Cherokee Life March-April 2018 by Otis Brumby III

CHL CHEROKEE

LIFE Published by The Cherokee Tribune March/April 2018

Our Home Issue Catch up with stars of ‘Flip or Flop’ l City vs Country Living Inside Cherokee's $13M home l Retire in luxury ... and more

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For Over 30 Years.

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3 Sports Medicine Physical Therapy is a department of Children’s at Scottish Rite hospital.

OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE COMEBACK SPORTS MEDICINE FOR GROWING ATHLETES 8 Sports Medicine Doctors and Surgeons 25+ Locations 40+ Sports Physical Therapists 50+ Certified Athletic Trainers 40+ High Schools and Club Sports Affiliations

Nick Hassan, Femur Fracture

Children’s at Cherokee | 1554 Riverstone Parkway, Ste 160, Canton

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choa.org/sportsmed 2/6/2018 10:44:52 AM

4 CHEROKEE LIFE March/April 2018 Volume 13, Issue 2

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Lee B. Garrett

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Wade Stephens

V.P. OF SALES AND MARKETING

WHAT’S INSIDE

Travis Knight

V.P. OF CONTENT J.K. Murphy

8 CITY VS COUNTRY Acres or buildings? Get a peek at different home options 14 SPICE Step up your kitchen skills this spring 16 LANDSCAPE Help your garden flourish with these tips

EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR

IN EVERY ISSUE

Gary Tanner

CHEROKEE PERSPECTIVE

22 MEGA MANSION Step inside this $13M home

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY

26 HGTV STARS Hear from ‘Flip or Flop’ alums

SCENE

HIGHLIGHTS

30 HISTORIC HOME TOUR Discover Cherokee’s grandest residences 34 OPULENCE Retirement doesn’t have to mean giving up luxury

REFLECTIONS

CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Johnston, Drew Hulse

PHOTOGRAPHER Erin Gray Cantrell

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

LaTria Garnigan, Beth Poirier

ON THE COVER: The rural home of Lisa and Mike Tressler. Photo by Erin Gray Cantrell

ADVERTISING STAFF ADVERTISING MANAGER Paula Milton

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tara Guest

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 770-Arborist........................................................................ 19

Northside Heart................................................................ 11

Acworth Arts Festival.................................................. 39

Northside Hospital - Cherokee................................ 44

Aqua Guard Basements................................................. 36

Northside OBGYN..............................................................15

Canton Tire and Wheel .................................................. 36

Northside Ortho & Sports......................................... 21

Carriage Kia of Woodstock.......................................... 24

Northside Vascualr Surgery.........................................13

Cherokee Breast Cancer...............................................25

Pinnacle Orthopaedics..................................................... 2

Cherokee County Arts Council................................... 31

Plastic Surgery Center of The South.................... 10

Cherokee County Farm Bureau...................................... 6

Provino’s.................................................................................. 5

Cherokee Storage.............................................................32

Reinhardt University...................................................... 29

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta................................. 3

Reinhardt University - Falany Performaning....... 39

City of Canton.....................................................................37

Salon • Spa Venessa......................................................... 10

Darby Funeral Home......................................................... 31

Service Master.................................................................... 5

Electrolysis By Vanessa..................................................32

Shen Yun.................................................................................33

Frosty Frog Creamery & Café..................................... 38

Soleil Laurel Canyon..........................................................25

Funk Heritage Center.................................................... 38

Superior Plumbing..............................................................41

Medical Associates.......................................................... 18

Towne Lake Primary Care............................................. 35

Mid City Pharmacy............................................................12

WellStar.................................................................................... 7

NHC Surgical Associates.............................................. 28

Woodstock Funeral Home..............................................12

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Becky Opitz Ginny Hrushka, Tracy Hoopingarner, Jill Abbott

GRAPHICS COORDINATOR Beth Poirier

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jennifer Hall

PRODUCTION CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Dave Gossett INFORMATION Cherokee Life is published six times a year by the Cherokee Tribune and distributed to more than 20,000 homes and businesses. To subscribe, email circulation@ cherokeelifemagazine.com or call 770-795-5001 To advertise, contact Paula Milton at 770-905-4546 Please send all editorial correspondence to gtanner@cherokeelifemagazine.com

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5 CHEROKEE PERSPECTIVE

finding our way

HOME By Rebecca Johnston

ome is where the heart is. Those few simple words in that old proverb whisper a message that rings true for most of us. For me, it reminds that where my family is, there too is my heart. I grew up in a small ranch house at the edge of Canton, crowded with my brother, sister and me and our parents. But those days filled to the brim with the chaos of day-to-day living were some of the happiest of my life. Mornings that were a blur of getting ready for school, sometimes arguing, always searching for lost papers and book satchels. Afternoons spent doing our homework and playing outside. Dinners each evening when all of us gathered around the kitchen table and shared our day. It really didn’t matter that our den was so small we could barely all fit around the television, or that I shared a bedroom with my sister, or that we only had one bathroom. We were together. As we got older my parents added on to our house, expanding it and giving us all some breathing room, but something was lost in the process. Love really does grow best in small houses. My favorite house, though, was my grandmother’s little cottage on Main Street in Canton. She loved her home so much, and each room gleamed with furniture polish and sparkled with white linens she crocheted. As a child I loved to spend time there. In the winter we sat in the front bedroom in her big rocking chairs where we could watch the world go by her windows. In the summer we moved to the front porch and pulled out the paper fans as we sat in her swing or on the little wooden settee and rocking chair her husband had crafted when he was alive. She didn’t have a television, preferring to listen to the local radio for all the happenings of the day. There were only a few toys at her house. Instead of the usual diversions, we would while away the hours playing dominoes or sewing doll clothes on her old Singer sewing machine, or just talking about everything under the sun. My parents lived in their home for more than 50 years, from the time I was born until they died. My grandmother, who lived

until she was 96, called her little house home for more than 60 years. Our lives had good times and bad, but we always had each other. When my own children came along I tried to recreate those havens of home from my childhood. I am not sure I fully succeeded, but I tried. I worked outside the home, instead of being like my mother, who took on the job of homemaker and parent on as a full-time undertaking. Many nights I would order pizza instead of making those home-cooked meals of my childhood. And organization was never my strong suit. My mother always asked me what I was cooking for my children, and always had a way of raising an eyebrow or giving emphasis to certain words to point out I wasn’t offering a home-cooked meal. But still, our home was always where my heart was. When we became empty nesters, I wasn’t sure I would survive, but somehow, I did. Still I often long for those days of childhood and parenthood when coming home meant finding a bustling family. Maya Angelou said “The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” Maybe that is what home is for each of us – our safe place where we can be ourselves. n

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6 NEWS & NOTEWORTHY

Music festival to fuse Canton flavor and national talent

By Drew Hulse

AGRICULTURE EXPO

Friday, March 16, 2018 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sponsored by the Cherokee County Farm Bureau, Cherokee County Extension Office, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Woodstock.

The Agriculture Expo is part of the National and Georgia Agriculture Month. Cherokee County Farm Bureau Commodity of the year is apples. Enjoy visiting over 30 different Agriculture Display Booths and refreshments. This event is free and open to the public. Farmer Sue and TheArtBarn Crew from Morning Glory Farm will be there with several of her furry feathery friends to celebrate Art, Animals, Agriculture and Education. Locally grown foods, plants, animals and hand crafted products. Farmers Markets, 4-H, FFA and Master Gardeners will be on hand.

If you would like to have a booth or find out more about agriculture in Cherokee County please call the Farm Bureau at 770-479-1481 ext. o

www.cherokeegaexpo.info

herokee County music lovers have a new event on the horizon. On March 3-4, the Etowah River Park will feature live music, food vendors and games, among other forms of entertainment, at the inaugural Country & Rock Music Festival. More than 400 tickets for the festival sold before Jan. 1, and event organizer Nick McCord predicts an audience of 10,000 by showtime. To accommodate the anticipated guests, the festival grounds will boast beer tents, food trucks, rock climbing walls, mechanical bulls, carnival games and a designated paint area to visit during breaks from the music. “We want to put together something where everybody will have a great time from beginning to end,” McCord said. “We want to have different stuff going on, not just listening to the band, and for it to all flow together.” Still, putting the most talent on the stage is his top priority. The Country & Rock Music Festibal will have two stages, and McCord has now booked 17 bands and sing-

er-songwriters for the event. Despite the festival’s country and rock slant, listeners should expect a diversity of sounds and personalities: the lineup ranges from industry lifers like Mr. Blue Roads, to East Cobb School of Rock’s up-and-comers. “The hardest part is trying to pick exactly which bands we want, because right now we have so many bands contacting us wanting to play,” McCord said. “It’s going to be all upbeat country and rock.” The featured musicians hail from Atlanta, south Georgia, Kansas, West Virginia and, notably, Canton. The band Stone Cold, a fixture in the Cherokee County music scene, vows to bring enthusiasm and camaraderie to the festival. “What we lack in talent, we make up for in selling it,” said lead vocalist Joe Chastain. “The biggest comment we get is, ‘you guys are so high energy and so entertaining.’” Lead guitarist and Cherokee High School graduate Danny Tatum agreed. “I’ll get out in the middle of the floor, lay down and play guitar,” Tatum said. Since their founding in 2011, Stone Cold’s country and southern rock sound has garnered statewide recognition. The group won the Atlanta Society of Entertainers’ Traditional Country Band of the Year in 2012, and Contemporary Country Band of the Year in 2014 and 2015; their song “Stone Cold Country” was countryatlanta.com’s song of the month in Jul. 2013. They perform weekly at Canton’s I Love New York Pizza, among other north Georgia venues, where they built and nurtured a strong connection with fans. Having accrued a following in Canton, Stone Cold wields a level of confidence few bands are likely to bring to the festival. “It’s more like friends. I don’t even like the word fan,” Chastain said. “If you ever come to see us, I promise, the minute we’re on break it’s like a covey of quail—everybody in this band hits the crowd. We’ve built the following one person at a time.” It turns out, one person at a time adds up—Stone Cold booked over 40 shows for 2018 before New Years Day. With the Canton music scene growing on Georgia’s radar, the band is catching its stride at an optimal moment. To Stone Cold, though, the festival is like any other show: it’s a chance to have fun and make friends. “Each person is the most important person in the world to us. It doesn’t matter if there’s 10,000 or ten. Whatever the count is, we’re gonna give them the same show,” Tatum said. Although Stone Cold’s performances may never change, circumstances do. Even for a group who wants nothing more than fun and friends, a large event like the festival in your hometown is special. “You’ve got a kid smiling because they want to be a guitarist, bass player or drummer, and they’re looking up because they have found something in that show,” Tatum said. “I’ve seen it myself. Kids will come up and just watch, just soaking it all in, you know? And then I’ve seen those same kids become those musicians. It’s a very touching thing for me to see.” So, after former Cherokee warrior Danny Tatum nails a guitar solo while lying on the ground, look out over the audience. There will be friends, family and—maybe—future musicians. Get excited, and enjoy Canton’s musical legacy.

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8 HOME

Country Living vs City Living Opening the doors to the community By Rebecca Johnston Photography by Erin Gray Cantrell

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10 W

hether choosing country living or an urban lifestyle, Cherokee County has something for everyone. Come along with Cherokee Life as we take you inside two beautiful homes that showcase the best the community has to offer, whatever your preference. COUNTRY LIVING OFFERS TRANQUILITY For those who choose to live off the beaten path, the rural beauty and sense of being away from it all offer special benefits. Lisa and Mike Tressler know that feeling when they return home each day to the reproduction Southern farmhouse they completed in 2014 on five of Lisa’s family’s 70 acres in the Sixes Community. Only a short drive away from the BridgeMill community and surrounding shopping and dining

options, the lovely white frame two-story home seems a world away. “Once I turn onto Lemon Street, I feel my blood pressure drop and I get that quiet, peaceful feeling,” Lisa says of living in the country. “Here you get the wildlife, you get to garden, you see the land.” The couple has not always had the option to live a bucolic lifestyle. They met while students at Georgia Tech, and lived overseas and in major cities while Mike served in the military as a nuclear medical officer. When they lived in Frankfurt, Germany, Lisa worked for the U.S. Corps of Engineers as a deputy project manager on four embassies the U.S. built after the Soviet breakup. These days, although they are both busy with careers and raising their two sons, they return home each evening to serenity. Lisa’s father bought the property from his great aunt in the early 1960s. It had been in the Harp family since the 1800s, she said. Her grandparents, the Hillhouses, lived in the area until their home was taken down when Lake Allatoona was built in the 1950s. “There are elements of my grandparents’ house

Lisa Tressler

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here in our new house. We wanted something that fit,” Lisa said. When they got ready to build in 2013 they chose a Southern Living floorplan of an adapted Georgian style home by an architect whose work they admired. Norris Dunn and his son Shane Dunn were the builders for the project. Lisa’s mother also lives on the property. The house has 3,400 square feet of living space and features a wrap-around front porch and a screened back porch that Lisa says the family loves to enjoy whenever the weather permits. Step into the house from the impressive wrap-around porch, and the front door leads directly into the living and dining room that stretches the width of the house, offering a massive, light space for entertaining and family functions. “I love bright, I don’t like dark rooms,” Lisa said of the lightfilled home. “I tried to do ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s style with lots of windows. I like the open living and dining room so that we can accommodate large family gatherings.” Marble from Tate was used for the fireplace and the formal area is decorated with a mixture of antiques, vintage finds and family pieces. Lisa especially cherishes a desk she designed and her father started making out of walnut he found on the property. But he died before it could be finished and neighbor Jack Hefner finished it for Lisa. “Dad and I drew up the plans for the desk. He loved walnut

wood,” she said of the special piece. The downstairs of the home features the master suite as well as a separate wing that houses an office or fourth bedroom and full bath that is accessible and designed if the couple needs to look after an elderly relative. “We really planned it so that the main living is on the first level,” Lisa points out. Upstairs, you find the two bedrooms for the couple’s sons. The gourmet kitchen and spacious great room stretch behind the living and dining room and are easily accessed by the family through a convenient mudroom. The area features a built-in desk and cabinets. “I love the cubbies and nooks and desk so that when you come in the door there is a convenient place to put everything,” she said. The kitchen’s gleaming white cabinets and soapstone countertops offer a pleasant palette to showcase pieces of blue and white that Lisa has collected for much of her life. Artwork from around the world blends seamlessly with local artwork of historic sites by watercolor artist Elly Hobgood. The bedroom in the spacious master wing offers a sitting area that looks out over the extensive pastureland that surrounds the house and a place for the couple to enjoy morning coffee. Whether starting the day, or ending it, the Tresslers find the peace and quiet they love right in their own home.

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12 CITY LIVING OPENS

Tara Daigle

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www.woodstockfuneralhome.com 12

While the thought of urban living might conjure up images of a loft in New York City, vibrant towns such as Woodstock offer their own brand, with walkable communities close to the city center filled with sophisticated living spaces, a plethora of amenities and like-minded neighbors. Tara Daigle loves her urban lifestyle in The Woodstock Downtown, a community nestled on quiet streets with historic names just steps from Main Street and its hustle and bustle. Daigle’s stately traditional brick home offers a tranquil oasis for the local businesswoman, who exuberantly embraces everything about city living. Whether it is enjoying a concert presented on her neighborhood’s stage, hosting a wedding for 250 for her daughter at the nearby Elm Street Green, or stepping into one of the shops or restaurants she can easily reach on a walk, Daigle finds just the right blend in downtown Woodstock. “I like the mix, the mixture of historical and contemporary, such as Century House restaurant, which is in a historic house and Madlife,” Daigle says, referencing the vibrant downtown music and dining venue. Daigle has lived in her gorgeously decorated 3,300-squarefoot four-bedroom, three-bath home on McAffee Street for about two years, but has been a resident of the area for nine years, trying out condo and townhome living before moving into one of the area’s homes. Built by John Weiland in 2013, the residence, which was on the Woodstock Junior Women’s Club Christmas Tour of Homes in 2016, is one of only three fully brick homes in the community. The neighborhood is made up of 100 homes, 60 townhomes and 66 condos. “There are all types of people in here from all walks of life and all different occupations. We have families, we have kids, we have singles,” Daigle points out. “For a person here who is shy, it almost makes them get out and meet people. For those who like a lot to do, there is always something going on.” Daigle says one of the best features is that The Woodstock Downtown is a true walkable community. “Everybody in here supports Elm Street theatre, the restaurants, and we love events such as First Friday and the Woodstock Farmers Market,” she said. Step inside Daigle’s spacious home and you will immediately notice the sunroom off the foyer that serves as a modern music room with a gleaming grand piano. She purchased the piano from a neighbor who was moving, and it looks completely at home in its new space. The stunning modern gourmet kitchen features a large granite island with an inviting breakfast nook. The magnificent iron chandelier over the island was chosen by Daigle at home design store Pineapple Park in Woodstock, which also did the holiday decorating for the house when it was on the tour of homes. The kitchen backsplash is rough- hewn quartz that sparkles with natural beauty and was chosen by Daigle, along with the granite. The kitchen opens to the living area, and Daigle continued her redecorating there, removing some built in cabinets in the living room that originally flanked the fireplace, replacing them with cabinets by Hooker. The entire space was repainted in a pleasing modern palette. Daigle, who updated the home with all new light fixtures

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when she purchased it, said she uses only contractors and shops in downtown Woodstock for all her decorating needs. “I believe in supporting our local merchants and establishments,” she said. An expansive, airy formal dining room completes the first floor living area. Everywhere, the owner’s private art collection, including oils and watercolors collected during her travels, enhances the space. Look around and you notice immediately that Daigle loves angels, and they are featured predominately in the artwork and accents throughout the house. Upstairs, a loft area filled with furniture that is both functional and fun opens into the luxurious master suite that features plenty of space and an inviting spa bath. The master walk-in closet would elicit feelings of envy in any shoe and pocketbook lover, and the entire closet area is perfectly decorated. “It is a mix of modern and traditional; that is what I like, a mix”

she said. The finished terrace level has an office, bedroom and bath and a three-car garage. Throughout the year, Daigle said that people choose to come into the neighborhood to take photos, whether it is a group going to prom, a wedding party looking for a lovely backdrop, or a family. She also pointed out that whenever someone has surgery or an illness in the neighbor, everyone is there to help. Daigle loves that her lifestyle allows her the ability to stay involved in community activities with a variety of friends, old and new. She points to the annual Christmas parade, where she participated among the 100 floats. The new downtown rooftop wine bar, Rootstock and Vine, hosted a ticketed parade watching party where those with tickets could gather to view the parade and Daigle’s family was among those who participated. “Where else can you get that, go to a parade and visit a rooftop bar? Living in Woodstock has it all,” she said. n

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14 SPICE

Panhandle Paradise grilled chicken breasts

WHAT’S COOKIN’ A spring menu for your kitchen & patio By Gary Tanner

pring arrives March 20 and with warmer weather, more of us will be grilling outside more often. Cooking has long been a hobby of mine, and nothing is more fun for me than taking a few ingredients and seeing what I can create from them. The following menu was one I created in 1995 to serve at the wedding rehearsal dinner of a relative. I was so happy with how the dishes turned out, I entered them into a Southern Living recipe contest and earned an honorable mention. While the rehearsal dinner had 60 guests, the recipes below feed two to four. The salad recipe has evolved over the years with my own tastes. It started out as a pasta salad and today contains no pasta at all, though a little spiral pasta would work well in it as an option. I hope you will make and enjoy this little meal, and let me know how you like it. It’s pretty easy to make and some of the ingredients show up in more than one dish, partly as a strategy to reduce waste. For example the half onion you use in the salsa? The other half can go into the rice dish. Or you could slice it up and add it to your salad. Enjoy.

Ingredients: • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • Salt • Pepper • Brown sugar Preparation: Use a charcoal or gas grill and over medium-high heat, cook the breasts smooth side down for four minutes, flip and cook and additional four minutes. Flip chicken breasts one last time and season smooth side of breasts with salt and pepper to taste. Use fingers to sprinkle a tablespoon of brown sugar over each the breasts. Once the sugar is melted remove to serving platter. Spoon a tablespoon of salsa (recipe below) over each breast when serving. Tip: If you cook these in a pan on a stove top, sprinkle smoked paprika on the breasts as well. It won’t give you the same smoky, grilled taste, but will provide a facsimile.

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Salsa

Combine • 1 large, ripe tomato, chopped • ½ small sweet, white, or yellow onion chopped • ½ small bell pepper chopped • 1 6-oz. can of tomato sauce • Chopped cilantro leaves to taste • Salt and pepper to taste • ½ teaspoon chili powder • ¼ teaspoon black pepper • (Optional) ½ teaspoon of chopped, pickled jalapenos

Spring salad with ginger dressing

Ingredients for salad: • Four cups spring mix salad greens • ½ cup chopped fresh mustard greens • (Optional) ½ cup cooked and chilled spiral pasta • ½ small chopped or julienned bell pepper • 1 small carrot, grated • 1 ripe tomato chopped • 1 small peeled and sliced cucumber • (Optional) ½ small thinly sliced or finely chopped sweet, white or yellow onion • (Optional) ½ cup chopped black olives • Toss all ingredients in a large serving bowl • Dressing: • ½ cup mayonnaise

• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar • 1 tablespoon of minced ginger, or ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger • 1 teaspoon of sugar • (Optional) add two tablespoons of cold water if you would like the dressing a little thinner Put all ingredients into a bowl and combine with whisk until well incorporated and smooth. Pour over salad and toss before serving Tip: If you’re not using mustard greens in your salads, you should. In small doses they bring a spicy bite to any green salad, pasta salads, or even potato, egg, chicken and ham salads. The key is moderation. One chopped leaf is all you’ll need for most recipes made for two to four people.

Anything-but-plain rice

• 1 cup uncooked jasmine rice • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth • 1 sausage (use your favorite andouille, Italian, even brats will all work just fine) • 1 to 1 ½ small sweet, white or yellow onion chopped • 1 to 1 ½ small bell pepper chopped Preparation: Brown the sausage, and sauté the chopped vegetables in the bottom of a two-quart pan. Once the sausage is browned, set it aside to cool. Once cool, remove the casing and crumble the meat into the sautéed vegetables. Add the stock to the sausage and vegetables and bring it to a brisk boil. Add the rice, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. n

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16 HOME

green thumb Tips to get your garden in shape by spring By Gary Tanner

im Gibbs is nothing if not patient. Gibbs Gardens, the 326-acre public horticultural wonder he created off Ga. Highway 20 east of Canton, got its start in 1980. It finally opened to the public 32 years later in 2012. “A garden has to be mature,” Gibbs said recently, but quickly added. “A gardener’s garden is never complete. We’ve added to Gibbs Gardens every year and will continue to as long as I’m alive. I have a deep passion for horticulture and landscape design and this is my legacy. It will be here after I am gone.” His patience in developing Gibbs Gardens bit-by-bit and finally unveiling it to the public when he deemed it ready may seem extraordinary in an age of instant everything. But, as one of the most accomplished and respected gardeners in Georgia and the U.S., Gibbs urges home gardeners to have patience, too. Gibbs, 75, graduated from the University of Georgia in 1965 with a degree in horticulture and a minor in landscape design. He then started Gibbs Landscaping Co. in Atlanta and built a company that has won hundreds of awards for landscape

design, while creating thousands of landscapes – both commercial and residential – throughout the Atlanta area and beyond. Home gardening has evolved over the years, with most yardscapes being designed now for lower maintenance by people pressed for time, Gibbs said. Still, the basics of home gardening remain the same. He urges homeowners to focus on three fundamental steps. Start with a plan Gibbs said the best home gardens don’t just happen, and they are rarely are created all at once. Experienced gardeners can assess their yards and come up with a plan, often inspired by the work of others. Gibbs recalls an enthusiastic visitor to the gardens showing him a picture of a water feature they created and admitted he “stole the idea,” from Gibbs Gardens. Gibbs was not offended, but appreciative. “I’ve traveled all over to see gardens, and what we’ve created here at Gibbs Gardens is inspired by what I’ve seen and learned from others,” he said. “A lot of people who visit come to get ideas. And, that’s a great thing.” — more on page 18

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“You have to select the plants that grow in your area and you have to plant them where they will thrive.” Jim Gibbs

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18 For those who are inexperienced and don’t know where to start, Gibbs recommends seeking the help of a landscape designer. They can look at your space, help develop options and create a design based on your wants. And if the design has elements beyond your expertise — or physical strength — “let the experts do the hard work, and you do the easy work,” Gibbs said. For example, he said, if you want to add a large tree to your yard, a landscape company has the equipment, expertise and manpower to deliver and plant it. Select the right plants Another truth in gardening is that you have to select the right plants for the climate you live in and the conditions the plants will live in, Gibbs said. A plant you saw in someone’s yard in Florida, while beautiful, may not stand a chance of surviving in Ball Ground. “People bring me pictures of plants they want to have in their yards and it’s something that loves full sun, but their yard is shady,” Gibbs said. “Or it’s not a plant that will survive our winters. You have to select the plants that grow in your area and you have to plant them where they will thrive.” Sun loving plants will wither in shade, and plants that thrive in shade will suffer in sunlight. It’s that simple and there’s no getting around it. Gibbs points out that horticulturists have created “plant hardiness” maps and the various geographical zones are numbered. These can be found online through the University of Georgia Extension Service and likely at your local plant nurseries as well. Cherokee County is in Zone 7. Gibbs recommends the book “Georgia Gardener’s Guide,” by Erica Glasener and Walter Reeves as a good guide to what plants might thrive in your yard. “There are lots of books and resources available, but that’s a

great one,” he said. Maintain the plants There are no set-it-and-forget-it landscapes, Gibbs said. The yard designs you create and build will need to be maintained. And, with today’s busy lifestyles, many homeowners are choosing plants that require less attention. Others, however, for who gardening is a passion may choose an elaborate landscape, with a wide variety of plants and spend hours per week tending to their needs. Whichever option is chosen, Gibbs points out that plants are living things that can suffer from neglect and thrive with the right care and attention. When you select plants for your yard, be sure to learn how much water they need, what type of feeding they require and the proper time and techniques to prune and your yard will look its best. Gibbs said he has enjoyed seeing landscape customers with little interest in gardening start to ask questions about the plants in their yards and then start to take over the upkeep themselves. “Usually with gardening, people love it or they hate it,” he said. “But you can learn to love it.” Gibbs learned his love of gardening from his grandmothers who were avid gardeners. It was appropriately a passion vine on his grandparents farm that ignited his on fascination with plants. “The bloom on that passion vine was so intricate and beautiful,” he said. And from there he was hooked. If you want to visit Gibbs Gardens, it’s located at 1987 Gibbs Road, Ball Ground. Millions of daffodils will be in bloom during Daffodil Bloom Fest 2018, which is March 1 through April 15. n

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20 HOME

Spring’s floral jewels Azalea blooms will soon burst open; you can grow your own easily By Rebecca Johnston

n our neck of the woods and across the South, spring brings the explosion of color generously provided by azaleas. For many, Augusta’s annual Masters golf tournament is almost as memorable for its spectacular azalea blooms as it is for its assemblage of the sport’s greats. Down neighborhood streets in Woodstock, and country roads in Suttalee, Cherokee County will soon be ablaze in azalea blooms in the yards and landscapes of homes and businesses. To see acres of azaleas at once, plan a visit to Gibbs Gardens. The University of Georgia Agricultural Extension Service is an expert source for anyone thinking of adding azaleas to their home landscape. Here is what the UGA Extension Service expert and UGA professor Bodie Pennisi recommends for planting and caring for azaleas: When selecting azaleas, check the cold hardiness zones to which they are adapted. Cherokee County, for example, is in Zone 7. If you buy your plants locally, they should be ideal for this area, but ask your plant dealers to be sure. Native azaleas, as well as the introduced hybrids, bloom at different times of year, so planting an assortment of species and hybrid cultivars extends the floral display in the landscape. Be sure you know the mature size of plants so they can be grouped according to height in the landscape. Place tall plants in the background and short plants in the foreground. Also, make certain the flower colors are harmonious in case their bloom periods overlap. Orange-flowering cultivars often

clash with pinks and reds, so plant these colors in separate locations. Also, planting three or more plants of the same cultivar in a group provides a more appealing color display than a hodge-podge of different cultivars, according to an article by Pennisi. The best time to shop for azaleas is when they are in bloom so you can see their flower colors and forms. Also, by purchasing plants in bloom, you will know they are true to type and not mislabeled, she writes. Pennisi recommends that you buy plants that are sturdy, well-branched and free of insect damage or diseases. Avoid plants with weak, spindling growth and a poor root system. Before purchasing plants, examine their roots by carefully placing your hand over the top of the root ball; invert the plant and slowly remove the container. The roots should appear healthy and light brown, not dark brown or rotted.

“Like other plants in the landscape, buy azaleas with a specific objective in mind. Consider how they will fit your landscaping plan. Perhaps you want to create a dazzling display at the entrance of your home or a colorful reflection in a water feature. You may want a particular color that blends well with other plants in a perennial or shrub border, or you may want just one plant to provide a dramatic focal point. Whatever your intentions, use azaleas to complement other plants in the landscape, not overshadow them,” according to Pennisi. According to Pennisi: • Azaleas can be planted any time of year, “provided they can be watered during establishment. Fall planting is best because it is less stressful to the plant than spring and summer planting.” • Azaleas thrive in moist, welldrained soils high in organic matter. Filtered shade is best because some light is

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“Whatever your intentions, use azaleas to complement other plants in the landscape, not overshadow them.” Bodie Pennisi, UGA Extension Service expert and UGA professor

necessary for flower bud formation. An exposure providing morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. • Before planting azaleas, always water them thoroughly. A dry root ball is difficult to re-wet once it is in the ground. If the root ball seems compacted from being in a container, use a knife or similar tool to loosen the roots. • When planting an individual plant, dig the planting hole two to three times wider than the root ball of the plant but no deeper than the root ball. • Thoroughly mix organic matter, such as ground pine bark, shredded decayed leaves or compost, into the soil until the mixture is one-third to one-half organic matter. Then, backfill with the amended soil, and use your hands to firmly pack it in the bottom of the hole to minimize settling. • Don’t fertilize at planting time. Fertilizer can dehydrate and injure sensitive new roots. Wait until the plants are established before fertilizing them. n

For more information about azaleas and their care, including fighting diseases, see an in-depth article from Professor Pennisi online at: http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail. html?number=B670

MARCH/APRIL 2018 | CHEROKEE LIFE

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22 HOME

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$13.5 Cherokee County’s

million estate offers opulent, gracious lifestyle

By Rebecca Johnston Submitted photography

or those looking to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous, a spectacular equestrian estate in Southeast Cherokee County offers the perfect option. Painted View Ranch, a luxury estate on 40 acres on Lower Birmingham Road featuring an impressive home, gardens, pastures, a stocked lake and lighted equestrian arena, is on the market for $13.5 million. The most expensive home for sale in Cherokee County, and one of the most expensive in the metro area, the estate was built by now retired Equifax president Lee Kennedy and his wife Pam beginning in 2009, with the main house completed in 2013, according to information provided about the estate. The home was custom designed and decorated by Pam Kennedy, with the assistance of Bryan Residential Planning Company and Jacklett Construction Inc. Materials from around the world were used for the home and surrounding grounds and buildings. The architectural style of the main house is marked by a stunning turret and was designed with the couple’s Western art collection in mind. The home features such materials as wide plank hickory wood and Jerusalem tile floors, antique beams, 10-foot mahogany doors, an Australian tile roof, terraces and Venetian plaster walls. The estate is accessed through intricately designed iron gates. Bronze statues, including running bronze horses and a bronze heron fountain accent the property and add to the elegance of the estate. The main house is 22,000 square feet of living space with five bedrooms, six full and two partial baths. It includes game, sauna, steam shower, craft and yoga/massage rooms. The main floor includes a stunning two-story welcome room overlooking a garden and a two-story great room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. — more on page 24

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24 The impressive kitchen features Sub-Zero/Wolf kitchen appliances, a large bay window overlooking the estate and copper sinks. The breakfast room has a Venetian plaster dome ceiling and French doors leading to the covered terrace for al fresco dining. The formal dining room has a brick barreled ceiling has two crystal chandeliers, a 360-degree, all glass, climate controlled wine room and wet bar. The two-story living room is accented with rustic beams and a limestone fireplace. The owner’s suite features a beamed cathedral ceiling and a curved wall of windows overlooking the terrace, lake and fountain. The spa bathroom has a bubble tub, large curved, Italian stone and glass shower for two, separate vanities, dressing table and expansive his and her closets. n

Painted View Ranch Estate also includes a six-car garage, heated saline pool, pool house, gardens and trails meandering over bridges. A spring-fed lake, two docks, three fireplaces and smaller pavilion are additional gathering spaces. A carriage house with four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms, two kitchens, state-of-the-art four-stall barn with a two-bedroom apartment, rustic timber pavilion, fire pits, tool shed, street lights, and fencing and a gate for security and privacy. The estate is listed by Cynthia Chandlee, a Realtor with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty’s Alpharetta office.

CHEROKEE LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2018

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25 Everything you came here for – and more.

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102 High Mountain Trace Canton, GA 30114 ©2018 Lifestyles at Laurel Canyon, LLC. Special offers, prices, home designs and other information subject to errors, changes, omissions, deletions, availability, prior sale and withdrawal at any time without notice. Not an offering to CT, NJ or NY residents. Void where prohibited.

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HOME

FLIP

FLOP OR

After 26

Before

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FLIPPERS HAVEN’T FLOPPED Local house-flipping couple has found national success with HGTV series By Drew Hulse

nita and Ken Corsini have been remaking houses throughout Atlanta and its suburbs for years, including Cherokee and Cobb counties. From their base in Woodstock where they live and operate their business Red Barn Homes, the work they have done in the area of flipping – renovating and reselling -- more than 600 houses gained them national attention and their own television show on HGTV, “Flip or Flop Atlanta.” So far, the couple has filmed one 13-episode season and are in the midst of filming a second season. The show is one of several spinoffs from the popular original Southern California-based “Flip or Flop.” “The success of HGTV’s original ‘Flip or Flop’ and ‘Flip or Flop Vegas’ set the stage for ‘Flip or Flop Atlanta,’” said John Feld, senior vice president of programming for HGTV, DIY Network and Great American Country. — more on page 28

Ken and Anita Corsini

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28 The Atlanta housing market is “totally different” from other cities featured on “Flip or Flop” shows, Anita Corsini said. “Atlanta has some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the country. We take pride in making it a little more beautiful with each house we flip.” The Corsinis met in their junior year of college at the University of Georgia and after years of working in other fields with their respective degrees, decided to “pursue their passion.” “In my first five years out of college I was in insurance but always wanted to be in real estate,” Ken Corsini said. “Once I graduated I was listening to real estate courses going back and forth to work knowing somehow that’s where I wanted to be. After five years of being in a corporation, I quit my job and Anita was a teacher at the time and a year later quit her job and became a real estate agent. We both quit what we were doing to really pursue what we love.” Now a national television audience gets to share in that love. How long each house-flipping project takes depends on the size and the work involved. The projects can range from three weeks to two months, Ken Corsini said. The pair has found that many of the projects can be extensive—a century year old house can cost $100,000 to rehabilitate. They’ve also bought houses with unusual items from previous owners, including preserved animals and mannequin parts. The couple commonly finds insects, old magazines, mold and “very odd smells,” Anita Corsini said. “It’s pretty

gross.” Being on television has drawn more attention to their business, Ken Corsini said, but it hasn’t affected the way they do business. “It is a lot to juggle, but it’s a lot of fun,” Anita Corsini said. “It certainly adds. It’s not like anything from our normal work habits, daily lives have changed, you’re just adding filming on top of that—which is adding a very thick layer. But it’s a very fun layer. So, we’re learning to juggle things in a different way. We were always juggling things.” The second season of “Flip or Flop Atlanta,” should wrap production in May, with the new season starting in August. Atlanta’s city center has provided both business for Red Barn Homes and fodder for the program. “There’s a real big push out there to revitalize in-town neighborhoods, which was previously stagnant for years, especially during the downturn,” Ken Corsini said. “But now, you’ve got a lot of young professionals that want to get back in town and not have these long commutes. So, there’s a lot of in-town neighborhoods with really old housing stock— we’re doing one that’s over 100 years old right now. Because of that, that’s making our rehabs a much bigger process.” In the second season of “Flip or Flop Atlanta,” viewers will see some pretty extensive renovations, Anita Corsini said. “Because of the inventory selection that’s out there, the houses we’re picking up are way more distressed than typical. So, on our show, you’ll see much bigger rehabs just because the inventory that’s out there is very severely distressed.”

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29 Even with the success of their show, the Corsinis remain grounded and love their lives in Cherokee County. “We love Woodstock because we love the people first,” Anita Corsini said. “We love the community and the way everyone works together.” “It has a small town feel. Schools are good and the community is tight. It’s a great place to raise a family,” Ken Corsini said. The home where the couple lives with their three children, Naomi, 10, and twins Rocco and Kayla, 7, sits on 14 acres with a private lake. The home has 12 different levels, according to HGTV.

You Will Be A Life Changer

End scene: The credits roll, and the Corsinis remove their microphones. But the work has just begun. Their business, Red Barn Homes, flips more than 100 houses per year, and “Flip or Flop Atlanta” is only the tip of that iceberg. Like most jobs, flipping houses has some basics that the most successful practitioners follow time and again. “The kitchen and bath, historically, you always have to lean heavy on those in terms of providing perception that the house has been renovated, has been updated,” Ken Corsini said. Anita Corsini adds, “Kitchen, bath, and I would throw in flooring and paint always. Flooring and paint is always, always going to be a budget item.” “Our favorite part of the process is watching the transformation happen with the houses. We look at each house as an individual and make it a perfect fit for its neighborhood. It’s really fun watching that come to life,” Anita Corsini said. The following list reveals the most common improvements the Corsinis make while flipping houses in Atlanta and its suburbs: Kitchen upgrades

- Cabinets (new or repainted with new doors and hardware) - Granite or quartz countertops - Backsplash - Plumbing - Light fixtures - Layout or configuration Bathroom upgrades

- New or repainted vanity - Plumbing - Light fixtures - Shower flooring and tile Flooring upgrades

- New or refinished hardwood flooring - Laminates Paint upgrades

- Fresh coat of paint with updated colors

Enrolling Now RN to BSN Open House | March 15 | 6:30–8 p.m. Galleria Conference Room Northside Hospital Cherokee

Exterior upgrades

- Front door - Shutters - Landscaping - Siding

nursing.reinhardt.edu The Bachelor of Science in Nursing holds ongoing initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing. MARCH/APRIL 2018 | CHEROKEE LIFE

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30 HOME

Glimpses of the past Georgia Trust tour opens doors to historic homes By Rebecca Johnston Photography by Erin Gray Cantrell

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or those searching for ideas to renovate a historic home, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is offering a day-long expedition to discover grand homes and historically rich sites in Canton and Ball Ground, two of Cherokee County’s cities rich in history. The day-long event March 24 is designed to allow participants to “explore a variety of grand homes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the National Register Historic District, downtown buildings along the bustling Main Street and interesting historic sites in-progress,” according to the Georgia Trust. One of those grand homes featured on this year’s tour is the residence of Jamie and Mike Morgan on East Main Street in Canton. The home was built in 1929 by Eugene McCanless and designed by architect A. Ten Eyck Brown, who also designed the white marble courthouse in downtown Canton, according to the Cherokee County Historical Society. The stately brick house is in the Colonial Revival style and features a hip roof. The residence, whose graceful façade is accented with twin sunrooms on each side and has five fireplaces, was lovingly restored by the Morgans during a nine-month project. The couple purchased the home in 2014 from the family of Peggy and Louse L. Jones Jr., who purchased the home in 1950 and lived there the rest of their lives. — more on page 32 Mike and Jamie Morgan

Classes:

We have several classes and workshops going on this coming year. Please check our website for more information. Digital Photography by Kim Bates Watercolor Classes by Gary Curtis Meditation on Twin Hearts by Melissa Oliver Oil & Acrylic Painting by Linda Maphet Potter’s Wheel & Fun Handbuilding by Barbara Murphy Weaving by Jane Wimmer Teen Drawing by John Horne Oil Painting from Photographs by Kristina Laurendi Havens Intro to Clay Sculpture: Part II by Julie Nunn

Workshops: Find Your Hand Lettering Style Workshop by Madison Beaulieu

Gallery Shows:

Remembering

a life well-lived...

CCSD Elementary School Show A March 7 - 14 Reception: Thursday, March 8 @ 6-8PM CCSD Elementary School Show B March 21 - 28 Reception: Thursday, March 22 @ 6-8PM Cherokee Photography Club Show Stairwell Showcase

EVENTS: JR Cochran Comedy Show March 3 King’s Academy Presents Annie The Musical March 23 - 25 Tickets available on Tix.com

Complete Funeral ServiCe Cremation or Shipping prearranged planS

Exploring Painting through Watercolor by Anita Huddlestun

To sign up for classes call 770-704-6244 or e-mail info@cherokeearts.org. Include name and phone number. Check our website for dates, times and fees. 94 North Street | Canton, GA 30114

WWW.CHEROKEEARTS.ORG

7 7 0 . 4 7 9.2193

darbyFuneralhome.Com 480 eaSt main Street • Canton, ga 30114 MARCH/APRIL 2018 | CHEROKEE LIFE

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32 The original footprint of the home was retained by the Morgans in their renovation project, except for a spacious master bath added off the downstairs owner’s suite. Only a few minor modifications to the original layout of the house were made, such as incorporating the original sleeping porch into the master bedroom. However, the original windows and doors throughout the house, including those in the sleeping porch, were restored and retained. The Morgans, both Cherokee County natives, had long admired the beautiful home. Mike Morgan grew up on Main Street and remembers the house well. Jamie said she loved the house as a child and never gave up dreaming of someday living there. “I came on a home tour in downtown Canton and saw that it was on the market. I begged Mike to let me call on it and he finally agreed,” Jamie said. “When we saw it, it was not what I thought it would be. It had the drawbacks of an old house that had not been renovated.” But Mike thought it would be a good challenge, she said, and was ready to take the plunge. So they entered negotiations and purchased the house. The extensive renovation included a complete redo of the kitchen, with new cabinets and flooring, but in the original space. The walk-in pantry was spruced up with new shelving and paint. Except for the kitchen, the original floors were used throughout the house. The pool house and pool, added in the 1970s, were redone as well, with an outdoor pavilion added. The elegance and charm of the house remain, providing a glimpse of the past and the families who lived there and called it home through the decades since it was built.

“It was all worth it, we love it here,” Jamie says. “I can’t imagine us anywhere else.” The Georgia Trust Expedition is designed to explore Georgia towns that are off the beaten path. The tour is self-guided and participants provide their own transportation. The Canton tour is a walking tour. Maps and programs are provided at packet pick-up. Canton City Hall will serve as the orientation site. In addition to the Morgan home, the Jones-Johnston home, the Bobo House, the Historic Cherokee County Courthouse, the Cherokee Arts Center and the Lovelady-Homiller House in Ball Ground are among those sites on the expedition tour. A closing reception is planned at Rock Barn in Canton. n

For tickets and information visit www.georgiatrust.org/tours-events/expeditions/.

“Hibernate Your Stuff”

First Month FREE Climate Controlled, Regular, & Covered Parking Cannot be combined with other offers. Valid at this location only. Certain restrictions may apply.

7770 Cumming Hwy • Canton, GA 30115 • 770-720-6225

www.cherokeecountystorage.com

Wake-Up Made-Up & Electrolysis by Vanessa Whenever Atlanta plastic surgeons refer their breast cancer reconstruction patients to Vanessa Adamson, they know they are in exceptional hands. Adamson, who specializes in permanent cosmetics and electrolysis, makes breast cancer survivors feel whole again through areola and nipple micropigmentation. Her practice, Wake-Up Made-Up & Electrolysis by Vanessa, offers lip, brow, and eye permanent cosmetic procedures and permanent hair removal. Adamson uses medical-grade, state-of-the-art equipment and MRI-safe pigment in her Woodstock Clinic. Always enhancing her craft, she recently traveled to Paris for Masters Certification Training. Clients across the country attest to Adamson’s skillfulness.

: "Wake-Up Made-Up & Electrolysis by Vanessa" • 678-445-5000 Woodstock, Georgia • Free Consultation

CHEROKEE LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2018

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33 MUST SEE

AT LEAST ONCE in YOUR LIFETIME

“

I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows. None can compare to what I saw tonight.” —Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic

“Absolutely the No.1 show in the world. No other company or any style can match this!” —Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet

“Poetry in motion... Priceless.” —Siegfried & Roy, Masters of the Impossible

“There is a massive power in this that can embrace the world. It brings great hope… It is

truly a touch of heaven.”

—Daniel Herman, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic

“Absolutely the greatest of the great!

It must be experienced.” —Christine Walevska, “goddess of the cello”, watched Shen Yun 5 times

“Don’t wait, get your tickets now!” —Lee Meriwether, actress

Art that Connects Heaven & Earth

APR 4-8, 2018

Cobb Energy Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339

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877-ATL-SHOW (285-7469) ShenYun.com/Atlanta Prices: $80- $240

2/5/2018 9:09:22 AM

34 HOME

LUXURY LIVING

Cherokee market attractive for 55 and older planned communities

By Gary Tanner Photography by Erin Gray Cantrell

ast summer, “Where to Retire” magazine named Soleil Laurel Canyon in Canton as one of the 50 best planned communities for people 55 and older. It wasn’t the first time the Southeast Capital Companies development made the annual list, either. Cherokee County is a popular destination for 55 and older active adults and has drawn more than a dozen planned communities catering to people in that age group – retired or not – who want to live in luxurious surroundings designed with them in mind. According to the website 55places. com, there are nine 55-plus planned communities in Woodstock and four in Canton. The local communities for 55 and older offer neighborhoods ranging from fewer than 100 homes with prices from the low 100s, to developments with well over 100 homes and prices upwards of $300,000. Soleil Laurel Canyon is the largest of Cherokee County’s 55 and older planned communities, with more than 975 homes that range in prices from the 200s to 500s, with golf, a large, luxurious clubhouse, clubs for residents and many other amenities. Soleil Laurel Canyon is a community within the Canton community. It has its own Optimist Club chapter, plus many other clubs based on interests such as books, crafts, poker, chess and more than a dozen others. — more on page 36

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36 In addition to golf, “Where to Retire” magazine cited the recreational amenities that “include a heated indoor saline pool, billiards parlor, gourmet teaching kitchen, fitness center and aerobics studio, library, card rooms, and an arts and crafts studio. A performing arts center, outdoor amphitheatre, outdoor lagoon-style pool, tennis courts, walking trails, greenhouse,” and more. In addition, Soleil Laurel Canyon boasts that its “two Lifestyle Directors maintain a full social calendar of events including wine socials, movie nights, trips to nearby attractions, and Grandkids day. Residents also host all kinds of events like chili cook-offs, walkabout tours and Broadway-style productions.” Lennar Atlanta opened two 55-plus communities in Cherokee County last year. One was The Gardens of Harmony North, a 40-home development located inside the master-planned Harmony on the Lakes community in Holly Springs. The other was a 140-home community called The Gardens of Harmony set across the street from Harmony on the

Lakes. “These 55-plus communities are built with the sophisticated, well-informed homebuyer in mind,” said Rose Humphrey, marketing manager with Lennar Atlanta. “Today’s active adult buyers are ready for carefree living, which includes a low-maintenance home, a thoughtful floorplan, and innovative storage options. They are ready to enjoy resort-style living enhanced by the many fabulous amenities available to them.” The Lennar communities offer swimming, tennis, walking trails and more. All of the 55 and older communities in Cherokee County tout the lovely scenery, local amenities and laidback lifestyle locally, while also emphasizing proximity to all the cultural and entertainment attractions of Atlanta. Another attraction of these communities are low-maintenance homes with small yards, and community greenspaces that are maintained through homeowner fees. n

We Fix Sinking ConCrete too!

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Driveways Sidewalks Stoops Steps Patios Pool Decks Garages Basements

CANTON TIRE AND WHEEL “Quality Tires and Professional Service... Today and Down the Road”

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• Oil, Lube & Filter • Transmission Service • Radiator Service

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CHEROKEE LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2018

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38 HIGHLIGHTS

A CLOSER LOOK AT EVENTS HAPPENING IN CHEROKEE DURING MARCH & APRIL MARCH 17

MARCH 9

UGA Master Extension volunteers of Cherokee County will present a “Ready-Set-Grow Garden Summit” on Saturday, March 17, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Senior Services Center, 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. Topics include: Good horticultural practices; herbs; edible landscaping; raised bed gardens; pollinators; as well as demonstrations to give participants a better understanding of soils, amendments, compost and fertilizers. To register call 770-721-7803 or email uge1057@uga.edu

Georgia Department of Transportation’s Jill Goldberg will give an update on the Northwest Corridor express lanes now under construction and expected to open this year. Her presentation is 8-9:30 a.m. at The Chambers at City Center, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. The program is free and includes breakfast provided by sponsors WellStar Health System and Georgia Power Co. Reserve your spot by March 7 online by visiting the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce website under the events section.

GARDEN SUMMIT

MARCH 9-18

MARCH 24

The popular play by Alfred Uhey is presented by the Cherokee Theatre Company. Performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. For more information about shows or show times, please call our box office at 770-704-0755.

UGA Master Gardener Extension volunteers of Cherokee County present a seminar on “Pruning Demystified” on Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m. at the Hickory Flat Library, 2740 East Cherokee Drive, Canton. Unsure of what and when plants need pruning: spring, summer, or fall? Come get those questions answered and see techniques and tools demonstrated. To register call 770-721-7803 or email uge1057@uga.edu

DRIVING MISS DAISY

GARDENER’S SEMINAR

NORTHWEST CORRIDOR UPDATE

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MARCH 10

CHEROKEE MUSIC TEACHERS

The Cherokee Music Teachers Association will hold its next meeting and program on Saturday, March 10, at 11 a.m. at the Cherokee Arts Center in downtown Canton. Following the meeting, a program titled “Motivational Piano Teaching/ Teaching for the Real World” will be presented by Geoffrey Haydon of Georgia State University. All those interested in CMTA are welcome to attend. For more information or directions, please contact Linda Lokey at linda@lokey.net APRIL 30

APRIL 21

Music Mondays in May kicks off in April with musical performances at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater in Woodstock, 103 Arnold Mill Road.

Woodstock goes green with electronics recycling from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Woodstock Elementary School, 230 Rope Mill Road. Plus there will be a city-wide yard sale. For more information, contact Marybeth Stockdale, special events coordinator, by email at mstockdale@woodstockga.gov, or call 770-592-6000 ext. 1952.

MUSIC MONDAYS KICKOFF

GREENSTOCK DAY

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40 SCENE

CHEROKEE CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING. The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce recently held its annual organizational meeting. 1. Jamie Pritchett, owner of North Georgia CPA Services in Woodstock, accepted the Small Business of the Year award from Chamber Chairman Bryan Reynolds. 2. Cherokee County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens read a proclamation in honor of 2018 Cherokee County First Citizen Scott McElroy. 3. Jennifer Puckett and Kristi Estes, co-owners of In Harmony Pediatric Therapy were presented the Cherokee Chamber of Commerceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Green Business of the Year award by Reynolds. 4. Reynolds presented the gavel to 2018 Chamber Chairwoman Julianne Rivera. // SUBMITTED PHOTOS //

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42 REFLECTIONS

moment to collect one’s thoughts By Carla Barnes

nother round, silver-plated platter made its way onto the stack proudly displayed on the buffet this weekend. Its tarnished handles and “beauty marks” make it an unlikely object of my desire, but its price jotted on the surface with a grease pencil made it a perfect candidate for my new project regardless of its fall from grace from its former owner. I’ve smuggled quite a few (more than two dozen I think) into our home over the past six months thanks to a project I saw on Pinterest. My husband, Doug, has looked the other way to some degree given that each has been a couple of bucks here and there, and he has a bit of an outdoor gear problem as well. This past weekend he was distracted by his annual “test your manhood” camping trip with the boys. The “testing” refers to a winter trip some years ago where they ended up camping in the snow and ice with temperatures around 15 degrees. His time away is good for his mental health, and for me it is the perfect opportunity to engage in one of my favorite pastimes or what might be considered a competitive sport within my genealogical lines. My daughter complains less these days because I think she just wants to spend time with me no matter the cost. These excursions to thrift stores and dark, overcrowded junk emporiums result in very few projects executed, but plenty of ideas and plans among our group – which also happens to include my mother and father. The idea for a designer wreath completely made of old silver-plate is just one in a series of creative discussions. I’ve spent a great deal of time studying the posted photo and I discuss it often with my dad who I have recruited to build the wooden frame to attach said plates, along with providing other engineering details with the crafty ladies in my circle of friends. It has become a bit of an obsession and despite all my best laid plans, the wreath that my father and I planned to construct after Thanksgiving has taken a back seat to all the other collections now begging for my attention. This weekend we will conduct what I am calling “Move No. 3” from my parents’ home in Albany to transport the remaining

treasures to their new home in Cherokee County. My brother and I hope this is the last of the major loads from the home that my mother fell in love with after I left the nest to get married. The two-story colonial was built for all the beautiful entertaining she would do for the 15 years that would follow their move from the suburban ranch-style home I grew up in. It was the home that showcased all of her favorite things – those inherited pieces that each came with a story – stories kept alive because we talked about the participants on a regular basis as if we had just seen them last week. My mother and I always talked about our family, faith, projects and ideas. We were always engaged in exploring, or talking about beautiful things. I guess it would come as no surprise that this past holiday, we all opted to give each other DNA tests, and a subscription to a well-known genealogy platform to assist us in capturing the names and dates, and make the family stories come alive for future generations. Sadly Doug has felt a bit run over by my zest for this new project, and has uttered the words “manage branches” under his breath as my tree has substantially branched out from the one he originally started. I found myself staring at my tablet at 2 a.m. this past Saturday as I searched through records saving documents and ferreting out those mysteries my family hoped to discover and resolve. I have enlisted the help of my aunt and cousins to get as much down this year as possible. You see the woman who has immortalized our past — the keeper of our stories — can no longer tell them. Alzheimer’s. This has been my family’s giant elephant in the room for the past seven years. Southern writer Flannery O’Connor wrote. “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” Maybe my hesitation in sharing this news before today was that I just couldn’t find the words. I was too busy in my head collecting them and stringing them together into complete sentences in hopes I could share this in some constructive way, and at the same time to celebrate her life — one that was filled with magical moments and the gift of stories. n

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44 WHAT ADVANCED HEART CARE LOOKS LIKE.

Northside Hospital Cherokee was built with a team that is recognized for providing a high level of expertise in treating heart attacks, heart failure and stroke. Right here you have board certiﬁed cardiologists, nurses and expert staff to help you survive a heart attack and teach you how to live a healthy life. That’s a lifetime of care. For information visit Northside.com/Cherokee-Heart.

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