Canton Family Life 5-15

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Contents

May 2015

Volume 2 | Issue 10

[28-30]

28-30 On the Cover:

R&D Mechanical Services, Inc.

36-39 Culinary Crave

[36-39] 2

Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

04

.......................... Perspective

06

............................. Calendar

10

....................... Business Life

13

..................... Canton Minute

20

....................... Scoop of Life

22

....................... Capitol Ideas

24

............. Community Partners

32

........................ Book Review

34

......................... Taste of Life

44

......................... Artist Profile

50

............................. Chamber

52

.............. Main Street Canton



Publisher’sPerspective PUBLISHER/PHOTOGRAPHER Jack Tuszynski Jack@FamilyLifePublications.com

A

fter several years of vacationing locally, I was blessed last month with an opportunity to hop on a plane seeking new adventures and visit a little island in the south Caribbean for some scuba diving. A small group of students, wide-eyed with enthusiasm, had studied new skills; got ahead at work and made plans at home; in preparation to be away in a foreign land. None of us on the trip had been there before and what we found there makes each of us look forward to our return. The island of Utila is a melting pot of people who have come from many directions, and have decided to simplify their life. Tourism is vital to the local economy there and recreational diving is at the core. Everything not made or grown on this island of about 20 square miles has to be flown over on small planes or by boat from the mainland. The Internet is scarce and slow when you can access it and the showers seldom hold their temperature for long. Originally the logistical challenges of the acquisition of basic resources, including sunscreen, shampoo and even fresh water, was something I’d not considered before in my day to day life. When I placed myself in the shoes (or more often flip-flops) of the locals, I once again found myself comforted by the fact that some of the happiest people find comfort in the simplest of things and actually require very little. I soon understood it was the genuine kindness of nearly everyone there that mattered most.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jose Baez, Rep. Mandi Ballinger, Michael Buckner, Mary Kay Buquoi, Nathan Brandon, Crystal Bryant, Diane Castle, Jyl Craven, L. Michael Cox, Pat Gold, Meghan Griffin, Catherine Groves, Corey Harkins, Heike Hellmann-Brown, Michael Hulse, Norman Hunt, Beth Johnston, Michelle Knapp, Vicki Knight-Mathis, Scott Lavelle, James E. Leake, Jason Liford, Miles Mazzawi, Mark McLaughlin, E. Anthony Musarra, Michael Petrosky, Janet Read, Juan Reyes, Gail Roos, Nick Roper, Suzanne Taylor, Matthew Thomas, Brian White

Family Life Publishing Group Inc. 150 North Street, Suite A Canton, GA 30114

770-213-7095

FamilyLifePublications.com FamilyLifePublications Canton Family Life welcomes your comments, stories and advertisements. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists and submissions are not necessarily those of the Editor/ Publisher and the Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. Canton Family Life magazine is not responsible for errors and omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission from the Publisher. Subscriptions are available for $25 per year. Please contact us for payment options. as

© 2015 All rights reserved. th

is

Jack Tuszynski, publisher

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

e r ec y c le

We live in some of the best cities in north Georgia and our tourism industry is booming as well as we build new attractions, recreational centers and multi-use communities. Our small towns are growing and bustling with life and opportunities for growth and we are being recognized for our livability nationally. Let’s remember that the most important thing we have to show our visitors is our hospitality, our willingness to help each other and our happiness. Let’s keep building on these simple things. Positive people attract positive people and keep them coming back for more.

SALES Janet Ponichtera Janet@FamilyLifePublications.com

e

— Hazrat Inayat Khan

Laurie Litke Laurie@FamilyLifePublications.com

m ag a zi

n

Others make a place

ART Candice Williams Candice@FamilyLifePublications.com

Ple

beaut iful

Some people look for a beautiful place,

EDITORIAL Cherryl Greenman Editor@FamilyLifePublications.com



Calendar MAY

1

Dancing in the Streets — Canton First Friday will feature music from ‘The Geeks’ also great food, and fun for families. 6:00-9:00 p.m. Historic Downtown Canton Loop. 770-704-1500

1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Ball Ground Farmers Market — Every Friday in Downtown City Park, rain or shine. Locally grown produce, plants, homemade foods, crafts and more. 2:006:00 p.m. Downtown City Park. 770-7205988

1-16

Women’s Work: A Survey of Handmade Textiles from Cherokee County — This exhibit celebrates the craftsmanship and artistry used by the women and men of Cherokee County to create these local heirlooms. The textiles displayed include household items such as quilts, coverlets, crocheted bedspreads and tablecloths, decorative doilies and pillowcases, etc. Handmade clothing is also featured, including women’s blouses, bonnets, chemises, pantaloons and aprons from the 1800s, several heirloom christening gowns, baby booties, and girls’ dresses from the 1920s. Free Admission. WednesdayFriday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; Cherokee County History Museum, 100 North Street, Ste. 140, Canton. 770-345-3288, RockBarn. org

2

Cherokee County Historical Society Derby Day — Held the first Saturday in May in conjunction with the running of the Derby at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Day at the Rock Barn is the Historical Society’s largest fundraiser and a tribute to the Rock Barn’s racing history. This entertaining event features gourmet food, open bar, silent auction, pony pull betting, bourbon tasting, and a competitive hat parade and contest,

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

concluding with the crowd watching the Run for the Roses on big screen TVs. Tickets $50. 3:30 p.m. Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Hwy, Canton. 770-345-3288, RockBarn.org

parking lot behind the North Cherokee Church of Christ at the corner of Hwy. 140 and 108 in downtown Waleska. Admission and parking are free, the market will operate rain or shine. 770-720-5988

2

9

Native Plant Workshop — “Native Plants in the Landscape;” learn which native plants can be dependable additions to our cultivated landscapes. 10:00 a.m. Ball Ground Community Center, 250 Civic Drive, Ball Ground

2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Woodstock Farmers Market — Each Saturday morning and Tuesday evening the Woodstock Farmers Market will be held in Downtown on Market Street between Mill and Maple Streets adjacent to the Elm Street Arts Village event green. Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 4:30-7:30 p.m. 770-924-0406, DowntownWoodstock. org/Farmer/

7, 14, 21, 28

Waleska Farmers Market — Every Thursday, sponsored by Reinhardt University, the farmers market is in the

Cashin’s Sculpture Garden — Grand Opening Celebration. Walk the Sculpture Trail, meet the artists, enjoy the dancers from Roswell Dance Theatre, live musical entertainment provided by ‘Atlanta Plays It Forward’ and performers from the Imperial Opa Circus Troupe, as well as refreshments by featured local restaurants. All grand opening activities are free of charge and open to the public, everyone is welcome. 1:004:00 p.m. Chukkar Farm, 1140 Liberty Grove Road, Alpharetta. 770-664-1533, Chukkarfarmpoloclub.com

9-10

26th Annual Cherokee Indian Festival and Pow Wow — Experience Native American entertainment, arts and crafts, music and food on Mother’s Day weekend. Kids activities, and Mother’s Day Honor Dance both days. Adults (13 years and up) $15. Children (6-12 years old) $5. 5 years and under free. Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-6 p.m.;


Library Events SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

Sunday, 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Boling Park, 1098 Marietta Hwy, Canton 770-7356275, RollingThunder34@ymail.com.

16-17

Ball Ground Heritage Days — A celebration of the good ‘ol days with arts, crafts, music, food and more. 770-735-2123

16-17

Canton Festival of the Arts — Presented by the Cherokee County Arts Council this event features artists, music, food, a youth art exhibit, and a hands-on area for children. 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Brown Park, downtown Canton. 770-704-6244

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BALL Ground 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground, 770-735-2025 Hickory Flat 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton, 770-345-7565 R.T. Jones 116 Brown Industrial Pkwy., Canton, 770-479-3090

Family story times are designed for families with children of all ages. These programs feature stories, finger-plays, flannel boards, music, a free craft activity, and a take-home activity sheet to continue literacy activities at home. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

physical activity. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Our lap-sit story times are designed for the needs of 1 to 3 years old. These fun programs are a time for children to learn about the story time experience and encourage early literacy by including books, songs, rhymes, and

Summer Reading Club Story Times June 8 — July 16 Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., R.T. Jones (Family) Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., Ball Ground (Family) Thursdays, 3:00 p.m., Hickory Flat (Family)

Please note: the RT Jones lap-sit story times will be limited to the first 15 children (plus their caregiver) to arrive, and the door to the program will be closed when the program begins to limit disruptions.

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Library Continued . . .

Reading Dogs May 4, Ball Ground May 5, 12, 19, 26, Hickory Flat May 4, 18, R.T. Jones These 10-15 minute programs encourage children 6 years of age and older to read by providing a nonjudgmental, furry listener who won’t laugh if you make mistakes or stumble over a word. Parents can register their child two weeks ahead for one session by calling the corresponding library. Children are asked to select their own reading material before their scheduled session. Call your local libraries to reserve your spot for one of our Reading Dog programs. Summer Reading Club Kick-OFF June 2, 10:30 a.m., R.T. Jones June 3, 1:30 p.m., Hickory Flat June 3, 4:00 p.m., R.T. Jones June 4, 10:30 a.m., Ball Ground BB Fuzz, the fuzziest guy in show business, will be coming to a SRLS library near you to kick-off our Summer Reading Club! Combine a trumpet, a fuzzy green guy, and a bad case of “rhymitis,” and kids of all ages will be singing, laughing, and dancing with the hilarious BB Fuzz! Summer Reading Club May 22 - August 7 Starting May 22, join libraries across the country by participating in the “Every Hero Has a Story” Summer Reading Club. There are three ways to participate: 1.

2.

3.

Get your Summer Reading Log and get cool rewards for the books you read this summer! Parents — keep your kids reading, and we’ll supply the fun rewards! Check out our information-packed Summer Brochure for all of our Special Summer Programs. We have exciting, free programs for all ages that will keep you coming to the library all summer long. Come to our Summer Family Story Times. These story times are for kids of all ages with fun stories, songs, dance, and crafts. Lap-sit Story Times are for 1 to 3 year olds and do not include crafts.

Bring your Reading Logs back to your local library by August 7. Rewards are available while supplies last. For additional information about events at the library go to SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org

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Calendar 23

Canton Farmers Market (CFM) Located in Cannon Park by the gazebo on Main Street in downtown Canton. The open air market features farm fresh produce and baked goods, food specialty items, handmade soap, handmade chocolate, fresh garden flowers, bedding plants, shrubs and herbs. We are very committed to our community and to the local farmers, artisans and downtown small business owners. 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

23

Memorial Day at Georgia National Cemetery — Memorial Day will be observed at the Georgia National Cemetery. Bring folding chairs, blankets, and weather related items. 10:00 a.m. Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Veterans Cemetery Road, Canton. 770-479-9300

23

Memorial Day 5K & 1K Fun Run The 5K starts at Holly Springs ES and concludes at Barrett Memorial Park. The Fun Run route is two laps around the Barrett Memorial Park track. T-shirts and awards will be presented. This year, proceeds will support Friends of Holly Springs Police Foundation, Inc. Be sure to register by May 6th to be guaranteed a race T-shirt! The 5K is open to all ages. After the conclusion of the 5K, there will be a 1K Fun Run for runners 12 and under, as well as refreshments and an awards ceremony. Check-in begins at 7:00 a.m. at Holly Springs ES, 1965 Hickory Road. 5K race begins at 8:00 a.m. 1K Fun Run follows the conclusion of 5K at Barrett Park, 120 Park Lane. Erin Honea EHonea@HollySpringsGa.us 770-345-5536

29-30

Ball Ground Public Library Book Sale This sale will include fiction, non-fiction, children’s and audio materials. All sales will be used to fund youth and audio materials. A preview sale for Friends members will be held Thursday, May 28 at 3:00-6:00 p.m. Non-members may join at the door. The public sale will be held

Friday, May 29 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Ball Ground Public Library, 435 Old Canton Road, Ball Ground. MaVanNote@ windstream.net

30

Strike Out Cancer Bowling Event The BridgeMill Sixes Service League will host this event with proceeds going to help cancer patients and their families within Cherokee County. Through the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life these dollars will go to cancer patient services, education, and research. 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Cherokee Lanes, 1149 Marietta Hwy, Canton. 770-345-2866 BSSL.org/RelayBowl

30-31

Cherokee Chorale Presents Give My Regards to Broadway. Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3:00 p.m. Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska. 678-439-8625, CherokeeChorale.org

Vacation Bible School Sutallee Baptist Church 895 Knox Bridge Hwy, White 770-479-0101, SutalleeBaptistChurch.com June 1-5, 6:30-9:00 p.m. Journey Off the Map VBS for ages 3-years through 18 years.

First Baptist Church — Canton One Mission Point, Canton 678-880-1321, FBCCanton.org June 15-19, 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Journey Off the Map VBS for ages 4-years (by 9/1/15) through 8th grade.

Canton Church of Christ 1168 Hickory Flat Hwy, Canton 706-299-1347 Church@CantonChurchofChrist.com Saturday, June 27, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Wet-N-Wild in the Word VBS 2015


As we prepare for the summer heat we all worry about our homes air conditioning units. Replacement or repair of an air conditioning unit is something that every homeowner dreads. However, have you thought about installing additional ceiling fans in your home?

Prepare for

Summer Heat

Economically By Nick Roper

According to an article published by the ‘New York Times’, a central A/C unit costs about 36 cents per hour during operation, a window A/C unit costs about 14 cents per hour to run whereas a ceiling fan only costs you around 1 cent per hour that it is being used. I’m definitely not advocating not using your A/C unit because let’s face it; they are a necessity during southern summer months. However, the use of ceiling fans will allow you to be able to raise your thermostat up to 12 degrees in some situations and maintain the same comfort level which will result in energy cost savings and a longer shelf life for your air conditioning unit. Ceiling fans are not going to last forever either but the cost to replace a ceiling fan compared to replacing an A/C unit is not even comparable. Ceiling fans can be added to almost every room in your home and even to outside covered porches or patios at a relatively low cost. A ceiling fan on a covered porch can turn a space that is unbearably hot during the summer to a usable space all year long.

Nick Roper is manager of business development for H&H Electric and Security LLC. 770-735-1136, MyAtlantaElectrician.net

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Business

New Name,

New Services CyberWEB Enterprises, LLC recently announced several new services and a name change, as it focuses on its core business and new service offerings. “Renaming the core business onCloud, from CyberWEB Hosting Networks, reflects the evolving services we are providing our clients,� said Phil Ciccone, CEO. CyberWEB Enterprises, LLC, is a leading service provider in the cloud computing space, specializing in the custom development, deployment, and management of enterprise scale cloud solutions across the technical spectrum. Reflecting on its evolution from web hosting and development, the name change to onCloud creates the image with which the company wants to be identified. onCloud is located in Canton, GA. For questions about services, or for more information, contact onCloud at 678-666-0121; or email at CS@ onCloud.io

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Father/Daughter Duo Open

Junk Drunk Jones

Junk Drunk Jones recently opened in downtown Canton. Father/Daughter duo Dennis McGuire and Stefanie Jones say that Junk Drunk Jones specializes in rare and unique antiques, old advertising pieces, nostalgic wares, as well as vintage inspired clothing and gifts. Dennis and Stefanie have that special signature retro flair and they are on a mission to, “Bring the good ‘ol days” back to Canton. The duo’s motto is “Junk Drunk Jones, where Every Day should be a Treasure Hunt.” Operating hours: TuesdaySaturday 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sundays 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Closed Mondays. 175 West Main Street, Canton. JunkDrunkJones.com

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A Mother’s

Influence By Norman R. Hunt Six hundred college students were asked to write down the most beautiful word in the English language. Four hundred twenty-two of them wrote the word “mother.” There is something special about the word “mother”, and there is something special about a “mother” in the life of every boy and girl. In fact, I don’t think that a boy ever gets too old to remember and be thrilled at the very thought of his mother. We will never be able to estimate the impact and value of a mother in the life of her boys and girls. Many a godly man will point back to the fact that God gave to him a praying, godly mother. Only heaven

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will reveal the value of a mother who brings her children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Abraham Lincoln was correct when he said, “No man is poor who has a godly mother.” Alexander McClaren, a great preacher of the past said just before he preached his first sermon his mother shared with him words of encouragement. McClaren said those words shaped him all through his ministry. The importance and value of a godly mother in the life of her son or daughter can never be underestimated! As we go along we will discover that more and more the principles and values which mothers have instilled in their children are going to be the things that will help them become the citizens they ought to be and the servants God wants them to be.

“They say that man is mighty He rules o’er land and sea. He wills a mighty scepter O’er lower powers that be. But there is a mightier power and stronger Man from his throne has herald. For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world.”

God bless all our moms on this Mother’s Day. Be sure to do something special for her.

Rev. Norman R. Hunt is the Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church. HopewellBaptist.com


Canton Minute

Permits and Inspections: Protecting Your Investment By Matthew A. Thomas

S

pringtime is an exciting time of year. The sun shines longer, festivals and events start lining our calendars, and typically many of our existing businesses begin making exterior modifications, renovations, and planned facelift projects. Spring also marks when many new businesses choose to open. In almost all cases, these commercial renovations and structural changes require permits. Codes can be quite difficult to understand, especially for business and property owners. Here in Canton we have knowledgeable and multi-accredited staff readily available to assist and answer questions about building, fire, and development codes. Building codes are of utmost importance for promoting more durable commercial structures that are safeguarded from incidents such as fires, electrical malfunctions, and natural disasters. These standards are important, not only to eliminate or reduce property damage, but also to protect occupants from a variety of potential hazards and ensure safe evacuations in the event of an emergency. Permits are the acknowledgment of your structure as up-to-code, structurally sound, and safe for your given occupant load and use.

Additionally, commercial building codes help to protect the substantial investment that businesses have in their facilities, inventories, operations and employees. The technical requirements outlined in the codes are the most costeffective means of achieving life safety protections, while the enforcement mechanisms, such as inspections, that should accompany the codes, are minimally invasive procedures that help protect lives and livelihoods by ensuring consistent application of the standards. Due to the seriousness of it all, please do not undertake a construction or renovation project without proper permits. Call City staff to help guide you and ensure proper codes are followed. In the big picture, the cost of adhering to building and fire recommendations and purchasing permits is much cheaper than losing an entire business or property due to a structure failure or something catching fire. Business owners should make sure that all construction projects incorporate adequate protections even if there are no code requirements governing a construction project or business operation. Let us help. Do not hesitate to call us. It is our duty, both professionally and ethically, to provide the necessary information to ensure safe construction and renovation.

Matthew A. Thomas is Economic Development Manager for the City of Canton. 770-704-1516, Matthew.Thomas@Canton-Georgia.com

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All About

Aphids

By Gail Roos

The ubiquitous aphid: gardeners everywhere have experience with aphids. They are tiny, soft-bodied, non-flying insects that are found worldwide, but are more common in the temperate climates. The adults and nymphs feed by sucking out plant juices, damaging leaves, stems, and flowers. How do you know you have aphids? If you see misshapen or yellow leaves or little dots or a sticky substance on leaves, the aphids are probably feeding under the leaves. Their sugary excretion, called honeydew, drops onto leaves below and provides a food source for ants. Unchecked, honeydew on the foliage can lead to sooty mold — the honeydew turns black. How do you get rid of aphids? Start with the least harsh choice. Knock them off with your hand or glove or squish them — they’re very soft and easy to dislodge — or spray with cold water. If there are lots of them, set your nozzle to medium stream, and aim it at the little suckers. You can try controlling the aphids with several weekly applications of insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Make sure that any commercial product you use does not contain pyrethrins, which are highly toxic to bees. To find out other chemicals that are toxic to bees, call your local county extension agent. In getting rid of aphids, you do not want to endanger the bee population. Ladybugs are known to be voracious consumers of aphids. However, non-native ladybugs have been introduced over time into our country and they have been pushing out the native population. Beware of purchasing containers of ladybugs to release into your garden. According to our research, the ones you can buy are not the native kind. Controlling aphids takes diligence. Start early in the season by looking at your plants. You’ll probably be walking around admiring your plants anyway, so take a peek under the leaves. Then make a plan for pinching, hosing, or spraying. I stress this: for the safety of bees and other beneficial insects, the environments, and your garden, start with the least harsh choice.

Gail Roos is a certified Master Gardener Extension Volunteer with Cherokee County Master Gardeners, part of the UGA Cooperative Extension. Contact the Cherokee County UGA Extension office for gardening assistance. 770-721-7803, CAES.UGA.edu/Extension/ Cherokee

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Publix Georgia Marathon

Community Feature

Canton resident Kaye Anne Starosciak recently Memorial Day at won the Publix Georgia Georgia National Cemetery Marathon in 3:05:01, the race was held in Memorial Day will be observed at the Georgia National downtown Atlanta. She Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2015. The ran as a Rally Athlete keynote speaker will be Ret. Brigadier General Denis Shortal, honoring 4-year old, USMC. Attendees should carpool and arrive early due to Peyton, who is fighting parking constraints. Folding chairs, blankets, and weather cancer. Starosciak raised related items (umbrellas, hats, hand fans, and water) are $3,000 for the Rally recommended items to bring to enjoy the ceremony. Georgia Foundation for Childhood National Cemetery, 1080 Veterans Cemetery Road, Canton. Cancer Research. She 770-479-9300. Kaye Anne standing beside a was also scheduled to poster of 4-year old Peyton. run her sixth Boston Marathon on April 20 in memory of Kylie Myers, who lost her battle on February 13, 2015. Kaye Anne is committed to help fight childhood cancer and build awareness. You can join in the fight and donate toward her Boston effort at: https:// Presentation of colors by the Dobbins AFB Honor Guard for pledge to the flag during Memorial Day ceremony last year. www.RallyFoundation.org/Campaigns/ BostonStrongForKylie/

Congratulations to our April “7 Differences� winner, Alisha Harvey!

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Community Feature Chief West Receives EMS Leadership Award Danny West, Chief of EMS Operations was recently honored and presented the Stanley Payne Memorial Region 1 EMS Left to right: Chief Danny West, Leadership Award. This April Powers and Rick Payne. award is named after Stanley Payne who was a recognized leader in the Emergency Medical Service and was one of the three original employees of Floyd Medical Center EMS where he served as the director for decades until his untimely death. Chief West has served Cherokee County for over 25 years beginning his career in January 1990. He advanced through the firefighter ranks to Battalion Chief and accepted his current position as EMS Operations Chief in March of 2007. Chief West received the award from April Powers and Rick Payne, children of Stanley Payne.

Donation Received for 2015-16 A Day AT&T recently donated $900 to Reinhardt University’s 2015-16 A DAY for Reinhardt campaign. Don Barbour, regional director of external affairs for AT&T Georgia, presented the check to Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood, Reinhardt president, and Dale Morrissey, director of fund raising campaigns & church relations. “AT&T is pleased to support the Reinhardt University A Day campaign, which provides scholarships for Cherokee County high school students attending Reinhardt,” said Barbour. “Education has been a priority at AT&T for more than a century and when we invest in education, we are making our communities stronger and more economically viable. Investing in a well-educated workforce may be the most important thing we can do to support a strong local and global economy.”

Left to right: AT&T Georgia Regional Director Don Barbour, Reinhardt president Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood and director of fund raising Dale Morrissey

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015


Food Allergies

An allergy is a response by the body’s immune system to something (called an allergen) that is not necessarily harmful. Certain people are sensitive to these allergens and have a reaction when exposed to them. A food allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body’s immune system to a particular food. Some reactions are mild and harmless, but others are severe and potentially life threatening (say: “annaphil-ax-iss”).

in a Nutshell By Brian White, M.D.

Food allergies are a growing public health concern and this diagnosis has become more common in the United States in recent times. According to a study released in 2008 by the Centers for Disease Control there was an 18 percent increase in food allergies between 1997 and 2007. The prevalence of peanut allergy among children has tripled during this time span.

Eight different foods account for 90 percent of all food allergies and are known as “The Big Eight.” The list includes milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, shellfish, soy and wheat. The list of tree nuts includes: pecans, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios. Sufferers may be sensitive to one particular tree nut or to several of them. The diagnosis of a food allergy may require several different kinds of tests, including skin prick testing, blood tests (RAST) and oral food challenge. There are pros and cons for each of these tests. Comprehensive testing and evaluation for food allergies is done best by an immunologist or Allergist.

Brian White is a physician with M.D. Minor Emergency & Family Medicine in Canton. 770-720-7000, MD0911.com

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Community Feature Sequoyah Competes in Forensics Tournament The Sequoyah High School Speech and Debate Team recently competed in the 41st Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament at Harvard University in Boston. Sequoyah HS was represented by 32 students in the Varsity and Junior Varsity Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas

STEM Night Teasley Middle School hosted a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) night for families recently. Students and parents rotated The robotics lab stayed busy throughout the through a dozen stations evening, with four stations of activities for students focusing on different and parents. aspects of STEM, including an inflatable planetarium, robotics, green-screen video production, geology, hydrology, 3D technology lab, 3D printing, and catapults.

Northside CEO Visits Creekview HS

Sequoyah Speech and Debate Team debates, Varsity Policy debate, Humorous Interpretation, Original Oratory and Dramatic Interpretation. The team, which is the only one of its kind in the School District, is ranked in the top 10% of high school speech and debate teams nationwide by the National Forensic League. Students who participated in the Harvard event are: Ellie Agler, Caroline Avery, Allie Barone, Cassie Barone, Jack Bishop, Cameron Buice, Rebekah Carnes, Caleb Crayton, Mary Beth Dicks, Maddie Doerr, Sarah Donehoo, Nick Duclos, Luke Etheridge, Gabby Filkins, Caitlin Franchini, Sam Fullerton, Georgine Gibson, Andrew Gollner, Rachel Haas, Chris Harkins, Caroline Kraczon, Derrick Mandoeng, David Miller, Janet Miller, Josh Nieves, Alexa Powell, Wendy Roberts, Zach Rogers, Caitlyn Shirley, Michael Stone, Kalin Valone and Bella Vellino.

Fire Dept Visits Knox ES

The CEO of Northside Hospital-Cherokee recently visited Creekview High School to present a program for its healthcare science program students. CEO Billy Hayes spoke about his role at the hospital and its plans for future growth and improved healthcare in Cherokee County including the recent groundbreaking for the new hospital and the additional services it will provide. “Once our new facility is done, we will have 300-500 new jobs — jobs you could one day fill,” Mr. Hayes told the students. For her Senior Project, Natalie Cain, daughter of Allan and Missy Cain, observed a total hip replacement procedure at the hospital and shadowed the surgeon. “It was great to hear from Mr. Hayes about all the surgical advances coming to the new facility in 2017,” she said.

Canton Fire Department Fire Marshall Roger Bailey and Sgt. Andy Smith recently visited Knox Elementary School to speak with secondgraders about the many responsibilities of a firefighter. Sgt. Andy Smith and Fire Marshall Roger Bailey with second-graders in teacher Robin Tucker’s class.

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

Northside Hospital-Cherokee CEO Billy Hayes speaks to Creekview High School healthcare science program students.


Get Outdoors and

Take a Hike

Wear proper clothing. Equip everyone with appropriate, well-fitting hiking shoes or boots and comfortable, breathable clothing. Wear bright colors and layers. Stock your backpack. Bring water, snacks, a well-stocked first aid kit, a GPS unit, rain gear and DEET-free bug spray.

By Mary Kay Buquoi, Ed.S. What could be a better way to get your children outdoors and active than by going on a family hike? Here are some tips for the next time you hit the trail and some recommendations for trails around the area. Hike toward a goal. When children are joining you, hiking toward a goal, like a lake or waterfall, can keep your children motivated.

Establish and discuss the rules of the trail. Go over the rules of the trail with your children, which may include staying quiet to avoid disturbing animals, looking at plants but not touching them and staying together as a group. Play games. Geocaching or playing games such as 20 questions are great ways to keep your children interested and trekking along.

Mary Kay Buquoi is owner of The Goddard School, 140 Foster Road, Woodstock. 770-720-1311, GoddardSchools.com

Here are a few fun hiking spots around North Georgia that you could go to with the family: 1. The Vickery Creek Trial — This trail follows a Chattahoochee River tributary and takes you to a Civil War-era mill ruins. You hike to a spillway water fall and cross a covered bridge at the Roswell Mill. 2. Sope Creek Trail — Another Chattahoochee River tributary which takes you through the forest until you reach a paper mill that was destroyed in the Civil War. This trail also has a creek and a glassy pond. 3. Amicalola Falls Trail — This trail can be very busy but it is completely worth it. This loop trail takes you to Georgia’s tallest waterfall. 4. High Shoals Fall Trail — This trail takes you past two waterfalls, Blue Hole Falls and High Shoals Falls. The trail is a moderately difficult trail located north of Helen.

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Scoopof by Michelle Knapp & suzanne taylor

Remembering All Our Mom’s on

Mother’s Day is around the corner and we have done the research on unique, local products that Mom will love!

For the Foodie Mom: Cheeses & Mary, Milton. Shop owner Mary can create a beautiful gift basket or platter with locally sourced cheeses and recommend the perfect food and wine pairings for your selection. If your Foodie Mom likes to cook, Salud Cooking School at the Whole Foods in Avalon offers fun and unique classes she’s sure to enjoy.

For the Spiritual Mom: bracelet is infused with elements from both the Dead Sea, the lowest point on

For the Country Mom: Leather N Pearle,

Earth; and Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. These extreme elements are

a hip new boutique in

a reminder to the wearer to live a balanced life; staying humble during life’s peaks

Downtown Alpharetta that

and hopeful during its lows.

carries designer Judith

We love Lokai bracelets at RAK Outfitters in Downtown Woodstock. Each Lokai

March’s gorgeous and

For the Trendy Mom: Stop by Three Sisters Gifts & Home Accents

stylish boots, and some of the cutest baseball hats around. Your country lovin’ Mom will say, “Thanks Y’All!”

in Canton for her jewelry needs. Brighton, Pandora, Alex & Ani, Lily Pulitzer, and Spartina are just a few of the popular brands this shop carries. Be sure you let them gift wrap it for you; they do a beautiful job!

For the Exercise-Loving Mom: Even if a marathon or a triathalon isn’t in her future, she still may love many of the accessories found at the Endurance House in Alpharetta. They provide gold standard guest service for walkers, runners, and triathletes of all abilities in a genuine and encouraging atmosphere.

For the Mom Who Doesn’t Need a Thing:

Remember, it doesn’t take much to let your

Sometimes the best gift you can give the “Mom who has everything” is the gift of

Mom know how much you appreciate her; a

helping others. Volunteering or making a donation to a local charity in her honor

little goes a long way! Scoop OTP received

is a meaningful way to show Mom, and others, you care. We recently came across

no compensation in selecting these options.

Blessings in a Backpack, a local non-profit that sends backpacks filled with

Selections are based strictly on our personal

food home with students on the weekends that might otherwise go hungry. It is a

preference of what we would be happy to receive

national 501c3 charity that has a North Fulton chapter, and has recently expanded

and think others would too.

to Cobb County. You can to donate to the school or area you wish to help. You are sure to make Momma proud!

Scoop of Life is compiled by Scoop OTP owners Suzanne Taylor and Michelle Knapp. For more Outside The Perimeter “Scoop,” visit ScoopOTP.com.

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3

STEPS TO

Beautiful Facial Rejuvenation By Drs. Musarra, Leake, Petrosky & Harkins Many patients who come to our practice to talk about facial rejuvenation have a very specific concern. They might be bothered by crow’s feet, deep lines near the mouth, or maybe a furrowed brow. But we often tell patients that treating just a single issue isn’t as effective for refreshing their appearance as a more comprehensive approach would be. Patients who combine different kinds of facial plastic surgery with nonsurgical treatments tend to be much more satisfied with their results.

Today’s patients are clamoring for non-surgical treatments, and with good reason. Dermal fillers, laser treatments and chemical peels are just a few of the options for smoothing, tightening, and refreshing the face and neck without an incision. Rather than pinpointing a specific treatment area, it’s important to establish a treatment strategy for complete facial rejuvenation using a 3 step process: 1. Come in for a personal consultation. Only through a discussion and exam with a trained, experienced surgeon can you get a full summary of the treatment options that are appropriate for you. 2. Combine products or treatments. One specific cause is rarely to blame for an aged look, so one solution probably won’t totally fix it. For example, we have a lot of success combining eye surgery with dermal filler injections that add volume. Skin care is also very important to maintain your new look.

3. Take a comprehensive approach. Plastic surgeons often use the analogy of home improvement. Updating the kitchen highlights how outdated the living room looks. By devising a treatment plan for the entire face, patients feel they look truly refreshed. Before embarking on this process, it is critical to find an experienced board certified plastic surgeon who has the skill and aesthetic eye to turn your goals into a reality. Talk to friends and family, do some research online, and finally, schedule consultations to ensure you select a qualified specialist to get the best possible results and protect your long term health and wellness. Drs. Musarra, Leake and Petrosky are board-certified plastic surgeons at Plastic Surgery Center of the South. 770-421-1242, PlasticSurgery CenterOf TheSouth.net

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Capitol Ideas

Steps Needed to

Pass Legislation By Representative Mandi L. Ballinger

N

ow that the 2015 Legislative Session is over, many ask me what I accomplished this year. I am proud to say that I successfully carried three pieces of general legislation and two pieces of local legislation. In the Legislature, the first person that signs on to legislation “carries” the Legislation. What exactly does this mean? It means that the legislator begins the process by first meeting with Legislative Counsel. These are the attorneys that draft legislation. Often these meetings are quite lengthy as the policy that a legislator is trying to affect gets translated into a proposed statute. After the legislation is drafted, a bill is formatted and given to the legislator. The legislator then takes the bill and seeks the support of others. These folks are known as co-sponsors of the legislation. By signing on the bill, they are indicating their support of the legislation and its aims. It depends a great deal on who is carrying the legislation and effort needed to assist that will determine how much the cosigners will work on getting the bill passed. I always try to consider the bill and policy being changed when considering who would be supportive co-signers. A legislator may file a bill with only their signature or many, many signatures. For example, I was one of over a hundred legislators that signed on to HB 1, the Medical Cannabis Bill. I always try to get at least five other signers on to legislation that I carry. Some will file bills with their signature only and try to get other signers at a later date. It is considered a “faux pas” to sign onto another legislator’s bill without asking.

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Once co-sponsors are obtained, the bill is dropped and assigned to a committee. The legislator then asks the committee chairman for a hearing on the bill. The legislator will present the bill to the committee. After hearing the bill, in order for the bill to progress, the committee must make a recommendation that the bill “do pass”. If the committee reports favorably, then the bill moves to the Rules Committee. The legislator carrying the bill must then go and ask that the bill be moved from the Rules Committee to the House Floor for a vote. After presenting the bill and yielding to questions, the matter gets a vote. If more than 90 friends agree with your bill, then you have passed the bill out of the House. The bill then goes to the Senate. It goes before committee, gets presented, hopefully gets a “do pass” recommendation. It then goes to Senate Rules, after which it will go to the Floor of the Senate and is voted on. Changes were made on three of my bills, so they came back to the House for an agree/disagree vote. All were minor changes so I urged my colleagues to agree to the changes. And they did. Out of none floor votes combined for both the House and Senate Floors, only one dissenting vote. And he apologized and said he missed that one.

appraisers and appraisal management companies. Prior to the legislation, appraisers had to appeal through the Federal system. The second, HB 268, clarifies mandated reporting in Georgia. The third, HB 452, allows no contact bond conditions to be added to the Protective Order Registry. This bill will create greater safety for law enforcement officers and those they seek to protect. As improbable as it sounds, in the year 2015, a victim of a violent offense, such as rape or aggravated assault must carry a paper copy of the bond conditions prohibiting contact. This will alleviate the necessity of the victim to carry a paper copy of the bond conditions prohibiting contact. I also passed two pieces of local legislation at the request of the Cherokee County’s District Attorney and the Solicitor General. The legislation allows them to swear their own officers. It was a very busy session for me. I worked very hard to make the State of Georgia a better place and represent the people of the twenty-third district. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

So what did the three bills that I worked so hard to pass actually accomplish? The first, HB 253, is enabling legislation. It enables the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board to mediate disputes between

Mandi Ballinger serves District 23 in the Georgia House of Representatives. 770-479-1011, Mandi.Ballinger@ House.Ga.gov


one will build the initial site for free but has monthly costs that exist in perpetuity. So what should a business owner look for when considering their own site?

Websites for Business Owners By Scott Lavelle, MCSE

There are many services out there clamoring for the attention of business owners including website building services. There are companies advertising that you can have a “custom website designed for free” and others promoting websites that build themselves. But what is the truth? Like most business models, these companies exist to make money. In these two examples, the catch is that they are not free in the long-run. For example,

1. You should own everything. You should have the domain registered to yourself, not some third party; you should be able to walk from the company with a copy of your website that can be hosted anywhere. 2. Your site should be responsive. With the popularity of mobile devices at many screen sizes, you want to be sure that your website conforms to the size of the device being used to view it. You don’t want your visitors to have to zoom and scroll or fight with your menus to get to your business information. 3. Your whole site should be built on one platform. So many websites that are built in phases end up with pieces and parts that don’t match. You want your site to be built with expandability in mind

so new components can be added that look and feel like the original part of the site and allow a single administrative area. 4. Your site should be updatable. If you want to call your web developer whenever you need your site changed, they should be available for this service (unlike most outsourced companies), but you should also have a site that is built so you are able to make changes yourself for faster turnaround and a site that stays interesting for viewers and search engines. These are just a few examples that give you an advantage when talking to a developer. Be prepared and get the website that your company deserves.

Scott Lavelle, MCSE is the co-owner/ technical director of Technical Resource Solutions. 678-928-9491, TechnicalRS.com

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Community Partners

Transitioning Single Mother Families

Zephaniah 3:17 Habakkuk 3:19

Serenade Heights would like to honor the single mothers we support in our ministry. Many single mothers have lost their dreams and have suffered the consequences of an absent father. The single mothers in our ministry are working two jobs to make ends meet or working a job with school in the evenings to build a better future. Serenade Heights offers affordable housing (free upon arrival), an opportunity to return to school for further education, a mentor team of Christian individuals to support the family, a weekly life coach, counseling, financial classes, employment classes, Bible studies, and the opportunity to restore their families over a two year period. Our ministry also wants to connect ALL single mothers through our community workshops where dinner and childcare is provided giving single moms a night out with other women. Our ministry needs support financially through donations as we pay for the housing cost while the single mom is in school or working on a budget plan. We also need excellent mentors to support them through friendship.

Serenade Heights is a supportive transitional housing alternative for single mother families. Our current focus is to offer safe transitional housing for single mothers in crisis in Cherokee County.

I want to be able to see my children happy and healthy,

thriving and secure. I’m not looking for a handout; I just need help putting my goals and dreams into action. All this in hopes that one day I can be self-sustaining and be able to return the favor.” — Single Mother

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View the homes or educational projects we support by going to GoSponsorIt.com/ SerenadeHeights or visit our website at SerenadeHeights.org to find out how to volunteer. We want to honor our single mothers and let them know their effort, passion, and desire to make a better life for themselves and their children is inspiring!


Community Feature CCEF Inaugural Gala The Cherokee County Educational Foundation’s inaugural “Celebration of Education” Gala was a huge success, raising $50,000 for the Cherokee County School District and honoring outstanding teachers, students, partners, volunteers and alumni. The black-tie optional event was held at the Northside HospitalCherokee Conference Center in Canton, and co-hosted by CCEF and presenting sponsor Northside Hospital-Cherokee. More than 350 guests enjoyed the gala which included dinner, awards, a silent auction and the “CCSD’s Got Talent” high school student talent show. “We greatly appreciate the community’s support of our Sequoyah High School’s duo of Amanda Roark and Alan Stein inaugural Gala, which will assist the Foundation in its mission of was named runner-up in the ‘CCSD’s Got Talent’ competition and supporting the School District through grants for schools, teachers won a $500 grant from the Foundation for their school. and students,” said Foundation Board Member Amanda Arnold, Vice President for Credit Union of Georgia. “The night was a wonderful celebration, and we look forward to many annual Galas to come.” Arnold along with Debbie Rabjohn, River Ridge High School PTSA President, served as Gala Committee Co-Chairs. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo was honored as the event’s Honorary Chair, and other special guests included the CCSD Teacher of the Year, Media Specialist of the Year, Counselor of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. The gala also launched a new, major award to be presented annually by the Foundation: the Alumni of the Year Award, which will honor at least one CCSD high school alumnus and one alumna each year for outstanding professional and civic contributions. The inaugural Alumni of the Year Award recipients were Judge Marion T. Pope Jr. and Janice Prather, a lifetime educator.

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Cancer Patients Benefit from

Revolutionary, Noninvasive Treatments By Mark McLaughlin, M.D.

In recent years, advances in technology have given more options to patients with cancer. In December of 2014, the American Cancer Society released a study that said more than 1.3* million Americans avoided death from cancer since 1991 thanks to a combination of better prevention, detection and advanced treatments. Patients with cancer — regardless of complexity — have access to a broad range of therapies that can be tailored to their specific needs. In many cases, patients can choose noninvasive, painfree treatments with no recovery time. Two such therapies are targeted radiation treatments called TomoTherapy and CyberKnife. These systems allow radiation oncologists to offer accurate, personalized cancer care with precise beams of radiation that can be delivered from multiple angles and rotation arcs. This technology allows more precise radiation delivery. Because of advances in technology that allow for such precise delivery, radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and organs is greatly reduced, and so are the side effects that are common with traditional radiation.

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

CyberKnife automatically corrects for motion throughout the treatment and is particularly helpful for treating tumors of the lung, liver and prostate, where movement is common. The TomoTherapy System’s unique use of CT scans while radiation is being delivered identifies the exact position of the tumors during the treatment and adjusts for patients’ movement, helping target cancer in ways never before thought possible. The ability to track changes in the size or location of a tumor at each treatment session with a CT scan is highly beneficial. It allows the radiation oncologist to deliver an intense amount of radiation at the exact site of the tumor while reducing the negative impact on surrounding healthy tissue. This combination of benefits helps achieve improved outcomes for patients.

Both CyberKnife and TomoTherapy deliver radiation with speed, reducing patients’ treatment time and allowing for shorter courses of treatment. Because they are so efficient, patients speak of never having to miss appointments at work, time with grandkids or even a tee time. With these advanced technologies, the majority of patients don’t have to put their lives on hold throughout their treatments. With the addition of TomoTherapy, WellStar Kennestone Hospital is the only hospital in Georgia to offer both of these cutting-edge treatments to our patients. We’re already amongst the top 10 busiest sites in the country for CyberKnife treatment. We’re thrilled to be able to continue providing individualized treatment choices to patients that will enhance the quality and longevity of their lives.

*SOURCE: American Cancer Society, 2014 http://OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21208/pdf

Mark McLaughlin, M.D. serves as medical director of radiation oncology at WellStar. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his surgical internship at Shands Teaching Hospital, College of Medicine at University of Florida, where he also completed his residency in radiation oncology. He previously served on the faculty of the Mayo Clinic.


Community Feature

Cherokee County S! LIGHT CAMERA!

ACTION!

“Y’ALLYWOOD!”

Cherokee County is now in the forefront of the film industry, thanks to the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED). The COED has been actively working with scouts, producers and location managers on more than one major motion picture. Everyone has heard that Tom Cruise’s drug-crime thriller, “Mena” will have portions of the thriller filmed here in Cherokee County. The residents of the City of Canton no doubt noticed some extra hustle and bustle on the streets in April as the Tyler Perry original series, “The Haves and the Have Nots” had scenes filmed in front of the 151 Main building. Other projects in the works include filming stars like Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel, and Steve Martin. Michael Keaton will be shooting in Cherokee County in the weeks and months to come as well. One of the first projects scheduled to be filmed in the next few weeks is “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” an adaptation of the 2012 novel penned by Ben Fountain. The film follows the story of U.S. soldiers sent on a PR tour after returning from battle. This production will be filming scenes at the Georgia National Cemetery and with the coordination of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, a rolling road block scene along I-575 will be filmed. Having found Ball Ground through the Camera

Ready Reel Scout database, “Mena” will be gracing the streets of the north Cherokee city sometime this summer. From the initial contact with COED on February 23rd to the confirmation that the City of Ball Ground will be used as the title city in the film, many moving parts had to come together to make this come to fruition. “Hours were spent speaking with film scouts and searching out locations that could accommodate the project’s needs,” said Misti Martin, COED president. Downtown Canton will see more of the Hollywood excitement with “The Founder,” a story about Ray Kroc’s success in turning McDonald’s into a food empire. The John Lee Hancock film is set to use the old Canton Cotton Mill offices at 221 W. Main St. for filming this summer. Oscar nominee Michael Keaton will star as Kroc. The film is already garnering attention from the entertainment community, one publication calling the film, “A project every studio in Hollywood apparently wanted to be a part of.” So Cherokee County – dust off your boots and put on your “Cherokee County Smile” and perhaps you will be an extra for one of the upcoming films – we all remember the filming of “Remember the Titans” which had portions of the football games filmed at Etowah High School.

CHEROKEE COUNTY IS NOW IN THE FOREFRONT

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Photo courtesy of PhotoJack.net

COVER STORY

By Meghan Griffin

Business ownership can certainly have highs and lows, yet owning a business with your family can present its own unique set of challenges. When lifelong Georgians, Robbie and Dana Matiak, started R & D Mechanical Services in 2000, their goal was to build a company with rock solid values that would lead them to a successful future. That decision wasn’t made without some trepidation as Robbie had just left a position with a larger company and had concerns about striking out on his own. However, he said that he felt called to do the work he is doing; fixing problems and serving people within and around his community.

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As R & D continued to grow through the early 2000s, Robbie and his family continued to build the business together. He brought his son and daughter, Heath and Ashleigh into the business in 2011 and the company relocated from Robbie and Dana’s home to their current office space in Holly Springs. While expanding their company, they also wanted to make sure that they were making the lives of their employees better. Every January, the team members meet to discuss the expectations, goals and focus for the year. Last year, the company made a decision to center efforts on further improving quality, both in the work that they perform and personally by being good examples to those they come in contact with. This year’s focus is on serving others. At the top of the priority list are the team members who make up R & D Mechanical Services. Heath noted, “If we serve each other first, we will serve our customers even more so.” The term ‘team member’ was a very deliberate decision for the company; Robbie wants everyone at R & D to know that they are, “Working with us and not for us.” The focus on valuing family time is also conveyed by allowing the on-call service technicians to control their schedules when emergency calls are needed. If their son or daughter has an activity such as a sporting event scheduled or they are attending a church outing, technicians are encouraged to make it known and to ask other technicians to assist in the emergency service calls with our customers. As always with R & D, family is first priority.

other employees as they would like to be treated is intrinsic in their company’s work ethic. They use these values as standards when hiring new team members. As Heath said, “Our core values serve as a great litmus test when we are looking to expand. We can teach the skill set later, but they need to connect with our values first.” Customers and future team members can learn more about the company by visiting R & D’s website, where the company’s core values are proudly listed. Some key points include living and working with the highest sense of integrity and character, being themselves, whether in public or in private, and always doing as they have promised. R & D Mechanical Services currently operates at about a

70/30 split between commercial and residential work. They offer heating and cooling installation services, as well as preventative maintenance, upgrades and repair. For their customers, Robbie and Heath stress the importance of building a loyal customer base. The company strives to under-promise and over-deliver at all times. “We strive to spend your money like it was our money.” Robbie said. In addition to putting the focus on family and team members, Robbie and his crew are active in the community. Last year, R & D Mechanical was a sponsor for the Collins Dixon Bend Your Knees 5K in Canton and the Hero Run 5K for the Wounded Warrior Project in Kennesaw. This year they are sponsoring the Kennesaw Grand Prix Series. They also partner heavily with Alive Ministries

R & D also wants to make sure that everyone that works within their company understands that doing the right thing and treating

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Mission Trip to Haiti

Voted Best Heating & Air

and their Save It Forward program, which Dana Matiak is very involved. The Save It Forward program uses extreme couponing and partnering with the Atlanta Food Bank to provide food Photo courtesy of PhotoJack.net and toiletries to families in need. They work with local schools and letter, he spoke of the history of the counselors to identify and serve those company and of his drive to start his families. R & D Mechanical believes own business. He reiterated their wholeheartedly in the mission of this mission and the work that they do in program and helps out monthly. the community. He also wrote about how the company and his family Other organizations that they have supports children in Haiti and how partnered with include Next Steps special it was to him and Dana, Ministry in Woodstock, which assists when they are able to spend time special needs individuals in job with the children during mission skills development, and Cloud Walk trips to Haiti. The letter ‘spoke to’ Ministry in Alpharetta. However, many of his customers and Robbie the team members at R & D are most shared the overwhelming responses. proud of quietly helping individuals In Robbie’s mind, it proved his in their community. Whether it point that by putting family, team is installing a new low or no-cost members, and his customers first; furnace or system for someone who he has built a company not driven by was without heat during the winter profit, but by love and loyalty. or doing labor at cost to help families in need save money, R & D continues As we transition into spring, if to show their actions speak louder you need assistance with your than their words. HVAC system, consider calling R & D Mechanical Services and During Thanksgiving 2014, Robbie know that your money will be going sent out a letter to their customers to a company that goes above and and titled it Thanks-Giving. In the beyond.

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Collins Dixon Bend Your Knees 5K

3448 Holly Springs Parkway

CANTON 770-917-1795 RandDMechanical.net AliveMinistriesInc.org


Radiation Exposure from Dental X-rays By L. Michael Cox, D.M.D.

In a recent article we discussed some different types of x-rays that are performed at the dental office and the ways in which they assist with treatment. This article discusses the topic of digital x-rays and many of the benefits that “going digital” have brought to patients. First, however, a little background information on the radiation exposure from dental x-rays. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has defined the “maximum permissible exposure” for an individual as 5,000 mREM per year (mREM is the unit of measurement for most medical radiation). The average person in the U.S. is exposed to about 1 mREM per day from background radiation found in the environment or roughly 365 mREM per year. Exposure from digital dental x-rays measures approximately .3 mREM. That means that you would need somewhere around 15,000 individual x-rays to approach that 5,000 mREM limit. This is why we advocate that the benefits of routine diagnostic x-rays in the dental office far outweigh the risks.

Digital x-rays help the patient in many other ways. Appointment times are reduced due to the instantaneous image. Images may also be transferred to a TV screen to be viewed by the patient for educational purposes. Digital x-rays can easily be emailed to a specialist if needed so that multiple x-rays aren’t retaken at different offices. There is also the environmental impact of developing solutions and films that no longer need disposal. Dental x-rays continue to be a very powerful tool in the diagnostic and treatment components of a complete oral health care program. Fortunately, we live in a time when the technology is also excellent and is expected to improve even more in the coming years.

Dr. Michael Cox is a dentist with BridgeMill Dentistry on Sixes Road. 770-704-1812, BridgeMillDentistry. com

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Book Review by catherine groves

Not Just a Cookbook Have you visited Mitford? Have you listened to Father Tim expound on Wordsworth? Perhaps you’ve laughed at one of Uncle Billy’s jokes or cried when (at the age of 60) Father Tim falls in love with Cynthia, his next door neighbor. Maybe, as I did, you found yourself praying that Dooley would go from being a “lost” child to a very much loved young man in the home of Father Tim. And then Puny; she gives a new meaning to the word “Father” for this Episcopalian bachelor. Yes, these characters may be the fictional work of Jan Karon, author of “At Home in Mitford” and seven other books in the series, “The Mitford Years,” all of which were bestsellers. To her huge following of readers, these characters become so very real. Based in a southern town in North Carolina, Karon gives such personality to her characters that it seems quite likely they could be that someone that is serving up breakfast at the local diner. In many scenes throughout the series, mouth-watering dishes are described in a way that one finds themselves wanting the recipe. From Father Tim’s meatloaf to Puny’s cornbread, and then there’s Cynthia’s Heavenly Tea, and certainly the most coveted recipe of all; Esther Bolick’s Orange Marmalade Cake. These recipes are available in “Jan Karon’s Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader!” If you love the Mitford books, you’re sure to love this cookbook and reader. If you’ve not yet met Karon’s memorable characters, find her first Mitford novel, “At Home in Mitford”, and get ready to meet some endearing people you’ll call friends for life! “Jan Karon’s Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader” can be purchased at most major retail book stores and on Amazon.

Catherine Groves is an avid reader and book collector (owning more than 5,000 books). She also is publisher of two neighborhood magazines and is writing her first novel.

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Minimally Invasive Endoscopic

Cubital Tunnel Surgery

By Jose Baez, M.D.

Humerus Overview Cubital tunnel syndrome is brought on by increased pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow. The ulnar nerve passes under a bump of bone on the inner portion of the elbow (medial epicondyle or “funny bone”). At this site, the ulnar nerve lies directly next to the bone and is susceptible to pressure. When the pressure on the nerve becomes great enough to affect the way the nerve works, then numbness, tingling, and pain may be felt in the elbow, forearm, hand, and/ or fingers. If this pressure is present for a long time then permanent damage to the nerve can occur. Symptoms usually include pain, numbness, and/or tingling in the ring and little fingers. It is more noticeable during activities which put pressure on the nerve, such as sitting with your elbow on an arm rest or with repetitive elbow bending or straightening. You may also notice symptoms more when you’ve held your elbow in a bent position for a period of time, such as when holding the phone or while sleeping. If this has been present for a long time then you may notice weakness while pinching, occasional clumsiness, and/or the tendency to drop things. In severe cases, you may lose complete sensation and the muscles in the hand may lose bulk and strength. A test may be required called electromyography (EMG) and/or a nerve conduction study (NCS) to confirm the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome and stage its severity.

Conservative Treatment Sometimes symptoms can be relieved without surgery, particularly if the EMG/ NCS testing shows that the pressure on

Radius

Ulnar Nerve Ulna the nerve is minimal. Treatment options include: • Changing the patterns of elbow use • Avoiding putting your elbow on hard surfaces • Wearing an elbow pad over the ulnar nerve and “funny bone” • Keeping the elbow straight at night with a splint • Occupational hand therapy

Surgical Treatment If symptoms are severe or do not improve, you may need surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve. Surgical options include: • Traditional open cubital tunnel release (bigger incision) -with/without shifting of the nerve to in front of the medial epicondyle -with/without trimming of the medial epicondyle • Minimally invasive endoscopic cubital tunnel release (smaller incision)

Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Cubital Tunnel Release The minimally invasive endoscopic cubital tunnel release achieves the same goal as

the traditional open technique, but with a much smaller incision. This is because the surgery is aided by an endoscopic camera and endoscopic instruments specifically designed for a small incision. This results in a less invasive approach. Studies have shown that this technique, with leaving the nerve in the native position, is equally effective in treating cubital tunnel syndrome as the open technique. It may also provide a quicker and less painful recovery. Not all physicians have the experience to perform this technique as specialized training is required. Nonetheless there are situations that it is not possible to perform the endoscopic cubital tunnel release because of the nerve clicking back and forth over the medial epicondyle and in those cases traditional open cubital tunnel release would be the treatment of choice.

Dr. Jose Baez is a physician with Atlanta Hand Specialist, located in Canton, Marietta, Smyrna, and Douglasville. 770-333-7888, AtlantaHandSpecialist.com

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Taste of By Beth Johnston, Honorary Member

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

1 (15 ¼ oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained 1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained

Let marinate in dressing for 2 to 4 hours.

1 small purple onion, chopped to taste 1 green bell pepper, chopped to taste

Serve with chips.

Garlic salt to taste 1 (8 oz.) bottle Italian salad dressing Tortilla chips

You may need to drain excess liquid before serving.

Recipe is from the “Gatherings & Traditions Cookbook,” produced by the Service League of Cherokee County. The Service League of Cherokee County has been working to meet the needs of the children of Cherokee County since 1935. In addition to the cookbook, the organization’s fundraising efforts include the annual Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival; “Run for the Children” 5K Walk/1-mile Fun Run; and Annual Ball, featuring the “Dancing for the Children” competition.” ServiceLeague.net

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Home Improvement

Projects

By Juan Reyes As spring and federal income tax refunds come together for homeowners, one thing that is on everybody’s mind is home improvement. Your home’s exterior is a particularly sensitive area of concern. It’s an important time to have a HVAC check-up and a roof evaluation, but have you considered hiring a crew of house painters? A home facelift may be in order. Let’s look at the most popular exterior home improvement projects this spring: Exterior Painting: Every home with traditional siding can profit from an annual paint job. It’s important to chip off the old paint, apply primer, and then apply the finish paint. Siding Replacement: Homes have a variety of siding materials for their home — from fiber cement to vinyl to wood. Siding can either be rejuvenated by a crew of house painters or by completely replacing the siding with a new product. It is an important part of your home, providing a barrier against the elements. It also has a large role in controlling the interior temperature of your home, and is an important factor in your equity. Roofing Inspection and Repair: Your roof is one of the only things standing between you and the environment. Have you had it inspected and serviced? It might be time. Roof inspections are easily accomplished and can save you money by spotting little problems before they require expensive maintenance. How old are your shingles? Is your flashing up to par? How about your fascia panels? A simple home inspection will answer these questions. Check Your Foundation: Whether your home’s foundation is on a slab or not, its integrity is one of the most important things you can keep an improvement eye on. Have a foundation company do an evaluation of your property, especially if you have had a dry spell. Adequate Attic Ventilation: Attic ventilation costs homeowners many dollars each year. Be sure that your ridge vents, whirly-birds, and soffit vents are up to snuff. Insulation: Insulation may be commonly categorized as an interior item, but it is actually exterior as well. Maxing out on your insulation in your exterior walls and attic can save you a lot of money. Windows and Doors: Drafts may plague you during the winter, but they can rob you during the spring and summer as well. Do your inspections, replace outdated seals, and tighten things up!

Juan Reyes is owner of Pro Roofing & Siding. 770-777-1733, MyProRoofing.com

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Local restaurants favorite recipes for you to at home.

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Double Chocolate Cheesecake Ingredients for Filling: • 24 oz. cream cheese softened • 3 eggs • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 tsp. vanilla • 1 can condensed milk • 12 oz. dark chocolate melted

Ingredients for Crust: • 2 cups Oreo crumb • 1 stick melted butter

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix together ingredients for crust and form into 9” round pan. Mix ingredients for filling with electric mixer or kitchen aid. Pour over crust. Fill large rectangular pan with one inch of water and place cheesecake in large pan of water. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until middle is firm.

Union Hill Grill 5060 Sugar Pike Rd., Canton 770-558-1151, UnionHillGrill.com

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Homemade Onion Ring Sauce • • • • • • • • • • • •

2 cups Mayo ½ cup Sriracha Chili Sauce 4 tbsp. ketchup 2 tbsp. lemon juice 4 tsp. Worcestershire 2 tsp. smoked paprika 2 tsp. Cholula Hot Sauce 2 tsp. Kosher salt 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. mustard powder ½ tsp. black pepper

R&M Hoagie Shop Mix together and enjoy with some delicious onion rings.

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

117 W. Main Street, Canton ­• 770-479-4413


Seared Sea Scallops with Miso Carrot Puree and Collard Green Kimchi

(serves 2)

• • • • • • •

4 2 1 3 2 1 1

large sea scallops carrots chopped Vidalia onion chopped tbsp. white Miso paste cups water tbsp. rice wine vinegar tsp. Sriracha

• 1 tsp. sesame oil • 1 tsp. fish sauce • 1 cup collard green Kimchi purchased from Goin’ Coastal • 2 tbsp. butter

Bring water to a boil in sauce pan, add Miso paste, carrots and onion, cook vegetable for 2 minutes or until tender. Transfer vegetables into a blender and add some of the Miso stock, sesame oil, Sriacha and fish sauce puree until smooth. Add more stock if puree is too thick. Set aside. Bring sauté pan to med high heat to melt butter. When butter becomes melted and starts to brown add dry seasoned scallops. Cook for 1 minute per side. Plate the scallops, kimchi and puree.

Goin’ Coastal 125 W. Main Street, Canton 770-479-3737, GoinCoastalSeafood.com

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Good Eats Winners Breakfast

Biscuit Barn

770-345-5212, Find Us on Facebook! (Biscuit Barn)

Dinner

R&M Hoagie Shop

770-479-4413, Find Us on Facebook! (R & M Sandwich Shop)

Coffee Shop

Union Hill Grill

Cup Up Coffee

770-558-1151, UnionHillGrill.com

770-479-1000, Find Us on Facebook! (Cup Up Coffee)

Fine Dining

Farmers Market

Goin’ Coastal

770-479-3737, GoinCoastalSeafood.com

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Lunch

Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

Cherokee Market Farm Fresh Produce 678-341-8032, Find Us on Facebook! (Cherokee Market Farm Fresh Produce)


1 duck breast ¼ cup minced yellow onion 1 large clove of garlic minced ¼ cup bold red wine 1½ cups heavy cream

½ cup chicken stock ½ tsp. each salt and pepper 1 tsp. pink peppercorns 1 tbsp. of reserved duck fat

In a skillet crisp your duck skin until nicely browned then transfer to a 400 degree preheated oven. Heat some of the duck fat in sauce pot. Add onions and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add salt, pepper and pink peppercorns. Deglaze with red wine. Reduce by half then add cream and chicken stock. Reduce sauce until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Once the duck is cooked to your preference remove from oven, and serve with the sauce and a delicious side, “It is amazing with risotto,” says Chef Jason Liford. Garnish with some more pink peppercorns then serve with your favorite red wine, and as always enjoy! Jason Liford, Executive Chef

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Active Kids,

Healthy Teeth

Always wear a mouth guard! There are three different types of mouth guards; stock or “prefabricated”, “boil-n-bite”, and custom fabricated mouth guards. For maximum protection, a custom mouth guard made by your dentist is the best choice. But, any protection is better than no protection. Know what to do if your child suffers a dental injury! First off, always

By Miles Mazzawi, D.M.D. As the school year winds down, summer sporting activities wind up. Each year there are approximately 3 million cases of facial trauma. About 50% of these involve teeth! Boys are three times more likely to suffer from a dental related trauma, and about 40% of these accidents happen on the baseball field! Bicycle and skateboarding accidents are also common causes of broken teeth. Here are some important tips to keeping your active kids’ teeth healthy:

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

check the child to make sure there is not a more emergent issue such as a concussion. •

If a baby tooth is knocked out, rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. Baby teeth should not be replanted because of potential damage to the developing permanent teeth. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with a clean gauze or wash cloth. If this cannot be accomplished, place the tooth in a

clean container of cold milk or the child’s saliva, but NOT IN WATER. If a tooth is chipped or broken, rinse the mouth with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, take it with you to the dentist.

Go to your pediatric dentist in the case of any dental trauma! It is important to have a trusted pediatric dentist available to call in the event of any tooth injury. A timely visit to the dentist can make a huge difference in the long term health of the traumatized tooth. Enjoy the summer, be careful, and stay safe!

Dr. Miles Mazzawi is a pediatric dentist with Cherokee Children’s Dentistry in Canton. 770-479-1717, CherokeeChildrensDentistry.com


Needs of Our Seniors By Nathan Brandon

LIFESTYLE Last Stop Emergency Fund Program “LAST STOP” Emergency Funds Program provides funds for the emergency needs of seniors who have exhausted all other means of assistance. This includes emergency needs such as minor medication costs, dental care, utilities and other minor expenses. Any senior 60 years of age or older, may apply for these funds by calling 770-345-3520. Assistance is provided through funds raised through the Volunteer Aging Council, the fund raising organization working with Senior Services. The assistance is limited to once a year to seniors who apply. Volunteer Driver Program One of the greatest unmet needs for seniors in Cherokee County is transportation for those who no longer drive. Beginning soon we will be recruiting volunteers who would be interested in providing transportation for seniors. Drivers will need to fill out a volunteer application. This will include a waiver of liability and a criminal background check. We will need a copy of valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

states: “Any person who provides volunteer transportation for senior citizens shall not be liable for any civil damages for any injury to such senior citizens arising out of or resulting from such transportation if such person was acting in good faith within the scope of his or her official actions and duties and unless the conduct of such person amounts to willful and wanton misconduct.” Seniors can receive these services with the following qualifications: • They are 60+ years of age and in need of transportation • They must be self-ambulatory (walkers, canes and oxygen tanks are allowed) • Complete a Transportation Request Form For more information concerning the Volunteer Driver Program please call 770-345-1224 or write Joy at JNMcEuen@cherokeega.com L

Nathan Brandon is director of Cherokee County Senior Services. 770-479-7438, CherokeeGa.com/Senior-Services

Drivers need to know that under Georgia Code 51-1-42 it

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ArtistProfile by Heike Hellmann-Brown

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When designing her ceramics, artist Deborah Rossi approaches the task not only from a functional but more so from an esthetic point of view. “What characterizes my work is the elegance in form and proportion,” Rossi, who often incorporates surface texture such as imprints, raised reliefs, medallions or animal shapes into her sophisticated designs, explains. “My goal is to make everyday items as close to a piece of art as possible.”


The Ohio native had initially eyed a career in fashion design and lived in New York City for a few years to follow her dream, but later settled in North Georgia with her husband and three kids. Here she started her own fashion design studio, offering high-end daywear from French and Italian fabrics. During this time she had also been creative in other areas; she played piano, took up oil painting and sculpting and used fiber as a medium, but when she discovered pottery, she never looked back. “Working with clay is the most organic of what you can do with your hands,” Rossi, who has a strong appreciation for traditional Greek and Korean pottery, says. “A beautiful proportioned shape of a piece from 2,000 B.C. can serve as an inspiration for my designs.” Rossi’s products range from baking dishes to dinnerware, children’s cups and bowls, oil bottles, berry bowls and mortars and pestles. They are all set up for everyday use and safe for the oven, microwave and dishwasher. While most of her pieces are one-of-a-kind, Rossi recently developed a contemporary series in brown and red tones and a white colored farmhouse series. Reaching a temperature of up to 2380° F, Rossi’s high-firing gas kiln produces more vitreous and durable ceramic works than electric kilns. The higher temperature also generates surface effects such as speckles and inadvertently led to the development of Rossi’s signature glaze, an appealing apricot color. “In my never-ending search for beautiful glazes I was aiming for a yellow,” Rossi states. “Instead it produced this gorgeous pale orange that turns green when it flows over a textured surface and even creates a black outlining. Very few glazes have such a variety.” More than anything Rossi loves the design aspect of her work. “I wake up every morning and can’t wait to enter my studio. I find such satisfaction in the design process. The more I create, the more ideas I have – I can’t design fast enough!” she says and emphasizes that the elegance of her creations sets her apart. “It took me a long time to develop my own style. And while I am at a point now where I know who I am as an artist and what appeals to me, I am still

constantly learning new things. Yet I focus on my goal to be commercially viable. Ultimately I would like to design for a ceramics manufacturer and hopefully see my own line of ceramic products in a department store some day.”

DRossiCeramics.com Heike Hellmann-Brown is a published writer in the United States and Europe. She has translated and edited several New York Times bestsellers and has taught both English and her native German as a foreign language in a career that has spanned more than 20 years.

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Measles Outbreak

First of Many Infection Comebacks? By Vicki Knight-Mathis, M.D. Did you know that in 2000, just 15 years ago, measles was declared eliminated from the United States? Elimination is defined as the absence of endemic disease in a region or country for 12 months or longer in the presence of a well performing monitoring system. Endemic means occurring naturally in the people living in the region/country as opposed to the primary case being imported or originating from outside region/country. In 2014, the United States experienced 644 cases of measles; the highest number since 2000. The number of cases in the first 3 months of 2015 does not look any better and currently stand at 178. But why?

• • •

• •

Measles is still common in many areas of the world including Europe, Asia, and Africa. Unvaccinated travelers and inadequately vaccinated internationally adopted children continue to bring measles to the United States. The MMR is one of the most postponed or refused vaccinations in the United States. This is secondary to autism fear coming from a disreputable study of only 12 children by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who lost his medical license secondary to ethical issues involving this study. At least 13 studies since that time have found no link between autism and MMR. A Danish study of more than 500,000 children showing no difference in autism rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Unvaccinated populations living in the United States are susceptible to disease. All vaccines benefit from a principle called “herd immunity.” In communities with vaccination levels over 95% for measles, the unvaccinated, and individuals who did not develop immunity when vaccinated, are protected.

So what’s the big deal? Prior to vaccination in the U.S., four million children were infected each year. Everyone had measles by age 20. Five percent of children developed pneumonia, and about 1/3 of these children required hospitalization. Encephalitis or brain infections occurred in 1 in 1,000 children and deaths occurred in 1-3 in 1,000. Vaccines are “victims of success”; they work to prevent serious childhood disease, disability and death. I have frequently said to vaccine hesitant parents, “We will have outbreaks of all of these diseases in my lifetime.” If you have concerns about vaccines, discuss them with your child’s doctor.

Dr. Vicki Knight-Mathis is a pediatric physician at DV Pediatrics. 770-704-0057, DVPediatrics.com

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Industry data out there says that you, the average consumer, will be purchasing smart devices of some kind soon. This could be a new thermostat, or a wifi light bulb. This new category of gadgets is projected to grow from $500 million per year today, into a $2 billion per year by 2017. One thing they don’t mention is that with each of these new devices will be a smartphone app of its own to control it. If you think having a bunch of remotes on your coffee table is bad, wait until you have 20 different home control apps. While the trend of smart homes seems new, I’ve been involved for over a decade. Of course, this was before the iPhone, which was a total game changer, but the basics are the same; it is still the creation of a home that adapts to you and your habits. This comes in the form of controlling the HVAC, lighting, music, security system, etc. What the past decade has taught me is that no one wants 10 remote controls. Having a

The Art of Smart By Michael Buckner

“smart home” that is operated with 10 different apps stinks just as bad. So while everyone in the US will be buying these new toys, the true art of the whole thing is to get all of your

new gadgets inside 1 smartphone app. Rather than having a folder for all of your automation apps from Honeywell, Comcast, ADT, and Nest, you should instead be opening one app that talks to all of these systems. To achieve this, you’ll need to purchase devices that talk to each other, and in most cases, some sort of central “brain.” This is where we integrators step in, and there aren’t many of us out there. Electricians, security, HVAC, and audio/video guys are all in their own field. Integrators tend to be the most familiar with A/V and security, but also know enough about wifi networks, and all the other categories, so that they can integrate all these systems into one. And doing that – is the art of smart.

Michael Buckner is owner of Audio Intersection, a provider of audio and video in Georgia. 770-479-1000, AudioIntersection.com

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neighborhood pools begin to warm and family vacations commence, protecting our hair often gets ignored. But just ask our blonde friends as they know all too well how repeated trips to the swimming pool can affect your color. Luckily, by implementing solar care into your hair routine you can prevent that extra trip to the salon. When purchasing hair care to protect against the harsh warm season elements consider looking for products that contain:

Spring

Is In Swing

LIFESTYLE Spring is in full swing, which means you’ll soon begin spending much more time outside soaking up the vitamin D! What you may not be aware of is the damage extended sun exposure can do to your hair. Although outdoor activities mean a bronzed body, too much sun can also bring about dry, sensitized, and lifeless hair.

Why not provide your locks with the right protection? Just as your skin needs moisture and SPF, your 48

Canton Family Life | MAY 2015

By Jyl Craven

hair needs celebrated products to maintain its vitality and beauty. Available at your local professional salon are amazing hair care lines designed specifically for sun exposure. From moisturizing leavein treatments to UV defense masks, you’re sure to be provided the best resistance against this season’s harsh sun. Another damaging element in this fun-filled time of year is chlorine and salt water contact. As the

• Ceramides and Pro-vitamin B5: Great for reinforcing the cuticle and improving water retention to make the hair fiber more supple. • Glycerin: Excellent for improving the hydrating properties that ensure smooth touch. • Photo-Defense Filters: These filters absorb UV rays during sun exposure and prevent deterioration of the hair fiber. Also, do not underestimate the power of a keratin smoothing treatment! These restorative systems work from the inside out to considerably reduce frizz and ease daily styling. Typically, your blow dry time will be cut in half. In fact, many find they enjoy their look air dried, which is a perfect option for those of us spending our summer on Lake Allatoona. So why not treat yourself to a stress-free do? Make this upcoming summer your most beautiful one yet by protecting your best feature and keeping your color flawless. L

Jyl Craven is owner of Jyl Craven Hair Design of Canton. 770-345-9411, JylCraven.com


VBS Laughter, Love and Learning By Crystal Bryant I grew up in a time when summers were truly “lazy” days. Most summer days were spent climbing trees and chasing bugs. But one of the things I always looked forward to, was Vacation Bible School. It was a week filled with stories, games, crafts and snacks. I still have such fond memories of those who taught me, and played games with me. Today’s Vacation Bible Schools (or VBS) are even more jam-packed with activities, games and stories. We’ve had interactive characters on key chains, mad scientists, incredible story tellers, and some of the wackiest treats I’ve ever seen in the last few years! This year will be no different. A lot of the children who attend our VBS are regular attendees of CITY ON A HILL. However, there are a large number of kids who just come to the VBS. We offer a free, five days Vacation Bible School, starting Sunday, June 7 and ending Thursday, June 11. It is an amazing time filled with laughter, love and learning. And I can tell you, our adult servants have almost as much fun as the kids! This summer’s VBS will be no different! If you’re like me, you’ve often dreamed about doing something big. . . I mean really big! Something like swimming across the ocean, or going into space, or climbing the highest mountain! Well this year, CITY ON A HILL UMC is going to help kids learn how to overcome the biggest obstacles in their lives relying on God’s awesome power to do it too! This year we present “Everest” for all three year olds to rising sixth graders, who want to know how to lean on God and his power to overcome any trials that come in their lives. So this June 7 through June 11, every evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., we will have music, games, exciting lessons, videos, snacks, and much, much more! Register today at http://CityOnAHillUMC.org/#/Kids-Teens!

Crystal Bryant is the wife of Pastor Chris Bryant at City On A Hill United Methodist Church in Woodstock. She is involved in women’s, prayer and children’s ministries. 678-445-3480, COAHUMC.org

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Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings

Workout Anytime Woodstock 6232 Old Hwy. 5 Woodstock 678-401-2521 Health/Fitness

LGE Community Credit Union Corner of Cumming Hwy. & Northside Cherokee Blvd. Credit Union, Financial Services, Mortgage/Financial

The Grant Academy 102 Springfield Drive, Suite 100 Woodstock 770-926-7827 Private School - Special Needs

Good MORNING Cherokee Thursday, May 7, 2015 & Thursday, June 4, 2015 7:00 a.m.

Brownlee Agency, Inc. 3213 S. Cherokee Lane Bldg. 1700, Unit 1710 Woodstock 800-810-8699 Insurance

The HOPE Center 295 Molly Lane, Suite 120 Woodstock 770-924-0864 Nonprofit Organizations

Chamber Events

Business AFTER Hours Tuesday, May 19, 2015 4:30-6:00 p.m. For more information on these events or other upcoming events, please visit

CherokeeChamber.com 2015 B.L.A.S.T.T. Workshops Wednesday, May 6 8:30-10:30 a.m. Email Marketing Strategies That Work!

Wednesday, June 17 8:30-10:30 a.m. You’re Social, Now What? To register for workshops, please visit

CherokeeChamber.com

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are Lyme’s Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrlichiosis.

The

Ticks

Have Sprung! By Diane Castle, D.V.M.

Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of their hosts. Ticks tend to hide out in tall grass or plants in wooded areas waiting for prospective hosts. The tick attaches to the skin, continuing to feed for hours to days. On dogs, ticks are found in and around the ears, the armpits and between the toes. The predominant ticks we find on dogs are the brown dog tick, the lone star tick, the American dog tick and the deer tick. The threat of disease is always present where ticks are concerned, and these risks should always be taken seriously. Common tick transmitted diseases

Most tick-borne diseases will take several hours to transmit to a host, so the sooner a tick is located and removed, the lower the risk of disease. The symptoms of tick-borne diseases include fever and lethargy, weakness, lameness, joint swelling and/or anemia. To remove an attached tick, use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers to avoid squeezing the tick body and inadvertently forcing harmful bacteria into your pet’s bloodstream. 1. Grab the tick by the head right where it entered the skin. 2. Without twisting, pull firmly and steadily outward. 3. Petroleum jelly, a hot match, or alcohol will NOT cause the tick to ‘back out.’ In fact, these irritants may cause the tick to deposit more disease-carrying saliva. 4. After removal, place the tick in a jar

of alcohol to kill it. Ticks are NOT killed by flushing them down the toilet. 5. Clean the bite wound with a disinfectant. 6. Wash your hands thoroughly. Once an embedded tick is manually removed, it is not uncommon for a welt and skin reaction to occur. Do not be worried about the tick head staying in; it rarely happens. When it comes to ticks, prevention is the way to go so they never get a chance to embed in your pet. There are several effective products available through your veterinarian that will kill the tick before it attaches for a blood meal. These include collars, topicals and oral medications.

Dr. Diane Castle is a veterinarian with Union Hill Animal Hospital. 770- 664-8380, UnionHillVet.com

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As

the weather warms, and the days grow longer, Main Street continues to celebrate downtown Canton by looking forward to some recurring events and the long awaited return of another. The next Main Street Morning monthly meeting will be at 8:00 a.m. on May 12 hosted by Bill By Pat Gold Grant and the staff of Grant Design Collaborative. Join merchants, residents and guests from throughout Canton for networking and an informative presentation. As always, Cup Up Coffee will provide refreshments. Canton Festival of the Arts is not a Main Street project, however it is an important yearly event eagerly anticipated by all of us who support our downtown and Canton as a whole. The Cherokee Arts Center does an amazing job with this fine arts festival which is moving back to its home in Brown Park after extensive improvements have been completed there during the last year. You won’t want to miss all Canton Festival of the Arts has to offer on May 16-17. The Canton Farmers Market returns for its seventh season beginning on Saturday, May 23. This open air market, which features locally grown and produced products, will be held at Cannon Park in downtown Canton each Saturday morning

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from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., rain or shine, through October. Sherri Cloud and Micki Farley co-chair the market for Main Street and are enthusiastic about the coming season. The market will feature farm fresh produce and baked goods, food specialty items, handmade soap, fresh garden flowers, bedding plants, shrubs, herbs and handmade crafts. Those interested in participating in the Canton Farmers Market may obtain an application by messaging the market managers at Facebook Page “Canton Farmers Market,” by downloading the application at www.Canton-Georgia.com/misc/2015FarmersMarket.pdf, or by emailing CantonGAFarmersMarket@yahoo.com. First Friday will host our second annual Bike Night on June 5 with music provided by “No Sweat” who returns by popular demand. Bike Night was huge success last year and we expect it to be even bigger this year. The mix of classic cars, one of a kind motorcycles, great music and food along with some unique vendors will make for a wonderful family friendly night for our town. While the Main Street Program is the face of the “happenings” in downtown Canton, there are others who always have our back and not often recognized for it. We plan, we promote and we staff events during the year, but we could not do what we do without the financial support of our Canton Tourism committee, the hard working staff of the Canton Streets Department, and those of the Canton Police and Canton Fire who provide us with essential services and keep us all safe. All these groups working together make sure our citizens and our visitors enjoy their time in the Historic Downtown Loop of Canton.


Is Your Bladder Controlling Your Life?

By Michael A. Hulse, M.D.

More than 36 million American women suffer from overactive bladder or OAB. It is estimated that 43% of women over the age of forty have some symptoms of OAB. Although there are many simple and effective treatment options, many women do not seek treatment for this condition because they are embarrassed or do not know that treatments are available. In women with OAB, the bladder muscles squeeze or spasm and cause a strong urge to urinate that cannot always be controlled and may result in leaking urine. Many women will urinate frequently (more than eight times daily) which can interfere with normal daily activities. Some women have frequent nighttime urination which may result in decreased energy and fatigue. For some women, the risk of public embarrassment prevents them from

enjoying activities with their friends and family. Other women experience urine loss during intercourse which causes severe emotional distress and loss of intimacy. Older women experience OAB more often than younger women but the problem is not inevitable. OAB is a medical problem with many effective treatment options. Your healthcare provider can help determine if your bladder problems are a result of OAB or from another cause. The initial recommendation for treating OAB may include changes in fluid intake, dietary changes and medications. Caffeinated and carbonated beverages as well as acidic foods like citrus or tomatoes can be bladder irritants and aggravate OAB symptoms and their consumption should be limited. Treating OAB is a process and it is very important to have follow-up

appointments to evaluate the progress with any therapy. If an initial therapy is not successful then there are many alternatives that may work. Other treatment options may include physical therapy, biofeedback, sacral nerve stimulation or Botox. With a little persistence almost everyone with OAB can be successfully treated. In short, there is no reason for your bladder to control your life.

Michael A. Hulse, M.D is with Falany & Hulse Women’s Center located in Woodstock. 770-926-9229, FalanyAndHulse.com

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1

By Janet Read

The past few months have been more than a little challenging for the Cherokee County School District. Our seven member board (three of whom are fairly new) was tasked with deciding how to proceed with our need for increased, centralized administrative office space. Many naysayers felt like we did not need a new administration building. We had been ‘getting along just fine,’ and we should continue to do so. Many thought that we should use that money to lower class size. (By law you can’t use ESPLOST dollars for maintenance and operations.) Many thought we should use the money to rehire custodians. (Once again that is maintenance and

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operations.) Many, who had never really seen the inter-workings of a 40,000+ student school district thought we should just ‘stay where you are.’ As the board chair for the fifth year, I have seen firsthand the inefficiencies that are created when key administrators are located in different buildings throughout Canton and Holly Springs. Every meeting that is held must be scheduled well in advance to ensure that all contributing members will be at the assigned place at the designated time. If additional input is needed during the meeting, we do not always have the luxury of asking them to join us. We are often relegated to calling them, hoping they are available and then putting them on the speaker phone. Although this is a viable solution, it is not a preferable one from the standpoint of productivity and efficiency.

After a contentious meeting in February, complete with a standing room only crowd and lots of passionate voices, the board asked the Superintendent and his staff to research other options. We had been offered a few options then – sell the land to the Historical Society, consider a proffered land swap with the City of Canton or continue with the initial plan to demolish the existing antiquated structures and build a new single building on the land we already own. Based on that request, the Superintendent and his staff spent the next six weeks doing just that. But since I’m out of space for this month. . . stay tuned until next month! (Making a Decision – Step Two).

Janet Read is chair of the CCSD board. 770-516-1444, Janet.Read@Cherokee.K12.Ga.us


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Advertiser Index Afterglow Day Spa 49 Atlanta Hand Specialist 5 Audio Intersection 47 Bailey’s Bowtique 16 BridgeMill Dentistry 12 Budget Blinds 14 Canton Festival of the Arts 7 The Carpenter’s Shop Christian Preschool Inside Front Center Cut Catering 39 Cherokee Angel Senior Care 35 Cherokee Chamber Spring Business Showcase 31 Cherokee Children’s Dentistry 21 Cherokee Chorale 53 Collins Dixon Bend Your Knees 5K 51 DMG Printing 16 Downtown Kitchen 41 Dr. Fixit, Ph.D. 46 DV Pediatrics 10 Elm Street Cultural Arts Village 11 Falany and Hulse Women’s Center, P.C. 43 Fieldstone Farm 49 The Goddard School 25 Goin’ Coastal 38 The Great Frame Up 23 H&H Electric & Security, LLC 9 Howard’s Auto Body 40 Jyl Craven Hair Design Inside Back Landscape Matters 56 LaVida Massage 32 Massage Envy 14 MD Minor Emergency 17 Mother’s Day Pow Wow 53 Northside Hospital-Cherokee 1 Northside Medical Specialists 56 Park Pediatric Dentistry of Woodstock 46 Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 35 and Dentistry at Canton Plastic Surgery Center of the South 55 Pro Roofing and Siding 55 R & D Mechanical Services, Inc. Cover, 28-30 Rejoice Maids 39 Skin Cancer Specialists, P.C. & Aesthetic Center 42 Sky Patriots 2015 16 Technical Resource Solutions 54 Three Sisters Gifts 32 Towne Lake Primary Care Inside Front Union Hill Animal Hospital 19 WellStar Health Systems Back Cover Wing and Rock Fest 3

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Canton Family Life | MAY 2015



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