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FEBRUARY2022 COLUMNS 10
Acknowledging that her irrational hatred for bumper stickers has taken a turn toward the neurotic, Tammy Barron explores the shady boundaries of social messaging and personal identities.
FEATURES 19 4
Game of Throwns, Urban Axe Throwing, of Cartersville, Georgia, gives people a place to relax, enjoy time with friends, and yes, throw an axe.
V3 MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 | READV3.COM
FEATURES 24
Mayor Sundai Stevenson is elected as Rome City's first African American female mayor. She discusses her inspiration and motivation for striving to help improve the quality of life for the citizens of Rome.
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Hardy Realty offers four beautiful garden homes for sale at The Village at Maplewood.
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Founded by former slaves 159 years ago, Thankful Missionary Baptist Church of Rome, Georgia, appreciates its history while striving for relevance in the modern world.
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Publisher's Note With sleep still in my eye from staying up to watch a postgame I never imagined I would want to watch, I sat down to write this month’s publisher’s note to congratulate the Georgia Bulldog fanbase on breaking their 41-yearlong football national championship drought. The dawgs looked like the best team in the country all season until they didn’t against mighty Alabama in the SEC Championship game. I was certain it was their year until that game and when the dust cleared I wondered if they would ever get it done. 37 days later they exorcised 41 years of demons by beating the Tide 33-18. In my lifetime Georgia had never won a national O W N E R & C E O Ian Griffin championship and now they look poised to win a few more. I grew up with a mom who was a Florida Gator and a dad that loved the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. So, to say I don’t care for the Bulldogs would be an understatement. In the 80s Florida was a perennial underachiever and Tech was plain awful. The Dogs weren’t too far removed from that last natty back then and they seemed to grow fast bruising, running backs somewhere in those famous hedges at Sanford Stadium. I was too young to remember watching Hershel, but Lars Tate, Tim Worley and Rodney Hampton, just to name a few, ran over the Gators and Jackets in my nightmares. Then came the 90s. Steve Spurrier only lost to the Dawgs once in his 12 years and the Jackets even had some success against their bitter rival with Bobby Ross and later George O’Leary. By Georgia’s usual standards, it was a dismal decade for a proud program. For a fan of their bitter rivals, it was a glorious revenge tour after the 80s. After Ray Goff and Jim Donnan reached the basement, they went to the Bobby Bowden coaching tree for a hot offensive coordinator in Mark Richt to start the new millennium. Richt certainly came close and at least made Athens relevant again, coming as close as you can to the promised land before being shown the door. He owned Tech, but Florida was a thorn in his side, and losses in the Cocktail Party and other big games ended up being too much. He had a great run, but Georgia wanted more. Enter Kirby Smart. A Georgia alum, Nick Saban acolyte and proven defensive mind who understood recruiting is the lifeblood of success in college football. It didn’t take him long to prove himself, but his former boss stomped on the hearts of Georgia fans repeatedly and as recently as December 4th, 2021. That ended on January 10th and bulldog nation went wild. I certainly wasn’t pulling for them and never in a million years did I think I would sit and watch the postgame celebration, but I did. While I may despise the Georgia Bulldogs, I’ve lived with their fans my entire life and so many of my dearest friends are die-hard Dawgs. Most of them, like me, have never seen this team reach the pinnacle of the sport and for them, I smiled knowing what this win meant to them. I’m sure someone will bark at me today and that moment of tenderness will fade, but I have to admit it was there. So from a Gator who also loves the Yellow Jackets, congrats Dawgs. You earned it. It finally happened and as long as Kirby is in town they should remain a contender for more. And with that thought, my warm and fuzzies are all gone.
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V3 MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 | READV3.COM
OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin MANAGING PARTNER Chris Forino CREATIVE DIRECTOR Elizabeth Childers WRITERS Jim Alred, Tammy Barron, DeMarcus Daniel, Ian Griffin, Nina Lovel, Paul Moses PHOTOGRAPHER Rob Smith AD DESIGN Elizabeth Childers PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT 417 Broad Street Rome Ga, 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 hello@v3collective.com CREATOR Neal Howard
READV3.COM ReadV3.com: Where you can find all the print content from this issue, our archives and exclusive ReadV3 digital features.
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Sticker Shock: What are you saying? opened doors By Tammy Barron
I admit, bumper stickers ruin my commute. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THEM THAT BRISTLE ME TO THE CORE, driving me ranting mad in my truck. I roll my eyes at the moronic stick figure family collage which descends to include pets all garbed in the standard Star Wars, Harry Potter, or Zombie motif. Bumper stickers inspire a combustible rage inside me that is completely irrational. I try to laugh and shrug off this neurotic quirk of mine; this anger is so out of character for me. I have a fuse so long my backbone is questioned from time to time. I don’t have strong feelings about whether the driver of the car in front of me is a dog lover, Dodge lover, “13.1” half-marathon runner, or YETI cooler owner. You do you. Live your life. It’s the ridiculous superficiality of bumper stickers that sends me over the edge. I mean, has your life really 10
V3 MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 | READV3.COM
been so impacted on the cold efficiency of a YETI that you are now marketing the brand everywhere you go? Are you telling the world your cooler has turned into a lifestyle? I can’t comprehend the desire to advertise these small inconsequential elements of our lives. “I (heart) labradoodles.” Really? Someone honestly spent the time to decide this is how the world should see them, shopped, bought, and adhered this sticker in the perfect place on the back of their car just so. Why? What is the desired reaction? Is someone supposed to be behind you in traffic and say “Oh, how interesting I heart labradoodles too!” or, “That person is really enthusiastic about the breed of their pet. They must really know a lot about dogs to forsake all other breeds.” Why should I care what kind of dogs the blue Volvo driver likes? Before anyone says it’s about personal identity and the greater attempt to individualize from the masses, I must argue. If it was personal, it wouldn’t be on the back of the vehicle where they never see it. It’s designed for other drivers to read and acknowledge,
for better or worse. As for individualization, these are literally prefabricated, cookie-cutter labels that companies mass-marketed for them to hang on their identity. Then of course there is “Salt Life.” You know who you are, you Floyd and Bartow County beach bums. Are you really living the salt life 300 miles from the nearest ocean? I’m happy that these individuals had fun on vacation. I hope they reconnected with a part of themselves that had been lost in the daily grind back home. Perhaps even they vowed to keep that laid-back attitude they discovered at the beach close to their heart but living in the Appalachian Mountains, “Salt Life” is more likely a mention of dietary habits and an inclination toward high blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s hard to comply with the delusion that a bumper sticker equates to oceanside living. Do you blame me for the seething urge I have to scream? If I look back in time, I can pinpoint the exact moment I developed this gut-filling hatred for bumper stickers. Years ago, when I first moved
to Rome, I was stopped behind a minivan waiting for the red light to turn green. This minivan had a huge yellow and black caution sticker that read, “WARNING! In case of Rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned.” It struck a chord, and something snapped! Having grown up in Salt Lake City, Utah, an area that is predominantly Mormon and notoriously self-righteous, I was well accustomed to the notion that heaven is for club members only. What irritated me about this bumper sticker was the implication that I would be there—during this Rapture—thinking Why isn’t this van moving? Instead of being called to heavenly glory alongside them, I’d be sitting like some accursed goat waiting for the end of existence. I was so disappointed; I moved across the country and was faced with the same elitist zealotism I hoped to leave back in Utah. These days, the rise of bumper stickers in the political arena is pushing me to snap. Look, there is no way any of our elected officials will make everyone happy. It’s a statistical fact that I voted for another candidate than many others on the road; regardless,
the hate speech needs to stop. I’m not suggesting any infringement on the 1st amendment, but not everything that can be said should be. The political ultimatums—left and right—are hard to reconcile to my ideals that our democracy is a light in the world. It’s tempting to shelve this idealism and become a pragmatist, but I can’t bear to lose faith in the value of the republic and the founding principle that the majority rules. I fight the urge to mutter profanities at messages of hate and violence toward people holding office pasted on the back of someone’s vehicle. Do people realize their bold words are the realities for authoritarian nations around the world? We would be so lucky if the bumper stickers kept to the clever subtly of “Let’s Go Brandon!” Unfortunately, many of the bumper stickers are much more brash and incendiary. What these stickers are saying is: those who oppose your politics or ideology should be persecuted. Who made you so important? The line of socially responsible behavior is dissipating as emboldened trolls stroke their egos with vulgar and controversial language, and we are being expected
to brush it off as joking. “Ha-ha, political retaliation and social persecution is fun! #Putinprinciples101.” I know my reaction to bumper stickers is a bit over the top, but so is the self-obsessed culture we live in. Me, me, me: look at me. Hear me out. Pay attention to how interesting/unique/important I am. In our narcissist (stick family bumper sticker) society we exalt ourselves; sharing our ideas, shouting our opinions, and deluding ourselves that our homogenous social bubbles confirm our perspectives and make us right. I’m bored of the one-sided prattle. Where is the discourse? If someone is dead set on putting a sticker on their car, make it be a revival of the eighties classic, “Honk if you’re horny.” Crude? Perhaps. However, one can’t argue it’s genuine. It says, “Let’s have a conversation.” It says, “Enough about me, how are you feeling today?”
*The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine READV3.COM | FEBRUARY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
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Text: Karli Land Photos: Rob Smith
Entrepreneur Jeff Burke hit the bullseye with his new business, Game of Throwns, Urban Axe Throwing.
The Fun & Finesse of Axe Throwing 18
V3 MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 | READV3.COM
Don’t run with
scissors! THAT’S ONE OF THE CARDINAL RULES OF CHILDHOOD, shouted by frantic parents everywhere. And it’s sage advice for adults too. However, Cartersville businessman Jeff Burke now turns that rule on its head by encouraging people to play with sharp objects. Game of Throwns, Urban Axe Throwing, offers folks the chance to learn how to fling a hatchet or a knife and hit the target in a safe environment, under the supervision of trained professionals.
From old barns to new ideas
Jeff Burke spent most of his early life bouncing between Illinois and Georgia. Born in Peoria, his family decided to move south when he was four years old, where he grew up just outside of Augusta. After high school, Burke moved back north to Chicago for college, and after 11 years of living there, he was ready to go back to the South. “My parents had moved to the area a few years before, and I loved the mountains and surrounding area when I came for a visit,” Burke says. “I was able to find a job teaching part-time at Dalton State and began The Rusted Nail, a business tearing down old barns and building custom furniture.” Burke now lives on the outskirts of Calhoun, near Ranger, and has changed course on his business venture. In September of 2019, he opened Rome Axe Throwing with his business partners. “When I opened Rome Axe, The Rusted Nail took a backseat as a business,” Burke admits. “Now most of my free time is spent in the shop designing and building pieces for my friends and family or just building something that just popped in my head and I feel like it needs to be created. Although I lived in the big city, I will always be a small town do-the-work-and-get-your-hands-dirty kind of person.”
Moving right along
More recently, Burke opened Game of Throwns, Urban Axe Throwing, in Cartersville, a town he has grown to adore. “I love the fact that there are so many new and exciting things to do in and around Cartersville,” Burke says. The town has blossomed with the heartbeat of rich culture and offers its community members a plethora of entertainment options with the Savoy Automobile Museum, The Etowah Indian mounds, the Tellus Museum, and Drowned Valley Brewing. “I can’t wait to see how it evolves and grows,” Burke says. “And the people are pretty great too! Everyone I’ve met in town is super friendly. They love seeing the community grow with fun and exciting businesses like Game of Throwns.” When asked about business ownership, Burke is quick to admit he hadn’t really intended on becoming a business owner. “I started The Rusted Nail out of necessity,” he says. “I finished college with a degree in architecture at a time when the architecture and building professions were laying more READV3.COM | FEBRUARY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
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people off than they were hiring. I was able to find a job teaching and began The Rusted Nail to make some money until the economy and the architecture field recovered.” Burke soon discovered his work was wildly popular in the community, and he was able to build a business that thrived for close to a decade. He then knew it was time to try something new. “In the fall of 2018, while visiting a friend in Charlotte, North Carolina, I went to a local axe throwing business,” Burke says. “I fell in love with all things axe-throwing that day. The first thing I did when I got back to my shop was to find an old hatchet I had lying around and built a target that I could throw it at.” Burke realized no one was selling axes specifically for throwing. Being an entrepreneur, he saw an opportunity and started selling axes online while marketing to axe throwers through TheAxeShoppe.com. “A few months later I decided to really look into what it would take to start an axe throwing business in Northwest Georgia,” Burke says. “I wanted to share my love of all things axes and axe throwing with the people in the area.” With plenty of collegeage young adults and families in Rome, Burke knew it was the perfect location to open an axe throwing venue. “Eventually, I was able to find a business partner to help get the venue started, and we are still going strong, even after all the COVID-related setbacks,” Burke says. “With Game of Throwns, we plan to bring the joy of axe throwing to a whole new crowd in Cartersville.” As it happened, Burke already had a contact in Cartersville. “I had brought up the idea of possibly expanding with a second location to my business partner in Rome Axe Throwing,” Burke says. “He happened to have a friend who was part owner 20
V3 MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 | READV3.COM
of Drowned Valley Brewing in Cartersville, who also owned the building adjacent to the brewery. Craft brews and axe throwing go hand in hand, so it just made sense to partner with them.” Along with the Largos restaurant, Burke and his partners are hoping to make the East End district in Cartersville a place people can bring friends and family for an experience unlike any other in the area, with good beers, fun activities, and delicious food.
zombies, you can do that. If you want to play TicTac-Toe, you can do that too!” Another thing Burke did differently than most axe throwing venues is the use of end grain targets, which display the concentric circles of the cross sections of trees. Not only do they last longer (using less wood, diminishing the environmental impact) but they also are easier for inexperienced customers to stick an axe into. This makes the axe throwing competition more enjoyable for everyone.
Wait….there’s more!
Safety first
Customers will find more than just a fun time at Game of Throwns. The establishment boasts a talented, fully trained staff ready to help anyone enjoy axe throwing. “We currently have five employees, six including myself,” Burke says. “Kendall Craton is our manager and head axe throwing coach. He organizes, places, and coaches each group that comes into Game of Throwns. Tiffany Perry, Rian Tyree, and Rachel Lockhart are our axe throwing coaches/bartenders. Each of them began throwing at my Rome Axe Location as soon as we opened in 2019. They all love what they do and enjoy sharing with our customers their love of throwing sharp objects.” An experienced axe thrower will notice Game of Throwns looks a little different from many other axe throwing establishments. “When we were planning Game of Throwns, we knew we wanted to be different and really pave the way for what an axe throwing venue can be in the future,” Burke says. “The projection systems we use create a unique and amazing gameplay experience for customers. Unlike many venues that use targets painted on boards, the projection systems allow for various games to be played during a customer’s hour-long session. If you want to hit and kill
Every customer who comes to Game of Throwns receives a safety demonstration and coaching from an experienced, fully trained axe throwing coach. Burke and his crew want every customer to have a safe and memorable experience that will make them want to come back as soon as possible. In addition to axe throwing—for those looking for an added challenge—they also offer knife throwing. Head Coach Kendall is their goto knife throwing instructor. Game of Throwns is a great place to host a birthday party, church or business outing, or team building event. They sell six of The Drowned Valley beers on tap and can handle up to 78 people throwing at a single time. With their large bar, they also offer outside catering for groups. “If you have an event that needs to happen outside of our venue, we have a mobile axe throwing trailer that can be rented by the hour for private events,” Burke says. “We also offer a VIP experience that will get your small group a private lane, a dedicated coach, and access to both axe and knife throwing. The VIP experience also includes a free t-shirt and the use of our high-end throwing axes.”
jeff burke
Advice to the newbie
To all who are new to axe throwing, Burke says, “Come in and see us! You can call, visit our website (www.gameofthrowns.com) or stop by and make a reservation anytime. Although not required, reservations are encouraged to ensure we have the space to accommodate you and your group.” For those not interested in throwing sharp objects, Game of Throwns is still a great place to relax and hangout. “We have a large screen television to watch Georgia Football or even televised axe throwing tournaments,” Burke says. “We also have plenty of relaxed seating space for people to come in, enjoy a beer, and watch how axe throwing is done.” For those starting a business of their own, Burke offers this advice: “Any potentially successful business is about doing something different and better than anyone else.” He adds, “Take something you love doing and find a unique way to share it with others. You must also remember that even though you love it, it is still a business, so you must be prepared to work hard to ensure you make money doing it. If you genuinely love what you do and share it in a way customers will love it too, I genuinely believe the money will be there.” To set up a VIP experience or to book a private event at the venue or with the trailer, customers can email: info@gameofthrowns.com.
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QA &
with Mayor Sundai Stevenson
A Sundai Kind of Love Text: Tammy Barron | Photos: Rob Smith
Concern for the welfare and well-being of the community is at the root of Mayor Sundai Stevenson's desire to serve. Newly elected as mayor, she hits the ground running with Rome's housing expansion initiative already in full swing. Q: As a city commissioner, for years your priority has been serving the citizens and helping the city of Rome meet their needs. As our newly elected mayor, how do your responsibilities change?
A: Serving the citizens and helping the city of Rome meet the citizen's needs will remain my priority. However, each city commissioner's duties includes serving on specific committees dedicated to public safety and specific functions of city operations. As mayor, I'm tasked along with the city manager with assigning the commissioners to those committees. The shift in responsibilities entails me working more closely with City Manager, Sammy Rich. Our city manager is tasked with the day-to-day functioning of the city. I meet with him at least three times a week, sometimes more, as issues arise. As mayor, the paperwork requirements increase dramatically. The mayor is also required to serve on the Rome/Floyd Development Authority Board. There also are added interactions with other local and regional lead elected officials. An example of this would be a phone call I recently received from the office of one of our US Senators inquiring about our local needs and concerns. Our regular scheduled Commission meetings take place on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Q: What does it mean to you to break the glass ceiling as Rome City's first female African American mayor? 24
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A:
I was the first African American female elected to the Rome City Commission. I have never asked anyone, but I've wondered if other African American women have previously run for seats on the Rome City Commission before me. If you look back and around at some of the outstanding African American women who have served and currently serve our community, numerous ladies were/are obviously up to the task. Possibly, some of them didn't believe they had a real chance of winning. Seven years ago, when I ran for commissioner, I believed that I could win. Just as important, was the fact that other people around me believed that I could win. Once ceilings are broken it is easier for people to envision themselves and/or others in specific roles or positions. As a youngster in my hometown of Calhoun I would go to the grocery store (Big Star) regularly with my mom. One day I announced to my parents that I wanted to work upfront at Big Star. After applying for the position, I was told on several different occasions that they were not hiring. Even though they were not hiring, I saw fresh faces pop up upfront all the time. The situation crystallized, and it was clear that I wasn't going to be hired. Fortunately for me, outside forces with more juice than my family possessed heard about my situation. Ultimately, I was hired and most locals at the time believe that I was the first African American female ever hired as a cashier at a prominent Calhoun retail outlet. Sometimes opportunities simply find you. If you go to downtown Rome and visit the Rome Area History Center, there's an entire section dedicated to African Americans, who have impacted and broken the ceiling for many different things in Rome. I am blessed to be afforded this opportunity to serve, and I'm truly honored to serve as mayor.
However, situations in life help prepare us for what's to come later. One of the secrets to success is persistence and perseverance. Go after your dreams. Prepare for your own potential greatness. If you get knocked down, never be afraid to get back up. It is such an honor to serve Rome, and I hope I can inspire others just like others inspired me. Q: Your dedication to Rome is evident in your extensive biography: coordinating for Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce's High School Leadership Program, being one of the founding members of One Community United, serving on the board of several organizations like Good Neighbor Ministries and Open Door Children's Home, working with H.O.P.E Initiative, and coordinating with the Northwest Georgia Girl Scouts Council. Tell me what drives your ambition to get involved?
time manage the household. When my dad came back home, he constantly showed us how grateful he was to be alive and back in Calhoun, GA. He refused to allow his circumstances to stop him from helping others. For anyone who needed help my father was always willing to give of himself. He never let his disability hinder him. He would always tell us, "If you can do something to help someone have a better life, you do that." That is something that has stuck with me my whole life. Before I had children, I was a social worker. I have witnessed people and families struggle with true crisis in their lives. I have seen people suffer through some horrific tragedies, that hardened my resolve to help people. I care about people; this is ultimately what motivates me to do what I do. Showing local high school students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, different
A: When I was a small child, my father was in a terrible car accident on his way to work one day. His cousin, whom he carpooled with was killed in that accident and my father was left paralyzed from the waist down. He spent nearly thirteen months in the VA hospital and my siblings and I had to help our mother who was pregnant at the
Q: How do you hope to inspire other members of our community who too strive to break barriers?
A: My parents always told my siblings and I, “You know, you're not better than anyone else, but you're just as good." They insisted that we had to make a difference in whatever we pursued. When someone breaks a ceiling, it usually inspires others. They look and say to themselves, "I can do that too." It opens the possibilities they see in themselves, in the goals they set, and the work they choose. When I was first elected, I received a phone call from my old youth choir director, telling me how proud she was, "Who would have thought..." Sometimes we never know exactly where we're going or how we're going to get there. READV3.COM | FEBRUARY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
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Q: You were appointed mayor by the Rome City Commission with a five-four vote. It was a tight decision, not unlike many of the federal and statewide elections recently. In what ways does Rome City Commission's exemplary transfer of power shed the light on true leadership for the people?
A: I'm not going to begin to try and tell you what the state and federal offices should or can do, but I can tell you about the Rome City Commission. We don't always agree, and we shouldn't always agree. Honest and agenda-free exchanging of ideas is one of the keys to learning and improving. We have disagreements, and it gives us an opportunity to look at all the viewpoints of an issue. It is in these moments that you sit down, you listen, and you find compromise. That's how you grow. I've had the pleasure of serving with thirteen different commissioners, and I genuinely believe that every single one of them wanted to do the best they could possibly do for Rome. On the issues in which we disagree, we hash it out, and then come to a consensus. We accept the vote and move on. You have to keep going. If someone didn't vote the way I voted; I can't hold it against them. Every day, we do what we feel like is the best thing for the citizens of Rome. We respect the vote and move on.
schools, and different local communities that Floyd Countians work together daily regardless of their differences to push our community forward, is one of the things I valued most while serving as coordinator of the Chamber's High School Leadership program. Supporting our community through Good Neighbor Ministries, the OpenDoor Children's Home, and other non-profits continues to give me insights into the ups and downs of our fellow citizens who sometimes want to remain in the shadows. We have a great nonprofit community! Collectively, it is amazing how many hours and dollars our nonprofits pour into our community. What most of our nonprofits have in common is their drive to help people have a better quality of life. Q: You are a founding member of One Community United; an organization very dear to you. Can you tell us about its mission and this year's focus toward community healing?
A:
Our mission at One Community United is to bring racial harmony and meld separate communities into a more unified community. We
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have discussions around meals where new and old acquaintances of all races, ethnic backgrounds, religious and non-religious affiliations, and different political persuasions are welcome. We gather together on a regular basis (not so much since COVID) with the express purpose of getting to know other folk outside of our comfortable circles. For the most part, the response has been positive since our inception six years ago. This year one of our priorities is to focus on the issue of disparities in education through our South and East Rome Initiative. We are working with school administrators, teachers, and parents in those areas that see the largest disparities in academic performance. We will aim to identify different barriers that are hindering children from being able to maximize their capabilities. It could be a child is acting out because they don't have the proper clothing, or school supplies. There might be larger issues that need addressing. We will offer support not only to the principals of those schools, but also support for the parents and community by meeting and discussing these issues full circle. We are working this year to continue building relationships within our local communities.
Q: Can you describe the push for housing development in the area, and subsequently the changes we are seeing around town?
A: This housing push has been several years in the making, and certainly not something that has happened overnight. When we speak of economic
development and bringing in new industry, the issue of available housing is an important variable. Companies consider the availability of housing when they look at Rome as a potential landing spot. Our previous mayor, Craig McDaniel, put together a special committee on housing after hearing the outcry of our citizens about the shortage of available housing. Right now, we have numerous teachers and healthcare workers commuting to Rome from out of town because they are unable to find adequate and/or available housing in our city. Every week, our population nearly doubles Monday through Friday. People come to Rome to work at our healthcare facilities, schools, etc. and to attend one of our institutions of higher education. Many of these commuters face upwards of a 30–45 minute drive each way. Hopefully, as new single-family homes, apartment complexes, etc. are built, commuters will be able to work, live, and spend their money here in Rome. Rome has a lot of new development activities happening right now. There is a substantial revitalization project happening in South Rome. South Rome Alliance is helping our community answer the call for the need for more affordable housing. When the word affordable is used, it doesn't always mean subsidized. The South Meadows project is mainly workforce affordable housing. The South Rome Alliance is an example of people working together. While receiving input from different voices in the South Rome neighborhoods, public and private entities are joining forces to create the South Meadows community. In West Rome, we have several new projects in various stages of development. Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Dunkin' Donuts, and Big Dan's car wash are examples of new retail development in West Rome. North Rome will soon be home to The Varsity, an iconic Georgia restaurant. In East Rome, the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority is near completion of a new 80-family housing development. Upgrades to several of our parks are on the horizon. The moral behind these stories is that success is much easier to obtain when we are willing to work together.
Bringing people together is how you build communities.
Q: Fast forward 50 years, what would you like to reflect on is your legacy in town?
A: I want people to say that I was kind, cared about the wellbeing of others, and worked hard to improve our community.
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The Quads at The Village Two lovely garden homes are for sale at The Village at Maplewood, offering prospective residents the benefits of homeownership without the usual stresses. photos PAUL O'MARA text PAUL MOSES
P
eople’s goals, dreams, and priorities often change as they mature. In early adulthood there’s the harried scurry involving higher education, starting careers, getting married, and having children. Early middle age brings on that unenviable tension of a life lived between two generations: launching children into the adult world and caring for parents. The approach of one’s mature years, however, brings many benefits, not the least of which is a new freedom that is a pleasant surprise to many. Not only are Americans living longer than they ever have, but they are also active longer than ever before (presently, the fastest-growing age group in the U.S. is the population 85 and older). As people graduate into the 55+ demographic, their focus shifts from the urgent to the significant, making longstanding friendships and family bonds become more essential to their daily lives. The Village at Maplewood is designed specifically to make these years peaceful and pleasant, allowing residents the luxury of enjoying the things that matter to them most.
All the perks, none of the headaches
Rome’s leading builder Jeff Brooks, and the master landscape designer Ed Watters, combined their considerable experience and talents to create The Village at Maplewood, an upscale gated community situated on 38 lovely acres. There are beautiful cottages, stylish condominiums, and garden homes. (More to come on the garden homes! Keep reading!)
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Situated only a mile and a half from historic downtown Rome, Georgia, The Village provides easy access to shopping, restaurants, theaters, coffee shops, as well as public parks where outdoor festivals, fairs, and concerts are held. And the amenities at The Village are many: a beautifully appointed clubhouse, a large indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a library, a craft room, tennis courts, and walking trails. The Village offers everything the residents could want without troubling them with the things they moved there to escape, tasks like mowing the lawn, raking the leaves, watering the garden, and trimming the hedges. All the manicured grounds at The Village are meticulously maintained by professional groundskeepers. Limited exterior maintenance is taken care of as well. And because it’s a gated community, residents can enjoy security and peace of mind when they leave home; they can just lock up and go.
The Quads at The Village
For those interested in moving to The Village at Maplewood, here is their chance. There are two garden homes available for sale. These garden homes are called The Quads at The Village. They are newly constructed single-level (zero step entry) homes, both one-bedroom/one-bath. They each have a one-car garage with entry to the kitchen, 9’ ceilings, and crown molding throughout. The kitchens include GE stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, white cabinets with soft-close drawers, and subway tile backsplash. For easy cleaning, all the living areas feature engineered hardwood floors. The bedrooms have high-quality carpet and walk-in closets. The bathrooms are tiled and have white cabinets, granite countertops, soft-close drawers, and walk-in showers. The homes include a stackable washer/dryer, a tankless hot water heater, and pull-down stairs to a floored storage area above the garage. There is a one-year home warranty from the builder. Like the rest of The Village at Maplewood, The Quads provide amenity-filled, maintenance-free living in a safe, gated community just minutes from downtown. A reasonable monthly HOA fee includes landscaping and grounds maintenance, exterior pest control, insurance on common elements, limited exterior maintenance (roofs, gutters, exterior painting), water, sewer, and trash pick-up. However, being an active 55+ community, The Village does not provide health care, food services or cleaning services. For those still interested in The Quads after the last two units are sold, there will be another opportunity to join the community at The Village in the future. Construction on additional units (around eight) will begin after the sale of the final two.
Satisfied customers
There are many stories of residents who absolutely love their homes at The Village. Take the Hunters for example. After Virginia Hunter retired from her job as a special education teacher in Young Harris, Georgia, she and her husband, Guy, began to wonder if they should move to Rome to be closer to family members. As empty nesters, they were anxious to simplify their lives by downsizing (“No one wants all that stuff!” Virginia says). As a sort of test, they put their pontoon boat up for sale. It sold immediately. So, they tried again, this time putting their house on the market to see what would happen. When it sold in only two weeks, the Hunters saw it as a sign. Virginia says, “God was telling us to move to Rome. So we did!” The Hunters shopped around a little, but soon settled on The Village at Maplewood. They had a three-bedroom custom cottage built. “It’s
photo: KEITH BEAUCHAMP
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just perfect for us,” Virginia says. “It has all the room we need.” Then she adds with a laugh, “And we’re not in each other’s way.” She also likes that she feels safe when they’re out walking the dog and chatting with the neighbors. A big plus for the Hunters is how active many of the community’s residents are. There’s always something to do. Virginia says there’s water aerobics, Friday socials with appetizers and drinks, a book club, a bridge club, and monthly catered dinners. And there’s an active pickleball group that plays weekly. When a friend and neighbor at The Village said, “If someone offered me a fortune, I wouldn’t move away from here,” Virginia had to agree. For additional information on The Quads at The Village contact Hardy Realty at 706-291-4321.
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VALENTINE’S DAY IS THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN PEOPLE EXPRESS LOVE AND APPRECIATION TO THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE. It’s also a time women can show a little love to themselves by making an appointment for a health screening. Dr. Raymond Jarvis and Dr. Marc Dean, both physicians of obstetrics-gynecology, explain how Harbin Clinic Women’s Center in Rome can help the women who take care of everyone else take care of themselves, too.
CONTINUING A TRADITION OF CARING FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
The roots of this clinic go back to the days just before WWII. Dr. Robert Norton began a medical practice in Rome in 1937. Eight years later, he expanded his work by creating the Norton Women’s Center. Dr. Norton and the medical staff he trained over the years set a standard of excellence in Northwest Georgia for meeting women’s health needs. In 1996 the Norton Women’s Clinic joined Harbin Clinic, establishing the Harbin Clinic Women’s Center. Dr. Jarvis says, “We still have patients, though rare these days, who come in and say, ‘Dr. Norton delivered my baby!’ I love to talk to them because they’re a reminder of our tradition of caring.” Dr. Norton’s high standards aligned with those of Harbin Clinic, making the union a perfect fit. Dr. Dean adds, “The legacy that Dr. Norton started in Rome some eight decades ago— and the work of all the former physicians and staff—have laid that foundation for us. It really is a legacy of caring. Harbin Clinic also has a legacy of exceptional care that’s rooted in compassion, so it made perfect sense to bring these two organizations together.” 38
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COMMUNICATION AND INNOVATION
One weakness of some major medical institutions is that communication between physicians sometimes gets lost in the system. “But here,” Dr. Jarvis explains, “if I have a patient who needs a general surgeon, I can text one of my general surgeon partners and get an immediate response. That’s a unique environment we have, and that’s made it a pleasure to work here. Our partners and staff—this whole Harbin community—take an immediate and sincere interest in the patients’ care.” This openness in communication fosters an environment where doctors are willing to share their ideas with one another and try new things. Dr. Dean says, “The Harbin brothers and the Harbin Hospital’s legacy created a standard of excellence. Harbin was one of the first to perform a
blood transfusion in the state, use the first x-ray machine in Georgia, and perform the first laparoscopic hysterectomy in Floyd County. This culture of innovation still exists today.”
CHANGING AND UPGRADING
The Harbin Clinic Women’s Center in Rome has recently renovated its workspace, improving the flow through the facility, making it easier for patients and visitors to find their way around. The new aesthetics make for a warm, welcoming environment. “Visiting a doctor’s office is a stressful experience for some people,” Dr. Dean says. “This place is now more open and relaxing; the colors are calming. And this is a better use of our space—more exam rooms, more procedure rooms. We’re able to do a lot more for our patients.”
“It’s more efficient,” Dr. Jarvis says. “That’s important because we try to respect our patients’ time as best we can.” Regarding the decision to renovate or relocate, Dr. Jarvis explains, “We all felt it was in our best interest, and in our patients’ best interest, to remain here on the hospital’s campus and renovate our existing space. This way, we are
immediately available to the hospital and delivery. That’s an integral part of how we think; we really feel it’s vitally important that we’re close to the hospital.” Dr. Dean says, “Being in close proximity to the hospital is a convenience for both the patient and the providers. If I’m on call, I can run back to the hospital to see a patient. Or if I’m in surgery I can ask another doctor to check on a patient in labor and delivery. We can easily help each other.”
WORKING WITH OTHER SPECIALTIES
Harbin Clinic is physicianled and physician-owned. This gives the doctors a great deal of discretion in deciding what is in the best interest of their patients. Dr. Dean says, “The physicians are involved in a lot of the decisions regarding the clinic as a whole. Things like what services we’re providing, where we’re
providing those services, and how. In that, we have a wide range of nearly 100% of all specialties you might need. Rarely do we have to refer a patient outside of Rome.” He goes on to say, “For instance, if we have a woman come in with acute appendicitis, we can get on the phone with one of our partners, and they’ll tell us to send her right over.” Dr. Jarvis agrees: “The ability to communicate with other doctors on important cases on short notice makes Harbin Clinic such an essential part of this community.” Regular health screenings are vital for women’s physical wellbeing and peace of mind. For those who have put such things off because of life’s hectic pace, now would be a good time to give themselves the Valentine’s Day gift of a thorough check-up. And there’s no better place in Northwest Georgia to make that happen than with Harbin Clinic's Women's Health teams. To learn more about Harbin Clinic and their Women's Centers in Rome and Cartersville, visit https://harbinclinic. com/services/womens-health/
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Thankful for the Past, Hopeful for the Future Text: Paul Moses Photos: Rob Smith
Rome’s Thankful Missionary Baptist Church, now 159 years old, is a congregation that celebrates its heritage but knows it is much more than a monument to the past.
A NAME IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT IN TWO WAYS: it is a thing both given and earned.
That is true of an individual, a business, a club, a school, or any kind of organization. It’s true of churches, too. Thankful Missionary Baptist Church, of Rome, Georgia, is a congregation that has well-earned the name it was given long ago. In these days of global pandemic, political upheaval, and spiritual malaise, Thankful can look back on a long history of hard work, faith, suffering, and endurance. They have a lot to be thankful for, and they know it.
Staying the course According to the Religion News Service, in a study of 34 Protestant denominations and groups, 4,500 churches closed their doors in 2019, while only 3,000 new congregations were established. And that was before COVID-19 dealt a sucker punch to congregations nationwide. Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, says, “Even before the pandemic, the pace of opening new congregations was not even providing enough replacements for those that closed their doors.” That said, Thankful Missionary Baptist Church, a congregation birthed in the middle of the 19th century, is still here, defying the odds. Still working. Still preaching. Still serving the community.
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Thankful’s pastor, Rev. Dr. H. Bernard Young, says, “I think this is a good time [the pandemic] to reboot, to be intentional. I firmly believe that in this season God is showing the church what’s really essential.” Relevance in today’s world is important to Dr. Young and his congregation. He goes on to say, “We have to ask ourselves if we’ve been doing things that were only essential in the past.”
Up from the ashes of war Thankful traces its founding to the closing days of the Civil War. Few written records remain of the earliest years of the church, so historical accounts vary, largely reliant on oral tradition. Originally, the congregation was part of Rome Baptist Church (now First Baptist Church), many Black members being the servants or slaves of the white church members. The earliest names of Black parishioners to appear in the records of Rome Baptist Church were those of a married couple, Henry and Rachel (last names not listed), who joined the church in the summer of 1835, just five weeks after the founding of the congregation. Soon after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in 1864, ending slavery, the Black members of Rome Baptist Church began holding their own services in the church’s basement and established the Sabbath
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School for Freedmen. In Rome Baptist Church’s minutes for October 1, 1867, a note says, “The colored members have organized into a separate church.” This new congregation called itself the Colored Baptist Church, moved offsite, and built a log shack-like structure called a bush arbor, where they held camp meeting-style services. (An alternate account says there were originally two separate Black congregations—one that built the bush arbor and one that met in the church basement—and they joined together as a single congregation at some point after the Civil War.) Their first pastor, Rev. Jefferson Milner, was, by all accounts, an extraordinary man. He was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1820. Not only did Rev. Milner guide the church for three decades, until his death in 1895, but he also organized churches all over the region, earning him the nickname The King of Northwest Georgia. About Rev. Milner, Dr. Young says, “He was a man with so much faith. Faith is taking risk, and he took risks. As soon as the Emancipation took place, he got busy. It’s amazing to see that he had such vision in a time like that. He didn’t stop in the face of opposition; no, kept going, and that’s remarkable.” A deed recorded in the Floyd County Courthouse says that on July 10, 1868, the Colored Baptist Church purchased a plot of ground from Mr. Willis Perry Chisolm for $100. The church wasted no time in building a wooden building to replace the bush arbor. Some years later (date unknown), that building burned down. One 42
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account states that the congregation built another bush arbor to meet in as a stopgap measure. If the establishment of Thankful is calculated from the time the freed slaves began meeting in Rome Baptist’s basement, that makes the church 159 years old. That is amazing, considering most Protestant churches do not survive beyond fifty years. This also means that the congregation’s youngest members—if they hang around—could potentially live to see the church’s bicentennial.
A place of their own and a new name The fledgling congregation worked hard to raise money for a new church building. Fund-raiser suppers were held in conjunction with Rome Baptist Church. People gave. Men sold wagonloads of firewood. Still, how the church building was planned and constructed is still a bit of a mystery; no architects, engineers, or construction company are recorded on Thankful’s 1985 application to the National Register of Historic Places. The brick Gothic-style building was finished in 1881. Its exterior featured a bell tower and spire, stepped wall buttresses, stained glass windows, lancet arches, and ocular windows. The interior included a wood ceiling with board-and-batten sidings, wood-frame cornices, eves and windows, plaster walls with wood panel wainscoting, a pressed-metal central ceiling, and posts with exposed framing in the central nave arcade. There was a consensus that the new church
Rev. Dr. H. Bernard Young building should be accompanied by a new name for the congregation. The most commonly repeated story of the renaming of the Colored Baptist Church involved a woman named Hannah McClendon. As the story goes, during a discussion among members on the subject, McClendon said something like: “Well, I’m just so thankful we can worship here.” Someone else said, “That’s It! We have a name! We’ll call it Thankful Baptist Church!” In a Rome News Tribune article (February 22, 1987), Mary Spivey, the greatgreat-niece of McClendon, remembered her: “I was a little girl then, and she was very old, but I remember she told me some of the women sold blackberries for money for the church. And when the men could get away from work in the fields, they would work on the church together. It was fun for them, but it was hard work too. Everybody stuck together.”
One of the astonishing things about Thankful’s building is that it was constructed a mere two decades after the time the members had met in a bush arbor. In only twenty years, a congregation went from slavery to building a Gothic church building. And that building still stands at 935 Spider Webb Drive as a monument to that achievement.
More than a museum Dr. Young is quick to point out that Thankful is more than a museum for past greatness. He says, “We’re grateful for the history that has been made here, however, we don’t want our present to become history. We want to be relevant in the community today. We want to be a true embodiment of what a Christian should look like, to make an influence on a dying and decaying world.” Dr. Young wants Thankful to follow the example of Rev. Jefferson Milner, to embrace the
challenges of the present day. To take risks. To exercise faith. He adds, “Tradition itself is nothing but frozen success. We have to be careful that we’re not living in 2022 with a mentality of 1973.” Quoting a friend and fellow pastor, Rev. Sam Davis, Dr. Young says, “It’s our job to get where God is, not to stay where God was.” Throughout Thankful’s history, this idea has been a reoccurring theme, informing the church’s mission and work, bringing time-tested biblical principles to bear on modern-day challenges. For instance, in 2005 they worked in concert with other churches and the American Red Cross to take in refugees from Hurricane Katrina. Nim Russell, Thankful’s pastor at that time, said, “We’re a transition facility. People stay here for a while and get vouchers until they find a more suitable location.” They also shipped water and other vital supplies to Gulf Port, Mississippi, and New Orleans. Over the years, Thankful has worked in a wide variety of ministries as diverse as helping prison parolees successfully reenter public life to establishing a school of music. That practical, hands-on philosophy of the work of the church continues today. Since the onset of the pandemic, Thankful has fed more than 10,000 people, and they continue to feed the hungry and clothe the needy. “It seems to me,” Dr. Young says, “that God used the pandemic to get the church out of the sanctuary to get to work.”
Keeping a focus on the basics As Dr. Young sees it, the pandemic has been a time of pruning away things that are no longer relevant. He says, “God has shown us that all of
the fluff is not necessary. At the end of the day, it’s all about God’s Word.” Despite a present trend among many churches to downgrade the authority and centrality of the Bible, Dr. Young and the other leaders in the church continue to teach the principles of the Bible. All the other ministries of the church are outflows of that. “The Bible is imperative,” Dr. Young says. “One thing I always tell our preachers here at Thankful is to take their personal bias out of their study. Always be open to the text [of Scripture]. I tell them not to worry about the reaction of the people. You give glory to God by teaching and preaching what’s in the text. We have to practice the discipline of being submissive to the Scriptures.” Personal discipline is often stressed in Dr. Young’s teaching. In a recent sermon, he said, “When a person is serious about a life transformation, they begin to monitor their lifestyle so they can accomplish their personal goals. In order to achieve their personal goals, they must possess discipline, direction, and determination.” Today, in doing practical ministry based on biblical teaching, Thankful Missionary Baptist Church is following a tradition that goes back to the disciplines of Rev. Jefferson Milner. He constantly put his life at risk riding the rural backroads of post-Civil War Georgia to plant new churches. He was a man who faced the needs of a war-ravaged world head-on, with compassion, but without apology or compromise. Rev. J. H. Williams, a friend and mentor to Dr. Young, puts it this way: “We have to be committed down here because graduation is in heaven.” To that end, the work goes on. Thankfully.
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Your local, outsource IT experts
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logicIT will match your first month service to help offset IT costs for these non-profits
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• Support Helpdesk • Remote Monitoring • Network Security • Offsite Backup • Disaster Recovery • Business Software
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Partnering with us is just Logical! info@logic-it.net | 706-234-9896 | www.logic-it.net 44
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Stay warm this Winter with the heated driving range at Launchbox
At Northwest Georgia’s Best Range, Launchbox is a great time for everyone! 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 heated 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
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a gathering place...
Great Bar • Great Food • Great Friends Beer • Cocktails • Wine • Hot & Cold Appetizers • Soups • Salads Entrees • Burgers • Sandwiches • Desserts • Coffee • Tea
Mon - Thurs 5-10pm Fri - Sat 5pm-1am For takeout, call 706-378-4837 bar ext. 407
Catering & Event Space Available
100 W. 2nd Avenue, Rome, Georgia • 706.378.4837 • hawthorn.com 46
V3 MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 | READV3.COM
stro
THE DISH MEDITERRANEAN
bistro
www.lascalaromega.com 413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
706-238-9000
www.mellowmushroom.com 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.hardees.com
1204 Turner McCall Blvd • Rome, GA 30161 2300 Shorter Ave • Rome, GA 30165 3110 Cedartown Hwy • Rome, GA 30161 104 S Tennessee St • Cartersville, GA 30120
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!
429 Broad St Rome, GA 30161
706-295-5330
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.swheatmarketdeli.com Hours: Mon-Sat: 5am-10pm Sun: 6am-10pm
706.291.2021
www.elzaraperome.com
28 S Wall St Cartersville, GA 30120
5 E Main St Cartersville, GA 30120
Hours: Mon - Sun: 11am-3pm
770-607-0067 Casual counter serve offering sandwiches, salads & American comfort food
www.maineonmain.com 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.
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.
Make it a meal worth remembering. Where to eat in Northwest Georgia. READV3.COM | FEBRUARY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
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“My heart doctors are compassionate and understanding. They take the scary out of heart issues!” – Karen, a real Harbin Clinic Heart Center patient
At the Harbin Clinic Heart Center, we are here to care completely for you and with you when it comes to matters of the heart. Our cardiologists work alongside a talented and compassionate team of providers, front office staff and cardiac imaging technicians to deliver a 5-star experience throughout your entire appointment. But don't take our word for it! Hear directly from those who chose the Harbin Clinic Heart Center and got the 5-star treatment they deserve at
harbinclinic.com/heartcare.
HARBIN CLINIC HEART CENTER 48
V3 MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2022 | READV3.COM