Contents
May 2018
VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 10
28-29 On the Cover:
[28-29]
Committee to Elect Harry Johnston
36-37
Finding Fortis
46-47
Green Basements & Remodeling
48-49
Becoming Beach-Body Ready
52-53
Benson Chambers for Judge
[36-37] [52-53] [48-49] Follow Us >>>
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Family Life Publications
Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
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familylifepublications
.......................... Perspective .............................. Calendar ................ Woodstock Minute .................... Community Life ................... Sheriff Reynolds ................... Senator Speaks ............... Community Partner ........................ Book Review ......................... Taste of Life ......................... Artist Profile ................... Friday Night Live .................... Ribbon Cuttings @FamilyLifeMags
Over 26,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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Publisher’s Perspective
PUBLISHER/PHOTOGRAPHER Jack Tuszynski Jack@FamilyLifePublications.com EDITORIAL Julie Senger Julie@FamilyLifePublications.com ART Candice Williams Candice@FamilyLifePublications.com Laurie Litke Laurie@FamilyLifePublications.com SALES Janet Ponichtera Janet@FamilyLifePublications.com
630 East Main Street Canton, GA 30114
770-213-7095
FamilyLifePublications.com Family Life publications have the largest monthly circulation of direct-mailed community magazines in our area. Woodstock Family Life is a monthly community magazine with a total print count of over 26,000, direct mailing over 24,000 copies to Towne Lake, downtown Woodstock up to Hickory Flat and toward the Roswell border. 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. Woodstock 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 written permission from the publisher.
© 2018 All rights reserved.
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Subscriptions are available for $25 per year. Please contact us for payment options.
M AG A ZI
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Forgiveness is one of those intangibles in life that means so much, yet there are many variables and dynamics that surround it. It can be consuming beyond the simple aspects of giving and receiving. We often judge ourselves so critically when we have hurt another that it’s tough to accept an apology even after we’ve asked for one. In the future, when someone finds it in their heart to forgive us and give us the grace we have so longed for, we should try harder to accept it. It makes the forgetting, on everyone’s part, so much easier. After all, forgiveness is one of the sincerest forms of love — and we can all use more of that.
Family Life Publishing Group, Inc.
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Ah forgiveness, there’s a good one. Each of us has been in a situation where we needed to seek, ask, or hope for forgiveness. There have been other situations where we may have struggled with granting forgiveness to another. It can be a difficult situation when we are on the wronged side of the equation.
You may be expecting me to toss a cliché quote in here, and I’m trying really hard not to do that. There are so many to consider, so I’ll leave it up to you to delve into those to supplement this piece.
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fter years of writing these perspectives, I must admit that I sometimes find myself struggling to find topics that motivate me enough to begin tapping the keys. Of course, working in an office where your coworkers are often anxiously waiting on you, so they can edit and design around your ponderings to meet an already extended deadline, adds to the stress and freedom of thoughts that the “squirrels at a party” inside my head have already scattered. On a few occasions, I’ve resorted to jumping on the web and typing in a random character trait out of curiosity to see what inspires me. I do hope you’ll forgive me.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gavin Adams, Steven Anderson, Atlanta Hand Specialist, Cyndi Braun, Cobb EMC, Jyl Craven, James B. Depew, Joshua Fuder, Hillary Gallagher, Corey Harkins, Lisa-Marie Haygood, James E. Leake, William Lewis, Tim Morris, Vishant Nath, Hannah Olson, Brittany Page, Carrie Patterson, Michael Petrosky, Frank Reynolds, Jill Rowlands, Mark Russell, Sen. Bruce Thompson, Ferdinand Yates, Farris Yawn
Jack Tuszynski, Publisher
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
Over 26,000 Each Issue, Every Month
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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Calendar ONGOING 7:00am, Copper Coin Coffee, 400 Chambers Street, Woodstock. 770-5926056. MainStreetWoodstock.org Woodstock’s Farm Fresh Market — Each Saturday through September, the Woodstock Farm Fresh Market’s rules guarantee that it is the best market in the region to get locally grown, fresh produce because produce vendors are required to grow at least 85% of the product they bring to the market, and they are subject to inspection to confirm this. 8:30am-12:00pm, Market Street, downtown Woodstock. 770-924-0406. VisitWoodstockGa.com Tuesday Night Trivia — Every Tuesday evening, enjoy trivia for a chance to win gift cards, plus nightly giveaways, and food sampling. 6:30pm, The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta (food court), 915 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock. 678-5407040. TheOutletShoppesAtAtlanta.com YPOW A.M. Coffee — Each Thursday morning, join Young Professionals of Woodstock for coffee and networking.
MAY
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Monty Python’s Spamalot — Lovingly ripped off from the classic film, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, this outrageous parody tells the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm (except Saturday, May 12 is at 2:00pm), Sundays 2:00pm, Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock. 678-494-4251. ElmStreetArts.org
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Great American Cleanup — The City of Holly Springs staff and local volunteers team up to participate in the country’s largest community beautification program — Keep America Beautiful — which kicks off each spring and engages
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
GROW Monthly Meeting — On the third Thursday of each month, join the volunteers in this group to help plan Woodstock’s seasonal plantings, annual Scarecrow Invasion, and downtown holiday décor. There will be no meeting in December. 6:00pm, Chattahoochee Tech Woodstock Conference Room, 8371 Main Street, Woodstock. Design@mainstreetwoodstock. org. MainStreetWoodstock.org/ community/#beauty Holly Springs Young Professional Experience (HYPE) — On the first Tuesday of each month, young in age, young in your profession, or young at heart — doesn’t matter. Meet at Holly Springs’ newest coffee shop for a cup of coffee and some laid-back networking with local professionals. 7:00-8:00am, The Coffee Vineyard, 2800 Holly Springs Parkway, Suite 100, Holly
more than four million volunteers in more than 20,000 communities nationwide. This is a great opportunity for Scouts and civic groups looking to engage with and serve their community. 9:00am-12:00pm, Station 8 Fire Station, 100 Hickory Road, Canton. 770-345-5536. HollySpringsGa. us/events
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15th Annual Kentucky Derby Day at the Rock Barn — The Cherokee County Historical Society hosts this entertaining fundraiser event, which features gourmet food, open bar, silent auction, pony-pull betting, bourbon tasting, and a competitive hat parade and contest. The event concludes with the crowd watching the Run for the Roses on big screen televisions. 3:30pm, The Rock Barn, 658 Marietta Highway, Canton.
Springs. 770-345-5536. Facebook.com/ events/556923864658166/ 1 Million Cups — Every first and third Wednesday of the month, attend this FREE, nationwide program designed to educate, engage, and accelerate early-stage startups. The notion is that entrepreneurs can discover solutions and thrive when they collaborate over a million cups of coffee. Drop in on this community of innovators to connect with and support local startups. 9:00-10:00am, the first Wednesday is at The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way, Woodstock; check the online schedule for the location of the third Wednesday, which changes monthly. 1MillionCups.com/cherokee Detachment 1311 — Every third Saturday of the month, veterans share their firsthand war experiences, which are then used as editorial research data to assist others. The Woodstock Detachment #1311 is chartered as a subsidiary organization of the Marine Corps League. 9:00am, Semper Fi Bar and Grille, 9770 Main Street, Woodstock. 770-672-0026.
770-345-3288. RockBarn.org
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Acworth Dragon Boat Race and Festival — “Dragon Boats” are shaped and decorated in the form of a Chinese dragon. Dragon boat teams paddle harmoniously and hurriedly accompanied by the sound of a beating drum. Two to four boats will race at a time, and overall winners will be awarded prizes. Race participants will be provided one-hour instruction, boat, paddles, and life jackets. No experience necessary. 9:00am-4:00pm, Dallas Landing, 5120 Allatoona Drive, Acworth. 678-956-0062. DallasLandingDragonBoat@gmail.com
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Gardener’s Seminar, “Safe Landscaping for Children & Pets” — This class will help you learn which plants
Over 26,000 Each Issue, Every Month
12 & 13 to avoid to keep your landscape safe for all members of the family. 10:00am, Hickory Flat Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton. 770-721-7803.
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Galloping Against Violence — This fundraising event benefits victims of domestic violence. Tickets are $50, and they include the polo match, unlimited food buffet and beverages, and there also will be a silent auction. 1:00-5:00pm, Chukkar Farm Polo Club, 1140 Liberty Grove Road. 770-704-7464. CFVC.org/ get-involved/fundraisers/galloping-againstviolence/
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Music Mondays “Peace, Man…” — To give the citizens of Woodstock a fun musical alternative to the Monday “blues,” Woodstock Parks and Recreation has created this leisure activity. This week, a DJ will be playing fun music from the 1960s. 11:00am, Northside HospitalCherokee Amphitheater, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-517-6788. WoodstockGa.gov
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The Colorful Journey of Emotions Art Exhibit — Experience the soul of people and their deep feelings narrated through brush strokes that avoid the boundaries created by skin color. This FREE show includes works by Catalina Gomez-Beuth and Graciela Núñez Bedoya. There will be a reception on June 1 from 6:00-8:00pm. Tuesday-Friday 11:00am-5:00pm and Saturday 12:00-5:00pm, Cherokee Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton. 770-7046244. CherokeeArts.org
is currently doing business or interested in doing business in the Woodstock area. Food will be provided. 5:00-7:00pm, Pivotal Performance, 8145 Main Street, Woodstock. 770-592-6056. MainStreetWoodstock. org
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Women’s Exchange — Each month, Elizabeth Pehrson and other guest facilitators explore topics like entitlement, serving our community, seasonal depression, our personalities and more. This month’s topic is, “Adult Friendships.” 7:00-9:00pm, Venue 92, 12015 Hwy 92, Woodstock. 706-506-3405. TheExchangeUS.org
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Military Spouse Appreciation Day — Celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day, many United States citizens take this day to acknowledge the significant contributions, support, and sacrifices of spouses of members of the Armed Forces. Each year, the U.S. President normally commemorates this day with a ceremonial speech and proclamation.
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The Main Event — This FREE, social business gathering will allow you to network with anyone who
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
Medallions are an American beach music group from Greenwood, South Carolina. 7:30pm, Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater, 103 Arnold Mill Road. Woodstock. WoodstockConcertSeries.com
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Music Mondays “Rock is Dead?” — To give the citizens of Woodstock a fun musical alternative to the Monday “blues,” Woodstock Parks and Recreation has created this leisure activity. This week, a DJ will be playing fun music from the 1970s. 11:00am, Northside Hospital - Cherokee Amphitheater, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-5176788. WoodstockGa.gov
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Business After Hours — This is a great networking opportunity! 4:30-6:00pm, Cherokee County Aquatic Center, 1200 Gresham Mill Parkway, Canton. 770-345-0400. CherokeeChamber.com
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Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Picnic in the Park Membership Appreciation — Enjoy fun, food, and networking. Free for Chamber members. Please RSVP. 11:00am-1:00pm, JJ Biello Park, 250 Brooke Boulevard, Woodstock. 770-345-0400. CherokeeChamber.com
29th Annual Cherokee County Mother’s Day Powwow and Indian Festival — This north Georgia tradition features a Native American dance competition, warriors on horseback, hoop dancers, Aztec dancers, tipis, wigwam, and a living Indian village and displays, Northern Plains encampment, primitive skills, environmental and wildlife displays, Native American artisans, Save the Horses rescue group, train rides, children’s activities, Mother’s Day Honor Dance, and much more. 10:00am-6:00pm, Boling Park, 1098 Marietta Highway, Canton. Calendar.PowWows.com
6th Annual Hustle for Heroes 5k — This race continues to grow in size and popularity. It is a great way to get in a Saturday morning walk/run while supporting Woodstock Fire and Police Departments. 7:00am, Woodstock First Baptist, 11905 Highway 92, Woodstock. 770-592-6000. 21st Annual Woodstock Summer Concert Series Presents Swingin’ Medallions — The Swingin’
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A Novel Idea — Six award-winning authors will gather to read excerpts from their historical fiction novels about Elizabethan England, the Vietnam War, the Cherokee Nation, Indian cuisine through the centuries, escaping slavery, and enduring a troubled marriage in 1897. Door prizes will be given away. This event is FREE and open to the public. 7:00-9:00pm, East Main Cafe (inside Audio Intersection), 210 E. Main Street, Canton. 770-670-9333. Marsha. Cornelius@hotmail.com [continued on page 8] WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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LIBRARY EVENTS SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org HICKORY FLAT 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton, 770-345-7565 ROSE CREEK 4476 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock, 770-591-1491 WOODSTOCK 7735 Main Street, Woodstock, 770-926-5859 TUESDAY NIGHT TUTORS Tuesdays, 6:00pm, Woodstock Join teachers and volunteers from Woodstock Elementary School as they help children struggling with homework, projects, and school assignments. Parents with children participating in Tuesday Night Tutors may take part in a bonus ESL class also provided by teachers and volunteers from Woodstock Elementary School. ELM STREET THEATER — STORIES ON STAGE May 5, 10:30am, Rose Creek Elm Street Theater in Woodstock will perform Fancy Nancy and Jack and the Beanstalk, FREE! This is for all ages; children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. INTRODUCTION TO ACRYLIC PAINTING May 6, 3:00pm, Woodstock This program provides an introduction to painting with acrylics for anyone interested in starting a new hobby. All materials are provided. This is for ages 16+. Registration is required. BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP May 8, 12:00pm, Woodstock Enjoy coffee, conversation, and a book discussion with new friends. This month’s selection is Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. All ages are welcome; new members are encouraged. QUILTING CLUB BLOCK-OF-THE-MONTH PROJECT May 9, 10:00am, Woodstock Gather with other friends interested in learning to quilt! This program is designed for those interested in trying a new craft, and it provides instruction for sewing a different 12” block each month. This is for ages 16+. Registration is required. TODDLER STEAM May 9, 10:30am, Woodstock Create works of art with colorful ice cubes, and try out some freezing-fun science. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult. MUSIC AND MOVES May 9, 10:30am, Hickory Flat Get moving and grooving with friends from Go Noodle! It’ll
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
be a dance party to remember! Children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. FAMILY ART NIGHT May 10, 6:30pm, Rose Creek Have fun as a family creating art together! This is for all ages; children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. AMERICAN GIRL® CRAFTS May 11, 4:30pm, Woodstock Make miniature flip-flops, sundaes, and handbags for your American Girl® Doll! Children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. MAKER MONDAY May 14, 3:30pm, Rose Creek Get creative in this pop-up maker space with self-directed making, tinkering, and STEAM activities. This is for ages 7-12; children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. DIY RECIPE HOLDER CLIPS May 18, 10:30am, Rose Creek Make your own recipe holder clip! Materials are provided. FANTASTIC BEAST VIRTUAL REALITY May 23, 6:00pm, Hickory Flat Enter the magical world of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with this immersive virtual reality program! Don’t forget to stop by MACUSA to obtain your wand permit, and join the hunt to find Newt’s escaped magical beasts hidden all around the library. Children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. LIBRARIES ROCK! May 30, 12:00pm, Hickory Flat Kick off a great summer, family style! Get signed up for the Summer Reading Program while playing traditional outdoor family games and talking to a ranger from the National Park Service. Free Kona Ice® is provided while supplies last. This is for all ages; children 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. TEEN SUMMER READING CLUB May 30, 2:00pm, Woodstock Grades 6-12 are invited to join the Teen Advisory Board for Summer Reading Club! Club meetings will be held every Wednesday through July 25.
Calendar continued from page 7
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Main Street Mastermind “The New Tax Law and Your Business” — A CPA and a business attorney will be speaking to update attendees about the new tax law. 8:00-9:30am, The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock. 770-592-6056. MainStreetWoodstock.org
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B.L.A.S.T.T. “Time Management” — Presented by Stephanie Hines, business and marketing coach, this workshop will discuss secrets to boost productivity, reduce stress, and improve results. Lunch will be provided. 11:30am1:30pm. Chamber of Commerce Terrace Level, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton. 770-345-0400. CherokeeChamber.com
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C.O.P. Shop - CPR/AED & First Aid Training — In the event of an emergency, this training can help stabilize someone who is injured or ailing until help arrives. A representative from the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services will teach the class. You must be 14 years of age to receive certification. Thursday 9:00am-3:00pm and Friday 9:00am-12:30pm, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, 3605 Marietta Highway, Canton. 770-345-0400. CherokeeChamber.com
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Sunrise Kayak — Meet for an early morning kayak trip! $35 includes paddle and light refreshments. The cost is $15 if you provide your own equipment. 6:30-9:00am, Rope Mill Park, 690 Olde Rope Mill Park Road, Woodstock. 770-924-7768. CRPA.net
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Regional Issues Awareness — This meeting focuses on topics that effect Cherokee County and its residents as well as the region. Breakfast
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Memorial Day Ceremony — You are invited to this very heartfelt and meaningful ceremony, honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Marine Corps Rifle Team of Woodstock will be a part of the closing ceremony. There will be a special performance by Cobb New Horizons Band at 9:30am; ceremony begins at 10:00am, The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-592-6000. WoodstockGa.gov
will be provided. Please register online. 8:00-9:30am, The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock. 770-345-0400. CherokeeChamber.com
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Volunteer Aging Council (VAC) Fundraising Luncheon — Support VAC programs, and get a wonderful lunch for only $5! Bring a friend, coworker, family member, or yourself, and enjoy a tasty lunch while supporting the seniors and veterans of Cherokee County. Stay and eat, or pick up and go. RSVP the location, so all the amazing chefs can be prepared for all who come to support. 11:30am1:00pm, Provident Village, 1100 Reinhardt College Parkway, Canton. 678-230-4067. VAC-CherokeeGa.org
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Gardener’s Seminar, “Floral Design from the Garden” — Bring your own container, and learn fundamentals of flower arranging from your own garden. 10:00am, Senior Services Center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-721-7803.
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Bacon and Banjos — Enjoy a bluegrass music and bacon food festival! $5 admission at the gate. 11:00am-5:00pm, Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater, 103 Arnold Mill Road. Woodstock. BaconAndBanjosGa.com
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Story Time with Clifford the Big Red Dog — Clifford will greet guests of all ages and will pose for pictures! FREE! 11:00am-12:00pm, FoxTale Book Shoppe, 105 E. Main Street, Suite 138, Woodstock. 770-516-9989. FoxTaleBookShoppe.com
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Gardener’s Seminar, “Floral Design from the Garden” — Bring your own container, and learn fundamentals of flower arranging from your own garden. 10:00am, Senior Services Center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-721-7803.
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15th Annual Canton Festival of the Arts — This festival is produced by
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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the Cherokee County Arts Center as its primary fundraiser. It features an Artist Market, Serenity Garden, Jack Fincher Rising Artist Area, Kids Zone, the Dream Weaver Dancers, and Food Court. 10:00am-5:00pm, Brown Park, 151 Elizabeth Street, Canton. 770-704-6244. CherokeeArts.org
GA National Cemetery Memorial Day Program — The Knights of Columbus will begin this ceremony at the Ceremonial Wall (7:00am), followed by the Boy Scouts putting flags on grave sites (9:00 am). The remainder of the program will include keynote speaker, Commissioner Bob Kovacs (10:00am). Attendees are asked to carpool and arrive early due to parking constraints. Folding chairs, blankets, and weather-related items are recommended. 7:00am, Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton. 770-479-9300. Cem.Va.gov/ cems/nchp/Georgia.asp
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Music Mondays “Questionable Hairstyles” — To give the citizens of Woodstock a fun musical alternative to the Monday “blues,” Woodstock Parks and Recreation has created this leisure activity. This week, a DJ will be playing fun music from the 1980s. 11:00am, Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater, 101 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. 770-517-6788. WoodstockGa.gov
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Downtown Buzz — This event is open to Main Street members and invited guests. There will be networking and a brief topical program. FREE! 8:00am, the Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main Street, Woodstock. 770-5926056. MainStreetWoodstock.org
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Memorial Day 5k and Fun Run — Net proceeds from this year’s race will be donated to the L.R. Tippens Education Center. Pre-registration is $25, and day-of-race registration is $30. Enjoy refreshments, awards, and a 1k Fun Run for kids! Register by May 6 to guarantee
yourself a T-shirt. 7:00am registration, 8:00am race start time, Holly Springs Elementary School, 1965 Hickory Road, Canton. 770-345-5536. HollySpringsGa.us
JUNE
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Friday Night Live, Downtown Luau — Enjoy tropical fun in downtown Woodstock to kick off summer! Thanks to the extended hours during this fun event, everyone has a chance to explore the variety of shops Downtown. 5:008:00pm, downtown Woodstock. 770592-6056. DowntownWoodstock.org
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Serenade Heights 4th Annual Motorcycle Benefit Ride — After the ride, there will be lunch, music, raffles, vendors, and prizes. $25 includes the ride, lunch, one raffle ticket, and a T-shirt to the first fifty people! $10 for passengers. Serenade Heights, Inc. is a non-profit, transitional housing ministry for singlemother families in the community. 9:00am, First Baptist Church of Woodstock, 1905 GA-92, Woodstock. 404-644-6844. SerenadeHeights.org WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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Ornamental Grasses for Year-Round Interest By Joshua Fuder [HomeLife] Karl Foerster, the famed horticulturalist, once said, “Grasses are the hair of Mother Earth.” Just as a well-coiffed hairstyle can make all the difference in your personal appearance, ornamental grasses can transform a landscape. Ornamental grasses provide great variety in growth from low-growing ground covers up to fifteen feet tall. Their forms can range from low mounds and spilling fountains to tall, upright verticals. Grasses are also easy to grow, as they have relatively few insect or disease issues and are drought tolerant once established.
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
Additionally, grasses provide needed shelter and food for native wildlife. The seeds of many grasses provide fall and winter food for birds, and clumpforming grasses provide a habitat and nesting site for ground-nesting bees.
Ways to Use Ornamental Grasses in Your Landscape • Containers — Either as the center of a planting, mixed annual planting, or by themselves. • Erosion control — Cherokee County is full of slopes, and grasses are one of the best tools for holding the ground and filtering sediment. • Screening unsightly views and landscape features — Things like propane tanks can be quickly hidden by some of the taller grasses like big bluestem or feather reed grass.
• Ground covers — Blue fescue grass is silvery-blue with a small size that fits anywhere. Liriope is versatile and grows in either sun or shade and comes in variegated colors as well as deep purple. • Specimen plant/focal point • Background for landscape beds — Medium to taller grasses at the back of a bed will add dimension and help focus the eye on seasonal color in front. Be aware that some ornamental grasses are listed as invasive or undesirable due to their ability to spread via seed and escape into the natural environment. Try to avoid using maidengrass (miscanthus sinense), pampas grass (cortaderia selloana), Japanese bloodgrass (imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’), giant reed (arundo donax), and weeping lovegrass (erogrostis curvula). Joshua Fuder is an agriculture and natural resources agent at the UGA Cooperative Extension Cherokee County. Contact the UGA Extension office for any gardening assistance, 770-721-7830 or CAES.UGA.Edu/ extension/cherokee
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Woodstock Minute
City of Woodstock Announces Upcoming
Bacon & Banjos
Schedule
By Brittany Page
T
he Bacon & Banjos festival will be held on May 19, 11:00am-6:00pm, at Northside Hospital - Cherokee Amphitheater.
Presented by VisitWoodstockGa.com, this first annual festival will feature a convergence of bacon-flavored food and the downhome sounds of bluegrass music all in one event. Focusing on the music of north Georgia favorites such as Cedar Hill, Curtis Jones and Primal Roots, The Wiseman Brothers, Frances Mooney and Fontana Sunset, Honeywood, and Blue Road will take to the main stage throughout the day. Festival-goers can browse food and restaurant vendors that will be selling their best bacon creations. These creations will also be sampled by a panel of judges for Bacon & Banjos accolades. In addition, the festival will include a craftsman alley with rustic creations for sale. The concept of the festival came from the City of Woodstock’s Parks and Recreation Department staff who are also hosting the festival. A portion of the day’s proceeds will benefit the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation, a not for profit organization dedicated to improving and maintaining the quality of life for the citizens of Woodstock and to make the communities of Woodstock a safer place to live and work through partnerships between the citizens, the Woodstock Police and Woodstock Fire Departments. The event is rain or shine, and the entry fee is $5.00. For more information on Bacon & Banjos, please contact Jamey Snyder, Northside Hospital - Cherokee Amphitheater Operations Manager, at JSnyder@ woodstockga.gov.
Event Sponsors Presenting Sponsor – VisitWoodstockGa.com Woodstock Family Life magazine Windsong Properties Outspoken Signs Fontis Water DMG Creative
Brittany Page is the information officer for the City of Woodstock. 770-592-6000. WoodstockGa.gov
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
May 19 11:00am-6:00pm Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater Rain or Shine $5.00 Entry Fee
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Just Say “No” to Digitally Distracted Family Dinners By Lisa-Marie Haygood
[AcademicLife] These days, it’s common to walk into a restaurant and see entire families sitting down to dinner together, yet each family member will be on their cell phone, often for the entire meal. Moms and dads are distracted, and this teaches their children that this is acceptable. Sometimes it’s even difficult for servers to obtain dinner orders if table members are focused on their phones while also listening to music through ear buds because no one notices that they are standing there.
People talk a lot about what is wrong with America, in the news and on social media, but this simple thing is completely in our control. Parents must exercise restraint and facilitate change. Additionally, children’s social skills are suffering because many of them don’t know how to carry on a real conversation. The family dinner table is the best practice ground for this skill. This is a chance for family members to emotionally connect by asking open-ended questions that require more than one-word answers. Instead of, “How was your day?” ask children to tell you what they learned in a particular class. Know the names of their teachers and friends, and engage in
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
discussion about how they are handling interactions with their peers. Children should also learn how to take turns in conversation, how to greet and engage people, how to share, show empathy, and eat with proper table manners — and it’s a great idea to have children help clear the table and do dishes, so they can learn about chore sharing and family responsibility. Kids are learning from their parent’s actions, so if parents continue to model digitally distracted behavior, they can expect the children who grow up in their care to behave the same way.
Lisa-Marie is the executive director for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation.
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Dee Dee Doeckel Joins NCMPR Executive Board
Community
Dee Dee Doeckel of Woodstock was installed as treasurer of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) at the organization’s recent national conference. Doeckel previously served on the board as District 2 director. Doeckel is the executive director for external affairs at Chattahoochee Technical College in northwest Georgia, serving the counties of Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Gilmer, Paulding, and Pickens. She is responsible for strategic communications and advancement for the college and has been in marketing and sales for over thirty years. As part of the national board of directors, Doeckel will serve as a voting member, help shape organizational policy, and contribute to the planning of membership programs and services. NCMPR supports the professional development of community college communicators, serving more than 1,700 members from nearly 530 colleges across the United States and Canada.
Award-Winning Main Street Woodstock Events Main Street Woodstock was honored with two Historic High Country 2017 Awards for Association Excellence at the recent Winter Chautauqua Tourism Conference in Clayton, Georgia. Main Street Woodstock was honored for best event in the Northwest Georgia Region in two categories. In the category for Best Event Attendance of 1,000 - 2,500, the Friday Night Live “Downtown Dance Party” was honored. In the category for Best Event Attendance of 2,500+, the Woodstock Scarecrow Invasion was honored. Main Street Woodstock was the only organization to win multiple awards this year, and this marks three years in a row that the organization has won a Historic High Country Award of Association Excellence. The Historic High Country Travel Association is comprised of travel professionals, attractions, accommodations and other travel industry affiliates, in the seventeencounty area of northwest Georgia known as the Historic High Country.
Teen Leadership Cherokee Class of 2018 Front Row, L-R - Laney Broussard, Woodstock; Katherine Williams, Sequoyah; Gwendolyn Peppers, Etowah; Emily LeBlanc, Cherokee; Alyssa Kirby, Sequoyah; Emma Gelatt, Sequoyah; Anna Huller, Cherokee. Middle Row L-R - TLC Vice-Chair Brittany Page, City of Woodstock; Faith Holley, Creekview; Natalie Allen, Creekview; Preslie Cushing, Creekview; Jackie Johnson, Cherokee; Belle Cool, Cherokee; Ashley Barnett, Etowah; Max Marchetti, Etowah; TLC Chairman Matthew Thomas, City of Canton. Back Row L-R - Logan Griffin, Creekview; Benjamin Prien, Cherokee; Jackson Taylor, Sequoyah; Dilan Mehta, Etowah; Fish Riddick, Etowah.
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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Community
L-R CCSD Superintendent Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Woodstock Fire Chief Dave Soumas, and WES Principal Kim Montalbano
Woodstock Fire Department Named Woodstock ES 2018 Partner of the Year Congratulations to the Woodstock Fire Department (WFD) for being named Woodstock Elementary School’s (WES) 2018 Partner of the Year. The Woodstock Fire Department is a regular presence at WES, as it sparks students’ interest in fire safety and other important lessons. Students love to tour the Fire Safety House and see Sparky the fire dog mascot, and teachers love seeing students learn to use a fire extinguisher and dispose of medicine properly. In the Principal’s words, “George Williams’ enthusiasm and unwavering dedication to Woodstock Elementary School is remarkable.” George Williams is the Fire Safety Educator for the Woodstock Fire Department.
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy Teacher Wins International Teaching Award Teresa Bailey of Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy is Georgia’s 2018 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) Teacher Excellence Award winner for elementary schools. The Teacher Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to technology and engineering education classroom teachers and is presented in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the profession and their students. Nominees are vetted by a committee that chooses the applicants at the elementary, middle, and high school level who each best exemplify excellence in teaching by utilizing activities/instruction that meet or exceed accepted state/ national technology and engineering standards.
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Four CCSD Teams Headed to Georgia Elementary Science Olympiad
Community
More than 500 Cherokee County School District students competed in the Cherokee County Elementary Science Olympiad, with four teams now headed to State! Clark Creek ES STEM Academy Team Maroon and Mountain Road ES Team Red tied for first place – a first in the event’s history. Hickory Flat ES Team 1 placed second, and Bascomb ES Team Blue placed third. These teams advance to the Georgia Elementary Science Olympiad on May 12 at Kennesaw State University.
Mountain Road Elementary
Bascomb Elementary
Clark Creek Elementary
HIckory Flat Elementary
Teams participated in eighteen events designed to encourage exploration of new and challenging ways of solving problems as part of a team. Events require knowledge of science facts, concepts, processes, skills, and applications and are strongly aligned to existing elementary science curriculum standards. More than 100 first-, second- and thirdplace awards were presented to individual students at the CCSD event.
Woodstock MS’s Rod Metcalf Named CCSD Counselor of the Year members, and he was also presented with other gifts.
Rod’s family was present for the announcement. From left, his wife, Amy Metcalf; son, John Metcalf; daughter-in-law, Lindsay Metcalf; and parents, Judy and Harold Metcalf. Woodstock MS Counselor Rod Metcalf is described by his principal as “the heart and soul” of WMS. Mr. Metcalf has supported and guided students since the school opened its doors in 1996. His dedication to nurturing and motivating of thousands of students over 22 years led him to be selected as the Cherokee County School District’s Counselor of the Year for 2018. Mr. Metcalf was surprised with a plaque presented by Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Superintendent of Schools during a recent faculty meeting. He received a standing ovation from his fellow faculty
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
“Throughout the day, there is a constant stream of students to see him, whether the reason being that they need reassurance for that test they are about to take or that they need help with overcoming the obstacles in their way,” Principal David Childress wrote in his nomination letter. “Mr. Metcalf always provides a safe place for our students to get assistance and help that they need.” “This couldn’t go to a better person — he’s been here 22 years, which means he opened the school,” said Dr. Hightower in making the presentation. “He doesn’t approach it as a point of entitlement. It’s ‘what can I do to make the school better’ each and every day.” “I’m just one of many counselors in the county working hard to support the students of Cherokee County. This is not a ‘me’ thing, it’s an ‘us’ thing,” he told his peers upon accepting the award. “If we are all working together, our kids can make greater gains.” WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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Community Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) Announces Contest Winners Johnston Elementary second grader Carly Timbol was the winner of the kindergarten - fourth grade photography contest category with her photograph entitled, Sassy Snowman. Carly Timbol and her winning photo, Sassy Snowman
Freedom MS sixth grader Elysium Virnich Guillen was the winner of the fifth - eighth grade photography contest category with her photograph entitled, Under the Bridge. The theme for the photography contest was “Water in Its Various Forms.” The students received a framed copy of their winning photograph and a check for fifty dollars. The photographs are displayed at the CCWSA main office, Environmental Affairs office, Rose Creek Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), Fitzgerald Creek WRF, Etowah River Water Treatment Facility, and H.Q. Lathem Reservoir.
Isabelle Wright
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Woodstock HS Senior Isabelle Wright won the company slogan contest. Her winning slogan was
Elysium Virnich Guillen and her winning photo, Under the Bridge
“Cherokee’s Safe and Sustainable Water Begins Here!” She also received a check for fifty dollars.
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Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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19
County Jail — What It Is and What It Isn’t By Sheriff Frank Reynolds
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ne of the duties and responsibilities of the sheriff is to be the keeper of the county jail. So, what is a jail, and why is it important to our community? The Georgia Constitution requires the sheriff to perform certain duties including civil process, issuing warrants, providing security at the county courthouse, maintaining and operating a jail, and providing general law enforcement services throughout the county. Although there are many other duties, this article will focus on jail operations. First, jail is not a prison. A prison is used to house state-sentenced inmates who have been charged with felony offenses that require incarceration greater than twelve months. However, a jail does house individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial, inmates who are serving a sentence of less than twelve months for misdemeanor offenses, inmates who have had their probation revoked, or inmates who are waiting to be transferred to a state or federal facility. When a person is arrested, if they are seventeen years of age or older, they are brought to the county jail for processing. Once the person is brought into the facility, they are booked in and
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processed. Depending on the nature of the crime, the person may be given a bond amount, or they may be required to appear before a magistrate judge for a bond hearing. If a bond amount is given, the person may provide a surety in the form of cash, property, bonding company, or they may be released on their own recognizance. If the person cannot post a bond, or is denied a bond, then the person will be held by the sheriff throughout the criminal proceeding. The sheriff is responsible for ensuring each inmate appears at each court proceeding until the case is settled. By law, the sheriff is also responsible for feeding, clothing, providing health care, shelter, and security for each inmate as well as the facility. The current Cherokee County Adult Detention Center (ADC) was built in 2003 for 512 inmate beds and facilities. The older jail, which was built in the late 1980s, is still unitized to house approximately 100 additional inmates. The Cherokee County ADC inmate population has been growing steadily at 8% over the last several years. The daily population trends have ranged from 650 inmates to 750 during the summer
months. Despite proactive attempts to lower the population growth through the use of judicial accountability courts, releasing offenders on citations, and working with probation management — the population continues to grow. Last November, Cherokee County citizens approved a continuation of a special-purpose local sales tax (SPLOST), which will partly be used to build an expansion of the existing jail. This was vitally important because the United States Supreme Court’s case, Brown Vs. Plata, sets standards of inmate health care and population capacity. The architectural and construction plans are underway, with an anticipated project completion in the next thirty-six months. As your sheriff, I’m very grateful for your support in helping the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office provide a service to you while making our community safe. Our team of professional men and women are committed to serving you with the finest law enforcement services you deserve.
Frank Reynolds is the sheriff for Cherokee County. 678-493-4100. CherokeeGa-Sheriff.org
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[HomeLife] According to the College of Allergies, Asthma, and Immunology, more than fifty million people in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies. There may not be much you can do about the conditions outside, but you can diminish or eradicate the irritants inside such as pollen from outside, pet dander, and dust mites. Filters are a good place to start. However, the standard 1” paper filter is designed to protect the system, not so much the inside of your home. Installing a 1” MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) 8 fiber filter in its place will help, but use caution — a higher MERV rating, in this case, can restrict airflow, which can cause poor operation and additional stress on the system. For severe allergy sufferers, that may not be enough. There are great options from nonrestrictive 5” MERV 16 filters to purifiers that remove ozone (a known irritant), particulates such as dust mites, pet dander, and that nasty pollen down
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
to 0.5 microns (a human hair is about 90 microns), and then purify it with ultraviolet light to kill living organisms like mold and viruses. Many people don’t think about the value of proper indoor air quality maintenance. Yes, it does keep you more comfortable at a lower cost throughout the year and helps ensure that your air conditioning unit doesn’t decide to take vacation in the middle of summer. But when done correctly, the technician will not only install a proper filter, he/she will also look for improper refrigerant charge, dirty evaporator fans or coils, and good condensate removal — all of which can cause moisture to build up inside your HVAC system. A damp, cool, dark space is perfect for mold to grow. During your spring tune-up, ask what can be done to improve the quality of air you breathe. The advice should be free, and many electric companies offer rebates for the inspection.
Allergies and Your
HVAC By William Lewis
William Lewis is the president and CEO of Southern Air Pro, LLC, 520 Industrial Drive, Woodstock. 770-7130168. SouthernAirPro.com
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21
Senator Speaks
The Twisted Path of Legislation By Senator Bruce Thompson
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here are many variables that can influence a piece of legislation and successfully having it become law. Previously, I wrote about the importance of changing our voting machines because hackers can gain access to our current DRE (Direct Reporting Electronic) voting machines in less than ten minutes. Since the current operating system on these machines is obsolete, and updates are no longer available, legislation to modernize these voting machines should be a snap to pass. However, the road for Senate Bill 403 (voting machine bill) was arduous because of the complexity of making such an important change during a major election year. I introduced SB403 early in the 2018 legislative session. Three similar bills were also introduced around the same time, but they did not survive. SB403 was assigned to an Ethics Subcommittee that held two separate meetings before successfully voting it to the Full Committee. In Full Committee, SB403 was presented two more times before it was sent to the Rules Committee. By this time, SB403 had changed eleven times to address legal challenges, vendor concerns, and activist requests.
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Why or how does this happen? First, you have what some refer to as “pride of authorship.” Many times, legislators who have watched their own bill die will begin to weigh in on another legislator’s bill. Usually, it is because they are passionate about the issue, but sometimes, it is their pride manifesting, and they subliminally work to kill your bill as well. Before SB403 was selected from the Senate Rules Calendar to hit the floor for a vote, it was changed again. SB403 was voted out of the Senate with an incredible 50-1 bipartisan vote just before the Crossover deadline. The 28th day in the legislative session is called “Crossover Day” because it is the final day any bill that originated in a chamber can be transmitted to the other chamber to continue. This deadline exists to ensure the House and Senate have sufficient time to consider, debate, and change the proposed legislation. After being assigned to the House Governmental Affairs Committee, SB403 was sent to another subcommittee, and the process started all over again. After a couple of hearings and a House substitute of the bill, it was sent to the Full Committee to be deliberated. Once it
made it to Full Committee, testimony was taken in a “hearing only” meeting. After that meeting, it was again changed and called up for a vote the following day. SB403 was successfully voted out and onto the Rules Calendar in the House Rules Committee, which is normally the home stretch. However, Republicans and Democrats were at odds, and SB403 was changed two more times. If the House is successful in passing SB403, it is then sent back to the Senate for the body to agree with their changes or disagree and insist on the original SB403. If SB403 reaches this point, it will enter a Conference Committee comprised of three Senators and three House members. This meeting is an attempt to negotiate a compromise or the legislation dies. Clearly, the path for legislation is very challenging, and it is affected by many people, personalities, and, of course — politics.
Bruce Thompson is a State Senator for District 14, which includes Canton. 404-656-0065. BruceThompsonGa.com
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[Lifestyle] The senior citizens of Ball Ground have something to be very excited about! Almost a year ago, Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth contacted me regarding a new senior center he’d received a grant to construct. Eric knew that Cherokee Senior Services operated a collaborative site from the Ball Ground Methodist Church where a group of seniors met every Wednesday. He wanted to tie both programs together to provide the very best for that group, so we met to discuss the plans.
Senior Services receives funds from the Older Americans Act that allows us to provide programs, meals, and transportation. Our goal is to reach out to those in the community who would like to be a part of this wonderful Senior Center. I have plans to hire a part-time staff member who will be located in the new building. To qualify for the meal program and transportation, a senior must be sixty years of age or older. I know Eric plans to offer the building for use by other senior clubs
or groups in the community. We both feel confident that this will be an outstanding place for folks to come and spend their mornings socializing with others. I would like to thank Ball Ground Methodist Church, especially Kathy Day, for being so dedicated to the group that gathers there on Wednesdays. I know those seniors will miss coming there. So many people have been a part of these plans, and I’m very grateful, especially to Eric, and to Kristi and Laura for working with Eric and the City of Ball Ground on the grant application and work project. For more information about the new Ball Ground Senior Center, please reach out to the City of Ball Ground, visit CherokeeGa.com/Senior-Services, or call 770-479-7438. L
Tim Morris is the director of Cherokee County Senior Services. 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-479-7438. CherokeeGa.com/Senior-Services
By Tim Morris
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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23
BABY Teeth
We Need Them, Too! By Dr. Steven Anderson, D.M.D.
[HealthyLife] “They are just baby teeth, she/he will lose them anyway, so why fix ‘em?” This is a phrase that dentists often hear. However, baby teeth mean more than just cash from the Tooth Fairy. They perform a vital role in children’s oral development, so it is important to keep them healthy and in place until they naturally come out or need to be removed. What is the vital role baby teeth (primary teeth) play in oral development? Besides the obvious fact that these teeth are needed for chewing, they are important to your child’s overall health and the longterm stability of his or her mouth. Tooth decay can impact a child’s overall health. Primary teeth are no less affected by tooth decay than adult teeth, and if the decay is severe, it can be painful until properly treated. Severe neglect of primary teeth can lead to facial infections, abscesses, and life-threatening infections of the head and neck. Children with tooth decay often complain of mouth pain and have trouble eating a regular diet. Primary teeth are necessary for proper speech development, too. You may notice that when your child first loses his “two
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
front teeth,” he may not speak normally. This is natural and usually temporary. However, children who lose primary teeth prematurely may develop a lisp and have difficulty overcoming this condition in later years. Another important role primary teeth play is maintaining critical space and jaw stability for future adult teeth. When this role is overlooked, severe crowding can occur with the adult teeth as well as root damage to the forming teeth. This situation can require extensive orthodontic treatment that might have been avoided with proper care. Careful consideration of space closure that may result with the loss of certain primary teeth is needed. To allow for proper oral development, space-saving appliances are available when primary teeth are lost too early. Primary molars are particularly critical to maintain space for adult teeth. Adult teeth develop beneath the gums and take time to erupt. The premature loss of the space-saving baby tooth may cause the space to collapse, preventing the adult tooth from erupting. Primary molars also allow the permanent molars to “slide” into their correct positions at about
age six. Incorrect positioning of adult molars may have detrimental and lasting consequences. Primary teeth are important in normal facial development as well. Teeth help maintain the supporting facial bone structure. Early loss of primary teeth may alter normal facial development. Expensive orthodontic solutions may be necessary to correct these problems. Each of these problems may lower a child’s self-esteem during the important formative years and can also affect a child’s ability to concentrate and do well in school. Children need healthy teeth to chew, speak, and develop properly. Practicing excellent oral hygiene and treating dental problems early helps contribute to a happy, healthy child. After all, great dentistry is all about you and your kids.
Dr. Steven Anderson is owner/dentist with Anderson Dental of Woodstock and East Cobb. 650 Claremore Professional Way, Ste. 200, Woodstock. 770-384-8505. DrStevenAnderson.com
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Community Partners
ngels Among Us Pet Rescue (AAUPR) began in February 2009 in Cumming, GA. Two friends and neighbors, LuAnn Farrell and Val Addington, realized there was a crisis in the southeast, and so many animals were finding themselves in high-kill animal control shelters with little chance of making it out. They decided it would be AAUPR’s mission to “Rescue One Until There are None.” After receiving 501c3 status, the growth of AAUPR began.
A
While AAUPR was formed to help save the lives of homeless animals and find them loving families, the rescue efforts have profoundly influenced human volunteers and adopters as well. AAUPR has become known as the Angel Family, and it truly is. AAUPR is a community of nearly 1,000 caring, loving, wonderful humans who foster animals, volunteer, or often — both. They reach out and help one another, attend family events, share joy along with the heartbreak of losing some of our very best friends, both animal and human, far too early. Rescue organizational structures are as varied as the types of dogs, cats, and assorted other animals they save.
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AAUPR is foster based, which means once the dog or cat is picked up from the shelter, it is vetted and goes to live in a loving foster home. Here, the animal receives love, training, and often learns what it’s like to be a family member for the first time. AAUPR doesn’t currently have a physical facility, and with only four employees, it is primarily run by volunteers. Most of the funds that are raised go directly toward vetting costs. The majority of funding has been made possible by using social media. AAUPR was one of the first rescues to use Facebook and write in the voice of the dogs and cats. AAUPR is an all-breed rescue — no breed discrimination. They take in all ages from puppies and kittens to seniors. From the beginning, AAUPR has tried to focus on the shelter animals that others overlook, or the medical cases that other rescues can’t afford to treat. AAUPR’s greatest reward is seeing these happy dogs and cats in their new homes and the joy they bring to their new family. The organization often receives holiday cards from adopters proudly showing their new family member sleeping by the fireplace without a care in the world. The difference between these photos and what the rescued animal looked like in the shelter is usually worlds apart. AAUPR is the bridge between what was and what can be. Every dog and cat have a family out there somewhere. It is AAUPR’s goal to help them find each other. Fosters are needed in the greater Atlanta area, but if you own a computer/smart phone, many other volunteer opportunities can be done from virtually anywhere in the U.S. For information about fostering, adopting, volunteering, and/or donating, please visit AngelsRescue. org, email Info@angelsrescue.org, or write to P.O. Box 821, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
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Book Review BY FARRIS YAWN
Bensy and Me Growing up in the south, particularly the rural south, one often has a deep appreciation for the simple things in life such as time spent with friends and family, neighbors who look out for each other and help when needed, or dogs and cats underfoot when sitting down to dinner with loved ones. Songs like Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” and John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” extoll the virtues of a smalltown way of life. The popularity of these songs also indicates that this feeling, or the desire for it, is actually quite universal. Bensy and Me, by Kathi Harper Hill, is the story of a simple man living a sometimes not-so-simple life with love, humor, and a sincere thankfulness for his blessings. Charles “I hate being called Charlie” and Bensy grew up playing in the creek that separated their grandmothers’ homes. They married right out of high school and soon had two children, a boy and girl. However, their lives were turned upside down when they found out they were having quadruplets! Charles and Bensy adapt to their suddenly large family with the help of some colorful family members (Uncle Wend requires his own dictionary!), neighbors, and friends as well as the kindness of several strangers. Written in Kathi Harper Hill’s signature southern Appalachian style, Charles’ character sounds authentically charming. While he is very much a “good ol’ southern boy” in the best sense, his story could easily take place anywhere on earth. Readers will enjoy spending a little time with these characters. For more information about Bensy and Me, or any of Kathi’s six other books, please visit her blog at Kathi-Harper-Hill. blogspot.com.
Farris Yawn is the owner of Yawn’s Publishing, 2555 Marietta Highway, #103, Canton. 678-880-1922. YawnsPublishing.com
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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COVER STORY By Cyndi Braun
Responsible. Reasonable. Ready. These three words describe Harry Johnston’s candidacy for Cherokee County Commission Chairman, a position he believes will make a big impact on Cherokee County’s future. “Cherokee County is the best place in the world to live,” said Johnston. “With careful management of our growth and development, and effective leadership to build quality infrastructure and maintain great County services, we can retain the small-town quality of life that makes us all want to live here, even as we grow.” The Qualified Candidate With many years of financial training and experience, Johnston is the most qualified candidate on the ballot. He previously served fourteen years as District 1 Commissioner and four years as a member of the County Planning Commission. He holds degrees in finance and accounting from Georgia State and is a certified public accountant. He retired recently after 42 years in accounting management with a Fortune 500 company. Harry Johnston with wife Rebecca, daughter Ann and son-in-law David Cloud, son Nathan and daughter-in-law Jennifer Johnston, grandson Phoenix and granddaughter Hannah.
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Key Issues 1. Responsible Growth Management “We are in the enviable position that more people want to move to Cherokee County than we can accommodate without adversely affecting our quality of life,” said Johnston, a long-time leader in the responsible growth movement. “We can afford to be selective about the growth we want.” Johnston supports the County’s restrained land use plan that’s built around a 3% annual growth rate, versus an unrestrained rate of about 4.5%. Translating that into population numbers, a 3% growth rate will double the County population in 25 years, while a 4.5% rate will triple it. Johnston with former sheriff, Roger Garrison.
Involved in many civic and community groups, Johnston grew up in Canton and graduated from Cherokee High School. He is the current chairman of the City of Canton Board of Zoning Appeals and a member of the Canton Historic Preservation Commission. Johnston has been a member of the Republican party his entire life. He’s also a deacon, Sunday school teacher, church treasurer, and choir member. Why Vote for Harry? “I’m well-qualified, and I’ve got the financial training and experience. During my fourteen years on the Board of Commissioners, I functioned as the financial leader of the board. I know how to keep taxes low and services good. I’ve got a proven track record as a fiscal conservative,” said Johnston. “I love Cherokee County. We have fully half of our growth and development left ahead of us. If we do it right, we can make Cherokee County the absolute shining jewel in the crown of metro Atlanta.”
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
The biggest challenges are State highways, which are not under County control. At this time, the State is improving I-575 and will start soon on Highway 20, but more is needed. Johnston has experience working with State, Regional, and other local leaders to get projects moving. He believes in building relationships and developing creative solutions to challenges like these. 3. Conservative Fiscal Management “We need careful and capable financial management to allow services to keep up with the growth while keeping tax rates low,” said Johnston.
Johnston believes residential development should be restrained by limiting highdensity development to areas in and around cities, with gradual stepping down to semi-rural and rural areas. Inappropriate annexations often lead to high-density development in areas that are semirural. Johnston’s goal is to reduce such annexations by improving City/County relationships and cooperation.
The groundwork Johnston laid while previously serving as commissioner helped ensure low taxes in Cherokee County. In fact, Cherokee County enjoys the sixth lowest County-controlled tax rates out of all 159 counties in Georgia. Effectively managing the County’s finances will be critical as Cherokee continues to grow and expand services such as those provided by the Sheriff’s Office and the Fire Department.
Another element of responsible growth management is building a strong business presence, which leads to more jobs in the County. Johnston will work aggressively to bring quality jobs by offering tax incentives and developing business parks to create more local employment opportunities for County citizens.
Through efficient management from a qualified financial leader, Cherokee County can continue to offer low taxes and excellent services.
2. Infrastructure “We need to improve roads and other infrastructure as fast as possible to support the land use plan,” said Johnston. “It’s very challenging to keep up, even at a restrained growth rate. It’s nearly hopeless at an unrestrained rate.”
[
4. Dignified, Cooperative Leadership “I will present a positive and professional image of Cherokee County to Regional and State leadership. After working with four Board of Commissioners chairmen over eighteen years, I understand that the role of the chairman is to be a consensus builder more than to promote a particular agenda. The chairman needs to reach out to all sides and seek solutions that work for everyone,” said Johnston.
HarryJohnston.com/ 404-408-6017
Facebook.com/electharryjohnston/
]
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3 Steps to Beautiful Facial Rejuvenation for Mother’s Day
For patients concerned about signs of aging around the eyes, the article said the key “is a careful patient analysis and a slow technique … One deformity should not be singled out when rejuvenating the periorbital. The best results are obtained when the entire periorbital area is treated at the same time.”
By Drs. Petrosky, Harkins, Leake, and Depew [HealthyLife] Many of the patients who 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. However, treating a single issue isn’t as effective for refreshing your appearance as a more comprehensive approach. Patients who combine different kinds of facial plastic surgery with non-surgical treatments tend to be much more satisfied with their results. An article in a recent issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® suggested that getting the best facial rejuvenation results involves taking a “big picture” approach.
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
That’s also true of the entire face. 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. Schedule a personal consultation. Only through a discussion and exam with a trained, experienced surgeon can you get a full summary of every treatment that might be appropriate for you. Use your doctor’s experience to ascertain which options are best in combination. 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. Ask if multiple treatments will get you better results. 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’s critical to find an experienced facial plastic surgeon who has the skill and an eye for aesthetics to turn your goals into a reality. Be sure to select a qualified and specially trained plastic surgeon.
Drs. Petrosky, Harkins and Leake are board-certified plastic surgeons, and Dr. Depew is a board-eligible plastic surgeon at Plastic Surgery Center of the South. 770-421-1242. PlasticSurgeryCenterOf TheSouth.net
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Save Energy
While Entertaining By Cobb EMC staff
[HomeLife] As the days get warmer, it’s the perfect time of year for dinner parties on the patio. Entertaining outdoors offers a more relaxed setting, easier cleanup, and the chance to save on the usual energy costs that come along with hosting. Before you send out invites, take a few basic steps to get your home party perfect. • Air conditioning and heating can make up 40-50% of your home’s energy costs, so change out HVAC filters monthly to keep your system running effectively. • Replace decorative, outdoor lighting with outdoor-rated LED bulbs that come in a variety of warm colors. Newer models can also be operated by remote control, so your party lights can be twinkling before you even step outside. • Keep extra bags of ice in your freezer. It operates most efficiently when it’s full, and you’ll always be prepared for a party. The day of the party, small changes can make a big impact on your energy bills. • During the day, keep drapes and shades closed to keep out the summer heat. • Have guests enter through the front door or the garden gate. Keeping your garage closed can help lower the temperature in your home. • When you head outside, turn off indoor ceiling fans. Fans cool people, not rooms. The best part of every party is the food. Keep your home cool and energy efficient with these garden party cooking tips. • Use a slow cooker instead of your stovetop to save time and energy dollars. • Use your microwave, rather than your oven, to reduce heat in your kitchen. Better yet, choose no-bake recipes or ones that can be prepared on an outdoor grill. Once you’ve enjoyed an evening with friends, keep the energy savings going as you clean. Did you know that your dishwasher is more energy efficient than washing dishes by hand? Simply fill up your dishwasher, turn on the air-dry cycle, and enjoy not having to hand wash an entire party’s worth of dishes. Sources - Department of Energy, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
These tips were provided by Cobb EMC, a non-forprofit electric cooperative. 770-429-2100. CobbEMC.com
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
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31
Taste of BY HILLARY GALLAGHER
(serves 4-6)
Baby Spinach, Avocado, and Grapefruit Salad Ingredients
*Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients
• 1½ avocados, sliced • 2 whole grapefruits, cut into supremes • 2 crisp apples, peeled and cut into strips (or grated) • 1 lb. baby spinach • ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette* • Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 oz. red wine vinegar • 2 oz. balsamic vinegar • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard • ½ teaspoon honey • 6 oz. extra virgin olive oil • 6 oz. vegetable oil (or any neutral oil) • 2 tablespoons minced herbs of your choice (chives, parsley, basil, or thyme) • Salt and pepper to taste
Baby Spinach, Avocado, and Grapefruit Salad Procedure - Put the baby spinach in a large bowl, season with salt and pepper, and toss with enough balsamic vinaigrette to lightly coat the spinach leaves. - Arrange the spinach in individual bowls or a large salad bowl. - Arrange the avocado slices on top of the spinach. - Arrange the apple and grapefruit segments neatly. - Serve as is or with a piece of grilled salmon, chicken breast, or shrimp.
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*Balsamic Vinaigrette Procedure - In a medium bowl, combine the vinegars, mustard, and honey. - In a separate bowl, combine the oils, and then slowly whisk them into the mustard mixture. - Season with salt and pepper. - Whisk in the herbs, and serve immediately (or refrigerate for later use).
Hillary Gallagher, CCC is the Culinary Arts Program Director and Lead Instructor at Chattahoochee Technical College in East Cobb. Hillary.Gallagher@ ChattahoocheeTech.edu. 770-509-6350. ChattahoocheeTech.edu
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Do You Have Thumb and Wrist Movement Pain? By Atlanta Hand Staff
[HealthyLife] If you have pain or swelling when moving your thumb and/or wrist, it may be de Quervain’s tendonitis (first dorsal compartment tendonitis), which is brought on by irritation or inflammation of the wrist tendons at the base of the thumb. This inflammation causes the compartment (a tunnel or a sheath) around the tendon to swell and enlarge, which is what makes thumb and wrist movement painful. Thus, making a fist, grasping, or holding objects is often very uncomfortable.
What causes de Quervain’s Tendonitis?
This condition is usually caused by taking up new, repetitive activity. New mothers are especially prone to this type of tendonitis because caring for an infant often creates awkward hand positioning. Hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy and nursing further contribute to its occurrence. A wrist fracture may also predispose you to de Quervain’s tendonitis because of increased stresses across the tendons.
Signs and Symptoms of Wrist Tendonitis
The main symptom is pain over the thumb side of the wrist. It may appear gradually
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or suddenly and is located at the first dorsal compartment at the wrist. The pain may radiate down the thumb or up the forearm, with hand and thumb motion increasing the pain (especially with forceful grasping or twisting). You may experience swelling over the base of the thumb, which can include a fluid-filled cyst in this region. There may be an occasional “catching” or “snapping” when you move your thumb. Because of the pain and swelling, motions, such as pinching, may be difficult. Irritation of the nerve lying on top of the tendon sheath may cause numbness on the back of the thumb and index finger.
Diagnosis of Wrist Tendonitis
A hand specialist will generally ask you to make a fist with your fingers clasped over your thumb. This involves bending your wrist in the direction of your little finger, making the maneuver quite painful if you have de Quervain’s tendonitis.
• •
Taking an oral anti-inflammatory Cortisone-type steroid injections into the tendon compartment
Each of these non-operative treatments helps reduce the swelling, which typically relieves pain over time. In some cases, simply stopping the aggravating activities may allow the symptoms to go away on their own. If symptoms are severe or do not improve, a hand specialist may recommend surgery. This surgery opens the compartment to make more room for the inflamed tendons, which breaks the vicious cycle of the tight space that causes more inflammation. You can resume normal use of your hand once comfort and strength have returned. Atlanta Hand Specialist is located in Canton, Marietta, Smyrna and Douglasville. 770-333-7888. AtlantaHandSpecialist.com
Wrist Tendonitis Treatment
The goal is to relieve the pain caused by the irritation and swelling. A hand specialist may recommend the following: • Resting the thumb and wrist by wearing a splint.
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By Carrie Patterson Photos by Robin Cooper
W
hen Fortis came into our lives in February of 2016, she was broken — literally broken. She had been used as a breeding dog for several years. She was malnourished and afraid. It was surmised that she had been thrown from the window of a moving car and left for dead on the side of the road. The local road crew came by
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with a shovel to pick her up, and when they realized she was alive, they took her to the local shelter. My husband and I met Fortis through Angels Among Us Pet Rescue (AAUPR). We had been interested in fostering for several years, but we
hadn’t taken the leap because we were afraid of the unknown. On Superbowl Sunday, I was on my computer when I came across a beautiful dog that needed a foster
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on the AAUPR Facebook page. The next morning, I received an urgent Facebook message plea from a woman I’d never met who would later become a dear friend and mentor. Her message was a video of Fortis trying to walk in the shelter, but she was dragging her back legs. With a simple plea — “Please help me save her.” That was all it took for me. However, my husband Chris took a bit more convincing. He agreed to meet the AAUPR volunteer at the emergency hospital where Fortis would be treated for her broken back. He planned to walk in, take one look at her, and say, “No way. We aren’t fostering.” Instead, Fortis took her first look at him, and it was love — complete, immediate, and total love. She dragged herself over to him, scooted behind his legs, licked his hand, and looked at him as if to say, “Finally — my person is here. I’ve been waiting for you.” Everyone who saw Chris and Fortis together knew it was love at first sight. They knew we would “foster fail” this dog (an amusing, loving term for adopting your foster). But there was no way. We weren’t going to be one of those first-time fosters who foster failed. We had a responsibility! Our responsibility was to heal Fortis’ body and spirit, so she could trust again and be a perfect companion for someone. Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
We even had the perfect type of adopter in mind. We were just waiting for Fortis to get better, so we could begin searching for that perfect person for her. We saw Fortis through the treatment for her broken back. This treatment required us to help her walk, go to the bathroom, and take turns sleeping downstairs on an air mattress until we purchased an old sofa off Craigslist. The treatment also required us to help her through a spay surgery that almost killed her, followed by another surgery to remove masses from her spleen. Fortis had five tumors removed, and then she had a consultation with an oncology specialist, dermatologist, internal medicine specialist, and a neurologist — all with the support of AAUPR, which was made possible by donations to the organization. My husband realized that not only was it love at first sight for Fortis, it was also love at first sight for him. With more difficult treatment down the road, we realized that there was no way we could let Fortis go. She had unconditionally trusted us with her life and her care for almost a
year. We were more than happy to accept the responsibility for Fortis for the rest of her days — no matter how few or how many they might be. We officially adopted Fortis in November of 2016. After nine months of caring for her, we realized what she had known all along — that she was finally home. The story of Fortis IS the story of rescue. AAUPR is the largest fosterbased organization in the southeast. Without people willing to open their homes to shelter pets, there would be no way to save the lives of dogs like Fortis. Fortis would not be here today if it weren’t for AAUPR. Since Fortis came home to us, we have fostered over thirty more dogs including litters of puppies, severe medical cases, and cases where criminal charges have been filed against the former owners. We continue to support the organization and encourage others to foster whenever possible. The truth is simple — fostering saves lives. WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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5
Things to Know Before Hiring a
Tree Service By Mark Russell
[HomeLife] To get the service you deserve, here are some things you need to inquire about when hiring a tree service company:
1. Credentials The tree care industry has the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) and the TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association) that offer education programs, such as ISA-Certified Arborists and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. These credentials are important because it shows that the company is up to date on the latest standards in proper tree care.
2. Customer Reviews Reviews are the great equalizer. There are many options to look up such as Google, Facebook, Angie’s List, and Yelp. First, pay attention to how many reviews they have and whether the feedback is positive or negative. Secondly, if there are negative reviews, how does the company respond? Do they welcome negative feedback as an opportunity for growth and improvement? Or, do they argue with their customer? This may be a good indicator as to how you may be treated if the job doesn’t go as planned.
3. Pricing For pruning, make sure that you’re comparing “apples to apples.” The type of pruning the company plans to perform should be documented in the quote. You should know the size of the cuts, how far out on the limbs are they going, and the diameter of the dead branches they guarantee to prune. For removal, it’s less complicated. Just make sure to verify what your yard will look like after the tree removal is done. Are they going to keep your yard in pristine condition, or are they going to drive heavy equipment that will disrupt your lawn and landscaping? A super low price on removal often leads to a lot of damage because the company is trying to get the work done quickly.
4. Insurance In tree work, there are two types of insurance: general liability and workers compensation. General liability covers your house or property if the tree goes in the wrong direction. Workers compensation covers medical expenses and lost wages if a worker gets injured on your job site. It’s important to not just take the company’s word for it. Call the insurance agent that is listed
on their paperwork to verify that the policy is in effect prior to starting the job.
5. Equipment There is specialized equipment that can not only make the job more efficient and safe but can also save your landscaping in the process. For example, Bobcats® are good unless they have wheels, and it has been raining. Wheeled Bobcats® tend to sink in wet ground. Tracked Bobcats® are much more expensive, but they do much less damage in certain cases. Also, grapples on the Bobcats® that swivel can cost over $15k, but when the machine approaches a pile of brush, their swiveling action means that the 8000-pound Bobcat® does not need to spin and tear up your grass to pick up the pile. Having a well-equipped tree service oftentimes indicates a company that has invested in the right tools for the job. To see a video about these tips, visit Bit. Ly/5treetips or YouTube.com/watch?v=NT XFLeyd9qA&feature=youtu.be.
Mark Russell is an ISA T.R.A.Q/Certified Arborist SO#6098-A and the owner of 770-Arborist Tree Health Care in Canton. 770-272-6747. 770Arborist.com
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
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Pushing Past Simple Gratitude lifestyle with an attitude of gratitude, I [InGoodFaith] “Why can’t you be more realized we must return with an attitude grateful?!” I hear this all the time from of responsibility. As my friend Andy parents in our church, neighborhood, Stanley once said, “What you have is less and in my own home. Virtually everyone important than what you do with what you we know has everything they need: have.” I couldn’t agree more. clothes, shoes, food, and shelter. And they have all the non-necessities, 1. Don’t settle for “grateful.” too: gaming consoles, cell We should feel grateful phones, bikes, and toys. “What you have for what we have, but So, when my 14-year-old is less important gratitude doesn’t move daughter and I returned us to action. Gratitude from a mission trip to than what you do can cause us to miss Ecuador, many people with what the bigger picture. So be exclaimed, “I bet she you have.” grateful, but be more than will be more grateful for -Andy Stanley grateful. what she has now!” But 2. God gives as God sees fit. while we were visiting the We are tempted to believe we earn home of a child in an extremely what we have. After all, you work hard! impoverished community in the middle But when you step into an impoverished of the Amazon rainforest, it hit me: I community, you quickly recognize how don’t want my daughter to feel grateful, easily the roles could be reversed. I didn’t I want her to feel responsible. choose to be born in the U.S. I didn’t Instead of returning to our American-sized
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
By Gavin Adams
choose my parents. I didn’t choose to be provided with education and work opportunities. 3. I’m responsible because I’m a steward. My excess was meant to be used for the benefit others, not just me. We all have excess. That’s okay. What we choose to do with our excess says more about our attitude than any amount of gratitude. Let’s not just be grateful; let’s be responsible. What are you doing with your excess? I believe God has much more in store for those who express their gratitude through the responsibility of generosity.
Gavin Adams is lead pastor at Woodstock City Church, 150 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock. 470-689-6000. WoodstockCity.org
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Fringe Benefits Should You Trim Yo ur Bangs? By Jyl Craven [Lifestyle] One of the easiest ways to dramatically alter your look is to choose a fringe. Fringe, also known as bangs, can work wonders on hair of any length or texture. Not only will a fringe add style, sophistication, and drama to your look, it can also accentuate certain face shapes or conceal features you prefer not to be the focus of your visage. But before you take the plunge and trim your bangs, you should know which style of bangs will suit your facial features best. The following tips will guide you in the right direction:
Square Fringe A square fringe looks like a blunt cut straight across the forehead. This style of fringe can hide a large forehead and balance out a long or round face. Depending on the style, it can also be used to broaden or narrow a face shape. A square fringe can open the eye sockets up and enhance the cheekbones depending on how wide the fringe is cut.
Round Fringe Like a square fringe, a rounded fringe will also enhance cheekbones. The round fringe accentuates the curvature of the eyes more by opening the eye sockets. Many women choose a round fringe when they want to balance out a square face or create an oval face shape. A round fringe also softens harsher features for a more feminine appearance.
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
Side-Swept Fringe
Bowed Fringe Women looking for a highly dramatic look may choose the bowed fringe. This look lifts the corner of the eyes and defines the brow bone while also enhancing the cheekbones. Combined with intense eye makeup, a bowed fringe can make for an extremely striking look.
Side-Swept Fringe The side-swept fringe is popular with women who want to try bangs but aren’t yet sure if committing to the full fringe look is right for them. Most women will find that side-swept fringe works with their hair length and texture as well as their face shape. It even covers rounder facial qualities and balances out the face contours. A fringe novice may ask her stylist about the sideswept style before committing to a square, round, or bowed look. Keep in mind that a fringe may require a little more maintenance when included with
your haircut. Depending on which fringe you choose, your stylist may recommend frequent trims. Finally, growing your fringe out can take a little creativity. Fortunately, your stylist can recommend a style that will incorporate your fringe back into your natural haircut and alleviate some of your fringe growing pains. If you’re dreaming of a dramatic new look without altering the length of your hair, ask your stylist which fringe benefits you! L
Jyl Craven is owner of Jyl Craven Hair Design of Canton. 770-345-9411. JylCraven.com
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ArtistProfile BY HANNAH OLSON
Mary Booth Cabot BALANCING ART AND LIFE
M
ary Booth Cabot was standing in her apartment in Tennessee forty-six years ago when she received her life’s calling to be an artist. She remembers hearing a voice ask her, “What are you doing?” For Cabot, that was all the prompting she needed to quit her job as a secretary and move home to Atlanta where she established Wren Hill Gallery and her now nationally recognized private garden. Cabot has harbored an affinity for art and nature since childhood. She enjoyed helping her mother and grandmother care for their gardens and drawing pictures for her mother of the birds that often visited. It was not until college, however, that she began seriously cultivating her skills through formal classes in painting. She took evening and weekend classes in oil painting when she could spare the time. Cabot recalls one German teacher in particular who would call her up if she ever missed a painting class and convince her, no matter how tired, to come to class. Despite this strong encouragement and her own passion for the art, Cabot gave up painting for a while to focus on the demands of work and school. The night her life changed forever, Cabot took a leap of faith to follow her passions for art and gardening. “I didn’t know how to be an artist,” said Cabot. “That was forty-six years ago.” Cabot began painting race cars on
commission and now works primarily with subjects from her garden — birds and flowers. She has worked with a variety of mediums including oil and acrylic paints, clay, inks, pastels, and watercolor. Watercolor is by far the most challenging medium for Cabot, and it’s also her favorite. Even the smallest choice you make in watercolor can dramatically affect the overall painting. “It is a mind game, like chess,” Cabot stated. “You have to make the moves further out.” Much of Cabot’s artistic inspiration comes from the luscious private garden she tends in her own backyard. From December blooming Camellia and variegated fatsia, to Hydrangeas that blossom June, Cabot enjoys an abundance of beauty year-round. Her garden received national recognition in 2011 when the American Hydrangea Society included it on their annual June tour. Today, Cabot offers private tours of her garden and encourages patrons to call for an appointment. She also teaches watercolor classes in her home and offers framing services at less than wholesale prices.
has a spiritual leg, an emotional leg, a physical leg, and a mental leg. If one of those legs is shorter than the other or gets suddenly broken, we will not be able to live a balanced life.” For Cabot, living a balanced life meant taking a risk to follow her passion for art and sharing that passion with the rest of the world.
For more information about Mary Booth Cabot and her art, visit MaryBoothCabot. com, read her blog at DancingInTheGarden.com, or call 770-329-3380.
Living life as an artist has been anything but easy for Cabot. She has never regretted the choice she made to take up painting and gardening. “Life with all its aspects is like a table with four legs,” she said. “Each of us
Hannah Olson is a student in the MFA creative writing program at Reinhardt University. 770-720-5582. Reinhardt.edu/Graduate/MFA-CW/
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Pediatric Dental
Emergencies By Vishant Nath D.M.D.
[HealthyLife] The upcoming summer months are sure to include lots of fun playtime, which can often lead to accidental injuries. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the best way to react to certain injuries, so you can respond appropriately. If your child has an injury that causes a tooth to become knocked out, contact your pediatric dentist immediately. If the tooth is a baby tooth, the emphasis will probably not be toward saving the tooth. However, it’s still important for your child to be seen by a dentist, so he/she can check for damage to any adjacent teeth.
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If your child loses a permanent (adult tooth), it’s much more critical that every effort is made to save the tooth. Find the tooth, and rinse it gently in cool water. Do not scrub it with soap, use only water. If possible, replace the tooth in the socket, and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth. If your child chips or fractures a tooth, contact your pediatric dentist immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent
infection, and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water, and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If you can find the tooth fragment, bring it to the dentist. If you do not already have a pediatric dentist for your child, make finding one a priority. Most pediatic dental offices have off-hour emergency call services, which can provide much needed care and advice should issues arrive outside of regular business hours. All of these emergency scenarios require the immediate attention of a dentist. Time is truly of the essence. Having a pediatric dentist who is familiar with you and your child can greatly assist you in nursing your child back to great dental health.
Dr. Vishant Nath is the owner of Canton/Alpharetta/Roswell Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. 678-352-1090. KidsHappyTeeth.com
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Photos courtesy of Cassandra Bickel
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y n e a v mp i t a o v C o n ign n I s t e s o dD Showroom M s an ’ a t ing n la del t A mo e R e By
m o H W
hatever your remodeling needs, when it’s time for your next big project or custom job, it’s time to visit Green Basements & Remodeling. With a showroom in Roswell and an office in Woodstock, Green Remodeling offers convenience and quality that is unmatched by its competitors. Established seventeen years ago, this family-based business specializes in basement finishing, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, custom furniture, self-fabricated countertops, outdoor living, commercial remodeling, new home construction, and pretty much any project you can imagine. Employees refer to themselves as “Team Green,” and this teamwork mentality is
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di Cyn
un
Bra
•
When customers are ready to design a project, after meeting with an estimator in-home, the next step is to visit the Showroom in Roswell to meet with designers to select everything needed for the project. Customers appreciate the convenience of the Showroom, which allows them to see multiple products together under the same light without having to travel all over town.
•
Trained designers work with customers to provide a photo-realistic rendering of the proposed project. After customers select everything they need for their job, the designers enter selections – cabinets, countertops, lighting, flooring, even furniture – into design software, so customers can see exactly what they’re getting before work commences.
•
“It is so much cheaper to change something in a design drawing than to put it in your house and then think – Oops! I thought I was going to like that, but I don’t,” said Green. “Before we get started on any project, customers sign off on the design.”
reflected in all aspects of the business, with energetic Owner Laura Green pitching in at all levels.
Why Choose This Company? Green Remodeling employs more than seventy people including an operations manager, sales manager and staff, showroom manager, project managers, designers, licensed and insured workers, master plumbers, and office staff. Their goal is to keep projects moving smoothly and efficiently by keeping everything in-house when it comes to ordering product and scheduling workers. The company has a residential and light commercial contractor’s license, which enables it to pull permits with the county. This means projects are built to code, thus ensuring quality workmanship and reducing homeowner liability. In addition, the company provides several unique services:
3-D Design
Granite Countertop/Slab Yard •
Green Remodeling has in stock more than 250 color patterns of granite, quartz, marble, soap stone, etc. Customers can select countertops in the Showroom, or they can visit the Woodstock slab yard and select the countertop they like. The slab yard also contains remnants for those looking to save money. The service is less expensive and more convenient than ordering a slab from a home improvement store and having the slab cut off-site.
•
“We have a lot of remnants that are very reasonable in price. Our own in-house designers select the slabs on display. We have all the latest colors and styles,” said Green.
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Custom Cabinet Shop •
•
Located at the Roswell Showroom, the custom cabinet shop offers another level of service for customers with unique design needs. Skilled carpenters are ready to take on a variety of custom projects in homes, garages, and outdoor living spaces. Some past custom projects include a home elevator disguised on the exterior as a chimney, custom barn doors, built-in seating with concealed storage, a mahogany dining room table with a built-in lazy susan, custom coffee tables, and other furniture designed to fit the space and family. “I like to show people stuff they didn’t know they wanted until they see it,” said Green. “Anything custom that someone wants, we can figure out a way to do it, whether it’s custom cabinets or carpentry. We’ve even installed a dumb waiter that provides convenience for an upstairs master suite.”
Woman-Owned, Family-Run Owned by Laura Green, the company is team-focused and familyoperated, with Laura’s oldest son running granite
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
shop operations, her mother as office manager, an aunt scheduling estimates, a cousin handling countertop sales, and another cousin overseeing accounting. Originally from Pensacola, FL, Green has lived in Georgia since 1999. She is married with five sons, ranging in age from eleven to 22. If you’re looking for a company
to handle your next remodeling project or a special custom job, consider Green Basements & Remodeling.
Showroom 836 N. Atlanta Street Roswell
Countertop Slab Yard 13987 Highway 92 Woodstock 678-445-5533
GreenRemodeling.com Facebook.com/BasementsAndRemodeling/ WWW. FAMILYLIFE PUBLICATIONS.COM
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By Jill Rowlands
T
here are many popular diets going around, and proponents of each diet will convincingly promote the one they are passionate about as a “onesize-fits-all” solution for everyone. However, the truth is that each person must figure out what works best for them through trial and error. While there is disagreement amongst nutrition professionals about dietary choices, especially extremes, most would likely agree that removing or greatly reducing your sugar intake will promote a healthier body and encourage weight loss.
Due to the addictive nature of sugar, removing it from your diet can be very difficult for many people. Initially, cutting out fruit and all starches is often recommended, but this may be too restrictive for people to maintain. However, focusing on whole, unrefined foods and specific items within a category will usually offer enough variety to help you get through the initial stages of withdrawal and keep you on track.
Eliminate the following from your diet: 1.
Sugar is a main culprit of unhealthy weight gain as well as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and other “dis-eases” within the body. Sugar is America’s number one addiction. When it’s consumed, there is an increase in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is similar to what happens with drug addiction, and the more you eat — the more you want.
Sugar (in all forms) — Honey, maple syrup, artificial and naturally derived sugar substitutes, etc. Though many practitioners approve of naturally derived stevia extracts (some are chemically extracted and grown with pesticides) or the whole herb, the goal is to get your taste buds accustomed to the natural sweetness of whole food.
It has been noted that the average person consumes around 150 pounds of sugar per year! Three-fourths of the packaged foods on the market contain added sugar. A can of soda contains about forty grams of sugar, which is equivalent to ten teaspoons!
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
2.
Refined Flours — Bread products are one of the most heavily consumed food categories, and they can substantially affect blood sugar, insulin levels, and weight gain. In addition, these foods can also exacerbate inflammation.
3.
Dairy — The sugar in milk is lactose. Lactose is broken down by lactase. Most humans stop producing significant amounts of lactase between the ages of two and five. Though dairy has a lower glycemic index (GI), many experts say it can stimulate insulin as though it has a high GI. Many dairy items also contain added hormones and are fed pesticide- and antibiotic-laden feed, neither of which are going to “do the body good.” For some, dairy consumption can cause digestive distress and more. Try removing it for ten days, and if you choose to add it back in, only consume organic, pasture-raised dairy products, and see if symptoms return.
4. Meat and Eggs Produced from Animals that are Fed Hormones, Antibiotics, or Beef-Fed Grains — These items produce unhealthy fats in the animal. There is a lot of play on words with “grass-fed,” and
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“free-range.” Animal products can be labeled with these terms but still be given grains, antibiotics, etc. Make sure to do your research. 4. Low Glycemic Fruits — Enjoy 2-3 servings per day. All berries, Granny Smith apples, grapefruit, lemons, limes, pears, and cherries are good choices. Avoid high glycemic choices like bananas, dates, and dried fruits.
5. Packaged Foods — These often contain added sweeteners, refined ingredients, and chemicals like artificial colors, flavors, or MSG. 6.
Soda/Beverages with Sweeteners (including alcoholic beverages)
7.
Unhealthy Fats — This includes anything hydrogenated/vegetable oils.
What should I eat? (preferably organic versions of the following) 1.
Non-starchy vegetables — You may eat an unlimited amount of these, but strive for a minimum of five cups per day.
2. Proteins — Have some healthy protein at each meal such as 100% grass-fed beef, bison, pastureraised, antibiotic-free, non-GMO-fed eggs, and poultry or wild fish. 3.
Raw Nuts and Seeds or Nut and Seed Butters — Make sure they are not sweetened.
5. Starches — Avoiding these for at least ten days may be best for most people, but if it will help keep you on track, eat no more than two, half-cup servings, preferably not at dinner time. Be sure to select whole grains. No white potatoes. 6.
Healthy Fats — Enjoy nuts or seeds, avocados, cold-pressed olive oil, organic coconut oil, flax oil (do not cook with flax oil), and omega 3s from fish.
7.
Beverages — Drink half your weight, in ounces, of filtered water per day. Try to drink one fresh vegetable juice each day. Do not drink fruit juice except freshsqueezed lemon or lime. Herbal teas, green, or matcha tea are also good choices. Limit coffee to one cup per day.
As mentioned, cutting out sugar isn’t always easy, but after a few days, cravings subside. You may notice better digestion, more energy, less pain, and clearer skin. The goal is to cultivate ongoing lifestyle and shopping habits filled with whole, unrefined foods. Limit natural sweeteners, focus on overall health, and the weight loss will follow.
Jill Rowlands is the owner of Nature’s Corner Market, 200 Parbrooke Drive, Woodstock. 678-310-2532. NaturesCornerMarket.com
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Poison
• Never refer to medicine as “candy.” • Use child-resistant packaging whenever possible.
away from the child, and make the child spit out whatever remains in their mouth. Do not encourage vomiting.
By Ferdinand Yates, Jr., M.D., MA
You should suspect a possible poisoning event if you discover an open container of a toxic item (liquid or solid), especially if the child is acting strangely.
• If there is poison or a chemical on their clothing, remove the clothing, and rinse their skin in lukewarm water.
Prevention and Treatment [HealthyLife] More than two million people have some sort of contact with a poisonous substance each year, and about half of the episodes occur in children less than six years of age. Remember, children are naturally curious, and they learn about their environment by seeing, hearing, touching, and tasting. As poisonings occur by touching and tasting, adults need to protect their children by being sure that potentially dangerous items are not within reach (and preferably, not within sight) of a young child.
Other Signs of Possible Poisoning • Unexplained stains on clothing • Blisters or burns on the lips or in the mouth, or unusual drooling • Unusual odors from the mouth • Abdominal cramps with or without nausea or vomiting • Difficulty breathing • Sudden and unexplained change in behavior • Unexplained loss of consciousness • Seizures
Other Helpful Hints
Immediate Home Treatments for Common Problems
• Use safety latches on cabinets and drawers.
• If something was swallowed, take it
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
• If a poisonous substance comes in contact with their eye, gently pour lukewarm water into the corner of the eye. If you suspect your child has come into contact with poison, call the Regional Poison Control Center immediately at 404-616-9000, or call the National Hot Line at 1-800-222-1222, or dial 911. Source - American Academy of Pediatrics
Dr. Yates is a pediatrician at Woodstock Pediatric Medicine, 2000 Professional Way, #200, Woodstock. 770-517-0250. WoodstockPeds.com
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By Cyndi Braun
W
ith more than 35 years of legal experience, Canton native Benson Chambers is ready to serve as Superior Court Judge for Cherokee County. His experience as both a prosecutor and a private attorney gives him unique insight on the legal process. His many years representing clients from a variety of backgrounds in all areas of the law will help him tackle any cases that end up in his court, and his lifelong history of living and working in Cherokee will make him the kind of judge who truly serves his constituents. “When I started practicing law in 1983, right out of law school, you were pretty well expected to take whatever came through the door in terms of a case. My experience covers almost everything you can imagine in terms of the legal practice,” said Benson. “I started working at my father’s store in downtown Canton in the eighth grade, and I have worked every day since. This kind of experience taught me to work hard, diligently and efficiently.”
The Right Choice for Judge A 1983 graduate of Woodrow Wilson College of Law, Benson has been a Canton municipal court prosecutor for eighteen years. In his private practice, he has represented clients from a variety of backgrounds as well as government, school systems, public authorities, businesses, and hundreds of people like you. Areas of legal practice have included felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, arrest and search warrant issuance while serving
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Woodstock Family Life | MAY 2018
as associate magistrate judge, medical malpractice, personal injury, business litigation, wrongful death, contract preparation, government and school system representation, banking law, estate planning, zoning and land use, bankruptcy litigation, and many more. “I’m fortunate to have exposure and experience in so many areas of law. I believe that will be beneficial to the court itself,” said Chambers. “I also believe Cherokee County deserves a judge who shows respect for everyone, no matter their condition in life, inside and outside of the courtroom.”
Saving Taxpayer Money “I have a strong work ethic, and it will be my priority to be aware of the taxpayer dollars the court costs and to make sure that we are efficient with time management in the courtroom. I will strive to eliminate the ‘Hurry Up and Wait’ atmosphere of the court system,” said Chambers. By running a more efficient courtroom, Chambers believes he can save taxpayers money in the following ways: 1. Timeliness – When the judge arrives late for court or takes an early lunch, the day’s schedule is extended. Sometimes, this means court staff, security staff, and bailiffs end up working overtime, which costs additional taxpayer dollars. “For 35 years, I’ve practiced in courts from the Tennessee line all the way to south Georgia, and I can tell you
that judges can do a better job of managing their cases, which would save taxpayers money. I can make an immediate difference in Cherokee County simply by starting court on time,” said Chambers. 2. Managing Caseload – Chambers would like criminal attorneys to enter their pleas the Friday before jury cases, so they can either resolve their case or be ready to go to trial on Monday. “If you’ve ever served on jury duty, you know that the first day you usually sit around and wait. That’s because on Monday, the judge is taking pleas, settling cases, and looking for the next case that’s ready to go. Meanwhile, the jury sits and waits,” said Chambers. “It seems to me that if the defendant wants to plead guilty, he or she can do that when the jurors are not waiting.”
Meet Benson Chambers Chambers attended Canton Elementary and Cherokee High School. During his youth, he worked at the local Goodyear Tire® Store, Western Auto®, Sosebee Funeral Home, and Chamberhouse, which his sister still owns. He graduated from Reinhardt University and Brenau University before entering law school. He is married to Lisa, has three sons, all of whom graduated from Cherokee County schools, and six grandchildren who call him “Dooda.” Chambers has been a member of Rotary, Optimist, and Kiwanis, as well as the
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Chamber of Commerce, charter member of the Cherokee Chorale, and his church. He is proud to be an Eagle Scout and has been involved in the Boy Scouts® for many years. Most of his life, he was a member of First Baptist Canton where he served as a deacon, sang in the choir, and played the trumpet. When his son became pastor of Sojourn Woodstock, he began attending that church.
Vote for Benson Chambers “I can make a difference for the taxpayers. I can create an environment in which attorneys and their clients can get quicker resolutions for their cases, and I can apply my 35 years of diverse legal experience to whatever may come before me in the courtroom with a temperament of tolerance and respect,” said Chambers.
“... Cherokee County
deserves a judge who shows respect for everyone ...”
770-720-4600 BensonChambersForJudge.com Facebook.com/benson.chambers EBChambersLaw@gmail.com
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