Contents
April 2022
VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 9
18-19
[18-19]
On the Cover
Five Star Painting
26 Teacher Feature
Morgan Hudson
30-31 Save Mother Earth! Creative Ways To Repurpose
[26]
Disposable Products
34 Artist Profile
Rob Lassetter
[30-31]
[34] Follow Us >>>
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Canton Family Life
Family Life Publications
| April 2022
04
.......................... Perspective
06
.............................. Calendar
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.................... Community Life
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....................... Canton Notes
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........................ Book Review
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........................ Public Safety
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................ Cherokee Office of Economic Development
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Publisher’sPerspective
Spring Cleaning
PUBLISHER/SALES Jack Tuszynski Jack@FamilyLifePublications.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julie Senger Julie@FamilyLifePublications.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Cyndi Braun
As populations increase, so does the demand for housing, resources, and opportunities. With more burdens and limitations, greed, selfishness, empathy, and bitterness can knock the wind from our sails. We must remember to hold fast and pray often, always seeking ways to foster kindness. When the daffodils begin to bloom each year, we’re reminded of their natural resiliency, as they instinctively seem to retract into the shelter of the ground when their surroundings cause them to get dark and cold, much like we do under similar circumstances. Then, when the right moment comes — and it always does — the daffodils burst forth with all the splendor within them, leading the charge into the new season. It’s important for us to remember that life’s not perfect. It’s okay to take shelter or seek solace from what may befall us. But it’s more important, when the time is right, that we harness whatever it takes to gain a foothold and rise again, to be bolder and brighter than we were before, to be a positive influence on others, and enjoy the marvels of being renewed, refreshed, and resilient. Root firmly, find courage, break forth. Grow.
Family Life Publishing Group, Inc. 630 East Main Street Canton, GA 30114
770-213-7095 Also available online at
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Family Life publications have the largest monthly circulation of direct-mailed community magazines in our area. Canton Family Life is a monthly community magazine that reaches more than 30,000 homes and businesses via digital subscription and direct mail in Canton including Sixes/BridgeMill, Ball Ground, Hickory Flat, Holly Springs, and Waleska. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists, and submissions are not necessarily those of the editor/ publisher, and the publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. The cover and its accompanying magazine content are a paid advertisement. Canton Family Life magazine is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.
© 2022 All rights reserved.
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Canton Family Life
| April 2022
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Jack Tuszynski, Publisher
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mary Kay Buquoi, Will Carlan, Zip Cain, Cherokee Office of Economic Development, Joshua Fuder, Barbara P. Jacoby, Tim Morris, Jessica Oravec, Juan Reyes, Ellen Samsell Salas, Anna Teal, Shannon Wallace
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Our world is always changing. Currently, there is much unrest in our society, our nation, and on our planet due to cultural, economic, and environmental crises. Each generation seeks to do better than those that came before it. For the most part, we’ve done well. Statistically, we live longer, healthier lives, but living longer has its consequences.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Vicky Tuszynski Vicky@FamilyLifePublications.com
M AG A ZI
N
It’s good to be able to get outside for cutting brush, weeding, prepping gardens, cleaning gutters, blowing leaves, and some general straightening up or “spring cleaning,” as it has come to be known. This year, doing yardwork with family will have more purpose and meaning. By spending more time with each other, we’ve been putting more heart into the process, creating a special place to relax and unwind together. Spring is a time to build and, often, to rebuild.
Tiffany Corn Tiffany@FamilyLifePublications.com
PLE
B
etter late than never, right? Spring has always been filled with inspiration for me, in life and in my career. The warmer temperatures tend to lead us outdoors, and we’re generally more active than in the colder months. The newness of life almost always helps generate a more youthful spirit.
ART Stephanie Bolton Stephanie@FamilyLifePublications.com
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Calendar APRIL
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Flashlight Egg Hunt — Enjoy this fun twist on a classic Easter activity. Children will be divided into age groups up to 12 years old. Flashlights and some Easter baskets will be available. Activities before the hunt include food vendors, music, face painting, crafts, a kid zone, and visits with the Easter Bunny! The fee is $10 per child. 6:00pm event and 8:30pm egg hunt, Cherokee Veterans Park, 7345 Highway 20 East, Canton. PlayCherokee.org
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Hoods Up! — What’s under the hood? Find out, as hoods are lifted on select vehicles in the museum to give visitors an opportunity to see, admire, and discuss each engine. General admission is $15, $5 ages 3-12, and free for children 2 and younger and active military (with ID). 10:00am5:00pm, Savoy Automobile Museum, 3 Savoy Lane, Cartersville. 770-416-1500. SavoyMuseum.org
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Parent’s Night Out Drop off the kids at the pool, so you can enjoy adult time. Kids will swim, enjoy a pizza dinner, do crafts, play games, and end the night with a movie. Tickets $15 early registration or $20 late registration. 5:30-10:00pm, Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton. 678-880-4760. PlayCherokee.org
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Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute — Experience cover renditions of songs made famous by this classic rock band. Tickets are $35/seniors and $40/adults. 3:00pm and 7:30pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
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Stand Up For Seniors Volunteer Aging Council’s (VAC) Fundraising Luncheon Support VAC programs and get a delicious lunch for $5. All proceeds support seniors and senior veterans of Cherokee County. 11:30am-1:00pm, Merrill Gardens, 12730 Highway 92, Woodstock. VAC-CherokeeGa.org
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Northside Easter Eggstravaganza Bring the kids out for Easter egg hunts, selfies with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, games, and snacks. FREE! Register on the website. 1:00-3:00pm, Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. Give.Northside.com/Easter-Eggstravaganza
ONGOING
Unwind Wednesdays — No need to cook dinner on the first Wednesday of each month (April-October)! Enjoy a variety of food trucks, craft vendors, live music, and state-of-the-art playground equipment. 5:30-8:00pm, Cherokee Veterans Park, 7345 Highway 20 E, Canton. PlayCherokee.org
Tuesday Market @ The Mill — Each Tuesday, head to the Mill for some fabulous open-air shopping. 5:30-8:30pm, The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway, Canton. EtowahMill.com
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University Choirs — Attend a free vocal performance by RU students. 3:00pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
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Easter-Themed Hiking Scavenger Hunt — Hop through the trails to find all the items in this scavenger hunt! Fee is $10 per person. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. 6:30pm, Lewis Park, 100-4466 E Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. PlayCherokee.org
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Free Skin Cancer Screenings Individuals 18 or older are invited to participate in this rapid screening. See your doctor for a complete exam. COVID-19 safety measures will be practiced. Please call to schedule an appointment. 6:00-8:00pm, Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology, 460 Northside Cherokee Boulevard, Suite T10, Canton. 404-531-4444. Northside.com/ healthscreenings
Friday and Saturday Night Live Music Series — After visiting the shops and restaurants at the Mill, enjoy free live music on the event green each Friday and Saturday night. Visit the website for a list of musicians/bands and event times. The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway, Canton. EtowahMill.com Canton Business Club Meeting — Each Wednesday morning, network with a group of professionals who are dedicated to serving their community and their clients, while providing value to local business owners. 8:00am, Reformation Brewery, 225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 500, Canton. Facebook.com (search for “Canton Business Club”) Add
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Church Easter Listings 16
Eggs-traordinary Extravaganza Traditional and underwater egg hunt! Children ages 3 and younger hunt for eggs on the lawn, and children ages 4-12 enjoy an underwater egg hunt. Registration is required. Photos with the Easter Bunny also available. 2:00-2:30pm lawn egg hunt and 2:30-5:00pm underwater egg hunts, Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton. 678-880-4760. PlayCherokee.org
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The Garden Cemetery Movement — Join Marcy Breffle, education manager at Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery, for a FREE behind-thestones look at the garden cemetery movement. 7:00pm, Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Highway, Canton. 770-345-3288. HistoryCherokee.org
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CANTON FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 930 Lower Scott Mill Road, Canton 770-479-2502 • CantonUMC.org 17 Easter Services/Easter Egg Hunt – 8:00am Traditional/ Informal (outdoors - bring your own chair), 9:30am and 11:00am Traditional (sanctuary), 9:30am and 11:00am Modern (fellowship hall). An outdoor Easter egg hunt will follow the 11:00am services. HERITAGE FELLOWSHIP 3615 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton 770-479-9415 • HeritageCanton.com 14 Maundy Thursday Service – 6:00pm. Music, reflection, and communion.
Earth Day Recycling Event Bring electronics, documents to shred, car seats, aluminum cans, sneakers, and gardening containers to this free recycling event. 1:00-4:00pm, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton. 770-345-0400. CherokeeChamber.com
HICKORY FLAT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4056 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-345-5969 • HickoryFlat.org
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Agriculture Expo — Visit 30 different agriculture booths and a children’s area with planting, animals, and games. There will also be door prizes, and food and drink available for purchase. 4:00-7:00pm, Cagle’s Farm, 362 Stringer Road, Holly Springs. 770-479-1481. SFPahl@gfbco.org
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Nature’s Serenity: A Solo Show by Janet Clukie — This show portrays Clukie’s passion for the outdoors, and the calmness nature brings in her style of realism. Enjoy a reception featuring wildlife and landscapes, accented with a bit of life in the country. 6:308:30pm, Menagerie on Main, 351 West Main Street, Canton. 404-798-4279. MenagerieOnMain.com [continued on page 8]
Nonprofit CPR/AED Certification Class Held on the last Saturday of each month, this event benefits the Hickory Flat Volunteer Association. There is no cost; however, donations are appreciated ($75 value). Preregistration is required. 9:00am-12:00pm, Cherokee County Fire Station 23, 7625 Vaughn Road, Canton. 770-406-6657. HFVA.org Trivia Night — Each Thursday night, gather your dream team and compete for prizes. 7:00-9:00pm, The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway, Canton. 678-762-9950. EtowahMill.com Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
17 Easter Services/Easter Egg Hunt – 6:30am Sunrise (at amphitheater in back of church), 9:00am Modern (sanctuary), 10:00am Easter Egg Hunt (soccer fields), and 11:15am Traditional (sanctuary). GENERATIONS CHURCH 100 Bluffs Parkway, Canton 470-851-3144 • G.church 15 “Come to the Table” – 7:00pm. Interactive reflection of the cross. 17 Easter Services – 9:30am and 11:00am. REVOLUTION CHURCH 125 Union Hill Trail, Canton 770-345-2737 • Revolution.Church 14, 16, & 17 Easter Services – 7:00pm Thursday; 4:30pm and 6:15pm Saturday; and 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:15am Sunday. RISING HILLS CHURCH @Indian Knoll Elementary School (back parking lot) 3635 Univeter Road, Canton • GoRHC.org 16 Egg-cellent Family Bash – 10:00am-12:00pm. Free family event including games, prizes, and Kona ice. 17 Sunrise Easter Service – 6:30am. Bring a chair, warm coffee, and celebrate that Christ has risen. This event is at Rising Hills Church property, 3693 Hickory Flat Highway (subject to change based on construction). 17 Easter Service – 10:30am (elementary school location). FamilyLife Publications.com
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Calendar
LIBRARY EVENTS
continued from page 7
SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org CalendarWiz.com/sequoyahreglib BALL GROUND 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground 770-735-2025
HICKORY FLAT 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton 770-345-7565
R.T. JONES 116 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton 770-479-3090 WATERCOLOR LANDSCAPE PAINTING April 11, 4:00pm, Hickory Flat Enjoy an afternoon of painting and chatting. After this event, paintings will be displayed in the library all month. Registration required. COMPOSTING 101 April 15, 11:00am, Ball Ground A UGA Extension Office guest speaker will teach the basics of this environmentally friendly hobby. Registration required. MUSIC AND MOVES IN THE PARK April 18, 11:00am, Ball Ground Join Miss Cat at Ball Ground City Park (177 Old Dawsonville Road, Ball Ground) to exercise your body with movement and your voice with song. Participants will work on communication as well as fine and gross motor skills while having a good time! STORY TIME IN THE PARK April 21, 10:30am, Hickory Flat It’s story time in the great outdoors! Join Miss Leslie at J.B. Owens Park (2699 Hickory Road, Holly Springs) for reading, rhymes, and movement.
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Violet — Reinhardt University Musical Theater presents this musical, which is based on the short story “The Ugliest Pilgrim,” by Doris Betts. Tickets are $12.50. Friday/Saturday 7:30pm and Sunday 3:00pm, University Theater (Black Box), 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
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Faith County — In the middle of nowhere in the south, there’s a place where the beehive hairdo is still the rage, and Saturday nights are reserved for the tractor pull in nearby Pickler. Presented by Cherokee Theatre Company. Tickets are $15-18. Visit the website for specific times, Canton Theatre, 171 East Main Street, Canton. 770-704-0755. CherokeeTheatre.org
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Spivey Hall Children’s Choir — Come out to hear this lovely vocal performance by local young people. Tickets are $25/$20 for seniors. 7:30pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
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University Wind Ensemble Check out this FREE instrumental performance by Reinhardt students. 7:30pm, Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska. 770-720-9167. Reinhardt.edu
EARTH DAY YOGA WITH YOGA SIX April 22, 10:30am, R.T. Jones Enjoy a special Earth Day Yoga session, featuring poses and stretches that aim to build bonds between adult and child in a fun, low-stress way. No registration, equipment, experience, or flexibility is required.
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ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES AND BEES April 23, 11:00am, R.T. Jones During this pollinator gardening class, habitats, plants, and other tips to attract some of the multiple pollinators in our area will be discussed.
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Canton Family Life
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Master Gardeners Plant Sale This event will feature varieties of plants, shrubs, trees, and garden accessories. All plants are propagated by the master gardeners. 9:00am-12:00pm, Cherokee County Senior Center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. CherokeeMasterGardeners.com BBQ & Brews Festival — Is there anything better on a warm spring day than delicious BBQ and cold beer? Ball Ground is the place to be! 12:00-8:00pm, City Park, 177 Old Dawsonville Road, Ball Ground. 404-210-3025 (Gary Lamb).
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Inaugural Gala & Benefit for the Children — Organized by the Cherokee County Service League, the evening will include a live band, heavy hors d’oeuvres, dancing, a raffle, and a silent auction. A portion of the proceeds will benefit MUST Ministries. Tickets are $75. 6:00pm, Timbers on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway, Suite 202, Canton. ServiceLeague.net
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An Evening in Spring Classical Music Concert — Enjoy a spectacular evening of classical music performed by the renowned Georgia Musicale Group. This event is a fundraiser for the Cherokee Arts Center. Tickets are $15. 6:00pm, Cherokee Art Center, 94 North Street, Canton. 770-704-6244. CherokeeArts.org
MAY
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Downtown Canton First Friday With Chicago Rewired, the Premier Chicago Tribute Band — Enjoy live music, a Kids Zone featuring an inflatable slide and a balloon artist, Moving Target ATL axe throwing (participants must wear close-toed shoes), late night shopping, restaurants, food and beverage vendors, and a Cruise In. 6:009:00pm, downtown Canton, 130 East Main Street, Canton. CantonGa.gov, Facebook.com/ CantonGAFirstFriday
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Kentucky Derby Day — Enjoy History Cherokee’s signature fundraising event, supporting all historic preservation and education programs for the society. Gather to watch the race, sip mint juleps, and dine on gourmet food. Ladies are encouraged to wear their finest chapeaux to qualify for entry in the hat parade and contest. There will also be a silent auction and a pony pull. Visit the website for tickets. 4:30-7:30pm, The Mill on Etowah, 225 Reformation Parkway, Canton. 770-345-3288. HistoryCherokee.org Add
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Stepping Up to the Task By Tim Morris
[Lifestyle] We are fortunate that many who live in Cherokee County have a great willingness to help others. Regardless of the increase in population, there are still good people who step up to help a stranger. The community may not be aware of all the things Senior Services is responsible for. Daily programs consist of running the senior centers, coordinating transportation, homemaking services, delivering meals, organizing volunteers, and providing information, assistance, resources, and case management. But the calls we receive require us to go far beyond these services. A recent example of this tested us to the limit.
Tim Morris is the director of Cherokee County Senior Services. 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-479-7438. CherokeeGa.com/Senior-Services
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A call came in to help two sisters who have lived in their home since 1993. Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services had been out multiple times to assist them and found their living condition to be one of the worst they had ever seen. So, they contacted Senior Services to see what could be done to help the sisters.
Almost immediately, a plan was put in place and phone calls were made. Several organizations were contacted for financial assistance and to help with the work that needed to be done to make the home a safer and more manageable living environment. If the firefighters had not gotten involved, these ladies may never have gotten the help they truly needed. The Senior Services staff would not have been able to do the work this team accomplished together. I am grateful to these firefighters for helping. The sisters consider these first responders angels. This is just one example of the many calls of this nature that our office receives. Though the job can be mentally and physically draining, we will always do the best we can with the resources we have along with the wonderful people in our community who step up to help. L
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Community Victim Advocate Receives Statewide Award During the recent Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia’s annual Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) conference, Kayla Cleveland was named the 2022 VWAP Director of the Year. Cleveland is director of the Victim/Witness Unit for the Office of the Cherokee County Solicitor-General. She joined the office in April 2014, as the sole victim advocate. In less than five years, she was promoted to director, and grew the Victim/Witness Unit to add three more advocates. “Nowhere in the entire state will you find an advocate who devotes herself to the service of victims’ rights and needs more completely. Without hesitation, she tirelessly goes the extra mile to see that their voices are heard, and that they are not left out of the process, as the wheels of justice turn around them,” said Solicitor-General Todd Hayes during the awards presentation.
Cherokee Fire Appoints New Deputy Chiefs Last month, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services appointed Kevin Lanier to the position of deputy chief of Operations, and Shane West was named the new deputy chief of Support Services.
Kevin Lanier
Beginning in 2000, Chief Lanier has worked at several fire stations throughout the county. In 2021, he rose to the rank of division chief, serving as the A-Shift commander. He is also a certified Georgia Chief Fire Officer from the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs.
Shane West
Chief West has worked for Cherokee County Fire since 1995. He obtained his paramedic license, served as an instructor for both fire and medical education, successfully completed the Georgia Smoke Diver program, received the Georgia Chief Fire Officer certification, and chaired several committees and projects to improve the department’s success. (L-R) Victim Witness advocates Rebekah Smith, Emily Cipra, and Kayla Cleveland; Solicitor-General Todd Hayes; and Assistant Solicitor-General Kryss Roch.
A Night of Fundraising Success and Alumni Winners This year’s Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF) Gala raised more than $175,000 for Classroom Impact Grants for Cherokee County School District schools. The community supported the CCEF with donations for the silent auction as well as through the purchase of tables to attend the event. The highlight of the evening was the surprise presentation of the prestigious Alumni of the Year Awards. This year’s winners were Blue Ridge Superior Court Judge Tony Baker and president and CEO of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, Misti Martin. Both winners are graduates of Cherokee HS who have made significant contributions to the Cherokee County community, making it a better place for all to live, work, and play.
Misti Martin
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Canton Family Life
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Tony Baker Add
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Community Reinhardt University Inaugurates Its 21st President
City of Canton Update Mayor Bill Grant recapped the City of Canton’s essential achievements in each of the eight tenets of the Roadmap for Success in his State of the City Address. A link to his speech can be found at CantonGa.gov. Mayor Grant, Canton City Council, and the city manager also recently went on an intensive three-day retreat to review the Roadmap, discuss each tenet, and prioritize initiatives for 2022 and beyond. During the retreat, plans and objectives were solidified for a joint “meeting of the minds” among the mayor and council, key city staff, and all of Canton’s citizen boards, committees, and commissions. At this meeting, the goal will be to review the City’s Roadmap for Success as a team, discuss opportunities to collaborate more effectively, and better communicate ideas for the future. The vision for the “Coolest Small Town in America” includes a lot of new opportunities and priorities. From art and diversity to youth engagement and downtown development, the City relies on its citizen boards and commissions to manage and attain many goals for Canton and its residents. Without these volunteer groups, there would not be First Fridays, public art, historic preservation standards in downtown, new and exciting development opportunities on the horizon for the Jones Building, a thriving environment for tourism, and building and signage standards. Mayor Grant believes that policies and plans that help guide Canton’s future can be controlled at the local level, but true positive change does not happen without citizen engagement. Other Project Progress Around Canton:
Water Pollution Control Plant — This $65+ million project is currently on schedule and budget. Letters of capacity availability and timelines are going out to developers and many of the 2,000+ residential units waiting for the greenlight will be moving dirt in the coming months. Old Ball Ground Sewer/Heritage to Boling Parks Trail Connector — This project is in the last phase of sewer connections, and the trail projects will begin with crossings/ bridge work as the first steps. The expected completion date is late August. Archer Street Parking Deck — Work continues on the retaining walls and underground structures. The expected completion date is August. Teasley MS Traffic Light — Construction documents have been completed, and the project has gone to bid. It is expected to be completed this summer.
Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
Mark A. Roberts, Ph.D., is the 21st president of Reinhardt University. He brings 25 years of private higher education experience to his new role. A native of Maryville, Tennessee, Roberts attended Middle Tennessee Mark A. Roberts, Ph.D., Reinhardt State University where he University’s 21st president. earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature and language. He went on to earn a doctorate in interdisciplinary studies in the humanities at the Union Institute and University. He came to Reinhardt in 2013 as the vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of faculty. Since then, he has also served Reinhardt in the roles of provost, executive vice president, and interim president, in addition to being a professor and the writing center director.
Frank Reynolds Charities Celebrates Successful Golf Tournament Frank Reynolds Charities recently made donations to two local organizations with proceeds from its annual charity Golf Tournament, which was held last October at rcotte, Reynolds, Amy Tu nk Fra iff er Sh Hawks Ridge R) (Lmmy Pinyan. d Chief Deputy To an , ith Sm e Golf Club. rci Ma The first donation of $15,000 was made to the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. For more information on the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, visit CherokeeChildAdvocates.org. The second donation of $15,000 was made to The Children’s Haven, which is a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and happiness of children impacted by abuse. For more information on The Children’s Haven, visit CherokeeChildrensHaven.org. “I want to thank everyone who helped organize and sponsor the golf tournament, as well as all the people who played in the annual event. Your involvement helped us make a huge impact on these two wonderful organizations here in Cherokee County,” said Sheriff Frank Reynolds. FamilyLife Publications.com
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Community Cherokee County School District Announcements •
Creekview HS Senior Named U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Candidate As a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, Ty Hubert is among only 5,000 students from the more than 3 million graduating seniors in the nation’s Class of 2022 selected to participate in the prestigious recognition program. Only 156 students from Georgia were Ty Hubert named candidates.
•
This program was established in 1964, by a presidential executive order, to honor and recognize extraordinary graduating seniors. Candidates for the invitation-only recognition program are initially selected based on outstanding performance on the ACT or SAT. After reviewing numerous other candidate qualifications, only 161 finalists will be chosen to receive national recognition and an invitation to an all-expenses paid trip to the White House. •
Veterinary Science Students Named State Champions Creekview HS and Creekland MS students competed in the Georgia FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event where they earned first place in the junior division with a 21-point lead. The competition is designed to “promote college and career readiness by providing opportunities to develop technical knowledge and demonstrate practical skills in the field of veterinary science.” In addition to the team’s success, Searlait Frey placed second in the state for her individual score, Jameson Brooks placed third, and Abigail Moore placed fifth. The students are coached by Creekview HS teacher Pauline Benton.
Childers, (L-R) Ninth-graders William Frey Jameson Brooks, and Searlait re. Moo ail Abig r rade th-g eigh and
2021 Partners of the Year, Volunteers of the Year Named CCSD recently honored a Partner of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year for each individual school and center. The overall Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year were selected from that pool of 79 honorees. The Laurel Canyon Optimist Club, the CCSD Preschool Centers’ Partner of the Year, was named the 2022 Partner of the Year, and Peter Gleichman, the Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy Volunteer of the Year, was named the 2022 Volunteer of the Year. imist The Laurel Canyon Opt 2 202 Club was named the r. Par tner of the Yea
Peter Gleichman wa
s named the 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
•
“We need you. We respect you. We’re so glad you’re with us,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said, as he congratulated the auditorium filled with outstanding volunteers and partner businesses and organizations. “The time, talent, and treasure you share are valuable beyond measure. We appreciate you and thank you.”
Cherokee HS Student To Attend National Conference as State Delegate Cherokee HS junior Laney Cline represented Georgia at the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., last month. She also earned the elite title of Master 4-H’er — the highest award offered in 4-H — by achieving selection to the national conference. To earn the title, students must demonstrate the core 4-H concepts of belonging, mastery of learning, generosity, and independence. Cline and five other Georgia delegates from across the state earned the opportunity through completion of specific requirements set by 4-H, an extra-curricular program sponsored locally by the UGA Cooperative Extension Office. During the national conference, students from across the country participated in leadership, team building, and communications activities. They also attended roundtable discussions, briefings with government officials, and visits with national legislators.
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Laney Cline
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CantonNotes
MYTHS ABOUT
School Zone Cameras By Will Carlan
G
iven the misinformation being spread about these cameras and the legal process tied to them, it is a good time to review what the law is — and what it is not.
Myth No. 3: These
Myth No. 1: You can only get a ticket if
Not at all. If a police officer writes a ticket for speeding, the potential penalty is a fine or incarceration. Because of that, you are entitled to due process rights, such as a formal arraignment, cross examination of witnesses, and a jury trial. A violation of a criminal ordinance puts you squarely in the criminal justice system.
the lights are flashing. Not in the City of Canton. The area designated as a school zone is a school zone for the entire school day. The flashing lights only alert drivers to the fact that the speed limit is lowered for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. If you are going 11 mph over the speed limit — whatever the limit happens to be during that part of the school day — you will receive a ticket.
Myth No. 2: The City of Canton made this up. The speed cameras in school zones were not available to local jurisdictions, city or county, until the Georgia State Legislature created the program in 2018. Sen. Brandon Beach sponsored the bill.
citations are just like a speeding ticket written by a police officer.
The speed camera tickets are not criminal offenses. The State Legislature created a civil penalty for people caught speeding in the school zones by these cameras. Because it is a civil process, the rules are very different from the criminal process. No arraignment. No jury trial. Since it is not a criminal action, you cannot be incarcerated based on a speed-camera citation. Simply put, if the car is caught speeding, the citation will issue as a fine.
Fact: This system is the fairest and safest After conducting traffic studies at each school location, the City of Canton learned that there were hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of speeders flying through school zones each day. That information led the City to address the problem by adopting the State Legislature approved speed cameras in school zones.
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Even more importantly, this is safer for the officer and the driver. Every traffic stop carries with it a risk. The driver may be worried about the officer’s conduct, and the officer may be worried about the driver’s conduct. By removing the personal interaction, there is no opportunity for a traffic stop to go sideways for either party. Slower speeds, safer drivers, protected officers, and increased revenue — by every measure, this program is a success for Canton.
tool to address speeding. Every car that is speeding gets a citation. There is no opportunity for discretion on the part of the officer. “Why did they pull me over and not the other guy?” That question is moot — now you both get a speeding citation.
Will Carlan is a city councilman for Ward 2. 110 Academy Street, Canton. Will.Carlan@cantonga.gov. CantonGa.gov
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Book Review BY JESSICA ORAVEC
The GLITTERING HOUR
In
The Glittering Hour, by Iona Grey, Selena Lenox seems to have it all. She is young and beautiful and runs with the “bright young things” of the 1920s. She takes risks, parties too much for her parents’ tastes, and lives life to the fullest. After an unexpected accident, Selena meets Lawrence, a poor, young artist. They are worlds apart. And yet, Selena finds herself falling for him and tries to imagine herself in a different life from the one that is expected of her. As she begins to imagine a different world, an unexpected tragedy jolts her back to reality. Suddenly, she can no longer imagine the vulnerability of a world filled with love, so she runs off and marries someone predictable and safe. But then, Selena has a daughter, Alice. As she tells her story to Alice, her daughter discovers who her mother truly is, which is very different from who she thought. As Alice learns more about her mom, she discovers a new world filled with color, life, and love. The Glittering Hour is a beautiful novel filled with love, loss, and pain. It reveals the despair hiding within the roaring 20s, and the life choices that were made due to the losses from the Great War. Grey has written a novel with a lot of heart and soul. The story is filled with brilliant prose that brings the characters to life, causing them to stay with readers long after the final page is read.
Jessica Oravec lives in Cherokee County and is an avid reader and a children’s minister. She holds a B.B.A. from Mercer and a Master of Divinity in Christian education from McAfee School of Theology.
Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FamilyLife Publications.com
17
COVER STORY
S
ome would say there’s nothing a new coat of paint can’t fix. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, this adage proved true in the painting and renovation industry. As families spent more time at home, they became increasingly aware of all the improvement projects they had put off for way too long. Dan and Meredith McMillan, owners of Five Star Painting, saw this trend continue to grow through the past two years. As trusted professionals in the local painting arena, they were repeatedly called upon during the bleak pandemic to bring fresh color to people’s surroundings. In fact, Five Star Painting just debuted a new logo and added more professional talent to their team including a new general manager.
A NEW START
Painting an Experience of Excellence By Anna Teal
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Seven years ago, the McMillans reached a pivotal point in their lives. At that time, Meredith was a seasoned preschool teacher while Dan was a successful B2B sales executive. Like many accomplished professionals, Dan reached a crossroads. He was faced with a decision to continue in his corporate path or opt for early retirement. For many, retirement sounds like the obvious choice, but Dan had something more in mind. The McMillans searched their hearts long and hard to narrow down what mattered most to them – faith, family, and home. These values would later become the foundation for their next adventure. Besides having an entrepreneurial spirit, Dan wanted to leave a legacy for his family. He and Meredith had a strong desire to connect with others in their beloved community, engage with local business owners, and provide a valuable service. So, they purchased a painting franchise from Neighborly, the nation’s largest home service provider.
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PAINTING THE PERFECT FIVE STAR EXPERIENCE Thankfully, the McMillans didn’t have to start from scratch. Early on, they benefited from proven processes, procedures, and systems that set them up for immediate success. “From the beginning, Five Star Painting was intended to be a unique company,” says Dan. After all, there’s an immense amount of competition in the painting and renovation industry. Dan believes that their high quality customer service sets them apart from other painters in the area. “Meredith and I quickly realized we had the skills and drive to take a tried-and-true business model to the next level,” Dan says. It just so happens that the McMillan’s approach turned out to be exactly what customers in their community needed. “One of the ways we achieve high customer service satisfaction is by completing our written estimates on site. Once a customer has chosen Five Star, we assign a professional project manager to oversee the work. These steps ensure there are no surprises once the project starts,” explains David Cochran, the General Manager.
A BROAD STROKE OF SERVICES Five Star Painting offers a wide variety of interior and exterior services for residential and commercial projects. Building on their core offerings, they also provide cabinet painting, pressure washing, and deck/fence staining. All services include a large selection of premium and eco-friendly paint options. To provide a full-service experience, the team at Five Star Painting is quick to spot trends in their industry. “One popular trend is a brick coating solution called limewashing. Its consistency is similar to paint, but it provides a very thin coating. When applied to brick, it provides a chalky, mottled finish that adds depth and beauty,” says Meredith.
Meredith also gives her time regularly, and the entire McMillan family volunteers at MUST Ministries’ Christmas shop each year. MUST is a faith-based organization that addresses the various needs of individuals, families, and children in the Cobb and Cherokee county communities. Five Star Painting is located in Woodstock but services Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, and Paulding counties. The staff is happy to provide free estimates for customers looking to add a new coat of paint to their homes or businesses. “We've added new financing options to help fund much needed updates on a budget,” explains Meredith. Feel free to peruse their website and give them a call!
ADDING COLOR TO THE COMMUNITY Popular past projects include numerous homes, businesses, and churches such as the City of Woodstock Municipal Court, Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, South Cobb Community Center, Marietta Housing Authority, and Resurrection Anglican Church. In addition to updating and beautifying the community one building at a time, Five Star Painting also has a passion for giving back. They offer customers a $50 discount in exchange for donating needed new items such as children’s socks and undergarments to MUST Ministries. Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FIVE STAR PAINTING OF WOODSTOCK AND KENNESAW 220 Heritage Walk, Suite 117 Woodstock, GA 30188 404-969-4602 • FiveStarPainting.com Winner Best of Woodstock Painting and Remodeling/Handyperson 2022 FamilyLife Publications.com
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PublicSafety
Helping Survivors
Find Justice By District Attorney Shannon Wallace
F
or more than 40 years, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) has challenged communities across the country to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for victims of crime. During NCVRW, we celebrate the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement, reflect on how far we have come, and honor survivors and those who provide services to people affected by crime. Crime victims have rights; they have a voice; and they have support and services in the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.
Empowering and Supporting Crime Victims Starting in the 1980s, federal and state laws began to address the rights of victims of crime. In Georgia, a 1988 constitutional amendment authorized payment for services to people harmed by violent crime. In 1995, the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights ensured that Georgia residents have the right to be informed, present, and heard concerning criminal cases in which they are affected. In 2018, voters passed a constitutional amendment that added other victim rights to our state constitution. Last year in Cherokee County, 11 dedicated advocates in our Victim Witness Assistant Program provided support and guidance to more than 3,000 crime victims. The services these advocates provide uphold the Georgia Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights, which include notification of case status, education about the criminal justice system, accompaniment and support during criminal proceedings, referrals to resources, and assistance in filing for victim-related compensation.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week The 2022 theme is rights, access, and equity for all victims. Throughout the week, our office will issue a series of Facebook posts that support crime victims, highlight services we provide, and reach out to members of our community (Facebook.com/ CherokeeDistrictAttorney). We hope you never find yourself in need of crime victim services. But if you do, we are here to help guide you and protect your rights.
Georgia Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights Below are some rights you have as a victim of crime in Georgia. A complete listing can be found in § O.C.G.A. 17-17-1. • Reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any scheduled court proceedings; • Reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of the arrest, release, or escape of the accused; • Not be excluded from any scheduled court proceedings involving the accused, except as provided by law; • Be heard at any scheduled court proceedings involving the release, plea, or sentencing of the accused; • File a written objection in any parole proceedings involving the accused; • Confer with the prosecutor in any criminal prosecution related to the victim; • Restitution as provided by law; and • Be treated fairly and with dignity by all criminal justice agencies.
Shannon Wallace is the district attorney for Cherokee County. 770-479-1488. CherokeeGa.com/ District-Attorneys-Office
For more information, contact the Victim Witness Assistance Program at 770-479-1488.
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Canton Family Life
| April 2022
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Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FamilyLife Publications.com
21
The Glorious Ground Bee By Joshua Fuder
[HomeLife] Every year, from late March to mid-May, one of nature’s great cycles happens in our area. Adult ground-nesting bees begin to emerge from their yearlong, complete metamorphosis. As they emerge, the female bees immediately get to work by mating and then making nesting holes for the next generation. Georgia is home to approximately 500 species of native bees with about 70% of those being ground nesting. The most common types of ground nesters include mining, leafcutter, membrane, and sweat bees. Unlike the social bees that thrive in colonies such as honeybees, bumblebees, or the dreaded yellow jacket, ground nesters are solitary, which means they have no swarming or attacking behaviors. Ground-nesting bees prefer sites with drier soils with low organic matter content, good
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sun exposure, and thin vegetation. Many residential lawns and grassy park spaces fit this description. During the day, females collect pollen and nectar to carry back to the nests. These nests appear to be mounds of excavated dirt that are a couple inches in diameter with a small hole in the middle about the size of a pencil. Typically, a site will have multiple mounds, called an aggregation, sometimes in the hundreds or thousands. It’s very easy to distinguish them from ant hills, which tend to be much larger with no apparent entrance hole. The standard yellow jacket hole will be much wider (two inches or more) with no obvious mound of excavated soil. People get concerned when they notice several bees whizzing around the openings and flying just above the surface of the ground. These are the males doing their best
to make themselves available to the busy females. Of course, male bees do not have an ovipositor (stinger), so they are harmless. The season to see these fun creatures only lasts about six weeks. By mid-May, most of the mounds will be closed off, and the next generation will wait in the larval stage until next spring.
Joshua Fuder is an agriculture and natural resources agent at the UGA Cooperative Extension Cherokee County. 770-721-7830. CAES.UGA.edu/extension/cherokee
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Providing Innovative Convenience and Customer Service
A
ustin Blanton, a lifelong car enthusiast, started his career repairing diesel equipment while in the U.S. Navy. After serving in the military, at age 22, he began working for the business he would purchase just six years later: Import Auto Repair. Blanton’s goal is to ensure that the company stands out for its integrity and its transparent repair process that all customers can follow and understand. Major brands that are serviced at Import Auto Repair include BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, Lexus, and Infiniti. Import Auto Repair’s processes, technology, and knowledgeable employees are top notch. Blanton spends most of his time building up his team and allowing them to work at their full potential. Import Auto Repair’s team combines for more than 100 years of experience as well as multiple automotive degrees, ASE and NV4Q certifications, and awards. Blanton’s vision was to make it easy for suburban customers to get their vehicles serviced and repaired without the hassle of driving all the way into busy Alpharetta. After hard work and determination, he created the first ever satellite auto repair location — Kansiapor™ —
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which is a word that means “the art of conducting luxury automotive repairs through a convenient satellite location.” The Kansiapor concept is simple. The customer drops the vehicle at the Kansiapor location in Milton, and the vehicle gets shuttled to Import Auto Repair’s main Alpharetta location for service or repairs. During the dropoff period, depending on the necessary repairs or service, the customer can get a shuttle home. If the service or repair takes longer than 24 hours, the customer will be provided with a BMW 3 Series loaner.
What makes Kansiapor unique? “We pride ourselves on convenience. Our Milton location allows customers to have a fully surveilled spot to drop off and pick up their vehicles without the hassle of driving to the heart of Alpharetta. We currently have multiple morning and evening shuttles. We strongly suggest making an online appointment or giving us a call to schedule a time. Our goal is to have the vehicle dropped back off the same day for general services and a 24-48-hour turnaround time on most repairs. If not done within the allotted time frame, one of our service writers will keep you updated,” said Blanton.
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What makes Kansiapor convenient? • • • • • • • • •
Shuttle service when dropping off your vehicle Text to pay Complete transparent inspection process with pictures Text with itemized suggested repairs and a routine maintenance approval button Staff is available for questions Mon-Fri, 8:00am-6:00pm Secure pickup and drop box for after hours Constantly revolving key codes for pickup box Secure text message with key code is sent upon receipt of payment Parking under surveillance 24/7
Import Auto Repair’s great customer service and more than 100 years of combined automotive experience make it an obvious choice for your vehicle repair and maintenance needs. The company is constantly evolving to conduct business in a way that best accommodates its customers. It’s also important to note that Import Auto Repair maintains competitive prices because it does not have traditional overhead. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please give them a call or visit the website.
A Luxury Concierge To Better Service You No matter what you drive or which mechanical service or repair you need, our team can assist you. That’s because we work on any make or model, specializing in imports with a particular focus on European cars.
Featured Services:
Jaguar Repair
Audi Repair
Land Rover Repair
BMW Repair
Lexus Repair
Brake Repair
Mercedes Repair
Check Engine Light Diagnostics
Suspension Repair
Infiniti Repair
Volvo Repair
Main Location 6735 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta, GA 30004 470-466-8169 Kansiapor Drop Off Location 980 Birmingham Road, Suite 714 , Milton, GA 30004 678-257-3755 ImportAutoRepairs.com
Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FamilyLife Publications.com
25
Teacher Feature BY BARBARA P. JACOBY
Morgan Hudson S
he knows it sounds cliche, but it’s true: Morgan Hudson always knew she would be a teacher. The eight-year educator, who teaches AP and Honors U.S. History at Creekview HS, grew up teaching her younger brother all her school lessons. “To me, being a teacher was more than just a career choice, it is my calling,” Hudson said. “There is no other job that I would pour my heart into like I do with teaching and the field of education.” Her love for teaching shines through in innovative lessons and her willingness to take on additional roles at school — from sponsoring the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society to organizing the school’s observance of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. As one example of innovation, Hudson uses the Flipgrid video communication platform and a blob tree (a drawing of a tree inhabited by multiple figures depicting different feelings) as a regular checkin on how her students are doing “both inside and outside of the classroom and on specific skills/content we were learning.” Students select the blob that best expresses their feeling and record a video of themselves talking about their choice and sharing any other feedback. Hudson is the only one who can view these videos, and she can use Flipgrid to respond back. “I love how I can utilize Flipgrid to emphasize social-emotional learning,” she said. “Utilizing the blob tree allowed me to get to know the students better more quickly and gave me a stronger understanding of how each student was doing.” Hudson also makes lessons personal, such as by sharing stories and photos from her visits to the historical places they’re studying.
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What can parents do to help their child be as successful as possible at school? “High school is a transition period for students, as they begin to take more ownership in their education. Parents can help with this transition by asking questions, listening, and encouraging their children,” Hudson said. “It’s important for parents to create open lines of communication with them. For the high school level, especially for a social studies classroom, parents can discuss the news and current events with them to help them gain a better understanding of the world around them.”
“I think that by being unapologetic about my love of history and sharing the new information that I learn with my students, they see how exciting it can be to dive into learning and finding what they are passionate about,” she said. “Any time students have a question about something that I do not know the answer to, I encourage them to look it up, and we all learn as a class in the moment, which is a cool experience. In our activities, I have students connecting historical events to more modern- and present-day events, so that they can see the connections and how things have changed or stayed the same. To me, creating relevancy is key in making them excited about learning.”
Barbara P. Jacoby is the chief communications officer for the Cherokee County School District. 770-704-4228. CherokeeK12.net
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A Friend of Sinners By Minister Zip Cain
[InGoodFaith] Sinning is fun, isn’t it? If you answered no, then you’re doing it all wrong. Did you just start sweating a bit? Hey, guess what? We’re all sinners. We just sin in different ways. But, there is hope in a savior who says he’s our friend no matter how flawed we are because of what he did on the cross more than 2,000 years ago. Jesus was known as a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34). He hung out with people who were gluttons, tax collectors, drunkards, and prostitutes. And the Bible is full of stories about Jesus hanging out with people like you and me. He was intentional about hanging around people at wells, around meals, and at some parties. I mean, come on, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding banquet. This month, church buildings around the world will be filled with people gathering to celebrate Easter, which commemorates the most important event in human history: Jesus rising from the dead after dying for all our sins, defeating death once for all. Christianity and all of eternity hinges on the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. If he did not rise from the dead, then our faith is lacking in meaning, and he was just another dude who did some good deeds for people. But if the resurrection is true, then it proves that Jesus is exactly who he says he is — the son of God and the savior of the world. My prayer for anyone reading this who has never heard the story of Jesus’ resurrection is that you would wake up Easter Sunday and find a Christian church to attend. Every one of them will be preaching and teaching about this monumental day in history. And for those of you who haven’t stepped foot in a church in years, my prayer is that you will go and celebrate with fellow believers. There’s nothing like gathering to worship our risen savior. L
Zip Cain is the missions minister at Revolution Church, 125 Union Hill Trail, Canton. 770-345-2737. Revolution.church
Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FamilyLife Publications.com
27
NAV Changing the Way
Startups Do Business By Cherokee Office of Economic Development
[StrategicLife] Mentorship is a two-way street, but with the North Atlanta Venturing Mentoring Program (NAV) – it’s a multiple lane highway. NAV is changing the way startups do business. Principled and trained through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Venture Mentoring Service, this unique program gives entrepreneurs the guidance they need to succeed through the power of team-based mentoring. In Cherokee, Alma Coffee has quickly become a household staple in restaurants, offices, and trendy kitchens. But how did this budding small business owned by husbandand-wife duo Harry and Leticia Hutchins build such a devout following? Smart marketing, bold vision, and team-based mentoring. Alma’s story goes back many generations but took root in Cherokee in 2019 with the opening of its Holly Springs roastery and cafe in The Circuit Woodstock. The Hutchins will be the first to spill the beans about how getting involved in the NAV Mentorship Program has made all the difference in catapulting their business from startup to success. Since starting the program, Alma has grown to 12 employees, automated its fulfillment process, increased packaging speed, moved and expanded its cafe to its Holly Springs location, and obtained its own export license – making it one of almost 260 companies that can export coffee out of Honduras.
“Thank you so much to our NAV mentors for guiding us and mentoring us through this global pandemic,” said Leticia. “For any ventures out there or small ventures getting started, I’d highly recommend the NAV mentorship program as your first step,” added Harry. Ventures like Alma are made stronger by those who invest in their success like NAV mentor and Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell. “There’s no better way for seasoned entrepreneurs to give back than to work with up-and-coming ventures,” said Caldwell. “The NAV program provides such a unique way to give our ventures multiple perspectives on specific problems and empower them to scale.” Another inspiring success story is SuiteSciens founder Shalakay Gibbs. SuiteSciens is a NetSuite consulting and implementation firm that empowers companies with the tools needed to successfully grow and scale. This up-andcoming tech company has been a part of the NAV Mentorship Program since its founding in July 2019. Since taking the plunge with NAV, SuiteSciens has grown “byte by byte.” The company has hired new talent including a business development representative and virtual admin, unveiled a new website, launched a prepaid managed services program, and signed two managed service clients. The sweetest part of the deal? SuiteSciens revenue is up 34% compared to 2020, a milestone that’s worthy of celebration. With growth, comes change. In February,
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Harry and Leticia Hutchins, owners of Alma Coffee.
Gibbs moved her corporate office to Holly Springs, an expansion that represents the success of not only SuiteSciens but the NAV mentorship program’s ability to grow and scale local business. “Shalakay Gibbs embraced her NAV mentors as a ‘resource team,’ allowing them to partner with her in her growth,” said Barbara Baxter, NAV mentor. “She used the strengths of the three mentors to her benefit by utilizing recommendations and in-depth discussions from mentoring sessions to build on her ambitious business plan.” For Gibbs, Cherokee was a natural fit for SuiteSciens. “We knew we needed talent and resources to scale. Cherokee fit the bill. Initiatives like NAV keep the business community connected and provide the resources needed to grow,” she said. Successful business ownership takes time, resources, community investment, and most of all — mentorship. If interested in being a part of the NAV mentorship team as either a mentor or a high growth venture, visit NorthAtlantaVMS.com. L
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development, One Innovation Way, Woodstock. 770-345-0600. CherokeeGa.org
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Creative Ways To Repurpose Disposable Products By Julie Senger Before you throw away another single-use food or beverage container, take that old coffee table to the dump, or toss those outdated CDs in the trash, you might want to keep in mind that many materials take hundreds of years to break down, with plastic taking an estimated 1,000 years to decompose. “Recycling benefits us by preserving natural resources, saving energy, and protecting the environment,” (ComfyLiving.net). In addition to sorting waste into recycling bins at home, repurposing “disposable” items is another responsible, useful, and fun option. Since April 22 is Earth Day, celebrate it by trying out one of these crafty ideas that reuse materials you likely already have on hand:
This project is perfect for a teenager’s funky bedroom, a musician’s rehearsal space, or anywhere you want to add a bit of eclectic sparkle to the area.
DIY Sprinkler Kids will love running through this sprinkler on a warm spring day, especially if you let them take a Sharpie and mark all the spots on the bottle where they want an adult to drill holes. You can also use the sprinkler to water your grass or garden. Materials • Recycled plastic 2-liter bottle • Waterproof tape • Drill • Water hose Instructions • Drill holes in the plastic bottle in the places you’d like water to squirt out. Do not drill holes on the side that will be in contact with the ground. • Align the opening of your plastic bottle with the nozzle of the water hose and secure the connection with waterproof tape. • Turn on the water and let the fun begin!
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Mosaic Table/Nightstand
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Materials • Old table or nightstand, cleaned and dried • Unwanted CDs and DVDs • Hot glue gun and glue sticks • Heavy-duty scissors Instructions • Gather enough old CDs and DVDs to cover the surface you wish to turn into a mosaic. • Using heavy-duty scissors, carefully cut the CDs and DVDs into small pieces of varying angular shapes. Be sure the shapes are similar in size and no larger than about an inch if measured across in any direction. • Using the hot glue gun, put a small dot of glue on the back of a piece of CD/DVD and stick it to your table/nightstand. Repeat this step with each piece until the surface is covered to your liking. • Allow the glue to dry then delight in your new, one-of-a-kind, sparkly mosaic piece of furniture.
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Wine Bottle Tiki Torch This project will not only add some lovely ambiance to your next intimate outdoor gathering, but it will also help repel mosquitos. While lit, be careful to place the bottle on a stable, flat surface; do not leave it unattended; and be sure to keep out of reach of children.
Retractable Sidewalk Chalk If your children have ever come inside with hands covered in chalk dust after using the driveway as a canvas for racecar tracks, rainbows, and unicorns, you’ll appreciate these retractable chalk holders for creating their masterpieces. Materials • 4 empty retractable stick deodorant containers, cleaned and dried • 1 tablespoon coconut oil • 4 cups plaster of paris • 1 large bowl or bucket (dedicated to crafting — not food items) • 4 mason jars (dedicated to crafting — not food items) • Food coloring (colors of your choice)
Materials • Empty wine bottle, cleaned with label removed • 2-3 cups small gravel • 12 ounces of tiki torch oil • 5/8-inch male metal hose mender • Teflon tape • Ball of twine • Hot glue gun and glue sticks • Tiki torch replacement wick Instructions • Use the hot glue gun to adhere a 4-inch decorative section of twine to the wine bottle, as you wind it around the middle portion of the glass. • Fill half of the bottle with gravel to help stabilize it. • Fill one-third of the bottle with tiki torch oil. To gauge the amount, the oil should not reach the neck of the bottle when poured on top of the gravel. • Wrap the thinner end of the mender with enough Teflon tape to allow it to fit snuggly in the bottle’s opening, but not so tight that you can’t remove it when needed. • Thread the wick through the mender and place it inside the bottle. The thicker part of the mender and the top of the wick should be sticking out of the bottle. • Light the wick and enjoy.
Instructions • Use your fingers to apply coconut oil to the inside of each deodorant container to keep the chalk from sticking. Be sure to smooth out any clumps. • In the large bowl/bucket, prepare the 4 cups of plaster according to the package’s instructions. • Separate the plaster into the four jars, add a few drops of your choice of food coloring to each mixture, and stir well. • Pour each mixture into a separate empty deodorant applicator. The plaster will harden in less than an hour, but let it cure at least 8 hours before using.
Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FamilyLife Publications.com
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Think You’re Too Busy for a
Family Dinner? By Mary Kay Buquoi, Ed.S.
[AcademicLife] Having dinner with your family is a wonderful way to recap your day, spend some quality time with your loved ones, and have some laughs. However, with work, school, and extracurricular activities, finding the time to sit down together can be challenging. Here are five ways to make preparing family meals easier: •
Canton Family Life
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“Cheat” when you cook. Using frozen or precut veggies and other prepared foods is an excellent way to save time when making meals.
•
Keep meals simple. Plenty of fast, easy meals are also delicious and nutritious. The internet is filled with recipes to suit your family, your wallet, your schedule, and your taste buds.
•
Have breakfast for dinner. In a pinch, serve scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. Waffles or pancakes are easy, too. Eating healthy food most of the time is important, but sitting down with your family should also be a priority.
Meal prep. Make a lot of a particular dish over the weekend and serve it throughout the week. For example, make a double batch of a casserole or a big pot of soup or chili and serve it every other day. Also, a crock pot or programmed pressure cooker can cook an entire meal while you’re out and have it ready when you walk in the door.
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•
•
Prepare dinner as a family. Having help can cut down on meal prep time. Children can stir and roll out dough, and they can mix the vegetables you chopped into a salad. Cooking together is also a terrific bonding activity.
Mary Kay Buquoi is owner of The Goddard School, 140 Foster Road, Woodstock. 770-720-1311. GoddardSchools.com
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Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FamilyLife Publications.com
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setter s a L oR b Photo credit Camille Lassetter
Capturing Life’s Joyful Moments
A
rtist Rob Lassetter jokes that his love of humor and his short attention span make him the right fit for creating cartoons. Even as a child, he could quickly knock out an image then move to another — sometimes in the margins of his school notes. As a teen, he was asked to paint murals on the walls of his alma mater, Francis Wheeler High School in Marietta. Lassetter has parlayed that early love of drawing into a career as a cartoonist, animator, illustrator, and web designer that includes commercial art for Coca-Cola, the Atlanta Braves, and Bell South. He has gravitated toward creating for Christian ministries, often working with his wife, Camille, his colorist. Together, they illustrated 200 stories in the My Awesome God Bible storybook. No matter the project, Lassetter’s images are distinguished by their humor and their energy. Whether depicting a quizzical camel or a befuddled Adam, he creates expressions that bring the characters to life. Every detail of his images — Noah’s beard and eyebrows, a lion’s mane, a shark’s teeth — dance with movement and personality. Young and old alike find themselves smiling.
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Artist Profile BY ELLEN SAMSELL SALAS
Skilled in a wide range of software, Lassetter begins with a rough pencil sketch. He then scans that sketch into Adobe Illustrator and lays down vector shapes and colors. In Photoshop, he combines his creation with photos or other images. The process typically takes four to five hours.
About the Animal Kingdom, a collection of rhymes spotlighting animals from ant to zebra, published in 2020. A Crittertoons activity book is in the works.
The reward for Lassetter has been not only a successful career, but also a joyful one.
“I springboard off of his words; it’s amazing,” Lassetter says.
“If I could have just a few people look at my work and smile, to me, that’s very rewarding.”
Both men agree that their collaboration is almost effortless.
Gruhn concurs, adding, “There was no one else I wanted to do the book. Robby brought Crittertoons to life, and for that, I am incredibly grateful and blessed.”
Crittertoons — Fun in Words and Images While Rob Lassetter was painting the walls at Francis Wheeler High, his friend Richard Gruhn was being inspired by Ogden Nash’s poem, “The Trouble With a Kitten.” So, Gruhn created “The Trouble With a Fish,” and immediately took it to Lassetter to illustrate. Forty-some years later, Gruhn, who has dedicated himself to rescuing animals, has continued to compose his humorous stories as another way to honor animals. And again, he turned to Lassetter — this time to illustrate Crittertoons, Fun Poems
For more information about Lassetter’s work, you may reach him at Robstertales@gmail.com.
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2022 Guide To Siding Replacement By Juan Reyes
[HomeLife] Siding, also known as wall cladding, is the protective material fixed on the outer side of a building’s wall or a house. Contrary to common beliefs, home siding is not for aesthetic purposes only; it’s a system installed to curb the detrimental effects of rain, snow, sun, cold, and heat. The average lifespan of home siding varies depending on the material, but ultimately, it’s dictated by diligence to maintenance and the area’s climate conditions. A siding replacement expert can help you choose the best option and a good care plan to extend its life.
Reasons for Siding Replacement • Storm Damage - When the external forces hit your siding, it may develop gaps, cracks, or other defects that allow moisture to penetrate the walls, thus compromising your home’s ability to regulate temperature. • Mold or Rot – Dampness in walls can cause mold or rot. It’s imperative to repair siding in case of a severe storm to restore your home’s aesthetic value and bring back proper interior insulation to avoid increased energy bills.
Siding Replacement Options • Vinyl Siding – As the most popular choice, vinyl siding comes in numerous colors, has a unique style, and is cost effective, long lasting, and easy to install and maintain. • Fiber Cement Siding – This siding is manufactured using a combination of cement, sand, and cellulose. It’s available in various colors and is generally designed to resemble natural wood. • Wood Siding – This option is available in many species and grades that customers can choose based on finishing tastes and preferences. • Aluminum Siding – Aluminum siding is an excellent option for homeowners who want something unique and economical. Whether you are revamping your home’s exterior because it is old fashioned, was damaged by a storm, or you just want to upgrade your curb appeal, make sure you partner with a reputable company. Contact contractors who have profound knowledge of all siding options, have been in business for more than 10 years, and have a Preferred Contractor status with manufacturers.
Juan Reyes is the owner of Pro Roofing & Siding. 2558 Canton Road, Marietta. 770-373-7064. MyProRoofing.com
Serving Canton, Sixes/BridgeMill, Holly Springs, and Hickory Flat
FamilyLife Publications.com
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Advertiser Index Capital Recovery Corporation
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Captured Moments by Cindy
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The Carpenter’s Shop
3
Chattahoochee Tech
11
Cherokee Theatre Company
17
Christian Brothers Automotive — Cherokee
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Darby Funeral Home, Inc.
36
Downtown Canton
11
Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University
35
Five Star Painting
Cover, 18-19
Fore the Children Golf Tournament Benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Cherokee County
17
The Goddard School
11
Happy Eyes Optometry
27
Harmony Orthodontics
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Harry Johnston for Commisson Chair
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HFVA.org
35
HVAC Bee
10
Import Auto Repair
24-25
Jaunt Service Co.
22
Jyl Craven Hair Design
23
Kentucky Derby Day
33
Killian Automotive
33
Landscape Matters, Inc.
21
LGE Community Credit Union
1
Mathnasium of Holly Springs
3
Mr. Handyman of Canton and Woodstock
3
Next Step Ministries
27
Pete’s Plumbing Incorporated
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PhotoJack.net
32
Rising Hills Church
9
ServiceWise Electric
21
St. George Village
29
The Tint Guy
5
Vote for Byrd
15
Woodstock Summer Concert Series
33
Online ads link to advertisers’ websites. 36
Canton Family Life
| April 2022
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