Cherokee Life Sept-Oct 2017 by Otis Brumby III

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4 Cherokee Life

September/October 2017 Volume 12, Issue 5,

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Lee B. Garrett

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Wade Stephens EDITORIAL STAFF

DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINES Mark Wallace Maguire

WHAT’S INSIDE 8 SPICE Tailgating tips from some of Cherokee’s top grillers 16 CHANGING IT UP The Chamberhouse prepares for a makeover 20 HEALTH AND FITNESS Coping with breast cancer 26 FALL ACTIVITIES Things to do this fall in Cherokee 36 AUTUMN ALES Cherokee brewhouses gear up for the season

in every issue FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY

HIGHLIGHTS SCENE

REFLECTIONS

46 50

ASST. DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINES LaTria Garnigan

EDITOR Rebecca Johnston CONTRIBUTORS Sampson Jenkins, Kayla Elder, Madison Hogan

PHOTOGRAPHER Erin Gray Cantrell, Jennifer Carter

LAYOUT AND DESIGN LaTria Garnigan, Mark Wallace Maguire

PROOFREADER Nicole Price

ON THE COVER:

ADVERTISING STAFF

Photo by Erin Gray Cantrell

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Makenna Moore of Canton

Paula Milton

42 TRAVEL A Southern gal heads West

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tara Guest

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 770-Arborist.....................................................................................51 A New You Skin & Body Clinic....................................................19 Aqua Guard Basements................................................................46 Canterfield of Kennesaw.................................................................6 Canton Theatre................................................................................35 Canton Tire and Wheel ................................................................38 Carriage Kia of Woodstock..........................................................48 Cherokee UPICKEM Football Contest.....................................40 Cherokee County Arts Council..................................................44 Cherokee County Farm Bureau....................................................6 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta...................................................3 Darby Funeral Home.....................................................................32 Dixie Speedway...............................................................................39 Downtown Canton........................................................................33 Electrolysus By Vanessa................................................................35 Fields of Faith...................................................................................47 Fowler Electric.................................................................................46 Frosty Frog Creamery & Café......................................................11 Horizon at Laurel Canyon............................................................34 Image Maids . ..................................................................................30 Medical Associates of North Geoergia...................................18 Mid City Pharmacy.........................................................................35

North Georgia OB/GYN Specialists..........................................28 Northside Cherokee Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine....41 Northside Cherokee Pediatrics..................................................13 Northside Heart..............................................................................31 Northside Hospital - Cancer Institute......................................15 Northside Hospital - Cherokee..................................................52 Northside Vascular Surgery........................................................23 Perimeter North Family Medicine............................................45 Pinnacle Orthopaedics.................................................................25 Plastic Surgery Center of The South........................................30 Provino’s................................................................................................5 Reinhardt University ....................................................................29 Reinhardt University - Falany Performaning........................44 Salon • Spa Venessa.......................................................................32 Soleil Laurel Canyon.........................................................................7 Southeast Swimwear....................................................................35 Superior Plumbing............................................................... 47 & 49 Three Sisters Gifts & Home Accents.........................................11 Towne Lake Primary Care............................................................22 Wellstar.................................................................................................2 Woodstock Funeral Home...........................................................38

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Becky Opitz Ginny Hrushka, Tracy Hoopingarner, Jill Abbott

GRAPHICS COORDINATOR Beth Poirier

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jennifer Hall, Carlos Navarrete

PRODUCTION CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Dave Gossett 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 Paula Milton at 770.905.4546 Please send all editorial correspondence to rjohnston@cherokeelifemagazine.com

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5 FROM THE EDITOR By Rebecca Johnston

ANGELS AMONG US

In February I got news that no one wants to hear: I was diagnosed with breast cancer. That began a journey that has been filled with uncertainty, fear, worry, hope and joy. Looking back over the last few months, despite everything, I feel blessed. Blessed that the cancer was detected early and that I had great doctors and diligent care. Blessed that my prognosis is good and that my faith is there to carry me through whatever lies ahead. And blessed by those who are helping me on my journey, my friends, my family and those who reached out to me who had been down that road before. I think of them as my angels, people who had been through what I was going through and were there to help me, reassure me and give me hope. I believe God put those people in my path, sent them my way just at the time I needed them most. One of those angels was Jodi Prather Sears. At just age 39, months short of even being the age when a mammogram is needed, she found a lump in her breast while showering. Only weeks before my own surgery, she had the exact operation I would need. I reached out to her for advice, never even imagining the support and love, as well as the sharing of her faith, that I would receive from Jodi. Jodi, who has chronicled her story on Facebook as part of her outreach to help others with breast cancer, was under the care of the same two doctors I was using, although both of us arrived at our decision of what surgeons to use through quite different routes. When I called her up and asked her advice on what I might need during my recovery, she went into full throttle, shooting off lists of items to make the recuperation time easier. She emailed me suggestions, was there when I needed her and never failed to make me smile and breathe a little easier. But perhaps the best thing she did was to send me a special surprise present from Pinked Perspective, a faith-based organization in Maryland offering hope to those facing a breast cancer diagnosis. One of the things they do is send out boxes to women who are having a mascetomy. When my box arrived, I was not sure what it was or who it was from. But it only took me a minute to realize that

Jodi had it sent to me. Inside was all sorts of items, from soap to pink pajamas that button down the front, to pillows for riding in the car, to a pink notebook to blog about the journey. There was also a daily devotional book that immediately became a part of my routine each day. I already had one, but I added another and those words really helped see me through. Nancy Lathem Sams was another breast cancer survivor who helped me along my way. Her sister and my best friend, Jeannie Lathem Adams, died just a few short years ago from breast cancer. Nancy helped me see that there was hope for me, that she survived and hopefully I would too. We both had Jeannie in our hearts, and I know Jeannie was watching over me as well. The lessons I learned from Jeannie, who was always a beacon of courage and graciousness, helped see me through. Nancy has a true gift of helping those who are diagnosed with breast cancer. There are others, each special and dear to me. I just want to share a small part of my journey to remind about the importance of regular mammograms and check-ups. In this issue we offer some advice on breast cancer from the experts. What I can personally attest to is that early detection can save your life or at least offer more hope for recovery and survival. Being diagnosed with cancer is truly a journey. But what each of my angels shared with me and what I have found to be true is that it can also be a blessing. A stronger faith, a greater appreciation of each moment of each day, and a new attitude not to sweat the small stuff are all part of my journey. What I have gained is far greater that what I have lost. Blessings indeed.

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6 [NEWS & NOTEWORTHY]

Membership is a great value....

Pie Provisions outfits bakers Pie Provisions, the newest brand from Pie Bar in downtown Woodstock, launched in June by owners Lauren and Cody Bolden. The “do-it-yourself” pie baking business model offers individuals baking essentials, tips and ingredients to provide everyone the know-how to make a high quality pie in the comfort of their home. The featured item with the launch is a Pie Crust Mix based on the recipe and ingredients used in the couple’s well-known pie shop. The mix is made up of organic pastry flour for easy workability from the oldest continuously operating mill in the country based out of Pennsylvania, non-GMO pure cane sugar for a tender dough and premium sea salt to elevate the crust’s overall taste. Each Pie Crust Mix contains

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enough dry ingredients to make one double crust or two single pie crusts. Items sold through Pie Provisions include a bench scraper, cherry wood French rolling pin handcrafted by Vermont Rolling Pins, pastry cutter, micro zester, pastry blender and pie server. A pie-based monthly subscription box through the “Pie-O-Neer Club” will be added this fall. They will be sold on a one, six or 12 months at a time basis. Pie Provisions items are available at pieprovisions.com, at Pie Bar in downtown Woodstock and in several local markets. For more information about Pie Provisions, contact Cody Bolden at hello@pieprovisions.com or visit Pie Bar at 8720 Main St. in Woodstock.

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TAILGATING TRADITIONS written and photographed by Kayla Elder 8

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Grill Master - Brandon Remy of Woodstock Grab the charcoal and a silver spatula, light up the grill and throw on some meat — it’s tailgate season in Georgia. Whether it be fall or summer, the key person at every tailgate is the grill master. Every hamburger, hotdog and piece of chicken is cooked to perfection on the griller’s watch. Throw on some vegetables in foil as a garnish and you are set with an entree of champions. Pair it with a cold local brew such as Reformation Brewery’s Jude or Sweetwater Brewing Company’s 420 and the menu is near completion. But to score the touchdown with your team, you have to bring in the sides. The sides can make or break this weekend event, so it is imperative to find complementary and delectable pairings. Platters of

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11 fresh vegetables are OK and chips are good for light snacking, but easy homemade items are key. Foods with a little kick get the crowd ready for the game. Fan favorites include buffalo chicken dip, jalapeño poppers and Mexican street salsa. “My wife, Brittany, and I have been perfecting our jalapeño poppers this year, getting them ready for game day,” said Brandon Remy of Woodstock, who proudly said he is the “self-proclaimed chef” of his core group of friends. “The simple recipe includes the poppers, of course, as well as bacon and cream cheese filling — it all boils down to what you mix your cream cheese with.” Remy wraps a large pepper cut in half with a mixture of cream cheese, Romano and cheddar cheeses, along with onion in a thin-cut slice of bacon to add a cooling factor to the already spicy concoction. The grill master is responsible for gathering the potluck assortment of items and making a smorgasbord of food available over the course of several hours. Tailgates can be anywhere from two to six hours before kick-off. During that time, it is crucial to have enough food for the masses. “You have to think big when it comes to tailgating,” Remy said. “Big does not mean hard though. There are a ton of recipes out there that are quick and easy, but also filling for the whole group.” Though staples of any classic tailgate, hamburgers and hotdogs are not the only all-American food to bring to the party this season. To add new flavor to an old pastime, Remy turns up the flames for a variety of corns to please the taste buds of sweet, spicy and all-around unique foodies. His specialties include honey Sriracha, parmesan garlic, sweet and spiced barbecue and beer butter. “These are by far my favorite flavors so far,” he said. “There’s a spread for every person and again, these are great sides for any tailgater who has a

Opposite page: Enjoying community over the grill, from left, Cherokee County locals Chandler Elder, Brandon Remy and Brittnee Franke.

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6205 Hickory Flat Hwy Canton, GA 30115 • 770-345-3090 September/October 2017 | Cherokee Life

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little extra space on the grill for some fun.” With three to five ingredients for each mixture, corn has never tasted so delectable, all in under 10 minutes, making for the perfect side to every tailgate. “I typically do full ears of corn, but they can definitely be cut in half to have more for your buck,” he said, adding that sweet yellow corn is his choice which can be bought at the local farmers market or grocer. Remy has been perfecting his game-day recipes for about eight years in running, creating additional seasonings along the way. He has also made maple mustard and bacon cheddar corns. “The best way to find a flavor you like is just by getting out of your comfort zone and trying it. The sweetness of the corn mixes well with bold options,” he suggested. “My next batch I will be trying flavors like bourbon battered, chipotle lime and maybe something with chili powder.” “The neat thing about grilling is that there are so many options. Tailgates are perfect for trying something new since you have a good amount of taste-testers ready to try anything,” Remy said. “It’s important to bring the normal things like chips, fruit or cookies to the game, but your sides are what everyone looks forward to.” He said he has been grilling for the last 15 years, as it is his favorite way to cook. “I wanted to combine my two favorite things in the world, grilling and sports,” he said. “This has given me the opportunity to create some new and exciting things all the while getting to be with my favorite people and watching my favorite teams.”

Playing a game of giant Jenga, from right Katie Downs pulls a block out as Brittany Remy and Brittnee Franke look on.

Sports fanatic - Brittnee Franke of Canton There is always that one friend who goes above and beyond when it comes to sporting events, known as the sports fanatic. Decked out in team swag from head to toe, with flags on each window of the car and the infamous coozie to match—welcome to the field Brittnee Franke of Canton. A tailgate would not be the same without the organizer of the event. With all the necessities ready to go for every home game, the sports fanatic will make the gathering a win for all involved. “I love getting game ready,” Franke said. “Tailgating is more than just food and drinking—it’s an event put on by the community of fans. It’s exciting to cheer on your favorite teams in this way and the feeling can’t really be explained.” Every picture-perfect tailgate is in part thanks to the sports fanatic, organizing every detail and coordinating who brings what in the group. “Making sure everything is in its place the day of is important to the atmosphere we create,” she said. “I block off the area so others don’t encroach on our space, stage the chairs, tables, coolers and grills, as well as make sure our flag flies high and tents are secure when we have them.” Tailgates are just as much about the look as they are the fun, according to Franke. People with trailers are envied, while those with a great setup are eyed from spectators walking up and down the sidewalk to see the best of the best. “Our group goes as far to bring a generator, hook up a TV and either watch pre-game news or play sports-related video games,” Franke said. “It is all things football in the fall.”

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13 Loyalty to the team is essential when picking out not only an outfit to wear on game day, but what utensils, chairs and even phone cases are used. “Everything has your team’s emblem on it,” she said. “It is just the way it goes. We bring specific items with us to the tailgate that rep not only the colors of our team, but the name and logo and mascot. If you are representing another team, be prepared to be heckled if you are on our turf.” Franke said music is also carefully considered at the lot. “While it seems silly, music is also an important aspect of what we do,” she said. “We, of course, play the team’s fight songs and anything to pump up the group. Many tailgaters end up with country music since we are in Georgia, but I tend to lean toward classic rock and alternative upbeat songs. It just depends on who’s mixing the music.” Tailgating, she said, is all about community. “No matter how big or small your tailgate may be, it’s just fun. Sports fan or not, there’s always a place for everyone at the lot and all are welcome,” Franke said.

Tailgating together, from left, Isaac Grundy and Jeffrey Mroczko toss a football.

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14 Game Keeper Andres Downs of Woodstock Tailgaters do not play around when it comes to the games created specifically for the occasion. The sports world has taken to making up activities to entertain the large groups of friends, and even acquaintances, at the gravel lots designed just for them. And who better to be over all the madness than the game keeper. Andres Downs of Woodstock holds the title for his group of friends, proudly bringing a number of amusing ideas to the party. “Games keep everyone up and social at the tailgate,” he said. “If you don’t have games, quite honestly, your group will be dull and bored. Sitting around for hours just talking isn’t what the tradition is all about—it’s the fun that is had while amping up for your favorite team.” Personally, Downs brings the recent craze of cornhole, as well as disc slam and giant Jenga. “These are the three most popular games right now at any tailgate party,” he said. “Plus, like others, I made two of these from scratch to add some personal touches to them. Cornhole is customizable, while I made giant Jenga into a drinking game.” Cutting about 60 blocks out of two-by-fours, Downs then spray painted each block with a number ranging from one to five. “It’s played just like normal Jenga, except when a person pulls out a block, the number on that block is how many seconds the person to their right has to drink,” he said. “It gets intense and everyone loves to play.” No less than four players are suggested for the game and it is tailgate etiquette to invite surrounding tailgaters outside of your group to join in on the excitement. “We always have strangers join us when playing giant Jenga—they can’t resist,” Downs said. “It makes for great community in the lot, and you find new friends.” The finishing touch on each block is the neon colors it was spray-painted with, made to glow in the dark for other occasions. Ladder golf, bottle bash and washer toss are a few of the up and coming entertainment choices for tailgaters this season. However, beer pong remains the leading game by popularity at every lot. “The list of games keeps growing every year as people come up with more ‘do it yourself’ ideas,” Remy said. “But the classic beer pong table will forever be a staple at every game. There are a variety of games that can be played when you have a long pop-up table, solo cups and some ping-pong balls.”

Tailgating recipes Brandon Remy of Woodstock has been grilling for 15 years and took his passion of the grill to the game, whipping up new ideas for tailgating events for eight years. His specialty item on the menu: corn on the cob with a twist.

Corn on the cob with a twist By Brandon Remy Serves: 8 Grill time: 10 to 15 minutes Grill temp: 160-165 degrees What you need: Foil Four small mixing cups Basting brush Extra Virgin Olive Oil *All four recipes are for two ears of corn each. Honey Sriracha: 1/2 stick butter 2 Tablespoons Sriracha 1/2 Tablespoon Honey Parmesan Garlic: 1/2 stick butter 1 Tablespoon minced garlic 2 Tablespoons Parmesan Sweet and spiced BBQ: 1/2 stick of butter

2 Tablespoons of Sweet Baby Rays regular BBQ sauce (or make your own) 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper 1/2 a teaspoon of Chipotle Chili Powder Beer Butter: 1/2 stick of butter 2oz of your preferred beer 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic 1/8 teaspoon of salt 1/8 teaspoon of pepper Mix together and let it sit. The beer needs to soak into the butter. Then spread on the Corn (dump remaining beer in with corn for extra beer flavor). Grilling Directions: All corn needs to be coated with olive oil before grilling. Suggested use: Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Mix ingredients together in small mixing bowls Spread ingredients on the corn with basting brush Wrap each ear of corn in tin foil Place on grill Each ear will need to cook 5 to 7 minutes per side depending on grill temperature. The internal temperature of the corn should reach 160 degrees to 165 degrees.

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Words and Photography by Madison Hogan

Chamberhouse readies for changes

One year shy of its 30th anniversary, the iconic Chamberhouse building in downtown Canton is a beehive of change as new owners take charge and the former owners downsize their fine gifts and ladies accessories shop in space in the building. Two new tenants are also opening this fall in the historic building. Since selling the building to Jen Davo, owner of Studio 5 Salon & Spa, and scaling back her store in the summer to a smaller unit within the building, Chamberhouse Gifts owner Carla Roach said business is booming. “We’re still kind of moving things around, but we’ve pretty well got our store situated like we like it,” she said. Aside from the venue size and the decision to not sell antiques, not much will change about Roach’s business, she said. Chamberhouse will still offer fine gifts, home décor, lady accessories and jewelry, she said. So far, Roach said she has had customers who are

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18 surprised but also share some excitement about more change coming to downtown Canton. “Our smaller space, it is a little bit more manageable,” she said. “I think everybody else is liking it.” Much like the Jones Building down the street, Chamberhouse represents much of Canton’s economic progress through time and has been the home of several enterprises. Once a livery stable and mule barn as early as 1919, the site of Chamberhouse has been “The Main Street Garage” and even a Chevrolet dealership. The structure at the Chamberhouse site burned to the ground with a majority of downtown Canton in 1955 after the Cantex Manufacturing fire. A new building, the present Chamberhouse, reopened in 1956 as another Chevrolet dealership and became the Westvale Manufacturing sewing plant for children’s clothing shortly thereafter. In 1988, the Chamberhouse home goods and furnishings that Canton residents and visitors have loved for decades came to be when the Chambers family purchased the building. “It has been in the family for so long, but I think everybody is excited just to see what can be done,” Roach said. “I think it’s going to be great.” The rest of the Chamberhouse building has gone through a complete renovation while preserving some of its historic elements, according to new owner Jen Davo.

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19 The North Street business Studio 5 will occupy the space downstairs and will have two entrances, a storefront facing Archer Street at the back of the Chamberhouse building and access to another door through a breezeway between the Chamberhouse building and Queenie’s, she said. Events on Main, a 2,700-square-foot space in the back of the Chamberhouse building accessed through the breezeway, will serve as a space anyone can rent for parties, receptions and even weddings. Davo said she hopes hosts of these events will choose to cater from the number of local vendors and restaurants in downtown Canton. “There’s nothing in downtown Canton to rent if you have an event,” she said. “We have two ladies that are having babies and two different ladies getting married and just trying to get a good fit for wedding showers and baby showers is kind of where this idea was born.” The move for Studio 5 began when Davo started looking for spaces to rent when the building where the salon was located on North Street was sold, she said. Upon looking for rental locations, she said she and her family discovered the Chamberhouse building was for sale. “It took a whole team of people to make it come to life,” she said. “I thought it was a very large project for me to do by myself but with my mom and dad and my realtor, they all worked together and made the purchase happen.” The salon takes up nearly 4,400 square feet of space in the basement of the Chamberhouse building, Davo said. The look of the place is industrial exposed she said, and the venue will be bigger and brighter than their former space. “I like the idea of being in the middle of all the businesses,” she said. Co-owner of Indigo & Oak Denise Case reopened her North Street boutique and home décor store in the newly renovated space next to Chamberhouse in August. Despite already being in downtown Canton, she chose to move to Main Street to increase her number of customers. She said often times customers walked in her store’s former location by accident and told her they didn’t know about any shops on North Street. “Just by working over on the other side and just realizing how much foot traffic…it’s like night and day,” she said. “I don’t understand how two sides can be so different.” Though business on North Street wasn’t bad, Case said she felt like her store would be “closer to the action” because there’s a constant flow of people walking to and from the restaurants on East Main Street. “We’re super excited and we have great hope that that location will be even better for us,” she said. In addition to the new space, Case said she updated the style of her boutique as well. The new location has an “industrial look” with exposed ceilings, original concrete floors and decorative shiplap. “I think it has restored a little bit of the old character and how (Chamberhouse) used to be,” she said. “I think we’re excited about the fresh look.” September/October 2017 | Cherokee Life

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20 [HEALTH & WELLNESS]

surviving B C reast

ancer

By Rebecca Johnston

Pamela Hester was not surprised when a doctor told her she most likely had breast cancer. “I missed one mammogram. Then I came down with breast cancer in 2015. At that time I went and had a lot of scans done,” Hester said. “I was sent down the hall, where another doctor said ‘I think we have breast cancer.’ I told her I was 100 percent sure it was breast cancer.” The 60-year-old from Holly Springs was diagnosed in 2015. She had been in remission one year at the end of June and her last radiation treatment was the end of June 2016. Now Hester urges others to remember their mammograms annually. “If I had my mammogram, I probably would not have gone

through all the problems I had, because it would have been found earlier,” Hester said. “Mammograms are very, very important to ladies.” While Hester wishes she had been more diligent about getting her mammogram, she is thankful for the care she received that led to her remission. “The doctor removed the lump. Then I had to go in and have a port and had chemo. He saw another spot that appeared from the week before during that procedure,” Hester said. That led her to consider a mastectomy. But instead, she saw Dr. Gena Volas-Redd at Georgia Cancer

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“If I had my mammogram, I probably would not have gone through all the problems I had, because it would have been found earlier,” Hester said. “Mammograms are very, very important to ladies.” Specialists. “I went to Dr. Volas-Redd and she said, ‘No, I am going to make you cancer free.’ If it wasn’t for Volas-Redd and her crew I don’t know what I would have done,” Hester said. Hester underwent chemotherapy once every three weeks for four sessions, then went back for 14 sessions once a week, and two weeks later started 37 rounds of daily radiation. “Dr. Volas-Redd has really, really good people underneath her. It felt like they were going through it with you. Patty was awesome, Beth and Dr. Volas-Redd herself,” Hester said. Hester said others in the Northside Hospital Cherokee network helped her as well. “Dee Jones is a fantastic person as a nurse navigator. She worked at Sixes Road at

Northside. She gave you really good things to consider. Ways to combat nausea such as lemon drops, and recipes to use while going through chemo,” Hester said. Along the way, Hester found out she had a family history of the disease. Her aunt had breast cancer after Hester was diagnosed, she said. “My mother’s mother had some sort of cancer, then her mother, my great-great grandmother had breast cancer,” she said. Hester said that although it was a tough time, her doctors pulled her through. “I sort of punished myself, and asked — ‘Why me, Lord?’ — but I got through it. It was a struggle and hard, but if it wasn’t for Volas-Redd, I don’t know where I would be,” she said. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women. A woman’s chance of developing this disease over the course of her lifetime is about one in eight. In recent years, however, survival rates for breast cancer have increased as a result of better education, improved diagnostics, and more advanced therapies.

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22 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW Risk Factors The following factors may increase the risk of developing breast cancer: • Age — Risk increases with age. • Genetic history — About 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are genetically linked. • Family history — Women who have a family history of breast cancer, especially in a close relative such as a mother, sister, or daughter, have an increased risk of developing the disease. A family history of breast cancer on either side of the family increases risk. • Menstrual periods — Women who began menstruating before age 12 or went through menopause after 55 have an increased risk. • Having children late or not at all — Women who have a first child after 30 or who never have children have a greater risk. • Being of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish

descent. • Radiation therapy to the chest — Women who had radiation to the chest (such as treatment for Hodgkin’s disease) between the ages of 10-30 have an increased risk.

Signs and Symptoms To ensure early detection, it is important to follow recommended screening guidelines for breast cancer and to be aware of any changes in the way your breasts look or feel. Women should see a doctor immediately if any changes are detected in the breasts, especially: • A painless lump or mass in or near the breast or under the armpit. • A change in breast size or firmness. • Breast skin changes, such as irritation or dimpling. • Nipple itching, burning, or turning inward; discharge not related to breastfeeding.

Cherokee Life | September/October 2017

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23 Survival The survival rate for women with breast cancer has greatly improved. Women who are diagnosed with the disease confined to the breast now have a five-year survival rate of 98 percent.

• Eat a healthy diet. • Maintain a healthy weight.

— Source: Northside Hospital Cherokee

Prevention Take these steps to help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer: • Women in their 20s or 30s should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) as a part of their health exam; women 40 or older should have a CBE annually. • Women 40 or older should have a mammogram performed annually. • Feel your breasts on a regular basis and report any unusual findings to your healthcare provider. • Discuss screening recommendations and the appropriateness of genetic testing with a health care provider, especially if at a greater risk of developing the disease.

September/October 2017 | Cherokee Life

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24 [FROM THE DIRECTOR]

By Mark Wallace Maguire

The end of summer and a sweep of sentimentality

The last of the summer wine. The last days of summer. The last rose of summer.

All of these phrases are woven into our collective vocabulary. And why is that? Because there is something bittersweet about the end of summer which generally in the South begins in late September and lasts until the first nips of frost tinge the land sometimes in early October, other years as late as Thanksgiving. Yes. We are at that strange juncture of the end of summer and the cusp of autumn. As John Keats wrote in“To Autumn,” it is indeed a time of mist of mellow fruitfulness and the bees do make their last flights of fancy and the crops, plump and abundant, are plucked from the fields to our tables. And while we may not dedicate our autumns to harvesting anymore, there are other cultural touchstones to this time of year that signal the shift into fall. School is in session, traffic increases and the scent of honeysuckles, jasmine and chlorine are replaced by the nostalgic

smell of pencil shavings and the plastic scent of Halloween masks. The shadows from the trees began to lean and the day dies a long stretched out elegy. And the old friend sentimentality often reappears in a sense of longing. Maybe for you sentimentality ushers in a longing for the last days of summer, chasing fireflies barefoot on a thick lawn. Maybe a longing for a onetime summer love. Or maybe a longing for the days of young, when the excitement of a new school year, new friends, a new chance at this life was on the horizon. (Even I, who was far from a dedicated scholar, can’t help but the feel the occasional tug for my alma mater Berry College this time of year.) Sentimentality. It can be a dangerous thing to linger in the past, but it can be just as dangerous as not to recall it at all. Before we all donned titles and had mortgages or car payments, we were once youth and, before that, children. If you feel the urge to be nostalgic this season go ahead. Take a moment. Reflect. Who were you? Who are you today? What makes you long for something? And, most importantly, who are you becoming?

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4 26

places to have fun this fall

Fall foliage is around the corner, bringing along with it cooler temps and a renewed sense of beauty of the outdoors. Here are 4 ways to enjoy fall fun with your family in Cherokee.

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27 Picking pumpkins from the farm By Kayla Elder

Pumpkin, spice and all things nice. This fall there are two family-owned pumpkin patches in Cherokee County where those who visit can find a variety of pumpkins in all shapes and colors, as well as activities for all ages. Berry Patch Farms in Woodstock and Big Springs Farms in the Woodstock-Hickory Flat area are stocked full of the seasonal favorite. Both farms boast a large selection of this season, as well as gourds, mini pumpkins and Indian corn. Guests at Berry Patch Farms can take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch, which is perfect for picture taking opportunities until Oct. 30. After picking the perfect pumpkin, a hayride will take guests back to the barn where they can purchase apple cider, homemade fried pies, boiled peanuts and popcorn. Berry Patch also sells different jams, jellies and dressings. Youngsters can also enjoy the playground and baby farm animals while at Berry Patch Farms. There is not a petting zoo. Debbie and Bill Durden bought the farm in 1978 and began their mom and pop operation in 1988.

n From Oct. 17 to 28, Berry Patch Farms at 786 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock, is open weekdays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. and weekends Oct. 1 through 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Weekend mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is reserved for groups only, Oct. 1 through 30. Field trips, by reservation only, will run Oct. 2 to 27. Parking is $3. n Visit www.berrypatchfarms.net or call 770-926-0561.

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At Big Springs Farms, they will kick off the fall season with an antique tractor show on Sept. 30. This October, guests can enjoy a hayride, corn maze, farm animals, face paintings and bounce houses. Scarecrows watch over the hundreds of pumpkins in the barn as families pick out the perfect one. Their selection of pumpkins vary from the “bumkins” at less than a pound, “wee be little” weighing about one pound to the “Big Max” weighing about 50 to 60 pounds. This year, the farm will have a corn maze for families to venture through as they enjoy the crisp fall atmosphere. The farm also has homemade candles, homemade ice cream, fresh apple cider and fresh apple fritters for sale. The snack shack has hot boiled peanuts, hot dogs and chips. Picnic tables are available for families to sit and enjoy lunch at the farm. The farm is home to chickens, Willie the pot belly pig, miniature donkey Mack and miniature goats. It is not a petting zoo. On the hayride guests get to see two cows at the farm. The hay rides are a mile long around the property and are about 15 to 20 minutes, taking guests down by a lake toward the planting field. The farm has a variety of home decor items including fresh gourds, Indian corn, dried gourds, corn stalks, birdhouses and concrete pumpkins.

n Big Springs Farms, 2100 Sugar Pike Road, is open on Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in October. Field trips and birthday parties are offered throughout the week, through reservation only. Admission and parking are free. n Visit www. bigspringsfarms.com, email bigspringsfarms@ att.net or 678899-3900.

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28 Riverfest moves to new location By Kayla Elder Looking to a new home this year, the Service League of Cherokee County will host its 33rd annual Riverfest Arts & Crafts Festival at Etowah River Park in Canton. The county’s most popular festival, which has been held at Boling Park since its inception in 1984, features a number of artisans selling their wares, as well as a children’s area, concessionaires and entertainers. This year’s Riverfest is Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. among the green fields and picturesque banks of the Etowah River. “With the growing popularity of our show, with both vendors and patrons, we really need a space that can provide more parking for the public. Access through the Boling Park entrance is also limited due to the expansion of the water treatment plant,” said Hillary Hall, Riverfest chair. “The city of Canton has a beautiful new park at Etowah River Park that is still along the river so it was fitting to make this the new home for Riverfest.” This year’s festival will feature arts and crafts exhibitors, concessionaires and entertainers with many returning favorites, as well as several new and exciting exhibitors. “We have more than 250 vendors and expect more than 25,000 patrons this year,” Chairwoman Susan Ikerd said. New vendors include: Georgia Pineworks; unique home decor made from recycled wood, Laralin Creation; handmade paper

bead jewelry, Chris Draws; highly detailed pencil renderings, Patriot Strong; Veteren handmade gourmet salsa, BBQ glazes, seasonings and rubs. Returning favorites include Ray Dutton Birdhouses; Stamped Out Love, stamped personalized jewelry; Kritter Getter, hand carved wooden bird calls; and Byrd Mountain Pottery, pottery with visual and complex glazes suggesting surreal landscaping. Additionally, the event showcases extraordinary entertainment throughout the weekend—live music and dancing—as well as a fun-filled children’s area where children of all ages can participate in a number of rides and activities. Select recipes from The League’s latest cookbook, “Gatherings & Traditions,” will be offered to festival patrons for tasting, and cookbooks will be available for purchase. Admission to Riverfest for adults and children 11 and older is a $5 donation. The event will take place rain or shine. Free parking and shuttle services are available. Dogs are prohibited in the park by city ordinance. “As far as new additions, we are adding shuttle buses to

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29 Riverfest to help transport patrons to and from the Riverfest gate from the various parking locations available on Brown Industrial Boulevard,” Ikerd said. The festival is put on by the Service League of Cherokee County to raise funds to help children in need in the community. “Riverfest will still be the same fantastic show,” Hall said. The park may be different, but the heart of Riverfest and the Service League’s mission to help the needy children in our county has and always will remain the same.” The Service League of Cherokee County is one of the oldest service organizations in Cherokee County, with a membership of 100 women who work year-round, collectively volunteering more than 10,000 hours per year to raise funds for needy children throughout Cherokee County. Funds raised during Riverfest, and other fundraising events sponsored by the League, provide needy families with day-to-day necessities such as food, clothing, dental care, eyeglasses, medical care, rental and utilities assistance and scholarships. To learn more about the work of the Service League, visit www.serviceleague.net.

RIVERFEST n Sept. 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. n Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. n Etowah River Park 600 Brown Industrial Parkway, Canton n www.serviceleague.net

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30 Falling back in time at Funk Heritage Center By Madison Hogan Back to school for many youngsters in Cherokee County means a trip back in time to discover the area’s native past among artifacts, exhibits and talented re-enactors at the Funk Heritage Center of Reinhardt University. Modeled after an indigenous longhouse — a residential dwelling that would house many families in a tribe — the Funk Heritage Center offers educational exhibits about local Native American history and actual artifacts from the 1995 Hickory Log archaeological excavation in Canton, program and publicity coordinator Martha Hout said. “Dr. Joe Kitchens and I went through boxes of artifacts survived years under the earth. (We collected) from the excavation about 150 boxes of artifacts.” From a tool room larger than the display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., to an extensive Native American art gallery to a Petroglyph rock with designs believed to date as far back as 800 CE to 1600 CE, there are plenty of relics at this museum you won’t see anywhere else. Students who visit during the annual “Georgia History Timeline” on Oct. 11 and 12 will have the chance to learn in a

“history alive” environment, Hout said, and meet re-enactors from a blacksmith to Mary Musgrove to Abraham Lincoln. Tickets are $12 to attend the event. “These re-enactors are well known throughout Georgia and Florida,” she said. On Native American Day Nov. 11, watch a historic film on Southeastern Natives or the Trail of Tears and visit with pioneer interpreters and artifact experts free of charge. With more than 8,000 visitors per year from counties all over the world, the comment, “I’m surprised more people don’t know about this,” is one heard often at the Funk Heritage Center, Hout said. The exhibit planned for later this year, will center on Western Expansion and the Trail of Tears, Hout said. A new discovery from census data collected by the museum, she said, about a native girl named Waleska, who’s believed to be the eponym of the town in Cherokee County, will also be featured in the display. “The more we learn, the more we need to learn,” she said.

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31 n School tours can be arranged for groups of 20 or more children and prices for students range from $5 to $8. n To learn more, visit the center at 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday and major holidays.

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32 Poultry days served up in exhibit By Madison Hogan You might be from Cherokee County if you know a thing or two about chickens, but if you don’t, the Cherokee County Historical Society’s temporary exhibit “Sunny Side Up: The Poultry Industry in Cherokee County” will let you in on the history. When Karen Manous Smithwick, who authored “Poultry Pioneers in Cherokee County” as part of the exhibit, first started gathering oral histories from the families of early poultry entrepreneurs six years ago, she told Executive Director Stefanie Joyner to forget having everything the historical society needed in a month. Smithwick began calling descendants of those who first helped establish the poultry industry in Cherokee like herself and eventually turned those stories into a book. “They were so excited that their families were being recognized,” Smithwick said. Opening night of the exhibit, the entire lobby of the Cherokee Historical Society was packed and a line stretched out the door of the Cherokee County History Museum, the society’s program manager Meghan Quinlen said. Even Smithwick’s book is almost

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Cherokee Life | September/October 2017

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33 sold out of its first edition, she said. “The poultry industry has always been an incredibly important industry and a huge part of our past — Karen’s uncle is in that photo over there — so even when we created this museum, we knew that poultry was going to play a part in the telling of our history. So it just took us a while to get to the point where we actually could do an exhibit entirely focused and a book.” At the exhibit, check out vintage signs, pictures of Cherokee chicken farmers and their heirs, an original John Bennet feed coat and other relics all donated from offspring of original Cherokee chicken entrepreneurs. Read up on a little history about the county once considered “The Poultry Capital of the World” and even learn the life cycle of a chicken. “I think it’s very cool that people kept all of these things and are still incredibly proud to see it displayed,” Quinlen said. When asked why someone should stop by to take a close look at Cherokee’s past, Quinlen said if they eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich, they’re involved in the poultry industry in this county. “The Canton (Pilgrim’s) facility processes 870,000 chickens per week,” she said. “And their largest customer is Chickfil-A.” Later in September, the museum will feature a new exhibit about Lattimer Ridgeway, a longtime county land surveyor, and his original plats and drawings of the area in the 1950s,

Joyner said. In the showcase, she said they hope to compare Ridgeway’s maps to earlier drawings, such as an 1887 map of Ball Ground shortly after the town was established and a 1920s outline of Woodstock. “It’s really like mapping Cherokee,” Quinlen said.

September/October 2017 | Cherokee Life

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34 n Visitors can check out the temporary exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday until late September in the Cherokee County History Museum located at 100 North St., Suite 140 in downtown Canton. Admission is free and donations are accepted.

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Cherokee Life | September/October 2017

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Reformation co-founder/ CEO Spencer Nix with a selection of seasonal brews.

September/October 2017 | Cherokee Life

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o celebrate the fall season, craft beers are showing up in seasonal brews at local favorite spots across Cherokee County. Reformation Brewery in Woodstock, whose popular craft beers have been growing in popularity across the Southeast, is celebrating its fouryear anniversary with a new brew. Established in October 2013, Reformation Brewery is a values-based company whose mission is to reform beer culture and liberate beer from societal extremes. Reformation Brewery crafts yeast-forward, old-world recipes full of aroma and flavor.

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“This fall, we are excited to be celebrating our four-year anniversary as well as the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, from which we found inspiration in the founding of the brewery,” said CEO Spencer Nix. “As part of that celebration we are releasing a special anniversary beer, a Belgian quadruple called 500.” This malty beer brewed with Chamomile “pairs perfect with the moments of autumn,” Nix said. “Our Cadence and Jude, both Belgian style ales are also always great on a crisp fall night,” he said. The brewery’s owner said more important than coming out with new styles of beer are the “moments around why you drink well-made independently owned and made craft beer.” “Just as there are a variety of moments that make life full, we like to pair our beers for all those moments,” he said. Reformation Brewery was formed with the idea that the products and establishment would be a “tool for conversations,” according to Nix. “Conversations lead to good community and good community leads to good culture,” he said. “We are all about building good culture and we are privileged to have been so well received by Cherokee County. Beyond just being a good neighbor in our community we want to always be serving and giving back.” Reformation Brewery will also be partnering with another Cherokee County organization, BBQ and BREWS, to host the first ever Cadence Fair Oct. 6 and 7 at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater in historic downtown Woodstock. “It’s going to be a day full of unique moments and experiences,” said Nix. For more information on Reformation Brewery, visit www.reformationbrewery.com/stands/.

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September/October 2017 | Cherokee Life

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s residents travel through downtown Canton, they will notice a large growler painted on the window of the home of local brews, Stout’s Growlers. The business changed hands this year and offers a diverse collection of craft brews. Co-owner Jim O’Leary said this fall he and his team plans to expand their selection of stouts and porters. “We will have many hard to get brews, seasonal offerings and special releases from local breweries as well as across the country,” he said. “We are constantly rotating our 30 taps of craft beer to keep our selection fresh for our customers. We have many customers that come in every week or multiple times per week, so they appreciate the fact that we continuously have new beers on draught for them to try on a consistent basis.” The local one-stop pub can now serve beer and wine by the glass on premise daily after Canton updated an ordinance for Craft Beer and Wine Markets. O’Leary was thrilled to be able to offer more services to the community by offering packaged

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Cherokee Life | September/October 2017

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41 growlers and bottles of beer and wine “to go.” “This is a big deal for our customers, as they are craft beer and wine enthusiasts and after all, beer and wine is social,” he said. “Our customers love that they can come in, sit, socialize, play games or just have a glass before or after their dinner reservations at any of the great restaurants downtown Canton has to offer.” Even though Stout’s Growlers is now able to serve on premise every day, O’Leary said they will still have events such as wine tastings and a monthly book club. Customers can keep up to date with these events and others on Stout’s website at www.StoutsGrowlers.com.

Opposite page: Owner of Stouts Jim O’Leary. The inside of Stouts Growlers in Downtown Canton.

September/October 2017 | Cherokee Life

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42 a Southern girl goes West [TRAVEL]

DISCOVERING THE SPIRIT OF WESTERN NEBRASKA’S GREAT PLAINS Words and Photography by Jennifer Carter

“This is beautiful country when it’s not trying to kill you.”

nervous guffaw escaped me when I heard Mike Kesselring say this, because like all good jokes, it’s deeply rooted in someone’s truth. The sun was just starting to set on his High Plains Homestead, casting soft light on that dirt road that led me to Mike’s and his wife Linda’s remote retreat near Crawford, Nebraska, tucked into the extreme northwestern part of the state. Surrounded by the wooden plank buildings that they’ve artfully scattered on the windswept prairie to recreate an old West “cowtown,” the Kesselring family’s Drifter Cookshack had just served me chicken directly from the outdoor grill, followed by their famous cinnamon pie. (If it’s not famous yet, well, it should be.) And let’s face it: Even when spoken in jest, truth always goes better with pie. Deep down, I knew what Mike had meant. That old human-condition adage “that which nourishes us can also devour us,” can apply to anyone anywhere, but rang a little truer out there in western Nebraska where wildfires and raging winds are common dinner speak. But there was something else there in that place, an even bigger truth that I didn’t even know I’d come searching for, but found there on my westward journey. At some point, out there under the vast expanse of Nebraska skies, around food cooked over an open outdoor flame, in the midst of conversations with this authentic and unapologetically hardy people, I discovered a resilience of spirit and a sense of adventure that this heartbreakingly beautiful landscape may sometimes try to rid you of, but will only succeed in making you feel even more alive. The Kesselrings’ property, flanked by the dramatically rugged Badlands and trees of Pine Ridge, is a little off the beaten path. Some people (like me) would say that’s preferable. I would tout that it’s worth the drive down a long quiet road for a home-cooked meal, a good night’s rest, and a visit with friendly proprietors.

Following in Their Footsteps (and Wagon Ruts): Retracing the Paths of Our Cowboys and Pioneers I’m not egotistical enough to think I was the first of my kind. To be honest, the universality of my wanderlust plight was probably what drove me to Nebraska in the first place. I recognize that so many before me have come to a similar crossroads in life and died inside to see what lay just on the other side of that western horizon. “Go West,” I’d always heard, and so I did. Over the course of five days, I motored down solitary back roads to try to experience landscape that so much of our country’s history and western expansion is based on. Quite frankly, the western Nebraska landscape shocked me. I had come there expecting to traverse a flat, grassland prairie and not much else. Instead, I discovered rising bluffs, buttes and other geologic wonders that must have given the Oregon Trail wagoneers quite a start. Scotts Bluff National Monument, not to be missed by history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts, is a 3000-acre park located on the south side of the North Platte River. Steep bluffs loomed around my rental minivan like guardians as I approached, and I was awed that modern day drivers can still steer their cars right through Mitchell Pass between the bluff walls, the same route the early settlers took toward the Rocky Mountains. To my utter amazement, the remnants of wagon ruts still remain there, hearkening back to the days that the emigrants used Scotts Bluff as a directional guide to the west. Similarly, about a 30-minute drive from Scotts Bluff, the monolithic, limestone pillar Chimney Rock, rises from earth like a navigational beacon. In fact, way back before GPS, the pioneers used Chimney Rock’s spire as a tower-

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43 ing landmark to ensure they were headed in the right direction. (It showed up in more settlers’ journal accounts of their wagon train journeys than any other landmark.) Sadly, Chimney Rock has lost thirty feet from its height in the last 150 years, a product of erosion and lighting strikes, so you better see it while you can. And of course, I couldn’t pass up a trek to Ogallala, a true cowboy town that was the end of the trail for cattle herds being driven westward on the Texas Trail. The town gained notoriety in the late 1800s for its seasonal, lively bunch of cowboys who came through every summer and frequented its saloons, hotels and sometimes, ahem, more tawdry establishments. (The town was made even more famous by its mention in the CBS mini-series “Lonesome Dove,” based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.) If you visit, don’t miss Boot Hill, a cemetery overlooking the town where many of these cowboys are laid to rest. I, too, eventually reached “the end of the trail.” I flew home to Georgia via the Denver airport, which is just a short car ride to many western Nebraska destinations. I’ll never forget the Nebraskans I left in my wake, however—they who happily showed me around back roads, fed me heartily and told me the stories about our country’s heritage that I’ll never read in history books. If you ever get to that crossroads, and find yourself looking west, just go. They’re still waiting there with more stories, and there’s plenty enough pie to go around.

WHERE TO RUSTLE UP SOME GRUB

WHERE TO STEER YOUR WAGON

The Drifter Cookshack at High Plains Homestead 263 Sandcreek Road Crawford, NE 69339 308-665-2592 www.highplainshomestead. com

Windlass Hill Ash Hollow State Historical Park P.O. Box 70 Lewellen, NE 69147-0070 308-778-5651 http://outdoornebraska. gov/ashhollow/

The Steel Grill Restaurant & Bar 2800 10th St. Gering, NE 69341 (308) 633-1020 www.facebook.com/pages/ The-SteelGrill/149237835129540 The Tangled Tumbleweed 1823 Avenue A Scottsbluff, NE 69361 (308) 633-3867 http://thetangledtumbleweed.com

Chimney Rock National Historic Site Nebraska State Historical Society P.O. Box F Bayard, NE 69334-0680 308-586-2581 www.nebraskahistory.org/ sites/rock/ Scotts Bluff National Monument 190276 Old Oregon Trail P.O. Box 27

Gering, NE 69341-0027 (308) 436-9700 www.nps.gov/scbl/index. htm Knight Museum and Sandhills Center P.O. Box D 908 Yellowstone Avenue Alliance, NE 69301 (308) 762-2384 http://knightmuseum.com Legacy of the Plains Museum 2930 Old Oregon Trail Gering, NE 69341 308- 436-1989 http://legacyoftheplains.org

WHERE TO HANG YOUR HAT The Monument Inn & Suites is an ideal place to circle your wagons, so to speak, and get your bearings. Equipped with modern amenities such as your own in-room Keurig, wireless Internet and a daily hot breakfast, this place might be your best bet if you need to stay “connected” while still being in the thick of the western wilderness. This hotel is in easy driving distance to Scotts Bluff National Monument, Chimney Rock and the Oregon Trail. 1130 M Street Gering, NE 69341 308- 436-1950 www.monumentinnsuites.com Scottsbluff Barn Anew Bed and Breakfast is a renovated, 100-year old barn that is just minutes from Scottsbluff and Gering. They offer four guest rooms and a gourmet breakfast. For the more adventurous of spirit, guests can stay in their cozy sheepherders’ wagon. Scottsbluff, NE 69357 308-632-8647 http://barnanew.com High Plains Homestead offers Bunkhouse accommodations as well as their Sand Creek Cabin. The bunkhouse rooms keep with their “cowtown” theme with colorful names like The Cowboy, The Homesteader, The Saloon Girl, The Warrior, The Hunter and The Caballero. 263 Sandcreek Road Crawford, NE 69339 308-665-2592 www.highplainshomestead.com

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44 [HIGHLIGHTS] A CLOSER LOOK AT EVENTS HAPPENING IN CHEROKEE DURING SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER SEPTEMBER 16

OCTOBER 27

Presented by Northside Hospital Cherokee, the 5K run/walk for ADAY will benefit Cherokee County students attending Reinhardt University. It kicks off at 8 a.m. Sept. 16 at Cannon Park at 130 E. Main St. in Canton. Racers can register at 7 a.m. the day of the race on-site for $30 or preregister before Sept. 9 for $25 at aday5k.reinhardt.edu. Children and students under 12 can register for $15. Refreshments, water and door prizes are available at the finish line party. Racers can pick up their registration packets early from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Bank of North Georgia located at 300 E. Main St. in Canton.

Come light up the night at Woodstock’s second annual Monster Dash Glow Run Oct. 27 in Hobgood Park. Each race participant will receive a glow in the dark T-shirt as well as glow in the dark accessories. The 5K race will begin at 5 p.m. the one-mile race will start at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will begin on the lawn at 9 p.m. The cost for participants is $30 for the 5K race until Oct. 6. Afterward, the price will rise to $35. Price for the one mile race before Oct. 6 is $15 and $20 after Oct. 6. Information: www.crpa.net or 770-924-7768.

5K FOR A DAY

MONSTER DASH

SEPTEMBER 30, OCTOBER 28

OCTOBER 6

A night of movie fun is planned at the Cherokee County Aquatic Center the last Saturdays of September and October. Dive in movies will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 28 at 1200 Gresham Mill Parkway in Holly Springs. Floats will be available for use or visitors can bring their own noodle or clear inner tube. Cost is general admission price at the Aquatic Center. Info: www.crpa.net or call 678-880-4760.

Main Street Woodstock will host the Friday Night Live Series on Oct. 6 with the theme, “Oktoberfest” where residents can grab a brew with their crew and have a blast too. Spend the first Friday of every month in downtown Woodstock to enjoy theme-related activities and the many restaurants and stores the area has to offer as the downtown merchants stay open late to offer discounts. For more information visit www.visitwoodstockga.com/portfolio/fnl

DIVE IN MOVIE

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

Falany Performing Arts Center Be Here for What’s Next.

2017- 2018 Season Also Includes

Tuesdays with Morrie Starring Jamie Farr

• The Black Market Trust • The Celtic Tenors • The Olate Dogs • The Golden Dragon Acrobats

Chanticleer

• Performances from Reinhardt University’s School of Performing Arts and more

Box Office 770.720.9167 reinhardt.edu/fpac 44

OCTOBER 1

PAWS IN THE POOL

Canines can enjoy their own swim Oct. 1 at the Cherokee County Aquatic Center. A small dogs only swim will commence from 1 to 2 p.m. and a big dogs only swim (above 35 pounds) will last from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per dog and handlers are limited to two dogs. To pre-register, visit www.crpa.net or call 678-880-4760.

Classes:

Watercolor Classes by Gary Curtis Wednesdays, Sept 27 & Oct 18 @ 12:30 - 4:30PM - $40 per student Abstract Painting for Beginners 2 Day Workshop by Juanita Bellavance Friday & Saturday, Sept 22 & 23 @ 10AM - 4PM Cost: $200 Meditation on Twin Hearts by Melissa Oliver Ages: 16 + years • Tuesdays at 6PM See more details online. Digital Photography by Kim Bates Adults and Teens - ages 12 yrs + $90 - 4 week course Starts Sept 7 & Oct 5 - Thurs. 6-8pm Oil & Acrylic Painting by Linda Maphet Adults and Teens $100 - 4 week course Starts Sept 7 & Oct 5 • Thursdays 1-3pm Potter’s Wheel & Fun Handbuilding by Barbara Murphy & Julie Nunn Ages: 14+ yrs • $100 - 4 week course Starts Oct 3 • Tuesdays 1-3pm Weaving by Jane Wimmer Adults & Teens • $150 - 6 week course Starts Sept 6 - Wednesdays 2-5pm Limited space!

Teen Drawing by John Horne Teens: 13 to 20 • $90 - 4 week course Starts Sept 9 • Saturdays 12:45pm - 2:30

Gallery Shows: Artistry in Wood & Contemporary Paintings by Sally Evans September 1 - 23 Reception: Friday, Sept 1 @ 6-8PM Georgia Clay Council Show October 6 - 26 Reception: Friday, October 6 @ 6-8PM Cherokee Photography Club Show Stairwell Showcase

Exploring Watercolor Demonstration by Anita Huddlestun Saturday, Oct 14 @ 1-3PM Call office to reserve a seat. Free & Open to the public.

Theater Events:

Trinity River Band Concert Saturday, September 30 Doors Open at 6:30PM Concert begins at 7PM Tickets are $15 for adults & $12 for children and can be purchased on Tix.com & at the Arts Center Office.

To sign up for classes call 770-704-6244 or e-mail info@cherokeearts.org. Include name and phone number. Check our website for dates, times and fees. 94 North Street | Canton, GA 30114

WWW.CHEROKEEARTS.ORG

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45 OCTOBER 31

SEPTEMBER 23

KIDFEST

On Oct. 31 Woodstock will offer Halloween trick or treat activities for younger ghouls and goblins, including moonwalks, DJ Ronnie, Tim the Magician, Adam the Juggler, games, the ever popular stringed apple and pumpkin bowling games, face painting, costume contest and candy give-away, all in the safety of The Park at City Center at 101 Arnold Mill Road. The event begins at 3 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. with a costume contest at 6 p.m. in front of the stage. Trophies and prizes will be handed out for the funniest, scariest, cutest, and best costume. Residents can also vote for their favorite pet costume. Information: www.woodstockparksandrec.com. OCTOBER 7

AUTUMN FEST

The city of Holly Springs will host its 14th annual Autumn Fest Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Barrett Park. The event includes family fun and admission is free. Barrett Park will be filled with more than 80 arts and crafts vendors, an entertainment stage featuring local dance and vocal groups, kids’ zone with games and activities, and food trucks. The 13-acre park is at 120 Park Lane, off Hickory Road across from Holly Springs Elementary School.

OCTOBER 21

SUNSET CINEMA 5K

The Fall Sunset Cinema 5K, a night of family-friendly fun for the whole community, is Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. with a 5K race around the scenic Etowah River Park located at 600 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. Racers can pick-up packets from 5 to 5:45 p.m. at Etowah River Park on race day. Grab lawn chairs, blankets and movie snacks for an outdoor movie with friends after the race. This fall festival themed event registration includes a chip timed race entry, race T-shirt and a popcorn/movie pass to the movie under the sky.

FINDING DORY

On Sept. 23, Ball Ground will host a Movie in the Park showing “Finding Dory” on the big screen, under the stars starting at 8:15 p.m. as darkness permits. The movie takes place at Ball Ground City Park at 177 Old Dawsonville Road. SEPTEMBER 9

GARDENERS PLANT SALE

UGA Master Gardener Extension Volunteers of Cherokee County will have a plant sale Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cherokee County Senior Center, 1001 Univeter Road in Canton. Plants include perennials, ground covers and day lilies, as well as yard art, and more. Tours of the Demonstration Garden at the Senior Center will also be available during this time and are a great way to see what plants will look like in the landscape. To register call 770-721-7803 or email uge1057@uga. edu

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45 OCTOBER 31

SEPTEMBER 23

KIDFEST

AUTUMN FEST

OCTOBER 21

SUNSET CINEMA 5K

FINDING DORY

GARDENERS PLANT SALE

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46 [SCENE] A NOVEL IDEA. The Snug Gastropub in Canton hosted A Novel Idea throughout the summer on Wednesday nights. The July 19 event featured an array of top authors reading excerpts from their work and was hosted by best-selling author Marsha Cornelius. 1. From left, Bev Bova, Carolyn Fritz,

Mary Zenor and Casey Levitt. 2. The group of authors who read that evening. 3. Carole Townsend. 4. Keynote reader Susan Crawford. 5. Cherokee Life director and author Mark Wallace Maguire // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER CARTER //

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47 [SCENE]

3 ENTIRE COMMUNITY INVITED! One Day. One Message.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Tommy Baker Field at Cherokee High School

One Stand.

Family Event for All Ages All children, students and youth groups welcome! Adult Challenge Speaker

Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne

Platinum Sponsor:

President of Living Waters Publications Not a Cherokee County School-Sponsored Event

www. F ie lds o f F a it h. c o m

ART SHOW. The Cherokee Arts Center celebrated the opening of its Artist Members Show and Sale July 7 with an opening reception. The show, which featured local artists and their creations and is a summer annual event, ran through July 26. The artists’ work was for sale during the exhibit. The Arts Center is at 94 North St., Canton. 1. Charles and Annette

Johnson. 2. Dan and Lynda Leslie. 3. Oscar and Mary Fleckner. 4. Anita Smith and Donna Woods. 5. Donna Hulshult and Ginny Vose. // PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY CANTRELL //

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48 [SCENE] ART SHOW.

6. Janie and Don Gulick. 7. Donna Painter and Crystal Turnblom.

// PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY CANTRELL //

2017 Carriage KIA Cup & Cherokee County High School Game of the Week

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50 [REFLECTIONS]

Blue skies smiling By Carla Barnes

f you have ever made the drive to South Georgia to my hometown of Albany, GA, you would know that there are parts of the drive that feel as if the road stretches on forever and appears to meet the sky in the faraway distance. I always take the route down I-75 because it is more populated with places to stop, but my husband, Doug, prefers the scenic route through Columbus. We found ourselves along this familiar stretch this past weekend because we were headed to the 50th wedding anniversary party of close family friends. For us it would be a quick drive down for the party and a return trip the following day. What we didn’t know is that it would take us three hours just to get out of Atlanta. Deduct an hour to leave the house and visit the kennel for doggie drop off, and pick up a pancake breakfast for our 12-year-old, but you get the idea. It takes forever for us to leave town. In the second hour as we found ourselves trapped in traffic on I-285 West we had already started to argue as we exited in order to navigate ourselves back to I-75 South and escape the gridlock madness. Doug issued threats to turn around and head back to Cherokee, and I promised him bodily harm if he followed through as we gradually made our way through the shuffle of cars to those wide open spaces which inspired our cooler heads. I had spent a large amount of time on my phone already between the navigation and some work – answering emails, monitoring social media and working on an outline for a project on my yellow legal pad in my lap. When I was done with that I cruised Pinterest discussing home projects we should take on and my fictitious timeline that will never come to fruition. Also, at Doug’s encouragement I wrote out all of the weekends through the New Year and identified all plans - primarily including University of Georgia football games - that were on the schedule. Short of a couple of Saturdays that were conspicuously empty it was all scheduled – and that was the things we knew about. At some point I put

everything down, put my phone on charge and just looked out the window. As if the world had been animated around us, perfect cotton ball clouds as if plucked from a kindergartner’s artwork floated by as if they were moving along a grid of white brush strokes. As if viewing a painting I thought it would be impossible to recreate this beautiful vision of nature. I forced myself not to look away because I knew that moment was a gift and that it should be savored. I also knew that any Zen moment I could log would be good medicine for this overstimulated and over connected chic. I resisted awhile and returned to my web searches where I came across an interesting piece of art of a woman wearing a red dress holding a suitcase by fine art photographer Alicia Savage. Instead of a head resting on the woman’s shoulders it was instead a fluffy cloud. I stared at the piece and saw myself in it. Another search brought a new word from the 1600s – nubivagant – into my vocabulary. This word that describes the act of wandering in the clouds moving through the air had me considering how little we spend dreaming. I think our creative souls require this time in the clouds in order to cope with what is thrown at us, and hone our ability to be nimble and creative in finding solutions in our daily lives. Author Wilferd Peterson, who wrote the well-known “Art of Marriage” poem, also wrote, “Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it…” I don’t know about you, but this touched me more than his helpful hints to a successful marriage. It definitely speaks to the kind of people we were going to see at the end of this long drive. At the end of the day the presents were wrapped and we were all looking pretty smart as we arrived at the party – the clouds giving way to a misty rain outside as we got out of the car. A rainbow appeared in the deep blue sky as if on cue. Our friends and family – the types of people who have left us better than they found us, and with whom our shared memories bring to mind an Ella Fitzgerald song, “Blue Skies.” And, yes, they were “smiling.”

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We built this hospital for you.

We built Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest hospital to make you feel at home. Northside Hospital Cherokee was created from the ground up to provide patients with the best care available. See it now at NorthsideCherokee.com.

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