry, lemon, and blue raspberry.

For dessert the guys recommend a Glizzy Bun Tikiccino because it tastes like you’re drinking a cinnamon roll. After you’re fully caffeinated, you can join the boys for basketball or football with the locals.

Tiger’s Blood Ocean Blue Glizzy Bun Tikiccino

by Emma Tyler, Waleska Resident

Day after day police officers encounter daunting situations while serving our community. They tackle the roles of social workers, protectors, counselors, community organizers, mediators, and even medical-care providers. They often meet us in our worst moments, and though they don’t have to, they choose to serve our communities.

hen an unfortunate situation occurs, these officers stand by our side as a protector, beacon of hope, or trusted confidant. Considering they work long hours, often in the evenings and at night, many times it is at the expense of time with family. Appreciating the men and women who work in law enforcement is essential.

Canton resident Patti Sanders recalls a recent encounter with a Canton Police Department officer. In February her car broke down off I-575 during a severe downpour. The officer stood with her in the elements while her nephew fixed her vehicle. Although he was using a flashlight to grab drivers’ attention as they drove by, Patti shares that passing cars neglected to slow down or move into another lane, even though the law states that they must. Patti remarks of the officer who helped her, “He literally risked his life for my nephew and me.”

Positive experiences like Patti’s help us appreciate the measures police officers take to ensure the community’s safety. I had a similar experience after my first car accident in July 2022. Because I was shaken up from the collision, the Canton PD officer allowed me to sit in the driver’s seat of his patrol car while we waited for an ambulance. He opened the door periodically to check how I was doing while everyone else waited outside in the pouring rain. Even when I moved into the ambulance, he asked how I was doing and inquired if I needed anything from my vehicle.

The heartwarming encounter was an experience I’ll never forget. Police officers assist us in our times of need, and they deserve thanks and appreciation. In the commotion amid the aftermath of the accident I didn’t catch the officer’s name, but if he’s reading this: Thank you.

Meet Some Local Heroes

Corporal Katrina Adams is a New York native and former New York Police Department officer who has served as an officer for the Cherokee County School District since 2014. She says the most challenging aspect of her career “is not being able to help everybody.” Corporal Adams was among the officers honored by the Cherokee County School District [CCSD] in 2019 celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the CCSD School Police Department. During the 2019 ceremony Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower said, “Our schools, students, staff, and entire community are safer because of their dedication, focus on continuous improvement, and how deeply they care for all of us.”

Officer Yvonne Letzin, a member of the Woodstock Police Department since 2013, states, “The most challenging aspect of my job is knowing that not everyone likes the police, and they immediately assume the worst because of our uniform. Knowing that the media has unfortunately influenced their minds in a negative way has inspired me to strive to change their views.” Officer Letzin says she had a negative personal experience

Officer Yvonne Letzin

Photo Courtesy of Woodstock Police Department

with police while in college and decided she wanted to be the change. Her biggest goal is to bring positivity into the community and to be sure that all people are given the advantage of receiving help without any strings attached.

Woodstock Police Officer Travis King adds, “Some calls are much harder than others; the stress of these situations will bleed over into your home life, and one of the hardest things to do is keep the two separate. To be an officer requires a solid support system on both fronts. Recognizing when something is not right and not being afraid to seek help is key.” However, these challenges become incentives because of the positive interactions he has with the community. He says his biggest goal is to change the life of at least one person, because turning a terrible experience into a beacon of hope is something that will always remain with him and the victim. Even though in his career he has endured dark and negative events, he still believes the good outweighs the bad.

Officer JoAn Willingham, who joined the Woodstock Police Department in 2019, says she was inspired to become a police officer after having experienced “the good, the bad, and the ugly side of law enforcement as a young child, as a sister, as a young adult, as a mother, and as a bystander.” She continues, “Every single one of those encounters forged a strong passion in me to be a part of the change that I want to see in my community.”

On the first Tuesday in August each year, communities across the country celebrate National Night Out, an outreach initiative designed to enhance the relationship between neighbors, first responders, and law enforcement while promoting a true sense of community.

This year, August 1 marks the 40th Annual National Night Out.

Community Heroes

To thank the people who put their lives on the line to save ours, the nonprofit Friends of Holly Springs Police Foundation assists the Holly Springs Police Department in a multitude of ways to make the community a better place to live, work, and play. Through partnerships with community businesses and individuals, the foundation improves the services and performance of the Holly Springs Police Department, helps improve the quality of life for officers and citizens, and promotes the spirit of harmony and teamwork between the department and the community it serves. Foundation President Lori Flink explains that the affiliation sponsors several programs through donations from citizens. Their community events include Coffee with a Cop, Citizens Police Academy, Flags for Heroes, Shop with a Hero, Stuff a Truck, and Officer Family Days.

TEAM EZRA

OUR local police officers and first responders work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of Cherokee County’s residents. These local heroes answer the call for help when we are in need. What can we do when an officer is in need? We can look to the community and to organizations such as the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation.

Officer Travis King of the Woodstock Police Department always wanted to be a police officer, which he says is “a calling, not a job.” Following in his footsteps is his six-year-old son, Ezra, who was sworn in as a junior officer in September.

Ezra is not only a junior officer, but also a warrior. First diagnosed with a brain tumor at just eighteen months of age, Ezra has spent countless hours in waiting rooms and hospitals while bravely battling cancer through doctor’s visits, tests, surgeries, MRIs, and chemotherapy.

Throughout this battle, the community has rallied around the King family and supported Team Ezra. Woodstock Public Safety Foundation President Shane Bonebrake, also director of Cherokee County E911 Services, shares, “I was hired at the Woodstock Police Department the same day Travis was. I remember the day Ezzie was born. It was like we all had a new baby. When he was diagnosed with the brain tumor, it punched us all in the gut and heart.”

A car show and an annual charity golf tournament organized by the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation were among the fundraisers that benefitted the Kings. These two events alone raised more than $20,000 to aid the family with medical and travel expenses.

Shane continues, “It takes an army to battle cancer, and the foundation is one of the battle partners to help Ezra beat cancer. ‘Thank you’ just isn’t enough to say to all the donors who have given countless hours and funds to help in this battle. I love this little guy like he’s my own and will continue to help in whatever way I can.”

Find out how you too can help in Ezra’s battle by following the Facebook page Team Ezra for heartfelt updates from the King family as Ezra continues to combat cancer.

Officer Travis King and his son, Ezra Photo Courtesy of Woodstock Police Department

Scan here to donate to Team Ezra, care of the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation. 100 PERCENT OF THE PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE KING FAMILY.

The foundation also purchases equipment for the Holly Springs Police Department, including bicycle patrol equipment, shields and helmets, items for mobile command trucks, and—in partnership with Cherokee Triad SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together)—the first thermal drone in Cherokee County. The foundation also contributes to college tuition costs for officers seeking to further their education.

The organization’s largest fundraiser is Flags for Heroes, which is completely funded by the community. Holly Springs Police Foundation partners annually with Boy Scout Troop 8880 of Canton to display flags in several Holly Springs neighborhoods. To take part, citizens pay forty dollars for flag placement in their yards six times during the year: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, September 11, Veterans Day, and Presidents’ Day. One hundred percent of the proceeds support the foundation’s community programs.

Foundation Vice President Steve Yap says, “The Flags for Heroes program allows me to show my support for our local first responders. I get a feeling of unity when I drive into my development and see the flags posted at the entrance and in front of the homes.”

Shop with a Hero and Stuff a Truck are annual holiday events during which the organization partners with Impact Ministries, local schools, and retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot of Holly Springs to supply Christmas gifts, food boxes, and other necessities to families in need. Members of the Holly Springs Police Department, Cherokee County Fire and EMS, CCSD School Police Department, Cherokee County Search & Rescue, and Cherokee County E-911 shop with

children whose families need a lift during the holiday season. They also collect toys, clothing, diapers, and toiletries to be distributed in the community where needs have been identified.

The Holly Springs Police Department is especially grateful for the foundation’s work toward providing drones for its Drone Program, according to Chief Tommy Keheley. The department plans to add more drones to the fleet and have certified officer pilots assigned to each shift. Lieutenant Sam Rentz, a thirtyeight-year veteran in law enforcement, leads the program. He shares that the goal of the drone program is to keep the community safe by locating fleeing suspects, missing persons, and more. The drone program been used in Holly Springs, of course, and its pilots have also assisted in Woodstock,

Photo Courtesy of Friends of Holly Springs Police Foundation

Lieutenant Sam Rentz of the Holly Springs Police Department leads the department’s drone program, made possible in part by community fundraising. To donate to the Friends of Holly Springs Police Foundation, visit FriendsOfHollySpringsPoliceFoundationInc.org.

Roswell, Ball Ground, and Pickens County. Since its launch in 2020 the department has had more than fifty requests for assistance, with requests increasing each year.

Holly Springs was ranked the number-one safest city in Georgia for 2023 by Safewise. This could not have been possible without the dedication and actions taken by our officers, says Chief Keheley.

Lori shares, “Our group is entirely made up of volunteers who work hard on all our initiatives. We are always looking for volunteers and members to join us in making a difference in our community.” What better way to thank our local heroes for their dedication to protecting and serving Cherokee County?

SAY THANKS

Coffee with a Cop events bring police officers and community members together over coffee to discuss issues and learn more about each other. For a chance to meet our local police officers and show your appreciation, visit these upcoming Coffee with a Cop events throughout Cherokee County:

Thursday, July 13 | 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Woodstock Police Department

Black Rifle Coffee Company 10971 Highway 92, Woodstock

Thursday, July 13 | 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Holly Springs Police Department

Alma Coffee

3448 Holly Springs Parkway, Canton

Wednesday, August 2 | 10:00 a.m.

Ball Ground Police Department

Barrel House Coffee Co. 275 Gilmer Ferry Road, Suite 5, Ball Ground

Wednesday, August 9 | 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Woodstock Police Department

Truett’s Chick-fil-A 9728 Highway 92, Woodstock

Thursday, September 14 | 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Woodstock Police Department Circle of Friends Coffee Shop 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock

Lieutenant Paul Gentile of the Woodstock Police Department says community outreach events, like Coffee with a Cop, give the community opportunities to meet with law enforcement officers on their best days instead of their worst.

As a child Cherokee County teacher Julia Johnson read, in her words, “tons and tons of books.” As a parent she instilled a love of reading in her son that led him to a career as an aspiring children’s book author.

With Julia’s second-grade students, however, she found many were among the estimated 61 percent of low-income families nationwide who didn’t own a book. “Books are important, and a lot of families can’t afford them,” Julia says.

“If you go into a bookstore now and look at prices, it’s outrageous. Some families must choose: are we going to buy books or are we going to eat?”

by Susan Overcash Walker, Woodstock Resident

Page-Turner

Having witnessed the effects of limited access to early reading in her students, Julia answered a social media post seeking volunteers for Ferst Readers of Cherokee County. Ferst Readers is a nonprofit literacy program that encourages early reading by mailing a bookstore-quality, age-specific book and activity page to a child’s home each month from birth to age five.

At the national level the organization works with major publishers to source and mail books and at-home companion activities. Community Action Teams, or CATs, are formed at the county level to raise funds to purchase books, grow awareness, and register families in the program.

“Since 2020 many families are struggling to pay for the basic necessities—food, clothing, shelter, and medications—so buying books is not at the top of their priority list,” says Michelle Maddox, Ferst Readers program manager. “Ferst Readers provides free access to high-quality literature, which takes the guesswork out for parents who might not know what kind of book is age-appropriate for their child. The Cherokee County CAT mission helps prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to read.

“If children enter school with a strong vocabulary [and] background knowledge, know how to listen to a story, and look at a book independently, the kindergarten teacher’s job has become a

little bit easier,” Michelle says. “Nothing builds confidence in a child as much as being able to contribute to story time by knowing how to answer questions or having knowledge of a story already.”

It gets [students] better prepared,” Julia adds. She says that children who can’t read often struggle with their self-esteem. “I previously taught kindergarten, and we had kids who never touched a book, had no idea how to open it, and didn’t know their letters and sounds. We spent a lot of time building their confidence.

Robin Ferst of Madison, Georgia, developed the Ferst Readers program in 1999 to address the lack of basic school readiness and early reading skills in kindergartners. Each month each family receives a book and a parent-engagement newsletter, Leap into Books. The newsletter provides book-specific critical questions, relevant vocabulary, and fun-filled activities the family can enjoy that help the family become the child’s first teacher and take the story beyond the book. The first and last book mailed to each child is bilingual in English and Spanish.

“And it arrives directly in their mailbox,” says Julia. “What kid doesn’t love to get mail?

Problems Averted

Julia didn’t know that the pandemic decimated the Ferst Readers of Cherokee County Community Action Team [CAT]. When she joined the once-active

group, it had dwindled to two members, including Julia; then the other member dropped out, leaving Julia alone to keep the local organization afloat. Funding for the books is generated through donations and proceeds from events hosted by the local team. Without CAT’s fundraising, local children enrolled in the program would have stopped receiving books.

“I was really panicking,” says Julia. “If it weren’t for Towne Lake Rotary, we would have had some big problems.”

With Julia working to rebuild the Cherokee County CAT, the Rotary Club of Towne Lake stepped up to provide enough funding to continue the program.

Jim Klynman, Rotary Club president, said the organization has supported Ferst Readers since 2016, in accordance with the Rotary International goal of supporting education and literacy. “The program starts children early, teaching the importance of reading and comprehension,” Jim says. “So many families today do not have the time to help or encourage children to read books. We need to make sure our children learn to read so later in life they will be good members of society.”

Two of the most significant predictors of early educational success are access to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school. As of 2023, only 48 percent of Cherokee County students read at a proficient level. Future drop-out rates more than triple for children entering school without basic literacy skills.

The Ferst Readers of Cherokee County program intends to improve those outcomes

by providing monthly resources to a growing number of local children–about 250 children in 2023.

Volunteers Needed

While Julia is busy teaching her second graders and mentoring her son, she’s also actively seeking volunteers to staff the Cherokee County CAT. Though the team is up to five volunteers now—Julia, Diane Hart, Lynn Hamblett, Renee Bernhardt, and Maureen Ratliff—more are needed to consistently support young readers in Cherokee County and help raise funds while increasing visibility and participation in the program.

Individuals and organizations can support the CAT directly through Julia and the team or donate on the Ferst Readers website. The cost per child is $42 annually, or $3.50 a month, less than the cost of drink at your local coffee shop, Julia points out. Contributors should choose Ferst Readers of Cherokee County when donating to ensure funds go to a local child.

I want every kid to love reading. And if they come to school loving reading, you can’t imagine how far they can go,” says Julia. “Watching my own students this year, once I got those who were struggling to love reading, they were so proud of themselves. There’s a magical moment when it clicks. Even if it’s just listening to a story, that’s a magical time for families. I want every kid to have that.

LEARN more about Ferst Readers of Cherokee County, donate, or register a child for the program at FERSTREADERS.ORG. Be sure to choose Ferst Readers of Cherokee County from the menu when donating to ensure funds go to a local child.

At a November 2022 luncheon held at Tavern at Towne Lake in Woodstock, Rotary Club of Towne Lake President Jim Klynman presented Julia with a check in support of Ferst Readers of Cherokee County.

These sweet sisters each received one of the Ferst Readers program’s recommended books for toddlers.

Chattahoochee Technical College’s

Sixty Years ofSUCCESS

by Ashley Velez, Woodstock Resident

After sixty years of offering students of all ages and backgrounds a variety of vocational and technical training in north metro Atlanta, Chattahoochee Technical College estimates that on August 14 it will welcome more than 14,000 students at its eight college campuses.

The Early Years

Chattahoochee Tech began with one building in 1963 serving 120 students in its Marietta location on South Cobb Drive. Known initially as Marietta-Cobb Area Vocational Technical School, the school was established through the joint efforts of the State Board of Vocational Education and Marietta City Board of Education.

To accommodate growing numbers, the college added classroom space at the Marietta campus. In the years following, the campus established additional locations to support more students in South Cobb, East Cobb, and nearby Paulding County.

The South Cobb campus opened in 1995, followed by opening the Chattahoochee Tech Paulding campus the next year. In 2000 the Mountain View campus opened its doors in East Cobb.

In 2009 Chattahoochee Tech celebrated one of the most significant milestones in its history with a merger with Appalachian Technical College in Pickens County and North Metro Technical College in Bartow County. Representatives from the board of directors of each college adopted the name Chattahoochee Technical College for the single institution.

David Simmons, vice president of Facilities for all eight campuses, shares, “I’ve been with the college for almost twenty-four years. It is a great working atmosphere. What we do is phenomenal. Training and educating students to go out into the workforce and into the businesses in our communities is what we specialize in.”

A New Campus: Paulding County’s Aviation Training Academy

Next year a new aviation training academy will open its doors in Paulding County, becoming the ninth campus for Chattahoochee Tech. The location will be adjacent to Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport. The $35 million project is on track for completion in December of this year.

Classes will begin in the spring of 2024 for three of the four programs offered: structures, avionics, and apholstery. The capstone Airframe and Powerplant technician program will begin after FAA certification of the academy. The new facility will encompass the whole aircraft under one roof.

Students will study aircraft structures-composites, flight controls, avionics, turbine and piston engine power plants as well as training in regulations and documentation standards, which govern how aircraft maintenance is accomplished and recorded. Students participating in these programs will have the skills and certifications to work for any aircraft manufacturer or maintenance organization and work in any industry where technical skill and ability to adapt to a variety of mechanical equipment meet high pay.

Chattahoochee Tech’s Impact on Cherokee County

Two of Chattahoochee Tech’s eight campuses are in Cherokee County: Canton and Woodstock.

The Canton campus on Bluffs Parkway is one of the newest campuses for Chattahoochee Tech. Opened in 2011, the 62,000-square-foot facility sits on twenty-five acres and offers classes and programs in air conditioning technology, business management, general education, healthcare, health sciences, and occupational therapy.

The Canton campus also offers General Educational Development [GED] certification testing, which isn’t currently available at every campus. The testing allows students who have dropped out of high school to prepare and train to take the GED test, allowing them to move forward and pursue any of the college’s other programs.

The Woodstock campus, in the heart of downtown Woodstock on the former site of Woodstock Elementary School, is the second of two locations in Cherokee County. Built in the 1930s, the campus underwent an extensive $5.3 million renovation in 2013 and reopened for the 2015 fall semester. Here students pursue classes in accounting, biology, cybersecurity, economics, English, history, humanities, kitchen and bath interiors, math, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Education Collaboration

Chattahoochee Tech in Woodstock houses The Circuit, a 30,000-square-foot co-working space designed for innovators and startups in Cherokee County. In addition to hosting regular events through the Cherokee Office of Economic Development [COED] Fresh Start Cherokee program, the space features an in-house coffee shop run by Circle of Friends, an organization that provides support and jobs to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Circuit also serves as the student center for Chattahoochee Tech’s Woodstock campus, acting as a collaborative space for startups, small businesses, and students. David shares, “It’s a great partnership that we have between the college and COED. It provides the opportunity for other people to be on our campuses to see the aspects of what we do and what we offer, and it’s exposure for the college and startups. Plus [it gives] opportunities for businesses to network with our students. It’s a win-win for students, faculty, staff, and COED.”

Negating Educational Bias

Vocational and technical education has gained considerable attention as an alternative to traditional academic pathways, particularly for students seeking more affordable, cost-effective ways to start their careers. The hands-on, practical skills taught at Chattahoochee Tech and other technical colleges prepare students for specific careers. Graduates leave equipped with expertise to enter the workforce quicker, which contributes to their employers’ success sooner.

Pam Carnes, president of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce and board member for Chattahoochee Tech, sheds light on previous viewpoints of higher education: “For those of us who were in the generation to be told, ‘You can learn a trade or you can have a career,’ they’re one and the same. I want the person who cares for my car, house, et cetera, to be very well-trained, just as I want a physician to be well-trained. The person who will repair something for me, build something for me, I want them to build on their future, and their education from a technical college can help sustain them.”

Pam and others hope the ongoing success of vocational and technical education as an alternative to traditional academic pathways validates the value of these programs.

“That stigma is still there, but knowing and realizing that in most open positions today, a high percentage of employers are looking for training that [students] receive from a technical institution rather than a four-year university,” David adds. Chattahoochee Tech also offers dual enrollment programs, in which students take classes as a junior or senior and get high school credit and college credit. “It’s a good way to get ahead if you’re focused and know what you want to do and the direction you want to go,” he offers.

Award-Winning Instructors

Chattahoochee Tech’s continuous contribution to brighter futures was highlighted when mathematics instructor Adrienne Baldwin was named the state of Georgia’s top technical college instructor for 2023. The Technical College System of Georgia presented her with the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction in April. As the award winner, she will represent technical education throughout the state as an ambassador, meet with the governor, and address the Georgia General Assembly. Adrienne notes, “Technical colleges are known for their high job placement rates after graduation. They provide opportunities to make the transition from being a student to having a career earlier in life. Students enrolling into a technical college can select a more career-focused program, receiving hands-on training taught by instructors with years of experience.”

Pam adds that technical colleges like Chattahoochee Tech provide benefits such as smaller classrooms, which create more opportunities for one-on-one conversations. Smaller classes, she says, allow students to build a rapport with the instructor. “It’s also knowing that you can get training and certification in a shorter period of time, ultimately leading to incredible employment opportunities.”

Because of the various ages and backgrounds of the students, Pam says, “The classroom isn’t going to look like a traditional classroom, and that’s okay.” She continues, “With online learning opportunities, people don’t have to come directly to the classroom. We’re all lifelong learners, and technical education is now at your fingertips.”

To learn more about available and upcoming courses at Chattahoochee Tech in Cherokee County and beyond, visit ChattahoocheeTech.edu.

An artist’s rendition of the upcoming Chattahoochee Technical College Aviation Training Academy, which is on track for completion in December following groundbreaking in September 2022.

Chattahoochee Tech mathematics instructor Adrienne Baldwin received the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction presented by Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier.

CANTON

Just outside The Green at Canton’s historic Mill on Etowah, dozens of local restauranteurs presented exquisite samples of their cuisines during the inaugural Taste of Canton on Thursday, May 11.

The event was the shining star leading the way for those who like to try new venues and those who can’t decide where to eat.

Twenty-four beverage and restaurant vendors served their specialties at Taste of Canton, which also featured live performances from The Whiskey Rose Band and Brian Dyer. The Children’s Haven and Cherokee County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, local nonprofit organizations, raised funds by selling soft drinks, iced tea, water, and lemonade. The tremendous community turnout proved the event to be a hit as people enjoyed the warm evening and dazzling tastes.

Participating restaurants included 7 Tequilas Mexican Restaurant, A Cone to Pick, Atomic Biscuit, Bananas and Beehives, Bizarre Coffee, Branchwater, C’est la Vie, Community Burger, Dive Southern Coastal Kitchen, Downtown Kitchen, Fermented Wine Boutique, Four 41 South Barbecue, Goin’ Coastal, Joe’s Lonestar Tacos, La Catrina Tacos & Margaritas, Nava Southwestern Bar and Grill, Nina’s Pizza Kitchen, Paula’s Zzerts, Queenie’s Southern Restaurant and Bar, Reformation Brewery, The Salty Mule, Stout’s Growlers, and Whitetail Coffee Company.

Patrons purchased $1.00 tickets to use as currency at the restaurant vendor booths, which boasted a wide selection of tastes, including seafood, steaks, tacos, desserts, specialty ice cream, and scrumptious burgers, plus coffees, wines, cocktails, and brews on tap.

We checked in with a few attendees to find out their favorite items of the night.

ATOMIC BISCUIT

Menu Says: Drunken Chicken & Waffles

Walnut and golden raisin Belgian waffle topped with crispy bourbon-maple syrup-dipped fried chicken and side of bacon butter

Katie Says: No one cooks chicken and waffles better than my mother. Until I tried Atomic Biscuit (sorry, Mom!).

I indulged in the perfect combination of savory and sweet with Atomic Biscuit’s homemade chicken and waffles. Crispy fried chicken and fluffy waffles were paired to perfection. Comforting and delicious, the dish hit all the right notes. After my first bite I decided I may turn into a morning person.

Holly Springs resident Katie Nix is a digital content creator and founder of Monarque Media and Cherokee Social (@cherokeesocial on Instagram).

COMMUNITY BURGER

Menu Says: Traditional Angus Beef Sliders

Angus beef sliders with signature sauce, American cheese, and grilled onions

Lee Says: My wife, Carrie, and I had so much fun at the Taste of Canton with our friends, Rory and Breelan. We loved getting to try a little bit of everything from each vendor. Community Burger’s sliders and onion rings with homemade ketchup were our favorite. We can’t wait for the next time Taste of Canton comes to The Mill.

Lee Oliver is the Community Manager at Thrive Coworking. A Kennesaw State University grad, he now lives in downtown Canton with his wife, Carrie.

DOWNTOWN KITCHEN

Menu Says: Hanger Steak Wontons

Crispy wontons, tomato ginger relish, yum yum sauce, scallions

Shawn Says: The wontons were crispy, and the hanger steak was very tender and full of flavor. Downtown Kitchen marinates its hanger steak in a secret sauce for twenty-four hours. If you haven’t tried the hanger steak wontons, do yourself a favor and check them out. They never disappoint.

Shawn Tolan is a member of Canton’s City Council representing Ward 2 and strives to help Canton continue to be an awesome place to live, work, and play.

FOUR 41 SOUTH BARBECUE

Menu Says: Pork Belly Al Pastor Taco Al pastor marinated Duroc pork belly with a drizzle of specialty sauce, topped with onions and cilantro on a scratch-made beef-fat tortilla

Tony Says: As someone who travels for great barbecue, I decided to come to Taste of Canton because of Four 41 South BBQ. Pitmaster Kevin Ward is one of the best at his craft. The pork belly taco was insanely good and next level. Great event—looking forward to next year!

Dallas resident Tony McGee is the founder of Ynot Georgia BBQ, an online community dedicated to sharing recommendations for all things Georgia barbecue.

NAVA SOUTHWESTERN BAR & GRILL

Menu Says: Nachos Asada

Crisp corn chips topped with your choice of steak or chicken, plus queso, black beans, pico de gallo, fresh lettuce, and optional fresh jalapeños

Brittany Says: It may have only been a taste, but the chicken nachos I sampled from Nava Southwestern Grill during the Taste of Canton were full of flavor and crunch. The chips were nestled in a small tray and then piled high with chicken, cheese, sour cream, and spices. Definitely would recommend.

Brittany Anderson is a certified city planner for the City of Canton’s Community Development Department.

STOUT’S GROWLERS

Menu Says: Printer’s Ale Dylux Lager An American lager (4.2% ABV) from Printer’s Ale Manufacturing Co., a 20-barrel system

production brewery & taproom based in Carrollton, Georgia

Will Says: I had the Printer’s Ale Dylux lager from Stout’s Growlers during Taste of Canton. This beer did an excellent job of finding the sweet spot between a traditional light beer and an American lager. I would recommend this beer to anyone who enjoys the refreshment offered in a light beer but who wants more taste.

Will Cooper is known as the voice of Friday night football in Cherokee County. He leads the WLJA 101.1 FM Sports Broadcast team and hosts the Cherokee County Football Blitz podcast.

THE SALTY MULE

Menu Says: Jumbo Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce

House-made 100 percent colossal lump crab cake served atop bacon creamed corn and grilled asparagus

Robin Says: I have had the pleasure of dining at The Salty Mule on a couple of occasions, and its food is amazing. I had not had the opportunity to try the crab cakes, but had the privilege of doing so at the Taste of Canton. The Salty Mule had an amazing booth with several of its signature items. The crab cake is definitely something I will go to the restaurant to have again. It was very crispy with fantastic seasoning. The owners were also in the booth, and it was a true privilege meeting them.

Robin Barnes is an account executive for TriState Communications, representing WLJA 101.1 FM and Enjoy Cherokee Magazine.

The inaugural Taste of Canton welcomed thousands of attendees of all ages, many of whom have already expressed excitement for an even bigger event next year.

If you’re in the mood for terrific tastings and delectable drinks, this event is the perfect opportunity.

Next time bring the family or make it a date night and enjoy meeting friendly faces and eating delectable delights at this spectacular community event.

Taste of Canton was sponsored by Main Street Canton, The Mill on Etowah, Enjoy Cherokee Magazine, and Basil Hayden Bourbon.

The Salty Mule

Stout’s Growlers

Nava Southwestern Bar & Grill

Four 41 South Barbecue

Gallery

THE SERIES

by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

GRISHAM-GALT-MAGRUDER FAMILIES

William Grisham, one of the earliest pioneers to settle in Cherokee County, is credited with founding the town of Canton and helping establish it as the county seat.

Gallery Two of the Cherokee County History Center is named the Grisham-Galt-Magruder Gallery in honor of Grisham and his descendants, including the Galt family and Nell Galt Magruder and her husband, Will Magruder, who continue to live in the home Grisham established in Canton in 1841. Grisham is Nell’s great-great-grandfather.

Originally from South Carolina, William and his wife, Susan Bradford Grisham, were living in Decatur when he won a plot of land in the 1832 Land Lottery in Cherokee County. Soon after, he and his wife moved to the settlement known at the time as Cherokee Courthouse.

When the town was incorporated under the name Etowah on December 24, 1833, William was instrumental in seeing it was chosen as the county seat. The name was changed to Canton on December 18, 1834, and William, the town’s first postmaster, sent the new name to the postal service.

According to Nell Galt Magruder, her great-great-grandfather chose carefully where he planned to settle, perusing the land lot booklet and settling on Cherokee County because of its rich natural resources and location. William purchased other land lots and had control of about a dozen gold parcels. He controlled and owned thousands of acres in Cherokee County and surrounding counties during his lifetime. He was instrumental in establishing the First Baptist Church in Canton and was clerk of the court system in the county. He was also clerk of the mint in Dahlonega.

A farmer, William owned a massive piece of land near the Etowah River where Oakdale Community is today. One of the crops he raised was rice.

The GrishamGalt house is believed to be the oldest standing home in downtown Canton.

William had lived in Canton for nine years when he built the two-story home in Georgian style, a style marked by symmetry and proportion based on the classical architecture of Greece and Rome. The home even had a silk room where Grisham kept silkworms and attempted to produce silk.

Because the owners displayed a Masonic symbol to the Union soldiers, Sherman’s troops spared the house in 1864 when they burned most of Canton during the Civil War.

In 1844 William and Susan Grisham’s daughter, Malinda Caroline, married Joel Galt, a member of another prominent family among the early settlers. The Galt family owned a hardware store in Canton. Their son, William, married Lecy Putnam, daughter of the first mayor of Canton, Odian Putnam, consolidating two of the town’s leading families.

Nell is the granddaughter of Lecy Putnam and William Galt, and she grew up in the Victorian home Odian Putnam built in 1888. She attended Canton High School and Hollins College, where she graduated in 1958 with a degree in English. Shortly after graduation she met and married her husband, Will “Bill” Magruder, originally from Memphis, where the couple first made their home. They eventually returned to Canton and Bill took a position with Georgia Power Company.

Nell and Bill are active with the Georgia Trust for Historical Preservation, to which she and her husband donated their collection of more than 4,600 newspapers. She is also active with History Cherokee and the Cherokee County Historical Society. She served on the Canton Downtown Development Authority, and her brother, Odie Galt, was mayor of Canton. Nell chaired the elaborate Canton Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1983, which featured a concert, exhibits about the city’s history, and dignitaries from throughout the state.

In addition to information about early settlers such as William Grisham and land lotteries, the Grisham-Galt-Magruder Gallery has exhibits and information about gold and mining in Cherokee County; the Civil War years, including their effects on the county; and slave emancipation and Reconstruction following the war.

PUTNAM-GALT Lecy

GRISHAM William

THE CHEROKEE COUNTY HISTORY CENTER is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Located at 221 East Marietta Street in Canton, History Cherokee provides free parking for guests. There is also a free public-use parking garage across from the History Center at 200 West Marietta Street.

Admission to the museum is $9 for adults and $7 for children ages five to fourteen as well as seniors over sixty-five. Admission for children under the age of four is free. All History Cherokee members also receive free admission.

For more information visit HistoryCherokee.org.

Refreshing Caprese Salad from

Ingredients

2 cups balsamic vinegar

3 whole ripe tomatoes, sliced thickly

12 oz. thick-sliced mozzarella cheese

Fresh basil leaves

Olive oil for drizzling

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Begin the Fun

Add some delicious GARLIC BREAD for dipping!

1. Bring the balsamic vinegar to a boil over medium-low heat in a small saucepan. Cook for 10 to 20 minutes or until the balsamic has reduced to a thicker glaze. Remove it from the heat and transfer it to a bowl or cruet. Allow to cool.

2. When you’re ready to serve, alternate tomato and mozzarella slices on a platter. Arrange basil leaves between the slices. Drizzle olive oil over the top of the salad, getting a little bit on each slice. Do the same with the balsamic reduction, making designs if you want. Store extra balsamic reduction in fridge for a later use.

3. End with a sprinkling of kosher salt and black pepper. Serve as a lunch with crusty bread or alongside a beef main course for dinner.

Lunch Box Chicken Wraps

Ingredients

Whole-wheat tortilla

Leftover rotisserie chicken

Cheese

Spinach or romaine lettuce

Sliced cucumbers

Begin

the Fun

1. Flatten the whole-wheat tortilla and have ingredients prepared to the side.

2. Assemble the spinach (or lettuce), chicken, sliced cucumbers, and cheese.

3. Roll the tortilla inward and enjoy your easily crafted lunch!

4. Add your favorite bite-sized fruits and veggies for a balanced, delicious meal.

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups marionberries or blackberries plus more for garnish

1 cup sugar

1 tbsp. minced fresh ginger

1 tbsp. water

¾ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp. raspberry balsamic vinegar (or regular balsamic)

Lime wedges

Ice cubes

Ginger beer

Fresh mint leaves

Red, White, & Blueberry Pie from LandOLakes.com

Crust Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup finely chopped almonds

¼ tsp. salt

⅔ cup cold Land O Lakes butter cut into chunks

5 to 7 tbsp. ice water

Begin the Fun

Filling Ingredients

1 16-oz container (2 ½ cups) fresh strawberries, sliced

1 ¾ cups fresh raspberries

1 ½ cups fresh blueberries

½ cup sugar

¼ cup cornstarch

1 tbsp. water

½ tsp. almond extract

1. Combine flour, almonds, and salt in bowl; using pastry blender or two forks cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in enough ice water just until flour is moistened.

Divide dough into ⅓ and ⅔ portions. Shape each portion into ball; flatten slightly. Wrap smaller ball of dough in plastic food wrap; refrigerate.

Place strawberries and raspberries into bowl. Place blueberries into another bowl.

Combine sugar and cornstarch in small bowl until well mixed. Add ¼ cup sugar mixture, 1 tablespoon water, and ¼ teaspoon almond extract to blueberries; toss lightly to coat. Add remaining sugar mixture and remaining ¼ teaspoon almond extract to strawberries and raspberries; toss lightly to coat.

Roll out larger ball of dough on lightly floured surface into ⅛-inch-thick, 12-inch circle. Fold into quarters. Place dough into ungreased 9-inch pie plate; unfold, pressing firmly against bottom and sides. Trim crust to ½ inch from edge of plate; set aside.

Egg Wash Ingredients

1 large Land O Lakes egg, slightly beaten Sanding sugar

6. Fold piece of aluminum foil several times to make 2-inch-wide strip; place into pie crust to divide crust into ⅓ and ⅔ sections. Press down slightly into crust. Spoon blueberry mixture into ⅓ portion of pie crust. Spoon strawberry and raspberry mixture into larger area of pie. Carefully remove foil.

7. Heat oven to 425°F.

8. Roll out remaining ball of dough on lightly floured surface into 11-inch circle. Cut 5 ¾-inch strips of dough in wavy shape to create stripes on flag. Place over strawberry and raspberry mixture, trimming as needed. Fold bottom crust edge over edge of strips. Crimp or flute entire edge of pie.

9. Cut 10-12 stars from remaining dough using 1 ½ inch cookie cutter; place stars over blueberry mixture. Brush crust with beaten egg; sprinkle with sanding sugar. Cover edge of crust with 2-inch strip aluminum foil.

10. Bake 15 minutes; remove foil. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Continue baking 30-40 minutes or until crust is lightly browned and filling is bubbling. Cool pie 1 hour before serving.

The Tipsy Mermaid Mocktail

from MarieBostwick.com

Begin the Fun

1. In a non-reactive bowl combine berries, sugar, minced ginger, and water. With a large wooden spoon crush the berries to release their juices. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours, stirring a couple of times throughout the day. Using a fine mesh sieve strain the mixture and use a spatula to press down the solids to remove as much of the sweet berry ginger juice as possible. Discard the solids. Mix vinegars with the juice. Transfer to a large mason jar and place in refrigerator. The flavors will be sharp at first, but if you prefer a mellower flavor, let it rest in the refrigerator for a few days.

2. For one mocktail, add 3 ounces of the berry-ginger-vinegar concoction and a squeeze of fresh lime juice to a mason jar or cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a glass with fresh ice. Top with about 5 ounces of ginger beer, depending on your preferences. Garnish with blackberries, a lime wedge, and a couple of fresh mint leaves. The key is to be creative to make it as festive as possible.

The MermaidTipsyis a companion to Marie Bostwick’s 2017 novel The Promise Girls, a story of three reunited sisters whose deep bond is rooted in an unconventional past.

VINEYARDS

2247 Cumming Hwy, Canton