December 2013 by V3 Magazine

NWGA'S PREMIER FEATURE MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2013

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dec2013 Opinions 16 Backdoor Braves

32 Sing a Simple Song J. Bryant Steele

Holly Lynch

40 Restless Legacy Syndrome Kent Howard

F eatures 18 Fashion's Hal 9000 The Lodge 210

26 Where the Heart Is

Redmond Regional Medical Center Cardiology Services

42 How 'Bout a Hand, Chief? A special Chieftains Museum Christmas

Lonnie Sings the Blues A glimpse inside the purposedriven sound of the blues' unlikely messiah, Lon Eldridge

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You better watch out— You better not cry— You better not pout, I’m telling you why— Santa Claus is coming to town!

t’s that time of year again, jolly readers. Our decorative elves have been set upon the shelves, we are all set to stuff ourselves with holiday sweets, and good-old Saint Nick is helping parents the world over hold their kids to a higher standard of behavior for another solid couple of weeks. I would love to say I’m innocent of using the almighty “Claus Code of Conduct” to my advantage when it comes to managing my two children over the holiday season, but that would be a lie worthy of a stocking stuffed with coal. And, quite frankly, I can’t imagine that the Man in Red has any beef with parents riding his fur-lined coattails. He never leaves me anything under the tree these days anyhow, so I figure

PUBLISHERS'

Ian Griffin

MANAGING PARTNER+ HEAD OF ADVERTISING

he doesn’t mind throwing this estranged, former disciple a bone in the form of cleaner bedrooms and a bit more charming behavior. However, while there’s no doubt Santa arrives as something of a second Savior at the close of each year, he doesn’t take care of all the gifts on your children’s list—wink, wink, sigh—and so, that leaves us doting parents on the hunt for approximately two of the hot-button gifts being marketed to our kids come Black Friday. From securing Christmas Hall-of-Famer Teddy Ruxpin (circa 198_) to the more recent scramble for the Nintendo Wii a few years back, there is—and always will be—those one or two items your child will want so badly that, protest as you may, gripe as you might, you’ll make a putz of yourself to wrap ’em up tight. In 2013 plush play, it appears the season’s biggest sellers will pan out to be two ghosts of Christmas past: Big Hugs Elmo and the Furby Boom. Elmo, of Sesame Street and Tickle-Me fame, is back and giving out bear hugs with reckless abandon; meanwhile, the too-cute Furby reboot is taking on the unique personality traits of its lucky-toCREATIVE PARTNER+HEAD be owners. It even needs to be cared for via assistance DESIGNER+ from a tablet app, which allows your little one to name it, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF keep tabs on its health, and—I will always find this a little unnecessary—let it go potty when “nature” calls. If I had to choose one to play with myself, ultimately, I have to say I’d lean toward the semicreepy hugging puppet over the Gremlins-esque pooping robot—as my personal understanding of toys is that they’re supposed to be fun, not work. But hey, when the tree is finally plundered and the wrapping paper begins to fly, in the end, it’s all about what the kids want. And Lord Baby Jesus knows I have changed more than my fair share of Baby Alive diapers in my day. A final word, though: If you can, let Santa take care of those more troublesome buys. Your kids require something far more important during the Christmas season that Mr. Kringle and his overworked elves simply can’t provide: perspective on why none of these material things matter in the slightest. IAN GRIFFIN, MANAGING PARTNER

NOTE Neal Howard

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + PRODUCTION MANAGER + MAG ART & DESIGN

Neal Howard WRITERS

J. Bryant Steele, Luke Chaffin, Oliver Robbins, Holly Lynch, Kent Howard, Neal Howard, Ian Griffin PHOTOGRAPHY

Derek Bell, MFA 706.936.0407

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V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT

One West Fourth Avenue Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone>706.235.0748 Email>v3publications @gmail.com

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Dear Friend s Across Ro me and Flo yd County, Fiscal integ ri ty is never we do at H negotiable. eritage First That princip Bank. For m doors for bu le sits at th ore than a e heart of a siness, Heri d e ta ll that c g a community e First Bank de, since w e first open banking: ta has been co ed our ilored soluti mmitted to based bank the lofty go ons, active ing for our als of true corporate c customers a itizenship, re nd service th lationshipat is second But beyond to none. all of this, bank also b th e Board of elieve that Directors, m we owe our financially anageme customers a strong, stab nd our share nt and staff of this le and secu things don’t holders a b re. Without matter, beca ank that is being stron use fiscal st And indeed g and sound, rength is th , Heritage F e the other fo undation of irst Bank is income, and our custom sound and it’s importa ers’ trust. strong. You nt to both y in your ban work hard ou and to u k. In today to s earn an th ’s at w future, whe ther you are orld, that should be th you have absolute confi dence e basis for managing y business. your entire our family’s financial finances or operating y our own Heritage Fir st B ank is, and to time-test will remain ed and pro stron ven bankin commitmen g principles; g and secure, because t to serving we adhere to a solid w each and e our balance ork ethic an very person sheet and in d to a firm who graces come statem difference in our doorwa ent reflect fi responding y. While nancial stre to for our grow ngth, we als th and prosp the unique needs of ou o make a r customers erity. . It’s been a If fiscal inte formula grity, streng to discover th and soundn your true co ess are imp mmunity b but we’re a w ortant to yo ank. Chanc u, maybe it orld apart in es are, we’re ’s time what we can and stay for ju st a round the c offer your fi a lifetime. orner... nancial futu re. Come se e us today Wishing yo u and yours a Happy Ho liday Season , Ryan Earne st

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W H I L E YO U W E R E

1 1 19 2013

In the case that you missed yet another deliciously swinging get-together in Downtown Rome this past month, Tuesday, Nov. 19 saw the hosting of

V3 MAGAZINE'S SECOND ANNUAL

TASTE & TOAST AWARDS GALA

at the City Club (327 Broad St.), just above Old Havana Cigar Company. Owners and staffers representing 11 well-run, well-respected Northwest Georgia dining establishments took home 17 “blueflame” trophies for their painstaking attention to culinary detail, with Harvest Moon Café, La Scala Ristorante Italiano and Mellow Mushroom each walking away with three category wins apiece. Winners were selected via a third-party, online voter poll at the hands—and palates—of foodieminded V3 readers, and when all was said and done, an impressive second-year total of 11,137 votes were ultimately cast. The only thing left to do after recognizing this year’s honorees: party down with the help of free drinks, good cheer, live

music from Stephen Smith, and a super-delish smorgasbord of appetizers courtesy of La Scala.

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to their fan base. And the Cobb County irst, the University System of He’s going to build, with public money, a Commission is certainly accountable to the Georgia Board of Regents plans to middle-income housing development with merge Kennesaw State University public. The estimate is that, with interest retail outlets and restaurants—but wait, isn’t payments on debt, Cobb’s share of the burden (KSU) and Southern Polytechnic half of that what the Braves wanted, along State University (SPSU). This will be $537 million over 30 years, which has with a hotel? This is going to save the city tax watchdogs in Cobb County raising their may be a good idea from a costmoney? eyebrows. savings standpoint, or it may I predict Mayor Reed will become be a bad idea from a quality-of-education It should also be remembered that, only a a laughing stock when this mixed-use few months ago, Cobb County furloughed standpoint. The bigger point is that the Board development doesn’t pan out. He is also going of Regents sprung this on the schools—i.e. public school teachers for budget reasons. to tear down Turner Field, the site that held the respective presidents received 10 days But now a new ballpark? (Sure, we’ve got the the track and field events (a.k.a. the sporting money.) advance notice, but the students did not know jewel of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games), Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is equally any of it until the regents officially announced the proud home of the new-era Atlanta it. culpable, not giving his voters the heads-up Braves, and at least five future Major League on the very real possibility their Braves could (A note to Georgia educators, all of whom Baseball Hall of Famers since 1997. I’ve got should be smart enough to socks that are older than Turner know this: Surprises always I predict Mayor Reed will become a laughing stock Field. make the front page.) have another idea: Why when this mixed-use development doesn't pan out ... notI move Southern Poly students are the Rome Braves to particularly upset, even going Turner Field, and give State so far as to hold protests and Mutual Stadium to the Atlanta carry signs. They fear their Braves? I can’t tell you why— school’s identity will be lost in secrecy and all, you know—but the merger. I assure you it’s a good idea. The regents, meanwhile, are slip away. This is the same man, let’s not trying to come up with appeasements before forget, who moved heaven and earth to keep a final January 2015 vote on the merger. Final Arthur Blank happy and keep the Atlanta plans are due in to the Southern Association ou probably never heard of Falcons downtown. (The estimated cost of of Colleges and Schools next October. So, Morris Tanenbaum prior to Blank’s dream arena has risen $300 million, there’s plenty of time for the regents to explain today, but Morrie, as he likes by the way, to $1.2 billion, and nary a spade details on cost savings, class sizes, affects on has hit the dirt.) Expect the same for the new to be called, is considered a the faculty, and so forth—and plenty of time Braves’ ballpark, estimated at $627 million, founding father of what we for more protests. which is relatively cheap by comparison. now call “the Digital Age”. He was at the Question: If the merger is a good idea, why Here’s some basic arithmetic: The Braves forefront of it all long before there was a Bill not sell it on merit in the first place? play a minimum of 81 home games each But the even bigger surprise for our Gates or a Steve Jobs. He also led a team that season; the Falcons only play a minimum neighbors to the south came with secret invented the first superconducting magnets, of eight. If Mayor Reed could only keep one negotiations to move the Atlanta Braves now used in medical imaging devices. team downtown, maybe he picked the wrong from downtown to Cobb County. Of course, I once had the pleasure of interviewing one. the Braves aren’t ethically accountable to Mr. Tanenbaum, and despite his grand But he seems to care very little, if at all. the public, but they are morally accountable accomplishments, the man was pleasantly

I've got socks that are older than Turner Field.

BizBits

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Cents& Sensibility with J . Bryant Steele

self-effacing, spoke in easy-to-understand words, and was patient with a lowly journalist who wasn’t even on the same planet intellectually. Tanenbaum just turned 85 and received the Science and Technology Medal at the 34th Edison Patent Awards, sort of a lifetime achievement award. Back to state politics: Jason Carter, grandson of Jimmy and Rosalyn, has put his name in the running for governor of Georgia. That makes two Democrats with name potency in high-profile races. Michelle Nunn, daughter of Sam, is running for the U.S. Senate. The State of Georgia has finally removed the offending statue of Tom Watson from its prominent position at the main entrance to the state Capitol. Watson was an early 20th-century politician and journalist. He was also openly racist and anti-Semitic. He ranted against Catholics as well, and his rhetoric emboldened the hate-fueled deeds of Southern lynch mobs.

Tomahawk Flop If you like secrecy in government, then you should really love the shush-shush dealings and shenanigans unfolding before—or behind—our metro neighbors

Of course, Georgia politicians and bureaucrats, being generally spineless, used a technicality in place of moral fiber to remove the statue. It was in the way of badly needed renovations to the west side entrance to the Capitol, they spun it. And the statue won’t be returned simply because of the expense, instead coming to rest in a less prominent position across the street. I’m not suggesting that Watson’s statue should be deep-sixed in the Chattahoochee. Ugly history can’t be—and shouldn’t

be—altogether erased. But here’s a more workable suggestion: Find a vacant storefront somewhere, put the Watson statue and other offending statues there, then add historical artifacts about how we’ve progressed as a people and why we’re all the better for it. Hire a docent, a historian, a staff, and turn the space into an educational, enlightening experience. It could be called The Museum of Ignorance, Hate and Progress. The other morning, I woke up to an email from my Internet services provider, or ISP,

informing me that overnight they had “enriched my Internet experience.” It took me half a day to get accustomed to the ‘enrichment’, and now that I have, I can’t tell one iota of difference in my service. At least when a restaurant changes its menu, you can generally tell the difference. Finally, this: The New York Times reported recently that the CIA is paying AT&T $10 million for access to its customers’ phone records. Who knew AT&T would sell out so cheaply. VVV

J. Bryant Steele is an awardwinning business journalist based in Rome, Ga. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

dapper dynasty text by luke chaffin photos by derek bell

lodge 210

With the incarnation of , RomeFloyd's undisputed king of menswear, Hal Richards, returns to the NWGA fashion landscape bearing all the weight of—figuratively, respectfully—the Christ child in his manger. (Lord knows such a pitifully underserviced market is in desperate need of a savior )

alk beneath the pedimented front entrance of the former Rome Manufacturing Company warehouse at 210 East Second Ave. in Downtown Rome, and there you’ll find the city’s newest men’s lifestyle store, a la local fashion guru Hal Richards. Hal moves methodically about Lodge 210 each day, taking care of Rome’s busy professionals, making sure they are dressed for success both at work and at play. “It was not easy coming up with a name,” Richards explains. He and wife Mimi, with a little help from a few of the couple’s personal friends, ran through several ideas before comprising a final shortlist. “We were thinking something along the lines of hunting lodge, country house, gentleman’s environment,” he says. Followers who’ve watched Richards former menswear retail ventures do business in years past have no doubt noticed the progression and transformation of what he offers, as well as the evolution of his own personal tastes. Hal is a true believer in seizing the day when it comes to being

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well-dressed. “Every day is an opportunity to look your best,” says 210’s head lodge-keeper, “so never miss a day.” As you walk into the affable Richards’ now-second home, you see right away that this Southern gentleman has impeccable taste. Customers are instantly greeted by a large-scale painting of a Valais Blackneck goat by local artist Robert Weed. The space is also outfitted with work tables dressed in corrugated metal, and countertops made from the cypress of an antique wine vat, created by Weed’s son, Mark. Hal pays due homage to the old machinery operation that occupied the building some years ago, utilizing galvanized steel pipes to display his menswear collections as beautifully and editorially. His concepts are stylish yet pragmatic, much like the inventory that adorns each carefully drawn display. The icing on the cake comes with the smaller touches: hunting trophies, mounted antlers, an assorted collection of curiosities—or “moments,” as Hal likes to call them— scattered throughout. Lodge 210 runs the highend Americana gamut as masculine chic for, according to Richards, “the club, the hunt,

or the boardroom,” and as he will readily agree, he is always dressed for the occasion—a personal philosophy that has played out exquisitely via his new project. One’s style ultimately centers around preparedness and practicality, he suggests. Richards’ original store in Rome, Antares, opened in 1973. It specialized in Western wear, leather, and backpacking gear. After Hal changed the name to H. Richards in 1985, he says the focus shifted more “preppy. It all followed a personal evolution: This is the next chapter in my life, of things that I appreciate. Ideally, your tastes do evolve. You appreciate more things, just like with all aspects of life—architecture, art, food and wine, travel, people.” It’s worth noting that Richards and 210 are the antithesis of trendy. Instead, his eye gravitates toward much of what is reflected by Lodge 210, which is something like walking into a double-page Garden & Gun spread. “It all appeals to me from a function, as well as a fashion, aspect,” he says. Lines like Barbour, a London-based clothier that created the waxed-cotton outerwear pieces many fashionable 20

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Romans have been sporting in recent months. American-made Filson out of Seattle is another brand worth checking out, with its expanded line tailored for both man and his best friend—clothing, equipment, luggage, dog collars and more. Another personal favorite of Richards is Bill’s Khakis, which he has folded and fitted for years. “Give me two legs and a body, and I can put a pair of pants on you with that line,” he quips. Lodge 210 also carries Peter Millar, hailed by Hal for its colorcoordinated class, its textures and its layers. Year-round Richards’ customers can expect to find a whimsical

assortment of accessories (also a component of the “lifestyle” movement) and men’s grooming products, a coolly arranged assemblage of everything from Big Tom’s Bloody Mary Mix to Jack Black skincare. In the periphery of this frame hang beautiful knit shirts, bespoke suits, quilted vests

Lodge 210 will host a trunk show featuring handcrafted gemstone jewelry by Victoria Greenhood, an artisan based out of Atlanta and Nantucket, Mass. Richards has already hosted several in-store events, including made-to-measure parties featuring the likes of Martin Dingman and Johnstons of Elgin. According to Richards, the Dingman/Elgin gig was the most successful custom-trunk show of his 30-year style career. “By closing [H. Richards] for a while, I created possibly a bit of pent-up demand,” he explains. In spite of this brief departure circa 2005, however, Hal remained in the game by hosting from the parlor of his home in Downtown Rome. There he offered primarily men’s custom sport-coats, suits, and fitted shirts in the years between H. Richards and the Lodge. Now having returned with a new, truly brick-and-mortar operation, he is optimistic about the future thanks to a loyal following that has carried over for many years. Still, many might wonder what really changed Hal’s mind. Why did he decide to return as Rome’s full-time premier clothier? “It just made sense,” says the businessman.

"Give me two legs and a body, and I can put a pair of pants on you with that line." and handsome bowties, all smacking of a well-tailored, upscale lifestyle. When choosing his collections, Hal says his focus was wearability and usefulness. But while 210’s current selection is only fitting for the chaps in your household, its owner hopes to add some women’s accessory lines to its retail menu in the near future. On Thursday, Dec. 12, in fact,

O Come let us adore HIM

Christ the Lord Merry Christmas from: Shae Stamey, Vicki Baird & Jerry Taylor along with the Amberwood East Preschool Staff! 16 O’Neil Street, Rome GA / 706.291.9977 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

We Have A History With Our Customers!

328 B BROAD ROAD ST ST. • 706-291-7236 706 291 7236 Family Owned Since 1948 www.GreenesJewelers.com

Upon Dee Yancey’s purchase of the leasing space at 210 East Second Ave., as well as the subsequent relocation of State Mutual Insurance Company to the building’s third floor, a transformation began to take effect. Crews were soon noticed onsite, hard at work on the landscaping, removing overgrown trees, erecting bollards, and renovating the adjacent courtyard. Also accomplished: an overhaul of the previous about-face sidewalk, which was replaced, appropriately enough, by brickwork that its pavers laid down in a herringbone pattern, reminiscent of a well-dressed gentleman. Coupled with ample parking in the large lot just across the road at East Third St., as well as its super-visible East Second Ave. location, the decision to set up shop was all

but handed down from on high. Ever the welcoming host, Hal looks forward to the many after-hours dinner parties and cocktail gatherings that are sure to take place in the corner store. The dapper Roman knew before he began remodeling that the store should not only sell the lifestyle apparel, but also serve as a gathering place to watch the game and enjoy a glacier-cold martini, shaken—not stirred. Outfitted with an actual living room and fully-stocked kitchen, you wonder if Hal’s boundaries between home and work get blurred from time to time. Many remember first hand when patrons would dress up to go to the movies, to fly, and even just traipse around downtown. So what has changed? Why is it a chore now

"It's about details... the right socks, the right belt, the right shoes—pulling these pieces together." 22

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to look one’s best , or at least, dress better? “I think the biggest challenge is apathy. Most people don’t care what they look like anymore,” retorts Hal. “Do you need an alligator belt? No. But there are luxury accessories and there are pieces of the puzzle that you can put together to create your own unique look. And that’s what I like to do…to help men develop their own unique style,” Hal explains. “It’s about details…the right socks, the right belt, the right shoes—pulling these pieces together,” Richards elaborates. He seems deeply troubled by what the toocasual apathy of today’s American public may suggest about our national character, and believes that in order to succeed it is crucial to dress the part—each and every day. Thankfully, Lodge 210 is looking to throw the underserviced men’s fashion industry in Northwest Georgia a bone. VVV

Fashion yourself into a man to be taken seriously by visiting Lodge 210 at its 210 East Second Ave., Suite 106 location, or by giving Hal a ring at 706.204.8724. Peruse online at lodge210rome.com

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YOUR ONE STOP

CHRISTMAS SHOP LIVE AUCTIONS December 14th and January 11th

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(Below, left to right) Redmond Regional Cardiology's EP lab team: Charles Pope, Sonja Cumbie, Teresa Tierce, Alan Saye

Text by Luke Chaffin Photos by Derek Bell

“F

rom the beginning it has been the ‘heart hospital’,” says Marsha Colwell, vice president of Cardiovascular Services for Redmond Regional Medical Center. Redmond began operation and its rich history of service in 1972, and was essentially created to bring cardiovascular programs to Rome. Owned and operated by the Hospital Corporation of America, it remains the only full-service heart hospital in Northwest Georgia. Redmond’s cardiac program has also been recognized for exceptional heart care by the Joint Commission and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. These accrediting bodies delegate “excellence” based on a thorough evaluation of hospital 26

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A special look at the history of quality patient care behind Redmond Regional Medical Center CardiologyServices procedures and outcomes, as well as patient and staff education. A dedicated team at Redmond has worked diligently to “hardwire” certain processes, establishing a high standard for patient care. Situations may vary, of course, but how care is administered remains the same. Physicians and clinicians at Redmond regularly review cases in an effort to pinpoint opportunities to administer lifesaving treatments to heart attack patients more efficiently and effectively. “Door-to-balloon time” has become an increasingly common buzz-phrase in heart hospitals nationwide. It refers to the time at which a patient enters the doors of the emergency room to the moment that blood flow is restored via a balloon angioplasty or stent procedure. Currently, the national

benchmark is 90 minutes. For several years, Redmond has maintained a goal of 60 minutes and currently boasts an impressive 52-minute average door-to-balloon time. “We have always pushed ourselves to not only meet national goals, but to exceed them as well,” Colwell explains. “We continue to do that.” This is important because only 25 percent of heart attack victims actually seek treatment, while only 10 percent of those who seek help do so quickly enough to receive treatment within the first, extremely critical hour. Any delay can be deadly serious, given the fact that 85 percent of damage to the heart muscle occurs in the first 60 minutes, according to the American Heart Association.

(Above, left to right) Redmond Regional Congestive Heart Clinic's Tammie Hincy, Bonnie Hines, Anna Martin, Marie Bonds, LaCrista Ferrell, Toni Puckett, and Dr. Himanshu Patel (Harbin Clinic cardiologist

Heartof the City Time is muscle in the world of heartattack care. But while new treatments, technologies, and industry standards such as these have helped decrease heart disease-related death rates, heart disease has remained the numberone killer of both men and women in the United States since 1918, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In fact, cardiovascular disease takes the lives of more people than the seven subsequent leading causes combined. On average, one person will die every minute from a coronary event. With these daunting statistics in mind, Redmond is at the forefront of new technological advances in the field, embracing

them as an ever-changing, yet integral, part of the patient’s total care. They have now refocused their efforts on quicker heart-attack care to the point of first contact by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel at the site of the cardiac episode. “Damage begins when the heart attack occurs,” says Colwell, “so that is where the clock really begins…not at the door of the emergency department.” Redmond’s trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are out in the field, in other words, ready to send information through trailblazing InMotion and AirStrip Technologies. EMTs are able to transmit electrocardiograms (EKGs) electronically to the emergency room—even from the patient’s living room. AirStrip allows the cardiologist to view the EKG on a smart phone and diagnose a heart attack, even before the patient has arrived at Redmond’s doorstep. When a patient then reaches the hospital, Redmond’s emergency-room staff has already been alerted and are waiting to stabilize the patient. The cath-lab team has already been activated and is ready to receive the patient. The team and interventional vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

cardiologist soon take over, and work to restore blood flow begins. Because treatment in a cardiac cath lab offers the best chance of surviving a heart attack, all procedures are pre-designed to get the patient there as soon as possible. Redmond opened Rome’s first diagnostic cardiac cath lab in April 1975, and has been leading the way ever since. About 4,500 coronary cath and interventions are administered each year, approximately 15 percent of which involve acute heart attacks. Coronary interventions utilize stents (fine metal coils) to expand areas of the arteries where there is not enough blood flow—i.e. restoring sufficient circulation—and can have impressive success rates, according to the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. In 1985, emphasis in the cath lab shifted from a purely diagnostic focus to an interventional program with the addition of open heart surgery. Surgical backup for interventional procedures was required at that time due to the delicate nature of the interventional procedure. It was of great significance that surgical coronary bypass and valvular surgery rounded out the fullservice cardiac program at Redmond. “If you look around the country, ours is an area of very high penetration for coronary artery

Dr. Hector Picon, Harbin Clinic cardiologist

disease,” explains Dr. Frank Stegall, M.D. of Harbin Clinic Cardiology. “It is logical that we would have a very active program here.” Unfortunately, we are often slaves to our genes. But take heart—we are not helpless. According to the experts, it is important to take control of your own health. Know your risk factors, including your family’s

own history of heart disease, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. If you smoke, please stop. In addition, starting some sort of exercise and finding healthy ways to reduce stress is always part of a good plan of action. “Lifestyle changes can delay expression of [heart] disease by as much as 10 years,” says

All is bright Becaus

312 Broad Street, 706-291-8811 ww

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(left to right) Redmond Cardiology staffers Janet Slayton, Hannah Decker, Chris Cabell, Cara Parris

(left to right) Vascular surgery clinical navigator Kim McGuire, cardiology clinical navigator Carol Campbell, and cardiothoracic surgery clinical navigator Telena Cole

"[Redmond is] giving fresh, quality care here that mimics what you could get in a much bigger, much more metropolitan area. We work hard to

keep our standards very high."

Dr. Daniel Goldfaden, Harbin Clinic cardiothoracic surgeon

Dr. Stegall. A 35-year veteran cardiologist of the Harbin Clinic, Dr. Stegall is hopeful for and proud of the younger partners in his group. “They are giving fresh, quality care here that mimics what you could get in a much bigger, much more metropolitan area. We work hard to keep our standards very high.” What is essential in the quest for a healthy heart, you ask? Dr. Stegall advises us to eat

less, for one, and walk more. “We are sedentary and eat the wrong things,” he says. Many Americans think of heart health in terms of heart attacks and catheterizations, but electrophysiology (EP) offers relief to those for whom arterial-flow issues may not resonate. “Cardiology has become historically synonymous with interventional, as in, I’m having a heart attack,” says Dr.

Robert Styperek, M.D., of the Harbin Clinic. “Only recently has it grown to encompass, I’m having a heart rhythm problem.” Atrial fibrillation—“A-fib” for short—is the biggest challenge for EP doctors and technicians to treat. The term refers to irregularities in heart rhythm, cases of which continue to become more and more common. But what causes A-fib? Aside from heredity, heart rhythm problems such as A-fib are perpetuated by poor health habits. We are a culture used to receiving our meals from a drive-thru window, in addition to the rhythmic abnormalities often incurred from excessive alcohol, caffeine, and assorted stimulant use— not to mention anxiety, stress and, for some, previous heart attacks. “Electrophysiology is like this black box that nobody understands. There are a lot of nuances, but it is a huge part of our lives,” Dr. Styperek explains. In layman’s terms, electrophysiologists are electricians of the heart. “Here, we treat slow heart rates and fast heart rates, both life-threatening circumstances and nuisances.” One of the newer additions to Redmond’s arsenal of cardiac care is their newly renovated, state-of-the-art EP Lab, instituted earlier this year. The lab offers Dr. Styperek and his colleagues the ability to perform vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

Dr. Mike Ware, Harbin Clinic cardiologist

Dr. Hunter Myers, Harbin Clinic cardiologist

Dr. Frank Stegall, Harbin Clinic cardiologist

"We are unique because all of our cardiologists are in the same medical group. We work a lot closer together than many other institutions."

a variety of high-tech heart procedures, including the latest treatment for A-fib, known as “cryoablation” (the freezing of diseased electrical pathways in the heart that often cause rhythmic fluctuation). Another newfangled advancement in cardiac engineering involves cardiothoracic surgery, by which “the surgeon does the more invasive procedures, a majority of which are coronary bypasses,” says Dr. Daniel Goldfaden, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon with the Harbin Clinic. A coronary bypass is a highly specialized surgery where healthier blood vessels are used to bypass blocked coronary arteries. Not all cardiac patients are candidates for open heart surgery, but like interventional cardiology and electrophysiology, cardiothoracic surgery fulfills a critical void for many patients. Others may have heart 30

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valve problems, holes in the heart, or other structural heart (and even lung) problems that can only be corrected by way of cardiothoracic surgery. All aforementioned surgeries are performed at Redmond. In fact, Redmond is the only hospital between Chattanooga, Gadsden and Atlanta equipped to offer these procedures. “We are unique because all of our cardiologists are in the same medical group,” says Dr. Goldfaden, in reference to the distinctive level of teamwork exercised at Redmond Regional. “We work a lot closer together than many other institutions. It’s a lot more cooperative and multi-specialty.” The Redmond way of patient care involves no half-hearted approach, as this staple Northwest Georgia institution continues its well-established commitment to patient care, as well as its self-mobilized gathering and reporting of information to all relevant agencies in the name of further increased quality of care. Also by way of investment via time, money and community initiatives, Redmond continues its residence at the pinnacle of modern heart health in the region.

During the month of February 2014, Redmond will host a lineup of events that includes “Redmond Has Heart”, which will focus primarily on the dissemination of heart-health awareness and heart-health tips. Also on the docket for the coming year: even greater spreading of heart-health education and awareness through various exhibitions, symposiums, and physician-led seminars to take place throughout 2014. “You don’t have to make life-or-death choices. Small choices make a difference,” Marsha Colwell explains. “I think we are doing better as a human race. Heart disease is decreasing,” says Dr. Styperek. “People are trying to be more diligent in how they take care of themselves.” So what, then, has ultimately been the secret to Redmond’s long-tenured success as a heart-centric hospital? To hear its staffers tell it: A culture. A focus on patient care. A focus on quality. VVV

To find out more about what Redmond Regional Medical Center can offer you and your loved ones in the way of heart health, visit redmondregional.com

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vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

Trends& Traditions with Holly Lynch

ammy Davis, Jr. once sang: “Love is all around, no need to waste it / You can have the town, why don’t you take it / You might just make it after all…” You remember the tune. It was the theme song to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. If you sing it aloud, you can see her in your mind’s eye, spinning around, tossing her hat in the air. This song, to me, is also the perfect example of music as a soundtrack for life. There was a time when I absolutely hated my job. Rather, I didn’t hate the work I was doing, I loathed the atmosphere in which the work had to be done. At the time, the song “I Hate Everyone” by Get Set Go was

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on my playlist for arriving at the office, yet I realized quickly that the song wasn’t helping me move on to the next level. That’s when Sammy’s song really began to speak to me. And when I started my own business doing what I absolutely love, though I can’t say I owe my business to entirely to the music, I certainly owe a small piece of my motivation to the changing of my theme song. Yes, I have a theme song. And so should you. Life is a musical, after all. Consider every great musical, in which everyone has a theme song. Annie just knew that the sun would come out tomorrow. Sandy was, truly, hopelessly devoted to Danny. Maria knew she would have to climb every mountain—literally.

Each theme song gave us insight into the character, and we knew the song motivated them to act. The same goes for us, the characters of real life. Every turn of phrase or situation you find yourself in could be turned into a song and dance number. Forget harmony and perfect choreography, just sing and move. You can’t possibly hate anything if you start putting music to the situation. As a believer in the Bible, I truly take to heart the verse “Make a joyful noise,” (Psalm 100:1)—because I certainly can’t carry a tune, but by golly I can be joyful with music. Perhaps I’m so innately drawn to music because I was named for a song, “Holly Holy” by Neil Diamond. Yep, even though my birth month is December, my name was not given to me because of the season. Perhaps I believe life is a musical because I was once a band geek. (If I’m being honest, I still am). Or perhaps I have simply realized that song is integral in both motivating and defining my everyday life. I don’t always listen to the radio, but there’s almost always a song playing in my head. Does that make me crazy? Some might call it earworms. I call it motivation. Music is movement, and movement is always better than stagnation. I even make up songs for myself. Some sound a lot like nursery rhymes, others are merely melodic chants (“Make the bride happyyyy, make the bride happyyyy!”). Most of us are enjoying that special time of year which rings of silver bells and festive carolers. We embrace music much more freely during the holidays. We have entire CDs dedicated to wintery tunes and Christmas songs; we seek stations that play nothing but holiday music. It puts us in the spirit for family time, shopping, gift giving, and home-cooking. Music is, quite literally, everywhere. We use music for all the important events in our lives. Brides choose songs to walk down the aisle to meet their new husbands. My grandmother chose her own songs for the soundtrack to her funeral before she died, because music was that important

to her. We sing to our babies. We worship with song. We teach children songs that help them to deal with life’s rainy days, songs that serve as pneumonic devices to learn their colors. Most of us don’t even stop to realize how many—and how varied a selection of— sounds and songs are a part of our daily lives. While you’re reading this, stop for a moment and listen. If you’re in a shop or office, there’s likely a local radio station or satellite radio playing. Camping in the wilderness? I would dare say the hoot of an owl or the chirp of a cricket is music. Even the dreaded, electronically numbing Muzak that is part of our soundtrack of life—or possibly just the backdrop to a dental cleaning— at least there’s something to listen to instead of another lecture on proper flossing technique. Even the hum of my clothes dryer and

I have an entire playlist called “home” with songs that remind me of home so that when I’m away, I can still feel connected. I will be 39 in a couple of weeks, and with the big 4-0 looming ahead, I find myself imagining how I might choose to define my nearly 40 years in song. Which songs would make the playlist? I’m certain the MTM theme and Neil Diamond’s very personal number to me would be on there. I might even include the hate song, since it certainly reminds me of a time in my career when change was necessary. Music makes everything better, so embrace it. Even Kmart has realized that selling boxer shorts is much more fun with a catchy tune.

As a matter of fact, take time during this month of joy and music to think about the goals and promises the New Year may bring. Instead of a resolution, how about choosing a theme song instead? Pick one that will work for a while. You can certainly change it when you need to. There are times when Sammy’s song doesn’t do it for me, and I have to use another tune to motivate., but most of the time, I still believe that I might just make it after all. VVV

Holly Lynch

is owner of and head planner for The Season Special Events Planning at 250 Broad Street in Rome

You don't need the holiday season to help fill your heart with song. In fact, psychologically speaking, the healthiest among us often use the music in our heads as a year-round cure-all for the blues

Life Is a Musical the irregular beat of my fridge’s icemaker ring of music. All metronomic sounds have rhythm and a beat. Life really is a musical. Even chores are more tolerable if there’s a catchy tune to accompany the task. For our family’s drive to the beach this past summer, we rode with another couple. We created a special “driving to the beach playlist” to last all six hours in the car. Each person contributed a wish list of songs. Given that our ages span from 38 to 62, we covered a number of genres and styles. We focused heavily on tunes that make us want to be seaside (read: Jimmy Buffet), but also on tunes that just make us laugh and smile. I will never hear Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime” again without thinking fondly of that road trip. What if we could create a station of just motivational music for everyday life? Music that speaks directly to us, as individuals? Maybe you need a career lift. If so, perhaps a playlist for creating confidence is the way to go (“I’m Every Woman” or “The Greatest”). Maybe you are getting married, so you want a playlist of romantic tunes that keep you in the spirit of wedding planning (“Going to the Chapel”). For whatever your goal, there’s a myriad of songs out there to help you stay motivated.

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vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

sstache ecret

If your tastes lie with the throngs of blues-loving Northwest Georgians who reeeeally dig a soul-rattling ragtime set, Tennessee-bred

Lon Eldridge is among the best, relatively little-knowns meteoring across the live circuit

Text by

Oliver Robbins & Neal Howard

P hotos by

Derek Bell

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is style of music is complemented by a performance persona that completely steals the show. This Spring City, Tenn. native gathers his inspiration from the road, and plugs his audience into the music of the past. Ragtime blues has descended on downtown Rome, and they call him Lon. In strolls a slim figure, dressed so sharply he would bleed to death if he should fall. His britches are belly-button high, supported by thin, black suspenders. His hem barely breaks above mirror-polished wingtip shoes. Under his collar is a black neck tie, and on his face are small, circle–rimmed shades that barely cover his eyes. His shave is clean, except for a neat mustache with curls on each end. He carries an amp, a guitar, and stories about his travels. Twenty-seven-year-old Lon Eldridge, from Chattanooga, has come to play us all a song. When asked the reason Lon decided to venture down the road toward the lovely city of Rome, he responds with confidence, “That is a very definitive answer, which is Mr. Jedd Lovel (drummer for Rome-based Jerry On The Moon) who is solely responsible for me coming to Rome to play.” Lon recalls a house party in Mentone, Ala. where he played a private gig and Jedd cast the line that ultimately reeled him in. Eldridge vividly remembers being the opening act for Jerry On The Moon at the popular Broad Street night spot, 400 Block Bar. It is the first time he plays in Rome. Nowadays, Lon has several standing gigs in town at the Moon Roof (twice a month on Wednesdays), Old Havana (one Friday a month), and an occasional appearance at Curlee’s Seafood Bar on weekends. Now that we know where he can be found, Eldridge would like to explain why folks should ‘come-a-looking’ for him. Lon is a self-taught musician with no formal training, who, quite literally, stumbled upon his craft at an early age. “At 13 years old, I discover my dad’s guitar underneath the couch. I had a friend over and I asked him if he knew anything about this thing,” he recalls. His buddy teaches him one chord, a D major. From this point, Lon gets a few more fretboard instructions from his father, and he starts to learn music theory on his own. Soon, his passion for the blues and bluegrass grabs the wheel and drives him into the songs of yesteryear. Lon is proficient in mandolin, banjo, and dobro slide guitar. He also dabbles in the keys, but all things with strings are home for him. “I know my way around a piano, but guitar is my main squeeze.” Lon prefers an abstract songwriting approach that injects his life on the road into his lyrics. He talks of times when he writes a song completely in his head, from the driver’s 36

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seat of his car. “The road is where I love to be. The journey is therapeutic and peaceful. It’s like a weird limbo place where I know where I’ve been, and I know what is about to happen ahead of me. I just have to keep it between the white and the yellow.” Oftentimes, songs formed during these trance-like moments find their way into that evening’s gig. “ I sometimes get to a show and think of what key to play in, for a song I just wrote 30 minutes ago. Every song I play is a skeleton, and I put the meat on the bones at the show.” This honest songwriting technique is easily found in his lyrics. Lon has a favorite line from a song on his newest album, Play Dat Thang! (featuring fellow folk artist and friend, Ed Huey). The song is titled “The Black Ace”,

which Lon paints as a double entendre, using playing cards to symbolize his courtship of a young lady. “I don’t care bout yo’ Jacks / I’ll trump all yo’ kings / I’m the Black Ace honey / and you’re my little Queen,” he recites with a playful snicker. He also speaks about his experience with rejection in “The Angry-Hearted Rag”, a track he references from his first album, Home to the Highway. He says, “I talked to this girl into the wee hours of the morning after a show, only to find out I was just a pawn in a chess game.” Lon goes on to note that this song is decribing a real event, and a very real woman that he is immortalizing in song. Eldridge draws his guitar-playing style from what he calls “the great masters of the

rural blues.” Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, and Skip James are just a few the musicians Lon pulls from a list he says is as long as his right arm. He also loves the music of the early 19th century. Scott Joplin, famous for highly recognizable tunes entitled “The Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag”, is another artist Lon invokes to create a new, 21st-century style of a folk/blues music fusion. “I love the artists from the Mississippi Delta and the Piedmont of South Carolina.” Another interesting form of music Lon mentions is called “skiffle.” He explains that

"People may not remember my name, but they will remember the dude with the suspenders who plays the blues." his father, Lonnie Eldridge, Sr., was named after Lonnie Donegan, who is credited with the creation of skiffle music. When breaking down this particular style of music, Lon uses cultures that combined in harmony to paint the picture. “Skiffle was played by white people,” Lon explains, “but it was all songs that originated from the black people and their culture.” Eldridge credits this form of music as the humble origin of the nowfamous “rock-a-billy” style often performed today. Maybe one day Lon will grab a place in history to call his own, one that highlights his fresh take on a classic genre. Although Lon feels most at home in front

of a room full of willing listeners, he also hopes to rejuvenate interest in folk music around the world. He teaches his craft at the Folk School of Chattanooga. There, people are encouraged to come and learn to play folk music using the many tradition folk instruments, such as the spoons, upright bass and the washboard, to name a few. Of course, more common instruments, like the banjo and resonator guitar (also known as the dobro slide guitar), are available for instruction. Day workshops and lesson schedules are only a part of what the school offers. Lon also enjoys the square dances and concerts frequently orchestrated by the staff. When questioned about the interests they’ve received from the public, Lon says, “Folk music and culture is a growing art. We are finding small pockets of folk artists all around the world.” Three years ago, Lon was approached by the director of the Folk School of Chattanooga, Christie Burns, about attending a mass exposé of traditional musicians in northern Belgium. The festival, known as Ethno Flanders, named for the area where it is held, features musicians from all over the world. “It’s a week-long gathering of musicians that play the traditional music of their region,” he explains. “We all meet at this schoolhouse in Belgium. We live together, and teach music from where we are from, and learn different tunes from all over creation.” Lon adds that, at the end of the week, all of the musicians come together in concert as a 60-piece orchestra. In his datebook, Eldridge has set this week in stone every year since his first outing three years ago. “This year 18 different countries were represented,” he says excitedly. Lon not only attends Ethno Flanders every year, he also has found Ethno Denmark. “There are Ethno Concerts everywhere.” The

once week-long trip abroad has progressed into Lon spending a full month of his year touring Europe, and into finding people of all nationalities who love and respect a form of music that is rich with American history. When listening to Lon’s intricate guitar riffs and cleverly crafted lyrics, it is easy to get lost in the era he so strongly embraces. He talks about how this music has made such a lasting impression on him that it is the reason for his unique style. “I haven’t always dressed this snappy.” he says. “In fact, I was quite disheveled in my high school years.” He soon came to the realization, however, that he would need a brand to complement his art. “People may not remember my name, but they will remember the dude with the suspenders who plays the blues.” Lon expands on the notion that his music has fundamentally changed his everyday life. “Now I never leave my house without my tie and suspenders. The persona has become me, and we have influenced each other.” His goal is to be a refreshing change of pace from the norm when resurrecting his adventures from the road in song, over smooth neo-ragtime blues. He hopes that when others come out to share an evening with him, they appreciate the simple elegance of a man and his guitar. He hopes they laugh a little louder, hug a little tighter, and stay for one more song. What he considers a successful outing is best put in his own words. “I just wanna see ’em dance.” VVV

Lon Eldridge albums now available for download on iTunes. For upcoming show

dates and assorted mp4 streams, visit online at reverbnation.com/loneldridge vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

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Touching theLine

with Kent Howard

good friend and I were talking over lunch this summer when he said to me, “Kent, your legacy is what lasts forever once you are gone.” These words pierced me to the core. Not because of their profundity, but because of their universality and consequence. The notion of leaving a legacy is comparable to a good sermon you may have heard time and time again, but it still seems to strike you more and more each time you think about it. And with that in mind, I decided to really digest the idea of my own legacy. First, it made me think about my wife and children. Thoughts and questions flooded over me like a tidal wave. Was I the husband my wife dreamed I would be when we stood on the altar and said our vows 13 years ago? Would the memories my children hold of me be filled with laughter and joy? Am I a husband so devoted, forgiving and loving that my sweet, precious wife would have to ponder for many years whether or not she would ever remarry? (She would

Teach a Girl to Fish... When it comes to the lasting impact of our lives long after we're dead and gone, legacies are sort of like used cars. The only question is, will your posthumous spirit travel by Geo or Volvo?

certainly have my blessing.) Furthermore, was I the sort of father my son and daughter would tell others about for the rest of their lives? Would the stories pass on to future Howard generations? Soon after coming to peace with all of 40

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this—i.e. that I was indeed living a legacydriven family life—my focus quickly shifted to my work. I thought about the countless students I have attempted to inspire and mentor over the years, as both teacher and coach. Did the thousands of

hours of basketball practices, lectures, and attempted instillation of critical lessons make a real difference in who they have or will become later in life? The answers to these questions will not be conveyed through stories or by memory. The answers will not be found in the way our loved ones talk about us when we are gone. Instead, we truly live on through

the way people talk about us—and walk without us—when we are gone. You see, my 7-year-old daughter, Isabelle, is very much a daddy’s girl. If I were to die before she begins to date or becomes engaged, I can’t help but wonder if she’d remember enough about my character and personal values to marry a man of similar ilk? What would her married life be if I weren’t here to model the husband/father type I pray she chooses to gravitate toward? She might love me and share stories about me with the men she dates over the years, but my legacy needs to be so much stronger than that. In many ways, the old Tim McGraw song “Live Like You Were Dying” speaks to the heart on this subject. My only problem with the tune is that it may encourage people to think about themselves first when facing the reality of death. Sure, it’s important to check off some bucket list items for fun, but future generations are counting on your legacy to be irrefutable, titanium strong, packed full of inspiration. Legacies such as this have the power to stimulate badly needed change or maintain a healthier way of living. In other words, our

focus should not be on skydiving, but rather on spending time with family, giving to the poor, and maybe just volunteering our time to a greater movement that will be worthy of discussion 100 years down the road. Instead of riding a bull named Fu Man Chu, I think I’ll go fishing with my daughter and talk. Lords knows both of us are will prattle on to a brick wall if it’s willing to listen.

in which you may better connect with your loved ones and your own legacy goals. For me, it is imperative to know that she will remember enough about me to never forget me through a greater cause than my extraordinarily ordinary, yet purpose-rich, life. I desperately want her to remember my spirit through my service to others. Cool, isn’t it—to think that my grandchildren’s children might somehow be impacted by daddy-daughter fishing trips? Start your legacy fresh today. It begins now, not a minute from now. Don’t focus so much on bucketlist items in a bid to fill it up. Leave your indelible, unfleeting mark by spending your free time hard at work on the things you can do that will matter 50 to 100 years from now. Leave them no choice but to remember, and to remember fondly. VVV

Cool, isn't it—to think that my grandchildren's children might somehow be impacted by daddydaughter fishing trips? Start your legacy fresh today. It begins now, not a minute from now. Isabelle has always had a heart for the homeless, as well as a big heart for her daddy as I speak to her. This would be a perfect way to spend even more quality time, but making it a legacy move could, quite possibly, last my baby a lifetime. Planning a foundation in her honor and in my memory, it would be more than talk and a good anecdote. Her life might be instrinsically tethered to a greater cause, perhaps one that involves feeding and clothing the homeless. Each of you can readily pinpoint the ways

Kent Howard is an 11-year NWGA educator, basketball coach and inspirational speaker. To book him for public engagements, call 706.767.3226 or email bookkenthoward@gmail.com

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

he holidays are upon us, and the time to reflect on another year has come. In turn, Chieftains Museum (501 Riverside Pkwy., Rome) and Crandel Allmon, head designer and owner of Pineapple Place (13 East Third Ave., Rome) would like to invite everyone to experience Cherokee holiday traditions currently on display at the historic Major Ridge Home, and, furthermore, to peer into an all-butforgotten past we share with the Cherokee people. Entering the doors of the gift shop at Chieftains Museum begins a journey through time. Many of our current customs are built on the foundations of those who walked before us, and a perfect place to take that stroll is now beautifully adorned with the décor influenced by the Cherokee family who once called this place home. Heather Shores, executive director of Chieftains, recently gave V3 a glimpse into nearly 200-year-old looking glass that Pineapple Place has now refashioned for Christmas with consideration to the agesold practices of the Cherokee. Heather is a Roman native who acquired her masters in public history from the University of West Georgia, and she is experienced in museum operations through her 13 years of work and lecture for other organizations, including the Atlanta History Center, the Booth Western Art Museum, and the Museum of History and Holocaust Education at Kennesaw State University. Since Shores is proficient in preserving the artifacts and stories that are attached to relics of the past, Heather is careful to point out the most important piece at Chieftains. “The house is really the center of our collection,” she says. Shores then shares an interesting tidbit of info that highlights the thoughtfulness with which the holiday dressings were chosen. “The house is like a Russian nesting doll. It’s like a house inside a house, that is inside another house,” she explains, adding that many of the home’s residents elected to build additional home space onto the original two-story cabin, including Major Ridge. “The original house was never torn down. It still remains in our walls and in our ceilings.” The decorations that Crandel Allmon uses in the home are layered in similar fashion. Heather speaks about the Moravian influence that early missionaries had on Major Ridge, and the way his family chose to display their celebration of the season. Window candles are lit at night in the window panes of the museum and

Heather provides some beginning history of this tradition that is evident on homes all around Northwest Georgia and beyond. “The Moravian missionaries were here during the time Major Ridge lived in the house. The tradition was to put candles in the windows to welcome friends

textbyoliverrobbins photosbyderekbell

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When Pineapple Place owner Crandel Allmon elected to take on a tagteam project with one of Rome's most historically indispensible institutions, chieftains museum, the two parties' goals were, at the very least, mutually charitable, if not transformative

and family home for the holidays,” Shores explains. She talks about how Major Ridge became a Christian, late in life, which is why Christmas trees are doubly fitting for Chieftains' holiday interior. The tree near the entrance is quaint, and Heather suggests that it is a more proper representation of the tree that would be found in the Ridge home when he inhabited the property in the early 1800s. “You really get a full span of history in this house. We like to think of the house as a witness to

history because it’s been here almost 200 years,” she reports as she narrates how European ideals became a part of Ridge’s everyday life. “We also have two Christmas Trees, that Crandel Allmon did a beautiful job decorating for us, and he also decorated the mantles”, Heather points out. She is especially fond of the old Christmas greeting cards that Crandel uses as ornaments on the

garland- draped mantle. “Look closely, and you can read them”, she exclaims! The two trees are peppered with pieces of glittering artificial fruit, which Heather says is a modern representation of what the Ridges were thought to have used to decorate their trees, since the property was home to over a thousand fruit trees. The simple elegance in Allmon’s work adds texture to the house, while paying respect to the family

averycherokee

Christmas

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"For a moment in time, the eyes of the entire country were turned to this corner of Georgia to see how the U.S. Government would handle the Cherokee Nation. We have a house that has been here nearly 200 years, and it tells that story." that once used its walls as shelter. Other special pieces of the holiday past hang nearly from ceiling to floor in the center of the house. Huge wintery scenes, wrapped in ornate gold frames, give the room a warm holiday hug. “These pieces were once displayed in Davidson’s Department Store in Atlanta, Georgia, which later became Macy’s” Heather explains when detailing the history of the works. “A couple later bought the paintings from Wyatt’s (a furniture store once located in Downtown Rome) where the panels were displayed for Christmas. That couple has donated the art to the museum, and it has become part of our collection.” The Ridge Home is a place that Heather is hoping will continue to grow and educate the public about its rich heritage. In 1969, The Junior Service League gives the official title of “museum” to the property, and still holds fundraising events to ensure that this important legacy is not lost. In the 1980s the museum officially becomes a nonprofit organization. “All of our funding comes from memberships, admissions, and gift-

shop sales. We also secure funds from grant writing. We receive no state or federal funding”, Heather reports while outlining some of the challenges that The Chieftains Museum faces when moving forward. “This is a large historic house, and just operations is a huge need for us”, she says. She wants people to know that volunteering some of their time would be an enormous contribution. She is available at the site for instructions and needs, which can be met with donations of time and elbow grease. Folks can also visit the website, chieftainsmuseum.com, for volunteer applications. “People can always help preserve the museum by visiting or bringing groups for outings”, responds Heather when asked about other ways the community can assist. “You can also become a member. We have different levels of membership, which can be found on our website.” Money is often a hurdle for non-profits. Heather hopes 44

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

to be able to use any extra funds to expand the exhibits and offer more programming for the public that the museum serves. Becoming a member has its advantages. On top of free admission, there are many events throughout the year that add to the experience of the museum. “We have a membership brunch coming up on the 8th of December, a plant sale every spring, and a low-country broil and barbecue every summer”, she says. Heather and Crandel have been successful in blending the practices of the past with elements of the present, creating a beautiful space for others to enjoy. The Chieftains Museum is a link in the chain of Roman history that binds our town to a nation growing into greatness. So much of what we experience today, is a direct result of being able to look back on history in reflection and reverence. This Holiday, treat your family to a tour of a place wrapped in the history of our collective heritage, soak in the knowledgeable over at the Chieftains. When asked what keeps her motivated to continue to improve the museum and bring the history to others, she replies: “For a moment in time, the eyes of the entire country were turned to this corner of Georgia to see how the U.S. Government would handle the Cherokee Nation. We have a house that has been here nearly 200 years, and it tells that story. That’s worth getting up for by itself.” VVV

To find out how you can help Chieftains Museum meet its donation goals, please call executive director Heather Shores at 706.291.9494, or visit Chieftains online at chieftainsmuseum.com

harbinclinic.com/ENT vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

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