Cherokee Life Jul/Aug 2014

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Cherokee Life

features

July/August 2014

EDITORIAL STAFF

08 CRITTERS AND CREATIVITY We visit The Art Barn at Morning Glory Farm

DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINES Mark Wallace Maguire

12 HOOKED ON ADVENTURE Woodstock tennis coach explores the Amazon

LAYOUT AND DESIGN Stacey L. Evans, Mark Wallace Maguire

16 OLD SCHOOL Two veteran educators are passionate about their work 22 SPICE We delve into some of Cherokee’s most enticing wings 30 SAVE THE HORSES Nonprofit has been rescuing equines for three decades 34 TRAVEL Soaking up Sea Island

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Volume 9, Issue 4

CONTRIBUTORS Michelle Babcock, Carla Barnes, Chris Collett, Joan Durbin, Stacey L. Evans, Rebecca Johnston, Meredith Pruden, Therra C. Gwyn

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PHOTOGRAPHER

ON THE COVER Dig into wings from Jerseys Grille.

Sam Bennett

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT Marti Sacks

in every issue

ADVERTISING STAFF

FROM OUR STAFF 6 NEWS & NOTEWORTHY 7 REFLECTIONS 20 HIGHLIGHTS 37 SCENE 38 REFLECTIONS 42

ADVERTISING MANAGER Kim Fowler

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tara Guest

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Paula Milton, Liz Ridley, Becky Optiz

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

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Beth Poirer, Jennifer Hall

Aqua Guard Basements

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North Georgia Audiology

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Bedoe's Bar & Grille

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Northside Hospital - Cherokee

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Benton House of Woodstock

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Northside Hospital- GA Cancer

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Canton Tire and Wheel

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Northside Hospital -

Cherokee Charter Academy

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Cherokee County Arts Council

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Northside Hospital - Sleep

Cherokee County Farm Bureau

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Northside Hospital -

Cherokee Habitat for Humanity

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Towne Lake Primary

City of Canton

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Pinnacle Orthopaedics

5

Darby Funeral Home

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Plastic Surgery Center of The South

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Decorating Den

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Renasant Bank

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Dixie Speedway

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Salon • Spa Venessa

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Edward Jones

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Sosebee Funeral Home

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Fowler Electric

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Sundance Pressure & Seal

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Fresh n Fit

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Superior Plumbing

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Frosty Frog Creamery & Café

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Three Sisters Gifts & Home Accents

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Guardian Angels

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Wellstar

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Hidden Lake Assisted Living

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Woodstock Funeral Home

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Mid City Pharmacy

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Woodstock Market

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North Cobb Spine & Nerve

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Medical Associates of North Georgia

PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Leigh Hall

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Dave Gossett

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EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

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Otis Brumby IIl

GENERAL MANAGER Lee B. Garrett

V.P. ADVERTISING Wade Stephens INFORMATION Cherokee Life is published six times a year by the Cherokee Tribune and distributed to more than 20,000 homes and businesses.

To subscribe, email circulation@ cherokeelifemagazine.com or call 770.795.5001 To advertise, contact Kim Fowler at 770.795.3068 Please send all editorial correspondence to mmaguire@cherokeelifemagazine.com

Cherokee Life July/August 2014

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FROM THE DIRECTOR

What’s on your summer bucket list?

Since January, we’d been waiting for summer.

It arrived on Memorial Day weekend. And the rituals, along with a dose of pandemonium, are underway.

The scent of charcoal smoke is on the breeze. Shorts and sandals emerge after a long hibernation at the bottoms of closets. You can hear the voices of children playing outside through the last slivers of daylight. Lightning bugs punctuate the darkness. Then come the camps. Day camps, sports camps, art camps, Vacation Bible Schools.

Maybe a church event, perhaps a Homecoming or Revival. July the Fourth. Ice cream. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, corn. Cookouts. Pool parties. Beach trips. Braves baseball.

A doldrums of the weeks before school starts again when every mom I know is past the point of losing patience.

And then, after the mad scurry, suddenly – it ends.

Over.

That seems to be the way it goes every summer, especially the older one gets, doesn’t it?

We make a rush of a time meant to be relaxing.

And, trust me, I don’t say this as a cold critic or one who is completely immune.

At the end of summer, I generally find myself bemoaning all the things I wanted to do but didn’t. With that said, this year I have written a summer bucket list to make sure I do not find myself in that state of mind again.

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1. Make homemade ice cream: Growing up, this was a tradition in my family. My parents loved to set our loud rock salt-laden maker on the porch and my grandparents even had a handcranked one. My wife and I half-heartedly carried the tradition on for a few years before it fizzled out last summer. But this summer I am aiming for not one, but at least two bouts of homemade ice cream.

2. Wade in a stream: My family usually goes to Callaway Gardens at least once a summer, and, though I don’t swim, I will dip my feet in Robin Lake. But finding a good stream to wade your feet in is something I miss. I have a couple of fishing spots I’ve discovered here and there, but the key is to find the right amount of depth and current. When you do, there are few things as simply sublime.

3.The non-contact sports: Last year I played horseshoes for the first time at, ironically, an end-of-summer party. I tossed a few games – or is it matches? - and found it to my liking. Why? Well, I don’t really care for croquet or golf. Secondly, you can play horseshoes with a drink in your hand and wear about anything you dadgum want to. (I prefer a Larry Bird T-shirt, seersucker shorts and a straw hat.) I might also give badminton another try. I played it when I was a child with my brother and cousins at my grandparents home and I harbor fond memories of racing back and forth on the thick zoysia grass, trying to hit the shuttlecock while not getting blinded by the sun. Tennis is in the mix too.

As long as it doesn’t bode for broken bones, I am game.

4. Moonlight hike: When I was in my teens and early 20s, I frequently took midnight bike rides. It might sound foolhardy, but if you lived in the right place and knew which vacated roads to ride, it was a rush. I’ve passed the point of nighttime bike rides, but hope to take my son on a moonlight hike. There are few adventures as ethereal to remind one of the greatness of the universe.

5. Fix a fun drink: Folks use summertime as an excuse to make all sorts of interesting drinks. Sun tea, crazy concoctions of Kool Aid, iced tea with a kick, Coke floats and more. I’ve been re-reading “Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread, & Scuppernong Wine: The Folklore and Art of Southern Appalachian Cooking” by my friend Joe Dabney and discovered some great old-timey recipes in there. I think I will pass on the Sumac wine and the Peach Beer, but might give some of the elderberry wines or brandies a shot. (As an aside, if you haven’t read Joe’s masterpiece, I strongly encourage it. It is a prime place to find great recipes and engaging stories.)

So there’s mine. What about you? Have you got a bucket list? If not, I encourage you to make one and if you have any suggestions for me, please drop me a line at mmaguire@cobblifemagazine. com.

Have a great summer.

Best, Mark Wallace Maguire

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news & noteworthy [arts and culture] Woodstock librar y celebrates 50 years The Woodstock Public Library commemorated 50 years of service to the community with a celebration in early June. The two-hour event was open to the public and featured former employees and elected officials.

“Without the public helping us along with donations and using the library, there would be no need for it,” said Sue Stephens, branch manager. “The main thing we want to convey to the public is to show them how the library has been needed year after year, and a way has been made through generous donations of property to build on.”

Stephens said the largest donors to the library since its inception were Woodstock husband and wife Elizabeth Johnston and Smith Johnston Jr. In addition to donating the property for the library, Elizabeth Johnston, who died in December 2013, also served on Cherokee County library boards from 1964 to 1991, including boards for the Woodstock

Public Library, the R.T. Jones Memorial Library and the Sequoyah Regional Library System. Her titles on the different boards included chair, vice chair, corresponding secretary and member.

In 1964, the Woodstock Public Library was the second to open in Cherokee County after joining with Pickens County and Gilmer County to form the regional system in 1958.

In its first year, circulation included about 7,500 items.

But as the community grew and the number of patrons and as the services offered by the library increased, circulation rose to more than 254,000 items and more than 154,000 patrons visited in 2013.

Within Cherokee County, there are six library branches, including Woodstock, Hickory Flat, Ball Ground, Rose Creek, a law library at the courthouse and R.T. Jones Memorial, where the headquarters for the regional system is located.

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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Sue Shaw-Wilder takes children on an educational tour of Morning Glory Farm in Hickory Flat.

Meet Farmer Sue and her

BARNYARD BUDDIES

By Stacey L. Evans | Photography by Sam Bennett

Farmer Sue enthusiastically hops into the driver’s seat of her 1957 Ford tractor. She cranks its clanking engine after we pile into the attached wagon. She gets excited every time she takes patrons for a spin around Morning Glory Farm, even though she has been doing so for over a decade. Wearing a straw hat and purple overalls, Farmer Sue has an incomparable cheery disposition and the sunniest smile this side of a Disney movie. Her positivity and boundless energy are immediately infectious.

Our first stop is the compost piles, and the children on board giggle when they learn that “poop is a good thing!” Our journey continues through a field of glistening green that Farmer Sue deems ‘fourleaf clover heaven,’ past a wild blackberry patch and eventually ends at a vegetable garden. Asparagus, heirloom tomatoes and strawberries thrive alongside artsy sculptures, and Farmer Sue shares tidbits on organic farming.

Morning Glory Farm is an educational farm in Hickory Flat, where children of all ages learn about

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animals, agriculture and get an art lesson. Farmer Sue, also known as Susan Shaw-Wilder, is the owner.

After the tour we stroll over to the colorful Art Barn for today’s lesson: How to paint a chicken. Instructor Angie Hagen gives simple directions for the young artists. Some take a little more creative liberty than others in their interpretation of a chicken, but all produce refrigerator-worthy artwork.

As the paintings dry, we step outside to meet the furry, four-legged and winged members of Farmer Sue’s family.

The children react to the animals with pure delight.

They are enamored, especially with a pair of fuzzy blond ducks, who appear to be smiling back. The baby chicks also elicit rapt attention and several ‘oohs’ and ‘aahhs.’ A robust hen named ‘Vera Bradley’ struts around, quite aware that her pretty pattern is a magnet for curious eyes. She has a regal demeanor, but a soft spot for cuddling. She’s docile as children take turns holding and petting her fluffy frame.

In fact, all the barnyard animals — the goats,

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Above, Meghan Gully, 6, daughter of Neena Gully of Norcross, befriends a donkey. Top right, Marin Brittingham, 4, daughter of Deseree Brittingham of Atlanta, holds Vera Bradley. Right, from left, Foster Downey, 4, son of Lisa Downey of Acworth, and Jac Jones, 4, son of Emily Simons of Woodstock, watch as the baby chicks roam.

Above, from left, Julian Junker, 4, of Atlanta, and Nikhil Gulley, 3, of Norcross, look curiously at a couple of Japanese Silkie hens.

Left, Christian Russell, 7, son of Lori Russell of Canton, has a great time interacting with his new duck pals.

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Morning Glory Farm employee and Canton resident Chelsea Thomas shows Foster Downey, 4, son of Lisa Downey of Acworth, how to pet the donkey.

Below, Art Barn at Morning Glory Farm employee Angie Hagen of Canton loves teaching kids how to paint the farm animals, including this chicken.

donkeys, various fowl, ponies, sheep and more — bask in the attention. They are ready to shine in their five minutes of fame as the incredibly knowledgeable Chelsea Thomas informs us with facts about each creature.

Thomas, an employee at Morning Glory Farm, has a knack for making the facts interesting, as evidenced by the captivated young faces soaking in the information.

The animals are the heart of Morning Glory Farm, and of Farmer Sue. “My parents swear I popped out saying ‘pony, pony, pony’ instead of mommy and daddy,” Farmer Sue said. “They are serious city folk! My mom laughs — she said when I was little I always said I was gonna have ponies in my backyard one day.”

But she didn’t follow that childhood dream right away. She pursued a career in graphic design, until she stumbled across a farm for sale. It was in disrepair, but, on a whim, she made an offer.

“I made a low ball offer just for fun and ooops — I was suddenly a farm owner. It was the craziest, luckiest moment of my whole life,” she said.

She converted the old barn to a studio space for her work, but soon started hosting after school art classes there.

“Well — to say the least ... studio doors closed and the barn doors flew open into a

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whole new way of life!” She started acquiring various animals, and before long parties, school field trips, camps and play dates all started coming together.

Now Sue wakes up every morning to a barnyard symphony, which she adores.

“Roosters crowing, donkeys heehawing, goats and sheep bleating and horses neighing their good mornings—you can’t wake up in a bad mood here!” she said.

After the 7:30 a.m. round of feeding, Sue sets about preparing the animals for the day.

“About 9 a.m. we rattle the gates and yell ‘who wants to party?’ which starts another whole round of the barnyard symphony.

None of my barnyard buddies wants to be left out. The donkeys Ellie, Ernie, April and Jenny stand braying at the gate, demanding to be the first out. Next is the goat pen — Snickers prefers to watch everything from her little barn’s rooftop while Maggie and Shadow saunter to their favorite trees.

Ponies and sheep friends complete the lineup.”

Her unbridled enthusiasm is as alluring to the children as the animals. Throughout the day, they run up to her with questions, to show their artwork, to point out some discovery they’ve made or to have their picture taken with her.

It’s evident the adoration is returned.

“They see the world so differently, it helps keep your views fresh,” she said.

“It makes my heart smile to know that the farm will always be remembered by these families as a magical place.”

A plaque hangs under a ‘wishing arbor’ that reads “Wish It. Dream It. Live It.” It is Farmer Sue’s motto, and even more than an education about farm life, that’s what she wants children to take away from a visit to Morning Glory Farm.

“Every dream is possible. Plant a seed and watch it grow. Be it a seed in your garden that will give you yummy vegetables or the seeds of learning that are planted in your heart ... share something you learned today,” she said.

Perhaps it is a magical place where wishes come true; maybe that’s why fourleaf clovers grow there abundantly.

Jacie Carroll, 1, daughter of Jamie Carroll of Kennesaw, takes her shot at petting the ducks.

INFORMATION Summer camps include art & animals, chicken scratch (creative writing), social skills/social thinking and farm & phonics summer reading programs, in which children read to the animals.

www.theartbarn.com 678-319-0286 July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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By Joel Groover h

Photography by Sam Bennett and courtesy of Randy Hancock

Last fall a gaggle of kids gathered on the court at East Cobb’s Harrison Tennis Center as Woodstock’s Randy Hancock, who has coached tennis in Cherokee and Cobb for the past 20 years, tweaked their crosscourt shots. Most of the kids had no idea Coach Randy had just returned from a two-week adventure in the wilds of South America. His trip to a remote tributary of the Amazon River even included a close call right out of the 1981 movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” “It got a little hairy on the way out,” Hancock said. “The pilots needed to find a stretch of river that was long and straight enough to give the floatplane sufficient time and lift to clear the trees. In this case, they didn’t have quite enough room: On takeoff, the pilot had to use the actual bend of the river to get enough space and speed to lift off. Honestly, we missed the trees by less than 50 feet.”

But for Hancock, a world-class angler whose sponsors include the likes of Daiwa, Pelican, Duckett Fishing, Mojo Sportsgear, SmartShield sunscreen and Boomerang Tool Co., braving a risk or two is nothing new. The 53-yearold adventure junkie routinely travels thousands of miles to rugged and remote destinations—places where fish and wildlife abound, but people are scarce. “This was my fifth trip to the Amazon,” he said. “My dad was in the Air Force, and we lived in the Republic of Panama for 10 years starting when I was eight. So for me, going back to the jungle is sort of like going home.”

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Above, Randy Hancock with one of his gigantic catches on the Amazon. Right, Hancock shows some of his equipment. Opposite page: Hancock coaches one his students, Luke Paxton.

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In addition to coaching tennis players of all ages, Hancock runs Woodstock-based Outdoor Experiences, a business geared toward helping people enjoy and appreciate the natural world. “I work with individuals, families and small groups to help them do things that are adventurous and maybe a bit out of the norm for the average person,” he explained. “I might take clients tarpon-fishing off the coast of Florida, whitewater rafting in North Georgia or on a guided fishing trip in my 20-foot bass boat on Lake Lanier. It’s all about having memorable experiences in the outdoors.”

Hancock’s most recent adventure was a personal trip undertaken with his parents, Earl and Pat, both of whom are avid anglers. “Dad celebrated his 75th birthday down in the Amazon,” Hancock said.

The sights included 12-foot-long, alligator-like caimans swimming uncomfortably close to the jon boats; pods of pink-colored river dolphins cruising for piranha and peacock bass; rainbow-colored flocks of parrots and macaws clustering in treetops; and even a pair of giant river otters—elusive and endangered creatures that can grow five feet in length.

Getting to the remote spot roughly 4,000 miles away took some doing. “I drove to Ocala, Florida, where I picked up my parents,” Hancock said. “We then drove to Miami International Airport, checked into a hotel and got up at about 3 a.m. to catch a flight to Manaus, Brazil.” The next morning, the anglers boarded a floatplane and headed northwest nearly 300 miles into the Amazon River basin.

“We were on Rio Caures, a tributary of the Rio Negro River, which flows into the Amazon River,” Hancock explained. “Rio Caures is large when you’re on it, but it looks very small on a map, because the Amazon is so vast.”

Hancock carried a DeLorme InReach SE satellite communicator

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for the entirety of the journey, so his followers and sponsors were able to track his movements via the Outdoor Experiences Facebook page. The party (eight anglers in all) slept in enclosed pontoon boats, which Hancock describes as “floating bungalows.” Mercifully, they were air-conditioned via a gas-powered generator.

“The average temperature was between 90 and 105 degrees,” Hancock said. “On a typical day, we would get a wake-up call at 5 o’clock in the morning, have breakfast and then head out in the jon boats to fish for the next 10 or 12 hours.”

The trip was more physically demanding than usual as a result of relentless downpours. “It rained every single day, and for most of the day,” Hancock said. “To stand out in the rain for 10 or 12 hours and make literally over 8,000 casts in a week is hard work. But there are so many things to see if a person just opens his eyes and appreciates what’s there.”

Throughout the catch-and-release fishing trip, Hancock focused on one highly prized fish in particular: Cichla temensis, which is among several species of peacock bass found in South America.

“Cichla temensis is the largest and most ferocious in terms of the fight and the strike,” Hancock said. On the last day, he used a 5.5inch “RipRoller” lure by HighRoller Fishing Lure Co. to snag his biggest fish of the trip: An iridescent, 24-pound peacock bass that had attacked the cigar-shaped lure with characteristic tenacity. “A trophy Chichla temensis is considered anything above 12 to 15 pounds,” he said. “The current world record is 29.1 pounds.”

All told, Hancock caught around 150 fish from an array of exotic species, including plenty of toothy pacu and piranha. On its website, Califon, N.J.-based Acute Angling, which organized the trip, describes some of these Amazonian fish in detail. Trairão, for

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example, are considered “fantastic fighters, attacking lures both on the surface and below with gut-wrenching violence … accentuated by prodigious, head-shaking leaps.” The barracuda-like bicuda (B. cuvieri) “are a prized Amazon adversary.

Taking to the air instantly, they keep the fight right where the angler can see it, above the water. Their repeated jumps and bony mouths make landing a big specimen an exceptional angling accomplishment.”

Pirarara, or red tail catfish, are true “river monsters” sometimes weighing more than 100 pounds. “The 30-pounder I caught was small by comparison,” Hancock said.

But one sight on the trip was scarier than even the meanest-looking piranha.

“I flew over some of the clear-cutting in the Amazon, and it is a sad thing,” Hancock said. “That’s part of why I consider my work at Outdoor Experiences so important. Especially in today’s society, when things are moving at such a rapid rate, once in awhile we just have to slow down and appreciate what we have around us. I want today’s youth to learn this and pass it on to the next generation as well.”

JULY 7TH - 11TH

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Cute vs. Creepy!

Ages 5-8 • 9:30am-12:30pm $120 + $10 Supply Fee

Youth Musical Theatre Camps

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Merry ol Land of Oz and More!

JULY 14TH - 18TH

Alice in Wonderland

Junior Musical Theatre Camps

These camps are for boys and girls ages 9-12 and incorporate all areas of the performing arts.

Open to all levels. There will be a stage production the last day of camp.

JULY 14TH - 18TH

Terry Koerner’s Fun Fiber Creaktions Ages 5-8 • 9:30am-12:30pm Ages 8-12 • 1:00pm-4:00pm A fun-filled week of designing, printing, dyeing, batik and weaving with fabrics!

JULY 14TH - 18TH

Kim Bates’ Teen Photo Boot Camp Ages 12-17 • 1:00pm-4:00pm Cherokee Arts Center presents:

FRI., JULY 11TH • 7:30PM CANTON JAZZ AND JOKES featuring GWEN HUGHES Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the Door!

JULY 7TH - 11TH

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JULY 14TH - 18TH Willy Wonka Kids

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WWW.CHEROKEEARTS.ORG July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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It is the

supreme art teacher of the

to

awaken joy in

and

creative expression

KNOWLEDGE - Albert Einstein

By Rebecca Johnston Two veteran public school educators in Cherokee County may have taken divergent career paths in their lengthy careers, but they share a common denominator.

Bascomb Elementary School Principal Ruth Flowers and Teasley Middle School reading teacher Steve Ransom both knew from an early age they wanted to teach.

Both educators have worked in the field

Photography by Sam Bennett

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for more than 30 years, most of those in Cherokee County, and both still love what they do.

Flowers began her career in the classroom in 1970 straight out of college, teaching pre-kindergarten and first and second grade, but eventually went into school administration, working at many schools throughout the county during her decades-long career.

Ransom began teaching in 1979 in his home state of Texas, then in 1992 moved to Cherokee County and took a job teaching reading at Teasley, where he has remained ever since.

“Teaching has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life,” the 56-year-old Ransom said. “I love kids, I have taught all levels, taught third grade, then high school. And then I got to middle school and I was home.

The 20-plus years I have been at Teasley, I have had a phenomenal experience.”

Flowers said she knew when she was four-years-old that she wanted to be a teacher.

“There are days when it is not perfect, but all in all it is a great job, working with the kids. I even get hugs every day,” the long-time principal said. “I have loved school since I started kindergarten at 4, I loved it, and the only thing I ever wanted to be was a teacher, or a ballerina, and that just wasn’t going to happen.

Flowers said growing up in Birmingham, Ala., the oldest of four children, she always loved to teach others, even from an early age. She got her start there, came to Georgia, then did a stint in Mississippi before eventually landing permanently in Cherokee County in 1983.

For Ransom, who plans to retire in about two years after 35 years in the classroom, the decision to teach was also made when he was just a youngster.

“I always tell my kids that when I was little I always liked to play school and I always loved school,” Ransom said. “My brother, sister and I are benefactors of my

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Bascomb Elementary School Principal Ruth Flowers of Marietta has been principal at a variety of schools in her career but has called Bascomb home for the past seven. Above, Flowers chats with Anny Walker of Woodstock (3rd grade teacher at Bascomb), and Walker’s former 1st and 2nd grade student at Bascomb Chase Duval of Woodstock, who’s now a graduating senior at Etowah. Opposite page, 8th Grade Reading teacher at Teasley Middle School Steve Ransom of Woodstock shows off his Teacher of the Year award, which has been proudly displayed above his door since winning the award in 1996-1997.

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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Bascomb Elementary School Principal Ruth Flowers of Marietta is proud of the library at Bascomb and how it helps her students succeed.

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parents encouraging us to get an education.”

Ransom joined the Future Teachers of America when he was in high school, and then went to college as an education major at Midwestern State University in his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas.

“My dad said I would never make a lot of money, but I think if he was alive today he would be pleased with how things are in education now,” Ransom, who now has a master’s and a specialist’s degree, said of better teacher pay.

Ransom’s love of literature is evident as he explains his curriculum for the year at Teasley, where he teaches eighth-graders the core subject of reading.

He mentions several novels and non-fiction works the classes tackle during the school year, but says his favorite book, which he teaches the last quarter of the school year, is “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Flowers took a few years off in the late 1970s and early 1980s to raise her own children, before returning to the classroom, this time in Woodstock.

“In 1983, I decided it was time for me to come back to work. I wanted to get back into teaching, and I went to E.T. Booth, teaching seventh- and eighth-grade math,” she said. “I loved it, I have a minor in math, I taught Title I math and then special ed math, then I moved to Teasley.”

Flowers speaks enthusiastically of many of the principals she worked for, including Randy Martin, who was her assistant principal at Booth, and “when he went to Teasley, I went there, too.” Then after a time of teaching at overcrowded Chapman, where the students she taught were bused to trailers at Booth each day, she moved to the newly opened Boston Elementary with Principal Janice Prather.

“I taught there for six years, and then in 1994 Janice asked me to get my administrative degree and become her assistant principal, and I remained there until 1999,” she said. That was the year Dr. Frank Petruzielo came to Cherokee County, she points out.

“Dr. P wanted me to move to Tippens Elementary,” then considered

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one of the toughest assignments in the county due to the student population’s socio-economic makeup. Her job was to stay at Tippens until it closed and then open the new Hasty Elementary that would replace the school.

After serving as principal there for two and a half years, she got the opportunity to move to Bascomb.

“I don’t know when I plan to retire, but I hope I stay at Bascomb until then,” Flowers said. “It is so nice here, the teachers always do the best they can do.”

For Ransom, when he retires, he still hopes he can substitute teach at the middle school he loves so much. “This is home and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.

Ransom said one of the biggest changes he has seen in his long career is in technology.

“When I began teaching we were running off papers with a duplicating machine. Now look at the technology,” he said.

Another big change is the lack of parent involvement and support, he said.

“When I started, I could call parents, but now that is not the case,” he said. “The kids have not changed. They still want to be part of the group, to be liked. I see a bigger difference in parents.”

Flowers agrees.

“It is so different, teachers are under a microscope now. When I started the teacher was always right, and now teachers have to defend themselves,” she said. “The positive of that is that as teachers we are looking at the individual child. Moving them where they need to be. When I started, not as much. Now it is much more individualized.”

Flowers said when she first started teaching, teachers taught everything, including morals and character.

“Now we are data driven, it is so specialized, there are many data points on every child to mark their progress,” the principal said.

Ransom’s advice to those thinking about teaching as a career is to have a passion and a love for it.

“My advice to someone thinking about it, try it like a field experience, go into a classroom, observe and follow the whole day,” he said. “You better love what you are doing.

For me, I felt like things fell into place, I was called to do it, and never interested in doing anything else.”

Flowers said her advice is for teachers to just enjoy what they do.

“I think the most important thing I can say is have fun, enjoy what you do, let the child know you care about them,” she said.

She called teaching the best thing in the world. “To teach the head, you have to capture the heart. If you get them to care about you, you can teach them almost anything,” Flowers said. “You have to be a real person, make the classroom your family, and build that community in your classroom so they care about it, too.”

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From left, Parent Involvement Facilitator Doris Cardenas of Canton catches up with Steve Ransom of Woodstock and Teasley Middle School Office Secretary Sharon Tatum of Canton.

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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6/24/2014 12:22:49 PM

reflections

BY CHRIS COLLETT

Community pool was once a gathering spot On the day this column is released, it is a mere two weeks until schools are back in session in Cherokee County.

Sure, the students have been out for about two months, but that seems like an eternity from the three months we were out when I was growing up.

Most of my summers were spent at the Canton Golf Club swimming pool.

It was as much about the socializing as it was swimming. On most days it was packed full of kids about my age.

We had a high diving board and a lower one. I haven’t seen a high diving board in years. I would assume they have them somewhere, but not at the Canton pool.

Liability issues have probably played a big part in this.

But in the seventies, us guys would line up one after one and jump off of the high dive, making as big of a splash as we could. This always drew complaints from the parents with small children in the shallow end of the pool as the waves made it very difficult for them to stay afloat.

We played games like gutter ball and marco polo. In essence, we many times took over the pool.

The pool is still there. However, there is not nearly the same number of kids there on a daily basis as there was when I was growing up. Many of our neighborhoods now have their own community pools which no doubt has contributed to this decline. This is just another upgrade to our society that has contributed to the lack of communication skills compared to my generation.

I am going to name just a few that were there with me almost every day. They are Alan Johnson, Brian Groves, Jeff Buchanan, Sally Buchanan, Carol Satterfield, Tracie Teague, Ricky Williams, Roy Reynolds, Dwayne Grier, Lynn Eichelburger, Chrys Eichelburger, Beth Johnston, Jennie Johnston, Jenny Johnson and Steve Short.

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20 Cherokee Life CHL_JA2014_(20) 20

July/August 2014

6/24/2014 12:25:45 PM

Lynn Eichelburger, Chrys Eichelburger, Beth Johnston, Jennie Johnston, Jenny Johnson, Steve Short, Perry Stoner, Cindy Saxon, Judy Manous. Haley Webb, Kelly Harvey, D’Lynn Priest, Todd Bradshaw, Billy Pahl, Paula Paul, Dee Dee Williams, Tommy Brumbelow, Joey Groover, and Denise Williams.

As you can clearly see, just the ones I can think of off of the top of my head would constitute a crowd. And there are others that I can’t really remember. If you were part of this crew and I failed to mention you, please make a comment and remind me.

There were many summertime romances that developed at the Canton swimming pool. Of course we had three months as opposed to two to cultivate those relationships. At that age, it took a boy the first two months just to get things started and get the attention of one of the girls. Then we had a month to enjoy it.

Maybe that is another reason the pool isn’t the social gathering it once was. There simply isn’t time for young love with such a short summer break.

We learned a lot in those days. We learned to share. We learned to communicate. And most of all, we learned that developing relationships took time and courage.

I guess it’s easier now. Courting can be done over the internet. But where is the fun in that?

EDITORIAL CALENDAR

Glam Shades Upgrading the view.

What’s next? We’ve got a great year of editorial coverage slated for Cherokee Life, including Favorite Fall Traditions coming in our Sept/Oct issue and our annual popular Holiday issue coming in November.

Do you have any story ideas?

How about a SCENE photo for us to photograph? Maybe you just want to drop us a line. If so, feel free to at mmaguire@ cherokeelifemagazine.com.

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6/24/2014 12:27:21 PM

Wings

BY JOAN DURBIN AND MEREDITH PRUDEN R PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM BENNETT AND JENNIFER CARTER

Invented in the ‘60s, although exactly where remains in dispute, deep fried, unbreaded

chicken wings coated in a vinegar-based sauce quickly became one of America’s favorite snacks.

Over the years, inventive cooks have raised the bar on the original with a vast array of sauces. The one unchanging factor for modern-day chicken wings is the presence of celery and blue cheese dressing served on the side. There are certain standards that all of the best chicken wings will consistently meet. One is that the kitchen must start with chicken that is absolutely fresh, not frozen.

Another is meatiness. No one enjoys a drum or a flat that yields just a measly bite. To me, it’s not worth getting your fingers all sticky for less than two or three bites from each wing.

The cooking process is also a crucial element. The oil used must be kept hot enough to quickly seal in the surface of the wing to prevent unwelcome grease from seeping into the meat while it cooks.

Finally, it’s the sauce or seasoning that makes or breaks a wing. I give highest marks to kitchens that whip up their own rather than buy gallons of premade sauces wholesale. That level of culinary creativity can make good wings into great ones and forever set them apart from the ordinary.

Here are a handul of wing joints thoughout the county that met all of those criteria.

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6/22/2014 2:02:46 AM

Wings

W

hen Carlo Delpizzo opened his newest restaurant concept, Wicked Wings, in 2013, he was already something of a Canton institution, previously having owned two other concepts in the same location since the start of the new millennium. The change was spurred by a lack of wing options in the area, and, although there is still some Italian fare on the menu, Delpizzo and his crew haven’t looked back since.

With jumbo (read, definitely not puny), never-frozen wings and more than 20 flavors in which to order them (plus some wacky off menu local faves), the fresh drums and flats at Wicked Wings come in quantities of five, ten, 15, 20 and 25 regular or boneless

Wicked Wings

options. Plus, you can feel free to wash them down at the full bar or even order online to have them delivered straight to your door.

We tried the Wicked, made with blended, roasted habaneros and other secret ingredients that were, put simply, melt your face off hot. The sauce has serious chunks of peppers interspersed, and the bright orange hue should serve as a warning to hot sauce wimps that these wings are not for the faint of heart.

For the less adventurous carnivore, the BBQ Chipotle Citrus features a scrumptiously tangy sauce and a little bit of heat that starts ooey gooey sweet and finishes with a lingering kick.

Two down and 19 (or so) flavors to go!

3760 Sixes Rd. Ste. 136 Canton, GA 30114 770-720-0984 www.wickedwingscanton.com

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Top, the BBQ Chipotle Citrus Wings. Right, Joel Parlin, General Manager of Wicked Wings, boasts a full menu, which includes not only their 21 varieties of wings, but also house favorites like this generously portioned Cuban sandwich. Right, top, wings with the ‘Wicked’ sauce on them.

6/22/2014 2:03:53 AM

Wings

Jason Reith, operations manager at Jerseys Bar and Grille with a plate of wings. Left, a plate of the goods, including Sweet Thai and Six Alarm wings.

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Cherokee Life July/August 2014

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6/22/2014 2:06:24 AM

Wings

O

wned and operated by Woodstock residents Sue and Jay Whiteside, Jerseys serves only fresh jumbo wings. Partially cooked in hot oil every morning, as orders come in the wings are finished in the fryer, then tossed in one of 16 house-made sauces.

“Our sauces range from the ultra-hot to the not-so-hot,” Sue Whiteside said. “We also offer six sauces that are just flavorful with no heat. All sauces are made in-house with secret recipes.”

The hottest is six alarm, which is followed in intensity by diablo and screamin.’ Still hot, but not quite as much so, are flavors like jerk and spicy ginger soy. In the mild range, try sweet Thai and Jerseys signature sauce, which won a People’s Choice award at 2012 Wingfest.

“Jerseys Signature Sauce is a favorite of those who like hot wings, but it is also enjoyed by those who normally steer away from spicy food,” Sue said.

Some others include honey citrus, teriyaki and Sue’s favorite, Gulf Coast gold. “It may not be hot, but in my opinion, it still has a little kick. It is a rich, thick sauce that can best be described as smoky honey mustard.”

Wings are a big part of Jerseys’ sales on a daily basis, but on Tuesday they take center stage when Jerseys offers a buy six, get six free deal.

“We are almost giving them away at cost! This is a dine-in only special that is offered every week, and it occurs on the same night we host bingo. It is a winning combination,” Sue said.

Jerseys Sports Bar & Grille

6426 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock (770) 790-5740 www.jerseysgrille.com

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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6/22/2014 2:07:05 AM

Wings

Above, teriyaki lime chicken wings. Right, Executive Chef Jeff Ross.

L

ike many places on our list, Sixes Tavern has an extensive menu of American food with enough choices to keep everyone happy.

But if you want a meaty wing, cooked just right with a sauce that will tickle your palate, Sixes is the place to find it.

“What our customers like best about our wings is they are fresh, never frozen,” said Michael Ray, the restaurant’s general manager.

“We use only the jumbo wings so they are very generous, plump and juicy.”

Sixes uses a two-stage cooking process to ensure the wings are thoroughly cooked, and all sauces are made from scratch, using fresh ingredients whenever possible.

Currently the kitchen offers just eight different wing flavors — mild, medium, hot, radioactive, spicy BBQ lemon pepper, spicy teriyaki and tequila lime. The radioactiveflavored wing garnered rave reviews at a Wingfest event two years ago, Ray said.

Look for more flavors to come.

“We are constantly developing and testing new sauce recipes,” Ray said.

Wings are definitely a signature item here.

“Just come in on most any Thursday when we have our wing special and see a restaurant full of wing lovers,” Ray said.

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Sixes Tavern

3568 Sixes Road, Canton (770) 345-2939 www.sixes-tavern.com

6/24/2014 12:28:34 PM

H

ow does a backyard cook go from weekend griller to award-winning pit master with three successful barbecue joints and counting? Equal parts creativity and boundary pushing with just a dash of dumb luck, according to Canton resident and Bub-Ba-Q owner William “Bubba” Latimer.

Since 2004, Latimer, his wife Shannon (and the couple’s extended Bub-Ba-Q family) have been kicking butt and taking names as they open new locations, appear on Food Network and Discovery channel programs, and clean up at competitions—even landing one of only a handful of spots at the 2013 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue.

The secret sauce to Latimer’s wings isn’t really a sauce at all.

“Everybody in the world has wings,” he said. “And we all start with the same thing.”

From there, though, everything changes at Bub-Ba-Q, where they begin with their signature rub before letting the wings rest for up to 48 hours. Then it’s on to the smoker with some white oak before frying to order.

The result? Tender, fall-off-the-bone goodness that will have you coming back for more. We tried the Hot & Sweet wing, a succulent blend of smoky infusion, crispy, slightly charred skin with a house made sauce that has just the right amount of zing. Other flavors include Mild, Medium, Hot, Mustard and Sweet, and we can’t wait to go back and sample them all!

Wings

Bub-Ba-Q serves great meats, including their zesty wings.

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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6/22/2014 2:22:06 AM

Wings At the 2013 Jack Daniels World Championship Invitation, Bub-Ba-Q owner William Latimer of Canton, right, got all the participants to sign a Whiskey Barrel top to commemorate the event. He’s also holding a plate of his delicious Roasted Sweet and Spicy wings.

Bub-Ba-Q

10020 GA 92 Woodstock, GA 30188 678-402-1662 www.bub-ba-q.com

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6/24/2014 12:29:28 PM

Safe pasture Nonprofit organization in northeast Cherokee rescues horses, provides them shelter and care

By Michelle Babcock | Photos by Sam Bennett

When Cheryl Flanagan was a young girl, she always dreamed of having a horse of her own.

Now at age 66, she can reflect on 30 years of caring for equine animals in need.

Flanagan has been rescuing horses for three decades now, providing food, medical care and a safe pasture for the animals at Northwind Equestrian Center, a 50-acre farm in northeast Cherokee County where the Save the Horses shelter operates.

“They’re all individuals. Just like with people, they all have their own story,” she said. “We try to take in the ones that may go to an uncertain fate. By bringing them here, we know their fate.”

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6/22/2014 2:27:35 AM

Save the Horses owner Cheryl Flanagan of Canton is always checking on her horses and animals, making sure they all receive love and attention throughout the day.

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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6/22/2014 2:28:23 AM

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On a warm early summer morning a few volunteers are doing what they do most days, feeding the 67 horses cared for at the farm.

The nonprofit shelter operates entirely on donations and relies on volunteers to help run the massive operation.

Save the Horses volunteer Dawn Margis started working on the farm in June 2013, and after a year at the equestrian center, decided to start her own horse farm with some of the rescued animals.

“It did not take long to fall in love with them,” Margis said. “It has saved my life.”

When Margis was 12 years old, in 1973, both of her parents died during a family vacation, she said.

“My two brothers and I were not allowed to grieve,” Margis said. “Save the Horses is the place that has helped me… I believe God led me there.”

Margis and her husband were planning to open their own farm in Ellijay in July or August, bringing some of the horses from the Cherokee farm with them.

Flanagan tries to adopt out as many horses as possible, acting as a kind of foster home for many of the animals, she said.

“A lot of people volunteer, and then they decide they want horses and a farm,” Flanagan said. “That’s where a lot of the horses go. And it’s great, because it’s not just people coming in off the street, you know them.”

The farm serves as a horse and human rescue, offering healing to both.

Foster and adopted children can visit the equestrian center as part of the Barn Buddies program, Flanagan said, offering them an opportunity to connect with the big mammals.

“Probably, the majority of the kids have an attachment disorder,” she explained.

“They’ve lost everything, and I think they can really communicate with these horses.”

Flanagan said when the children form bonds with horses, they can begin healing.

“When you’re with a horse, you’re really in the moment, everything else is gone,” Flanagan said. “Horses will make you be very honest, they’ll let you know if you’re doing something wrong.”

The farm also welcomes children and teens who are in juvenile court, and Flanagan said the horses are able to detect what the children are feeling.

“Horses can tell if you’re lying… If you’re nervous, they’re going to be nervous.

They’re non-verbal communicators,” Flanagan said. “The horses are lie detectors.”

Horses with severe medical ailments are usually sheltered for life at the farm, supported by the nonprofit fundraising arm of Save the Horses, the Horse Rescue, Relief and Retirement Fund Inc. The cost to house and care for the horses and other animals is great, Flanagan said,

Cherokee Life July/August 2014

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6/22/2014 2:30:09 AM

with food alone costing $10,000 to $12,000 a month.

But Flanagan said it is worth the work to give the animals a second chance at life.

She rescued her first horse in the 1970s. It belonged to a neighbor in Florida, she said.

“In two years, it came to my house seven times. They couldn’t catch it. It would run to my house,” she said. “They would chase him, and chase him, and chase him, and after chasing him for several hours, they were angry.

So when they caught him, they’d beat him up.

They’d hit him and slap him and yell at him.

And I mean, you’re not going to want to be caught if somebody does that to you.”

Flanagan offered to buy the horse from her neighbor, and they finally agreed.

Each of the 67 horses has a unique story, and many at the shelter have special medical needs.

Some of the horses at the shelter have cancer, others have been badly abused, and some deal with many ailments at once.

“I have a mare in the barn, I’ve had her since 1996, she’s the most abused horse I’ve ever had,” Flanagan explained. “I don’t know what she could’ve done to make anybody want to do this to her, but they wrapped her legs in barbed wire and dragged her behind the tractor.”

The same horse later developed cancer, and had one of her eyes removed. Over time, she slowly went blind in her remaining eye, Flanagan said, but still enjoys running in the pasture.

“She does really good,” Flanagan said. “She would never do anything to hurt anybody.”

Some of the animals Flanagan took in over the years were race horses, abandoned by their owners when they developed medical problems or stopped earning money in races.

Before moving to Georgia in 1996, Flanagan lived near a horse racing track in Tampa, Florida.

“I found out with race horses, it’s all about money,” Flanagan said. “The horses race for a few months, and if the horse is not making money, they’re not going to bring them to the track and spend the money. So they leave them behind. And we started taking them, and that’s how I ended up with so many.”

When she moved to Georgia, Flanagan left the horses from her Florida farm with adoptive families.

“Every girl wants a horse, so it was easy,” she said with a laugh, “once you convince the parents.”

Other horses Flanagan saved from illegal slaughter houses, or adopted from families who couldn’t afford to take care of them any longer.

The farm also houses donkeys, mules, ponies, dwarf horses, roosters, chickens, goats, ducks, dogs, a pig and a lamb— many of which were adopted by the farm after local animal control picked them up.

Flanagan said as a little girl, she always wanted a horse. Now she has dozens.

Information: www.SaveTheHorses.org

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July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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6/22/2014 2:30:56 AM

The sanctuary of

Sea Island The recently opened The Inn at Sea Island offers a more budget-friendly option for vacationing at this coastal treasure

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6/22/2014 2:34:56 AM

We slide our kayaks onto the soft bank and set out to explore. The gentle waters had left behind a landscape of rippled sand and a treasure trove of shells. As we traverse the sandbar, our guide points out wildlife — a crab scurrying to the water, birds pecking at the debris — and shares his vast knowledge of this stretch of Georgia’s coast. In the distance a heron gazes into the ocean, taking in the tranquility of the scenery just as I am, reflecting on the peacefulness such an environment inspires. That sense of appreciation and preservation of natural habitat is what gives Sea Island its charm. Though it has all the amenities expected of a modern, first-class posh resort, its grand architecture, embraced by sweeping live oaks and warm Southern hospitality, gives it an old-world feel.

This little slice of heaven has been a favorite among generations of well-heeled families, dignitaries and celebrities for over 85 years. Now, the recently opened The Inn at Sea Island, which is a five-minute drive from the resort’s main entrance, offers a more affordable option for budget-conscious families. (Current rates start at $155 a night).

The Inn is modeled after the signature classical Mediterranean design seen throughout Sea Island of arches and red-tiled roofs, but with a more casual interior. The hotel has cozy rooms and a chic outdoor seating area near the pool.

Other amenities include continental breakfast, a workout room and club storage for golfers. A shuttle provides complimentary transportation to and from the resort’s other properties. If you prefer to drive, your room key serves as your pass through its gated entrance.

Guests at the Inn may enjoy Sea Island’s restaurants, activities and expansive grounds. (However, there is an extra fee per day for admission to the Beach Club resort, which grants access to the beach).

The options for leisure and adventure are not only abundant, but exceptional in quality and experience.

The spa, which earned a Five-Star designation in Forbes Travel Guide, envelops you in serenity as soon as you step into its lush waiting room. The tree-filled atrium has inviting chaise lounges that sit alongside flowing water. In addition to a steam room, sauna, heated whirlpool and huge heated indoor pool, the

spa has an intriguing outdoor labyrinth. A massive fitness center is also located within the spa facility.

(For the ultimate in pampering, I highly recommend the supremely divine Spiced Fusion Treatment, especially after an active day. The spice-based treatment, inspired by healers in Bali, begins with a scrub made with the root of ginger. Next is a soak in a clawed-foot tub filled with essential oils and rose petals, followed by an hour-long Balinese massage.)

Sea Island’s skeet shooting, tennis lessons and golf lessons are taught by consummate professionals.

Fishing, kayaking and salt marsh expeditions are led by knowledgeable guides. Horseback riding along the beach is an invigorating and breathtaking experience.

The sporting club and lodge Broadfield offers a variety of seasonal hunting, fishing, sporting and organic culinary opportunities, including such unique experiences as falconry.

Sea Island also has a few signature traditions that add to its charm and create lasting memories for guests. The wildly popular Bingo night is a classy affair, with a dash of fun. Dinner jackets are required for the gents and the ladies dress up as well. The longtime host incorporates responses and callbacks with certain letter and number combinations that regular participants join in with.

Or you may want to venture over to the English country manor known as The Lodge to sip on a mint julep and watch the sun set as a bagpiper dressed in traditional kilt plays on the manicured golf course overlooking Saint Simons Sound. Later in the night,

By Stacey L. Evans Photography courtesy of Sea Island

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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6/22/2014 2:35:43 AM

Getting there: Sea Island lies off the southeastern coast of Georgia, about a five-hour drive from Cherokee. From Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta Airlines services the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, fourteen miles from Sea Island. The resort is halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, and is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from both cities’ airports. Four miles away, McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport welcomes private aircrafts.

Golf: m Three 18-hole championship courses. The Seaside Course, home to the PGA TOUR’s McGladrey Classic, is a links-style course with stunning ocean vistas. The Plantation Course winds through marsh and forest, and the Retreat Course offers a dramatic and challenging design cultivated by Davis Love III and Mark Love. m More than 10 resident PGA pros call Sea Island home. m Instructors at the Golf Learning Center help golfers of all skill levels improve their game through personalized, hands-on expertise.

Dining options: Sea Island boasts the only Forbes five-star rated restaurant in Georgia, the Georgian Room, and all options at the resort are on par with its culinary excellence. Not to miss: Tavola, an inviting Italian restaurant that features an open-air pizza kitchen. The food is superb and the atmosphere is both refined and relaxed. Also don’t miss out on the fresh bread and amazing cookies (the melt-in-your-mouth chocolate immediately won my heart) available in the restaurants and The Market, a shop just a short distance from The Inn.

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The Spa at Sea Island.

get cozy with your date and submit your requests for a lively round of dueling pianos at The Cloister’s Clubroom. With its elegant crystal chandeliers hanging from an equally elegant ceiling, golden walls and grand pianos, you’re living the high life in the jazz age.

Or you can relax in one of the luxuriously designed rooms: Kick back with a smoke in the well-appointed Cigar Lounge. Relax on a comfortable couch in the Solarium, bathing in the sun that filters through its numerous tall windows. The premier Men’s Locker Room, known for its vast spread of food, is a must for male guests.

And for golfers, the resort boasts three 18-hole championship courses.

The island offers plenty of activities for kids of all ages as well. Camp Cloister keeps children ages 3 to 14 engaged in nature discoveries, games, crafts and outdoor activities. Dozens of other activities range from cookiemaking classes to survival skills after dark. Teens have options specially catered to them as well.

INFO: 1-888-974-8078 or InnAtSeaIsland.com

Cobb Life Summer 2014

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6/22/2014 2:36:45 AM

ighlights A closer look at events happening in Cherokee this season DIXIE SPEEDWAY KICKS OFF 45th YEAR>>> Woodstock’s Dixie Speedway kicks off its 45th racing season May 3 with races every Saturday night through October.

Special race events include: May 10: 2nd Annual Ray Cook Spring Nationals $,6000 to win Super Late Model plus a full race program May 24- 45th Anniversary Celebration- DEMO DERBY plus a full race program May 31- Bill Ingram Memorial $3,000. to win Super Late Model plus a full race program June 7, 14 15 21- Full Race Program June 28- Independence Day Celebration - COCA COLA FIREWORKS DISPLAY plus a full race program.

The speedway is located at 150 Dixie Drive in Woodstock.

Information: http://www.dixiespeedway.com 770.926.5315 THE ARTIE SHAW ORCHESTRA>>> Enjoy swinging jazz under the direction of Matt Koza. Time-tested tunes, true to the Shaw legacy. When and where: May 8, 7:30 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University, Waleska.

Tickets: $35, adults, $30 seniors and students, $20 children under 12. More Info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt. edu RUMPLESTILTSKIN>>>The venerable Brothers Grimm classic presented by the Atlantic Coast Theatre for Youth.

This production makes fine use of masks and antics from Commedia Del’Arte (Italian Renaissance Theatre) along with audience participation to tell the story of the mysterious man who can spin straw into gold. When and where: May 11 at 3 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University, Waleska. Tickets: $15, adults, $10 seniors and students, $5 children under 12. More Info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt.edu WHOSE LINE IS IT, WOODSTOCK?>>> You know the premise. Bring all suggestions (and the kids) and play along with the iThink Improv Troupe in May on the Elm Street stage. Family-friendly humor. When and where: May 16, 17, 23, 24 at 7:30 p.m. City Center Auditorium, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. Tickets: $10 in advance online (ages 2 and up) $12 at the door. More information: 678.494.4251 Box office hours: Monday - Friday 1 - 6 p.m. and 30 minutes prior to show times. Online: http://www.elmstreetarts.org THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG SOCIETY JAZZ BAND>>> Founded during the Louis Armstrong Centennial Celebration, this musical society is dedicated to the sounds of New Orleans and preserving and promoting same. The performers are some of the most respected and versatile players in the Big Easy. When and where: May 17, 7:30 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University, Waleska. Tickets: $35, adults, $30 seniors and students, $20 children under 12. More Info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt.edu

July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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Derby Day at Rock Barn

Held in conjunction with the running of the Derby at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Day at the Rock Barn is the Historical Society’s largest fundraiser and a tribute to the Rock Barn’s racing history. This entertaining event features gourmet food, open bar, silent auction, pony pull betting, bourbon tasting and a competitive hat parade and contest.

1. From left, Frank and Micki Farley and Sandra and Bill Henry. 2. From left, Susan Vickery, Regina Haslan, Tammi Loggins and Jennifer Bagwell. 3. From left, Will Carlan, Sarah Shearouse and Susan Shearouse. 4. Jessica Carter and Sandy McGrew.

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July/August 2014 Cherokee Life

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July/August 2014

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6/22/2014 2:57:59 AM

reflections

BY CARLA BARNES

Check the expiration date...

It all started with a social media post by a friend stating she had never made deviled eggs. Her concern was that somehow this would cause her to have her Southern card revoked because this classic hors d’oeuvre was absent from her potluck repertoire.

Her post made me realize that I too had never made deviled eggs, although I have certainly consumed my share made by many of the South’s best cooks. I shared this news with my father and we made a date to make them over the Memorial Day weekend when I came home for a visit.

The day came, the eggs were boiled, sliced and hard-boiled yolks pulled out for assembly. I texted one of my oldest friends living in Macon to get her mother’s recipe. My father laid out an unopened container of mayonnaise and I proceeded to whip up a major achievement with my nine-year-old daughter close by — not to eat the eggs, but to assist. She was a little overeager with the paprika at the end, but they looked like they were straight from the pages of the ‘Southern Living’ cookbook as I took their picture to post later on Facebook.

I tasted the egg enjoying every savory bite. My brother and father followed suit as we loaded our plates and headed to the dining room for our feast.

The three of us had consumed at least two servings each by the moment my sister-in-law regretfully informed us that the expiration date of the mayonnaise was 2009. Needless to say the next hours were pivotal as the three of us wondered if we could get the group rate at the hospital emergency room and the others around the table congratulated themselves that they do not eat eggs or mayonnaise. Our nervous laughter was the music to cover our ultimate fear something big was going to happen and my mother and father commenced to throw out all of their condiments certain that the old mayo was not the only offender on the refrigerator shelves.

I am happy to report there were no trips to the hospital that night and we all learned a very valuable lesson about

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checking the expiration dates on the foods we eat.

In life, expiration dates are important too. For instance there are quite a few things we leave on our internal “soul shelves” far beyond the time they should remain. Many people display their “shelf” where everyone can see. Things like anger or pain are easy to see in most people especially our loved ones. On my own personal shelf you will find fear.

Fear has been my go-to issue for so long I wonder if it has ever been off the shelf, but just pushed out of view. I think of all the times that it prevented me from taking a chance or shattered my confidence — making me a fertile ground for constant worry.

Recently I re-read Maya Angelou’s poem “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” after she passed away in May. It made me think about the practice of clipping a bird’s wings when they are a house pet to limit their ability to achieve full flight and thus prevent various injuries when they attempt to fly in captivity. How closely this applies to the individual holding onto to something that ultimately causes them to be unmovable to the next point in their lives. I certainly resemble a bird with the clipped wings at times. I can fly from surface to surface, but restrict myself from utilizing my full wingspan.

Wouldn’t it be tremendous to put an expiration date on those things that ultimately weigh us down and prevent our flight? Can we ever be truly free?

Freedom is extremely important to me. I look around and see the sacrifices made on my behalf by those people who are close to home — my parents and ancestors, and beyond — those countless veterans, people who have championed civil and human rights, and all the important figures in history who made the decision to advance what we think of when we think on what it means to be free. Within the pages of history these heroes put themselves in foreign or domestic situations willing to do whatever it took to promote our collective need to be people without clipped wings.

The lesson to me is that we should actively check those expiration dates on the things inside of us and find the courage to fly.

Cherokee Life July/August 2014

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