V3 September 2019

Magic School Bus

NWGA'S PREMIER FEATURE MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2019

SHEILA SHEILA BLUEBUS BLUEBUS is home to a couple who

shares their passion for laughter, life and love with everyone they meet.

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That way, you can continue to seize the day and live your healthiest life.

Serving patients in both Rome and Cartersville, the Hand Center at Harbin Clinic Orthopedics will help you get back in motion.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

FEATURES

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Members of the Rome Comedy Enclave are working to fill a gap that can only be occupied by those who harness a sense of humor.

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With a goal to provide excellent quality and client service, Chris Mosley, CEO of Cartersville Medical Center is creating a patient-centered culture in his hospital's hallways.

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Hitting the highway and making new memories is what drives this couple to seek adventures while aboard their renovated skoolie, Sheila Bluebus.

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We sit down with Dean Keener, the Senior Vice President of LakePoint Sports Complex, to get a look at what is happening behind the scenes.

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If you love stage plays and the cool breeze of a fall evening on the Town Green, look no further than a yearly offering from the Rome Shakespeare Festival.

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“When I come to work it is far more than a job, it’s a calling.

The impact I can make on our residents and family’s lives is why I love what I do.”

- Catie Mason Executive Resident Care Director

Independent Living | Personal Care | Memory Care 706.295.0014 • 3126 Cedartown Hwy SW, Rome, GA 30161-4314 • www.RenaissanceMarquis.com READV3.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019

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Publisher's Note The first bird is out of the nest, and for us, life will never be the same.

For those of you who read my little note each month, you know I’m referring to my daughter, Marley, who we dropped off on the corner of St. Phillip and Calhoun Streets just a few weeks ago to attend College of Charleston (CoC).

For those of you hearing about this for the first time, welcome to my emotional roller coaster.

Given the fact that I spent O W N E R & C E O Ian Griffin my early to mid(ish) 20’s in the low country, it was no secret I was rooting for Charleston. After visiting several schools, I knew she was leaning towards my old stomping grounds, but it was absolutely her choice. That made it so much sweeter when she picked CoC. So, as we inched closer to her move-in date, the realization that one of the constants in our life was about to start the next phase of her life began to sink in.

I probably doled out more tidbits of fatherly wisdom in the last month than she could stomach, but I felt like I needed to say it all. Her mother was a basket case and my wife's struggle usually manifests itself in emotional arguments that only a mother and daughter can engage in.

Her brothers alternated between stage-five clinger to apathetic pre-teen, but even the elder of the two broke down before it was all said and done. To sum it up, and I know those who have been down this road already know, it was a total emotional overload.

I'm writing this only a few days into the new normal and it is still being digested. I sat up one night watching the Braves game and asked myself when she would be getting home, expecting her to walk through the door as usual. I can't stay up to wait on her, not anymore. I backed out of the driveway to take my sons to school yesterday already prepared to navigate around her designated parking area. Her car was not there.

So yeah…I’m struggling.

My wife talked me into taking our almost four-year-old with us for the final send off, which was almost as much of a nightmare as I thought it would be, but also as necessary. She said it would be great for him to understand her leaving. He climbed in and out of her wardrobe, continually grabbed her roommates’ belongings (yes, he was scolded every time), and finished the day off with a faceplant fall from his sister’s new bed. But he got a chance to see where she was going to live, we had enough fun over the weekend, and he got to experience things with her in her new town.

Totally cumbersome, but worth it.

We ate a lot of good food (looking at you Lost Dog Café & Fuel), hit the beach and generally enjoyed our time sending Marley off to school. The trip made it a little bit easier, but deep down, I know the fun started for her once that part was out of the way. Now she can focus on school because she won’t be there long if she doesn’t. Making new friends and carving her place out in this world is vital as she grows into the successful young woman we know she will become. So, while a parent’s job is never done, we got her this far!

Eventually we will get over missing her and let it all sink in. I’ll keep you posted.

READV3.COM ReadV3.com: Where you can now find all the print content from this issue, our archives and exclusive ReadV3 digital features.

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OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin EDITORIAL MANAGER Oliver Robbins, Jr. MAG DESIGN Elizabeth Childers WRITERS Oliver Robbins, Jr., Jim Alred, McKenzie Todd, Ian Griffin, DeMarcus Daniel, Monica Sheppard, Elizabeth Childers, Ashlee Bagnell, Cassie LaJeunesse EXECUTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER Cameron Flaisch CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Jason Huynh Andy Calvert AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS Chris Forino AD DESIGN Elizabeth Childers Ellie Borromeo PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT 417 Broad Street Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 v3publications@gmail.com CREATOR Neal Howard

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Left to Right: Jeff Beard, Greg Hall and Darris Linginfelter

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IS THIS THING ON?

Text: McKenzie Todd Photos: Cameron Flaisch

A GROUP OF EIGHT COMEDIANS WALK INTO A BAR AND FORM THE ROME COMEDY ENCLAVE.

H

umor, to humans, is an innate sense of life. Why do you think they call it a “sense” of humor? Similar to our sense of smell, hearing, taste, sight and touch, humor is also capable of development. Humor is an ever-evolving sense that most everyone possesses, but only few can harness.

The modern concept of humor has long been developing since the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the United States of America initially gave birth to stand-up comedy, a new art form that would eventually change comedy worldwide.

Stand-up comedy, however, is an odd sort of entertainment. Unlike our beloved television shows and films, there is no narrative structure, no plot, no back-story, sets, editors or producers. It’s simply a comedian and an audience, where you either score a laugh or you don’t.

Some of the more familiar stand-up comedians in mainstream media today are people like Dave Chappelle, Ali Wong, Sarah Silverman and Chris Rock, who you’d have to travel to Hollywood, search on YouTube or wait until Netflix produces an entire comic drama of their jokes to hear. But what about the comedians right here in Rome?

Members of the Rome Comedy Enclave noticed the void of comedy throughout Rome—a vacant gap that could only be filled by those who harness the sense of humor.

The Rome Comedy Enclave consists of Darris Linginfelter, Jeff Beard, Greg Hall, James Schroeder, Alex Alexander, Bryan Mullins, Derek Heller and Sarah Shilling—who all interchangeably use the Enclave as a comedic outlet to express themselves here in Rome.

Beginning as a group with no name, these eight comedians have been together for a little over three years. Having previously only performed once every three READV3.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019

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Alex Alexander

James Schroeder

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months, the group has ramped it up to several shows a month; they officially formed the Rome Comedy Enclave about two months ago—which has been a feat to conquer since the very beginning.

“The Rome Comedy Enclave was born out of all of our similar interests in stand-up comedy,” explains Darris Linginfelter, a salesman in the steel industry by day, and joke-cracker by night.

“I started doing stand-up about three years ago—we are all relatively new to this. James Schroeder grabbed me while I was upstairs having dinner on the Moon Roof,” Linginfelter continues. “He knew I had been wanting to do stand-up for a while, and they were having an open mic night, so I went down to Darkside and did my first set. I remember coming off stage thinking; hey, I actually made a few people chuckle. The rest is history.”

Jeff Beard, whose day job as restaurant manager keeps him busy, got his first feel of comedy through his participation in community theater. “I started stand-up about three and a half years ago. Alex Alexander was putting together a show at Harvest Moon and had reached out to me during that process to see if I would host the show,” says Beard.

“I kind of got roped into it from there. And I mean, I’ve done community theater for forever, so it feels like a natural extension of what I’m doing now.”

For Greg Hall, being anything other than a comedian was never how his life would end. “Ever since I was a little kid, I have been told by everyone (teachers, my parents, friends, etc.) that I should be a comedian. So, I finally decided to try it.

I would say I have been doing stand-up for almost five years now,” chuckles Hall.

Because stand-up comedy is quick, lively and usually appealing to a pretty jarring crowd, performers have to refine their punch lines to be sure they score a laugh. This can be as simple as talking about oneself (like Linginfelter), or even drawing from things, people or places around them, and a lot of the Rome Comedy Enclave’s material derives from their use of observation of life around them.

“I usually gather my material from everyday situations,” says Linginfelter.

“Really, I just look at my life and start there. I make fun of myself more than anyone I know. I love that; if I can make fun of myself and make other people laugh, then that's great, i.e. being married, getting old, crazy family things people deal with every single day.”

For Beard, he draws his inspiration for jokes from his experience raising five kids. “My life is a bad sitcom as it is… so, I can either write scripts or tell stories on a stage. I am the master of the dad joke, but I don't think I have ever actually told a dad joke on stage. They are more like dad perspective jokes,” laughs Beard as other members of the group nod their head fervently in agreement.

“Jeff is completely correct,” adds Hall. “You have to be real. If you are going to do comedy, you have to be real or else people will see right through you. I try and treat stand-up as sort of the same concept as if one were standing with a group of friends just telling jokes, just on a bigger scale.”

According to Linginfelter and Beard, it works, too, if you use the mic as a therapy session—just in front of a room full of people waiting to chuck a laugh your way at any second.

“Sometimes, I treat my sets as therapy almost, because it is an outlet,” says Linginfelter.

“There is some catharsis involved in it, for sure,” Beard agrees.

“Every time we advertise, I either say, you’re going to laugh with us or either laugh at us. Sometimes the bit is not actually funny, but it is easier to laugh along with someone, rather than cry.”

“I mean, it is kind of funny to watch someone put all of his stuff out on the table,” laughs Hall.

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“It is what it is,” says Linginfelter. “Sometimes you get up there and make people laugh, and sometimes you’re like oh my god, I just want a beer.”

With Rome being a smaller community, and everyone seemingly knows one another, there is also the overlap with that which draws jokes for the Enclave to use in their sets. “You can point out someone in the crowd and joke with them, or you can find something that everyone relates to being in such a tight knit community.

It’s definitely fun that way,” says Linginfelter.

As mentioned earlier, the members of the Rome Comedy Enclave knew there was a void in Rome for comedy, and their goal from the beginning was simply to fill it. “There is honestly such a void in Rome for stand-up comedy,” explains Hall. “We had Village Theater here for a little while that was doing some stuff, but once they left, that was it. That was the last of the comedy.”

“Music fills a specific void, and Rome has a great music scene,” continues Beard. “There are a lot of times that you can see really talented musicians right here in our backyard. Right now, if we aren’t doing a show there is no comedy. If we are doing a show, it’s mediocre comedy. It would be really nice to have that specific void filled in a bigger way.”

Linginfelter, Beard, Hall and their crew pinpointed the audience for stand-up comedy in Rome, and continuously works to appeal to those same fans (along with new ones) during their shows. “We’ve noticed the same people come out to support us at different venues around town,” says Linginfelter. “We’re getting a lot of positive feedback from them, but on the other side, people are really honest with us, which is great. It’s awesome that people are being honest with their feedback, which tells me that they really care and want us to do well.”

“Our ultimate, immediate goal is to fill the comedy void in Rome,” closes Hall. “The longterm goal is to start bringing in bigger name comedians to Rome for our community, but also for us. We would love to open for other comedians with a following—it would help us learn so much, as well as be a big influence on us as novice comedians.”

The Rome Comedy Enclave is hoping to not only give their audiences a good laugh, but to also bring more comedians to their team of ambitious jokers. So, grab a beer (or two) and join them on stage the next time they perform.

To catch one of the Rome Comedy Enclave’s future shows, visit their Facebook page: @RomeComedyEnclave

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V3 MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2019 | READV3.COM

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PERSON Text: McKenzie Todd Photos: Jason Huynh

By focusing on compassion, friendliness and going the extra mile, Cartersville Medical Center and CEO Chris Mosley have the prescription for getting well.

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Cartersville Medical Center CEO, Chris Mosley

READV3.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019

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W

hile walking the halls of Cartersville Medical Center (960 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE, Cartersville), it would not be unusual to casually bump into the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chris Mosley, during his routine rounds as he visits various departments in the hospital. In fact, most even anticipate and appreciate his company, making it evident that this is not an act for good press.

Colleagues, past and present, scattered across Florida, Indiana,Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and finally Georgia, most likely would agree that his approachability and reliability allow those who work with him at Cartersville Medical Center to truly see what high standards looks like.

“During my internship with HCA, I was exposed to the management of multiple hospitals and it was very appealing to me,” Mosley explains. “One, because I thought hospital management was more in line with the entrepreneurial mindset that I was accustomed to growing up working in my dad’s store, wherein he managed every single aspect of his business, not just one. And secondly, it was still in the field of healthcare, which is something that is extremely important because it’s so personal to each individual.”

According to Mosley, being able to combine business with healthcare, and seeing how HCA was working to build on the company’s philosophy of high standards by its commitment to the care

while improving the quality of care the hospital was providing. “I really enjoyed my time there, and I truly became a part of the community in Palatka. I really grew to love that area,” smiles Mosley. “The people were so very welcoming and wonderful during the two and a half years we lived there. However, it was about time to move on, and I heard about Cartersville Medical Center’s CEO position becoming available.”

Before Mosley, his wife Leah and two sons, Dashel (5) and Revere (2) made the trek to Cartersville, Mosley researched Cartersville Medical Center and learned about the remarkable job former CEO, Keith Sandlin, had done in growing the hospital and establishing a culture that was unlike any other.

"Cartersville Medical Center, the facility, is bricks and mortar, but it is more of the aggregation of the people, and the people here have been absolutely wonderful."

During a sit down with Mosley about his life before and after becoming CEO of Cartersville Medical Center, it became apparent that heading a healthcare organization would be his destiny.

Mosley was born and raised in a small coalmining community in Central Appalachia in Southeastern Kentucky. His father ran an auto parts store, his mother worked as an English teacher and this is also where he met his future wife.

Mosley obtained his undergraduate degree at Transylvania University and soon landed in the healthcare field as a pharmaceutical sales representative. There, he learned how to interact with people while also learning how things relate within the healthcare landscape.

After having worked in multiple roles within the pharmaceutical industry, Mosley then decided to return to school to acquire his Master of Business Administration (MBA). In between his first and second years of graduate school at Duke University, he completed an internship at the South Atlantic Division Office of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in Charleston, S.C.

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and improvement of human life, he saw that as an opportunity. This was his chance to impact communities, as well as have an impact on the lives of others.

“After finishing graduate school, I took a position with HCA—they took a chance on me and made me the Vice President of Operations at Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, S.C. That was truly the first time I had ever worked in a hospital, but I learned so much by simply asking questions and working hard to develop relationships,” says Mosley.

A couple of years later, Mosley was offered a position in Orange Park, Fla. as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Orange Park Medical Center. “It was a larger HCA hospital, and another great opportunity with more responsibility. We were able to move the hospital forward by enhancing the quality of care, growing services and improving access to healthcare for the people in the community,” he recalls.

With no intention of moving for a while, Mosley was informed that HCA had bought another hospital in Palatka, Fla. He took the job as the first CEO after the acquisition, an act that he felt drawn to in order to help change the culture and enhance accountability,

“That was one reason this job stood out to me.

I noticed the great things Keith had done already, as well as the other opportunities for growth,” says Mosley. “Cartersville Medical Center, the facility, is bricks and mortar, but it is more of the aggregation of the people, and the people here have been absolutely wonderful. You can tell how seriously they take their responsibility of caring for the people of this community, and that is great to see. We focus on compassion, friendliness, going the extra mile and really connecting with our patients, and I think that is reflected in a lot of the compliments we receive from our community and our patient satisfaction scores.”

To this end, the organization has recently won multiple awards: 2019 Five-star ratings by Health grades in cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and critical care as well as the Patient Safety Excellence Award. Cartersville Medical Center also achieved its Chest Pain, Stroke and Total Joint Program certifications and received the designation as a Level III Trauma Center. Mosley and his team are exceptionally proud of the Leapfrog Patient Safety Score, where CMC recently received its sixth consecutive “A” grade.

“We’ve received an 'A' the past six times in a row, and that is very important to us. It is really just a recognition of what we do every day. We know that patient safety is a top priority, but it’s really nice to be acknowledged by others, especially on a national level,” smiles Mosley.

Mosley brought with him to Cartersville Medical a management style that he hopes will continue to propel the hospital forward. One example is daily meetings that end with the sharing of a positive patient story.

“We begin every single day with a 9:00 a.m. meeting with all of our directors.

It is multifaceted and serves several purposes. The main purpose is to review the current status of the hospital: Number of beds available, anticipated patient discharges, the day’s surgery schedule, etc., to determine the flow of the day and identify any needs. Each meeting begins with everyone stating our mission statement aloud: Above all else we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.

"We try to ground ourselves on a daily basis with our mission," says Mosley.

“We review our patient care goals and I listen and ask questions that enable me to help our leaders make good decisions.

“As a group, we continually set expectations and hold each other accountable to those expectations,” he continues. “The morning meeting and talking to one another are ways we are able to hold each other accountable for what is important to us, whether that is strategically or operationally, so that we may continue to deliver great service to the people of this community. We also don’t leave the meeting until we share a positive patient experience. It is something that I have found serves as fuel to motivate us to begin each day and focus on our priorities, our patients. It truly brings us back to why we chose this profession. We are doing what we are doing because of and for patients. It also brings back our collective motivation as a hospital, because we’re reminded that we’re doing important things and having a positive impact on people.”

The 9:00 a.m. meeting is just one of the ways Mosley hopes Cartersville Medical Center reaches their main goal, which is to provide excellent quality and patient safety.

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According to Mosley, CMC has an exceptionally busy ER, as they see just shy of 60,000 patients per year. “We recently expanded our ER to better accommodate those patients, increasing the beds from 30 to 43. As part of that construction project, we also expanded our surgery suites and refreshed our surgical services department.

The ER project also included the construction of a helipad,” says Mosley.

“Another project that we have going on right now is the addition of a second Cardiac Cath lab. This is exciting for us because our cardiovascular service line continues to grow and expand. The recruitment of new physicians and the addition of new technology and equipment are things that we are doing to stay at the forefront and provide the absolute most modern equipment and technology to the people in our area.”

One thing Mosley is especially proud of is Cartersville Medical’s relationship with sister facility Redmond Regional Medical Center in Rome.

“We have a very strong relationship with Redmond,” smiles Mosley. “We have a wonderful process in place where our physicians talk with their physicians, or our team talks to their team, to be sure that any patients that need to be transferred are done so in a timely and safe manner. We are very confident in Redmond’s abilities and their excellent outcomes.”

The next time you visit Cartersville Medical Center, take note of all of the smiling faces you encounter. I can promise you one of those will be Chris Mosley.

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Oh, Sheila This pair took the leap, and they have the right plan for those who wish to make the open road their living room.

Text: Oliver Robbins, Jr. | Photos: Cameron Flaisch

Some folks are just born to roam. Whether it is a small village in Alaska, the smack-dab middle of a national forest or a sprawling metropolis buzzing with the hum of the hustle, the urge to move is insatiable. Their spirits tug at their roots until they are loose and growing towards a path to an unfamiliar destination.

For one local couple, the means to freedom is to lighten their load and put wheels underneath what they would soon call home.

But before their dream was realized, they first needed to find a lady fit to serve as home base. Justin Fields, Erin DeMesquita and Lueez, their pooch, have found love in each other's arms and adopted an additional family member they've tasked with helping them hit the open road in search of new adventures.

They call her Sheila, Sheila Bluebus to be exact, and boy is she pretty.

Before telling the story of how they purchased and whittled their 1995 Blue Bird bus into a bohemian-chic paradise of a pad, it helps to visit memories this courageous couple has about building the foundation of their friendship and discovering common ground in their wishes to never make any ground common.

Believe it or not, they have been "Down" for a quite some time now and "Livin' & Rockin'" to some of the same tunes. The warm, "Amber" color of their energy formed a bond like "You Wouldn't Believe" and inspired them both to "Reconsider Everything." Although the future of their journey together "Seems Uncertain,� they knew that if they "Don't Stay Home" they would still be fulfilled by living on the road, something they like to call the "Continuous Life."

"We have known each other for around 15 years," DeMesquita says as she takes a swig from her margarita and dips a half-broken chip into a bowl of 30

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salsa. "We met because we were going to a lot of the same concerts with the same group of people."

"Yep, that's what I remember," Fields smiles. "I met you at a 311 day concert in New Orleans."

It dawned on them both, just as plates of refried beans and warm tortillas hit the dinner table, that it was exactly two years ago while grooving at yet another 311 concert that their friendship started to take on new meaning.

The seed for romance was planted roughly a week before when the same crew visited the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. "That is when the thought started for me," DeMesquita says. "We had a really good time together, even when we were not romantically involved. Our friendship is pretty much based on getting out, mixing with new people and enjoying good music. So, we have continued on that way. We have become closer than we ever have been in 14 years by finding new places to explore, experiencing fun things, and enjoying our friends and family. It is fitting that we are going on this adventure together."

Buying Sheila was not an idea that was on the table at first, but the stage was certainly set for change. Both of them had come to a figurative fork in the road, one where life's natural progress would be left or right. However, these two decided to forego both options and look up, way up to the top of the globe, for their next escapade.

"There were a lot of changes in my life that forced me to step back and think about what I really wanted to do," DeMesquita says. "I had always wanted to visit some cool locations and work a seasonal job while taking in what the area has to offer. There is a website called CoolWorks.com where people can find seasonal jobs in many different states. I was already thinking about traveling, and when Justin and I started dating, I would tell him what I was thinking about. He thought my ideas were awesome and he helped to sway our decision by arranging a sit down with some of his really good friends who had worked in Alaska for a summer."

After a lengthy interview with Justin's friends, the couple decided that they were headed to the top of the map to tend bar and play in some of the most beautiful natural settings this country has to offer. Before buying the bus, they shed their extra stuff and spent a summer working and exploring in Alaska.

In a way, they were taking steps to manifest what they wanted out of life, and what they would soon need to do to fit inside a skoolie home.

"I was managing a restaurant, and to be honest, I was not very happy with where I was and what I was doing with my life," Fields says. "One of the bright spots was some work I did while playing in a hip-hop band. We had a video shoot scheduled in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and I asked Erin if she wanted to go with me and live in a van for a couple of days. She did not hesitate one second. She said yes."

"I think my response was something like, 'That is the sexiest question anyone has ever asked me,'" DeMesquita says after sharing a hearty chuckle with her mate. They then knew they both enjoy tiny digs, and traveling was something they loved without a doubt. DeMesquita had already been tossing around the idea of renovating an old school bus and letting the road lead the way.

"Part of what I considered when taking this existential look at my life was what my dreams are," DeMesquita says. "Before, I always tried to put it in the box of some sort of vocation, you know, a job that I really wanted. I kept coming up short and I felt almost inferior. I realized that I did not have a dream. The one thing I thought would be so damn cool is to travel around in a purple school bus."

Well, Sheila is blue, and lucky for them this 30-foot-long home on wheels does not get offended easily. Her doors still open the old-fashioned way, mechanically with the push of a handle. Inside, visitors will find a comfy L-shaped couch that is perfect for catching an afternoon siesta. And this seat comes equipped with Lueez and free snuggles courtesy of the prissy little pup.

If you need to catch up on a few emails, or get your game on, Fields has mounted a flat screen television across from the couch and built a custom cabinet system for his Xbox. He has found a service that allows him to drop a hot spot in remote locations and ensures that the couple can stay connected to the world via the Internet.

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"The world looks so much different through the windows of our bus, especially as it moves down the road. I love just sitting and watching the world go by as we move from place to place. It is almost therapeutic."

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Sheila also has a functioning kitchen, a composting toilet and restroom area, and a queen-size bed tucked into her rear partition. The shower is outside and is found near a rear deck they have attached to haul a generator and other needed supplies. Now, they will need to find a place to plug in if they are going to be staying for an extended time; however, future plans of installing solar panels will help them to reach their ultimate goal of off-grid readiness.

All around the bus are things they both hold dear, remnants of the past that act as breadcrumbs to follow home when a hug from familiar faces beckons them back to the foothills of Northwest Georgia.

Family and friends chipped in and sweat it out during the build, and both say that it helps to know that the people they love most are a part of their dream.

"We are only keeping the things that mean the most to us," Fields says, "and that process started when we took our first trip to Alaska to work for the summer."

"Once we had downsized and rid ourselves of things we don't use every day, it was time to start looking for a bus," DeMesquita remembers. "Turns out, there are tons of people who are adopting this lifestyle, so we did not have trouble researching how to buy the bus. People can find buses on Craigslist, and some even buy them directly from school systems. We found ours on Facebook Marketplace."

Depending on the amount of work that has been done to the bus before the purchase is made, the prices can vary. Sheila was a mobile clothing boutique before she became the coolest casa ever, so the inside had the makings of a space for living.

"I kind of had a small list of things I wanted to already be started in the bus that I chose, and I really did not want much to be converted already," DeMesquita says. "We really wanted to do the work and to be proud of it."

Sheila had her seats removed and the floors were already installed. Also, her exterior had a coat of blue paint that was a perfect stand in for the purple DeMesquita had always imagined for her bus. "Sheila is the perfect length, too. The reason we wanted the 30-foot model is because she is easier to handle, and we hope to do a little more stealth camping. We have about 152 square feet of living space which is more than enough for us to live in and even have guests over."

The couple took the bus down to the beach in Florida during the early summer where they hosted a friend for part of the trip. Both said that everyone was more than comfortable in the space, which further fits the philosophy they have about sharing good times with good people.

"We are still learning about Sheila; we are learning about her every day," DeMesquita says.

"We are learning how long she will go before she needs gas; we are learning how fast she will go and what we need to secure before we start driving. We are going to have to learn how often we will need to run our generator to power our air conditioner.

That is part of the fun. We learn something new every time we use her."

"The world looks so much different through the windows of our bus," Fields added, "especially as it moves down the road. I love just sitting and watching the world go by as we move from place to place. It is almost therapeutic."

Fields, DeMesquita and Lueez are already on the first leg of their trip. After saying goodbye to the folks they love, they left town in Sheila in early July with plans to stop and see the sights along their way back to Alaska. After Alaska, they are going to work their way down through Canada and along the West Coast of the U.S. There is a loose itinerary, but you can bet they won't let a plan stop them from finding joy on the journey.

"It's best for me to say that this bus build became so much more of a family affair than I could’ve imagined," DeMesquita says with a satisfied smile.

"With the support of my family, in terms of sharing so many of their resources, their advice, expertise, patience and just believing in the dream, this would've have been a very different process. I am truly forever grateful."

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If you would like to keep up with Sheila Bluebus and the couple who call her home, follow them on Facebook at @sheilabluebus. You can email them at sheilabluebus@gmail.com or find them on Instagram using @sheliabluebus.

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Pointing to Progress 36

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Since breaking ground on LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, Ga. the community s u r ro u n d i n g t h e development has been n o t - s o - pat i e n t ly waiting for it to grow into what was promised when the developers first announced its inception.

Text: Ashlee Bagnell Photos: Cameron Flaisch & LakePoint Sports Complex

It is time to clear up some of the local rumors and look into the future of LakePoint Sports Complex

Rumors of restaurants and shopping centers circulated, even one about outside companies bringing in amusement parks to compliment the sports complex. But a few years ago, everything seemed to stop. There was no more construction, no news of fresh developments and no word from the organization itself. This grew into more rumors, which eventually were proved true when news broke that LakePoint had filed for bankruptcy. As far as anyone outside of LakePoint knew, the project had come to a full and final halt.

With more questions than answers, and a desire to get to the truth of the story, V3 took a trip to LakePoint’s headquarters to have a conversation with Senior Vice President and Business Coordinator Dean Keener, who is more than happy to explain what exactly is happening at LakePoint right now.

First and foremost, Keener wants the Bartow community to know that how well off the complex actually is. “We are in a great financial position with good leadership. While not everything has been announced, the plan to complete the project is well under way,” explains Keener. “Thus, barring any extreme circumstances, LakePoint Sports Complex is going to become LakePoint. It’s just taking a little longer than anyone anticipated when we broke ground in 2012, but a project of this magnitude takes time. However, the economic impact to Bartow and the surrounding area is excellent.”

But what about all of those reports that LakePoint filed for bankruptcy, you may ask? The answer is that the organization did file a Chapter 11, which is a form READV3.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019

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Ronnie Robinson of bankruptcy, but not for the reasons that were assumed.

“The original lender, RimRock, became our owner," Keener explains. "But in order to get through that process, we had to reorganize through Chapter 11.That process started about a year ago. We came out of that reorganization around January. Really nothing has changed, the name is still LakePoint and it is still one of the biggest premier youth sports venues, but we just have new ownership through the reorganization.”

Not all of their money was lost. After the reorganization, Keener says they are in the best financial position that they have ever been. “When we came out of the reorganization, we had a clean balance sheet along with a lot of capital behind us 38

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that now is able to complete the things we were having a difficult time getting done,” says Keener.

According to the Senior Vice President, this is all thanks to the new leadership, CEO Mark O’Brien.

With the financial situation cleared up, folks really wanted to know what is happening at LakePoint. Where are all of the shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment facilities that were supposed to be coming to Bartow County? Keener puts those worries to rest.

“We have very clearly defined leadership and ownership now. The master development of the project may change in some small ways, in the sense of we may build eight fields instead of ten, or we may place this hotel here instead of there. Overall, the plan remains to be a youth sports destination where there

are great state-of-the-art sports venues. Whether indoor or outdoor, we plan to offer great amenities like hotels, restaurants, retail, family entertainment centers and more,” Keener says.

While we aren’t seeing much construction right now, it is coming. LakePoint will flourish and grow, but it may not be in 2019.

“Our goal for 2019 is to make sure that our strategic plan is in place for future growth. I don’t know that people will see a ton of change,” explains Keener. “We will still continue to have events at the indoor pavilion, baseball events and beach volleyball.

We hope that there is growth both in the number of events and the number of participants.”

The only change that the community might see is the completion of a bridge that will lead to the

Deb Ramussen North Campus. “We are targeting 2020 and 2021.

The area that houses the current venues is considered the South Campus. There is a bridge being built, and that road will lead to Red Top Mountain Road, which is the North Campus. We will have a North and South Campus, but the totality will be considered LakePoint,” says Keener. “We are planning no real changes on the South Campus, just continued growth in 2019. We hope that the road and bridge will be completed late this summer, and venues will be built into 2020 and beyond.”

LakePoint is not able to release much about the outside companies planning to build within their complex, but Keener can confirm “there are multiple outside entities that are having conversations with ownership right now. I can’t say who they are right

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now. Hotels, restaurants and family entertainment, all of these facilities will fit inside this world. There is a lot going on behind the scenes right now.”

There are ample opportunities for all types of businesses to join the LakePoint community.

But what does the area need? Cartersville is on LakePoint’s doorstep and it is absolutely covered in restaurants and retail. Yet, when locals are looking at LakePoint, they may be looking for more than just a sports complex. Keener agrees and points out that “the area could use more hotels, more sit-down restaurants and more family entertainment. There is LakePoint Station with miniature golf and laser tag. We could use a bowling alley or golfing kind of venues or movie theaters,” he says.

But in terms of LakePoint itself, there is not anything that is vital to add at this moment. “Just growth and state-of-the-art venues. Baseball fields, soccer fields, lacrosse fields, really anything you can name. If they are built to the highest quality, I think everything else will come. It’s really a matter of quality over quantity at this point in the process.

The possibilities are endless, but if we don’t focus on quality facilities, then the whole point of LakePoint is lost,” closes Keener.

The growing sports complex has just over 1,200 acres of land to work with and a plan to ensure that LakePoint is just as it was promised to be and more.

Locals have been concerned that the construction halted for some time, but Keener assures us that the reorganization was the best move for the company and that there will be an announcement later this year concerning future construction plans.

So, keep an eye on LakePoint and see just how far this incredible sports community will go and the positive impact it will have on the surrounding communities.

Patti Knieriam 40

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46 Clark V3 MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2019 Allison as Lady McBeth

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A Midsummer Night's Green Text: Ashlee Bagnell Photos: Archive of Rome Shakespeare Festival

Finding a great play in a beautiful setting is a perfect way to enjoy an evening, so the Rome Shakespeare Festival is making the stage accessible to any and all who wish to attend.

Studying the works of William Shakespeare throughout grade school can result in a hatred for "Romeo and Juliet" and the realization that "The Lion King" is essentially "Hamlet" with African animals.

It’s not often that students or even adults have the opportunity to experience Shakespearean works as they were intended to be experienced: up close and personal.

Shakespeare wrote his plays for the stage, and while it seems obvious that observing one of his works as a live performance is the way to go, there is a certain amount of intimidation that keeps people away from the theatre.

But once a year in the heart of Rome, the Rome Shakespeare Festival brings Shakespearean plays of all types to the public for free. Two full weekends in September are dedicated to celebrating the man who had a massive impact on the way theatre productions are thought of today. Hundreds of people from the Rome community and beyond have attended this event every year and it seems that the event is not getting any smaller or losing steam. In conjunction with the River Arts District Playhouse (RAD), this year’s performances will include "Hamlet,” "Two Gentlemen of Verona,” "A Midsummer Night’s Dream

(abridged)” and "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).”

The festival will kick off September 19, 2019 and run through the 29th. But this production is so much more than a festival.

Gail Deschamps and Tracy Hellriegel are the organizers and masterminds behind these productions. Deschamps is the Artistic Director and Hellriegel is the Executive Director and Associate Artistic Director.

They started the process when Deschamps saw Rome's Town Green from the John Ross Memorial Bridge. “I looked at it from the middle of the bridge and I said, ‘it’s perfect.’ This was in 2014, and our first performance was in 2016.

It was at least a year before we did anything because we had to get permission from the county to use the Town Green,” Deschamps explains. “The county loved the idea. ‘We need more arts events downtown,’ is what they said. When we were given permission to start planning the festival, I called Tracy and told her to come and look at the site. She mentioned that it would be fantastic if we had tables and chairs like the productions we have seen in Chastain Park. So, we started working on it from then on.”

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Nancy Dobbs & Jackson Williamson as Maria and Sir Tobyin Twelfth Night

Liz Suffill as Puck in A Midsummer night's Dream

Deschamps knows what it takes to make a great theatre festival, as before moving to Georgia, she ran the Florida Shakespeare Festival.

“Florida Shakespeare was outdoors. The setting was a 17th century mansion and they have what is called the tearoom, and you go up the steps to a very circular area that is surrounded by old trees,” she describes. “There is a beautiful stone edifice on one side, and when I saw this, I went to the head of parks and rec and told him that Shakespeare would be great up there. I thought the same thing when we saw the Town Green.”

But it takes a great deal of work to take an idea and turn it into a literal theatre on the Town Green.

Deschamps admits, “If I had not been involved with the Shakespeare Festival in Florida, it would have been more difficult to plan one here in Rome. We planned for a year, forming a board of directors, scheduling rehearsals and we rehearsed 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' for almost a year. We had a ton of kids in that production because they played all of the fairies. It was incredible; the community just opened their arms for us,” says Deschamps.

One of the things people did not necessarily expect in the first year was the quality of the production. “The interesting thing," Deschamps recalls," is that no one expected us to do what we did. They didn’t expect the stage, they didn’t expect the lighting and sound and they did not expect to see a theatre. And we create a theatre on the Town Green every year.”

Imagine the inside of a theatre, if you can. There are hundreds of essential pieces of equipment needed to pull together just one show. Curtains, lights, a fly system, set pieces, soundboards and so many more that listing them in their entirety would be tough. Now, imagine taking all of that equipment outside for a temporary set up.

The Rome Shakespeare festival manages to pull off top-quality performances and still not charge patrons a dime.

Hellriegel paints a clear picture of just how intricate the details of the festival are. “We string fairy lights everywhere all over the Town Green, the stage is constructed over the fountain, there are big lighting trusses that light everything and professional sound that is run from the balcony. So, we create a true theatre outdoors on the Town Green and it is absolutely free,” smiles Hellriegel.

"The Green is a public space that is difficult to ticket," Hellriegel continues, "so, anyone has access to see Shakespeare. People bring their picnic blankets and spread out on the ground there. Or, you can call us and reserve a table. We do charge for the tables.

That’s one of the ways that we raise money for the show. Patrons can rent the table and we provide the linens. So, they get there for the performance and have a table set up for the number of people requested.”

The festival also collaborates with restaurants

around town, whom they call picnic partners, that will provide food. Festival goers have the opportunity to order from a preselected menu and have it delivered to them at the festival, or one can order from any restaurant in Downtown Rome and walk across the street to pick it up.

This year, patrons can expect something new. Deschamps is directing "Hamlet" and has revealed that the classic play will have a modern feel with a scaffolding set and current music.

"As the actors make their way to the stage," Deschamps says, "they are going to look Elizabethan. And when they get under the bright lights, all are going to rip off their dated threads and become punk rockers. We want to appeal to the general public and get the younger generation excited about seeing a great stage production.”

Setting Shakespearian plays in different contexts is nothing new, but thankfully the playwright’s works lend themselves for interpretation and creativity.

According to Hellriegel, the remainder of the activities will include a family day on September 21, 2019. “We will have activities starting early in the day.

We will have booths, interactive exhibits and even some food trucks there. The Youth Symphony Orchestra will play and there will be Irish dancers. We will have face painting, balloon animals and a photography booth as well,” Hellriegel says.

A schedule of these events will be posted before the festival starts. Organizers will also partner with Heartbound Ministries, an organization that allows inmates to heal and connect through live art. The art exhibit will be in the lobby of the

Forum and at Farrell’s Frame and Design. Those who wish to view the art can do so at both locations.

The amount of time and effort that goes into this festival is massive. When asked at what point they started planning for the next festival, Hellriegel laughs and says, “the day after the last one ends. We already have a plan for next year.

As soon as this festival is over, we will start on the next one. This is a full-time operation. We have a three-show season at the RAD and a show starting in March. So, we will be holding auditions in January. We host a fundraiser first quarter so we will be working on announcements for that as well.”

It was then made very clear that this is more than just a festival. This organization is built around the idea of exposing everyone to Shakespeare and the joy of watching actors live on stage. Along with the festival, they run a full-time educational program that brings Shakespeare to schools all over Northwest Georgia.

Deschamps says, “We have a three-year strategic plan which we put together for the state as a part of a grant that we just received. The $20,000 grant we just received from the State of Georgia will help us fund educational programming for the schools. In fact, we are doing two performances of 'Hamlet' on the Town Green that are school performances, too.”

These performances are just the beginning. “We travel to schools where most of them want us to host a workshop, so we will go and provide a performance for a large body. Then, we will gather the drama students and take them through

“The interesting thing is that no one expected us to do what we did. They didn’t expect the stage, they didn’t expect the lighting and sound, they didn’t expect to see a theatre.

And we create a theatre on the town green every year.”

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workshop. Currently, we travel to Cedartown High School and Trion High School right now, and we hope to get more local schools involved in the future,” Hellriegel explains.

This year, the theatre troupe is presenting at Georgia Highlands College in Cartersville, Rome High School, Model High School and then the two performances on the Town Green which are open to the private schools and the other public schools that haven’t booked their own private performance.

With the enormity of the Rome Shakespeare Festival there are two things that Deschamps and Hellriegel confirm that they need in order to pull it off: volunteers and sponsors.

Hundreds of volunteers come out of the woodwork to aid in the production of the festival.

They volunteer for everything; from stagehands to those helping see to the needs of the physically disabled patrons.

Hellriegel also emphasizes the need for donations and sponsors. “We have advertising opportunities in our programs. There are also opportunities to sponsor shows at the River Arts District,” she explains. “The River Arts District Playhouse has ticketed events. Any ticket that someone buys goes towards the Rome Shakespeare Festival. In order to provide free Shakespeare on the Town Green, we have to raise money. We do two big fundraisers a year. One is a Progressive Dinner in the first quarter, and we do Shakespirits in the third quarter, which is our season kick-off party for the festival. People need to watch out for both events. Tickets and information will be available on our website, www. romeshakespearefestival.com. We have to raise the money to maintain the quality of our performances.

Next year, we hope to bring in a recognizable actor to star in one of our shows. We don’t know who that will be or even what show. So that’s another thing to watch out for.”

There is a reason that William Shakespeare is still a household name, even 400 years after his death.

His work is timeless and touches on real human emotion that we can relate to even centuries after the plays were written.

What is nice is the productions are not stagnant.

Most performances give the stories something new; the modern takes on these classic tales keeps the stage shows fresh and relatable. Writers like Shakespeare are incredibly rare and only come around every few generations.

Hopefully after attending this festival people will connect with "Hamlet" in very different ways.

Deschamps and Hellriegel hope to provide an entertainment option that is so informative and fun for the Rome community. Now that they have called attention to the importance of art in the public square, everyone has a chance to experience this culturally significant pastime.

Shakespeare Band for Twelfth Night

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SEVENTH ANNUAL

Charlie Hyde Memorial to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association - Over $60,000 raised to support the cure for Alzheimer’s! -

Friday, October 18, 9:00 a.m. at Stonebridge Golf Club Fee: $400 per team | Hole Sponsor: $100 $50 In Memory of/In Honor of signs | Registration 9:00 am ShotGun 10:00 am | 4 Person Scramble Format

Includes Green Fee, Cart, Lunch and drinks provided, Long Drive contest, Closest to the pin contest Hole in one, Door prizes, Cash prizes to the top 3 teams Make Checks payable to Renaissance Marquis Mail to: Renaissance Marquis 3126 Cedartown hwy Rome Ga 31061 | Attn: Golf Tournment

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(706) 234-2244 • www.theseasonevents.com Photography: Lindsey LaRue Photography

55th Annual

October 26 & 27 at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome, GA | CHIAHA.ORG HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ALL

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bistr

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Wow! We've delivered over 150,000 babies at Floyd. And, while this amazing number speaks to our experience, it speaks to your trust as well. It's a special bond with growing families in the communities we serve that's almost 80 years strong. With an expert medical team, a family-centered environment, state-of-the-art care, education and support classes, and the peace of mind from knowing the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is available 24/7 right here, every day brings more reasons to celebrate at the Family Birth Center at Floyd.

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The Dish

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50% off cafe menu from 4-6 p.m.

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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!

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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!

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Fuddruckers catering can help you feed just about any size group, anytime, anywhere. Our menu will please the most discerning tastes and meet the high standards you require. We know how to make your event spectacular with the WORLD’S GREATEST CATERING.

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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.

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Family Fun At The

71ST ANNUAL

Oct 1st - 5th 2019 ARMBAND PRESALE SAVE UP TO $10 PER ARMBAND WHEN YOU BUY NOW Go to CoosaValleyFair.com now and purchase your unlimited ride armbands for just $20* each. These armbands are valid any day, Tues. through Sat., all day!

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EXCHANGE

EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME, GA

SPONSORED BY THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME WADE SHOWS INC. RIDES 56

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