celebrating women of north georgia
winter|2015
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Winter 2015
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on the cover
Katie Dubnik, recently recognized as part of the North Atlanta Business Post’s “40 Under 40, balances her time between being president of Forum Communications marketing agency, numerous community boards and her family.
table of contents Moxie is a publication of The Times, 345 Green St., Gainesville, Ga. A Morris Multimedia Inc. property. Charlotte Atkins Publisher Norman Baggs General Manager
8 women, 8 stories to tell. Capturing their spirit through the lens and showing sides of them not all get to see.
Keith Albertson Editor
08| Emmie Howard
34| Emily House
14| Nikki Gilbert
40| Myrtle Figueras
24| Kelly Miles
48| Cindy Starke
30| Katie Dubnik
52| Jane White
Jenny Syversen Advertising Director Michelle Boaen Jameson Art Director Steven Welch Design Director Scott Rogers Staff photographer Erin O. Smith Staff photographer
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Morris Multimedia Inc.
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Portrait Showcase
She Said Questions We asked, they answered. Peppered throughout Moxie are little insights from area women — everything from self reinvention and renewal to which famous women with whom they’d like to spend a day. Winter 2015
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Lifestyles
14| Bon Appétit, Y’all Kim Waters and husband David Stovall unwind in the kitchen with some of their favorite recipes.
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Cheers
Enjoy a glass of bubbly during the holidays — or any day for that matter.
26| For the Health of It With instances of heart disease on the rise, area women, including Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal, are coming together for the inaugural Northeast Georgia Go Red For Women Luncheon and Wellness Expo.
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Women’s LEADERSHIP COLLOQUIUM Amanda Slavin to serve as keynote speaker at Brenau University event March 18.
Making a difference Hall’s Habitat for Humanity builds futures.
They’ve got moxie
10| Moms with Moxie Embracing twins with balance, grace.
32| Brava Michelle Martin hits the high notes on the stage.
38| Historical Moxie Frances Meadows dedicated her life to serving the public.
42| Minding her Own Business Linda Orenstein of Gem Jewelry talks about being a long-standing local business owner.
44| 50 Plus & Fabulous Lynn Overton helps women navigate life’s transitions.
56| Woman of the Year Braselton town manager Jennifer Dees is Jackson County Woman of the Year
celebrating women of north georgia
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Publisher’s Musings Embracing a season of reflection and regrowth
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inter is seldom touted as a favorite season, save for the holiday celebrations it ushers in. But it is such a necessary season in the cycle of life. For this period of cold weather and long days can offer a time for planting and nurturing the physical and spiritual seeds that we need to plant in our lives. It’s a quieter season and a time of reflection and renewal. D.H. Lawrence, in his poem “Almond Blossom,” used the almond tree in December as a symbol of hope and regrowth: “Something must be reassuring to the almond, in the evening star, and the snow-wind, and the long, long, nights.” What I love best about wintertime is that it’s a time of new beginnings. The new year brings a blank canvas on which we can start creating our vision for the year ahead. It’s also a time where after our holiday indulgences, we tend to dust off resolutions to get healthier and fitter as the calendar year changes. It’s vital that we pay attention to our health. In this edition, our For the Health of It feature shines the light on an important issue: heart health for women. That’s because heart disease is the No. 1 killer among women. The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women in February is an engaging way to make sure we understand how to be heart healthy. Because we women use our hearts, which is illustrated over and over in this edition of Moxie. Once again we feature an array of compelling women in our showcase portraits. They embody a mix of community service, health and fitness, and entrepreneurial moxie. From Emmie Howard and Katie Dubnik, who both started their own companies, to Dr. Cindy Starke, Emily House and Nikki Gilbert, for whom physical feats like triathlons, power-lifting and rock climbing are how they stay fit and challenge themselves. Anyone who knows Myrtle Figueras, Kelly Miles and Jane White know serving their community is among their hearts’ passions. Winter is also a time when our eating habits shift. Husband and wife Kim Waters and David Stovall love to cook together and they have started a new food blog. They share some of their favorite winter recipes and why they love cooking together. Of course, the holidays are a time of celebration, and bubbly is often part of the festivities. So our Cheers primer on Champagne and sparkling wines is a comprehensive guide to bubbly and makes a case for not saving it just for special occasions. Of course, as women we experience personal seasons of life. Once we hit 50, we sometimes find ourselves dealing with a variety of major life shifts or transitions, whether as empty-nesters or dealing with issues like divorce, aging parents or our health. In 50 Plus and Fabulous, counselor Lynn Overton offers ways to help navigate those storms and changing seas, fitting since she’s also an avid sailor. Other features include Moms with Moxie, where we talk to
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Photo by: Scott Rogers
parents of twins about how they nurture their dynamic duos while at the same time cultivating their children’s individuality. In Making a Difference, we shine the light on the local mission of Habitat for Humanity of Hall County and the impact that having their own homes can have in families’ lives. And there are many other woman, too many to name, celebrated on these pages, including those who responded to our She Said questions. After all, that is the goal of Moxie: To celebrate and showcase women of North Georgia. It’s bound to be many seasons of celebration!
Charlotte Atkins | Publisher Winter 2015
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t is pure coincidence that the words ‘Moxie’ and ‘Brenau’
entered our language at about the same period of history. Moxie means resilience, courage, daring and spirit. Come to think of it, so does the word Brenau. But Brenau takes the meaning deeper. Brenau University since 1878 has enabled women from all walks of life to discover those qualities in themselves and refine them into leadership, professional excellence and lives well-lived. With a thriving Women’s College and coeducational undergraduate and graduate programs online and on campuses, Brenau University still is about moxie – as gold refined by fire.
Brenau Defines Moxie. A detail of the sculpture series by former Brenau Galleries Director Jean Westmacott. One piece depicts a young woman’s arrival at Brenau as a nervous freshman. This one shows a strong, confident Brenau graduate leaving the university filled with purpose.
BRENAU IN GAINESVILLE: HISTORIC CAMPUS | DOWNTOWN CENTER | BRENAU EAST AT FEATHERBONE | GRINDLE ATHLETICS PARK, NEW HOLLAND BRENAU ACROSS THE REGION: AUGUSTA | JACKSONVILLE | KINGS BAY | NORTH ATLANTA/NORCROSS | SOUTH ATLANTA/FAIRBURN | ONLINE 500 WASHINGTON STREET SE, GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA 30501 800.252.5119 www.brenau.edu
Emmie Howard
Emmie Howard is a proud graduate of Brenau University’s Women College. She is shown at the campus entrance with its landmark sculpture of Lucile the golden tiger, the university’s mascot. During her time on campus as a student, Emmie could often be found in a tiger costume as the official mascot at events. Photo by: Scott Rogers
Lover of Southern food and culture keeps a Proper style By Charlotte Atkins
E
mmie Henderson Howard is Southern to her core. She loves the food. She loves the people. She loves the cities and their scenery and flavors of life. So it’s no wonder that when this entrepreneurial gal decided to leave the corporate world to start her own business, the brand she would choose to create would be called Southern Proper, touted as an “original preppy, Southern-inspired line of clothing, neckties, bow ties and accessories for men and women who appreciate the South.” Her clothing is available at Belk and other retailers across the nation. Her ties to North Georgia started in 1997 when she came to Gainesville to attend the Women’s College of Brenau University. Now, at 35, she is now a Brenau trustee. “I fell in love with Georgia and decided to stay here.” She also fell in love with a local man, Tommy Howard, perhaps one of the bestdressed fellows in town. Now we all know
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why the Norton Agency partner always looks so dapper. He’s a walking Southern Proper model most days. The seeds of Emmie’s love of most things Southern likely started on the cotton farm in West Tennessee where she grew up. “My favorite places are Southern cities! Charleston, S.C., Nashville, Tenn., and Oxford, Miss. They all share a delicious food scene, charming style and hold great memories of visits with friends and family.” Her quirky “things you might not know about her” list includes a childhood love of yo-yos. “I collected yo-yo’s growing up.” She was also her school mascot in both high school and college. So she can check that off her bucket list. But there’s so much more she wants to do in life. “I have many life goals, a few of which are: Learn to play golf. Become a Southern food critic. Write a book about my childhood. Have fresh flowers in my
house at all times. Start a scholarship program for young women studying business.” Collaborating with others is her passion in life. “Working with others has always been a passion of mine. I’m only successful because of the people around me both professionally and personally.” Dining is a favorite pursuit for her and Winter 2015
Tommy. “I’ve always believed that to live well is to eat well! My husband and I love to eat out. It’s one of our pastimes and we certainly will try any and every new restaurant!” Emmie doesn’t look far beyond her family tree for her heroes. “I have been blessed by a wonderful mother who taught me at a young age to be resourceful and resilient. She also instilled in celebrating women of north georgia
me to incorporate kindness and generosity in every aspect of life. My younger sister is such an inspiration as well. She is one of the most driven and successful people I know and is making a difference. She encourages me in every way to do what’s right and good.” Southern Proper is what drives Emmie these days, especially as she prepares to launch a new women’s clothing line in early
spring. And she’s firmly rooted here in North Georgia as she does so. “North Georgia is not only a beautiful place, but one of the most generous places I’ve ever experienced in my life. There are so many honorable and noble people and families that it has made quite an impact on me. “ And she’s returning the favor by having considerable impact here herself.
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Moms with Moxie Two at a Time: Embracing twins with balance, grace By Pamela A. Keene
Elisabeth Baldwin spends a morning with her twins Madeline, left, and Theresa, both 7, at Wilshire Trails Park. Photos by: Scott Rogers
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Some quotes about twins: “Double the giggles. Double the grins. Double the trouble when you’re blessed with twins.” “Twice the joy, twice the love. Twice the blessings from above.” And a definition: “Twingenuity: The inventive skill of combining the efforts of young twins in pursuit of a common goal, i.e., room destruction, sleep evasion, identity confusion, etc.” The sayings are cute, but until you’ve had twins, these quotes tell only part of the story. Elisabeth Baldwin rarely dresses 7-year-old twin daughters Theresa and Madeline alike, except for holidays like Easter. “Even then, I might get dresses that are similar but not exactly alike,” said Elisabeth, vice president and financial consultant with Regions Investments in Gainesville. “It does help with the ease of shopping, but both of them are headstrong and have their own personalities. (Husband) Larry and I celebrate their individuality in so many ways; we embrace their differences.” When they started pre-school both girls were placed in the same class, but by first grade Larry and Elisabeth decided, with input from teachers, to put them in separate classes. “It’s been much better for them to be in separate classes so that they can develop their own friends,” she said. “They do look quite a bit alike as well, so having them in different classes helps minimize mixing their identities and allows them the chance to be themselves.” Theresa and Madeline participate in extracurricular activities, including soccer and basketball. Sometimes the coaches mix them up, so one girl wears blue cleats and the other wears yellow. “They chose the colors themselves,” Elisabeth said. “It was really more about their preferences than a way to differentiate between them. Theresa likes to play offense and Madeline would rather play defense. Both girls are competitive, although Winter 2015
Madeline tends to be more of a nurturer and Theresa, as the oldest, leans toward being more competitive.” Having two sets of grandparents nearby helps Elisabeth and Larry, a state court judge, balance their family time, their work and community involvement. Each of them serves on multiple community boards. The Baldwins have purposely been selective about extracurricular activities for Theresa and Madeline to allow plenty of time to be with their grandparents and to just go outside and play. Birthdays around the Baldwin home include separate cakes for each daughter. “It’s important that each of them blow out their own candles on their own cakes,” she said. “And when they go to birthday parties, they each bring a gift. And they each have made their own friends, so we’re just getting to the point of helping them understand that sometimes they both may not be invited to the same parties. There are many good life lessons for them.” Kristine and John Alexander have been blessed with two sets of twins, born about 13 months apart. Now that all four children are in high school, they’ve begun in many ways to follow their own pursuits. “It is certainly different than when they were little,” Kristine said. “Of course, there will always be “stress with four children so close in age, but the stresses are not the same as when they were babies.” Sixteen-year-old fraternal twins Thomas and Jack are juniors at Gainesville High School. Matthew and Abby, 15, are one year behind them as sophomores. “We’re fully aware that all four of them will be in college at the same time,” Kristine said. “We’ll cross that bridge when it gets here.” When both sets of twins were infants and toddlers, Kristine said it was like having quadruplets. As they’ve grown up, each has celebrating women of north georgia
developed distinct personalities and preferences. “Now it’s like having four separate children,” she said. “Thomas, the oldest, is the leader, very determined. Jack is a charming prankster. Free-spirited Matthew is adventurous and witty and Abby’s a sweet, dynamic social butterfly. John and I have always celebrated each child’s individuality. We’ve wanted them to each be their own person and they are.” Because their birthdays are in March and April, the Alexanders celebrate all four at the same time. Each teen has a cake, and recently John and Kristine have begun taking each on a trip of their choice, a chance to spend one-onone time with their parents away from home. John is a CPA and partner at Alexander, Almand & Bangs, and Kristine is a photographer who owns her own business. It allows her the flexibility to manage the busy lives of four teenagers, two of whom are poised to begin driving. “I’m not sure what we’re going to do about cars, at least not at this point,” she said. “I can’t imagine us with four cars, one for each of the kids.”
Twin sisters Madeline, left, and Theresa, both 7, carefully cross an obstacle while visiting the playground at Wilshire Trails Park in Gainesville.
Madeline, left, and Theresa stop for a look out the covered bridge at Wilshire Trails while visiting the Gainesville park with mother Elisabeth Baldwin. Their mother rarely dresses the twins alike.
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Nikki Gilbert, in her leisure time away from her Lanier Tech career, loves rock climbing. Here she scales a wall at Adrenaline Climbing in Suwanee. She also loves Latin dancing and dirt bike riding. Photo by: Scott Rogers
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Winter 2015
Nikki Gilbert A healthy love for life, dancing and new places By Charlotte Atkins
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ikki Gilbert started her career as a medical assistant and radiologic technologist after earning her a baccalaureate degree in Radiologic Sciences from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah. Then she “realized that I had a passion and calling for administration, training and educating.” So she returned to school in 2009 and completed her Master of Health Administration with a concentration in Education in 2010 from the University of Phoenix. “As an Atlanta native, I begin searching for a career near my family and in January 2012, Lanier Technical College gave me an opportunity of my lifetime as the clinical instructor of the Radiologic Technology program!” Now she is the Allied Health Division Chair and Radiologic Technology Clinical Coordinator and Instructor at the local technical college. But she also enjoys learning about complementary health solutions. “I also enjoy researching and practicing homeopathic and natural approaches; thus, I often make my own natural household products,” says Nikki. In her leisure time, Nikki, 34, loves to take to both the dance floors and the dirt bike trails. “I love Latin dancing, especially Zouk, Salsa and Merengue! I ride dirt bikes and dream of one day owning an Energica Ego Motorcycle.” Her other pursuits include hiking, sports, theater and movies, rock climbing, amusement parks, festivals, music, dancing, spending time with my family and traveling to new places. I am always open to new ways to challenge
celebrating women of north georgia
myself and developing new hobbies and skills.” She enjoys traveling as well. A favorite destination thus far includes Santa Fe, New Mexico. “I really loved the culture and outdoor activities there! I also enjoyed Belize because it reminded me of how privileged I am living in the United States. The people there were very humble and generous. Although I have not visited yet, it is my life dream to travel to the little Caribbean island of Martinique. Martinique is my middle name.” Her bucket list is varied: “I would like to travel to more countries, continue my education, develop more clinical skills from other health care professions, learn how to speak Portuguese, compete in an International Latin Dance competition, and adopt a child.” Her passion is making a difference. “I could not live without being able to invest myself into others. This is why it is so important to me to develop a rapport with the people I associate with every day. Everyone is special and I don’t want to miss out on their uniqueness.” She’s happy to be back in North Georgia. “I love the location, scenery, people, and my 12Stone Church family! Growing up in Atlanta as a child, I always enjoyed visiting Northeast Georgia. I remember being a senior in high school and taking a trip to Lake Lanier with my co-workers and, on my way home, I told one of closest friends that one day I would love to live up here!” As mother to a 3-year-old daughter, Nikki now looks forward to what the area has to offer her family. “I am looking forward to experiencing the area in new ways!”
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Better than eating out Check out the blog by Kim Waters and David Stovall at stoveandall.blogspot.com.
David Stovalk and Kim Waters’ butternut squash bisque with a dollop of sour cream and topped with roasted butternut squash seeds and fresh nutmeg. Photos by: Scott Rogers
Bon Appétit, Y’all North Georgia couple cooks up creative dishes and new food blog
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e wind down long days behind the kitchen counter — chopping, sautéing, creating a dinner that’s most often better than what we could find eating out (or at least we tell ourselves that). And then we get our iPhones out to capture the finished product. Nice food presentation is an art, and we
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By KIM WATERS both love serving pretty food. And then we post to Facebook and Instagram. After being constantly asked for recipes of food we post, we decided to start a food blog, detailing the how and why behind the dishes we create. David is the planner. He’s always got an idea for what’s he’s going to try next. While we’re having one meal, he’s already talking about
what we’ll have for the next one. But first a little background. When David first visited me at my place in Hiawassee, my friend Cathy and I told him of how we cooked and entertained relentlessly. And then we nonchalantly decided that we would like shrimp cakes for dinner and challenged David to make them for us. Winter 2015
Have you ever made shrimp cakes? David made a quick trip to Ingles and came back ready to roll. Unfortunately, it was then discovered that I had forgotten to unpack the pots and pans from the boxes they came in. So we unpacked the pots and pans, and our love of cooking together began as we watched him painstakingly prepare one of the best meals we’d ever had. Each of us has our niches and we don’t stray into each other’s territories except when it comes to pizza. Sometimes when we have another couple over for dinner, we will have a “Dueling Pizza Cookoff ” with the guys against the girls to see who can come up with the best pizza. The guys typically load theirs up with meat, topping it with an egg, while the girls usually come up with some version of a delicious margherita pizza. I recently blogged on my margherita pizza, by the way. Check it out at StoveAndAll.blogspot.com. I love making soups, especially when the weather turns cooler. My butternut squash bisque is a favorite and was requested specifically by my friend, Sue Gross, recently just after some oral surgery. That’s an upcoming blog post. That soup gave me the idea for my Three Pepper Sweet Potato Bisque. The savory, sweet and heat all together create an interesting flavor combination that’s oh, so comforting. I’ve always loved creating dishes and dinners based on flavors I like and then I never made again because I forgot how I did it. This blog is helping me to document my recipes so that I can recreate them. Thankfully, I documented the sweet potato bisque, as it’s a winner I’ll do over and over. I hope you’ll try it, too. David is most often found out by his Big Green Egg, unless it’s during the holidays. One of David’s niches is baking tarts. Yes, tarts. He invested a small fortune in tart pans and prepares the most beautiful tarts. Coming soon in the blog, you’ll find a tart is perfect for the holidays. A tart makes a wonderful celebrating women of north georgia
David Stoval and wife Kim Waters add the final touches to a butternut squash bisque with roasted butternut squash seeds and fresh nutmeg.
hostess gift. Think about it! Who else makes tarts? Again, the tart making came from a challenge when I saw a beautiful tart on the cover of Martha Stewart Living and told him, “I bet you can’t make that!” That’s all it took. Since we’re on a sweet potato theme, here’s an easy meal or side dish that is fun to make. Even kids will love these. They are absolutely decadent! These sweet potatoes are injected with all sorts of sweet goodness with a meat injector. (You can buy the injector locally here in Gainesville at Green’s Grocery). They are then wrapped in foil and roasted with skin on either on your Big Green Egg at 400 degrees or in the oven. Kids and adults alike love them. It’s like your own personal sweet potato soufflé, that wonderful dish we typically only see at holidays. My darling nieces were leaving this weekend to go to deer camp with their parents, and I asked them, “What in the world are you girls going to deer camp for?” Sevenyear-old Kingsley immediately replied, “Mama’s cooking ... I’m just going for the food.” As we learn young here in the South, it’s all about the food!
Kim Waters adds cream to the bisque.
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Better than eating out Sweet Potato Casserole in the Skin Note: You will need a meat injector (syringe) ■■ 6 large sweet potatoes (or any amount, just adjust your ingredient amount accordingly) ■■ 1 jar Marshmallow Crème ■■ 1 cup raisins ■■ 1 cup diced pecans ■■ 1/2 stick butter ■■ 1/2 cup melted butter ■■ 2 tablespoons Agave Nectar ■■ 1 ounce spiced rum ■■ 1 tablespoon orange juice Wrap your sweet potatoes in aluminum foil and place on the grill or in the oven. At 375 degrees, it’s about an hour and 15 minutes till done. You can safely cook them at up to around 425 degrees, though, if you want to rush, and they will take 40-50 minutes. If using an internal temp probe, it appears than an internal temperature of around 215 degrees is done. While the potatoes are cooking, melt the butter and combine in the agave, spiced rum and orange juice. Lay aside. Remove the potatoes from the cook and you are ready to begin the presentation. Using your meat injector, fill the syringe with the liquid mixture you’ve prepared. With the foil still on the potato, inject about a 1/4 inch of syringe into the middle of the potato in about 6 to 8 places over the potato’s length. Uncover the potatoes and form a bed for them with the tin foil as shown in the picture. This bed also keeps them from wanting to roll around. Using a knife, slice the sweet potato from end to end, and using your tongs and the knife, lay the potato open while at the same time using your tongs to break the meat up a bit. Add two dollops of marshmallow creme side by side in the potato. Garnish with raisins, pecans and a pat of butter. Plate and serve. As a nicer presentation idea, encircle the potato with ruffled parsley, or make a bed with leafy lettuce by having all of the lettuce stems come together in the middle of the dessert plate and place the potato in its tin foil bed in the center. Three Pepper Sweet Potato Bisque ■■Two large sweet potatoes or two 14-ounce cans sweet potato ■■Grape seed oil or olive oil, 2 tablespoons ■■Small sweet onion, diced ■■Celery (2 ribs), sliced ■■Carrots (2 large, peeled and sliced) ■■Vegetable broth, 4 cups ■■Nutmeg, whole ■■1/2 cup heavy cream ■■1/2 cup sour cream ■■1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce ■■1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika ■■1/8 teaspoon McCormick Chipotle Chile Pepper
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■■Cayenne pepper, dash ■■1/8 teaspoon white pepper ■■1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom Preheat oven (or Big Green Egg with plate setter for indirect heat) to 350 degrees and cook potatoes for 45 minutes to an hour, or until tender. Heat oil in Dutch oven on medium heat, adding onions, then celery and carrots. Cook for approximately 5-8 minutes. Add vegetable broth and then the sweet potato. Add the Worcestershire sauce, paprika, chile pepper, cayenne pepper, ground cardamom and white pepper. Bring to boil and then simmer for 15-20 minutes. Puree the soup mixture with an immersion blender or in batches in blender until creamy smooth. Add the cream and return to heat, if needed, warming until hot and serve. Top with a dollop of sour cream and freshly grated nutmeg.
Nowdays, David Stovall does his cooking on his Big Green Egg cooker.
Winter 2015
She said...
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
Jean Thompson Brannon
37 – I’m young at heart and loved being in my 30s. It was a time of exploration and self-clarification for me. When I take those tests that say ‘What is your real age?” I always score somewhere in the 30s.
Jordan Pittman
I would be 12-14. Life was so simple for me during that time, and I feel like that’s the age when I was truly able to be my best self because I didn’t have a care or worry in the world.
Mandy Smith
Jan Ewing
Renee Carden
I think I would have to say 25. I am a big kid at heart and I just don’t feel like I am 42! 25 is a good age that I was still young feeling but settled in my career.
30 – I still feel young and energetic at times – and then 55 at others. Sometimes I feel ancient when it comes to being in touch with modern-day trends.
25. I’m not really sure why, it just popped in my head. I still love my music loud, I love to dance around and have fun.
Women are a driving force in North Georgia …. and at Milton Martin Honda!
Teams members, left to right, include: Caryl Roark, Rhonda Waltz, Kristina Morrison, Heidi Kennedy, Wendy Truelove, Kathryn Gardner, Susan Gittens, Jane Garrison, Audra Bachman, Karen Bryant, Nell Castleberry, Andi Farmer, Denise Rider celebrating women of north georgia
2420 Browns Bridge Road Gainesville, GA 770-534-0086 www.miltonmartinhonda.com
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She said...
What quirky habit do you have?
Becky Healan Ruffner
I have a habit of not sitting anywhere there may be a large object over my head. For example, sitting under a chandelier or sitting under mounted TVs in restaurants, etc. I’m not sure if this is a habit or a fear, but I worry about large objects over my head.
Leslie George
I color in adult coloring books. I love the beauty I can create with little actual talent!
Joy Griffin
I have a song for everything. My friends say that I bring the soundtrack for the trip when we travel together. I’ve been known to instantaneously burst into song at the strangest moments.
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Janis Mangum
Watching “Monday Night Raw Wrestling.”
Beth McIntyre
I put mustard on my eggs and mayonnaise on my French fries.
Winter 2015
Two-thirds of Champagne and sparkling wine is bought for special occasions and more than 22 percent is purchased in December alone. Since the holidays are a big part of the winter season — Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day — ‘tis the season for bubbly.
Cheers Enjoy bubbly for the holidays or any day By Charlotte Atkins
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Winter 2015
I’m a believer that any day is a day worth celebrating with bubbly, whether it’s truly a special occasion or just having survived a particularly challenging day. A friend once gave me a little placard that reads, “Drink Champagne on Tuesday. It’ll make people wonder what you’re up to.” So true ... When I give a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine as a gift, it usually comes with this suggestion: Don’t save it for a special occasion. Drink it whenever you want to! Of course, the truth is most people do save the bubbles for special occasions or the holidays. Two-thirds of Champagne and sparkling wine is bought for special occasions and more than 22 percent is purchased in December alone. Since the holidays are a big part of the winter season — Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day — ’tis the season for bubbly. So we thought we’d share a bit about sparkling wine as well as some of our favorites. Bubbly 101 Not all that sparkles is Champagne. You see Champagne is a sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. It has to come from the Champagne region of France to “officially” bear the name. But there are a number of tasty sparkling wines made in the same method. However, that doesn’t stop people from calling it what
There comes a time in every woman’s life when the only thing that helps is a glass of Champagne. Bette Davis
they want. But there is a difference, and sparkling wine comes in many forms, and it does not have to be French to be yummy. There are some great sparkling wines made right here in the good old U.S.A., and there are great sparklers from other regions of the world, including prosecco from Italy and cava from Spain. Here’s something you should know about those bubbles in your glass: Size matters. The smaller the bubbles, the more intense the taste and usually higher the price. Champagne comes in varying degrees of sweetness. Brut is the driest. Extra dry means a medium dryness that may suit a broader range of tastes. Sec means sweet, and demi-sec is so sweet you’d think it was Southern. Nonvintage Champagne must be aged one year. The majority of bubbly sold is nonvintage, which allows for the blending of juices from different years and locations. In vintage bottles, the Champagne must be aged a minimum of three years and must contain
80 percent grapes of that year and a minimum of 11 percent alcohol. Vintage Champagnes are not produced every year, just in the ones in which the winemakers feel the grapes are worthy. While movies of old glamorized wide, shallow Champagne glasses, that’s simply not the best way to enjoy bubbly. We suggest tall, thin flutes. With less surface area exposed to air, the bubbles last longer. And what’s bubbly without bubbles? The rising bubbles are also key to the drink’s flavor and aroma. Plus. it’s fun to watch the bubbles in constant motion! Some recommendations In the $10-12 range, the Spanish cava Freixinet comes in both brut and extra dry. Barefoot Bubbly is an inexpensive fun little California option. One of the best values is Veuve du Vernay, a nice little French sparkling wine. There are several in the under $20 a bottle category. Gruet from New Mexico is a tasty bubbly for around $16-18 a bottle. Mumm Napa and Domaine Chandon are both popular California sparkling wines with French winemaker roots, both for around the same pricetag. One of the best sparkling wines for around $20 is Roederer Estate from Alexander Valley in California. You also can’t go wrong with Scharffenberger from Northern California.
Bubbly from anywhere else in the world other than Champagne, France, is considered sparkling wine. celebrating women of north georgia
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Don Waara of Vine & Cheese holds a bottle of Louis De Sacy Champagne that he sells. But he says prosecco and cava are tasty sparkling alternatives to the French version.
Don Waara, owner of Vine & Cheese in Gainesville, has seen an uptick in non-French sparklers. “Prosecco has taken over the market. They’re off dry and that makes them popular. I think cava is best for price and taste.” A few he carries are Pizzolato Fields and Casa Defre proseccos and Vega Barcelona cava, all for under $15. He also sells a sparkling wine from Chile called Valdivieso that he recommends. Some other prosecco (named after the Italian white grape) options are LaMarca, Zardetto, Nino Franco and Santa Margherita. Among cavas, Segura Vuidas is quite nice as is Gramona and Aurelia. For those who prefer sweeter wines, Mondoro’s Asti is popular. And Banfi Rosa Regale is fun ... and red! And these days moscato sparklers abound, the best of which include Ballatore’s Moscato Rose and Freixenet Mia Moscato Rose. Schramsberg Cremant Demi-Sec is a higher end sweet one as is Moet & Chandon’s Nectar Imperial. But a bubbly that struck a sweet chord with this brut gal was Wilson Creek Almond Champagne, an inexpensive option that I use as liquid dessert sometimes. Over $30, look for Veuve Cliquot’s popular apricot-yellow label for a crowd-pleaser. Other recommendations include Schramsberg, Pommery, Laurent-Perrier, Moet et Chandon, Piper-Heidsick and Nicolas Fuiellatte. Waara says other areas of France like
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Burgundy are trying to give real Champagne a run for your money. He holds up a Cremant de Bourgogne as an example. “Burgundy is attempting to compete with Champagne,” he says. “This one is fatter, softer and richer than Champagne, which tends to be more acidic.” I recently had a Cremant d’Alsace that rivaled my favorite Champagnes. Another of this writer’s favorite is Roederer’s L’Ermitage (I call it California Cristal). GH Martel and Paul Goerg are probably lesser known but will be a pleasant surprise. On the high end of Champagnes are the vintage bottles of many of the above as well as Taittinger, Pol Roger, Dom Perignon, BillicartSalmon (which Waara highly recommends), Krug and Louis Roederer Cristal. Sparklers outside of the Champagne region are lovely, too, so look for labels that read Cremant de Loire or Cremant D’Alsace. Nice on the palate and easier on the purse. My all-time favorite is Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame. And while “pink Champagne” used to make some cringe, a lot of the French and California winemakers are turning out rose bubbly to die for ... so think pink! History and lore Champagne is special, and the history and lore around it makes it all the more intriguing. You see, Champagne was in its early incarnation an accident — a divine one in my opinion. The grapes of the Champagne region were
always known for great winemaking. In the 1600s, Benedictine monks in the area were making wine. The cold weather meant the grapes didn’t finish fermenting. Then in the spring when it warmed, the fermentation started again (releasing carbon dioxide) causing bubbles. Now lore has it that some of the monks thought it was the devil wreaking havoc with their wine, but one now-famous monk saw the positive side of things and, upon tasting the bubbly wine, is said to have exclaimed “Come quickly. I’m tasting the stars!” That monk was named Dom Perignon. He’s credited with developing methode champenoise, the basic method still used for making Champagne even though fermented wine existed for centuries before. While we should all be forever grateful for the starry-eyed monk, it’s important to note that women have played a major role in the history and development of fine Champagne. Most notable is Madame Clicquot, who is often considered the first businesswoman of the modern era. Née Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin, she was widowed at 27 in 1805. Thus Veuve Clicquot was born (“veuve” means “widow” in French). She defied the convention of the day by taking over her late husband’s small Champagne house. She is responsible for some of the more important technological innovations in Champagne-making and turned hers into one of the most renowned Champagne houses in the world. (One of her most famous triumphs was sending a secret shipment of her Champagne to Russia in 1814 in defiance of Napoleon’s blockade — you’ve got to admire the gal’s gumption!) Near the end of widow Clicquot’s life, another young woman was widowed, Louise Pommery. In the mid-1800s, she assumed control of her husband’s business. She was among the first to buy chalk and limestone pits and create 12 miles of chalk caves underneath Reims, making for the perfect place to store hundreds of thousands of bottles in a temperature-controlled environment. Many other Champagne houses followed her lead. Of course, the most important contribution of Louise Pommery’s house was the decision to depart from the sweet Champagne of the day and to create the first brut bubbly. Hallelujah, Louise! There have been many women of note in Champagne’s history, and that tradition continues today with modern winemakers. Think about that the next time you take a sip of bubbly and raise your glass to the women and the monk who helped make it possible. Cheers to them and their bubbly moxie! Winter 2015
She said... Have you ever reinvented yourself personally or professionally?
Cindy Wilson
I have always been passionate about our community and very involved in numerous organizations as a volunteer, so I decided to venture into the nonprofit world as a career. My friends and family thought I was crazy, but I did it and have never looked back. I feel great when I go home at the end of the day knowing that I have helped people in our community that truly need it!
AnnMargaret Johnston
About eight years ago I self-published a book called “How to Turn Your Poker Playing Into a Business.” Barnes & Noble bought it after I sent it to them in New York. One of the greatest thrills was to see it on the shelf in a store. The book carved out a new niche in my CPA practice and I now specialize in professional U.S. poker players that live all over the world. It brought a great element of fun to a CPA practice!
Harriette Taylor
Yes, after retiring from a job with the state of Georgia drivers’ licensing, I went to work as a flight attendant with the Delta Connector. What a fun time.
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A few times. I was in retail management, went back to college and became an owner of a ballet studio and a professional ballet dancer. Now I sell and lease real estate. celebrating women of north georgia
Leigh Carroll
I have gone from a hair stylist to bartender to police officer to deputy sheriff. So, yes, many times. From college and beyond, I took advantage of every opportunity to grow and explore.
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Kelly Miles
Kelly Miles, a local attorney, loves the life she has created along the shores of Lake Lanier. But she could have moved from debutante ball gowns into a JAG uniform if she’d taken another road in life.
Roads not taken lead to lawyer’s full life here By Charlotte Atkins
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s a teen living in Dalton, Kelly Miles really wanted to spend the summer working at Yellowstone National Park, but her parents had a different idea: a debutante ball. “I was a debutante in high school making my debut in the Cotton Ball in Chattanooga. I was so upset because being a debutante and participating in the many parties that entailed that summer meant that I had to turn down the job in Yellowstone Park that I had applied for and gotten,” Kelly shared. “Knowing that I was not happy about having to make this huge sacrifice on my part, Mom got me a job with Judge Robert Vining, a Superior Court judge, for the summer while his secretary took off. This was a very smart move on her part as that summer job ended up inspiring me to become a lawyer. Who knows where my life would have led if I had gone to Yellowstone. Plus, the debutante parties were loads of fun, but don’t tell my parents that!” Now Kelly, 56, is a partner at one of Gainesville’s most prestigious law firms of Smith, Gilliam, Williams & Miles, practicing
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family law. Kelly likes to tell the story of how she became the firm’s first female attorney. “John Smith offered me a job and, as he tells it, all because I had worn pearls to the interview.” If not for the pearls, Kelly might have ended up in a naval uniform. “I almost joined the Navy JAG (judge advocate general) Corps right out of law school. In my last year of law school, I filled out an application to be considered for Navy JAG. I got past the first round and had to go to Atlanta for the physical tests, hearing tests, etc. Somehow I passed that as well and my application proceeded onto Washington. “I must have even passed their background tests because I was offered a position in Navy JAG upon graduation from law school that year. All I had to do was sign on the dotted line.” She was thrilled but, ultimately, decided not to join. “It’s amazing the different courses that one’s life can take depending on the decisions you make,” she says. “Who knows where I would be now if I had made a
different decision? I’m just not sure though how good I would have looked in that uniform!” She might have been quite comfortable considering she spent much of her early life in a Girl Scout uniform. “I am a First Class Girl Scout, which is the Girl Scout’s equivalent to an Eagle Boy Scout. I had two fantastic Scout leaders, Billie Ruth Little and Ida Minor, who led a group of 20 of us in scouting all the way through the 12th grade. We earned every badge that you could possibly fit on Winter 2015
your sash.” The girls had spaghetti suppers and rummage sales “too numerous to count” in order to earn money to travel to Paris, Switzerland and London in the summer of their junior year in 1976. “I don’t think any of us ever wore our green Scout uniforms again after wearing them every day for the 17 days we were in Europe. Scouting taught me how to always ‘Be Prepared,’ which was the Girl Scout motto. This is where I get the motto I have tried to live by in my legal career.” celebrating women of north georgia
Kelly describes her leisure activities as “playing with our two chocolate labs; cocktails and conversation; playing in Atlanta; doing yard work and doing board work for nonprofit organizations.” She’s checked some adventures off her life list, like biking all over New England with her sister right out of college. What remains includes: ■■ Taking both of our nieces to see Pink in concert, wherever she may be. ■■ Learning how to cook fried chicken and how to grow a full vegetable garden like
my grandmother. ■■ Having time to read non-legal books again. ■■ Soaring in a glider. (I have done the hot air balloon, helicopter, and float plane, all of which were awesome). ■■ Learning how to do woodworking. ■■ Trying to fly fish on a wide, really wide, river. ■■ Learning how to walk in high heels! Since she’s a former deb who still sports her fateful pearls, perhaps she can get a pass on the heels.
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Front row from the left is Dr. Cynthia Cabrera, Go Red For Women Executive Leadership Team and survivor Dr. Marti Gibbs, Go Red For Women Executive Leadership Team and survivor Victoria Lassiter, Shirley Bates, survivor, Mimi Collins, CEO The Longstreet Clinic, PC, and Go Red For Women Chairwoman, and Charlotte Atkins, Go Red For Women Executive Leadership Team. The back row is from the left Julie Ann Hamilton, Regional Director American Heart Association Deborah Mack, Go Red For Women Executive Leadership Team, and Laurie Weber, survivor. Photo by: Scott Rogers
For The Health of It
By ‘going red,’ area women raise heart health awareness 26
By CARLY SHAREC When it comes to heart health, there’s both good news and bad news for women. “The good news is cardiovascular deaths in the United States are decreasing,” said Julie Ann Hamilton, regional director of the American Heart Association in Gainesville and Athens. “However, heart disease still remains the No. 1 cause of death for women in our country.” And while the overall death rate is going down, recent numbers show that incidences of heart disease in women are increasing at a faster rate than in men. In fact, as many as 1 in 3 women will die from heart disease, which covers multiple conditions that impact heart health. Possibly the best known of these is coronary heart disease, the top killer of both men and women. With CHD, plaque builds up on the inner walls of the coronary arteries, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Winter 2015
This condition, called atherosclerosis, can cause chest pain. If the plaque ruptures, it can create a clot, one of the leading causes of a heart attack. There is also coronary microvascular disease, which is when the smaller arteries inside of the heart are damaged. And, at least according to research from the NHLB, it is possible to die of a broken heart. Times of extreme emotional stress can lead to short-term heart failure in a condition known as broken heart syndrome. Women are more likely than men to experience this, according to the research. In order to save lives, knowledge of the symptoms and prevention is key, particularly for women who may not have the typical chest pains men are more likely to experience. “Be sure to have your yearly physical with your doctor and let them know of any symptoms you are having,” Hamilton said. “Depending on your situation, your doctor can decide the best course of action.” Symptoms of heart conditions can be subtle and easily ignored. According to information from the American Heart Association, heart conditions can manifest in jaw and back pain or flulike symptoms including nausea, lightheadedness and shortness of breath. Hamilton also suggested that women can visit heart.org to take one of the quizzes available on the website, which can help assess possible risk factors. There are also many articles and other resources available. To help increase awareness of heart disease, women across the world wear red to draw Georgia’s first lady Sandra Deal will attend the inaugural Northeast Georgia Go Red for Women Luncheon and Wellness Expo.
celebrating women of north georgia
attention to women’s heart health on one day every February. It’s a cause that’s important to Georgia’s first lady Sandra Deal. She will attend the inaugural Northeast Georgia Go Red for Women Luncheon and Wellness Expo, scheduled for 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at First Baptist Church in Gainesville. In advance of the event, the governor’s wife is teaming up with the American Heart Association to help women learn basic preventive measures. “Get your numbers,” Deal said for a promotional video. “Check your blood pressure and your cholesterol.” Deal also advised to “own your own lifestyle” by incorporating regular exercise and quitting smoking. For heart disease prevention, the usual advice of eating healthy foods and exercising regularly applies, but there are many other factors that can influence heart health, particularly in women. “Chronic stress is associated with the thickening of blood and elevation of blood pressure,” explained Lisa Morris, owner of Echo Wellness Center in Flowery Branch. “Peace and happiness might be as important as good food and exercise for cardiovascular health.” Morris called it cultivating “emotional poise,” and encouraged women to find ways to reduce stressors in their lives. Examples might include low-impact exercise like walking through nature or yoga. Engaging with hobbies can also help alleviate stress.
On top of stress reduction, Hamilton stressed the importance of not smoking, citing a statistic that states one year after quitting smoking, a woman can reduce her risk of coronary heart disease by 50 percent. More information on heart disease and about the Feb. 5 event can be found by visiting negagored.heart.org. Get healthy for 2016
With heart disease being the number one killer of women in the United States, it’s imperative to improve overall health. The beginning of a new year is a time when many people set goals to lose weight, shape up and get healthy. But as many people who set resolutions will confirm, resolutions and goals seem to fall to the wayside only a few weeks into the year. However, it is possible to set goals and stick to them, with experts from around the region weighing in on how to make 2016 the healthiest year yet: ■■ Consult a doctor. This is the first thing most people should do before beginning a new exercise plan or diet, particularly if they have not been active in recent months or years. ■■ Start weekly. Incorporating exercise even just once a week into your regular routine can make it seem more doable. “Everyone has different limitations or parameters to work around,” said Angie Beccue, the health and wellness director with Georgia Mountains YMCA. Because of those differences, she recommends consulting with an expert, like a wellness coach at the YMCA, before developing a workout plan. ■■ Build up to 150 minutes. That’s the general recommendation for both moderateintensity cardio and resistance training per week, Beccue said. She also said it’s important to allow 48 hours for rest in between resistance training sessions. Exercising for 150 minutes can be broken down into 30 minutes for five days weekly. ■■ Look at the calendar. Lisa Morris, owner of Echo Wellness Center, advises anyone with a goal to set the date by which they want to accomplish that goal, and then fill in the steps to take every day to get closer to that goal. “(Then), forget the calendar and just do what is required for today,” she said. “Success is all about making a clear and doable plan, and following it one day at a time.” ■■ Don’t give up. Miss a day? No problem! Don’t let setbacks deter you from continuing, Morris said. “Believe in yourself,” she said. “It is important to know why you are doing this, and use that anchor when you need strength.”
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Julie Ann Hamilton, of the American Heart Association, meets with The Longstreet Clinic Chief Operating Officer Loren Funk recently in Gainesville.
Hamilton suggests women visit heart. org for information on risk factors.
Survivors from left, Dr. Marti Gibbs, physician; Victoria Lassiter, Shirley Bates and Laurie Weber go red.
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Winter 2015
She said...
How do you renew and revive yourself physically and mentally?
Deborah Prosser
Mary Thompson
I spend time with my 17-year-old son, who keeps me young, and whose talents and interests inspire me. I knit and play ukulele, which are as relaxing as meditation for me. I visit historic towns and antique markets and love the grounding that knowledge of the past provides for the present.
I have a sunroom in my home where I have tea and coffee in the morning and relax before my day starts. And at night, I relax in the living room and have a glass of red wine while watching a great movie on TV. It works wonders!
Darla Eden
Starbucks, stilettos and shopping. And laughing.
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Valerie SimmonsWalston
I wish I could say yoga, because I think yoga is a meaningful way to reflect, refocus and renew your spirit. It’s just too quiet for me. I am a Zumba girl. I love to dance and sing really loud. In most cases, I sing offkey, but who cares? I am still singing! I love gospel, R&B, jazz and whatever is played in Zumba class. Music is therapy for my soul.
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Sheri Clark Millwood
When I am exhausted physically and mentally, I spend time washing, waxing and detailing my car.
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Katie Dubnik
Katie Dubnik’s broad interests range from hiking and kayaking to riflery and skeet shooting. Here she relaxes at a Rudy Pittman’s farm with her .28-gauge shotgun. Photo by: Scott Rogers
Living ‘deep’ through business success, community involvement By Charlotte Atkins
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atie Dubnik loves going to the lake with her family. “Although I grew up in Gainesville, my mom’s family was from Habersham County. We grew up going to Lake Burton to a cabin my grandparents bought in the 1950s. Even now, every summer I cannot wait to get up there, and one of the best joys for me is now my boys are the same way. “Although I enjoy riding on the tube, slaloming, kayaking, roasting marshmallows on the fire and the like, it truly is my place of rest. The place I can take a deep breath, relax and unwind and recharge.” She needs a place to exhale since she’s one of the busiest women in Gainesville. At 35, she’s president of Forum
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Communications marketing agency, on numerous community boards and was recently recognized as part of the North Atlanta Business Post’s “40 Under 40” list. Most days she’s on the run, but that’s not surprising for someone who was a two-time Gainesville High state champion in track in the late ’90s. Katie still runs, but these days she stays active in other ways. “While I enjoy running more today than I think I did back in high school — the irony of life is that it is just about impossible between work, family and volunteering to find the time to do it now — some of my favorite activities include things like hiking, rock climbing, white water kayaking and riflery/skeet shooting.”
She’s called North Georgia home for most of her life, having spent about 27 years (off and on) in Gainesville. “I live in the house I grew up in within the Gainesville City limits — I joke that I went nowhere in life, and came full circle back to where I started. Born and raised here, Gainesville has always been home. I lived in a couple different cities through college and early adulthood, but nowhere had the same emphasis
on community that is such an integral part in my life, so as soon as our jobs would allow, my husband Matt and I knew we wanted to return home.” Now that she’s back, she one of the area’s biggest proponents. “There is nowhere else I have ever lived with the same sense of community as Gainesville. This community has taught me the importance of giving back and of philanthropy. My grandfather used to say ‘We all Winter 2015
have to pay a little rent along the way,’ and what I love is that this community believes in working together, is not satisfied with just the status quo, and is willing to make a difference in each other’s lives.” Family is important to this former UGA homecoming queen who lives next door to her sister. “I love that my kids are growing up in a unique community. They see first hand celebrating women of north georgia
what it means to invest in one another and the importance of giving back.” Her father is her lifelong mentor and greatest cheerleader. “He is the kind of person who thinks before he speaks. He is an eternal optimist; he puts others first, and he has a heart for the community in which we live. He is one of my best sounding boards in life and business. I am his brown-eyed girl and he is one of my greatest blessings and one
of many of my heroes.” Perhaps even more so since Katie lost her mother to pancreatic cancer as a young woman. The loss was devastating but she says it makes her treasure each day. “I think that life has taught me to make the most of each day you are given here on earth. I learned from losing my mom when she was only 54 that no one is promised a long life or even a healthy life. So, while you
are able, you need to make the most of each and every day here on earth. I try to ‘seize the day’ every day.” That’s why she prizes this Henry David Thoreau quote: “I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. To put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die discovered that I had not lived.” “In other words, live a life well-lived,” Katie says.
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Michelle Martin warms up for her voice lessons at the First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville. Martin has been singing professionally for more than 25 years. Photo by: Erin O. Smith
Brava
From Mozart to Patsy Cline, Michelle Martin hits high note on musical stage By Pamela A. Keene From the time she was 5 years old, Michelle Martin knew that music would be her life. When she was a little girl, her parents, Mike and Dianne Martin of Gainesville, took her to theater shows, music concerts and performances. “I was surrounded by music from an early
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age because my parents were, and still are, active in theater and music,” said Martin, now an auburn-haired coloratura soprano who has performed worldwide. “I sang in the children’s choir at church, in the elementary school chorus and in school talent shows, following my passion for singing.” She took piano and voice lessons while in high school. She even sang in a rock band in high school.
“Back then, I wanted to be the next Pat Benatar,” she said with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes. “And I just knew I was going to be famous by the time I was 25.” Though it didn’t work out quite the way she envisioned, life has really turned out much better. Although she never topped the charts as a rock singer, her vocal talent and versatility has taken her across the country and around the world. A 1984 graduate of North Hall High School, Michelle chose Florida State University because of its music performance degree program. “It is among the best vocal performance programs in the Southeast,” she said. She graduated five years later and began auditioning for roles through the Southeastern Theatre Conference, where actors, singers, dancers from high school, college and the professional area are viewed by directors and producers from across the country. Back at home between auditions and performances, Michelle worked for Mansfield Oil in Gainesville for more than 20 years, in two separate stints in billing and accounting. Winter 2015
From 1996 until 2003, she took a break and dedicated herself full-time to musical theater. She landed a onemonth assignment as a guest artist in Findlay, Ohio, a six-week job at Six Flags Over Georgia’s Crystal Pistol, and another position in Alabama performing Shakespeare and Rodgers and Hammerstein in repertory theater over several months. “Things began to take off in 1997, and it was pretty much the start of everything for me,” she said. For the next several years, she had roles in “The Sound of Music,” “Grease,” “Smoke on the Mountain,” and various musicals. Her big break came when thendirector the late Bob Bogdanoff of the Royal Palm Dinner Theatre in Boca Raton, Fla., cast her as Patsy Cline in “Always … Patsy Cline.” She later also reprised the Patsy role in “A Closer Walk.” In many ways, Patsy Cline became her signature. “I had never sung country music before but I immersed myself in everything Patsy, listening to all her music, reading biographies about her and learning everything I could,” she said. “The Patsy role in Boca led me to recreate her for theaters in Maryland, Arizona and the Southeast.” During that time, she also continued to perform other genres, including classical music. She has sung Mozart in Rome and Florence, Italy, performed as Patsy Cline on the east and west coasts of the United States, and appeared in theater productions in the Southeast. After more than a half-dozen years of living out of a suitcase and not always being sure about her next job, Michelle decided to step back from touring. So in 2003, Michelle returned to Gainesville and her job at Mansfield Oil. About six months ago, she took a job as the billing and cash applications supervisor at Airgas Specialty Products in Lawrenceville. “For those last two years, I really never had to audition, but generally, I just don’t like auditioning, because it is nerve-wracking and very subjective,” she said. “Someone told me once that songs are like clothes — some look good on you and some don’t. Not every role is going to right for you because a director usually has an idea in mind for the character. When you don’t get called back and cast, it’s not a personal failure. You always have to remember that.” Yet she continues to perform. She’s a member of the 30-voice Lanier Chamber Players, sings at Luna’s with her pianist/music partner Chad Watkins, and sings for weddings and funerals for her church. Her rendition of the “Lord’s Prayer” has been described as “masterful.” Michelle takes voice lessons regularly from Sandra Lutters to keep her voice in shape. “Singers are like athletes because your voice is a muscle and it has to be worked properly to perform at its best,” she said. “People sometimes ask me why I didn’t go to New York and Broadway,” she said. “Truly, I didn’t want to waitress for the rest of my life, waiting for that next role to come through. I’m here in Gainesville. I’m happy and it makes sense for me to be right where I am. God has given me this gift, and I’m supposed to share it.” celebrating women of north georgia
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Even though Emily House started power weight lifting less than two years ago, she competed and placed in the national championships a few months ago. At 5 feet, 4 inches, she can both squat  almost twice her body weight and deadlift more than 400 pounds. Photo by: Scott Rogers
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Winter 2015
Emily House A pillar of strength as wife, mom and nutrition expert By Charlotte Atkins
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mily Vinson House and her husband Morgan grew up on Lake Lanier together. They have known each other as Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club teammates since he was 14 and she was 11.
celebrating women of north georgia
“But we did not start dating until our early 20s,” she says. Now at 26 she’s married to Morgan, who’s the executive director for the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, and they have a 2-year-old son Liam. The Gainesville native has lived in North Georgia for most of her life, except when she was traveling in her late teens and early 20s. By day, Emily is school nutrition coordinator for Gainesville City Schools. But nutrition is more than a means to a paycheck. It’s a way of life for her. “I weigh, measure, and track everything I eat and read all the labels on packaged foods before I buy them. My trips to the grocery store take a while,” Emily says. “Many people say they want to impact the world and make a difference. I want to do that through nutrition education. This is something I can proudly say I do on a regular basis because of my position. The most notable thing I have done is to help implement the USDA new meal pattern in Gainesville City Schools while still offering meals the students enjoy.” Exercise is her passion in life. “We only have one body and we have to take care of it. I work out six days a week, lifting four times and running twice.” That focus on fitness and nutrition has led to a new avocation – power weight lifting. “I began powerlifting a year and a half ago and recently competed at nationals where I placed sixth.“ At the U.S. Powerlifting National Championships in Scranton, Pa., this fall the petite athlete bench pressed 220 pounds, squatted 291 pounds and deadlifted 414 pounds. In addition to sports and fitness, in her leisure time Emily enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, traveling, DYI home improvement projects, reading and listening to podcasts. She loves living in this part of the South. “North Georgia is incredibly beautiful! You can go from the lake to the mountains in under and hour. We are close enough to Atlanta to enjoy the events, but far enough to not get stuck in traffic. Most of all I love the people. Whenever our friends and family visit this area they always notice the friendliness of the community.” When asked what job she’d want to do if she could do anything, her answer lands close to where her interests now intersect. “It is interesting how much our answers to this question change as we get older. My answers from the past two decades have included veterinarian, professional kayaker (that job does not exists), personal trainer, nurse, fitness model and nutritionist. Now I think my dream job would be a nutrition and fitness consultant whose primary clients are families.” She stresses that nutrition and wellness go beyond the cafeteria or the school. “It takes an entire family to embrace healthy lifestyle changes. I also would be interested in working with the FDA or USDA to develop tools for making good nutrition easier to understand and implement at home.” Whether it’s nutrition or sport or life, Emily doesn’t shy away from striving to be the best version of herself in all that she does — athlete, educator or mother. A favorite quote she lives by comes from Henry Ford: “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.”
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Opposite page: Deshaun Watson made the cover of Sports Illustrated; Watson grew up in a Habitat home in Hall County.
Making a difference A home for success: Hall’s Habitat for Humanity builds futures By Frank reddy
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Winter 2015
At the helm of one of the nation’s top college football teams is a former Gainesville High School quarterback who is hoping to lead the Clemson Tigers to a national championship. The future looks bright for Deshaun Watson, who emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender in only his sophomore year. But before he was in the national spotlight, and even before he was setting state records at Gainesville, Watson was just a regular guy with very humble roots. As a child, Watson lived in government housing “with lots of bad influences around. It was not some place everyone wanted to stay for the rest of their life. You always wanted a house. Somewhere to go that you know is safe.” Watson found that in the form of a Habitat for Humanity of Hall County home. The local nonprofit housing organization, which is one of the area’s most engaging and impactful nonprofits, is currently celebrating 25 years and just broke ground on Copper Glen, a 21-house subdivision. Watson, who is a Habitat International Winner for the Next Generation Award, says his mother Deann was an inspiration to him. She was the one who took the first step toward giving them a home of their own. She applied to Habitat for Humanity of Hall County and set them on the path to homeownership. Watson said his mother “put in the hours” as part of the Habitat requirements in obtaining a home. “She would go help build houses and we were able to make good grades, and so the whole family was putting in the work and effort to achieving that goal and get the house,” he said. Executive Director Ann Nixon said there are rigorous steps involved with regard to getting into a Habitat home. The application process includes, among other components, a review of employment status; a check-in on the applicants’ current living quarters to determine the need for improved housing; and an investment of physical labor or “sweat equity” in building other’s homes and their own as well as assisting in other Habitatrelated activities around the community. “We’re empowering these families with the single-largest asset of their lives,” Nixon said. “We want to be sure they are equipped to handle this investment.” For Watson’s family, the process took about a year and half to two years. Deshaun says he recalls the joy on his mother’s face on that of his little brother and sister when they moved into their own home. celebrating women of north georgia
“After we got the house, I started separating myself from negative things,” Watson said. “I was able to come home and work on my craft as a student and as an athlete and just be able to be a normal kid without worrying about something bad happening. “The Habitat house has helped me focus and mature.” Watson’s family is one of the many success stories around Hall County. Nixon said over the past two and a half decades the organization has placed 51 families in homes around Hall County, and over the past few years has averaged placing five families in a home every year. “We intend to keep producing at that level, and even more, over time,” Nixon said. “But, what we’re able to do is always contingent upon whether we have funding.” All funding for the local group comes from local donations. “Mostly, funding comes from the open hearts of our community,” Nixon said. “It’s a misconception that we get funding from the Atlanta office. All our funding comes
from local donations. When people here are investing in our Habitat, that money stays in Hall County.” Money donated goes toward projects like the homes slated for construction at Copper Glen. The 40-plus acres was donated about a year ago by a private investor. The first two Habitat homes are under construction in the subdivision. “The advantages are that all of these hardworking families will be living together in this community and all can have a real appreciation for all that they’ve been through … it fosters a strong sense of community,” Nixon said. It’s a notion that certainly rings true for Watson. As he prepares to lead his team toward a possible championship, he can’t help but reflect on how much his life has changed. “Everything I have been dreaming about is becoming a reality.” Those wishing to donate either time or money to Habitat for Humanity of Hall County can visit www.habitathallcounty.org or call 770-718-1070.
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Historical Moxie
Frances Meadows dedicated her life to serving the public By JOHNNY VARDEMAN Two days before she died in 2002, Hall County Commissioner Frances Meadows attended a county commission meeting, one she felt she couldn’t miss despite her failing health. She didn’t look well and must have felt terrible, fellow commissioners said at the time. Meadows had suffered from leukemia for three years, though the cancer had gone into remission until a few months before it took her life. Ever the optimist, Meadows had even packed her bags to attend a meeting of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia in Savannah that weekend. A vice president of the association, she was expected to become president in 2003. Instead, she was admitted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center on Saturday and died the next day. She was 59 years old. Her dedication to whatever cause she was engaged in was a hallmark of her life. “I definitely believe that Frances Jenkins Meadows proved, through her innate character, that she is one of the most important women to have shared her life with
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all of us in Hall County,” said Myrtle Figueras, close friend and Gainesville City Council member. “She committed herself to public service in many ways, especially as she demonstrated her talent for negotiation and finding the middle ground in the myriad of situations and decisions that were required to be made when she served on the Hall County Board of Commissioners.” Meadows was the first black to serve as commissioner. She defeated a well-known white
incumbent, Don Whitmire, and took office in 1992. Figueras, a trail blazer herself as the first black female mayor in Gainesville’s history, pointed to Meadows’s level-headedness, civility and negotiating skill. That was what earned her respect from fellow commissioners, all of whom praised her service on the commission. Meadows was the first AfricanAmerican enrolled at thenGainesville College, where she later spent a career as assistant director of financial aid. Besides her degree from the school, she also completed Lanier Tech and at age 50 earned a business administration degree from what is now the University of North Georgia. As county commissioner, she helped pass measures to cope with the county’s growth, bring the 1996 Summer Olympics to Lake Lanier and work out water issues between the county and Gainesville. “Frances was probably one of the most authentic people I have ever met,” said Brenda Branch Hayes, who served with her as county commission chair. “I trusted her completely. If she gave you her word, she would
stick to it. She had no hidden agendas — she just wanted to do what was best for her district and for the whole county.” Hayes said Meadows was thoughtful about the decisions she made and later came to serve as the true diplomat on the commission with her calming presence. She voted her conscience, which was the soul of common sense, rather than any rigid ideology or party line, she said. Besides her public service, Meadows was otherwise active in the community, serving on numerous non-profit boards of directors and leadership positions in several organizations. Just before her death, the Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia honored her for a lifetime of achievement at its annual Women of Distinction event. When Meadows died, former county commissioner Jimmy Echols, referring to the respect in which she was held, said, “I don’t think she had any enemies.” The city of Gainesville named the Frances Meadows Aquatic Center off Jesse Jewell Parkway in her honor. Johnny Vardeman is retired editor of The Times. Winter 2015
She said...
What do you wish you had known as a younger woman that you know or understand now?
Tracy Jordan
That it did not matter what other people thought of my hopes and dreams. I wish that I had not let the voice of well-intentioned naysayers stop me from some actions that would have been beneficial. It only mattered that I believed and could strive to achieve any goal.
Erin Williamson
That for the most part, Mom was right.
Carol Burrell
Don’t get so anxious about things that you can’t control nor determine the end result. In my experience, even through the difficult times, you do get through it and learn to adapt.
Janet Keever
Ann Nixon
That life is too short to sweat the small stuff. I wish someone had said to me when I was totally upset about something, “Is this going to matter to you at all in five years.” It would’ve saved me a lot of stress and tears!
We all need to be able to stand on our own two feet, not hanging on the coattails of others.
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Myrtle Figueras, who’s wrapping up almost two decades of service, strolls through the Midtown Greenway, a place she helped transform during her tenure on the Gainesville City Council. For her, the midtown revitalization is a shining example of public and private collaboration and the park is a gathering place for all to enjoy. Photo by: Scott Rogers
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Winter 2015
Myrtle Figueras
Longtime Gainesville city leader lives to serve, teach and parle Francais By Charlotte Atkins
M
yrtle Figueras exudes joie de vivre, which is the exuberant enjoyment of life. She also knows how to pronounce it properly. That’s because Myrtle, 72, is a retired French teacher who is known for her French flourishes in almost every conversation. There’s no bumping into her without a warm “Bonjour!” Teaching brought her to Gainesville from South Georgia some 50 years ago where she taught first at Butler High School before school integration, and then spent the bulk of her career at Gainesville High. In the decades since her arrival from her native Thomasville, she has spent decades teaching students of all ages, including fellow adults, not only the linguistics of French but also its allure and passion. She is quick to tell you there’s no deep mystery to her. “I am regular old me,” she humbly responds. But she does admit that she approaches the world in her own way. “I am most pleased when I dance to my own inner choreography,” chimes Myrtle.
celebrating women of north georgia
“I don’t fit in any box.” The outdoors is her natural muse. “I love the out of doors. Much of my inspiration comes from walking and communing with nature.” The Midtown Greenway in Ward 3 that she has served as a Gainesville City Council member is one of her favorite places, especially since she helped transform it into the park and trail system it is today. “This area used to be the dirtiest part of town. Now look at it. C’est tres bien,” she says. A longtime public servant, she’s a former two-time Gainesville mayor. She finishes up her final term on the Gainesville City Council with the close of 2015, 20 years after she first ran for office in 1995. “I still love my job,” she says as she ponders wrapping up two decades as an elected official. “I love serving the people. The city plants and stimulates and then hopes others join in. That’s how progress happens. The city is becoming one Gainesville. That makes my heart happy.” In her personal life, Myrtle strives to live a Christ-centered life that includes visiting the elderly and infirm. She also enjoys
“reading, teaching/speaking French with friends; sharing me in jovial ways; smiling and walking.” Myrtle does not take simple pleasures like smiling and walking for granted. You see, in 1983 after returning from France where she had been immersing herself in the language she loves so, an occluded carotid artery led to a stroke just as she was turning 40. She had to navigate recovery from “brain surgery and the works.” She calls her travels to France alone and her stroke recovery her bravest time in life. This community stalwart and teacher strongly believes learning is a lifetime journey for all, noting what she strives for is “continuously learning, and then sharing that knowledge with as many as will open themselves to listen.” That’s why her monthly French speakers’ social gatherings and numerous community events fill her social calendar and her heart. “Discovering and then seeing good in all” has been Myrtle’s approach in teaching, in public service and in life. That’s what gives her a certain je ne sais quois that is purely Myrtle.
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Minding her own business Gem Jewelry, Linda Orenstein’s family business, has put the sparkle in life’s milestones for nearly 80 years By Brandee Thomas Diamond earrings, pearl necklaces and fine china are more than pretty gifts to Linda Orenstein. Those opulent and shiny things represent her nearly 80-year-old family legacy, one made of equal parts quality and dedication. “I don’t know how other parents teach their children about their business, but we would come to town on Saturdays when we were little – I’m talking 5 or 6 years old – and help out with small things that we could do,” says Orenstein, who co-owns Gem Jewelry on Bradford Street in downtown Gainesville with her sister, Temme Orenstein Schooler. “We learned literally from the ground up. As we got older, we got more responsibilities. (My father, Marvin) just thought we ought to learn what work was about and he taught us how to work.” Pretty soon, jewelry became as embedded in their blood as their own DNA. “I remember when I was
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about 12 years old, we sold a line of fashion jewelry that was advertised in all of the big, ladies’ magazines. Usually there were 4 pieces – a necklace, earrings, a bracelet and a pin – that match,” Orenstein recalls. “It was about $25 or $30 for a set and they would let me sell that. I felt like I was really doing something writing up tickets and making sales at only 12 years old. “It’s like if your mother was a good cook and every time she got in the kitchen, she told you to stay out of the kitchen, you wouldn’t want to learn how to cook. But if she invited you in and said, ‘Here, let me show you how to measure the flour or cream the butter and sugar,’ you would be happy to learn and you would become a good cook. “I have a degree in secondary education from Brenau and (Temme) has a degree in fashion merchandising. It’s not that we didn’t try other things, it’s just that by the time we got old enough to earn a living, the jewelry business was second
Linda Orenstein’s business, Gem Jewelry in Gainesville, has been serving the area for several generations. Photos by: Michelle Boaen Jameson
nature to us.” At different points in its history, Gem Jewelry had the downtown location, as well as satellite locations in Dahlonega, Cumming, Toccoa, Lakeshore Mall, Sherwood Plaza and Buford. “We’ve been in this particular location since 1958, but we started in a little store on Washington Street. My grandfather – my mother’s father – started the business in 1936,” Orenstein says. Walking into the shop, you’re likely to see one, if not both, of the sisters behind one of Gem’s display cases helping
a customer. In keeping with family tradition, Gem still carries fine and fashion jewelry, silver chests and even baby gifts. “This is the way jewelry stores used to be,” Orenstein says of their inventory. “Obviously you had your jewelry, but there was also crystal, tabletop pieces and fine gifts. That’s the way jewelry stores classically were. “We don’t carry the dinnerware like we used to because brides just aren’t picking it like they used to, but we still do the fine gifts. People know that we carry it, so they come looking for it. Around Winter 2015
this time of year, music boxes are very popular, so we have a large selection of those.” The owners also are happy to help you redesign an old piece into a new family heirloom. One of Orenstein’s keys to longevity in an ever-changing marketplace is flexibility. “The first thing you have to do is forget about whether you like it or not,” Orenstein says. “If you only bought what you liked, you probably wouldn’t stay in business very long. Although she enjoys being surrounded by beautiful jewelry all day, Orenstein cherishes the precious memories that she shares with her customers the most. “When I was at our store in Sherwood, there was a family that lived around the corner,” she recalls. “I had a little kid one year, I think he was 10 at the time. He had a little girlfriend and was determined to get her a ring for Christmas. I didn’t say anything about it, I just showed him what I thought a little girl his age would like. When he left, I called his mother and told her what happened. I wanted to make sure it was OK and she said it was fine if he had the money to buy it. “He picked out what he wanted. It was a gold ring and I think it was around $8.95. He put it on layaway and he came by with 50 cents from his allowance until he paid for that ring. I’ll never forget that. “It’s a fun business. Most of the time, you’re dealing with happy occasions and milestone events in people’s lives and you’re helping them remember them forever. “I love feeling like I get to participate in people’s happy, happy lives.”
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Lynn Overton is a psychotherapist who helps people navigate life’s challenges. She’s also an avid Lake Lanier sailor, shown here with her dog Molly. Photos by: Charlotte Atkins
50 plus & fabulous Now is time to let go, set sail on new course in life By Lynn Overton
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When did “it” hit you, the reality that you are aging? For some, it was the sight of their first gray hair. For others, when they realized that they can’t read the menu without holding it at arm’s length. For one of my clients, it was when she looked in the mirror and said, “I don’t recognize myself anymore.” The loss of our youth can leave us feeling scared, confused and restless. As a psychotherapist, I have had the great privilege of accompanying others on their life journeys, being trusted with their deepest fears, joys, longings, secrets and regrets. They have been my invaluable teachers of life. A few of the main issues that my 50-and-older clients are dealing with are becoming empty-nesters, the ending of relationships/ divorce, and the caring for aging parents while dealing with their own aging issues. Every age group has to defend against the cultural bombardment of body image (what is beautiful) and the messages we receive from the multibillion-dollar anti-aging industry.
Winter 2015
She said...
What words of wisdom did your mother, grandmothers or aunts share with you?
Sherri Burruss
Always believe in yourself. You can achieve any goals that you set in life. Be kind to others and help those in need. I witnessed these words of wisdom through acts of kindness as well.
celebrating women of north georgia
Savannah King
“If you love him, fold his underwear.”
Typhanie A. Ansley
Vicki Wineland
My Grandma Dora always said be patient with people: “Everybody goes through fool’s valley and comes out. ... Some just stay in there longer than others. Just keep praying for them.”
To remind me that my complaints were minor in the grand scheme of things, my mother would sometimes say, “I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet.” Once, again, counting my blessings.
Lydia Sartain
Grandmother Ida said to always wear lipstick.
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Cultivating happiness after age 50 requires us to accept the aging process as a natural and positive phase of our lives.
Lynn Overton says, “ I encourage women, especially, to take care of themselves, not just other people. We can be caring and compassionate to others, while still taking the time to make ourselves happy.”
In sailing, sometimes you have to let the jib lines go so that you can change direction. In life, letting go is often the first step as well.
Cultivating happiness after age 50 requires us to accept the aging process as a natural and positive phase of our lives. We need to find the courage to embrace midlife transitions as opportunities, not as crises. It is an opportunity to reassess ourselves. Here are some questions that could help you embrace your restlessness as an opportunity for selfexploration and growth instead of letting it feel disruptive,
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confusing and scary. ■■What have I accomplished that I am proud of ? Does this work still fulfill me or is the joy disappearing? Is there something I need to leave behind in order to move forward? ■■Is there something more important and fulfilling that I can focus on now? What conversations am I having that bring me alive? ■■What do I want more of in my life? What yearning is
emerging? What have I lost that is wanting to be found? ■■What have I been afraid to do? What step can I take now to find out what is on the other side? If you don’t have long-term goals, you run the risk of doing lots of little things every day — cleaning the house, sending emails, playing Candy Crush 50 times, catching up on TV — without ever making a contribution to your future. That can leave you feeling adrift. It’s an opportunity to reinvent yourself or set a new course. Questioning where you are going and who you are is necessary even though it might feel uncomfortable. You may feel lost because your priorities are shifting or you are no longer performing a certain role, which changes the answer to the question, “Will my future give me happiness and fulfillment?” This question gets louder and louder as you enter each new decade of life. Most men and women who care about their future selves seriously reflect on the choices they have made and the careerlife paths they are on when transitioning into a new decade
of life. It’s best to make learning goals because they are more realistic and achievable than performance, or outcome, goals. Decide then that “I’m going to learn to cook well,” rather than “I’m going to become a Michelin-star chef.” Joining a community of like-minded individuals can help, too. One client lined up a training partner for his long weekend runs. Another took tennis lessons, something she had always wanted to do. Hanging out with others who have the same long-term goal will increase your involvement with it. Also, those other people are great sources of knowledge and wisdom. How do you know what you should be striving for? Think of yourself in the future and ask: What will I regret not having done? Then work backward to avoid that end. Use that as a way of planning your life. Studies have shown that if you write down a goal, you’re more likely to achieve it. Take stock of your reinvention progress every year. Some people use their birthday, their summer vacation or the start of the new year to evaluate Winter 2015
whether they’re heading in the right direction or if they need to alter their goal. When we successfully reinvent ourselves, we feel pride, accomplishment and a sense of satisfaction. People working toward things they find personally fulfilling are less depressed and more satisfied with their lives than those who are extrinsically motivated, striving primarily to impress the outside world with a big paycheck or lofty job title. Nurturing happiness in life after 50 requires us to take a long look at our lives and decide what is important. We need to abandon the idea of staying young forever. We must invest in our health. We need to embrace our passions and let them lead us to new friendships. It’s an opportunity to develop a healthy relationship with yourself: I encourage my clients to connect with their authentic selves, surround themselves with positive people and make choices that lead to balance in their lives. So if you want to look and feel better after 50, stop buying antiwrinkle creams and start investing in your body. Eliminate selfdestructive habits that lead to premature aging. If we do not take time to deal with these life questions, we leave ourselves vulnerable to falling into compulsive behaviors (alcohol, food, etc.). Exercise is one of the best ways to maintain your physical and mental functioning, and avoid some of the other problems many encounter in midlife. You will be able to handle stress better by getting back into shape. I encourage women, especially, to take care of themselves, not just other people. We can be caring and compassionate to others, while still taking the time to make ourselves happy. Finding this balance is a critical ingredient on the journey to a stress-free and empowered way of life. Create an environment that is positive and live affirming. At times, we may have to let toxic people and situations go. Ah – there it is – letting go. It seems to me that learning to let go is one of the big lessons of life. The degree to which we have learned this lesson, the more prepared we are to embrace the cycles and seasons of life. The endings and the great new beginnings are linked together; we can’t have one without the other. Several years ago I invited a friend to go sailing with me. It turned out to be a beautiful, windy day and she insisted on helping in some way. I told her to grab the port (left) jib line and that I would tell her when to let it go. We were preparing to tack (turn) the boat and head in a different direction. I turned the wheel and the boat began her turn. It was time; I told Ann to let go of the line but she held on, tight, preventing the boat from making the complete turn. We were dead in the water, not moving. I tried again, “Ann, it’s OK. Let go.” This time she did, allowing me to pull the front sail around to the other side of the boat. As it filled up with air, the boat began to sail in a new direction. Ann was in disbelief. She told me that she struggled in her life with letting go and she just displayed that on the boat. It was a vivid example for her of what happens when we hold on when it is time to let go. We stop moving. She stills talks about that experience as life changing for her. Endings allow us to correct the bad and the broken in our lives in order to make room for the new – the professional and personal growth that we seek. It’s OK. Let go. Lynn Overton is a psychotherapist who has been practicing for 30 years. She currently has offices in Suwanee and Gainesville; phone, 770-535-1284, ext. 7. celebrating women of north georgia
She said... How do you refresh and recharge yourself spiritually?
Courtenay Wishousky
Daily devotional, yoga and time spent by the ocean.
Kristy Bennett
Tina Carlson
I have kept a journal since I was a teenager. It’s always good to go back and read entries from years ago. It reminds me I have always had help in times of trouble and I’ll make it through whatever I’m going through now.
Spending quality time with people whose personal spirituality I admire. Spending time in nature. Reflecting on how much love I have in my life and how blessed I am, daily.
Rachel Perdue
Mary Willis
Listening to uplifting Christian music and getting into God’s word is the best way I refresh and recharge myself spiritually. It puts things into perspective and allows me to focus on what is really important.
There is nothing like a good weekend retreat! Especially if it is a Women’s Retreat!
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Cindy Starke
Physician loves smalltown life, rigorous outdoor activities By Charlotte Atkins
C
indy Starke wanted to be a doctor. That much is clear. So when she didn’t get accepted to medical school, she asked members of The Emory Medical School Admission Board to reopen her file. “Sure enough, they interviewed me with a different set of doctors, sent reps to listen to my scientific presentations of my research, and not only did I get into medical school, but they awarded me a full paid Alumni Scholarship totaling $210,000 over seven years. Free medical education and a stipend every year!” Now she’s an internal medicine physician at Longstreet Clinic. She and her husband relocated to Gainesville from Lawrenceville eight years ago. “I’ll never forget I had to get seven new things! Job, church, house, preschool for son, kindergarten for daughter, job for husband and friends.” Stephen was part of the executive team for the startup of Chattahoochee Bank of Georgia. Her tenacity that got her into medical school seems to show up time and time again. “I taught myself to swim freestyle at age 45, and went on to swim 1.2 miles in a competition that year, and 2.4 miles the following year,” she says. Now it’s more than just swimming. Cindy is now a triathlete, who has been training and recently participated in her first Ironman competition in Florida this fall. While that may surprise some who know her, what may be even another unknown is that she is not only an M.D. but also a PhD. “I have a PhD in molecular genetics and have published 10 articles in scientific journals.”
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While competing in an Ironman race was a big bucket list item, hiking the Appalachian Trail remains on hers. She loves hiking and primitive tent camping, noting “being in a camper is parking, not camping.” That’s not surprising since Cindy loves being outdoors in the “fresh air and sunshine, doing as much of my life as possible in God’s creation.” She says that drives her fashion sense as well. “I hate wearing high heels and jewelry and dressing up in general. I probably style my hair three times a year.” Family is important and she relishes time “watching my children play sports and listening to my daughter and husband playing guitar, shelling beans with my dad and making anything from scratch with my mom.” She loves being a doctor and it’s a noble career. But she says she could be content being a full-time mother too because there’s no job more important. Indeed, her dream job would be a “stay-at-home mom that home schools and travels the world and backpacks every week with my family.” Her favorite travel destinations are Prague, Indonesia and New York. But Cindy is happy here at home in Hall County. “Living in Gainesville you can walk anywhere. From my house I can walk to four restaurants and a grocery store! I love that the parks are built around the lake. I love being close to the mountains and the yearly event known as Christmas on Green Street,” says Cindy. “It’s so much smaller than anywhere I’ve ever lived in my life. It is comforting seeing so many familiar faces in church and grocery stores.” Winter 2015
Longstreet physician Dr. Cindy Starke has been training for and recently competed in her first Ironman competition. She loves being outdoors hiking and camping and spending time with her family. Photo by: Scott Rogers
celebrating women of north georgia
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Entrepreneur Amanda Slavin is slated to be the keynote speaker for Brenau University’s Women’s Leadership Colloquium on March 18.
Fresh visions Women leaders to share their paths at Brenau colloquium By Moxie staff
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Winter 2015
Amanda Slavin is on this year’s Forbes list of 30 Under 30 for Marketing and Advertising. She’s known as a millennial and Generation Z expert as well as the CEO/founder of CatalystCreativ, an experience studio that helps cities, brands and institutions develop educational and inspirational campaigns and strategies to engage those generations. That’s why she’s slated to be the keynote speaker for Brenau University’s Women’s Leadership Colloquium on March 18. The Women’s College of Brenau invites the community to campus for an afternoon of information and inspiration at its third annual leadership colloquium. Students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university will gather for conversations about the unique potential and challenges of women’s leadership. Successful women who are passionate about what they do will share their stories, offer advice and suggest fresh vision for others who lead — or aspire to lead. Dr. Debra Dobkins, dean of the Women’s College, says she excited about this opportunity for the college to “bring together leaders in our community, alumnae, students, faculty, and friends of Brenau University to celebrate the achievements of women and to explore the challenges faced by women who lead. In this our third year of hosting the Women’s Leadership Colloquium, we are delighted to welcome as our keynoter Amanda Slavin, an impressive young entrepreneur who has succeeded in a big way in millennial marketing.” The event will showcase five other women leaders. “Featured speakers include another young entrepreneur who founded a classic clothing company, a woman who heads a regional hospital system, a woman who publishes a newspaper and a new magazine, an alumna who is completing her doctorate in occupational therapy, and a community activist who was formerly a police officer. It’s a powerhouse lineup,” says Dobkins. “These dynamic women bring a wealth of experience in various sectors and have compelling stories to tell.” Those speakers are Emmie Henderson Howard, founder of Southern Proper clothing line and 2001 Women’s College alum (featured in this edition of Moxie); Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System; Charlotte Atkins, publisher of The Times and several local magazines, including Moxie; Khalilah T. R. Johnson, occupational therapist and Women’s College grad, and Anmarie Martin, community activist, Women’s College student and Moxie’s inaugural cover girl in the Summer edition. Dobkins reminds not only her Women’s College students, but all women the value of connecting with creative women who successfully follow their passions. “We all need vibrant role models. The audience will find inspiration and empowerment in the stories of these professionals who will celebrating women of north georgia
Slavin is the CEO/founder of CatalystCreativ.
share lessons learned and offer advice informed by personal experience,” she said. In its first two years, the energy and encouragement generated at the event was a palpable force, Dobkins said. As one participant in the midst of a career change said at the 2015 colloquium, “I need this affirmation in my life every year, no, every month! I need to see and hear and meet women who make bold choices and aim high, women who make things happen.” The afternoon includes tea and musical performances and concludes with a cocktail party sponsored by 2002 alumna Tracy Rhodes Withers. The Women’s Leadership Colloquium is scheduled for 1:30-4:30 p.m. March 18 at Hosch Auditorium at Brenau’s John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts, 429 Academy St. in Gainesville. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required; go to www. brenau.edu/about/leadershipcolloquium.for more information.
Dr. Debra Dobkins, dean of the Women’s College at Brenau University.
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Jane White is known for being an attentive and compassionate veterinarian. She’s also an avid supporter and board chairman for Elachee Nature Science Center. She’s particularly proud of its Nature Preschool that combines experiential learning with nature based learning on its 1,400-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. Photo by Erin O. Smith
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Winter 2015
Jane White Mill village background leads to love of nature, animals
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By Charlotte Atkins
ane White has lived in North Georgia for most of her life. It’s a life rooted in the local mills. “My father was transferred here when I was 2. He worked for Deering Milliken-New Holland mill. We lived in the village.” When she was 9, they were transferred to South Carolina and she spent grades 4, 5 and 6 in Spartanburg and Gaffney. Then they were transferred back to Gainesville. “A couple of years later, my dad went to work at Chicopee Mill and was there until he retired. All of my family — parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles — worked in the mills.” She left Gainesville to attend college at Georgia State University, where she earned her bachelor of visual arts in graphic design before attending vet school at the University of Georgia. Postgraduate work followed at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Then she came home to start her veterinary practice in Murrayville. That’s how many know Jane, through her care of their animals. “I love my work! Would I like to work a little less at this point? Yes. But do I love what I do? Absolutely! My clients have become my friends, the people I work with are my family. I’m beyond fortunate.” Jane loves living here. “North Georgia has everything — beautiful lake, close to the mountains, close to Atlanta and natural beauty everywhere. And a very committed citizenry. Is there any place with more people worked tirelessly for their cause?” When she’s not taking care of folks’ animals, she has another cause close to her heart. She’s very involved with Elachee Nature Science Center, where she is the board chairman. celebrating women of north georgia
“It’s an incredible place. If we don’t take of our planet, nothing else we do will matter very much. People take care of what they know. That’s what Elachee does. Let’s children and adults experience the beauty of the outdoors and learn how better to care for it.” Elachee’s big fall Starlight fundraiser helped set her up to check a dream off her bucket list. “I’d love to go to Cuba. I’m happy to say we bid successfully on a trip at Elachee so that will be happening!” Of course, she’d like to visit Edinburgh, Scotland, again to catch up with friends and to take her daughter. “We made a trip to Edinburgh three years ago, 30 years after I lived there. It’s a city that gets in your heart and stays there. I can, even now, close my eyes and be walking down to the Grassmarket.” Some travel is not far and is for her to see her heroes Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter. “They live their faith everyday and make the world a better place by their efforts,” says Jane. “My husband and I have made several trips to Plains to hear President Carter teach Sunday School. We always wanted to do that, but put it off for a while. When we finally went, we got hooked. We plan on being there March 5. They are my heroes.” Jane’s parents were her heroes, too. “My mom only finished the eighth grade, but she valued education. She spent so many hours helping us with homework. My dad went to college on the GI Bill, finished at Georgia Tech at the top of his class. He wasn’t as patient as my mom with homework, but he had high expectations. Both of my parents were good examples of blooming where you were planted. They quietly made a difference in many lives.” Most would say that’s Jane’s legacy, too.
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Moxie Happenings
www.puppet.org or 404-873-3391. Through Dec. 31 “The Santaland Diaries,” Atlanta. Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave., Atlanta. $25-$40. www.horizontheatre.com or 404-584-7450.
December January Dec. 18-20 “Miracle on 34th Street” Holly Theatre, 69 W. Main St., Dahlonega. Adults $20; children and students $12. 706-864-3759, hollytheater.com. Dec. 19 Mingle with Kringle 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Main Street Market, 118 Main St. SW, Gainesville. 770-5335850. exploregainesville.org. Dec. 20 Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas 7:30 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. $102.50$47.50. 800-745-3000, www.atlantasymphony.org or www.ticketmaster.com. Dec. 20 9 String Theory, Sautee Nacoochee. 4 p.m. Sautee Nacoochee Center Theatre, 283 Ga. 255 N., Sautee Nacoochee. 706878-3300 or http://snca.org/snc/performance/EXP20151230_9StringTheory/ page.php. Dec. 20 10th Annual Messiah Sing-Along, Roswell. 3 p.m. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell. $10. www.rumc.com. Dec. 21 Pancake Breakfast with Santa, Cleveland. Babyland General, 200 NOK Drive, Cleveland. $10 per person. Reservations required. 706-865-2171. Dec. 22 Caroling on the Square, Blairsville. 5:306:30 p.m.Downtown Blairsville Square. Through Dec. 27 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Atlanta. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. $10.25-$24.50.
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Jan. 1 Polar Bear Swim Noon. Lake Lanier Olympic Venue, 3105 Clarks Bridge Road, Gainesville. Prices vary. 770-287-0077. exploregainesville.org. Through Jan. 4 “Portraits In Gray: A Civil War Photography Exhibition Featuring The Collection of David Wynn Vaughan” The Environment and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford. Included in admission to the center. Jan. 7 Mary Addison Hackett solo exhibition, Atlanta. Opening reception 7-9 p.m. Jan. 7. Exhibition through Feb. 6. Marcia Wood Gallery Midtown, 1037 Monroe Drive NE, Atlanta. marciawoodgallery.com. Jan. 7-24 “Charley’s Aunt,” Roswell. Georgia Ensemble Theatre, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. $28-$39. 770-641-1260 or www. get.org. Jan. 26-Feb. 20. “Once on This Island,” Gainesville. Hosch Theatre, 429 Academy St., Gainesville. $12-$24. 678-717-3624 or www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org. Jan. 28-Feb. 20. “Dracula,” Oakwood. University of North Georgia Gainesville Ed Cabell Theatre, 3850 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. $12-$20. 678-717-3624 or www.gainesvilletheatrealliance.org
Jan. 30. Second annual Suwanee Gateway Half Marathon, Suwanee. 7:30 a.m. $65-$75. Register online at www.active.com or www.runsuwanee.com.
Jan. 14-17 Atlanta Boat Show, Atlanta. Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C, 280 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta. $14. www.atlantaboatshow.com. Jan. 29-31. Great American Motorcycle Show, Norcross. $7-$12. www. greatamericanmotorcycleshow.com. Jan. 31 Gainesville Civic Center Bridal Expo, Gainesville. 12:30-4:30 p.m., Civic Center on Greent Street. $5 at the door. www.gainesville.org/bridal expo
February Feb. 25 “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Roswell. Through March 13. Georgia Ensemble Theatre, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. $28$39. 770-641-1260, www.get.org. Feb. 23 2015 Georgia author of the year Dr. Carolyn Curry, Gainesville. Brenau University’s Women’s College. Reading at 7 p.m. in Hosch Theater followed by book signing in Burd lobby. Reception 6 p.m. at the North Georgia History Center. Free and open to the public.
March March 17 Joan Baez, Atlanta. 8 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. $29.50-$99.50. www. ticketmaster.com.
March 19 Second annual North Georgia Women’s Expo, Gainesville. Time and location TBA. Vendors and sponsorships available. 770-535-6323 or 770-535-6304. March 22 “The Philadelphia Story,” Oakwood. Through April 16. University of North Georgia Gainesville’s Ed Cabell Theatre, 3850 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. $12-$20. 678-717-3624, www.gaines villetheatrealliance.org. Winter 2015
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Woman of the Year Braselton’s Jennifer Dees receives Jackson County honor By LeAnne Akin Braselton Town Manager Jennifer Dees says she loves Jackson County, a place she has called home for 20 years. And on Nov. 19, the community showed its appreciation for her commitment to making Jackson County a better place when she was honored as the 2015 Jackson County Woman of the Year. The Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year luncheon was at the Jefferson Civic Center with Georgia first lady Sandra Deal as the keynote speaker. Mrs. Deal autographed a copy of the new book, “Memorials of the Mansion,” to present to Dees as the Woman of the Year winner. Tricia Massey, chairwoman of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business committee, made the announcement of Dees’ honor after the presentation of the five finalists for the recognition. Other nominees were Sandra Fite, executive director of the Jackson County Certified Literate Community Program and a Tumbling Waters Society board member; Linda Foster, executive director of Jackson County Family Connection; Laura Boswell, work based learning and youth apprenticeship coordinator for the Jackson County School System; and Mary Greenwood, owner of Funopolis Family Fun Center in Commerce where she serves as a mentor for area youth who are employed there. When Massey made the announcement of the Woman of Year, the involvement of Dees in community organizations as well as fostering economic development in Braselton and mentoring female entrepreneurs was highlighted. Massey said, “When we interviewed this woman, we were intrigued with so many aspects of her job, her commitment to her community and her willingness to help local business women in unique ways. “It is quite impressive to be one of the longest-serving women acting as a
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government manager in the state of Georgia. Serving one town in four counties can be challenging, but she took one piece of advice many years ago and it has served her well.” Massey shared that Dees was told by a mentor that “your job is not to decide the destination; your job is to figure out how the get there.” She said Dees actually admitted to like
having people bring her problems so she can help solve them. “Here is one way she contributed to helping solve a local issue while helping to mentor to women: She was tasked with restoring and renovating the historic structures in Braselton. Then she was asked to secure tenants to maximize the employment opportunities as well as create a good business mix. She helped Winter 2015
market this and today, there are 12 tenants of which nine of whom are wholly female small business owners.” Dees’ background in marketing, legal matters, construction and design, has equipped her to mentor other women as they delve into the world of business and entrepreneurship. She enjoys helping them find success in their business as well as providing leadership and friendship to these women. “Another area in which she has proven her commitment to her community is her support of the Jackson County Boys & Girls Clubs. Even though there is not yet a club that directly serves the Braselton area, she has dedicated her time since 2005 to help ensure a safe environment for kids of Jackson County. As a board member, she has helped write grants and review contracts and currently she is on the building community overseeing the construction of the new club being built in Commerce. In 2016 she will serve as the chairwoman of the board of directors. “Her commitment to serving the kids of Jackson County is inspiring and many of our communities have benefited from her leadership with the Boys and Girls Club. She told us during her interview that nothing pleases her more than ‘watching kids being able to thrive in their environment.’ “We aren’t sure when she sleeps, so in addition to her role and responsibilities with her job and the Boys and Girls Clubs, she is currently serving on the building committee for the Jackson County Humane Society, and she is pack trainer and parade chairwoman for the Jefferson Cub Scouts Pack 158. We’ve been told she will go camping with her son and their Cub Scout group, too.” Dees has been recognized statewide for various awards which include being named the Local Government Administrator of the Year, the 2013 recipient of the Community Leadership Award from Jackson County Community Outreach and the Northeast Georgia City Manager of the Year, the only woman to ever receive this award.
She said...
If you could pal around with a famous woman, past or present, who would she be?
Jane Hemmer
Teryl Worster
Margaret Mead, the trailblazing anthropologist. I am fascinated by the study of people and different population groups, which was her life’s work. Margaret was doggedly determined in her scientific research, and she was a firm believer in the value of hard work. My favorite Margaret Meadism is: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” She was talking about the power of perseverance when it’s put to use for the right reasons.
Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a courageous and vigilant woman whose strength of character and commitment to human rights paved a path for all future first ladies in the White House. She faced a variety of personal traumas in her life, but still maintained a spirit of service and goodwill to others. This was a woman who was a major influence in the world, yet remained humble and focused on helping others less fortunate than herself. Forever a mentor to women everywhere.
Stacey Dickson
Chelsea Handler because I think she is funny, generous and speaks her mind. celebrating women of north georgia
Jill Bonney
Ellen DeGeneres. She makes me laugh and seems like the kind of person I would want around me. Good positive vibes.
Crystal Toombs
The person I would pal around with expecting a purposeful outcome is Harriet Tubman. We could dialogue about how she managed to muster up the strength and tenacity to forge forward with her calling under the most extreme circumstances. One night with her would have changed everything pertaining to my life, my legacy and my lineage.
LaDon Shaw
Lucille Ball.She was smart, funny and always seemed to move forward no matter what came her way.
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A cordial welcome. A welcome change. It’s just the beginning of what you’ll find in the charming town of Braselton. Here, you can discover rare finds in our antique shops, sip fine wines and tour the famed Château Élan Winery, or savor exceptional cuisine at any of our wonderful restaurants. It’s an open-ended invitation and one we hope you’ll accept time and time again. For more information and to book your stay, visit us at www.visitbraselton.com
4982 Highway 53 | P.O. Box 306 Braselton, Georgia 30517 706-654-3915 | Fax: 706-654-3109 www.visitbraselton.com