NWGA'S PREMIER FEATURE MAGAZINE / JULY 2022
RUMBLE between the RIVERS The wrestlers of R.W.E. put their belts and bodies on the line to entertain the masses.
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
1
Over 100 beers, unlimited sampling, music, food, and fun
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH at HERITAGE PARK
ROMEUNTAPPED.COM 2
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
Better health
for a better community Atrium Health Floyd — where the brightest minds in healthcare have come together to bring award-winning care to you — will elevate and strengthen the health and wellness of our community like never before.
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
3
JULY2022 COLUMNS 10
Our world is changing faster than we can predict, and in a direction, none of us can fathom. Tammy Barron ponders, can a return to empathy save our generation?
26
Josh Schuver of Artistic Edge Tattoo gets candid about what it’s like slinging ink. The AET team works with their clients inside the studio to build trust and create living art.
14
Nina Lovel reveals three un-profound questions that she struggles to answer, and a fourth one that makes her go “Woo!”
32
David Holbrook, owner of Rome Wrestling Entertainment, combines a childhood love for wrestling with a gift for showmanship to bring the excitement of pro wrestling to Northwest Georgia.
38
Imagine Music Festival brings the beats and a boatload of dedicated fans back to Kingston Downs this September.
44
Renaissance Marquis resident, 101-year-old Jim McCubbin, recalls the thrills and terrors of serving as a WWII fighter pilot and becoming a prisoner of war.
FEATURES 18 4
FEATURES
Ryan Underwood of Ace Aviation Services brings years of experience to the challenge of providing all the training his customers need to become expert pilots and fly with first-rate skills and confidence.
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
ACW
LA N DS C A P E S
LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE SINCE 2003 Financing options available through
Authorized Dealer
Apply online at www.acwlandscapes.com
4617 Rockmart Hwy Silver Creek, GA | 706-528-4963 | www.acwlandscapes.com | Find us on Facebook READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
5
Publisher's Note OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin MANAGING PARTNER Chris Forino CREATIVE DIRECTOR Elizabeth Childers WRITERS Tammy Barron, Ian Griffin, Karli Land, Nina Lovel, Paul Moses PHOTOGRAPHER Rob Smith
O W N E R & C E O Ian Griffin In a month dedicated to our country’s independence, I can’t think of a more American feature to run than a “wrasslin” story. The soap opera meets sports entertainment of it all is so red, white, and blue it smells of barbeque, sunshine, and cold beer. Stars and stripes waving characters like Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Kurt Angle, Sgt. Slaughter and many more have headlined events over the years, fighting against characters from rival countries to add to the drama of the show, but the U.S. Of A. is always the focus of what is right and just. I know these things, because I once was an avid fan. It lost its luster for me when I was old enough to realize it was an act, but for a while, I continued to watch and appreciate it for what it was. Then all the personalities I liked faded from the business or went on to be movie stars and I lost interest completely. Up until that point, I was 100% bought in. I wrote Hulk Hogan a letter when he was hospitalized after his Wrestlemania 2 match with King Kong Bundy. I was one of his little Hulkamaniacs and was generally concerned for the Hulkster's well-being. How could you not root for the wild man in yellow in red whose intro music rocked the lyrics, “I am a real American, fight for what’s right, fight for your life”? I bought every monologue, twist, and turn as reality and boy, did my mother hate it. I realized just how much she loathed it when we were talking about what my son was into, one Sunday afternoon. My kids weren’t Pokémon fanatics, but they liked it enough for me to have to endure the cards and shows while scratching my head and wondering what they loved so much about it. So, when she asked, I told her they couldn’t get enough of the little pocket monsters. I told her I just didn’t get it. I was too old when the craze started so I couldn’t really connect to what they were watching. I then posed a question back to her. “Was there ever anything I was ever into that you just couldn’t stand?” “Wrestling” flew out of her mouth before I could finish the question. To say we shared a good laugh would be an understatement, but it made perfect sense. It’s not for everyone, and for the last 24 years of my life it isn’t anything I’ve been interested in, but I can still flip it on from time to time and appreciate it for what it is…good ole boy American entertainment. So I hope you enjoy reading all of our features this month, but do hope you take the time to read the feature on a local group that brings this American pastime to local venues in Northwest Georgia. If you don’t do it for me, do it for all the middle-aged Hulkamaniacs out there!
6
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
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.
Nurturing Independence, Promoting Individuality and Enriching the Lives of Our Residents
With over 78 combined years of senior living experience, you will be delighted to see how fast our team will help you feel right at home!
Independent Living | Personal Care | Memory Care 3126 Cedartown Hwy | Rome, GA 30161 | 706-295-0014 | renaissancemarquis.com READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
7
NEED FRAMES?
519 Broad St. Suite 101/103
Classically Crafted
Rome, GA • 706.584.7816 amanda@farrellsframeanddesign.com www.FarrellsFrameAndDesign.com
SPECIALTY OUTDOOR GEAR • LIFESTYLE APPAREL • UNIQUE GIFTS 608 Broad Street, Rome • Tue-Sat 10am-6pm • 706-237-7720 • thecanoehouserome.com
8
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
YOUR TRUSTED LOCAL BANKING TEAM At First National Community Bank, Local Bank. Local Decisions.® is more than just our slogan, it's a way of life. We collectively bring over 340 years of banking experience and a lifetime of commitment to Rome and Floyd County to serve you and our community. Back Row (L-R): Beth Summer, Joni Holland, Clem Trammell, Michael Baker, Chuck Thornton, Ryan Earnest and Kay Chumbler Front Row (L-R): Vicki Knight, Chanda Wade, Vivian Adams and Karren Green-Holbert eBANK Always Open at www.fncbank.com DOWNTOWN ROME 501 Broad Street 706.378.5300
WEST ROME 2211 Shorter Avenue 706.378.5305
www.advancerehab.com
ARMUCHEE 2950 Martha Berry Blvd. 706.314.0560
A BETTER COMMUNITY,
TOGETHER
ADAIRSVILLE 7423 Adairsville Hwy. (770) 773-9315
CALHOUN CEDARTOWN 136 West Belmont Dr. SW 1566 Rome Hwy (706) 625-0662 (770) 749-0250
CHATSWORTH 1422 Green Road, Suite N (706) 695-9699
SUMMERVILLE 11638 Highway 27, Suite 1 (706) 857-6366
ROCKMART 1081 Nathan Dean Pkwy (678) 757-1899
ROME 224 Shorter Ave (706) 235-2727
JASPER 620 J.L. White Dr., Suite 110 (706) 692-9080
Most Insurance Plans Accepted Including Medicare & Workers’ Compensation
JOIN • GIVE • VOLUNTEER YMCA OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY 810 E 2nd Ave, Rome, GA 30161 706-232-2468 WWW.YMCAROME.ORG READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
9
When I was six or so, I often explored a wild patch of peppermint that grew in my backyard. IT GREW THICK UNDER THE SHADE of a row of poplar trees that bordered our small lot. I picked through that shady space for hours, gathering aromatic leaves, digging holes in search of treasures, or, my favorite, catching bugs, snakes, and toads. I carefully placed my specimens in a large mason 10
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
jar and studied the curious little things. The most exciting of my finds were always the banded garden spiders. They are truly an inspiration for horror. Remembering its large, yellow-striped belly and long spindly legs gives me the willies. I recall the rush of adrenaline in capturing one in my jar. With my heart pounding, I examined the frighteningly disgusting intricacies of this colorful nightmare, turning the glass to capture every angle. The spider was clever, though. A brilliant survival strategy it adopted was playing dead to avoid predators. A curious six-yearold fits the bill, I’m sure. While under my scrutiny, it rolled over on its back and, curling its legs inward, took a death pose. Immediate remorse for killing the creature washed over me, and I rushed to release it into the grass. Without hesitation, the spider reanimated and began to make its escape. The shock of my deception led me to capture the spider again, only to watch its death at my hands again. Death and release, death and release, the game went on and on.
I am a little embarrassed to admit how many times this role-play repeated itself, each turn evoking the sincerest empathetic remorse. I should have become wise to the spider’s antics, but my young heart was too sensitive not to believe. Empathy is a powerful tool. It comprises our emotional connection to others. Many sociologists claim it is a keystone in civilization and social functioning. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings and experiences of another, figuratively putting us in their shoes to gain an understanding of why they may feel the way they do. It is essential for healthy relationships and interpersonal-problem resolution. I was in NYC this past month to celebrate my daughter’s 12th birthday. We hit all the biggies: Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, 30 Rockefeller Center, and the National September 11 Memorial. There was so much to do and see. I found the tour of the 9/11 memorial incredibly evocative. Our group
Changing THE Tide opened doors By Tammy Barron
had stopped at the NYFD Memorial Wall, a bronze relief sculpture depicting the scene of fire department members responding on September 11th. The law firm Holland and Knight, who lost their partner and volunteer firefighter, Glenn J. Wink, on 9/11, commissioned the bronze relief as a memorial to Wink and the other 343 members of the NYFD. They dedicated the sculpture to “those who fell and those who carry on.” It is a powerful piece of art as it intricately details the horror, bravery, and sacrifice of so many that day. The mood of our tour group was somber and reflective as we walked the length of the fifty-sixfoot long and six-foot-high bronze wall. I snapped out of my reflection and muffled a gasp when I saw a woman from our party posing for a photograph. Her arm extended high, palming the wall in the space between the two burning towers, her hips provocatively cocked, and her lips alluringly parted in well-practiced selfie-form. I was stunned. Her
blatant ignorance of decorum was shocking, as was her seductive posturing. She was playing at sexy while posing in front of the burning towers and surrounding images of suffering and loss. Where was her empathy for those who lost their lives and those of us paying homage? I have repeatedly thought of that woman’s behavior, still wholly baffled at her deafness to the situation. It makes me think deeper about the necessity of empathy in our culture. What does a world look like without it? Obviously, that world has a lot of sexy memorial pictures, but what are the broader implications: division, isolation, violence? Can we function as a society if we no longer feel empathetic ties to each other? Unfortunately, this inability to understand the thoughts and feelings of other people is becoming more prevalent the more we isolate ourselves in our homogeneous social bubbles. We surround ourselves with people who look like us, think like us, and earn and spend money like us.
This pattern of behavior does not lend itself to an empathetic approach to society at large, and it expands the biases that drive us apart. Empathy training is taking center stage in many schools across the country. The curriculum teaches empathetic strategies such as talking, identifying emotional responses, and ignoring negative triggers. These strategies aim to help children and teenagers cope with conflict and stress through healthy interactions with peers and adults. Policymakers and educators are hoping to bridge the gap among the many isolated and disenfranchised students, a group identified as high-risk for violent behaviors. Will this be enough to change the tide of our fracturing culture?
*The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
11
Your local, outsource IT experts
N E T W O R K
S U P P O R T
We replace interruption and frustration with IT business solutions that make sense
ORGANIZATIONS WE LOVE TO SUPPORT
logicIT will match your first month service to help offset IT costs for these non-profits
WHAT WE DO:
• Support Helpdesk • Remote Monitoring • Network Security • Offsite Backup • Disaster Recovery • Business Software
Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Georgia Open Door Home Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center Family Resource Center / The Exchange Club NWGA Center for Independent Living Habitat for Humanity
Partnering with us is just Logical! info@logic-it.net | 706-234-9896 | www.logic-it.net 12
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize:
They were the big things. H Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes www.hendersonandsons.com
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
13
Here and Now with Nina Lovel
Things that Make Me Go Hmmm… (and Woo!)
What was the last thing that puzzled you? I’m not talking about the big things we’ll never understand like why do human beings shoot each other; I’m talking about the little annoying things that you’d think by the time you’re grown-up, you should either be able to figure out or not care if you can’t. I’M EASY TO PUZZLE; my curiosity has powered me through three careers (so far). Because I wanted to understand the outdoor things around me, I majored in Biology and spent my college summers as an interpretive naturalist. When my dream career of leading hikes for a living failed to materialize, I went to nursing school because I wanted to know more about how the body works. After thriving for a couple of decades in healthcare, I sought to get my head around that new thing called the Internet, and I’ve been building database web apps ever since. Instead of changing careers just yet, these days I find it entertaining to ponder some of the puzzles 14
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
around me. It’s more fun and mentally healthier than falling into the doom scrolling rabbit holes I get into when left unattended. Is it just me, or do some of these things bother you too? Feel free to shed some light wherever you can!
Hmm… 1: When something I ordered from Amazon is delivered by Walmart (or vice-versa). Google helped me here; did you know that about half the time, things you order on Amazon don’t actually come from Amazon? Turns out all online merchants swap out delivery services, so things can get to anywhere from anywhere. This may not be profound, but it was bugging me and I feel better now for having sorted it out - thanks! Hmm… 2: How can Dollar Tree sell 6-can packs of Evian Mind sparkling Cucumber and Mint with Magnesium and Zinc (along with three other flavors) for $1.25? These same six-packs are selling on Amazon for sixteen dollars! Google isn’t coming through on this for me, so I guess I’ll go with the “loss-leader” theory, but I sure do
wish I’d been more aggressive in stocking up; all the Cucumber Mints were gone by the next day. In three stores. Yeah, I went around looking.
Hmm… 3: Monk fruit in the raw. Seriously? Do we really need another non-nutritive sweetener on the shelf? It’s grown in China, named for the monks who discovered it, and everything I can find that compares it to Stevia is equivocal on benefits and risks so either is fine “unless you prefer the taste of one over the other”. I don’t know about you, but if I ever use artificial sweetener at all, I don’t do it for the taste; I do it for the, um, sweetness. And as any sweet tea aficionado will tell you, nothing will satisfy without real-life-sparkling-white-sugar, so why go fake? My conclusion: don’t fall into the artificial sweetener matrix! If you’re willing to take on the calories (I’m not here to say whether you *should* or not; that’s on you), go all-in and use the sugar. If you don’t need the sugar, make like I did and learn to enjoy your coffee and tea straight up.
And now for the Woo! Moving on from the retail world; first, some background. I was the luckiest newborn on earth, progeny of two intelligent, fun-loving people who just didn’t happen to be married (to one another, anyway; one of them was, to someone who would not have been amused at my arrival). So my bio-dad arranged for his childless friends from Berry College (my mom and dad) to adopt me at birth. And with that, this adopted only-child received the gift of a loving and privileged life that I have never-ever taken for granted. I grew up, went to college and nursing school, married, bore my two beloved kids, and then lost my mom when I was 28. My dad was rattling around in the house I’d grown up in, so we built an in-law suite onto it and my young family moved into the big house. Many happy years ensued, and PawPaw was able to age in place, surrounded by our whole little family. After I lost my dad and became single again, I found myself with two wonderful but rapidlyfledging teens and a great big house with a great big yard and a pool that nobody besides me wanted to help take care of. It was time to downsize. The estate sale had cars parked for a tenth of a mile in both directions. Everything had to go; I was moving on big time! I only kept five family heirloom furnishings. Books, antique tables, silverware, trophies, lamps, pictures, and even the Kmart microwave cart with one edge completely carved up by drumsticks as my seven year old son prepared to fulfill his destiny as a professional percussionist. Forty-two years and two families’ worth of life’s accumulations went to new homes and I downsized outside of town, to a place I could manage by myself. A few years later, when a cute little ‘47 brick rancher just a couple of blocks from my old family home went up for sale, I decided if I ever wanted to move back into town, this might be the perfect place and time. You know how your real estate agent will take you to look at a house that’s on the market, and the current owners are still living there but they’ve left so you can be free to say things about the house if you want to? It was that scenario. Even though we didn’t know one another, the owners had vacated for the showing, and since it was my agent’s first time in the house too, we explored it slowly together. It was very small, very cute, and in very good shape. As we entered the little hallway, there was a kitschy hexagonal plant stand in the corner. It was about 4 feet high, and each of its six sides was a tall skinny beveled mirror. The hexagonal top was also a mirror. You would have described it as
gaudy. Or tacky. And really, it was both. And, it had also once belonged to me. Back in the 80’s, I had bought that mirrored plant stand from a favorite local furniture store. For nearly two decades, it had lived in a corner of the big front hall in my big family house. It had gone with the estate sale, and now here it was in front of me, quietly reposed in the hall of strangers who had years ago chosen to bring it from my house into theirs. I startled, jumping backwards and running slap into my real estate agent. I screamed a reflexive “WHOAAAA…!” There followed a “what’s wrong?” and a “that’s my plant stand!”, and then I took in a long deep breath, blew it slowly out, and on we moved to check out the bedrooms. I was liking this cute little house. Two bedrooms, all I needed. Nice-sized living room, screened-in porch, fenced back yard… all looking good! But wait— what was that on the living room wall? Noooooooo! Hanging there was an art deco mirror: five panels of 6”x24” vertical beveled glass: another gaudy-tacky thing that had also once been mine. That I had bought from that same furniture store during my phase of gaudy-tacky taste. That had hung in the same hall where the aforementioned plant stand had stood for all those years, all those years ago. That these strangers had also chosen to bring into their house from mine, from the estate sale of the decade.
What are the odds of two strangers living two blocks apart having the same tasteless affinity for tacky beveled mirror pieces? What are the odds of them both owning two of the same pieces? I promise you, this really did happen; I have witnesses. I loved the house, made an offer, and a deal was made, but that’s not the end of the story. At closing (this was back when buyers and sellers actually sat at the same conference table in the closing attorney’s office and used blueink pens to sign), I had two requests for the sellers: (1) That they leave the hanging beveled mirror behind for me, and (2) That they leave the drummed-up KMart microwave cart behind for me. Remember that KMart microwave cart in the big house, the one that was all carved up by drumsticks in seven-year-old hands? The one that went into the estate sale? Yep-that cart was in this little house too, living its best life in the house’s back closet. So, there you have my Woo! This sweet little house had harbored pieces of my past for years, knowing it was here that I belonged. Thank you, little house: I love you, and I got here as soon as I could.
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
15
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 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
THE ONLINE EXTENSION OF V3: All current issue content, archives and exclusive Read V3 digital features
16
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
HELPING FAMILIES HAVE A
HAPPYSUMMER & HEALTHY Not running and playing this summer like you should? Call us! We can get you back to health!
Lieberman Family Chiropractic Monday Wednesday Thursday 10-12, 3-6:30 | Saturday 9-12
Dr. Brian Lieberman & Dr. Rebecca Lapham-Yaun
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
17
When Dreams
Take Off Text: Paul Moses | Photos: Rob Smith
From a teenager with a stubborn determination to become a pilot, to owning his own flight school, Ryan Underwood of Ace Aviation Services has dedicated his life to helping others share in his joy of flying.
Perhaps only airplane pilots fully understand the lure of flight. 18
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
AFTER ALL, IT IS THEIR THING. For some, the idea
of buckling themselves into an airline seat and hurtling across the sky brings on a good deal of anxiety, but not Ryan Underwood. As founder and owner of Ace Aviation Services of Rome, Georgia, he thrives on the experience and fully appreciates the mesmerizing draw of the wild blue yonder. He has turned a childhood fascination into a thriving career, and now he helps others get their dreams off the ground as well.
Eyes on the sky, head in the clouds
Most teenagers have their sights set on getting their driver’s license. When Underwood was 15 years old, he wanted to learn to fly airplanes, and he was determined to find a way. However, there were two problems with that: one, it was expensive, and two, his parents said, “It’s too dangerous.” Underwood found a workaround for the first issue by mowing yards and saving money for flying lessons. The solution to the second problem was his great-grandmother, who agreed
was no written contract between the pilot and the teenager, Cordell let Underwood earn his way through an informal combination of payment and barter. “I was just happy being around airplanes,” Underwood says, “and after working for a while— maybe three days at a time—he would give me a thirty-minute flying lesson. He made me pull my weight, but that’s how I got my license with him.” On Underwood’s 16th birthday, he flew solo for the first time. Such an achievement at that age was so unusual that the Rome News-Tribune published an article about it. (That article now hangs framed on the wall of Underwood’s airplane hangar.) Then at the age of 17, he got his private pilot’s license. “After that,” Underwood says, “I was bound and determined to go the military fighter pilot route.” But as he thought that plan through, it began to lose its appeal. “If you graduate from a military college with your four-year degree,” he says, “you’re an officer. Then you go to flight school. After that, it turns into a 14-to-16-year commitment. What I was afraid of was going through the academy and flight school and then finding out there were no flight positions available.” Ultimately, Underwood decided to go the civilian route.
Spreading his wings
Ryan Underwood to drive him back and forth to the local airport (without his parents’ knowledge) for private flying lessons. With a mixture of anxiety and adolescent bravado, Underwood walked into Rome Flying Services at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport and told the owner, Robert Cordell, he wanted to learn how to fly. Colonel Cordell, who had flown for the U.S. Air Force in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, winning him a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross (among other awards), was a no-nonsense flight instructor, so he was not impressed by teenagers who came in
off the street with starry-eyed visions of sitting in a cockpit. Without paying much attention to the boy, he tossed a small flight instruction book to him and said, “Here. Read this and come back.” Underwood says, “I took this little book home, read it, and in two or three days I showed back up. I think he was seeing if I was for real. After that, he kind of took me under his wing.” Thanks to a high school apprenticeship program, Underwood was able to leave campus and spend part of the day at Rome Flying Services, doing everything from sweeping the floor to cleaning the underside of the planes. Though there
After high school, Underwood attended flight school at Phoenix East, in Daytona Beach, Florida. There, his education combined ground school studies in the classroom with hands-on flight training each day. Although the program was one year long, Underwood was able to complete his studies in eight months, because he already has his pilot’s license. Upon graduation, Phoenix East offered Underwood a flight instructor job, which he accepted. “I was eighteen years old,” he says, “and my first student was a fifty-five-year-old man from England.” After a year as an instructor at Phoenix East, Underwood found out the prestigious EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University was hiring. He applied and was hired. “Riddle was the biggest aeronautical university in the world,” Underwood says, “and they had a massive flight complex.” When Underwood was there, the school boasted over 200 instructors, 1,200 students, and over 70 airplanes. “And it’s a four-year university, so when you go to Embry-Riddle you graduate as a commercial pilot with a degree in professional aeronautics.” While working there, Underwood earned his degree. At Embry-Riddle Underwood became an aerobatics instructor, teaching students how to perform harrowing maneuvers that would help them avoid potentially fatal accidents. For instance, he trained students on how to negotiate a spin endorsement. He says, “A spin endorsement READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
19
is when you put the plane into a full-out spin and recover. You have to learn how to do this just in case one of the students does it by accident.”
Flying with the big boys
Eventually, Underwood decided he wanted to move beyond flight instruction and try his hand in the commercial field. “I submitted online applications to all the airlines, and the next day I had three offers, American Eagle and a couple of other companies. I went with Express Jet and moved out to Houston, Texas.” Though he enjoyed flying the larger aircraft, for Underwood, the frustrating thing about piloting for major airlines was the long-term commitment it took to achieve a state of financial security. After building up seniority, he would get promoted and find himself climbing the seniority ladder once again. He says, “After you put in fifteen or twenty years, you could make two hundred thousand or so, but it was a very iffy business. There was always a good chance you might show up to work one day and get laid off.” He also found the nature of the industry—the constant travel, an uncertain schedule—was hard on interpersonal relationships. “Finally,” he says, “I decided it wasn’t for me. I walked away from the airlines, and I started doing service work on motorcycles and cars in the garage at my house.”
Taking off again
Underwood could not stay away from flying long. He began doing flight instruction in Rome for a small, privately owned flight school. Before long, the owner left much of the day-to-day operations to Underwood, which helped Underwood learn the business side of the industry. A new owner 20
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
bought the business and Underwood stayed on to continue in his leadership role. But after a year or so, it became clear that the new owner was in financial difficulties. “I knew something was wrong,” Underwood says, “when I arrived at work one day and there were realtors at the hangar. I found out then that he had lost everything.” From the company, Underwood was able to buy a Cessna 150 that was at a maintenance shop having a wing repaired. This purchase was beneficial for everyone involved; it helped Underwood’s former boss out of a financial bind, allowed the maintenance shop owner to get paid, and it gave Underwood a good deal on an airplane that would help him start his own business.
“At the time I had a little T hangar on the other side of the field. It just fits one little airplane. So, I took that Cessna 150 and started Ace Aviation Services.” At first, he conducted the ground lessons in the conference room at the airport’s terminal building, the FBO (fixed-base operator). He says, “It was not an ideal situation, you know, especially if you're going to do it as a living.” He needed space of his own.
A perfect landing
Underwood had his eye on a large hangar on the other side of the airport that was built by the Forestry Commission in the 1940s. Knowing the hangar was going up for sale, Underwood took a calculated risk. “I put in a bid for only ten dollars,” he says, “and I said I would tear the hangar down, relocate it to the other side of the airport, reconstruct it at my own expense, and sign a thirty-five-year land lease with the county. And I won the bid! We took this whole thing down, put it on a flatbed trailer, moved it over here, and put it back together.” That hangar is now the home of Ace Aviation Services. Underwood’s business has not only become a fixture at Rome’s airport, but it has also become a driving force in the culture of flight in Northwest Georgia. For instance, over twenty of the hangars at the airport are home to airplanes owned by Underwood’s customers and former students. Pointing to a nearby hanger, he says, “When he
first came to me, he didn’t know anything about flying. I trained him, helped him find a plane of his own, did a pre-buy inspection on it, and helped him bring it home. Now he’s based here.” That story is typical of the niche Underwood has made for himself in this business. He says, “Eighty-to-ninety percent of my students are middle-aged men that have finally got to a point in their lives where they can afford a plane.” He explains to them that for $80,000 they can either buy a boat they will rarely use, or they can learn to fly, buy a nice plane, have a hangar that doubles as a man cave, and fly away with buddies to go fishing. That is a vision that appeals to many of his customers, and Underwood helps them achieve it. He teaches them to fly, helps them find an airplane that fits within their budget, travels with the customer to inspect the plane, and together they fly it home. That’s the Services in Ace Aviation Services. He helps other people get what they want. In turn, it continues to build a healthy business for him.
The sky’s the limit
At Ace Aviation Services, students do their ground school online, working through the curriculum at their own pace. There are more than 200 instructional videos. The hands-on instruction takes place at the airport. “On a student’s very first day with us,” Underwood says, “we take you flying. When we get back, we have a
little debrief, and I'll tell you what videos you need to start watching at home.” When discussing the future of Ace Aviation Services, Underwood explains that he doesn’t want to grow into a large fleet, rather, he wants to grow in smarter ways. Currently, Underwood has plans to film an entire series of ground school videos and sell their use online. This would provide customers worldwide with an alternative to the online classes currently offered, and it would provide a revenue stream of passive income for the business. “I don't want to go to ten or fifteen planes because that takes the fun out of it,” Underwood says. “It makes this stressful, like now you’ve got to make fifty-thousand dollars this month or you may go under. I don’t want to be there. I want to be at the point where the work is a very personal experience. Like with some of my clients, we’re together for two or three days traveling across the country and bringing a plane back. You really get to know someone like that. It’s business, but it’s fun, too. Doing that kind of thing—then adding our own video ground school training— financially, it just seems like a no-brainer.” Ace Aviation Services can be found on Facebook @aceaviationseminars and online at learntoflywithace.com
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
21
KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATION, HONESTY, AND CARE
are the touchstones that characterize the work and commitment of the physicians and staff of Harbin Clinic Pediatrics Adairsville. A newly arrived addition to this exceptional pediatric team is Dr. Chelsea Tehan. Like her colleagues, she is committed to making a difference in the lives of children by providing quality health care, a friendly environment, and a positive experience for the children at every age and every stage of their lives.
While still in medical school, Dr. Tehan did a rotation with a family medicine doctor in Bonifay, Florida. This family medicine doctor was one of only six total doctors in the rural town. She also practiced obstetrics, delivered babies, and served a weekly 24-hour shift at the hospital as an ER doctor. Experiencing the dedication, the intellectual capacity, and
SHARED MEDICAL STANDARDS AND VALUES
the need in such a community, Dr. Tehan felt called to serve in rural communities as well. “Working in that community opened my eyes to how many people needed care from a medical professional they could trust,” she explains. “I love serving my patients in a variety of ways based on their individual needs.” She goes on to say, “In many smaller communities, there are often not enough psychiatrists available to young patients. I continue to educate myself about this essential element of pediatrics so that I am better prepared to care for my patients.”
Though the diagnosis and treatment of children can be a sobering business, Dr. Tehan also experiences many instances of levity and joy in the exam room. “My favorite part of pediatrics is the honesty of the kids,” she says. “An example of this is when one time I was examining a young boy—probably around six—and he reached out [a finger] to the corner of my eye and said, ‘Dr. T, are these wrinkles? You have wrinkles!’”
A CHILDHOOD DREAM FULFILLED
Dr. Tehan developed a desire to study medicine at an early age. “I knew I wanted to be a doctor when I was about six years old,” she says. “My aunt was a pediatric nurse, and she would take me to the hospital.” So as a little girl, Dr. Tehan personally experienced the positive impact of professional interactions between patients and medical professionals. Then, during medical school she saw the same thing as she shadowed a family medicine doctor in a rural community. As she followed the physician from room to room while he visited patients, she felt a deep respect for the ways families allowed him to be a part of their lives. Dr. Tehan received her medical degree from Florida State University College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency and internship at the University of South Florida. After residency, she pursued additional training in pediatric mental health. She recognized the critical need to treat and care for young patients navigating mental health challenges, and she wanted to be equipped and ready to help.
22
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
Dr. Tehan is excited to be a part of Harbin Clinic Pediatrics Adairsville and to work with a physician-owned organization. She strongly agrees with Harbin Clinic’s emphasis on families and doctors making decisions together about a patient’s healthcare journey. She finds it personally and professionally satisfying to work with an organization that cherishes and upholds values so closely aligned with her own. “I chose to come to Adairsville because I knew Dr. Harbin Pickett personally, and I felt like this was the best fit for myself, as well as my family.” “At Harbin Clinic Pediatrics Adairsville,” says Dr. Tehan, “our goal is to create a very warm, very friendly, very fun atmosphere. We do our best to treat them [the patients] as we would our own families.” Her outstanding qualities are not lost on her coworkers. “Dr. Tehan is a delightful and compassionate pediatrician,” Dr. Sara Harbin Pickett of Pediatrics Adairsville said upon Dr. Tehan’s appointment to the team. “We welcome her expertise, extensive knowledge-base, and joyful personality.”
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
“When I’m not working,” she says, “I enjoy spending time with my three small children—ages eleven, eight, and four—and with my husband as well. And I also enjoy spending time with my extended family, as well as my pets.” (Speaking of pets, the Tehans have chickens, dogs, cats, and four horses.) Dr. Tehan and her family also love to travel.
most important thing in their life, which is their child. And so, to do that and to make their lives a little bit easier is what this is all about.” One thing Dr. Tehan prioritizes is really getting to know her patients—again,
in the long-term sense. She says, “As a pediatrician, I hope to be there for your children through every stage of their young lives. I aspire to care for a community of children and then care for their children… and their children’s children!”
HEALTHY FOR LIFE
Regarding Harbin Clinic’s work in pediatrics, Dr. Tehan takes a long-term view. She doesn’t see it as the treatment of the child only, but of what and who that child will be for the rest of his/her life. “Children have a chance to improve their lives early on,” she says. “They have a chance to avoid diseases rather than trying to fix them later, and I want to be part of families and be part of their care and growth over time. The most important thing for a patient or a family to know is that their pediatrician is there for them to help them. It’s our job to help take care of their child. I’ve helped them with the
ART i SATURDAY
GIVE AN ART
Experience
Birthday Paint Parties
Art Class
Abstract Workshop Pet Portrait Workshop WWW.STUDIOSIRI.COM 1205 DEAN AVE. ROME, GA • 706.409.3022
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
23
Jamie Doss, CRPC® Financial Advisor Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM
Gentle and caring dentistry for the whole family!
Official Dentist of the Rome Braves 19A John Maddox Dr • (706) 235-5899 Find us on Facebook @KentCEllingtonDMDPC
Learn To Fly
Ace Aviation pilots range from age 8-80! So what’s stopping you from taking flight today? Give us a call!
Fly SAFE! Fly with CONFIDENCE! Train with ACE! No required schedule! No required classes! Set your own pace with one-on-one instructor guidance
706-238-2425 learntoflywithace.com @ Aceaviationservices 24
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
1 S Broad St SW, Rome, GA 30161 ameripriseadvisors.com | 706-295-4008
ANNOUNCING CRBI’S
SWIM GUIDE!
DON’T MISS A RIDE THIS SUMMER SERVICE YOUR BIKE TODAY!
Check out our new location!
We’re monitoring for bacteria at 30 sites across our watershed.
Find out if it’s safe to swim at your favorite spot this summer.
GET THE SKINNY coosa.org/swim-guide/
300 N 5 TH AVE ROME, GA
Results posted every Friday
HIGH QUALITY BICYCLE REPAIRS & SERVICE
5 B ro a d S t. R o m e, GA 3 0 1 61 • 7 0 6 -23 2-27 24 w w w.co o s a .o rg /s w i m - g u i d e/
WWW.REVIVECYCLEWORKSROME.COM • 706-204-8429
Making Exterior Cleaning Easy! Your solution to revitalizing all of your exterior surfaces
House Washing Roof Cleaning Driveway Washing Concrete Cleaning Fence Washing Patio Cleaning Gutter Cleaning Hardscape Washing
North Georgia’s premiere Tattoo and Piercing studio 11 E 2nd Ave, Rome, GA 30161 706-237-7205 • www.artisticedgetattoo.com
706-450-4700
Call Today For Your Free Estimate! Local & Veteran Owned • xteriorsolutionsrome.com
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
25
Living Edge ON THE
Text: Tammy Barron | Photos: Rob Smith
Tramp stamps and job enders; there is more to the world of tattoos. Josh Schuver of Artistic Edge Tattoo discusses what it’s like to get in the chair.
Q: In your opinion, what are the best elements of being a tattoo artist? A: I would have to say the fact that we literally get paid to draw on people. Most of the time, people come in with an idea of what they want and then rely on us to develop a design. That’s a lot of trust for something that will never wash off. I mean, it will literally be on their bodies for the rest of their lives. I sure did come a long way from the crayon box. Look, Mom, I made it! Meeting new people and hearing their stories is very rewarding also. Sometimes our clients get a tattoo to commemorate someone or something. Then again, sometimes it’s just something funny.
Q: What is your least favorite part of your job?
My least favorite element about doing what I do is the late nights. Being an early-riser, I feel more compelled to want to tattoo early and finish early. However, there is an unspoken rule: One shalt not be tattooed before 1:00 p.m.. I guess people don’t wake up early and say, “You know what would
feel nice right now? Getting stuck continuously for hours before my first cup of coffee.” So, this message is for people that want to get tattooed early. Holler at ya boy, Josh Schuver. I’m here for you.
Q: How old were you when you got your first tattoo?
I was probably nineteen or twenty when I did my first tattoo on actual skin. It was absolutely beautiful- no- actually, it was horrible. I get a daily reminder of it, as it’s above my right knee. Every line is blown out and wobbly. It’s really a piece of work. It’s the size of a golf ball and took me nearly two hours because I couldn’t get the machine to run correctly. It was a bad time, but from that first tattoo, I knew that this was what I wanted to do.
Q: How would you advise covering up an ex’s name?
Well, first, don’t do it. Second, try finding a new girlfriend or boyfriend with the same name. If those don’t work, you could always put a void stamp over it, so you can put your new significant other’s name underneath it. Coverups are always
unique. They must be designed for the specific tattoo we are covering. Some things just can’t be covered or covered well, so we recommend laser removal treatments. However, when we are going to do a cover, we tend to look at things with a texture like floral, hair, bone, feathers, or even scales.
Q: Who were you lashing out against in your life when you decided to become a tattoo artist?
I wouldn’t say I was lashing out when becoming a tattoo artist. I’ve always done some form of art. I just never thought I could make a living doing it. When I was seventeen, I first walked into a tattoo shop and thought it was a cool environment. I noticed a sign that said, “We tattooed your mom first.” I knew then that this was for me. My parents supported my career choice, even though neither of them had a tattoo at the time. Now, my mom has a ring of Celtic knots around her ankle. My dad is lifting weights, trying to get his arms in shape before he gets his first one.
Q: Have you ever felt compelled to talk someone out of a tattoo choice? Yes, all the time, though, it’s not always design related. Sometimes the issue is the location of the tattoo. Hands, neck, or face are areas I will shut down immediately. You know, because they haven’t reached that level of pirate yet. Hands, neck, and face tattoos can eliminate job opportunities for that person and almost always labels them in society as unacceptable. Although tattoos are becoming more acceptable in the workforce, I don’t feel it’s quite to that point yet. Other times, people come in with an idea that is not meant to be a tattoo, or the details are so dense that you would have to draw it the size of a twostory house to get the details. We always try to work with the client and find common ground in these cases. We can still give them a great tattoo that will last. Unfortunately, some clients do not budge, and we usually see them trying to get a coverup later.
Q: On what body part do you recommend getting a tattoo?
Well, I always tell people to “get what you want, where you want it.” Some areas are going to be more sensitive than others. The ribs will be much more sensitive than- say- your shoulder. However, it’s forever, and I wouldn’t compromise what you want based on the pain of a location. If a client has no preference on site, I’m going to an arm.
Q: Has society’s perception of tattoos changed since you’ve been in business? Yes, and for the better. I mean, we are still pirates with the occasional gold tooth and hand, neck, and face tattoos. The stigma in the industry has cleaned up a lot as tattoos become more acceptable in the workforce. You see more and more people with them. We tattoo people that you would never think to even have a tattoo: doctors, lawyers, first responders, the list goes on. You never know what they have tattooed under their suits. It’s been a group effort in our industry to lift the stigma.
Q: What ink trends have you seen over the years?
Trends in tattoos have changed constantly. We have artists specializing in multiple styles, so it’s
easy to see the trends based on how busy they are from month to month. Ten years ago, we saw a ton of tribal tattoos. Now, it’s very rare. Today, social media makes the call. We may have three people walk in one week wanting a lion. The following week, three people walk in wanting fine line flowers. Regardless of what it is, it tends to come in waves.
Q: What is the funniest or most awkward tattooing situation in which you found yourself?
Q: How would you describe the atmosphere at Artistic Edge Tattoo?
The vibe at Artistic Edge Tattoo is laid back. We all cut up, laugh, and have a good time. It’s a daycare for adults! At the same time, we are professionals. Many people who come in for their first tattoo have an image in their mind expecting to be greeted by an intense, crazy person. Instead, they get me hollering, “Welcome to Moe’s!” just to see their reaction. We have a good time for sure.
As a tattoo artist, I get a lot of dirt. Why people think tattoo artists are therapists, I’ll never understand. However, a session can get interesting. In this one instance, I was doing the name of a woman’s stepson and birth date. She was very excited. She wrote the name and birth date out for me so I could redraw it in a nice cursive script. I placed on the stencil. As she looked in the mirror to give her approval, she talked about how much the tattoo meant and how all her tattoos must have a meaning. She went on to say she didn’t understand people who just got random flowers or whatever. She liked the image, so we sat down and began the work. Boom! We were done; she checked it out and loved it. She left, and everything was good. About an hour later, the woman returned to the shop, wondering why I had messed up. I didn’t know what she was talking about. She said the date was wrong. I showed her the paper that she had written the name and date on. She now has a nice random flower to cover her mistake. A meaningless rose that she loves. She later got the name and date tattooed in a different area.
The Braves Play Here READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
29
Powerful Networking Tools + Relationships = Maximum Exposure When listing with Hardy Realty, your home will be found on websites of top real estate companies through our participation in FMLS, GAMLS, and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Nearly all buyers use the internet in their home search. We’ll help you reach those buyers interested in our area -- worldwide.
97 YEARS
706-291- 4321
|
hardyrealty.com
CBD / HEMP O IL
ALL-NATURAL PAIN RELIEF Available in oil, honey sticks, capsules, & gummies.
Benefits Include
• Reducing inflammation & anxiety • Relieving neuropathic pain & central pain • Easing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis & PTSD The Farm Bill Act of 2014 makes CBD / Hemp Oil legal in every state (without THC)
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 6pm • Sunday: 12 - 6pm TheHerbShopOnBroad
• 706.232.4447 • 103 Broad Street
W E D O N O T D I A G N O S E , T R E AT, O R C U R E
30
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
511 Soho Drive Adairsville, GA 30103 770-773-7726 • www.tilefactoryoutletinc.com
LET OUR SOLUTIONS BE THE ANSWER TO YOUR I.T. CHALLENGES. With over three decades of service in Northwest Georgia, the experienced staff at Logical Systems takes pride in the quality and performance of the systems that we design, implement, and support. From school systems to correctional facilities, Logical Systems provides the trusted connection between users and what they need most - information.
• LOW-VOLTAGE & FIBER OPTIC CABLING • NETWORK ELECTRONICS • ACCESS CONTROL • IP TELEPHONY • IP SURVEILLANCE • WIRELESS SOLUTIONS • WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS
NETWORK | AUDIO/VISUAL | SECURITY IP PHONES | IP CAMERAS | WIRELESS 706.234.9896 | 605 EAST 1ST ST. SUITE 101 ROME, GEORGIA | LOGSYSINC.COM READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
31
Off
THE
Ropes
and Into the Fray
David Holbrook’s Rome Wrestling Entertainment offers Northwest Georgians a dramatic spectacle based on athleticism, showmanship, and an honest respect for the tradition of pro wrestling. Text: Paul Moses | Photos: Rob Smith
“The Wild Child” Tony Styles
32
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
Growing up, he often got in trouble with his parents for staying up long past his bedtime. BUT HE FELT LIKE HE NO CHOICE. After all, wrestling was on. WWF television shows bookended his week; there was Monday Night Raw, then Friday Night Smackdown. What was a boy to do? That was the childhood of David Holbrook, founder and owner of Rome Wrestling Entertainment. “I grew up with that early 2000s wrestling, and I went for it hook, line, and sinker.” Having premiered in 1993, Monday Night Raw has inspired legions of faithful fans to take professional wrestling seriously, giving it its due as both entertainment and as a sport. With justifiable admiration, Holbrook says, “Raw has run a long, long time. And it’s still around. There’s a reason for that. There’s a magic to wrestling.”
Do or Die and cashed in the contract. Holbrook recalls how Boaz entered the venue, dragging a referee behind him, and handed the briefcase containing the contract to the general manager. “I was a bloody mess after that match,” Holbrook remembers. “We really went to war, and I was pouring blood. We crowned a new champion that night, and things really changed for us there.” A vital part of offering good content for the audience to enjoy is creating exciting and entertaining characters for them to watch. Big Deal David Boaz is an example of this. Another powerhouse personality for RWE is their current United States Champion, Big Country. Holbrook describes him this way: “Big Country is about two-hundred and fifty pounds, has long black hair and a Duck Dynasty beard. When he enters the ring, he wears jeans, old-style wrestling boots with duct tape on them, and a shirt that says ‘Mama Tried.’ He also wears a huge leather duster and a cowboy hat, and he carries a bull rope with a bell on it.” This is not only a sport; it’s also entertainment, and a good show requires characters.
Throwing his hat in the ring
The idea of creating a business that championed wrestling was in Holbrook’s mind years before he made it happen. He says, “I always said that if I every got in a position where I could have the manpower to make up a good roster [of wrestlers] and access to the resources—a wrestling ring and a venue—I would start RWE, Rome Wrestling Entertainment.” That dream officially came to fruition on September 19, 2020, when Holbrook launched RWE with its first event, a wrestling match held at a lumber yard on Alabama Highway. “We held a six-match card that night,” he says. “It was a triple-threat qualifying match for the final entry in that rumble.” At the end of the night there was a championship match, “which,” Holbrook adds, “I ended up winning.” So, David Holbrook became the first ever RWE Three Rivers Champion. The following January, RWE held an event at Peaches, a bar and entertainment venue on Broad Street in Rome, Georgia. “We blew that place away!” Holbrook says. “It was awesome!” As it turned out, the night was as hard as it was fun. RWE rented a 16’ x 16’ wrestling ring from Peach State Wrestling and set it up in the bar. The ring was bulky and very heavy, so it was a challenge to put together, and Holbrook says, “That was a stiff ring—it didn’t have a lot of give.” But neither Holbrook nor his roster of wrestlers seemed to mind. Holbrook says, “We wrestled all night, and when the bar closed, we packed everything up and hit the road. It was a vicious process. That ring’s heavy.”
Content is king in the ring
In the world of wrestling, storytelling is paramount. Challenges. Grudges. Trash talking an opponent. Revenge. These are the types of things that drive the narratives that motivate fans to buy tickets. Showmanship and spectacle are crucial to the success of any wrestling organization, and Holbrook makes sure that RWE’s events portray the content his customers expect. For instance, in their annual event, “Do or Die,” matches have gimmicks (called “stipulations”), such as a steel cage or a bull rope, etc. This event featured several memorable stipulations. For instance, there was the first ever “HardCore Casket Match.” Holbrook explains, “To win you had to roll your opponent into a casket and shut the lid.” “That night I faced a good friend of mine from high school, The Reaper Jared Cole, in a steel cage,” Holbrook says. “It was one of my top three favorite matches of all time.” Holbrook won and retained the championship. Then there was a five-way elimination match, in which five men started in the ring, and the last man standing won a contract from RWE. That contract guaranteed that wrestler a championship match at a time of his choice. Big Deal David Boaz, one of RWE’s all-time best wrestlers, won the
"The Nightmare" David Holbrook Jr
The Roman Rumble
Peaches on Rome’s Broad Street became a favorite venue for RWE. Holbrook says, “We love Broad Street. We always do well there, and there’s always a great wrestling crowd down there. It has a small-town feeling; we like that. In June of 2021 we were back at Peaches,” Holbrook says, “and we had a phenomenal show! A lot of great things happened there that night. There were probably four-hundred people there, and I wrestled Hunter Chastain.” A Rome native and country music singer, Chastain now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Of the match, Holbrook says, “It was really a bit of a publicity stunt for him, but it was good for us, too, and a lot of fun.” In February of 2022 RWE put on “The Roman Rumble” at Peaches. This was a 15-man match; last man standing was the winner. It was designed to fill a vacated championship. It was an exciting but grueling night for all involved.
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
33
Holbrook sees a lot of crossovers in discipline, training, and performance between wrestling and football. “Coaching football really walks hand-inhand with wrestling,” he says. “It’s a chance to take the way you see the game of football or the vision you have for wrestling and lead the group you have in the direction you believe they need to go.” In both sports Holbrook has a certain attitude that he expects out of his young men. Both football and wrestling require not only a high degree of physical prowess, but also strategic thinking and emotional toughness. “In football, we’re not out there playing a two-hand touch game; we’re being as physical as we can.” Whether coaching football or training wrestlers, a great deal of leadership skill is involved. Holbrook says, “As a defensive line coach, I put my trust in my defensive line when I put them out there on the field. The same is true in running RWE. I put my trust in my roster to go out there and put on a kickass show. In wrestling, you have to do this because you love it, because there’s no money in it and it’s just constant abuse to your body. As a matter of fact, you might have to have a few loose screws to do this, but you have to take your time and put everything you can into this, it will all pan out in the end.”
The reality of the ring
Of course, Holbrook was on the roster. “I was in the ring for an hour and seven minutes,” he says, “I wrestled Tony the Wild Child Styles.” Winning the match, Styles became RWE’s new champion. Holbrook says, “Tony’s a really good athletic guy. He embodies what RWE’s attitude is right now. We’re all so proud of him.” Sometimes, Holbrook takes the show on the road, like when they did a show in the parking lot at Harley-Davidson in Cartersville, Georgia. “It was a very interesting environment,” Holbrook says. “All these bikers pulled up, and there were food trucks and lots of loud music. It was a true outing for families on a Saturday morning. If you wore leather, you were there. We had some guys get injured at that show, and I was one of them. After that, we took a break for a while.” This nomadic nature of RWE is both a blessing and a curse. The benefit is they don’t incur the ongoing expense of overhead, but the downside is they have no place to call home. But Holbrook has plans for RWE’s future in this regard. “My short-term goal is to get a venue for our upcoming anniversary show. I already have that pretty much planned out, as far as the card and the storylines are concerned. That’s just a matter of a date and a location.” There are numerous outdoor venues available for use, but Holbrook is concerned about what the Northwest Georgia heat might do to his wrestlers and the audience. He adds, “Long-term, we need to acquire our own building, which is, of course, expensive. It’s hard to justify paying an arm and a leg when you don’t know if you’ll draw in enough to pay for a lease.”
In the ring, on the field
Growing up in Rome, Holbrook developed his love of sports by playing football for Rome High School and lifting weights. Later he received a degree in physical education and health from Jacksonville State University, in Jacksonville, Alabama. Today, he lives in Pine Mountain, Georgia, and he coaches football at Harris County High School. For the time being, his coaching and teaching responsibilities have curtailed his pursuit of wrestling, but he plans to have a full roster back in the ring soon. 34
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
The perennial debate about wrestling involves the question “Is it real?” Holbrook has no qualms about answering this question. He decries the fact (as he sees it) that wrestling is the most disrespected form of combat entertainment in the world today. To him, detractors call it fake because they don’t really understand what it is. He says, “I know it’s not fake because I’ve been slapped across the chest and had my forehead split open.” Holbrook explains that, for the wrestler, the sport is as real or as phony as he choses to make it. “If you go out there and fake it,” he insists, “then, yeah, it’s fake. But if you go out there and do your job, and you tell a story, and you make real contact with your opponent…well, I don’t see how anyone can call that fake.”
Samhain
• Stump Removal • Complete Timber Service • Complete Tree Service • Bucket Truck & Crane Service • Whole Tree Chipping
706-238-1214 Call for a free quote
24 Hour Emergency Storm Damage Service • Fully Insured READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
35
NEED HELP WITH NUTRITION? NEED HELP WITH ACCOUNTABILITY? NEED STRUCTURE? TRY ONLINE TRAINING!
All Around Handyman ANYTHING NEEDED... ANYTHING DONE
1 : 1 personal training from home with local personal trainer and health coach, Corey Pitts of CMP Training.
Todd Smith Personal Trainer, AFFA and Certified Nutrition Coach In person and online training: cmptrainingrome.com 770.324.9695, located at Rome Athletic Club.
SPECIALIZING IN Quartz • Granite • Marble • Silestone CUSTOM UNDERMOUNT & VESSEL SINKS Copper • Porcelain • Glass • Stainless Steel 932 N. 2nd Ave NW Rome, GA 30165 • 706-512-0262 36
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
CARPENTER
706-767-6424 REMODELING | TILE WORK | PAINTING | FURNITURE DECKS | FENCING | CORNHOLE BOARDS
Northwest Georgia’s Heart Care Leader
World-class innovation and nationally ranked expertise, close to home. Your heart knows what it wants. A team of experts. State-of-the-art facilities. And a network of connected care. AdventHealth’s connected cardiovascular network is here to take care of your heart so you’re ready for the road ahead.
Learn more at GeorgiaHeartExperts.com or call 706-237-9451.
Formerly Redmond Regional Medical Center READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
37
Pure Imagination The rolling hills of Kingston Downs will be alive with the sounds of electronic dance music once again in 2022. Imagine Music Festival Co-Founders Glenn & Madeliene Goodhand sat down with V3 to give our readers the scoop on what to expect, how to attend, and why they chose the Northwest Georgia venue to host their festival. PHOTOGRAPHER: DV PHOTO VIDEO Social icon
Circle Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.
@DVPHOTOVIDEO WWW.DVPHOTOVIDEO.COM
What are the roots of the Imagine Music Festival? Maddy: It always was an idea that lived in the back of our minds. You can be limited when you produce and promote events- first in spaces you do not own and control. You want to transform the space and people's experiences, but the ideas are often more significant than what you are allowed to do. Imagine is the manifestation of all those ideas, which continue to grow yearly.
What sets Imagine apart from other festival experiences? Maddy: We want Imagine to be an immersive experience, from the moment they enter the gates to the experiences throughout, and a lineup that rivals some of the biggest festivals globally. Because our venue at Kingston Downs is a destination, Imagine strives to give fans a platform to express themselves and forget about the outside world for a minute- all within our aquatic fairytale.
Many in the EDM community are raving about the lineup your team has assembled. Tell our readers how it came together and what makes it so special? 38
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
Glenn & Madeliene Goodhand
Glenn: We did our best to bring back as many artists as possible from the years we had to navigate the COVID and Mother Nature curve balls. That being said, music and artists are constantly evolving, so we needed to keep pace with the current climate of electronic dance music. This is our best lineup yet, which is saying a lot for us.
I know it's not all about the music; this is an immersive artistic experience. Without giving away any surprises, how do you go about creating that environment for your audience? Maddy: We draw inspiration from all over. The original poster art was inspired by an artist we came across while on vacation and built from there. Each year that we create Imagine, we think about what we would want to experience if we were attending as fans. If it is not good enough for us, it will not stand up to our fans' high standards.
Obviously the new location is going to impact that experience. How did you find Kingston Downs, and what READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
39
Describe a day on the concert grounds… what options await ticket holders as they navigate the concert grounds from sunrise to sunset and potentially another sunrise? Maddy: We like to leave that to the fans to decide. We have incredible workshops in The Imaginarium, which will host transformational workshops, including Learn Aerial Yoga, Acro Yoga, Permaculture, Aerial Arts, Flow Arts, Mastery of Life, Meditation, Yoga, Sacred Geometry, Consciousness, and Mindfulness Art.
makes it the perfect location for the event? Glenn: We have had two years to fine-tune everything that Imagine is about, including the infrastructure. The decision was made early on to find a home that could provide the picturesque setting we have always envisioned for Imagine, but also with the infrastructure that would leave little to chance. Kingston Downs will blow people away with its natural beauty and the experience we build within it.
What options do ticket holders have for accommodations and how do they go about booking what best fits their needs? Maddy: We pretty much have any possible scenario covered, depending on your preference. In addition to hotels and car camping with friends, we have RV rentals with Skyview options of the festival grounds, RV camping with and without power hookups, Qube tents that are set up and waiting for you- A/C rentals available, and even group-themed camping for up to 10 people. There are even more options you can do in bigger groups, so explore ImagineFestival.com.
40
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
Additionally, there will be activations throughout the festival grounds, including rogue sets in the campgrounds. And, of course, the stages loaded up with our massive lineup. We are just excited to be together for the first time at this fantastic venue.
Now about that pool party…give us the scoop? Glenn: I always get most excited about the pool parties. This year the Aqua Day Club Pool Parties will feature Kaskade for his second set of the festival, Adventure Club, and a special "floaty and euphoric" poolside house set by Bonnie X Clyde Presents: Tears in Paradise.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? Maddy & Glenn: We cannot wait to see you out there! For more information and ticket sales, visit www.imaginefestival.com
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
41
42
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
It’s All In Our Name...
nissan • hyundai • honda HeritageRomeHyundai.com • RomeNissan.com • HeritageRomeHonda.com 706.291.2277
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
43
GRAND COLUMN
RENAISSANCE MARQUIS
Flying and Fighting for Freedom Text Paul Moses | Photos Rob Smith
Where The Heart Is with Renaissance Marquis
AMONG THE MANY RESIDENTS at the Renaissance Marquis Retirement Village of Rome, Georgia, Jim McCubbin stands out as a hero. Now 101 years old, McCubbin is a testament to the bravery of countless numbers of his contemporaries who rightfully earned the title the Greatest Generation. In 1943, McCubbin had to put college on hold when he was drafted into service during World War II. Since he already had his pilot’s license, his skills were in high demand in the military. Earning the rank of captain, he flew a P-51 Mustang fighter plane, the state-of-the-art workhorse aircraft of its day, boasting a Rolls Royce/ Merlin engine and six 50-caliber machine guns in its wings. As a pilot for the 385th Squadron, 364th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, his job was to help protect American bombers from the fighter planes of Germany’s Luftwaffe. While in this role, Captain McCubbin achieved nine kills (10, really, but he gave credit for one to a fellow pilot), earning him the right to call himself an ace fighter pilot. In the closing months of the war in Europe, Captain McCubbin swooped down, firing on a German train, and an anti-aircraft shell pierced his P-51’s wing. He managed to gain enough altitude to bail out. He parachuted to the ground, where he was promptly intercepted by a group of German farmers. In short order he was a captive of the German military. En route to a POW camp, Captain McCubbin’s train was attacked by (ironically) an American P-15, which killed 16 prisoners and as many German civilians. This was a close escape for Captain 44
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM
RENAISSANCE MARQUIS
McCubbin—a bullet punctured the flap of his coat and struck another man. In a written account of this event’s aftermath, Captain McCubbin said, “A German medical officer and several orderlies began to attend to those in need. I was impressed to witness how the wounded were attended to without regard to nationality.” Life in the POW camp (which he entered on his 24th birthday) was harsh. The prisoners were fed enough to keep them alive, but not much more. Captain McCubbin remembers eating soup filled with worm-infested peas. Fortunately, he wasn’t there long. Four months after his incarceration, General George Patton’s soldiers liberated the camp, and the German guards promptly surrendered.
GRAND COLUMN
After the war and an honorable discharge, McCubbin returned to college and earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He later married and had four children (eventually, eight grandchildren). From the safety and security of his home at the Renaissance Marquis, the deprivations of war are a distant memory. In his memoirs, McCubbin describes his POW experience with a good deal of compassion regarding his captors: “I never noticed any guard acting in an incorrect manner toward anyone. The fact that the war was essentially over must be taken into account. As for the lack of food, we must remember that their civilians were also going without.” At 101, Captain Jim McCubbin, ace fighter pilot, is still gracious in victory.
READV3.COM | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
45
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 JULY 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
Hours: Sun-Wed: 11am - 9pm Thursday: 11am - 9:30pm Fri-Sat: 11am - 11pm
470-227-7049
Funky, art-filled chain pizzeria featuring craft beer, calzones & creative stone-baked pizzas.
www.moesoriginalbbq.com/rome 101 West 1st Street Rome, GA 30161
Hours: Sun-Thu: 11am - 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am - 2am
706-622-2977
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 | JULY 2022 V3 MAGAZINE
47
PRESCRIBE
OUTSIDE
Are you looking for ways to boost your mental and physical health this summer? Harbin Clinic is writing you a prescription to spend more time in the great outdoors!
SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDE:
Sunshine produces vitamin D
Improvement in focus and concentration
Increased creativity and curiosity in children
Less risk of stress, anxiety and depression
Decreased blood pressure and risk of heart disease
Learn more about these benefits and check out a list of free, exciting summer activities by visiting harbinclinic.com/prescribeoutside.
48
V3 MAGAZINE JULY 2022 | READV3.COM