June 2023

TASTE THE CULTURE TASTE THE CULTURE

Tinto Travels tailors all inclusive wine, food and cultural tours in Portugal, Italy, France and Spain.

AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology

Coming July 2023

The Cardiologists You Know in the Community You Love

Residents of Northwest Georgia can easily access expert heart care provided by AdventHealth Medical Group’s elite cardiology specialists that you know and love. AdventHealth Medical Group is pleased to announce the opening of three new locations:

Cardiology at Calhoun 109 Hospital Drive Calhoun, GA 30701 Cardiology at Rome

7 John Maddox Drive NW Rome, GA 30165

Cardiac Electrophysiology at Rome 100 John Maddox Drive NW Rome, GA 30165

Learn More: GeorgiaHeartExperts.com

Schedule an Appointment: 706-237-9451

Chas Jackson, MD

Spencer Maddox, MD

Andrew McCue, MD

Chris Merritt, MD

G. Hunter Myers, MD

Himanshu Patel, MD

Kipp Slicker, DO, FACC

Robert Styperek, MD, FHRS, FACC

G. Justin Tanner, MD

J. Michael Ware, MD, FACC

JUNE 2023

FEATURES

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Through its summer initiative, Prescribe Outside, Harbin Clinic invites people, for the sake of good health, to take full advantage of all the outdoor opportunities Northwest Georgia has to offer.

Hardy

15

Peter and Nina Brinkman, of Tinto Tours, fell in love with the culture, wine and food of Portugal. It was their deep affection that turned a passion for European culture into all inclusive private wine tour business.

Rennaissance Marquis resident, James McCubbin gets inducted into the Georgia Military Hall of Fame.

Realty is leasing units at The Avenue Apartments, a 23-unit apartment building newly renovated from an old hotel.

Publisher's Note

In the merry month of May, I watched my daughter, Marley walk across the stage and graduate from The College of Charleston. It was the end of a life-long journey for a young lady that I’m so proud I had the opportunity to help raise. Her mother had her young and missed her chance at the traditional college experience and from the moment she understood what college was, it was her mission to do it right.

She was in the band at Rome High School and that ate up a lot of her time, but she shined brightest in the classroom and was borderline obsessed with her grades. She put a ton of pressure on herself, and it led to some tearful, anxiety-ridden nights of potentially

OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin

Alred, Ian Griffin, Karli Land, Nina Lovel, Paul Moses PHOTOGRAPHERS

The Braves Play Here

Supporting Our Community Together

At First National Community Bank, Local Bank. Local Decisions.® is more than just our slogan, it’s a way of life. We pride ourselves in our experienced staff of familiar local Bankers, Commercial Relationship Managers and Mortgage Lenders that collectively bring over 340 years of banking experience to serve you and understand our community better than anyone else.

We are proud to offer a full range of business and personal banking products and services that are designed for your specific needs:

As the weather warms, those who are looking for ways to feel better in body and mind can look to Harbin Clinic and their prescription to spend more summer days outdoors. “Prescribe Outside” is Harbin Clinic’s initiative designed to get the citizens of Northwest Georgia out in the sun to improve their physical health and emotional wellbeing.

Harbin Clinic cardiologist Dr. Charlie Baggett says, “Maintaining an active lifestyle has numerous benefits for a person’s overall health. When done

regularly, moderate physical activity can actually strengthen the heart muscle, which improves the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body and allows for more oxygen in our blood. When we live a heart-healthy way of life, we reduce our risk of coronary heart disease, reduce our blood pressure, and improve our mental health.”

It’s no surprise that in this age of social media obsessions and the binge-watching of television shows that the average American spends up to 90% of their lives indoors. Lower obesity rates and improved motor development have been linked by research to spending time outdoors. Also, vitamin D levels are increased by healthy degrees of exposure to the sun. Levels of depression and stress are often decreased by spending time outside, too. And playing in the fresh air and sunshine sparks creativity and learning in children, increasing critical thinking and curiosity. However people enjoy being physically active outdoors, that is what Harbin Clinic encourages them to do. It's a prescription for good health.

NATURE'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Northwest Georgia is the perfect natural environment for an active outdoor life. That’s why Harbin Clinic is proud to partner with various organizations that promote such a lifestyle. For instance: the Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI), whose mission is, in their own words, to “protect, preserve, and restore one of North America’s most biologically diverse river systems.” They encourage people to explore the rivers by canoe and kayak, to swim, and to camp along the banks. Harbin also partners with TRED (Trails for Recreation and Economic Development of Rome/Floyd County), which provides events and initiatives that get people on the many trails around the local community.

“Performing physical activity outside is really important,” says Dr. Baggett. “I believe a lot of us suffer from what I like to call ‘nature deficit disorder.’ We

"PRESCRIBE OUTSIDE" INVITES PEOPLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES NORTHWEST GEORGIA HAS TO OFFER.

spend most of our time indoors, and it can dramatically impact our physical and mental health. I encourage my patients to incorporate ‘wilderness therapy’ into their daily life. For example, taking a short walk along one of our numerous nature trails can improve cardiovascular health and reduce stress and anxiety.”

EXPLORING NORTHWEST GEORGIA

One way Harbin Clinic is encouraging the public to get some summer outside time is partnering with the YMCA of Rome and Floyd County to provide kickboxing for the community. This is fun for the whole family (ages eight and up) and is a way to get some good exercise, breathe in fresh air, and learn a little about self-defense. These Saturday sessions will be held at Grizzard Park from 10AM-11AM on July 1st, August 5th, and September 2nd. And it’s better than affordable; it’s free thanks to Harbin Clinic and the YMCA.

To keep the fun going, Harbin Clinic is sponsoring the Prescribe Outside Summer

Scavenger Hunt. Participants can visit eight exciting locations around Northwest Georgia. If they take a photograph at five of these locations, they can be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a YETI cooler and a Harbin Clinic Prize Pack. Everyone who snaps pics of all eight locations will win a Harbin Clinic Prize Pack. A map of scavenger hunt locations can be downloaded from the site listed below. Photos from the scavenger-hunters can be submitted at this site as well.

When it comes to reaping the benefits of time in the sunshine, Dr. Baggett sets a personal example for those in his life by practicing what he preaches. He says, “I’m an avid outdoorsman and truly believe in the benefits of being active outdoors and spending time outside. The advantages are numerous, and Harbin Clinic’s Prescribe Outside initiative is a great resource for those looking to kickstart a more outdoor lifestyle.”

For more information, go to harbinclinic. com/prescribeoutside.

To learn more visit harbinclinic.com

At Stonebridge Golf Club, Launchbox features covered bays with state-of-the-art technology to help perfect your golf game. By utilizing Top Tracer shot tracking, as seen on the PGA Tour, Launchbox provides instant feedback on every shot with results sent directly to your phone!

Launchbox offers a variety of games that players of all skill levels can enjoy. You can kick back and have a fun time playing “Go Fish” or play 18 holes on famous golf courses including Pebble Beach. No matter which game you choose, Launchbox is sure to take your golf experience to the next level.

Bring your group out to enjoy bays that are designed for comfort with outdoor furniture, televisions, music and wonderful food and beverage services. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, Launchbox is built for everyone to enjoy at an affordable price (as low as $5 per person).

romestonebridge.com/launchbox

Tinto Travels: How It All Started

Peter and Nina Brinkman fell in love with the culture, wine and food of Portugal. It was their deep affection that turned a passion for European culture into all inclusive private wine tour business.

Photos:

Text: Paul Moses |

Andy Calvert

In The Begining:

Originally from Virginia, Peter Brinkman moved to Portugal with his wife Nina, over 15 years ago. In living abroad, they truly fell in love with the culture, wine and food of Portugal, and wanted to share their own experiences with people back home. This was how their wine shop in Virginia Beach, Tinto Wine and Cheese, was first created.

Later, in sharing their own European wine experiences with their customers, both felt inspired by them to create Tinto Travels, putting together Wine Tasting Tours in Portugal, as well as in some of the best wine regions in Italy, France and Spain. Peter and Nina are able to partner up with winemakers and various local guides who share their knowledge about the heart and art of food and wine travel making each tour unique.

Each of the tours have been designed and crafted to share the most delightful and delicious aspects of European culture in ways where you can sit back in historical settings, enjoy your experiences and make memories that will last a lifetime.

The Tours: Testimonials Val & Clay Drees, Virginia Beach

"Vacation planning can be a hassle, and we have done it ourselves for years: booking hotels, renting cars, buying tour tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, and entrance fees. On our own we struggled to find hotels and restaurants

that weren't tourist traps, and felt challenged to communicate in languages that weren't our own. Sure, you will always be able to find guidebooks and language classes, but if you want to truly experience the joy of travel, Tinto’s Wine Tasting Tours are the best.

We got to experience out-of-the-way places we would never have found on our own. We went to restaurants only locals would know or Michelin star restaurants and we enjoyed wonderfully catered wine tastings in places that are not available for anyone else - it was just us and all of those who, since then, became our dearest friends.

For our first trip with Tinto Wine Tasting Tours we went to Alentejo, Portugal and stayed in Evora, at a lovely 4-star hotel and were provided amazing breakfasts each morning. We got to experience extraordinary out-of-the-way places we would never have found on our own.

Our 2nd tour was to the Loire Valley, in France. On Tinto Travels the day usually begins around 10:00 a.m. and activities often went well into the evening, lingering over sumptuous communal dinners at exquisite locations or landscapes.

Also there was the added benefit of having enough flexible time to relax and explore on our own, and helpful suggestions from the Tinto hosts

for things to do in our free time - which came as a commodity to process the amazing things we were experiencing .

After our first Tinto Tour, we learned that unless we planned to buy a ton of souvenirs, we really didn’t need much pocket money, as the set tour prices took care of all of our travel in the country, including our entrance fees to sites, our hotels, wine tastings and two huge meals a day.

Something we also appreciated was that the travel groups were small, with only 8 to 10 couples, giving us the chance to make great new friends.

We look forward to every Tinto Travels tour! We have become addicted to the easy living, out of the way places and the camaraderie Tinto is able to give.”

Marion Weed, Rome, Georgia

“One of the things that most impresses me about Tinto Travels (Peter and Nina) is their ability to curate for the unexpected.

I will never forget our traveling group heading to Villa Angarano as part of the day’s schedule in what had been, by then, a truly magnificent journey through the Italian Venetto region. For all of us, it was already incredible to taste wine and dine “al fresco” among the vineyards with Villa Angarano’s Palace owners and the XVI century Villa as a backdrop. As this wonderful afternoon was coming to an end, we were surprised by an invitation to the family Chapel on the property, with a request: by all means, no pictures! That got us curious, since pictures were something no

one was able to stop taking (what else could be in store for us?). As we all found a seat inside the chapel, a concert by three tenors would take place, performing a line-up of Italian arias, accompanied by a piano, in such a wonderful and exclusive place - The Villa Angarano!

I still remember all of us being moved - some to tears - by that moment’s beauty, as if time stopped, talking us back centuries while listening to an impromptu concert in such a beautiful and rare setting. This overwhelming experience became the highlight of the day and week. It was a sense of personal joy and a rare opportunity, difficult to find nowadays…

Since then, I have traveled with Tinto Travels. With whom else? It is not only about the amazing places and people you get to know, it is also the

relaxed and friendly atmosphere that is created. It is about curated privileges and a sense of the unexpected that fills you with delight, underlining the fact that, by the end of the trip, you have lived through something out of the ordinary, which “normal” tours are not able to deliver: I always know all has been taken care of by Tinto Travels, meticulously!“

From Hotel Rooms To Appartment Homes

Text: Paul Moses | Photos: Hardy Realty

Just because a building has seen better days doesn’t mean it necessarily should be torn down. That’s the mindset of Rome, Georgia, builder and entrepreneur Wayne Robinson. He enjoys saving aging structures from the wrecking ball, renovating them, and giving them a new purpose. Case in point: The Avenue, a soon-to-open apartment building owned by Robinson and two long-time friends and business associates, Brian Dulaney and Robert Sturdivant. Hardy Realty is handling the apartments’ management. A University of Georgia graduate, Robinson got into the construction business right out of college. After working for a developer in Atlanta for a few years, he returned to his hometown of Rome and started building new residential neighborhoods. “We built many of the subdivisions you see around town,” Robinson says. Then, when the housing market took a tumble in the mid-2000s, he pivoted and went into the restaurant business (Steak ‘n Shake, Bojangles, O’Charley’s). But Robinson is always looking for the next challenge, so now he and his partners are focusing on building carwashes and doing renovation projects like The Avenue.

HELP FOR THE HOUSING CRUNCH

The Avenue was repurposed from what was the Oyo Hotel (which was originally part of a Holiday Inn). The hotel operated until the day Robinson and his partners signed the closing papers. “On that very day,” Robinson says, “the previous owners got in their car and drove off, leaving everything where it was. All the furniture. The sheets were still on the beds. They just sold us the place, closed it up, and moved on.” He laughs and adds, “We could have kept the place open if we wanted to. Everything was still there. We had an open house and people came and took what they wanted, so we were very fortunate that most of it got taken.”

Robinson says, “The reason we decided to do this project was that Rome really needs apartments— we’re still quite a bit underserved—especially when it comes to apartments in town.”

COZY, CLEAN, AND BRAND NEW

Robinson and his partners knew the old hotel was a perfect building to renovate. It had—as they say in real estate—great bones. “The walls were rock-solid,” says Robinson. “The external walls, the ceilings, floors, and the walls between the apartments are all concrete. That gives each unit great sound protection and energy savings.”

All total, The Avenue features 23 apartments. That’s 20 one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apartments. The building has

two floors and covered exterior wrap-around walkways on both levels. Each apartment has a full kitchen with new stainless steel appliances and a washer and dryer in each unit. Robinson points out, “The two-bedroom apartments have two washers and dryers, one for each bedroom suite. That way, if you have a roommate, you don’t have to go through their bedroom to deal with your laundry.”

“The countertops in the kitchens and bathrooms are quartz,” Robinson says, “which is one of the most durable materials you can have. Even more durable than marble or granite. It’s easy to maintain.” All the bathrooms have brand new ceramic tile. The color scheme is neutral, to work well with anyone’s décor.

“The flooring throughout is all brand new LVP,” says Robinson, “which has a wood look to it and is very durable, easy to maintain. Wet mop it and you’re done.” Also, all the cooling and heating systems are new, as are the plumbing and electrical. And the whole building is protected from fire by a sprinkler system. As an added bonus, on one end of the building there is a workout room, which is code-accessed for the residents.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The Avenue, at 712 Avenue A, is just a half a block from Turner McCall and borders one of Rome’s historical districts, where many classic old homes have been lovingly restored.

“Of course, the location is what’s so good,” says Robinson. “It’s right next to the walking trail that runs along the river. The young people especially love the trail. It’s conveniently located at about a ten-minute walk to downtown. The property is fully gated, and with decorative fencing. Fully secured. Code-activated. So, it’s a very safe environment. Also, we’re next door to stores and restaurants, so that’s a plus. This is a quiet street, not a major highway.”

HAND-IN-HAND WITH HARDY REALTY

The renovation of the hotel into an apartment building was a challenge, but it went according to plan. “This has been about a year’s process to get all of this done,” says Robinson. Even several weeks after the previous owners of the Oyo Hotel had moved away, people kept showing up to rent a room. Apparently, their reservations had never been canceled. People drove up, wanting to check in, but found construction workers demolishing

the rooms. It took a while for that to stop happening.

Now that all the chaos of renovation is over and the apartments are ready to lease, Hardy Realty has stepped in to manage the property. “I’ve known those guys at Hardy basically all my life,” says Robinson. “They’re a very reputable company. Jimmy Kelly is who I bought this property through. Jimmy’s a good friend of mine, and he asked me at the time he sold it to me if they could have a chance at managing it. So, I honored that verbal agreement. I look forward to seeing how that goes, because I know Hardy has a tremendous management division in their company.”

Those interested in leasing at The Avenue can contact Hardy Realty’s Kathy Mull at:

www.kathy@hardyrealty.com or call her at 706-291-4321.

GIVE AN ART Experience

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Birthday Paint Parties

Art Class Abstract Workshop

Pet Portrait Workshop

5 TIPS TO INCREASE MUSCLE MASS

1. Calorie surplus. If you want your muscles to grow your body needs the energy to do this, so make sure you’re intaking more calories than you’re burning with an emphasis on protein.

2. Lower the weight, increase the rep range. Whatever the lift, aim for the 12-15 rep range with that last rep being at or near failure.

3. Take longer rests in between sets. Going to failure at higher rep ranges means your muscles need that much longer to recover, so aim for a 90 sec rest between sets.

4. Use pause sets. By holding and squeezing for 3-5 seconds at peak contraction we force more blood into the muscle, literally pumping it up and promoting increased blood flow when we aren’t working out.

5. Low calorie, dense foods. Foods that make us feel full but don’t contain many calories. These will help you eat fewer calories while staving off hunger.

LET

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HONORED TO SERVE

TEXT: IAN GRIFFIN PHOTOS: ANDY CALVERT

THE RESIDENTS OF RENAISSANCE MARQUIS FORM A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. ONE OF THEIR OWN, JAMES “JIM” MCCUBBIN WAS RECENTLY HONORED FOR HIS VALOR IN WWII.

ON MARCH 3RD 2023, RESIDENTS OF RENAISSANCE MARQUIS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE 102ND BIRTHDAY OF JAMES

“JIM” MCCUBBIN. It was a festive setting worthy of a 102nd birthday, with cake, balloons, and punch on display. While climbing the threedigit ladder for years on this earth is plenty of a reason to throw a party, this birthday was made even more extraordinary because Mr. McCubbin was being inducted into the Georgia Military Hall of Fame. Mr. Larry Cooper stood at the podium on behalf of the Hall of Fame, to present Mr. McCubbin with The Certificate of Honor, and induct him into the Georgia Military Hall of Fame under the category of Valor.

Valor is defined by the GMHOF as- Heroic action or actions in combat for which an award or awards for heroism was awarded. Mr. McCubbin

was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945, qualifying him to be inducted under the category of valor. Aside from his bravery and service, to qualify for the hall the veteran must have been honorably discharged from the military, be born in, entered the military while living in or lived in Georgia for at least 10 years.

Mr. McCubbin checked all those boxes, but one still must be nominated and the community and fellowship between the staff and residents at Renaissance Marquis is what makes it such a special place. So, it was no surprise that Resident Care Director/Assistant Executive Director Catie Mason took the time to send in a nomination letter after hearing Jim’s heroic stories about his time at war. So to open the ceremony it was Catie that took to the podium first, introducing Mr. Cooper who explained the purpose of the hall and what it means to be inducted.

As Mr. McCubbin sat on the front row with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, stories of his heroic actions including the dog fight that earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving in the United States Army Air Corps in World War II and a member of the Eighth Air Force, were told by Mr. Cooper.

He was a pilot of the P51 Mustang and flew on many missions in Germany during the war. In 1945 Mr. McCubbin’s missions were primarily to escort bombers and when given the chance on the way back to base they were allowed to find ground targets for strafing runs. One day the briefing officer announced that the mission was a deep penetration strafing operation. Due to the weather that day and the increased risk of this mission, Mr. McCubbin unfortunately watched as his roommate and friend was shot down. As the risk of the mission continued to increase due to cloud cover Mr. McCubbin decided he would make one more strafing run before returning to base.

On this last run his plane was hit in the wing

and left a 2-foot diameter hole. Due to the damage, he was forced to bail out of the plain and once on the ground he was captured by German military. He spent only three months as a POW due to the war almost being over but to him those 3 months felt like 3 years. While in the war he received a flying ace and was credited for shooting down 9 enemy planes total.

He also received the Distinguished Flying

Cross for his extraordinary achievements while on a bomber escort mission over Germany on December 5, 1944. The military report for his actions during this mission read as follows.

AFTER THE CERTIFICATE OF HONOR WAS PRESENTED, THE CAKE WAS CUT, AND THE CELEBRATION BEGAN. What

a way to turn 102!

June 14, 2022

Dear Madam/Sir,

My name is Catie Mason, I am writing to you to nominate James “Jim” McCubbin to the Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He is a resident at the Renaissance Marquis Retirement Community located in Rome, Ga. I am wanting to nominate him for the category Valor. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945 for his heroic actions during his time in the war.

Mr. McCubbin has an incredible story, and I would like to share some of it with you. Mr. McCubbin is 101 years old and Mr. McCubbin is someone I consider a true hero. Nothing will ever be enough to thank him and others that have sacrificed so much so we can continue to be free, but this nomination is a small way to recognize those that have sacrificed and to say thank you.

Sincerely,

Catie Mason

bistro

THE DISH

MEDITERRANEAN

bistro

www.lascalaromega.com 413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161 706-238-9000

Hours: Mon - Sat: 6pm - 10pm 400 Block Bar & Lounge: 4pm-1:30am Live music each weekend.

La Scala offers both first-rate service and terrific Italian Cuisine in an upscale casual atmosphere. 50% off cafe menu from 4-6 p.m.

www.schroedersnewdeli.com

406 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161 706-234-4613

Hours: Mon-Thur: 11am-9pm Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm Sun: 11:30am-3pm

Schroeder’s menu includes sandwiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato skins, nachos, wings, and more. And don’t forget our pizza! It’s the best in town... and for a sweet treat, try our Cheesecake Calzone! (Draft and Bottled Beers & Wine also offered) Famous for: Their Roast Beef Relief!

www.mellowmushroom.com 28 S Wall St Cartersville, GA 30120 470-227-7049

Hours: Sun-Wed: 11am - 9pm Thursday: 11am - 9:30pm Fri-Sat: 11am - 11pm

Funky, art-filled chain pizzeria featuring craft beer, calzones & creative stone-baked pizzas.

www.moesoriginalbbq.com/rome 101 West 1st Street Rome, GA 30161 706-622-2977

Hours: Sun-Thu: 11am - 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am - 2am

Moe’s Original BBQ is a Southern soul food revival where great food is served in an atmosphere that is relaxed, spontaneous, yet civilized….well, sometimes. www.hardees.com

GA 30161 2300 Shorter Ave • Rome, GA 30165

3110 Cedartown Hwy • Rome, GA 30161 104 S Tennessee St • Cartersville, GA 30120 706.291.2021

Hours: Mon-Sat: 5am-10pm Sun: 6am-10pm

We’re known as the place to go for juicy, delicious charbroiled burgers & made from scratch biscuits. Because if you’re gonna eat, you should Eat Like You Mean It!

www.swheatmarketdeli.com

5 E Main St Cartersville, GA 30120 770-607-0067

Hours: Mon - Sun: 11am-3pm

Casual counter serve offering sandwiches, salads & American comfort food

www.elzaraperome.com

429 Broad St Rome, GA 30161 706-295-5330

Hours: Mon - Thu: 11am-9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am-10:30pm Sunday: 11am-4pm

Colorful, casual outpost serving Mexican street tacos & fajitas, plus beers & tequila drinks. Join us every Sunday for Brunch from 11-4pm.

www.maineonmain.com 24 W Main St Cartersville, GA 30120 770-334-3813

Hours: Mon - Thurs: 11am - 9pm Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm Sun: 11am - 8pm

At Maine Street Coastal Cuisine, in the heart of historic downtown Cartersville, we pride ourselves on sourcing seafood from sustainable fisheries. Our passion is to provide a restaurant free of artificial flavors and ingredients.