Contents
November 2019
VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 4
24-25
[24-25]
On the Cover
Alpine Bakery
36-37
Holiday Gift Guide 2019
43 Fifty States
Fifty Marathons
[36-37]
04
.......................... Perspective
08
.............................. Calendar
14
................. Woodstock Notes
15
.................... Community Life
20
................... Senator Speaks
21..........................
Book Review
22..........................
Public Safety
34...........................
Artist Profile
42..............................
[43] Follow Us >>>
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Family Life Publications
Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Quotables
44
................... Volunteer Family
47
.................... Ribbon Cuttings
familylifepublications
@FamilyLifeMags
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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3
Publisher’s Perspective
The Precious Now
PUBLISHER/PHOTOGRAPHER Jack Tuszynski Jack@FamilyLifePublications.com EDITORIAL Julie Senger Julie@FamilyLifePublications.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Cyndi Braun ART Laurie Litke Laurie@FamilyLifePublications.com Mandy Marger Mandy@FamilyLifePublications.com SALES Janet Ponichtera Janet@FamilyLifePublications.com
Those who’ve taught you life lessons are numerous: the ones who helped you learn about love, the ones who provided light in your time of darkness, and those who lent a listening ear or a shoulder on which to cry. Often, we take for granted some of the people and situations that got us to where we are. You’ve come a long way, and you weren’t alone. Remember those unplugged weekends spent at your grandparent’s or relative’s house? Or maybe a camping trip or vacation that was rained out but filled with long talks in which you learned much about your parents and siblings? Think back to the kid in school who showed you how easy it was to make friends using only a smile, or that teacher who believed in you enough to fuel your talent. Recall the ones you’ve cried with, or those who left you breathless in laughter. That’s strong stuff, and it was important — if not pivotal — in how you live today. This season of thanks, give some thought to those who helped make you the person you have become thus far. Think of someone you hold special and the positive impact he or she had on you. Why not message them or give them a call? Reach out and touch them in a very special way that allows them to feel your gratitude. Let someone know how thankful you are for them to have been a part of your life, and that they will always be appreciated.
Family Life Publishing Group, Inc. 630 East Main Street Canton, GA 30114
770-213-7095
FamilyLifePublications.com Family Life publications have the largest monthly circulation of direct-mailed community magazines in our area. Woodstock Family Life is a monthly community magazine with a total print count of over 30,000, direct mailing over 28,000 copies to Towne Lake, downtown Woodstock up to Hickory Flat and toward the Roswell border. 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. Woodstock 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.
© 2019 All rights reserved.
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Memories together are plenty, and there is the hope of a future before us, but no time is more precious than these moments we spend in the present.
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Subscriptions are available for $25 per year. Please contact us for payment options.
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You’ve learned much since then: mastered processes of thought and logic, developed perceptions, formed ideologies, and built relationships that have come and gone.
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onsider your earliest days as an infant, and those looking down upon your tiny presence didn’t see very much going on in that fat little head of yours. Yet, to you, every single minute was amazing, full of awe-inspiring wonder.
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gavin Adams, Steven Anderson, Stacy Brown, Michael Consoli, Marsha Cornelius, James B. Depew, Joshua Fuder, Corey Harkins, Lisa-Marie Haygood, Laura Hoskins, Cassie Langford, Tim Morris, Vishant Nath, Michael Petrosky, Frank Reynolds, Ellen Samsell Salas, Sen. Bruce Thompson, Ferdinand Yates, Farris Yawn, Jacqueline Yokley
Jack Tuszynski, Publisher
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
5
Tooth Tips for the Holiday Season By Vishant Nath, D.M.D.
[HealthyLife] November marks the beginning of the holiday season, which means children will have breaks from school and activities and the opportunity for more family time. While it’s important to take advantage of these fun opportunities, it is important to not take a break from good oral hygiene habits. Most children love the extended time away from school and a formal schedule
that the Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks afford. During this time, it is more important than ever to keep an eye on your kids’ oral hygiene habits. Staying up later than normal does not mean that they can take a break from brushing and flossing before bedtime. This goes for youngsters all the way through teenagers. Children like to test boundaries, and it is our job as parents to withstand their persistent pressuring. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits is also important because of all the holiday treats that children often consume during this time of year. Food represents a way to celebrate the season. Moderation is key when it comes to managing sweets. If you are allowing your child to enjoy cookies and candies, pair these offerings with lots of water to wash them down. Keep an eye on the amount and frequency of sugary
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
drinks that children consume. Removing all opportunities to indulge will take away from the festive spirit, but it is OK to instill limits. School breaks also provide a great opportunity to schedule your child’s six-month dental hygiene visit, which will keep your child from having to miss class. The other great thing about scheduling appointments during the November and December school breaks is that it puts their next six-month hygiene visit during the summer holidays. Timing is everything! Remember, the more we emphasize good oral hygiene habits (and set a good example), the more likely our children will be to maintain these habits for a lifetime.
Dr. Vishant Nath is the owner of Canton/Alpharetta/Roswell Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. 678-352-1090. KidsHappyTeeth.com
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Facial Rejuvenation
The Gift That Lasts Long After the Holidays Are Over By Drs. Petrosky, Harkins, and Depew
[HealthyLife] Whether for yourself or that special someone, facial rejuvenation (invasive or noninvasive surgical procedures for both young and old) is available at various price points and is a gift that will last for years to come. Give the Gift of Lift Dermal fillers and Botox are popular ways to treat the signs of aging by restoring volume and fullness to moderate facial wrinkles and folds. They can also be used to augment cheeks or define lips. Skin Rejuvenation Several nonsurgical treatments are available for those who want to postpone the need for a surgical procedure. These treatments include dermaplaning, microblading, microneedling, microdermabrasion, facial peels, laser skin resurfacing, and ThermiSmooth.
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
Mini Facelift Many women and men are troubled by the sagging, tired appearance of their face. Often referred to as a weekend facelift, Band-Aid lift, lunchtime lift, or short scar facelift, the mini facelift offers significant lasting results with smaller incisions and less downtime than a traditional facelift. Facelift A facelift rejuvenates the face by tightening the underlying facial tissues, reducing or repositioning excess fat, and redraping the skin, thereby reducing the signs of aging and providing a more rested, refreshed look.
Necklift Sometimes, the neck can age before the rest of the face. People who have lost weight may notice that the skin on their neck might appear loose or saggy. Genetics can also cause people to store more fat around their neck and jawline. To enhance the appearance of your neck, an incision under your chin and/or behind your ears enables your surgeon to reach the neck muscle. This muscle is tightened, or a portion is removed, to give you the smooth, tight appearance you desire. It’s critical to find an experienced, boardcertified plastic surgeon who has the skill and aesthetic Drs. Petrosky and Harkins are eye to turn board-certified plastic surgeons, and Dr. Depew is a board-eligible your goals plastic surgeon at Plastic Surgery and gifts into Center of the South. 770-421-1242. a reality. PlasticSurgeryCenterOf TheSouth.net
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Calendar NOVEMBER
1
Friday Night Live — Thanks to the extended hours during this fun event, everyone has a chance to explore the variety of shops downtown. Events and live music at various locations create a street-party style atmosphere. 6:009:00pm, downtown Woodstock. 770-5926056. VisitWoodstockGa.com
1-30
Turkey Swim Competition — This is a fun, friendly competition between lap swimmers to see who can swim the farthest during the month of November! A log is maintained at the lifeguard station. Last year’s winner is not eligible to win. Participation is FREE, and if you swim the most, you will win an adult annual pass. Cherokee Aquatic Center, 1200 Wellstar Parkway, Canton. 678-8804760. CRPA.net
ONGOING No-Shave November — This month, men abandon their razors to raise awareness and funds for cancer. Men are encouraged to donate the money they would normally spend on grooming and grooming supplies to support cancer prevention, research, and education. For more information or to donate, visit NoShave.org
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
1 & 12/6
iThink Improv — Attend this live improv comedy show for a hilarious, fun time (rated PG). 8:00pm, Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock. 678-494-4251. ElmStreetArts.org
2
2nd Annual Reformation Brewery 5K & Party — Proceeds for the 5K support Greenprints Alliance. Finisher medals, a commemorative glass, a beer garden, live music, two 12-ounce beers (ages 21+), hot food, and awesome raffle prizes. T-shirts guaranteed for online registrants only. While supplies last if signing up in person. 9:00am-12:00pm, downtown Woodstock/ Noonday Trail. 678-341-0828. Facebook. com/ReformationBrewery
Woodstock Farm Fresh Market — Each Saturday through December, 8:30am12:00pm, Market Street, Woodstock. 770924-0406. VisitWoodstockGa.com Creative Problem-Solvers — Every first and third Tuesday of the month, meet up with this gathering of local entrepreneurs and innovators dedicated to crowdsourcing solutions to their business problems in a community brain trust rather than alone. 7:00-8:30am, The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock. 770-3450600. CircuitWoodstock.com Alzheimer’s Caregiver Meeting — Meet up with fellow caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients on the second Thursday of each month for support and to learn caregiving strategies. 11:00am, Little River United
2
Great Pumpkin Fest 5K — Sign up for this fun fall race that benefits Papa’s Pantry/Encompass Ministries. Awesome race shirts, an over-the-top finish line festival, and awards to the overall M/F, masters M/F, grand masters M/F, senior masters M/F, as well as the top three in all the usual age groups 10 & under - 75+. 9:00am, Cherokee Veterans Park, 7345 Cumming Highway, Canton. RunSignUp.com/Race/GA/Canton/ TheGreatPumpkinFest5K
2
The Great Pumpkin Fest — Enjoy this FREE family festival, featuring children’s activities, a petting zoo, food trucks, a craft show, and a DJ. Bring your old pumpkin to launch from a trebuchet. Helicopter rides will be available for an additional fee. 10:00am-2:00pm, Cherokee Veterans Park, 7345 Cumming Highway, Canton. 770-9247768. CRPA.net
Methodist Church, 12455 Highway 92, Woodstock. Fritz Kupsky 678-471-6676 or Rich Seibert 770-712-2961. AMPED in the Park — This monthly fitness series is presented by Woodstock Parks and Recreation and a local fitness partner. Every first Saturday morning of the month through November, join friends and neighbors for an hour-long fitness class featuring aerobics on the lawn, running stairs, yoga, you name it! 8:00am, Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-517-6788. WoodstockGa.gov
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
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Jingle Bell $hop — Shop for gifts and craft items at this FREE holiday shopping expo. Visit with Santa and take photos with your personal devices as well as enjoy Santa’s Workshop where children may participate in crafts. 11:00am8:00pm, Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton. CherokeeChamber.com
4-12/6
Hugs in a Blanket — Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency is accepting new blankets and slipper socks for residents of the Canton Nursing Center. Donations accepted Monday-Thursday 9:00am8:00pm, Friday 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-2:00pm, Cherokee Recreation Center, 7545 Main Street, Building 200, Woodstock. 770-924-7768. CRPA.net
7-12/18
Members Holiday Show & Sale — Shop local artists’ creations this holiday season. Opening reception takes place November 7 from 6:008:00pm. Tuesday-Friday 11:00am-5:00pm and Saturday 12:00-5:00pm, Cherokee Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton. 770-704-6244. CherokeeArts.org
Southern Winds Concert Band Wants YOU! — Southern Winds is a community band for adult musicians (45+) of all skill levels. No audition is required. Just bring your instrument and sit in on a rehearsal. Rehearsals are every Thursday. 2:00pm, First Baptist Woodstock, 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock. SWCB.org Papa’s Pantry Volunteer With Your Kids — Volunteer with your kids on the second Saturday of every month. Space is limited, and pre-registry is available. 9:3011:00am, Papa’s Pantry, 6551 Commerce Parkway, Woodstock. 770-591-4730. PapasPantry.org
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
8-9
GlowBand Concerts — On 11/8, experience the music of the Eagles and friends. On 11/9 enjoy movin’ and groovin’ songs of the 60s. 7:00-9:30pm, Cherokee Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton. 770-704-6244. CherokeeArts.org
9
Rope Mill Dirty Duathlon and 3.3 Mile Trail Run — This bike-run-bike race will include two biking sections of approximately 5.5 miles on the Taylor Randahl Memorial Mountain Bike Trails. The bike course will run clockwise on the Mill Trails and counterclockwise on the Avalanche Trail and include all three trail loops. The 3.3-mile run will take place on the Explorer Trail, going counterclockwise and including the loop that is across the paved road near the pump station. 9:00am-12:00pm, Olde Rope Mill Park, 690 Olde Rope Mill Park Road, Woodstock. MountainGoatAdventures. com/ropemill
Detachment 1311 — Every third Saturday of the month, veterans plan programs that benefit the community as well as help fellow Marines cope with situations that may arise in their lives. The Woodstock Detachment #1311 is chartered as a subsidiary organization of the Marine Corps League. 9:00am, Semper Fi Bar and Grille, 9770 Main Street, Woodstock. 770-672-0026. Facebook.com/MCLWoodstock
9-10
Holiday Tour of Homes — This annual event features several exquisite homes professionally decorated for the holidays by local designers. The Woodstock Junior Woman’s Club holds this fundraiser to benefit charities in Cherokee County. Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday 12:005:00pm, Woodstock. WoodstockJWC.org
9, 19, & 12/7
Author Events — Bestselling authors in various book genres will present their latest releases. Please check the website for author names, book titles, and event times. FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main Street, Suite 138, Woodstock. 770-5169989. FoxTaleBookShoppe.com [continued on page 10]
IN Season Committee Meeting — On the third Thursday of each month, this committee creates projects that help activate and beautify the Woodstock community. Plantings, seasonal decor, tactical urbanism, and engagement events are discussed. 6:00-7:00pm, IN WDSTK office, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock. 770592-6056. InWDSTK.org/events Free CPR/AED Certification Class — On the last Saturday of each month, this fundraiser benefits the Hickory Flat Volunteer Association. 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/ Class-Registration.php
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Calendar continued from page 9
10
Timothy Lutheran Church’s 40th Anniversary Celebration — This event is open to the public and will start with a church service attended by its founding pastor, Rev. Richard Armstrong, as well as the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synold District President Rev. Gregory S. Walton. After the service, the church will offer food, fun, and activities for both children and adults. 10:00am, Timothy Lutheran Church, 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-928-2812. TimothyLutheran.360Unite.com
10 & 23
It’s a Wibit — Children must be able to pass a 25-yard swim test to use the inflatable Wibit water obstacle course. 1:00-5:00pm, Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton. 678880-4760. CRPA.net
11
Veterans Day Ceremony — Honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, willingness to serve, and sacrifice for the common good. Join the City of Woodstock, Major General Warren R. Johnson of Marine Corps League Detachment #1311 in Woodstock, the American Legion Post 316 Woodstock, and the Warriors’ Watch Riders to
ONGOING Woodstock WordPress Meetup — Every first and third Wednesday of the month, meet up with fellow business professionals to discuss this popular internet tool. 11:30am-1:00pm, The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock. 770-345-0600. CircuitWoodstock.com Business Accounting for Beginners — Every third Friday of the month, this interactive monthly meetup gathers to educate, inform, and encourage busy entrepreneurs on best accounting practices. 11:00am-12:00pm, The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock. 770-3450600. CircuitWoodstock.com
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
celebrate veterans who have given us our liberty and freedom. Coffee and donut social after the ceremony. 7:00pm, The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-592-6000 x1952. WoodstockParksAndRec.com
14
Jingle Mingle — Raise a glass to the gift of small business! Mingle with current and prospective business owners in the Woodstock area. Your $30 ticket includes a souvenir glass, food, and a sampling of Reformation Brewery beer. Event proceeds benefit the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation’s Shop with a Hero event. 6:00-9:00pm, Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm Street, Woodstock. 770-592-6056. InWDSTK.org/events
15
Cherokee Aquatic Center Black Friday Sale — This sale occurs one time a year and offers 25% off swim lessons for the December-February sessions. 9:00am-9:00pm, Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Wellstar Way, Canton. 678-880-4760. CRPA.net
Women Who Code — Every fourth Wednesday of the month, all experience levels and languages are welcome. This is a great place to dedicate quality time to learn a new language or work on a project. 6:00-8:00pm, The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock. 770-345-0600. CircuitWoodstock.com YPOW AM — Each Thursday morning, join Young Professionals of Woodstock for coffee and networking. 7:00am, Copper Coin Coffee, 400 Chambers Street, Woodstock. 770-592-6056. InWDSTK.org/ events 1 Million Cups — The first and third Wednesday of the month, attend this FREE, nationwide program designed to educate, engage, and accelerate
15
Volunteer Aging Council (VAC) Fundraising Luncheon — Support VAC programs and get a wonderful lunch for only $5. Come alone or bring a friend, coworker, or family member, and enjoy a tasty lunch while supporting the seniors and veterans of Cherokee County. Dine onsite, or pick up and go. RSVP the location, so the amazing chefs can be prepared for all who come to support. 11:30am1:00pm, The Oaks at Towne Lake, 4580 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. VACCherokeeGa.org
15-16
Papa’s Special Christmas — Kick off your holiday season with this Christmas family musical ($5 per person). You may also enjoy dinner before the play ($15 per person, which includes the play). All dinner show reservations must be made and paid in advance. 6:00pm dinner and 7:30pm play, Bascomb United Methodist Church, 2295 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock. 770-926-9755 or 770-9260397. BascombPrayers@gmail.com. Bascomb.FaithLifeSites.com
15-17
Willy Wonka Jr. — Roald Dahl’s classic story follows enigmatic candy manufacturer
early-stage startups. The notion is that entrepreneurs can discover solutions and thrive when they collaborate over a million cups of coffee. Drop in on this community of innovators to connect with and support local startups. 9:00-10:00am, the first Wednesday is at The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock; check the online schedule for the location of the third Wednesday, which changes monthly. InWDSTK.org/events Square Dancing — On the second and fourth Friday of each month, enjoy square dancing with the Cherokee Squares. 8:0010:00pm, Woodstock Jaycee Hall, 216 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock. 404-4083180 or 901-337-5330. CherokeeSquares. com
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
30 Willy Wonka, as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever finds the tickets wins a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Friday and Saturday 7:30pm (with a special sensory-friendly performance at 2:30pm on Saturday) and Sunday 2:30pm (ASL), Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock. 678-4944251. ElmStreetArts.org
16
‘Tis the Season To Be Green Recycling Event — Clean house the environmental way. Recycle electronics, batteries, textiles, cell phones, etc. 9:00am-1:00pm, Woodstock Elementary School parking lot, 230 Rope Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-592-6000 x1952. WoodstockParksAndRec.com
16
Frozen Story Time With Elsa — Elsa will read a story, meet and greet guests, and pose for pictures. Free to attend. Book purchase appreciated. 11:00am-12:00pm, FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main Street, Suite 138, Woodstock. 770-516-9989. FoxTaleBookShoppe.com
20-12/11
Santa’s Letters — Do you want your child to receive a special letter from Santa? If so, drop off your child’s letter to Santa at the North Pole mailbox in the Cherokee Recreation Center. Santa will reply to each letter from his North Pole address. Parents, if your child’s handwriting is not legible, please leave a special note for Santa’s elves. Monday-Thursday 9:00am8:00pm, Friday 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-2:00pm, Cherokee Recreation Center, 7545 Main Street, Building 200, Woodstock. 770-924-7768. CRPA.net
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Watercolor Workshop — Perfect your watercolor painting technique in this fun class. 1:00-4:30pm, Cherokee Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton. 770704-6244. CherokeeArts.org
Wings Over Woodstock 5K & Chili Cookoff — Run a flat and fast 5K race along Noonday Creek Trail in Woodstock, receive a colorful longsleeved race shirt, have a chance to win some great awards, and enjoy a fun chili cookoff after the race. Presented by the North Georgia Angel House. 2:00pm, Noonday Creek Trail, 818 Market Street, Woodstock. 404-557-2218. AngelHouseGa.com
DECEMBER
2-15
Santa’s Mailbox — Kids can drop off their letters to Santa in the North Pole mailbox. Just before Christmas, children will receive a personalized letter back from Santa! Please remember to include a return address. No classroom projects, please. The Park at City Center Gazebo, Woodstock. 770-592-6000. WoodstockGa.gov
3
Annual Holiday Party at the Rock Barn — This annual holiday party is a great opportunity to learn more about the Historical Society and its members. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. 7:00pm, Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Highway, Canton. 770-345-3288. RockBarn.org
5-23
Holiday Lights of Hope — This event features a huge walk-through Christmas light display with more than two million lights, concessions, vendors, Santa, and so much more. It’s the new Christmas tradition for kids of ALL ages! Tickets are $10 (ages 14 and under are free). Proceeds benefit the Anna Crawford Children’s Center. 6:00pm, Hobgood Park, 6688 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. HolidayLightsOfHope.com
6
Holly Springs Christmas Tree Lighting — Start the holiday season in Holly Springs with the community’s Christmas tree lighting and other fun festivities. 6:30pm, Historic Train Depot, 164 Hickory Road, Holly Springs. 770-345-5536. HollySpringsGa.us
6
Friday Night Live — Thanks to the extended hours during this fun event, everyone has a chance to explore the variety of shops downtown. Events and live music at various locations create a street-party style atmosphere. 6:00-9:00pm, downtown Woodstock. 770-592-6056. VisitWoodstockGa.com
7
17th Annual Run for the Children Reindeer Run 5K and Fun Run — Sponsored by the Service League of Cherokee County, this event raises money to provide necessities for needy children in Cherokee County. The 5K race is an official AJC Peachtree Road Race Qualifying Event. 8:00am, Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton. ServiceLeagueRunForTheChildren@gmail. com. ServiceLeague.net
7
Canes & Cocoa — Children ages 1-9 hunt for candy canes on the field and playgrounds. Following the hunt, families enjoy hot cocoa and holiday snacks in the pavilion and “sleigh” rides on a tractor. You never know what special guest might show up! Pre-registration required due to limited space. Cost is $10 per child. Check in at 9:30am, hunt starts at 10:00am, JJ Biello Park, 155 Brooke Boulevard, Woodstock. 770-924-7768. CRPA.net [continued on page 12]
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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LIBRARY EVENTS SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org BALL GROUND 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground, 770-735-2025
HICKORY FLAT 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton, 770-345-7565
ROSE CREEK 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, 770-591-1491
WOODSTOCK 7735 Main Street, Woodstock, 770-926-5859 MAKE THANKSGIVING CARDS FOR NURSING HOMES November 14, 6:00pm, Ball Ground Teens are invited to brighten up the Thanksgiving holiday for local senior citizens by creating handmade cards. This is for teens in grades 6-12.
FAMILY GAME NIGHT November 7, 5:30pm, Woodstock Drop in, play games, and enjoy some refreshments, as we celebrate International Games Week! This is for all ages. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID RELEASE PARTY November 9, 12:30pm, Ball Ground Celebrate the release of the 14th book in this popular series with games, treats, drawing skills, a photo background, and prizes. This is for all ages. EVENING WITH AN ASTRONOMER November 12, 6:00pm, Rose Creek Spend the evening with members of Atlanta Astronomy Club and learn about the winter wonders in the sky. This is for all ages. RESUME WORKSHOP November 14, 5:30pm, Woodstock Stop by the computer lab for tips and tricks to polish your resume. Be sure to bring a digital or paper copy of your resume. Please call to register.
12
TEEN MANGA CLUB November 19, 5:00pm, Hickory Flat Read and discuss different manga series and related topics, draw characters, and compete in manga/anime-inspired group games. This is for teens in grades 6-12. MUSIC & MOVES November 20, 10:30am, Hickory Flat Get moving and grooving with parachute play, music, gross motor skills, and storytelling in one action-packed hour! IT'S FALL, Y’ALL November 21, 4:30pm, Ball Ground Enjoy a nature walk around the library. Afterwards, use what you find to create oneof-a-kind nature art. Please call to register. LEGO ROBOTICS CLUB November 21, 6:00pm, Rose Creek Take apart and rebuild LEGO Mindstorm robots. This is for teens in grades 6-12.
Calendar continued from page 11
7
Christmas Craft Fair — Find handmade gifts for the whole family! 9:00am-3:00pm, Timothy Lutheran Church, 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-928-2812. TimothyCraftFair@ gmail.com
7
Holiday Wreath Making — The UGA Master Gardener Extension volunteers of Cherokee County present a class on how to make holiday wreaths from natural materials found in your yard. Participants need to bring some supplies. Class is limited to 25 participants. 10:30am, Senior Services Center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-721-7803. UGE1057@uga.edu. CherokeeMasterGardenersInc.WildApricot.org
7
Holly Springs Christmas Parade — Line Holly Springs Parkway to watch local businesses, scout troops, civic organizations, churches, dance companies, and local schools march in downtown Holly Springs. Immediately after the parade, Santa will take complimentary pictures in the Historic Train Depot. Event also features Christmas music and crafts. 1:30pm, Holly Springs Parkway, Holly Springs. HollySpringsGa.us
7
23rd Annual Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights — As darkness falls, parade floats will light up the town. After the parade, visit with Santa in The Park at City Center! The mayor and Santa will flip the switch to light the park and Christmas Tree. Event also includes music by DJ Ronnie, inflatables, cupcake decorating, hot apple cider, hot chocolate, children’s crafts, activities, games, food, and special holiday vendors. Parade begins at 5:30pm, Rope Mill Road/Main Street, Woodstock; Jubilee in The Park at City Center begins at 6:00pm, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-592-6000 x1952. WoodstockParksAndRec.com
7
A Christmas Carol — Celebrate the holidays with a FREE presentation of this beloved Dickens classic reimagined by the creative team of Elm Street. Whether it is your first or 50th time seeing it, this musical will warm your heart with the joy and spirit of the Christmas season. Please bring a hearty, nonperishable food donation for local food pantries. 2:00pm, Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock. 678-494-4251. ElmStreetArts.org
A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING November 26, 6:00pm, Woodstock Enjoy the traditional Charlie Brown Thanksgiving dinner while watching the annual TV special. This is for teens in grades 6-12.
Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Baby’s Communication Milestones [HealthyLife] Parents often wonder if their baby’s language development is on track. Many times, well-meaning pediatricians recommend a “wait and see” approach for late talking toddlers, when current research clearly demonstrates the benefits of early therapeutic intervention. Here are detailed skills to look for within your baby’s age range to know when it is appropriate to seek help from a speech-language pathologist.
By Jacqueline Yokley, M. Ed., CCC-SLP
9-12 Months Responds to request to “come here,” responds to “no” most of the time, recognizes the names of common items (e.g., eyes, phone, key), recognizes familiar people and action verbs, responds to simple requests (e.g., “Give to Mommy.” or “More juice?”), follows one-step commands with gestures, relates “Mama” and “Dada” with the caregivers, babbling now includes repetitive syllables like “buhbuhbuh,” uses 2-6 common words like “hi” or “Dada” meaningfully.
12-18 Months Points to pictures in a book when you name them and can point to a few body parts when asked; understands simple questions (e.g., “Where’s the bunny?”); follows one-step commands without gestures; imitates others using gestures, speech, and noises; asks two-word questions like “Where ball?” or “What’s that?”; enjoys (repetitively) listening to simple stories, singing songs, and saying rhymes; able to follow simple commands; uses objects appropriately in play; uses 7-10 words confidently; combines two words in other ways (e.g., “Birdie go.” “No doggie.” “More push.”); has a vocabulary of at least 10-50 words; speech is typically understood 25% of the time to an unfamiliar listener.
18-24 Months Responds to yes/no questions and simple “wh” questions (who, what, when, where, why), follows two-step directions (e.g., “Pick up the train and put it in the toy box.”), uses 50-100 words meaningfully, labels Jacqueline Yokley is a speechfamiliar objects by name, combines words into short language pathologist at In Harmony sentences, identifies self by name, says “no,” and talks Pediatric Therapy, 9880 Hickory Flat Highway, Woodstock. 770-687-2542. to self while playing. By 24 months, a child’s speech InHarmonyPediatricTherapy.com should be understood by an unfamiliar listener 50-75% of the time.
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Woodstock Notes
HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS From the City of Woodstock
By Stacy Brown
• In the weeks before Thanksgiving, replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and go over an emergency exit plan with your family. • If small children are present while cooking holiday meals, use the back burners of the stove when possible and turn pot handles to the back.
City of Woodstock Police Department and Fire and Rescue have some tips to help keep your loved ones and your property safe in the coming months. Taking the time to think through possible hazardous scenarios related to holiday shopping and trimming the tree can make a big difference.
• If you plan to put up a live Christmas tree, be sure to check the water daily. Dried out trees pose a greater fire risk. Turn off your holiday lights before leaving the house or going to sleep. • At home, always lock your doors and keep gifts out of sight. • To avoid advertising to criminals that you have a new TV or other expensive electronics in your house, break down merchandise packaging and place it inside trash bins. • When exiting your vehicle, lock your doors and take your valuables inside. While shopping or running errands, don’t leave purses and packages in plain sight. Do not leave your car running and unattended in your driveway, especially if there are children inside it. Never leave firearms in your automobile. • To avoid “porch pirates,” have packages delivered to work, leave specific instructions for delivery drivers, install security cameras, network with your neighbors, or use a smart lock.
• When shopping at night, stay alert and park in well-lit areas of parking lots. Don’t purchase more than you can carry out of the store without a cart and have your car keys out before you leave the building. • When shopping with children, create a plan for what to do if you are accidentally separated. • When shopping online, be sure your computer is safe by installing antivirus software. Also, look for “https” in the URL to ensure that you are using secure websites to make your purchases.
The City of Woodstock wants you to have a wonderful holiday season. To kick off the season, you’re invited to the Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights December 7 at 5:30pm in downtown Woodstock. Be sure you’re not on the naughty list by dropping off a letter in Santa’s mailbox December 2-15 in the gazebo in The Park at City Center. The Jolly Old Elf is very good about writing everyone back.
Stacy Brown is the marketing and communications manager for the City of Woodstock. 770-592-6056. WoodstockGa.gov
For more information about these events, visit WoodstockGa.gov.
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Wally Rogers Retires After 31 Years as Prosecutor Assistant District Attorney Wallace “Wally” Rogers, Jr. recently retired after 31 years of service to the State of Georgia, including 26 years in the Blue Ridge Judicial District.
Throughout his career, Rogers prosecuted many criminal cases, but his passion has always been juvenile court, where he handled nearly 6,000 cases in the last 10 years.
Originally from Albany, Georgia, Rogers graduated from Emory University, served in the U.S. Army, and completed law school at the University of Georgia. In 1974, Rogers started his prosecuting career in Floyd County.
“It’s been a joy working with Wally for so many years,” said District Attorney Shannon Wallace. “As the most senior member of our office, Wally has for decades served in a leadership role to everyone in this office. His longevity has been a gift, as he has mentored and guided so many of our young prosecutors, investigators, and victim advocates. We will miss him tremendously.”
Rogers served as a Cherokee County prosecutor from 1980-1988, then worked 11 years in private practice, returning to the DA’s office in 2001.
Cherokee County Farm Bureau Receives District Awards Cherokee County Farm Bureau (CCFB) received the following four awards for its volunteer programs during the Georgia Farm Bureau’s (GFB) most recent 1st District annual meeting: • •
• •
The CCFB Women’s Leadership Committee, chaired by Molly Childs, received the 1st District Outstanding Women’s Leadership Award. The CCFB Promotion & Education Committee, chaired by Nichelle Stewart, received the 1st District Outstanding Promotion & Education Award. The committee worked with Indian Knoll ES to incorporate agricultural themes in each grade. The CCFB Legislative Committee, co-chaired by Don Keeter and B.J. Weeks, received the 1st District Outstanding Legislative Program Award. CCFB received the GFB Membership Award, presented to county Farm Bureaus that increased their membership over the previous year.
The GFB 1st District includes 15 counties in northwest Georgia. Founded in 1937, GFB is the state’s largest general farm organization and has 158 county offices. Its volunteer members actively participate in local, state, and national activities that promote agriculture awareness to their nonfarming neighbors.
Community
Rogers and his wife Meg have four children and six grandchildren. During his retirement, Rogers will offer his services as a local defense attorney.
Chamber Names Volunteer of the Quarter The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Kendall Jones with MUST Ministries has been named the Chairman’s Council Volunteer of the Quarter for third quarter 2019. Members of the Chairman’s Council are accepted by invitation only from the Chamber’s board chair. In determining the Volunteer of the Quarter, attendance at Chamber events is evaluated for all members of the Chairman’s Council. “Kendall is a dedicated Chamber volunteer, and we appreciate the countless hours of service he has provided this year,” said John Barker, Chamber board chair.
(L-R) CCFB Director Vicky Grizzle, CCFB Women’s Leadership Committee Chairwoman Molly Childs, CCFB Legislative Committee Co-chairman Don Keeter, CCFB President William Grizzle, and CCFB member Dan Schilling. Photo courtesy of Georgia Farm Bureau.
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15
Community CCSD Surprises Four Teacher of the Year Finalists Etowah River Woodturners Give Back to the Community Formed two years ago in Canton, the Etowah River Woodturners (ERW) club provides instruction and enhancement of woodturning through sharing, teaching, and demonstrations. Woodturning is the shaping of wood into various objects while using a lathe. ERW enjoys giving back to the community in the following ways: •
•
•
•
•
•
Members work with the Beads of Courage Foundation and turn lidded bowls for children with serious illnesses. The bowls are donated to Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. Woodturning clubs throughout the United States participate in this venture, and each time a child has a procedure, he/she is given a “bead of courage” for his/her bowl. Pens for the Military program provides turned pens and pencils for our active duty service members throughout the world. Wig stands are turned for local breast cancer patients and distributed through Northside Hospital. At Christmastime, a tree is donated to a local senior facility with ornaments turned by club members. Local demonstrations are given to Boy Scout troops, senior citizen retirement homes, and craft shows. ERW helps host the CCAC Cherokee Board of Education “Introduction of the Arts” program each spring. Students and parents from all local primary, middle, and high schools are invited to participate. Turning demonstrations are done throughout the evening.
For more information about how you can get involved, visit EtowahRiverWoodturners.com.
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower recently visited four teachers in their classrooms to announce they were finalists for CCSD’s Teacher of the Year top honor. “We’re so proud of our ‘Final Four,’” Dr. Hightower said, noting that the group of retired educators and community leaders who make up the judging committee had a tough job in selecting them from a pool of CCSD’s finest. “As I read their applications, what struck me was how they not only are excellent educators, but they also go above and beyond to show their students how much they care about them.” The finalists are Barry Dalton of Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy, Tracie Galvis of Cherokee HS, Karen Garland of Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, and Ansley Sand of River Ridge HS. The CCSD Teacher of the Year, who is one of these four finalists, will be announced during the Legacy Makers celebration this month. The winner will represent CCSD in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
Tracie Galvis
Karen Garland
Barry Dalton
Ansley Sand
CCSD Jeep Raffle Shottenkirk Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram in Canton is sponsoring the 3rd annual Cherokee County School District Jeep Raffle. The dealership donated a Jeep Wrangler Sahara plus 60,000 tickets, which are being sold at each of CCSD’s six high schools. School organizations, clubs, and teams are selling raffle tickets for $5 each. All ticket revenue goes to the organizations selling the tickets. The raffle winner receives a free Jeep Wrangler Sahara worth over $46,000. The raffle drawing will take place on Dec 5, at Etowah HS during halftime of the Senior Bowl. In the past two years, $500,000 has been raised through this fundraiser. Tickets can be purchased at many CCSD high school athletic events or online through each school’s website. Shottenkirk also donates $12,000 in scholarships to CCSD students as well as a oneyear lease for a new vehicle to CCSD’s Teacher of the Year.
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Pink Patrol Vehicle Unveiled In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Last month, the Woodstock Police Department and Atlanta Custom Wraps unveiled a patrol vehicle wrapped in pink as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Research indicates that 1 in 8 American women will face invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. The pink patrol vehicle was visible in the community during the month of October. Residents and visitors of Woodstock were encouraged to sign the vehicle in honor of someone affected by breast cancer. Time, talent, and funding for this community outreach initiative were donated. “On behalf of the women and men of the Woodstock Police Department, I thank and commend Atlanta Custom Wraps for their community spirit and support of this worthwhile cause,” said Chief Calvin Moss.
Successful Run, Walk, or Roll 5K and Fun Run With the community’s support as well as the support of more than 35 sponsors and numerous volunteers, Next Step Ministries’ 6th Annual Run, Walk, or Roll 5K and Fun Run was the biggest yet, with over 500 registered participants and $35,000 raised. This fundraiser supports Next Step Ministries’ continued programs for people with special needs.
Photo courtesy of Darleen Prem
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17
Community Leadership Cherokee Class of 2019 Graduates Leadership Cherokee, a program of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, graduated its 31st class during a recent ceremony. With the completion of this year’s class, the alumni count now totals more than 640 graduates. Over the course of the nine-month period, Leadership Cherokee exposed the group of existing and emerging leaders to a broad range of topics including economic development, infrastructure, government, justice, arts, education, recreation, tourism, public safety, healthcare, and social/human services. Front Row (L-R): Kyle Porter, Northside Hospital Cherokee; Kristi Bosch, City of Waleska; April Weeks, Weeks Law, P.C.; Stephanie Villasenor, Cherokee Family Violence Center. Second Row (L-R): Demetria Lane, The Coca-Cola Company; Kryss Roch, Cherokee County Office of the Solicitor-General; Tosha Ginn, North GA CPA Services; Janet Ponichtera, Family Life Publications; Katie Bishop, R & D Mechanical Services. Third Row (L-R): Eric Rein, Renasant Bank; Chris Sims, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office; Josh Neville, Airborne Canton; Brooke Ford, Georgia Division of Family & Children Services; Jenny Rose, Rose & Associates, P.C. Fourth Row (L-R): Dr. Jacob Sluder, Dentistry of Olde Towne; Brett Timmer, United Community Bank; Tina Farmer, Cherokee County School District; Zachanta Valoy, Kennesaw State University; Back Row (L-R): Jimmy Eley, City of Woodstock Fire & Rescue; Jason Blakey, Credit Union of Georgia; Guillermo Sanabia, WellStar Health System; Bryon Reeves, City of Ball Ground; Brian Cain, The Oak House.
Woodstock MS Student Selected as Scholastic Kid Reporter Recently, Scholastic announced that Bryce Jones, an 8th grader at Woodstock MS, was selected as one of 50 Kid Reporters to join Scholastic Kids Press, an award-winning team of young journalists, ages 10–14, from around the world. Jones is the only student from Georgia to be selected. During the program’s 20th anniversary year, Jones will report “news for kids, by kids,” sharing stories from his community while covering critical topics and issues that matter most to young people. Kid Reporter stories are published on the program’s website, and featured in select issues of Scholastic Classroom Magazines, which reach more than 25 million students in classrooms nationwide. Past Scholastic Kid Reporters have reported on national and global moments, covering five U.S. presidential elections, as well as the Olympics and Tony Awards. Kid Reporters have also made headlines interviewing influential figures, including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai, conservationist Jane Goodall, The Daily Show host Trevor Noah, civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, Captain Underpants and Dogman creator Dav Pilkey, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
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Choosing the
Best Divorce Attorney for Your Needs
By Laura Hoskins [StrategicLife] While many people think of a divorce as an event, it is more akin to a difficult journey. Finding the right partner(s) for the journey is important. Thus, hiring the right divorce attorney and setting reasonable expectations are key to a good divorce. Here are some things to look for when choosing your attorney: First, you need an attorney who can be assertive in the courtroom, diplomatic in settlement negotiations, and understanding of your emotional needs. Also, while a divorce attorney may have lots of experience with clients who have mental/emotional issues, hiring a good mental health counselor to address your emotional needs is highly recommended.
need an attorney who is flexible enough to work with you based on your availability. Third, you need an attorney who will give you the advice you need rather than telling you what you want to hear. A good divorce requires a pragmatic, cost-benefit approach. When emotions dictate actions, the divorce process takes longer, which means costs will escalate. Finally, you need an attorney with a strong support staff to assist you when he/she is in court or helping other clients. In addition to your attorney, you need to have a designated person/paralegal to speak to when he/she is not available. Also, your paralegal likely bills at a much lower rate. So, when possible, contacting your paralegal instead of your attorney will save you money. Keeping these things in mind when hiring a divorce attorney will help ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.
Laura L. Hoskins, Esq. is an attorney at Burns Law Group. 181 E. Main Street, Canton. 770-956-1400. BASLG.com
Second, you need an attorney who is available when you are. Often, litigants need help outside traditional office hours. You
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19
Senator Speaks
H
ave you ever glanced through the newspaper, only to find your eyes fixated on a picture in front of you? Your heart sinks. You can’t believe what you see. Your friend of many years has his mugshot right there in the newspaper. Two questions storm through your mind: “What in the world? How did this happen?” This recently happened to me. A friend of nearly 15 years made a terrible decision, and now his world is crumbling. I once read a book that had the quote, “Integrity: Don’t leave home without it!” The author revealed that if you want to make a difference in the world, the single most important trait is not intelligence, passion, or even perseverance – it’s integrity. The author also contended that our lives have four distinct spheres. Our PRIVATE LIFE, where our most personal thoughts reside, is often referred to as our “secret place.” Many of us have close friends who, no matter what, are there to stand in the gap. We grant them the privilege to enter our PERSONAL LIFE with the freedom to be an encourager as well as a disciplinarian to us. I call these friends my “5,” and each of them are incredibly important in my walk through life.
TE IVA R P
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ON
S ER
INTEGRITY — Don’t Leave Home Without It By Senator Bruce Thompson Our PROFESSIONAL LIFE consists of many people who know us personally. This may be at our civic organization, church, or golf club. I guess we could refer to this area of our life as the “marketplace.” Finally, we come to our PUBLIC LIFE. One of my 5 and I were recently talking about how quickly we form an opinion about someone we don’t even know. We all do it. We see a sports figure, movie star, or even a minister on television or in public, and we immediately move them into a category. This brings me back to my friend whose mugshot was recently in the newspaper. Why did he do this? What was the root cause of his actions, which were bathed in poor judgement and lacked integrity? Likely, he will lose, his family will be destroyed, his professional license revoked, and many of his friends will dissociate. Certainly, this friend’s public image has been tarnished forever. I’m not saying that any of us are without flaws, but some decisions have consequences that last a lifetime, and the book I previously referenced indicated that everything we say and do is rooted in our private life. The author asserted that our integrity stems from this inner code that we develop with God. Maybe this point is best illustrated in the homes that were hit by Hurricane Michael. All the homes on the beach had a beautiful facade before the storm, but the homes that were built with a strong structural integrity weathered the storm much better than those that were not. When life’s “storms” hit, it’s our inner core that keeps our foundation strong.
L NA SIO S E OF PR
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out,” (Proverbs 10:9).
Bruce Thompson is a state senator for District 14, which includes Canton. 404-656-0065. BruceThompsonGa.com
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Book Review BY FARRIS YAWN
A
utism is something that impacts many lives. Most of us have friends or family members who are struggling with the challenges that come with having an autistic child or young adult. In Pascal: A Journey With Autism, Dr. Barbe BiloaMany shares one young man’s trials with autism, as he and his family work to understand his diagnosis and treatment. Often told in Pascal’s and his mother’s own words, we learn the symptoms that led to his diagnosis as well as many of the therapies, treatments, and strategies that were utilized by his doctors and therapists. The book also contains references to many resources for anyone who may need help. Dr. Biloa-Many takes us through the diagnostic process and explains what to expect at each step. An autism diagnosis can sometimes cause many contradictory feelings and reactions in a family such as relief at having some answers, fear for what it means for the child and the family moving forward, and even anger at God or each other that this is happening. Readers can follow along, as Pascal and his family come to terms with his diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Now an adult, Pascal is a very high functioning, productive member of his community. He works on his family’s farm/ wedding venue and is planning to get married soon. Pascal’s journey shows that autism, while challenging and sometimes difficult, does not have to prevent a child from progressing. With the proper therapies and treatment plan, an autistic child can learn the skills to live a full and happy life, just like Pascal.
Farris Yawn is the owner of Yawn’s Publishing, 2555 Marietta Highway, #103, Canton. 678-880-1922. YawnsPublishing.com
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21
Public Safety
F
or those of us who grew up in Cherokee County without the internet or smartphones, our form of social media was cruising the McDonald’s parking lot on Friday and Saturday nights to see and be seen. Internet technology and cellular phone apps can be wonderful tools, but there is a very large and creepy spider on the web: child exploitation.
Exploitation The Web’s Large and Creepy Spider
By Sheriff Frank Reynolds
The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office has a team of detectives who work tirelessly to identify these predators and bring them to justice. Recently, CSO detectives joined forces with other metropolitan and federal law enforcement agencies in Operation Just Cause. The goal of Operation Just Cause was to arrest persons who communicated with children online and then traveled to meet them for the purpose of having sex. Additionally, the operation targeted those who are willing to exploit children by purchasing sex with a minor. Online child predators visit chat rooms and websites on the internet, find children, begin conversations with them, introduce sexual content, and arrange a meeting with the children for the purpose of having sex. Over the course of the operation, 24 people were arrested for intent to meet a child for sex, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. This is just one example of the many cases that exist in the metro Atlanta area. Detective Claude L. Dobbs is CSO’s chief detective responsible for investigating internet crimes against children (ICAC). Detective Dobbs explains: • Snapchat is and has always been a problem. The number of children victimizing themselves through Snapchat, thinking that the images they send to someone will just disappear, is staggering. There is no reason, ever, for any child under age 18 to have a Snapchat account. • Instagram has replaced Facebook among children. With the ability to send private messages within the app, which one or both parties can delete at will, has been a recipe for disaster. • FaceTime and Google Hangout videos have also allowed children to be victimized. Parents won’t be able to see what their children see in real time video streams, or streams that predators have recorded in the past without the child’s knowledge. • Tumblr is another app that children and teens have used to acquire pornography and expose themselves to unsavory information. Tumblr houses blogs that cover everything from adult pornography, to child pornography (until it is discovered and removed), to self-harm material, bondage, and drugs.
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
• A good rule of thumb — if the platform allows users to transmit live video, of which there is no record that parents can see, it’s a recipe for exploitation. If an application allows images and videos to be sent that disappear (or they think it disappears) moments after being sent, it’s a recipe for exploitation. Protecting our children is of the highest priority. If you would like more information concerning child exploitation, please call CSO’s criminal investigation office at 770-928-0239.
Frank Reynolds is the sheriff for Cherokee County. 678-493-4100. CherokeeGa-Sheriff.org
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Makes It Easier Than Ever To
Cookie, Pastry, and Truffle Trays Along With Cakes, Pies, Delivery, and Gift Cards Make Your Holidays Special and Easier!
A
lpine Bakery is known for its delicious, visually stunning desserts. With the tagline “Taste the Love,” Alpine has been painstakingly pouring care and commitment into delicious desserts for over 15 years. A strictly “from scratch” bakery using only all natural ingredients means no bucket, canned, or premade fillings – a difference you can taste. Offering a staggering variety of cakes, pies, cookies, truffles, and pastries, Alpine has something for everyone, often making it difficult to choose from the gorgeous array of delights in the refrigerated glass cases. In addition to the 135 to150 items that are routinely in stock, Alpine offers additional items for special order.
Alpine Holiday Season
Holidays By Alpine
This season, Alpine will provide more than: •
3,000 cakes, cheesecakes, and pies
•
1,500 assorted trays (arranged with different sized cookies, truffles, or pastries)
•
2,000 gift cards
“Planning and training begins in August, with cake creation in full swing in November and December,” says DeTommaso. “It becomes virtually a 24-hour, round-the-clock task, as bakers continuously restock their 40-plus varieties of cakes, cheesecakes, and pies, while another team works tirelessly to keep over 60 different selections of cookies, cupcakes, and pastries
Fresh Ingredients By the Numbers
Astounding quantities of fresh ingredients are brought in daily to ensure everything is up to the highest possible standard: • 150 pounds of heavy cream as well as butter • Approximately 60 pounds of fresh strawberries •
Over 750 pounds of flour
available and fresh every day.”
Did You Know?
•
• •
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Anthony DeTommaso, one of Alpine’s three owners, says, “While we are privileged to serve our fiercely loyal customer base all year-round, almost everyone wants to enjoy Alpine during the holiday season, making it our busiest.”
Alpine Wholesale is over 30 years old, supplying more than 100 restaurants in the Southeast with their cakes, cheesecakes, and pies. Alpine retail stores are over 15 years old, now with two locations to serve guests. The Crabapple store averages 400 visitors per day, while the Woodstock location can see upwards of 200 guests.
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
COVER STORY By Marsha Cornelius
Best Way To Get Alpine for the Holidays — Order in Advance
During the holidays, preordering is almost a must. Alpine always recommends a preorder of your desired tray, cake, or pie. Cookie, pastry, and truffle trays are very popular at holiday parties or as hostess gifts. “The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we typically have over 400 advance orders for the holiday dessert course,” says DeTommaso. “And Christmas Eve can easily see twice that amount.”
Connect With Alpine
Alpine Bakery App - Available on iOS or Android platforms, this app offers convenient ordering while customers are on the go this holiday season. Delivery - National partner DoorDash delivers dinner as well as gift boxes of goodies to local areas morning, noon, and night. Facebook - Be in the know along with 13,000 other followers. Get updates on promotions, exciting news, and events. Website - For complete menus, location directions, online orders, pickup and delivery information, or purchasing gift cards, visit AlpineBakeries.com. Subscribe - Alpine email subscribers get free birthday and anniversary cake. Email recipients also stay informed about special promotions throughout the year. Dessert of the Month Drawing Come in and enter to win the Dessert of the Month by completing an entry form.
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
The Crabapple Trattoria
12315 Crabapple Road | Alpharetta 770-410-9883 The Crabapple location — the older sister at the Silos — features a full sitdown Italian restaurant. The Trattoria’s kitchen prepares for a tremendous amount of pickup/carryout catering orders as well as entertaining upwards of 200 diners per evening. The menu ranges from classics such as Chicken or Veal Parmigiana to the exquisite Zuppa Di Pesce or freshly made Crab Cakes over Creamy Risotto. Entertaining for large parties and corporate gatherings is very common during this time of year, and the staff is prepared for large events.
Woodstock Location Full-Service Bakery | Pizzeria Extensive Coffee Bar | Custom Cake Studio Beverages | Seating | Pickup/Carryout
405 Toonigh Road (Corner of Toonigh and Main Street)
404-410-1400
Crabapple Location Full-Service Bakery | Seated Dining in the Trattoria Pickup/Carryout | Custom Cake Studio
12315 Crabapple Road (Silos Shopping Center)
770-410-9883 WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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Scarecrow Fest October 4 Downtown Woodstock
Photos
26
ssandra
y of Ca courtes
Bickel
Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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27
The Gift of
Travel By Michael Consoli
[Lifestyle] Every year, it gets more and more difficult to find the right holiday gift. Often, friends and family just exchange gift cards after a frustrating hunt for the perfect present ends fruitlessly. Unfortunately, gift cards tend to be forgotten, lost, or regifted. The gift of travel will provide experiences that create lifetime memories. An amazing trip for your whole family will not be lost, returned, or regifted. Family travel is a wonderful way to have a shared experience that will be talked about and cherished for many years to come. Cruises are a great option for many because they offer shared experiences for multiple generations; there is literally something for everyone. Grandpa likes to eat and read in a quiet spot? Check. Grandma wants to take a class, hear a lecture, or maybe gamble a bit? Check. Your teenage daughter wants to dance the night away? Check. Your younger son wants to zipline and learn to snorkel? Check. Mom and Dad want to reconnect while sipping adult beverages by the pool? Check. And cruise destination options are endless.
while someone else handles the driving. Want to take everyone to a dude ranch next summer? There’s a family friendly option for that. Want to make memories while making pizza in Tuscany? There is a tour option for that, too. Group travel is a great way to make lifelong friendships without worrying about where and when you are stopping for dinner. Tour managers and guides make sure everyone is engaged while educating travelers about the sights and sharing exciting stories. Perhaps visiting the “Happiest Place on Earth” would be the perfect family vacation. Meet Cinderella, ride roller coasters, and enjoy other attractions at Walt Disney World, all while taking pictures with Mickey Mouse and eating fun treats. With so many different hotels on property at Disney, there is something for every budget. If it is too early to know what trip to take or when to travel, a certificate for future travel may make the perfect stocking stuffer. Whatever type of trip your family is leaning toward, an experienced agent can help you plan the perfect getaway. All you’ll have left to do is wrap it up with a big bow. L
Michael Consoli is a professional travel and cruise specialist and owner of Cruise Planners. 770-650-7667. PlanMyCruise.com
If a cruise is not the right fit for your recipients, consider a land tour where everyone can see and experience something new
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
Over 30,000 Each Issue, Every Month
What Causes Conflict Between You and Others? By Pastor Gavin Adams
[InGoodFaith] I know. You have conflict with others because they did something to create a conflict with you. While that may be partially true, why did their action cause a conflict reaction in you? James, the brother of Jesus, wrote about this very question, saying, “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” He then gives his readers the answer, “Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1 NIV). We all have desires, expectations, and fears. We often don’t even realize we have them until another’s desires, expectations, and fears challenge ours. When that happens, conflict is birthed. Our instinctual reaction is to blame the other person for not
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
meeting our desires or expectations or for contributing to our fears. Our blaming leads to shaming or avoiding, yet neither lead to reconciliation. The simple solution is to remove all our desires, expectations, and fears. Good luck with that. Of course, we could attempt to live a life where these things are never unmet or challenged by others. Again, best of luck. What should we do if we can’t remove the desires, expectations, and fears? What if we learn to respond rather than react to these conflicts? When facing conflict, try pausing before reacting to consider what desires, expectations, or fears are going unmet. As you pause, consider if the person on the other side of the conflict is to blame.
You will be tempted to say “yes,” but he/ she is just a person like you, ill equipped to meet your every need and want. When we place that burden on the shoulders of others, they will fail. As will you for them. Instead of attempting to have these needs met and fears reduced by others, maybe we should turn to the only one who can meet them — God. What I think you’ll find is he gave them to you for him to fulfill. Pausing in our conflict not only allows us to respond better to others, it also gives us time to consider how our desires, expectations, and fears can be legitimately met.
Gavin Adams is lead pastor at Woodstock City Church, 150 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock. 470-689-6000. WoodstockCity.org
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Dental Insurance
Are Your Benefits Mostly Limitations? By Steven Anderson, D.M.D.
[HealthyLife] Because of its more positive implication, insurance companies often use the word “benefit” rather than “limitation” to describe items within the policy you purchased. These limitations are numerous and specific to each policy. Limitations exist, so the insurance company doesn’t have to pay a lot of money for dental treatment, which maximizes/guarantees company profits by reducing the insurance company’s financial risk. Be sure to read your policy carefully to understand its limitations. Since limitations are usually buried in fine print, you often realize after the fact why your insurance did not pay for a needed treatment. As a customer paying monthly premiums, it’s your right to have an accurate understanding of your monetary benefits and know exactly how much money the insurance company will pay toward any treatment. Coverage of 100% does not always mean the treatment is “free.” A percentage is mathematically dependent upon another figure. For dental insurance, the covered percentage is always multiplied by a predetermined dollar amount known as an “allowance.” Every dental procedure has a monetary allowance assigned to it by the insurance company. Although insurance companies often restrict sharing these important predetermined amounts with your dentist, policy holders are entitled to know what they are. You may have to demand it from your insurance representative, but the information is pertinent to understanding possible out-of-pocket amounts before scheduling your procedure. Keep in mind that “coverage” and “contribution” have different meanings when determining financial dental benefits. Don’t be deceived when the insurance company uses the term “coverage” rather than “contribution.” Patients should look at a benefit amount as a “contribution,” not “coverage.” Dental insurance plans are solely cost and profit driven. Usually, the higher your premium, the more insurance pays out with fewer limitations. Payouts will never exceed the annual maximum limit.
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A low annual maximum ensures profits for the insurance company. Maximum annual benefits paid per customer have not changed much since 1975. It’s still about $1,500. Yet, clearly, annual dental premiums have increased significantly. Although dentists operate a business, too, they are professionally licensed and have a higher moral and legal responsibility to provide quality dental care first and foremost — independent of money. Don’t be deceived by dental insurance phrases such as “minimum alternative treatment” as an indication of quality care. You should expect dental benefits payable for the best treatments available, not simply the “minimum alternative.” If you’re considering dental insurance, evaluate your personal dental health needs and the cost of your policy versus the dental benefits you may receive. Speak with a representative from your dental office to get his/her advice about the policy you’re considering, and its lurking limitations. Finally, just because your dentist is not on the discounted “insurance list,” does not mean that you cannot see him/her, receive great care, and have your insurance contribute financially to your dental treatment. The old adage “you get what you pay for” is also true for dental care. After all, great dental care is available, and it should be all about you.
Dr. Steven Anderson practices cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry at Anderson Dental of Woodstock and East Cobb. 650 Claremore Professional Way, Suite 200, Woodstock, GA 30188. 770-384-8505. DrStevenAnderson.com
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Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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[Lifestyle] My fondest memory of Thanksgiving is the gatherings that my grandmother made possible on her farm. Family would come from all over for this feast and time together. I think my grandmother enjoyed it the most because she did all the cooking. It was amazing to watch her prepare the variety of food and never let anyone help her. Most of the things she prepared were homegrown or from scratch. I don’t recall her ever opening a can of anything. When you are preparing to feed an army, a mess usually accompanies all that cooking. At that time, I never paid attention to my grandmother’s aprons. After her passing in 1984, all the different aprons she owned (most of which she made herself) suddenly became important reminders of her.
Thinking back, she always had an apron on. When my brothers and I rode to church with her, she would sometimes forget that she was wearing it. I can still see her pulling the apron off once she got out of the car before going inside for the service. The aprons were a part of her daily attire, and knowing her, she probably went to bed each night with one on. More amazing is all she could do with that apron. While cooking, she used it to wipe her hands off before starting another task. Her aprons had two pockets, and what she kept in those pockets was very useful for her.
Grandmother’s Apron By Tim Morris
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I remember pins she used to keep her hair in a bun. If a pin popped out, she would put her hand in her apron pocket and pull out another one. She also kept butterscotch candies in her pocket, and my brothers and I would always reach in that pocket to grab one. If one of her grandchildren had a runny nose, the apron would swoop in to wipe it. When my grandmother passed, her aprons were the items everyone wanted for themselves. Cherokee Senior Services wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Be sure to cherish the memories made with your loved ones. L
Tim Morris is the director of Cherokee County Senior Services. 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-479-7438. www.CherokeeGa.com/ Senior-Services
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Fall Bulbs for a Colorful Spring
least six hours of direct light is ideal. Under the canopy of deciduous trees works well for bulbs because they bloom before the canopy has filled out. In general, plant the bulb in loose, welldrained soil, two to three times the greatest diameter for bigger bulbs and three to four times the greatest diameter for smaller bulbs. In absence of a soil test, triple 10 fertilizer will need to be added to the bed.
By Joshua Fuder [HomeLife] Nothing says springtime quite like the vibrant colors of blooming bulbs. Given the variety in size, color, and bloom time, bulbs add significant return for investing time and money into your landscape. If you want to create a mini Gibb’s Garden in your backyard, now through the end of December is the time to start planting. Selecting bulbs at a nursery is a bit like shopping for produce. Choose the largest bulbs that are firm with no obvious signs of damage or rot. Pay attention to the bloom time, so you can have a mix of early-, mid-, and late-blooming plants. The bloom window in our area will usually be between February and April. Most spring-blooming bulbs prefer light shade to full sun, so a site that gets at
Reliable Spring-Blooming Bulbs:
w Anenome Blanda - Great low growing flowers in blue, white, pink and purple. These do well when planted with other, taller bulbs. w Crocus - Many varieties and color options available. w Cyclamen - Excellent for naturalizing in shaded areas. w Grape Hyacinth - Short, sweet-smelling flowers in purple or white. w Narcissus - There are 11 major divisions within the genus, with hundreds of
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
varieties to choose from in shades of white, yellow, and orange. w Snowflakes - Delicate, drooping white flowers do well mixed with daffodils and is one of the few bulbs that tolerates moist soil conditions. w Tulips - Dutch type tulips do not reliably naturalize because of our lack of cold winters. Lady tulips are a smaller, shorter species that make a habit of coming back each 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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ArtistProfile
Brian Gamel
CASSIE LANGFORD
Lights, Sound, and Action Believing lighting and sound should enhance what is happening on stage, not distract from it, Brian Gamel hopes that what he does as a light and sound designer is for the sake of creating an immersive experience for the audience, not for the sake of highlighting his skills. Sometimes, his style is simple. For a recent production of Puffs at Elm Street Arts Theatre, he mocked the floating candlesticks that light the Great Hall in a Certain School of Magic & Magic by placing brown paper sacks – the kind lunch ladies pack for school field trips – over drop lighting. Other times, his style is more dramatic. For more emotionally riveting scenes, like the ones in Of Mice and Men, he says he wants beams of light to reflect off an actor’s face in such a way that it embodies the emotion and intensity the actor is seeking to portray. Gamel began his theater career in 2004 when he starred as ‘Jack’ in Towne Lake Arts Center’s Jack and the Beanstalk, which led to his involvement in numerous other school and community performances, his favorites being
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musicals. After high school, he decided to pull away from musical theatre and pursue a bachelor’s degree in theater with a focus in production management from Florida State University. After graduating, Gamel accepted the position as production manager for Elm Street Arts Village, formerly Towne Lake Arts Center. Gamel helps Elm Street fulfill their mission to “engage the community with relevant art experiences every day” by coordinating theater productions, scheduling world-class performers for the Lantern Series, and casting vision for the future development of an art complex, which will offer classes in visual arts, cooking, and pottery. Beyond the time he commits to managing productions, Gamel volunteers to direct and design stage productions. He also occasionally auditions for parts because he wants to experience the production from the perspective of the cast and crew, who are all unpaid volunteers. Gamel seeks to ensure that Elm Street is creating an atmosphere where people want to be – an atmosphere where “ordinary people” are inspired to create “extraordinary art.”
Gamel’s work with Elm Street has received recognition from the Metropolitan Atlanta Theater Awards. He and Cassidy Hill won a Board Award for Lighting Design for Spamalot in 2018, and he received five nominations for the 2019 season: Sound Design for Bright Star, Minor Supporting Actor for his role as ‘Daryl’ in Bright Star, and Lighting, Sound, and Set Design for Of Mice and Men. Because a community should have a way to celebrate Christmas past, present, and future together, Elm Street Arts Village invites you to enjoy its annual production of A Christmas Carol, which will run from December 13-24. If you are interested in learning more about upcoming productions, classes, and concerts, visit ElmStreetArts.org.
Cassie Langford is a student in the MFA creative writing program at Reinhardt University, 7300 Reinhardt College Circle, Waleska. 770-720-5582. Reinhardt.edu/ Graduate/MFA-C
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$50,000 Donation Will Benefit CCEF and Cherokee County Special Olympics By Lisa-Marie Haygood
[AcademicLife] All six Chick-fil-A locations across Cherokee County recently banded together to hold the annual Chick-fil-A “Moove It” 5K road race at Etowah River Park. The event drew more than 1,500 registered runners and supporters and is the largest event of its kind in Cherokee County as well as north Georgia. “The event was a way to bring the community together for a fun morning with a focus on healthy habits while supporting
charities close to our hearts,” said Kevin Williams, owner of the Riverstone, Marketplace, and Hickory Flat Chickfil-A locations. Williams also serves as vice president of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. Keith Booth, owner of the Outlet Shoppes Chick-fil-A location, started the race several years ago to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics. “I am proud of the quality and size of the event we all put on. It is great to have our entire Chick-fil-A family on board,” said Booth. The Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF) is a charitable, nonprofit organization
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
dedicated to supporting the students and staff of the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) by promoting teaching and learning as well as celebrating achievements. CCEF is a partner with the CCSD and supported by the Cherokee County School Board. Cherokee County Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics helps bring persons with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected, and given the chance to not only compete, but to also become useful, productive citizens (CherokeeCountySpecialOlympics.org).
Lisa-Marie Haygood is the executive director for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. 770-704-4213. CherokeeCountyEducationalFoundation. org
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Main Street Nails
Treat yourself at Main Street Nail before the holiday rush! Dazzle Dry is the only quick-drying, long-lasting, natural nail care system of its kind. It uses a signature four-step process to strengthen nails, protect against abrasion, dry in just five minutes, and last up to three weeks without the use of UV light. Main Street Nail is a Safe Concept Salon that is Advanced Nail Technician and Medical Nail Technician certified. American owned and operated.
127 E. Main Street Woodstock, GA 30188 770-928-2662 MainStreetNailStudio.com
Plastic Surgery Center of the South
LaVida Massage Canton
Give the gift of “Lyft” this holiday season. Injectable fillers and Botox are perfect for that special someone. Plastic Surgery Center of the South offers several skin procedures such as microdermabrasion, skin pen, microblading, laser hair removal, chemical peels, and much more. They customize skin care regimens to your individual needs. Gift certificates are available.
Give the gift of massage! LaVida’s certified therapists offer tailored massages based on your individual needs. To embrace the season, try a holiday blend of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine in your massage oil, or warm up with a custom hotstone massage. LaVida means life, so start living with LaVida!
120 Vann Street, #150 Marietta, GA 30060 770-421-1242 PlasticSurgeryCenterOfTheSouth.net
6175 Hickory Flat Highway, #180 Canton, GA 30114 770-345-1200 LaVidaMassageCantonGa.com
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Gondolier
Salon • Spa Venéssa Give more than a gift; give an experience this holiday season. Salon and Spa Venéssa’s holiday spa packages will restore balance and bring harmony to anyone on your list. Packages include massage and facial treatments but may be customized with additional salon or spa services. Visit the guest services desk, and your gifts will be wrapped and ready to give.
8516 Main Street Woodstock, GA 30188 770-591-2079 SalonVenessa.com
With the holidays fast approaching, Gondolier’s catering menu is perfect for any gathering! Celebrate by enjoying a taste of Gondolier at your next family dinner or work lunch. No event is too big or too small. Savor authentic Italian, Greek, and American cuisine at your holiday party or event. 10029 Highway 92, Suite 112 Woodstock, GA 30188 770-516-6292 GondolierWoodstock.com
Three Sisters Gifts & Home Accents Make her Christmas merry with BRIGHTON Jewelry from Three Sisters Gifts and Home Accents! You will find the perfect piece of jewelry for every lady on your Christmas list! Select earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, charms, and watches from this complete line of beautifully crafted fashion jewelry. Complimentary gift packaging is always included.
When thinking about gift giving, we want to choose a perfect gift. M&M Mercantile offers many great gift options: A beautifully scented candle to warm the room, a comfy pillow for back support, a handcrafted pottery mug for hot beverages, a tea towel that reminds us of home, or a jewelry holder for precious valuables — just to name a few.
M&M Mercantile Co. 8533 Cumming Highway Canton, GA 30115 678-232-1357 MMMercantileCo.com
6205 Hickory Flat Highway, Suite 106 Canton, GA 30115 770-345-3090 GiftShopCanton.com
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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IMPORTANT
By Ferdinand Yates, Jr., M.D., M.A.
[HealthyLife] When you cannot speak for yourself, you need legal documents that convey your desires. There are appropriate documents that are used for your health care decision-making. A health care agent is who you appoint to speak for you when you’ve had a serious medical incident and cannot speak for yourself, such as if you are in a coma or if you have been deemed “incompetent” by a court of law. In appointing a health care agent (and completing a Health Care Proxy form), you allow a loved one to express your medical preferences regarding serious health care decisions, such as those involving the use of a feeding tube, respirator, or renal dialysis. This is a very good way to let everyone know how you wish to be cared for toward the end of your life. Be sure to complete the forms and give notarized copies to both your health care agent and your doctor. These forms can be obtained from your physician or from the
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Georgia Department of Health website (PutItInWriting.org). A very good way to have a tasteful discussion regarding these documents is to schedule a “proxy party” during the holidays when many family members are often already in town. This allows senior members of the family to let loved ones know what type of medical attention and care they prefer if they are ever unable to speak or reason for themselves. In doing this, the members of the family can all hear the same directions, so the appointed health care agent will have the endorsement by other family members to authorize or refuse treatments as requested by the patient.
Dr. Yates is a pediatrician at Woodstock Pediatric Medicine, 2000 Professional Way, Woodstock. 770-517-0250. WoodstockPeds.com
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Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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in the
limelight
H
olbrook Woodstock has 300 custom designed apartments and 16 state-of-the-art cottages. Their vision is to create, develop, serve, and inspire life-giving residences — buildings of light. They eliminate the many pollutants in society that affect the mind, body, and spirit. They disrupt aging by proving that the wellbeing of an individual can be rejuvenated, repaired, and ultimately thrive no matter what stage of life he/she is in. Holbrook Woodstock does all of this by providing environments that promote purposes of healthy life enrichment, inspiring stimulation of the soul. Residents can enjoy a full services spa with saltwater pools, massage therapy, steam rooms, exercise centers, yoga studios, matchmaker services, multiple farm-to-table restaurants, performance arts centers, music, wine cellars, small business centers to incubate new progressive businesses, full building water filtration systems, UV lighting to kill viruses, and negative ion emission to lift moods. Holbrook Woodstock’s passion is to provide monumental service combined with the latest technology and programs to change lives for the better, whether it be through their Holbrook Expeditions travel club or learning the latest on stem cell research. They are a caring, passionate resource for residents to thrive and become someone they never imagined they could be.
13682 Highway 92 I Woodstock, GA 30188 I 404-458-1171 HolbrookLife.com/communities/holbrook-woodstock/
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Quotables “We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you won’t do harm — yes, choose a place where you won’t do very much harm, and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine.”
“I looked around and thought about my life. I felt grateful. I noticed every detail. That is the key to time travel. You can only move if you are actually in the moment. You have to be where you are to get where you need to go.”
-E.M. Forrester, from Room With a View
-Amy Poehler
“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.” -Nathaniel Hawthorn, from The Scarlet Letter
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” -Lionel Hampton
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“Sunsets, like childhood, are viewed with wonder not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting.” -Richard Paul Evans
Background art provided by Maddalena LoRae, a budding north Georgia painter, who is inspired by the works of Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent Van Gogh. Her other works can be seen on Instagram @PaintingsByMaddie
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Running Across America
Fifty States, Fifty Marathons By Ellen Samsell Salas “It was an adventure. I can’t believe we did this,” says Canton native Ken Locke, who with his wife Amanda has accomplished a mighty feat. Fifty states. Fifty marathons. Together. In only eight years. Amanda downplays their feat saying, “It wasn’t pretty. We didn’t train. We didn’t eat right. We are not fast. We just went out there and did it.” Our attitude was, “let’s enjoy it,” says Ken. With times from four to eight hours, beating the clock wasn’t their goal. Amanda, a paralegal, started running in 2008. Ken, a retired captain with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office (CSO), now with Cherokee County School District Police, had already logged marathons when they started running with a group from the CSO (he has run 66 total). Amanda joked that after one
marathon, she had to do at least one more to be able to call herself “a marathoner.” She has now run 56. Their busiest year was 2016. The couple ran 32 marathons in 32 states, including one seven-day stretch of seven marathons, or 183.4 miles, in seven states — with no injuries. “That was tough,” laughs Amanda. “We would run, finish, hop in the car, and drive to the next.” Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming meant three races in three days. Mississippi and Louisiana? Two in two days. If races were within 800 miles of Canton, they drove. Greater distances required flying. Out on Friday, grab a few hours of sleep, run 26 miles, then (often without even showering) fly back to Atlanta. “We looked for events that could fit into a weekend,”
Ken says. For Alaska, Ken and Amanda splurged, taking vacation time. The couple ran in heat, cold, rain, and sleet. They pushed through 26 miles on the sands of Texas’ Gulf Coast, tackled Kentucky mountains, and the rocks, roots, and mud of a trail run. “It was not a luxury trail,” jokes Ken. But only once, when Ken got heat stroke at mile 23, did either runner quit a marathon. He returned and completed the same race a year later. Amanda has nursed a disconnected ACL, which will require knee surgery in January. Ken and Amanda agree the rewards have exceeded their expectations. They are grateful to have run for charities and to honor veterans. They experienced the excitement of the New York Marathon, seeing humpback whales in Maui, and running past national monuments in Washington, D.C. “We met wonderful people; we saw places we will revisit.” Most importantly, says Amanda, “We did it together.” On August 21 in South Dakota, with Mount Rushmore as a backdrop, they completed their 1,310.94-mile adventure. Celebrating with Marathon Maniacs friends, they cried, and for the 50th time, awarded each other their medals. What’s next? “Maybe visiting each NFL football stadium,” says Amanda. Their advice to other weekend warriors considering taking on this challenge: “Do it. Believe in yourself, and you’ll do it.”
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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VolunteerFamily
E
ach year, Family Life magazines is honored to spotlight a local family who goes above and beyond when it comes to helping their community through volunteer work. Collectively, James (Jim), Clementine (Clem), and Carolyn Baker have been valuable volunteers at MUST Ministries for over 35 years. MUST Ministries is a nonprofit organization that provides help to those in need by offering a range of services including emergency shelter, transitional housing, meals, groceries, clothing, job readiness, and job placement. Clem Baker has been volunteering at MUST Ministries for 18 years, while her husband Jim has been volunteering at MUST for 16 years. After having a stroke two-and-a-half years ago, their daughter, Carolyn, moved in with them and has been volunteering at MUST for a year. The Bakers volunteer at MUST Ministries on Wednesdays and other days if called to fill in. Clem is an interviewer in the client intake area. Before developing health problems, she also volunteered with the MUST Summer Lunch Program for several years. Jim works in the food pantry with five magnificent volunteers who call themselves “The A Team.” Carolyn is a receptionist at MUST’s front desk.
The Bakers clothing and household donations. After several months, Jim moved to work in the food pantry and has been there for almost 17 years.
families and the things that they had taken for granted at home. These teenagers have now graduated into adulthood and are still helping others.
Before her stroke, Carolyn worked as an engineer at Valero St. Charles Oil Refinery in Louisiana, where she volunteered with the United Way and other local charities. In 2016, she was named Volunteer of the Year at Valero St. Charles. During her hospital stay and rehab at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Carolyn’s case manager suggested that she get back out in the community to interact with more people. Since her parents would be there with her, MUST Ministries was a great opportunity to begin volunteering again. Carolyn has enjoyed greeting clients and working with the wonderful Wednesday front desk volunteers.
Over the years, the need for help from MUST Ministries has increased in the areas of housing requirements, rental and utility assistance, and food and clothing. The Bakers have met people who were once clients but have come back to volunteer at MUST. Not long ago, a former MUST housing client brought clients from her workplace to MUST and showed them how to apply for food and clothing assistance.
Jim and Clem inspired their teenage neighbors (from three different families) to volunteer at MUST. Their parents noticed a change in their appreciation for their own
If you are inspired by the Baker family’s story and would like to volunteer or make a donation to MUST Ministries, please visit MUSTMinistries.org for more information.
Clem was inspired to volunteer by an assistant pastor at Kennesaw United Methodist Church, who was also a volunteer for MUST. After Clem told Jim about all the good things that MUST was doing for the community, he decided to visit for a tour of the facilities. While there, he met Dale, Hank, Jamie and Kim. Dale gave him the job of “backdoor ambassador” where he accepted
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Did you know Cherokee County is home to two of the largest and most popular light displays in north Georgia? Holiday Lights at Veterans Park is celebrating its 3rd season.
Holiday Lights of Hope at Hobgood Park presents its 8th annual
The show’s organizers have added several new displays, extended the drive-through tunnels, and reprogrammed all the animated trees and tunnels. The event will once again benefit local charities including Papa’s Pantry, Skills USA, veterans of Cherokee County, and others.
In addition to adding more lights and displays this year, show organizers expanded the Main Street experience and Vendor Village. Santa is available nightly for pictures along with seasonal concessions (including s’mores). Proceeds benefit the Anna Crawford Children’s Center.
This year, guests will enjoy an enormous lighted American flag and animated patriotic pixel tree, along with smaller flags and stars that honor our servicemen and women.
Admission is $20 per car, and season passes are available.
grand holiday light show. This seasonal family-favorite event was voted one of the top 10 Light Shows in Georgia and top 3 walk-through events.
Open nightly at 6:00pm from November 29-December 31.
Holiday Lights of Hope opens nightly at 6:00pm from December 5-23.
Veterans Park 7345 Highway 20 Canton
Hobgood Park 6680 Bells Ferry Road Woodstock
HolidayLightsAtVeteransPark.com Facebook.com/HolidayLightsAtVeterans
HolidayLightsOfHope.com Facebook.com/HolidayLightsOfHope
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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Photos courtesy of John Humphreys
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
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Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breakings and Celebrations
Strongside
110 Londonderry Court, Suite 112, Woodstock 678-735-0563 Health and Fitness
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers 3342 Trickum Road, Suite D, Woodstock 678-401-5772 Health Care
Christine’s Creations, Inc 8838 Main Street, Woodstock 770-591-5944 Home Decor
SPERRY
915 Ridgewalk Parkway, Suite D-433 Woodstock, 678-540-7040 Footwear
Visit the
Shop for gifts at this FREE holiday shopping expo.
December 8, 11:00am-8:00pm Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center 1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
BANK OZK
8770 Main Street, Woodstock 770-592-6292 Bank WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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Advertiser Index Alpine Bakery
Cover, 24-25
Anderson Dental
31
Arthritis & Total Joint Specialists
38
Burns Law Group
27
C & T Auto Service
39
Canes and Cocoa
35
Clean Office Exec
39
Cruise Planners
29, 45
Dentistry for Woodstock DMG Creative
1 39
EconoRides 27 Elm Street Cultural Arts Village 21 Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University 23 Gondolier 48 Holbrook Woodstock
40-41
Holiday Lights of Hope
45
Holiday LIghts at Veterans Park
45
Holly Springs Christmas Parade
41
In Harmony Pediatric Therapy Jingle Mingle
Inside Front 35
Jyl Craven Hair Design Landscape Matters, Inc. Law Office of S. Judson Waites, II, P.C. LGE Community Credit Union
3 27 5 Back Cover
Main Street Nail Studio
41
Masterpiece Framer
33
Midgard Self Storage
32
North Georgia OB/GYN Specialists
Inside Front
North Georgia Vein & Wellness
19
Northside Cherokee Pediatrics
Inside Back
Northside Radiation Oncology Consultants
7
Northside Vascular Surgery
5
Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
13
and Dentistry at Canton Plastic Surgery Center of the South
6
Realtor, Dawn Sams
5
Salon • Spa Vanessa
39
Summit Financial Solutions Woodstock Pediatric Medicine
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Woodstock Family Life | NOVEMBER 2019
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The Providence Group
Inside Back 17
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