April/May 2011 Northside News

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 1

Proudly Serving The Communities Of Acworth And Kennesaw • Vol. IX, Issue IIII • April/May 2011 • www.northsidenews.com

A Hero’s Welcome Home

Gun Club Slated for Kennesaw Due West/ Highway 41

Above, Club co-founder Robyn W. Marzullo fires her gun at the Sandy Springs Gun Club.

By Mandy Nuwar

Corporal Todd S. Love speaks to supporters at the Dallas Landing Homecoming. (Photo courtesy of Eric Cain)

Record Crowds Welcome Home Injured Marine From staff reports

The Acworth and Kennesaw communities welcomed home a true hero on Saturday, April 9th. Acworth native Corporal Todd Love is a Recon Marine who suffered injuries sustained from an IED explosion while on duty in Afghanistan in October 2010. The arrival marked his first homecoming since his return from the war.

CPL Love flew into McCollum Airport at a little before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 and was escorted from the airport to Dallas Landing Park in Acworth by a processional by the Patriot Guard, American Legion Freedom Riders, and the Acworth Police Department along with other local police jurisdictions.

(Continued to page 2.)

Inside This Issue

A Classic Car Cruise will be held April 30th in downtown Acworth. For more info, please see page 17.

NORTHSIDE NEWS Serving the Communities of Acworth and Kennesaw PO BOX 3052, KENNESAW, GA, 30156 Telephone 770-420-7353 • www.northsidenews.com

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Business

6

Calendar of Events

17

City Beat: Acworth

5

City Beat: Kennesaw

4

Classified Ads

17

Food & Drink Guide

9

Home & Garden

20-21

Money Matters

7

Parenting/Education

22

Police Report

18

Sports Scene

19

Technology

8

There will be a new gun club in town, and it will be the city’s only in-town firing range. The Kennesaw Gun Club and Range is slated to open in late 2011 and will turn the heads of recreational sportsmen, law enforcement officials and novice shooters alike. In a city where all residents are required by law to own a hand gun, the Kennesaw Gun Club owners saw a perfect opportunity to expand to the City of Kennesaw.

An Atlanta-based private investment group, many of whose members developed the first Sandy Springs location, will spend more than $3.8 million transforming the 23,000 square feet into 21 lanes, broken down into three separate ranges, including one for tactical shooting, which involves moving targets.

Club cofounders and sisters Cara Workman and Robyn Workman Marzullo say they saw a need in Kennesaw to provide a safe facility in which hobbyists, hunters and those interested in self-protection could take up the sport of shooting and learn proper gun-handling, without having to travel miles into the city.

The sisters also say they wanted to create an intimidation-free space for women. “Women especially will benefit from learning at the range,” Robyn says. “Many women buy guns for protection but don’t know how to use them.” Kennesaw Police Chief William Westernberger adds, “I’ve had a chance to visit the Sandy Springs location and was very impressed and excited to have the gun club coming to the Kennesaw community.” Kennesaw’s Director of Economic Development Bob Fox says, “We are very pleased that the Sandy Springs Gun Club chose our community for its newest location. The club will have a very positive impact on the economy offering the highest quality facility and service. Kennesaw is a safe, welcoming community with a proven respect for responsible gun ownership, so the club will be a great addition.”

When it opens to the public, the Kennesaw Gun Club and Range will offer individual, family and corporate memberships. In addition to a handsome, members-only lounge outfitted with leather furniture, card tables, plasma TVs and Wi-Fi, the club will boast an oversized dedicated classroom equipped with a Firearms Training Simulator (FATS) and a retail counter with a variety of firearms and accessories available for sale.

Staying true to its unique style, the Kennesaw Gun Club and Range will offer its venue for private parties and corporate events.

Kennesaw Gun Club and Range will be located at the intersection of Kennesaw Due West Road and Cobb Parkway. Sandy Springs Gun Club and Range is located at 8040 Roswell Rd. For further information, please call 770.394.4867 or visit www.sandyspringsshootingrange.com. u

Movie opens based on true story of Harrison High School family...see page 2.

2 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Injured Marine Receives Hero’s Welcome Home

Continued from page 1

The route took him through downtown Kennesaw and then through downtown Acworth on Main Street. The public lined the streets, decorated storefronts, and then attended the homecoming event at Dallas Landing Park. His father, Gary Love, said, “All of the people showing up and lining the streets with flags and signs were amazing. It was a huge outpouring of support. For example, there were at least 50 or 60 cars, and over 300 motorcycle riders from ten different organizations who came out to support us. But probably what touched me the most was at the baseball field.

All of the baseball players lined up from home plate to all of the way around the bases, with hats in their hands, to honor Todd as he passed by.”

An Acworth native, CPL Love attended both Wheeler High School and North Cobb High School. As a Recon Marine, he lost both legs and one arm from injuries sustained from an IED explosion while on duty in Afghanistan in October 2010.

The 5th Quarter Movie Based on Story of Abbate Family From staff reports

The death of a promising young athlete just days before his 16th birthday inspires his older brother to lead his college football team to new heights in The 5th Quarter, the moving saga of the Abbate family of Marietta, Georgia. Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell and Ryan Merriman star in this touching true story from writer and director Rick Bieber. When 15-year-old Harrison High School student Luke Abbate (played by Stefan Guy) is killed in a tragic car accident, the loss leaves his close-knit family reeling with grief. Fueled by faith and their deep familial bond, the Abbates try to rebuild their lives without Luke, fulfilling his wish to help others by donating his organs to save the lives of five other people. But despite the support of loving friends and family, his death leaves a void in their lives that threatens to tear the family apart.

Struggling with the devastating loss, Luke’s older brother Jon (played by Ryan Merriman), a gifted football player at Wake Forest University, decides to honor his brother’s memory and love for the game by dedicating the 2006 season to him. With the added motivation of “playing for two,” he dons Luke’s beloved No. 5 jersey and inspires his teammates to play the Luke Abbate is played by Stefan Guy. best football of their lives--and become the most improved team in America. Predicted to finish last in their division, the Wake Forest football team surpassed all expectations by winning an unforgettable championship season. A tribute to the power of hope and love, The 5th Quarter is an inspiring true story about a family coming together to rally a team, a school and a community to achieve more than they could ever have imagined.

Corporal Todd S. Love hasn’t let his disabilities keep him from doing what he loves. Above, CPL Love shows off his skiing ability in later winter.

CPL Love’s original company, 1st Recon Battalion, B Co., out of Camp Pendleton, California has been fighting for our country in Afghanistan since May 2010. CPL Love was point man on a foot patrol on the morning of October 25th, 2010 when he triggered an improvised explosive device (“IED”), causing him to lose both his legs and ultimately his left arm.

On October 29th, he was stable enough to be transported back to the states where he was taken to Bethesda, Maryland. He spent nearly four weeks at the National Naval Medical Center recovering from many surgeries and attempting to regain his strength. On November 18, 2010 he became mobile for the first time since his injury as he finally gained enough strength to maneuver himself in and out of his new wheelchair.

“...the parts that were important are not gone: his heart, his mind, and his faith in God.”

His journey towards recovery continued on November 27, 2010 when he was discharged from the NNMC and transported to The Walter Reed Army Medical Center. There, he began his process of adapting to his new life as a triple amputee. Rehabilitation was his focus as he learned to rely upon himself. He even went skiing in late winter.

At the homecoming ceremony in Acworth, CPL Love took the microphone and even joked about having a blast in Afghanistan. His father said, “Todd has a great sense of humor, and that makes it easier on our family. He will often say, ‘Look, I have no legs, but look at what I can do.’ So I don’t really see him as without legs. He’s the same son I’ve always loved. There may be less of him now, but the parts that were important are not gone: his heart, his mind, and his faith in God.” According to his dad, Todd is enjoying 30 days of combat leave at home, but remains on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps as part of the Wounded Warrior Regiment at The Walter Reed Naval Hospital.

If you would like to make a contribution towards Todd’s out of pocket expenses, please visit any BB&T location or make a donation over the phone by calling Amber at BB&T 706-884-1992. u

It’s a story that would be unbelievable if it weren’t true. A family loses a beloved child in a senseless accident. Their intense grief first drives them apart, then brings them back together and eventually inspires an entire community. “I knew the bones of the story were very dramatic and tragic, as well as extremely inspirational,” says Rick Bieber, who wrote, directed and produced The 5th Quarter. “This family, the team, the school and the community all came together in response to the death of a 15-year-old boy. That ended up driving them to exceed their own expectations and turn a tragic loss into a triumphant football season.”

Bieber was introduced to the Abbate family of Marietta, Georgia, at the end of Wake Forest University’s 2006 Cinderella football season, spending several days with them in Miami right before the team’s Orange Bowl appearance. At that first meeting, Bieber and the Abbates discussed what it would be like to expose so intimate and tragic a story in a feature film that millions of people would have an opportunity to see.

The close-knit Abbate family, parents Steven and Maryanne, sons Jon and Adam, and daughter Rachel, considered Beiber’s idea of making their story into a feature film the way they do everything--as a family.

They were unanimous in their conviction that Luke’s story was one that needed to be told. “Rick saw it as a great, inspirational story that would reach many people and touch many lives,” says Steven Abbate. “We thought it could be a good way to honor Luke and his memory. But we chose to tell the story of not just the tragedy, but also the incredible inspiration Luke gave to his brother Jon, and that Jon in turn gave his team. “We also hope that it will remind people that a single irresponsible act can shatter so many lives,” he adds. “If this movie changes the way one teenager drives, it’s worth everything it took to get it made.”

Their biggest concern was making sure that the story was told exactly as it happened. “Making this film meant taking the hardest thing that ever happened to me and putting my private feelings about it into a public forum,” says Maryanne. “It was scary. I’m very protective of our family. I worried about our surviving children and about Luke, who isn’t here to defend himself. This is something I hold so close to my heart. I wanted it to be as true to life as possible.”

Sharing their story with a relative stranger was a daunting process for the Abbates. It would be just the first of many difficult steps during the filmmaking process, but the family felt an almost instant connection with Bieber. “The chemistry was immediate,” says Steven. “We trusted him to tell the real story from the very first day. We bared our souls to him so he could create this script, and he listened well to everything we told him. He never disappointed us.”

Reading the script for the first time was an emotionally wrenching experience for the Abbates as they were forced to relive the most painful moments of their lives. Maryanne wept as she turned the pages. “I still can’t read the script and not cry,” she says. “It’s hard to see your life in front of you like that. No parent should have to live through that. And yet, it also reminded us of the 2006 football season, which was a real gift for us because it was something to look forward to. Reliving that part of it was joyful.”

The crucial factor for everyone involved in the film is that Luke’s memory lives on in The 5th Quarter. “It was an unbearably tragic event,” says Jon Abbate. “It was something that never should have happened.

Perhaps it will teach teenagers that driving is dangerous. It’s a lot of responsibility when you have other people in your car and I hope that we get that point across.” “Any parent who loses a child worries their child will be forgotten,” says Maryanne. “I would take Luke back in a heartbeat, but that’s not going to happen. So I feel really blessed that at least he’s going to be remembered through this film.” u

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 3

CTC

July

CTC Goes to Semesters!

Due to Semester transition, CTC will offer an abbreviated 5 week Summer Quarter starting July 7- Application deadline June 24

Application deadline July 29 Fall Semester begins August 22 770.528.4545 A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Equal Opportunity Institution.

2011

4 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

City Beat: Kennesaw Ponier Music’s Great Guitar Give-Away

Interview by Rik Hunsucker

Ponier Music has been advertising with Northside News that if you sign up for three months of lessons, you get a free guitar. Rik Hunsucker sat down with Doug Ponier of Ponier Music to ask him about his unique program.

Rik: So now you are giving away guitars? Tell me about this program.

Doug: Yes, free guitars. It’s simple: Sign up for three months of lessons, get a free guitar. Our motto is, “We don’t just want you to own a guitar. We want you to play guitar.” So far we have given away about 35 guitars.

Rik: Yeah, but the guitars are really crummy ones, right?

Doug: Actually, no. The customer may choose any guitar in the store that costs $129.95 or less. Even if you want to get a more expensive guitar, you just pay the difference. So you can get a $200 guitar for just $70 bucks.

chance of mistakes, and I’ll enjoy the process more by getting professional help.

Rik: So I should apply that same concept to making music?

Doug: Exactly! And that is why we are giving away the guitars. We know that if you get proper help right from the start instead of “seeing how it goes,” you are going to have a better chance of sticking with it. Don’t just own a guitar, Play guitar!

Doug Ponier is the owner of Ponier Music. Ponier Music has been serving West Cobb, Kennesaw, and Woodstock for 16 years on everything musical. For more information visit www.poniermusic.com or see the advertisement on page 22. u

Rik: Why give them a guitar? Why not sell the guitar and get them to sign up for lessons?

Doug: We get a lot of parents who come in to buy their child’s first guitar but don’t sign up for lessons. I hear, “We want to see how it goes first.” Or, “We want to see if he/she is really interested, and then we’ll get the lessons.” Quite honestly, that is a terrible way to look at it.

Rik: Really? That is exactly what I thought when I bought my son his guitar. Why is that such a bad idea?

Doug: Is he still playing?

Rik: No. Doug: I think you answered your own question. Let me put it this way: I could buy a book on how to build a deck and try to build a deck. But it would be a heck of a lot easier if I got my friend Joe, who builds decks for a living, to be right there next to me for guidance.

Rik: That makes sense.

Doug: Of course it does. My progress is going to be faster, easier, with less

Doug Ponier shows off one of the guitars he’s giving away with the purchase of three months of lessons.

City Beat: Acworth

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 5

Local Authors Sign History Books at Waterstone Conservatory From staff reports

Two local authors will be signing their books at the Waterstone Conservatory in downtown Acworth, next door to the Acworth Bookstore. The book signings will be held on April 17th at 2pm.

The author of The Nimrods, Roger D. Graham, Colonel, USAF-Retired, flew 182 combat missions with the A-26 Nimrods in the “Secret War in Laos” in 1967-68. During 1963-69, the author flew for six years with the USAF in B-52 and A-26 aircraft. From the Cold War between

the Soviet Union and the United States, to the Vietnam War and the War on Terror, he believes that The Nimrods is a story of American combat courage that needs to be told and remembered

by America and the West. Lessons learned from past wars must not be forgotten.

Based upon his father’s World War II combat death in the Battle of the Bulge and his own experience in the Vietnam War, the author is convinced that real Americans have true grit and they will rise up and fight to defeat Islamist tyrants and terrorists. This book is a wake-up call to America and free countries around the world: defeat the terrorists or risk losing your freedom and your way of life.

Tyrants and terrorists are using their oil money to buy nuclear power, and most likely, nuclear weapons. Our choice is to have the courage to confront and defeat the Islamist radicals, or to become victims of brutal extremists who murder to gain power.

During the last 20 years of his Air Force career, the author served as a judge advocate, including the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt and assignments in the Washington, DC area. After retiring from the Air Force, he worked for twelve years with Lockheed Martin Corporation as the F-22 Program Attorney. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy , law school at West Virginia University, and graduate law school at George Washington University. u

Two different wars were fought in Vietnam, the jungle-and-booby-trap one down south, and the WWII-like one up on the DMZ. “I was one of a handful whose Vietnam tour was evenly split between the First and Third Marine Divisions, and saw, firsthand, the difference 170 miles could make during the war’s bloodiest year,” said author Robert E. Peavey.

Corporal Robert Peavey was a tank commander operating in I Corps (Eye Corps) on the DMZ when LBJ ordered a bombing halt over the North. His compelling firsthand account chronicles operations just south of the ‘Z, operations that most histories of the Vietnam War have completed ignored.

He offers detailed, understandable explanations of combat strategy, strengths and shortcomings of standard-issue armament, and interservice rivalries.

Praying for Slack is a great read. Peavey mixes combat action with reflection on the nature of the Marines’ war in Vietnam. He tells his life and death tale with the gallows humor characteristic of American combat soldiers and Marines.

About the author: Upon his return from Vietnam, Robert E. Peavey graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology. He now lives outside of Atlanta. u

6 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Small Business

Six Tips for Small Businesses Waiting for Economic Recovery From staff reports

As recovery creeps up on the U.S. economy like molasses going uphill in the winter time, small businesses are starting to feel the pressure ease, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to go back to “business as usual.”

That’s the opinion of consultant Jim Muehlhausen, CPA and author of The 51 Fatal Business Errors and How To Avoid Them (www.51errors.com). He wants to help owners keep their cool as the economy starts to warm up. He has narrowed down the reasons why small businesses tank during the lean times.

Small businesses face more challenges than the large corporations with huge cash reserves to help them through financial crises. They are more susceptible to market fluctuations, have fewer clients to support them and generally have more transient staff. On the flip side, they also make up 70 percent of the businesses in the U.S., so as goes small business, so goes the economy. Small business: • Represents 99.7 percent of all employer firms.

• Employs about half of all private sector employees.

• Pays nearly 45 percent of total U.S. private payroll.

• Has generated 60 to 80 percent of new jobs over the last decade.

• Hires 40 percent of high-tech workers (such as scientists, engineers, and computer workers).

In order to prevent the ensuing panic and confusion to consume your business, Muehlhausen has devised six basic rules that can help steer businesses clear of the pitfalls of recession: 1. Focus – Pay more attention to your business model and your business, and pay less attention to the economy. Keep your eyes on the road, and not the landscape, and you’ll get where you’re going.

2. Don’t Throw the Hail Mary – Don’t make dramatic changes. Work on the tactics already in front of you. Keep moving and keep working at the tasks that have traditionally helped your company succeed and don’t count on that big order or some other source of instant salvation.

3. Stop Fretting – This is a terrific time to tune up systems, make large time investments in future products/services that you just did not have time for when times were good. Rather than lamenting bad times and wasting time on activities aimed at making things better right now, focus on two years from now while everyone else is short-term focused.

4. Buy a competitor – Now is a great time to buy weaker competitors. Prices are low and rolling their business into yours can add valuable employees and sales at bargain prices.

5. It’s not the economy, it’s your model – The weak economy has hit businesses with weak business models MUCH harder than those with solid models. If the economy has hit you hard, this is not bad karma. It is a sign that you need to tune up your business model.

6. Ignore Web 2.0 at your peril – Yes, Web 2.0 is just as valid for B2B as it is for B2C. Web 2.0 programs include Google AdSense, blogging, search engine optimization, and relationship building and participation. Web 2.0 methods and utilization will continue to grow and improve.

“Decisions made out of panic and anxiety are rarely, if ever, the right ones,” Muehlhausen said. “I’m not sure there is a single business book or consulting firm that has recommended running scared when times are bad. That being said, far too many business owners let fear affect them and their choices. Times are not great, but people still have money and companies are still spending. For every business that is closing, ten more are surviving. So, relax, focus and get smart about how to navigate the tough times. You may find you wind up doing even better than before.” u

Business/Money Matters Cutting Losses Can Be More Painful Than you Think Courtesy of Edward Jones

Why do stock prices fall? Various factors are involved, but in a nutshell, prices drop when more people want to sell stocks than buy them. Conversely, the more people who buy a particular stock, the faster that stock’s price will rise.

If you’ve studied basic economics and the law of supply and demand, you’ve already got a pretty clear sense of why stock prices move the way they do. And yet, while the process sounds fairly logical, the behavior of many investors isn’t — which gives you some good investment opportunities right now.

To understand why so many investors have acted in a way that may be counter-productive, let’s look at consumer behavior in another context. Suppose a hypothetical couple, Mike and Mary Ann, bought a house five years ago for $200,000.

They liked everything about the house, and it was the right size to meet their family’s needs for many years to come. However, the sharp decline in the housing market has caused Mike and Mary Ann such concern that they decide to sell their house, even though they can only get $160,000 for it. By selling now, they reason, they can avoid further drops, and when the market stabilizes, they can buy another house in the same neighborhood.

To sum up: Mike and Mary Ann took a $40,000 loss on a house they didn’t even need to sell. In essence, they were betting that the housing market, against all historical evidence, would not recover enough to compensate them for staying put.

Most people would question the rationality of this type of behavior. Yet many of these same people do the same thing when it comes to investments.

Specifically, over the past year and a half, they have sold investments — even quality investments — that still met their needs for growth, income or a combination of both. And when they’ve sold these investments, they’ve taken losses — sometimes, big losses.

Just like Mike and Mary Ann, they thought they must sell now to avoid bigger setbacks later.

Don’t make that mistake. If you weren’t planning on selling your investments before the market decline, why sell them now, when you’ll just be locking in a loss? Many successful investors hold the same investments for 20, 30 or 40 years — in fact, sometimes they pass these investments on to their children, who also hold them for decades.

Are you so sure that your investments, which may indeed have declined 40 percent or more over the past couple of years, won’t recover those losses and climb to new heights in the years ahead?

You may someday need to sell, but do so for the right reasons — a change in your goals, a need to rebalance your portfolio or a fundamental change in the companies in which you’ve invested. In the meantime, not only should you hold on to the investments that still meet your needs, but you should also consider adding new investments while the price is so low.

The more shares you own, the better your financial position will be when the market turns around.

This type of behavior takes patience, discipline and faith in our markets. But over the past century, the investors who have demonstrated these traits have been well rewarded — and there’s no reason you can’t attain the same results.

To schedule a complimentary portfolio review with an Edward Jones advisor, please call or visit one of the local advisors today; see the advertisement on this page for more information. u

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 7

8 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Technology

When “FREE” really Isn’t...Be Careful of Online Scams From staff reports

There isn’t a better price than free, and there is no place that is loaded with more for free than the Internet.

The only problem is that even when a site advertises it’s free, many time’s it’s not – and the real price can be steeper than you’d ever want to pay.

That’s the warning offered from Todd Drowlette, chairman of MoveThatBlock.com, a new free site for consumer classified, real estate and personals listings.

Drowlette said that his research into the consumer-toconsumer advertising space on the Internet revealed a wide variety of practices that exist for the sole purpose of deceiving the consumer.

“We all tend to have faith in the ‘truth in advertising’ laws protecting us from bait and switch scams,” Drowlette said. “The problem is that the Internet is so saturated with bait and switch sites, the government would never have enough resources to prosecute them all. So, it’s really up to the consumer to beware and be aware of the kinds of sites that are out to get their money, get their email addresses or just flat out rip them off.”

His tips include: • Free or Premium – Before signing up with a listing site, surf it carefully to ensure that all their user listings are free. It’s common for them to charge companies for display ads and banner, but that’s only one of their revenue models. Many sites advertise free user listings, but in reality, only the first one

is free and only after you sign up for a paid membership.

Make sure you understand exactly what you will be getting for free before you sign up.

• Credit Card for ID Purposes – Some sites will ask for your credit card information to determine that you are of legal age to place an ad. Don’t believe it. If someone wants your credit card information, it’s because they want your money, not your ID. In some cases, you’ll find an unauthorized charge on your card, but because you didn’t read the fine print when you signed up, it’s impossible to get the charge reversed.

• Terms of Service – When you register on a classifieds or pay to use site, don’t just click through all the registration procedures. Each click constitutes an agreement with the site, so read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policies carefully.

This is not just fine print. These documents spell out your legal rights, and the site you’re visiting is counting on the fact you won’t read them. In addition, the privacy

policy spells out whether they will sell your email address to spammers once you sign up. Sure, the ads are free, but you’re actually paying with your email address and personal information, which may be sold to spammers and other promotional companies who will inundate you with junk mail.

• Free to Post – Sure, it might be free to post, but that may be all you can do. Many sites use that as the come-on, and then advise you that only premium (paid) members can see your listing, or that you cannot get responses until you pay for a premium membership yourself. Make sure everything is free before you post. After all, what’s the point of posting if you can’t communicate with anyone who sees it?

“Free sites will never ask you for a credit card and they will never ask you to pay any kind of fee up front,” Drowlette said. “I feel bad for the people who sign up, click through everything so they can just get their ad posted, only to wake up the next week to find out their email account has been closed because someone hijacked their email address to send spam. Free is not always free if you have to pay for it with your privacy.

Read through the ad site before you post on it, and you’ll know what you’re getting and exactly what your giving in return for it.”

Todd Drowlette began his entrepreneurial career at age 11 with a morning paper route. In 2010, Todd authored the book “Everything I Needed to Know About Real Estate, I Learned on my Paper Route”. He has spent the last four years running IKON Realty Group, LLC, one of the country’s premier boutique commercial real estate firms, specializing in retail real estate. Learn more at www.MoveThatBlock.com. u

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 9

Featuring: Big Shanty Festival..............................................................16 Big Shanty Smokehouse........................................................ 9 Cinco De Mayo Recipes...................................................... 14 El Taco Azteca Bar & Grill...................................................15 Georgia Aquarium..............................................................13 Johnny’s Pizza.....................................................................11 KDDA Farmer’s Market........................................................ 9 Keegan’s Irish Pub..............................................................11 Mexico Tipico....................................................................15 NCG Cinema......................................................................

15 Popular Diets: Experts Weigh In............................................12 Rose Hall............................................................................

20 Subway..............................................................................12 Trackside Grill....................................................................10

Nickelodeon’s Leon Thomas (above, left) of the hit TV show “Victorious” will visit Kennesaw on April 16th to support fund raising efforts for the city’s new after-school program for teens. He will appear in the parade at the Big Shanty Festival, and then will host a program at 6:30 p.m. at Kennesaw Mountain High School ($5 per person) to help raise funds for the new Kennesaw Teen Center.

For more information, please see page 17.

10 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Popular Diets: MD Anderson Experts Share Insight Courtesy of MD Anderson

Nutrition experts from MD Anderson separate the good from the bad among popular diets, including those that help lower your chances for disease such as cancer and heart disease.

“Losing weight can help lower your chances for cancer if you’re overweight or obese,” said Daxaben Amin, a senior clinical dietitian in MD Anderson’s Department of Clinical Nutrition. “But beware: not just any weight-loss plan will give your body the nutrients it needs to fight off diseases.”

“Diets that make our ‘good list’ encourage long-term change,” Amin said. “They also give you a variety of options from all food groups.”

Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean-style diet makes the ‘good’ list because it encourages people to make a life-long commitment to good nutrition.

we are

U N D ER C O N S T R U C T IO N .. .

but we are still oPen!

This diet also meets many of the dietary guidelines used for preventing cancer and heart disease. These include: . Making fruits, vegetables, nuts and other plant-based foods a big part of every meal . Choosing healthy fats, like olive and canola oils, instead of butter . Flavoring foods with herbs and spices instead of salt . Limiting red meat and alcohol intake . Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week The Whole-Body Approach This type of diet focuses on eating six to seven small meals each day, instead of the standard three large meals. It makes the ‘good’ list because it offers the disease-prevention benefits below: • Adding fruits, vegetables and whole grains into at least half of your daily meals • Encouraging eating lean protein • Limiting foods high in fat •Including daily physical activity Crash diets lead to crash endings “Diet plans that encourage short-term change usually don’t provide the nutrients your body needs on a daily basis,” Amin said. “These diets make our ‘bad’ list.”

Gluten-free Gluten is a protein found in most whole grain foods, like wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Gluten-free diets are becoming a popular trend. When people go gluten-free, they stop eating foods containing whole grains. But, unless someone has celiac disease, he or she shouldn’t go gluten-free.

Here’s why: whole grains are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. They protect the cells from damage that may lead to cancer.

Carbohydrate-free “Don’t follow diet plans that tell you to completely ‘cut the carbs,’” Amin said.

According to Amin, people should limit their carbohydrates to maintain a healthy weight. But, completely cutting out carbohydrates also cuts out the body’s primary energy source.

B reak i ng g ro u nd !

Trackside is expanding the dining area with garden patios complete with two outdoor fireplaces. The project will also feature a full-service, enclosed bar and construction of a roof-top party deck. The restaurant will remain open serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch throughout the construction process. Visit our website for hours of operation and construction updates.

Th a n k y ou “ hom e T ow n ! ” The expansion project would not be made possible without our customer loyalty and the support of the community we call home. Special thanks to the entire City of Kennesaw staff and the Kennesaw Downtown Development Authority for their cooperation and assistance during this challenging process. Trackside is proud to support local small businesses for the construction of the expansion project. We are excited to partner with the following businesses: Metro Bank of Cobb County Croft & Associates Architecture Capital Construction Group, Inc. Stone Forest Materials High Stakes Digital Printing & Graphics

Even worse: people deprive their bodies of some important cancer-fighting carbohydrates — vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans.

“Instead of going carb-free, choose your carbohydrates wisely,” Amin said. “Pick whole grains rather than cakes, cookies and other foods made with processed or refined grains and sugars.”

Moderation is the secret to success Maintaining a healthy weight requires a life-long commitment. And, the secret to long-term success is moderation.

“Keep your pantry stocked with a variety of disease-fighting foods found in MD Anderson’s disease prevention grocery list at www.mdanderson.org/focused,” Amin said. u

Mon - Tues

Wed - Sat

Sun

11:ooam - 3:00pm

11:00am - 9:00pm

10:00am - 3:00pm

2840 S Main St NW | Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 770-499-0874 www.TracksideGrill.com

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 11

Relive the 1920s at the Strand with Great Silent Films

By Christy Rosell

Earl Smith Strand Theatre patrons will step back in time to relive the 1920s with a movie series featuring the very best of the silent era. In the early days of cinema, going to the movies was a way to experience escapism from reality and to daydream about other worlds.

“The common man would enter the theatre palace of splendor, be ushered to a cushioned seat by an usher with military bearing, and feel like royalty,” said Ron Carter, Strand board member, Strand organist, and active member of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society.

Patrons will also feel like royalty when they first enter the lobby with beautiful plastered walls, an antique chandelier, and gold leaf designs on the walls. Movie goers enter the auditorium through copper palatial doors, enjoying hand-painted end standards on plush theatre seats, golden columns, and a historic proscenium arch above the movie screen. And nothing quite compares to a live soundtrack by Ron Carter on The Strand’s Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. The Strand is one of only four historic theatres in the state of Georgia with the ability to showcase silent films with live organ accompaniment. Another feature that makes seeing a movie at The Strand a unique experience is concessions! Not only can patrons enjoy the more traditional snacks of popcorn, candy, and Coca-Cola during the show, but a wine, beer, or mixed drink makes the experience feel a little more special than it does in a traditional movie theater:

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (Not Rated). Sunday, May 15, 2011, 3 p.m. With live accompaniment by Ron Carter on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. In this 1927 morality fable subtitled A Song of Two Humans, the “evil” temptress, a city woman, bewitches farmer Anses and convinces him to murder his neglected wife, Indre. One of the last silent films of the era,

Sunrise is an Academy Award winning film considered the Citizen Kane of American silent cinema. Live organ pops variety show and sing-along at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors.

Flesh and the Devil (Not Rated). Sunday, August 28, 2011, 3 p.m. With live accompaniment by Ron Carter on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. Two lifelong friends Leo (John Gilbert) and Ulrich (Lars Hanson) have their friendship tested by the irresistible vixen Felicitas (Greta Garbo) in this 1926 silent film.

A breathtaking romance fraught with passion and betrayal, Flesh and the Devil is a dramatic gem of the silent era starring Greta Garbo in her first American appearance. Live organ pops variety

show and sing-along at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Not Rated). Sunday, October 30, 2011, 3 p.m. With live accompaniment by Ron Carter on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself in this silent thriller. This 1920 film starring John Barrymore thrills as it explores the duality of man in a chilling tale that delves into science and morality, creating a lasting tribute to the Robert Louis Stevenson story. Live organ pops variety show and sing-along at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors.

The historic Earl Smith Strand Theatre is a multi-use performing arts and events facility. The theatre is governed by the Friends of The Strand, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and depends on the financial support of private and corporate donors. It is The Strand’s mission to serve the community with cultural entertainment for a diverse audience and to promote economic health in the City of Marietta and Cobb County. For more information or tickets, visit www.EarlSmithStrand.org or the Box Office at 770-293-0080 or 117 North Park Square, Marietta, 30060. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans will play on Sunday, May 15th at 3:00 p.m. at Earl Smith Strand Theatre to 12 PM; 1 PM to 4 PM; and two hours before the show. u with live accompaniment by Ron Carter on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ.

12 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Fast Food & the Lean, Mean Teen: Making Healthier Choices From staff reports

Being a teen is tough. Most days your schedule is jam-packed with activities from the time you crawl out of bed to the time you face-plant onto your mattress at night. You’re balancing school, social life, homework, chores, and a host of extracurricular stuff that might range from sports to band practice to an after-school job.

“Fast food is part of the American lifestyle, and it’s not realistic to suggest that teens—or adults, for that matter—will never eat another burger or large fry again,” says Shanley, coauthor along with Thompson of the new book Fueling the Teen Machine: What It Takes to Make Good Choices for Yourself Every Day, www.bullpub.com). “The key is to simply know what your best choices are the next time you need a fast meal on the go.”

(Super)-Size does matter. We live in a society where bigger is better. Even in fancier sit-down restaurants, servings are often larger than what a healthy teenage stomach can comfortably consume. And while it’s tempting to go for the biggest package deal, the same thing is often true of “mega-sized” fast-food meals. Before you order the jumbo burger and the humongo gulp drink, think twice about whether you really need all that food.

Fish and chicken don’t always deserve their healthful rep. You know what they say about assuming: don’t. This is especially true when it comes to choosing your “main course” at the fast-food counter. It’s a common (if not universal) assumption that white meat is healthier than red meat—but that’s not always the case. Since many fast-food restaurants bread and fry their chicken and fish, these choices often end up having as much or more fat and calories than a hamburger.

Download the (nutritional) lowdown. Yes, it’s important to know what’s in the foods you eat—how many fat grams and calories, how much sugar, and, yes, how much good stuff like calcium and vitamin C. As mentioned, all fast-food joints provide nutritional info on their menu items. And Thompson and Shanley suggest that you stay on top of what’s what the hightech, twenty-first century way. That’s right—there’s an app for this, too!

Go green. Yeah, sometimes you’re just craving some salty fries more than anything else. But if you’re not being driven by the relentless need for some deep-fried potatoes, give some thought to ordering a side salad instead. It’s a great way to fit in a serving of nutritious veggies!

Skip the mocha-frappe-espresso-ccino-with-whippedcream coffee drink. Yes, coffee shops are fun hangout spots, and all those specialty coffees and baked goods look scrumptious! (And some fast-food restaurants have these sweet, caffeinated treats, too!) But did you know that one beverage and a muffin are often a whole meal in terms of calories…though not necessarily in terms of nutrition? Ordering these treats on a regular basis might not be so desirable after all.

Think outside your go-to wrapper. Most of us gravitate toward one or two meals when we go to our favorite fast-food spots.

Although it might mean reading the menu more carefully than you have in years, going beyond “the usual” might pay off for your tastebuds…and your body.

“In recent years, many fast-food chains have become more health-conscious and have expanded their menus,” Thompson

points out. “Look for and try more nutritious choices such as soup, baked potatoes, salads, yogurt, milk, or bagels. Who knows? You might even find a new and improved ‘usual.’”

Step away from the soda. Did you know that those caffeinated, refreshing beverages account for as much as 10 percent of the typical teen’s daily calories? Yikes! Many of us overlook drinks when assessing the nutritional value of any given meal, which can be a mistake. You don’t have to cut sodas entirely—but remember that moderation is key.

“Consider going back to your childhood mainstays like water, 100 percent fruit juice, and milk when placing your order,” advises Shanley. “Chances are, they’ll be just as tasty as you remember—plus, they’re excellent sources of vitamins, calcium, and even protein. Also consider smoothies made with real fruit, especially if they’re not loaded with sugar.”

“Mix and match these tactics when the drive-thru beckons, and you’ll be doing your body and health a favor,” concludes Thompson. “Remember that many of the choices on the menu can fit into your meal plan—it’s just a matter of how often you choose certain foods and what you eat along with them that make the difference. By simply changing your side item or beverage and being aware of what each choice really contains, you’ll save lots of calories and gain nutritional value.”

“The bottom line is, it’s all about balance,” adds Shanley.

“Every young person has days that get away, practices that run late, and families who can’t always sit down for a meal at the same time. Don’t worry too much about the occasional supper in a bag—just make the best choices you can and compensate the following day by emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.” u

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 13

Georgia Aquarium Opens AT&T Dolphin Tales Gallery & Show Courtesy of the Georgia Aquarium Georgia Aquarium recently announced the muchanticipated opening of the AT&T Dolphin Tales gallery and show. Dedicated to inspiring memorable connections between humans and dolphins, AT&T Dolphin Tales strives to create a greater understanding of these magnificent animals and to develop a lasting legacy for the conservation of dolphins and other marine mammals.

“The new gallery and show is an important addition and expansion of Georgia Aquarium’s focus on the care of marine mammals,” said David Kimmel, president and chief operating officer for Georgia Aquarium. “This commitment began with the opening of the Aquarium in 2005 when the beluga and sea otter exhibits were first featured. AT&T Dolphin Tales represents nothing less than the next level of engaging the public to care about these animals.”

Serving as a moving tribute to the beauty and grace of dolphins, the 84,000-square-foot AT&T Dolphin Tales exhibit uses entertainment to educate audiences with dynamic performances by a live actor, trainers and charismatic animals and effects utilizing light, water, video, sound and dramatic costuming, all set to the storyline of a professionally orchestrated soundtrack.

The spectacular 25-minute show, created specifically for Georgia Aquarium, is narrated by the show’s lead character, the StarSpinner, a mysterious adventurer and storyteller who leads the audience through an interactive journey across the oceans and through the ages. Throughout a mythical journey of good versus evil, aided by the guidance of the dolphin cast and engaging audience interactions, guests will be on the edge of their seats one moment, and soothed by an aquatic ballet the next.

Two trainers watch as a dolphin peeks over the wall at the audience members.

Emmy award-winning producers and directors developed the production in concert with a world-class team of talented individuals, assembled from the worlds of television, film and Broadway. An original musical score was written and composed by renowned composer Tim Williams, and recorded by a 61-piece orchestra at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles as a tribute to the beauty and whimsy of the dolphins.

All Georgia Aquarium guests can get an up-close look at the naturally playful behaviors of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins through a 25-foot-long acrylic viewing window located in the gallery lobby. Periodic dolphin viewing is included with Georgia Aquarium general admission.

Entrance to the AT&T Dolphin Tales gallery is included with Georgia Aquarium general admission. An AT&T Dolphin Tales ticket is required in order to see the live show.

Through AT&T Dolphin Tales and its many other programs, Georgia Aquarium seeks to educate audiences on the importance of embracing aquatic animals, motivating viewers to care about them and inspiring them to make positive environmental choices. AT&T, a sponsor of the Aquarium’s Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow since 2005, is the new sponsor of the AT&T Dolphin Tales gallery and theater. AT&T recently completed an expansion of its Distributed Antenna System (DAS) inside the Aquarium to include the AT&T Dolphin Tales gallery and theatre. A DAS consists of several strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout the Aquarium, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas.

Three dolphins and three trainers do the “pectoral fin hold” at the Georgia Aquarium.

Tickets to the AT&T Dolphin Tales show are now available at georgiaaquarium.org. To ensure a seat at this spectacular production, guests are requested to book their seats in advance. Ticket packages including admission to the Aquarium and AT&T Dolphin Tales start at the following rates: Adult, $37.45; Child (age 3-12), $25.95; Senior (age 65 and up), $30.45.

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest with more than 10 million gallons of water and the largest collection of aquatic animals. Georgia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org. u

The trainers spend numerous hours with the dolphins before the show.

14 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

FAMILY FEATURES

G

ather friends and family around the table to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with these specially selected recipes. They’re fast and easy to prepare, so you can relax and share a festive meal with those you love.

Committed to bringing authentic, high-quality Mexican food to the family table for more than 100 years, Ortega continues to share a rich heritage of family traditions for festive occasions as well as for every day meals. Find more ways to celebrate at www.ortega.com and www.facebook.com/OrtegaTacos.

Chipotle Chicken Taco Cones

Prep Time: 10 minutes Start to Finish: 20 minutes Makes 8 cones 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, diced 1 pound ground chicken 3/4 cup water 1 packet (1.25 ounces) Ortega Chipotle Taco Seasoning Mix 1 can (16 ounces) Ortega Refried Beans 8 8-inch Ortega Flour Soft Tortillas 1 cup shredded lettuce 1 cup diced tomatoes 1 cup (4 ounces) finely shredded or grated Cheddar cheese Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes or until translucent. Add ground chicken; cook and stir 5 minutes or until browned. Stir in water and seasoning mix. Remove from heat.

Warm refried beans in saucepan or in microwave.

Wrap tortillas in lightly moistened paper towels. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) 20 to 30 seconds, or until pliable.

Fold tortilla in half; spread with refried beans.

Form tortilla into cone shape;* press to adhere outside corner with refried beans.

Fill cones with chicken mixture, lettuce, tomatoes and Cheddar cheese. *To form cone, lay tortilla on work surface.

Holding one pointed end down, grasp other end and bring point to round edge, twisting point under slightly. Curl opposite end around outside of cone and press to adhere with refried beans.

Beef Taco Salad with Guacamole Dressing

Prep Time: 15 minutes Start to Finish: 15 minutes Makes 6 servings 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 pound lean ground beef 3/4 cup water 1 Ortega Whole Grain Corn Taco Kit — includes 10 taco shells, 1 packet (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix and 1 packet (3 ounces) taco sauce 1 head iceberg lettuce, diced 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup Ortega Guacamole Style Dip 1/4 cup mayonnaise Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 4 minutes or until translucent. Add beef; cook and stir 5 minutes or until no longer pink. Drain and discard fat. Stir in water; add seasoning mix and taco sauce from taco kit; mix well. Cook and stir 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened.

Break taco shells from taco kit into bite sized pieces in large salad bowl. Add lettuce, tomatoes and cheese; toss to combine. Add meat mixture; toss to combine.

Combine guacamole dip and mayonnaise in small bowl; pour over salad. Toss lightly. Serve warm salad immediately.

Tip: For more color and nutrition, add other fresh vegetables to the salad, including shredded carrots, sliced radishes, sliced cucumbers or broccoli florets.

Chocolate and Cinnamon Tortilla Pudding

Mini Crab and Cream Cheese Flautas

Photographs: © 2011 Publications International, Ltd. All rights reserved

Prep Time: 5 minutes Start to Finish: 15 minutes Makes 24 mini flautas 2 cups vegetable oil 1 package (8 ounces) pasteurized crab meat, drained 1 can (4 ounces) Ortega Fired-Roasted Diced Green Chiles, drained 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 6 8-inch Ortega Flour Soft Tortillas 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup Ortega Salsa Verde Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat to 375°F. Line platter with paper towels.

Combine crab meat, chiles and cream cheese in medium bowl.

Spread about 1/4 cup mixture down middle of tortilla and firmly roll like a cigar. Keep tortilla roll closed with 4 toothpicks. Cut between toothpicks into four equal pieces; set aside. Repeat with remaining filling and tortillas.

Place pieces carefully into hot oil. Cook 1 minute or until golden brown, turning once.

Remove with slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels.

Combine sour cream and salsa verde in small bowl: mix well. Serve with flautas as dip.

Tip: Serve some Ortega Guacamole Style Dip too, and encourage double dipping.

Prep Time: 40 minutes Start to Finish: 1 hour 40 minutes Makes 8 servings 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup water 10 8-inch Ortega Whole Wheat Soft Tortillas, divided 1 cup diced fresh pineapple or canned pineapple, drained 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips, divided 3 eggs 2 cups milk 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Whipped cream Combine sugar and water in small saucepan over mediumhigh heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar melts and begins to bubble. Pour into 9-inch square glass baking dish; tilt pan to evenly coat bottom and sides with sugar.

Tear 5 tortillas into bite-size pieces. Place evenly in baking dish. Sprinkle pineapple and 1/3 cup chocolate chips evenly over top. Tear remaining 5 tortillas; place evenly in baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup chocolate chips.

Whisk eggs, milk and cinnamon in medium bowl. Pour over layered tortillas in baking dish. Cover surface with plastic wrap, and press down lightly to distribute egg mixture over assembled tortillas. Set aside 30 minutes to allow egg mixture to soak into tortillas.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 53 to 55 minutes or until pudding is firm. Cool 10 to 15 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream.

Tip: For a Dulce de Leche version of this pudding, replace the chocolate chips with butterscotch chips.

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 15

16 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Calendar of Events

Smoke on the Lake Backyard BBQ Festival May 6-7 The Rotary Club of North Cobb and the City of Acworth will host the 2nd Annual Smoke on the Lake Backyard BBQ Festival on May 6-7 , 2011. It will be a non-sanctioned BBQ competition open to anyone who loves to cook BBQ. Come taste the best local BBQ in the area on Saturday then stick around for a free Banks and Shane concert following the awards ceremony.

Lawn seats are free and you can purchase a table and dinner for six for only $100.

Smoke on the Lake is a BBQ festival for charity that raises funds for local Cobb County Charities, including the Horizon Field at the Acworth Sports Complex.

In addition, this year a free concert has been added on Friday evening with free lawn seating and reserved tables as well.

For anyone not interested in BBQ, there will also be Johnny’s Beer Garden sponsored by Johnny’s Pizza with a variety of your favorites, including the world famous Johnny’s New York Style Pizza.

This year for $5 and a good roll of the dice, you can drive away in a brand new Camaro from Day’s Chevrolet. As the Rotary Club and cook teams are “Cookin’ and Eatin’ for Charity,” you can help this great cause by trying your hand at this exciting opportunity to win the best Day’s has to offer.

The admission is free with live music from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. on the Gazebo Stage. If you wish to purchase a table, enter the BBQ competition or would like to sponsor the event please visit www.smokeonthelake.com There are still a few spaces available for backyard teams. The cost to enter the completion is $150.

For more information, please call Peter Jezerinac at 770-917-1234.

“Civil War Comes Alive!” at Cartersville Museums As the 150 anniversary of the start of the Civil War nears, two Cartersville museums, Bartow History Museum and Booth Western Art Museum, are excited to announce their partnership to produce an event, Civil War Comes Alive! Meant to teach visitors about all aspects of the Civil War, this event will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at Booth Museum, Bartow History Museum, and the Booth Museum festival grounds.

While there will not be any battle reenactments at Civil War Comes Alive!, there will be plenty of stations set up on the festival grounds demonstrating the various aspects of the war. Stations include a medical/hospital tent, blacksmith, music, signaling, life on the home-front, Confederate and Union Infantry camps, a sutler, and Cavalry Camp. An Artillery Camp will also be set up on the Booth Museum grounds and will demonstrate canon firings at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm.

“We are excited to announce this educational event, not only because it coincides with the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, but also because Bartow County has so many ties to the war,” said Bartow History Museum Executive Director Trey Gaines. “We had the Battle at Allatoona here in Bartow County, and also produced several Officers from this area. Civil War Comes Alive! will be an opportunity for visitors - of all ages - to experience the various aspects of the war and hopefully gain a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the men who served.”

When visitors are not walking around to the various stations, they may sit back, relax and enjoy entertainment provided on stage at the festival grounds. The 8 Regiment Band will play music from both the Confederate and Union armies at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm.

At 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm, guests may listen to Abraham Lincoln recite the Gettysburg Address. Additionally, attendees are encouraged to tour the Booth Museum’s Civil War art gallery, War is Hell, as well as Mort Künstler’s Civil War

Art: For us the Living, which will be on view in the Special Exhibition Gallery, and visit Bartow History Museum to see their Civil War exhibit, In Their Own Words: Letters and Stories from the Civil War, which features local ties to the War. Admission to Civil War Comes Alive! is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for students, $3 for children 12 and under, and free for Booth Museum members, Bartow History Museum members, and active military with ID. Prices include access to the Booth Museum festival grounds, as well as admission to Booth Museum and Bartow History Museum.

For more information about Civil War Comes Alive!, including details about the school program which will be offered on Friday, April 29, please visit www.boothmuseum.org or www. bartowhistorymuseum.org, or call 770-3871300.

About Bartow History Museum The Bartow History Museum opened in 1987 and is presently located in the historic 1869 Courthouse. Artifacts, photographs, documents and a variety of permanent exhibits focus on the settlement and development of Bartow County, Georgia, beginning with the early nineteenth century when the Cherokee inhabited the area.

Early European settler life, the iron ore and bauxite industries, Civil War strife, Post war recovery, the Great Depression era, early textile industries and notable figures are depicted through interactive exhibits in the permanent gallery space.

For more information, visit www. bartowhistorymuseum.org.

About Booth Western Art Museum The Booth Western Art Museum, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a 120,000 square foot museum located in Cartersville, Georgia. Guests are invited to See America’s Story through contemporary Western artwork, Presidential portraits and letters, Civil War art, more than 200 Native American artifacts, and Sagebrush Ranch children’s gallery. To learn more about the Booth Western Art Museum, visit www. boothmuseum.org. u

Calendar Of Events/Classified ONGOING: ALLATOONA YOUTH FOOTBALL SUMMER CAMP, Mon. June 6 - Thur. June 9, 8:30 a.m.

- 11:30 a.m., Ages 7-14, Register now! For more information and registration, please visit our website at www.bucs-football.com.

CROSSROADS CAREER NETWORK for job seekers: Meeting are held at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, 5145 Due West Road, Powder Springs at 7:00 pm. Free of charge. For more information and upcoming dates, please call 770-590-0334.

GRIEFSHARE is a non-denominational Grief Recovery Support Group meeting on Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. in Kennesaw at the United Methodist Church located at 1801 Ben King Road. Real help for deep hurt. For more info, call Becky at 770-974-1737 or Jimmy at 770-419-5960.

HORIZON KICKBALL LEAGUE: Come Out And Play!! Teams are now forming for the summer Horizon kickball league. This league is open for all individuals who have special needs, ages 5-21 years old. Games will be held Tuesday nights for ages 5-12 and Thursday nights ages 13-21 from June 21st -July 28th. Registration deadline is June 3rd. The cost for the league is $15 which covers jerseys and league expenses. If you are unable to afford the cost of the league opportunities for financial aid are available by contacting Lauren Ham 770-917-1234. Register online for the Horizon Baseball League by visiting www.acworthspecialneeds.com or at Acworth Parks and Recreation Department office located at 4762 Logan Road, Acworth, 30101. For more information please visit the above website or call 770-917-1234.

MILITARY SUPPORT GROUP FOR WIVES in Kennesaw/Acworth area. Meet the second Saturday of each month; Call 770-422-2050 or email MyMilitaryFamily@yahoo.com.

MOMS CLUB OF ACWORTH EAST provides you with the opportunity to share activities, friendship and fun with other at-home moms and their children. We offer playgroups, babysitting co-ops, park days, a variety of activity groups and a MOMS Night Out! Momsclubacwortheast.clubspaces.com MOMS CLUB OF KENNESAW, GA invites you to join our group of at-home moms and children in park days, playgroups, and other fun activities. Visit online at www. momsclubofkennesaw.club.officelive.com.

NEWCOMERS OF COBB COUNTY. Those new to Cobb County, or just looking for new friends and activities, are invited to join in. The Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 10AM at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 505 Powers Ferry Road in Marietta; 770-234-5068. We hold a wide variety of social activities throughout the month including Bridge, Canasta, Pinochle, Book Club, and Weekend Pot Luck Dining. Please call 770234-5068 for details or email newcomersofcobbcounty@yahoo.com SENIOR LUNCHEON on the third Tuesday of every month at the Robert School Community and Education Center. Lunch served at 12, followed by Bingo and prizes. Call 770-917-1234.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF NORTH COBB meets on Thursdays 7:30am at Pinetree Country Club. Visit northcobbrotary.org.

THE UNLIMITED POSSIBILITY BRAIN INJURY & STROKE support group meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at the Kennestone outpatient Rehab at 100 Lacy St. Survivor and families invited to attend.

TOASTMASTERS helps slice the fear out of Public Speaking at North Metro. Every Monday at First Lutheran Church, 3481 Campus Loop Road in Kennesaw from 7:15pm to 8:30pm. Call Marie at 561-248-0654 or visit northmetro.freetoasthost.us.

TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is looking for new members to join in our weight loss meetings. TOPS meets every Thursday morning at 9:30am at the Kennesaw Public Library. For info on joining, contact Pamela at 770-426-8426.

WRITERS CRITIQUE GROUP - “Writers of Like Mind”; 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month; 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. For published and unpublished authors covering Children’s, Nonfiction, Fiction, Mystery, Romance (No Poetry). Group meets at Denny Burgers & Grill, 8879 Dallas Acworth Hwy. in Dallas, GA. Contact Hank Somma at 678-414-6146 or muse@lightband.com.

APRIL 2011 April 16-17 BIG SHANTY FESTIVAL in downtown Kennesaw. For more information, please see page 12.

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 17

CLASSIFIED ADS ADVERTISING SALES in your community for locally owned and operated publications. Must be self-starter. Excellent commission rate. Call Todd at 404-643-4601.

Classified ads are $25 for 25 words; each additional word is $.50.

Email: classified@northsidenews.com. DEADLINE is the 25th of the month for the next issue.

April 16 NICKELODEON STAR HOSTS TEEN CENTER BENEFIT. Actor/singer Leon Thomas III, currently star of Nickelodeon’s hit TV show Victorious, will visit Kennesaw on April 16 to support fund raising efforts for the city’s new after-school program for teens.

Thomas will participate in the Big Shanty Festival Parade in downtown Kennesaw at 9:30 am. At 6:30 pm, Kennesaw Mountain High School will host a program titled “A Chat with Leon Thomas III.” Admission is $5/pp at the door; the proceeds will be used to help fund the after-school program now being conducted at the new Kennesaw Teen Center. In this one-man performance, the teen star will discuss the entertainment industry and his career progress, his belief in the importance of character building, and his support of youth development initiatives. He will also answer audience questions and perform a few acoustic songs.

April 16 UNI-SHANTY FESTIVAL. Unity Christ Church is having their 1st Annual UniShanty Festival fundraiser on April 16th from 10-6pm in the church parking lot, located at 2871 Cherokee Street in Kennesaw, in conjunction with the annual Big Shanty Festival in downtown historic Kennesaw. We are selling booth space to Arts and Crafters and Informational booths. Preparation is in full swing and we have 30 booths to sell to first come first served!! We will also be offering information about our church and our Wedding Chapel facility. For more information on registration please call or email Sonya at 770 422 9552, redsonya@hotmail.com April 16 SUMMIT FAMILY EASTER CELEBRATION, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Free; Public welcome! Children’s message, music, puppets, large petting zoo, inflatable, popcorn, egg hunts by age groups (babies thru 5th grade), crafts and fun games on the field. Fun for the whole family! Summit Baptist Church, 4310 Moon Station Lane, in Acworth; tel. 770-9754595. www.summitchurch.org.

April 22 HIKE FOR OUR HEROES Donna Yankovich of AdoptaPlatoon will host a cookout at Kroger on Mars Hill Road, Acworth to benefit “Hike for Our Heroes”. Troy Yokum, a veteran of the Iraq War has been hiking across America to raise funds and awareness for military families in need. uring the month of April, Troy will be hiking through the state of Georgia and the proceeds from Donna’s cookout will go directly to his efforts to aid military families. The cookout will feature hot dogs, haluski (cabbage and noodles cooked in butter, garlic and onion) sodas, and baked goods. The public is invited to come out and show their support for military families who sacrifice so much for all of us. For information call Donna at 770-761-7507.

April 23 Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt at Kennesaw United Methodist Church. 1801 Ben King Road from 10:00-12:00 in the Christian Activities Center. Bring your basket and join us for a morning of celebration and fun! Hot dog lunch provided. This is a Rain or Shine event!

APRIL 24 EASTER SUNDAY: Happy Easter from all of us at Northside News!

MAY 2011 May 7 COBB COUNTY MASTER GARDENING TOURS. You are invited to stroll through the private gardens of the Cobb County Master Gardeners, as well as other featured local gardens and Master Gardening projects on Saturday, May 7 from 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine. All of the featured gardens are off of Dallas Highway (Route 120) or South Cobb Drive in Powder Springs, Marietta and Smyrna. Master Gardeners will be available at each site to answer your questions. Advance Tickets are $10.00 per person or $15.00 on the day of the tour at any of the tour gardens. For information and order form, visit cobbmastergardeners.org or call 770-528-4070.

May17 SENIOR LUNCHEON. Join us on May 17th the City of Acworth Parks and Recreation Departments Senior Luncheon. Come join us for lunch at the Beach House (2293 Beach Street). Lunch is served at noon. This program is free to all seniors! For more information or questions please contact the Acworth Parks and Recreation office (770) 917-1234. u

18 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Police Report

COBB COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC INFORMATION RECORD INCIDENT BRIEFS OFFICER INJURED (03/17/11 @ 2320 HOURS IN ZONE 1 The Cobb County Police Department’s S.T.E.P. (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) Unit continues to investigate a felony hit and run, the victim being a Cobb County Police officer.

According to investigators, Precinct-1 Officer A.M. Singleton had just started his morning watch shift by making a traffic stop on Cobb Parkway, just south of Greers Chapel Road in Kennesaw, Georgia. When the traffic violator pulled over for the officer, he stopped partially in the right northbound travel lane.

Because of the violators’ actions, the officer had to position his patrol car to block a portion of that right lane, in an attempt to create a safety zone in which he could conduct his investigation. Just as Officer Singleton was completing the traffic stop and attempting to get back into his patrol car, the driver of a black 2001 B.MW. 740i failed to move over, slow down or stop and struck both the officer and his patrol car. Though the driver of the B.M.W. failed to stop and render aid before fleeing the area northbound on Cobb Parkway; the traffic violator did assist the downed officer while other units responded to the area.

Approximately twenty minutes later, officers at the scene observed a black B.M.W. (with right front damage) drive by while southbound on Cobb Parkway. Officers from Cobb County’s D.U.I. Task Force, V.I.P.E.R. and Precinct-1 were able to stop the B.M.W. and detain the driver for further questioning.

As a result of their investigation, 40-year-old Irving Alicea of Marietta, Georgia was subsequently arrested and charged with Failure to Mover Over for an Emergency Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and (Felony) Hit and Run. Mr. Alicea was not injured in the crash and was transported to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. He is currently in the process of bonding out on a $30,000.00 bond.

Officer Singleton sustained multiple broken bones and was transported by ambulance to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with injuries to his right hand, knee and ankle. At this time, none of his injuries are expected to be life-threatening.

FATALITY CRASH INVESTIGATION (03/06/11 @ 1419 HOURS IN ZONE 5 The Cobb County Police Department’s S.T.E.P. (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) Unit is investigating a fatality crash, which occurred on Sunday, March 6th, 2011 on Midway Road at Old Midway Road in Powder Springs, Georgia.

According to investigators, a brown 1978 Ford truck was traveling northbound on Midway Road approaching Old Midway Road. While traveling on Midway Road the driver failed to negotiate a slight curve in the roadway. The Ford left the western side of the road and collided head on with a tree.

The driver of the Ford was identified as 43-year-old Jimmy Adam Thomason of Cartersville, Georgia.

Mr. Thomason was transported by ground to Atlanta Medical Center. On Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011, Mr. Thomason died as a result of injuries he sustained in this collision.

The front seat passenger in the Ford truck was identified as 44-year-old Anna Maria Antigua of Kennesaw, Georgia. Ms. Antigua was also taken to Atlanta Center for treatment of her injuries.

Neither occupant was wearing their seatbelt and alcohol is suspected to be a contributing factor in this crash.

ARMED ROBBERY (03/28/11 @ 0626 HOURS IN ZONE 3 The Cobb County Police Department’s Robbery Squad is investigating an armed robbery, which occurred at 5191 South Cobb Drive in Smyrna, Georgia.

According to investigators, two males entered the Race Trac and immediately walked behind the counter demanding that the two female employees open all of the cash registers. While one of the offenders pointed a handgun at the clerks, the second one took an undisclosed amount of cash from them. Both offenders were last seen fleeing (on foot) southbound on South Cobb Drive.

OFFENDER(s): Two black males, described as being in their mid to late 20’s. One was wearing dark clothing and one was armed with a handgun.

There were no injuries in the armed robbery and anyone with information about it is asked to call (770) 499-3945.

ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE CHECK (03/24/11-HEADQUARTERS) The Cobb County Police Department’s Permits Unit in conjunction with the Department of Revenue’s Alcohol and Tobacco Division conducted an Underage Compliance Check this past Thursday evening. The businesses were chosen randomly and selected based on same geographic area in Mableton, Georgia 30126.

During the operation, twenty-five (25) businesses were checked, and two (2) sold alcohol to an underage volunteer.

According to investigators, employees of Taco Bell were working in the rear of the business where they were approached by a male who appeared from a wood line. The male was armed with a long barreled gun. The male demanded money, and after receiving an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency he fled on foot. No injuries were reported in this incident.

PERPETRATOR:Black male described as dark skinned, 25 to 30 years of age. He was wearing all dark clothing and a mask. He was armed with a long barreled gun.

Anyone with any information about this crime is asked to call (770) 499-3945.

ARMED ROBBERY (04/06/2011 @ 2158 HOURS IN ZONE 3 The Cobb County Police Department’s Robbery Squad is investigating an armed robbery that occurred at 2980 Cobb Parkway in Atlanta, Georgia.

According to investigators, a male entered Scholtzky’s Deli and ordered the employees to open the cash registers. While making his demand, the suspect held his hand in his pocket as if he possessed a weapon. The male then ordered the employees into an office where he instructed the manager open the safe. The suspect fled the business with an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency. No injuries were reported in this incident.

PERPETRATOR: Black male, 5’10” tall with a medium build. He was wearing all black clothing and a mask. He may have been armed with a handgun.

TRAFFIC FATALITY CRASH INVESTIGATION (03/27/11 @ 0200 HOURS IN ZONE 4 The Cobb County Police Department’s S.T.E.P. (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) Unit is updating a crash, which originally occurred on Sunday, March 27th 2011 at approximately 0200 hours.

ARMED ROBBERY (04/03/11 @ 1000 HOURS IN ZONE 3

According to investigators, the driver of a red 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was eastbound on Robinson Road approaching Barn Owl Road in Marietta, Georgia. Investigators believe the driver identified as 53 year old James A. Speck of Marietta, Georgia failed to negotiate a left curve before exiting the southern side of the roadway.

Mr. Speck was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered serious injuries. He was transported by ground to Kennestone Hospital where he was admitted for treatment. On Thursday, April 7th 2011 the S.T.E.P. Unit was notified that Mr. Speck died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash on March 27th 2011.

The Cobb County Police Department’s Robbery Squad is investigating an armed robbery that occurred at 5161 South Cobb Drive in Smyrna, Georgia.

Anyone with any information about any crime is asked to call (770) 499-3945. u

The businesses which failed the Compliance Check: Shell Food Mart Mableton, 6161 Mableton Parkway and El Solecito Mexican Grill, 511 Veterans Memorial Highway.

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 19

Sports Scene CTC Bahamas Native Archer Wraps up Kennesaw State University Names UConn’s CTC track career, looks to next step Vaughn Williams as Athletic Director Courtesy of Alex Ewalt, Chattahoochee Tech

Courtesy of Robert S. Godlewski, Kennesaw State University

Chattahoochee Tech track athlete Andrew Archer officially finished up his eligibility as a Golden Eagle at the March 4-5 NJCAA National Indoor Meet at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Tex. But that doesn’t mean the 22-year-old Bahamas native is done as a collegiate runner, or as a contributor to the CTC program.

Kennesaw State University President Dr. Daniel S. Papp recently named University of Connecticut Associate Athletic Director Vaughn Williams as the university’s new athletic director. Williams brings more than 17 years of NCAA Division I senior athletic administrative experience to KSU. “I am extremely pleased that Vaughn Williams is bringing his leadership to the athletic director’s position at KSU, as we set our sights on becoming increasingly competitive in the toptier of collegiate sports,” Papp stated. “Vaughn is well suited to grow and develop our athletic program, as he brings a wealth of experience in team building, compliance, fiscal responsibility, administrative management, academics, fundraising and marketing. We are looking forward to his arrival.”

Williams has served for the past six and a half years as UConn’s associate athletic director, where he is responsible for strategic planning, facility master planning, and policy and procedure improvement. He also helped to establish the Husky Honor Program. A former student-athlete himself, Williams played football at the University of Massachusetts and believes strongly in the importance of athletes succeeding in the classroom, as well as on the field.

He said, “I am very honored and excited to become part of the Kennesaw State University family,” says Williams. “Owl Athletics has made incredible progress as it has made the transition from Division II to the Division I level. I look

Archer ended his junior college eligibility by posting a school-record time of 50.21 in the 400 meter dash at the March 4-5 national meet, breaking his own mark set earlier in the indoor season. Though he cannot compete officially during the spring outdoor schedule, which begins for CTC on March 24 at Emory University, Archer will travel with the team to several meets as an unattached runner in order to gain more exposure to four-year programs. He also will maintain his leadership role with the team through the school year.

“I’ll still train with the team,” says Archer. “Any practices and team meetings, I’ll be there because I’m still the team captain.”

In 2006, Archer finished a distinguished prep track career in Nassau, Bahamas at St. Anne’s High School, specializing in the 200 meters and 400 meters and competing on the country’s top 4x400 relay team. After taking several years off from school and competitive running, Archer made the move stateside to live with an uncle in Stone Mountain.

He knew he wanted to study graphic design, and found CTC’s program a good fit.

Realizing that his ability on the track could help him earn a scholarship, he approached head coach Steve Prettyman and assistant Patrick O’Brien about a spot on the team.

Archer started competing as a walk-on in the spring of the 2008-09 school year during the outdoor season, but quickly earned a scholarship before the next fall, when he also was named a captain.

During Archer’s Golden Eagles career, the five-year-old program has gained a dedicated weight room and has become increasingly competitive on the national junior college scene.

“I have seen a lot of improvement and it’s happened so fast,” Archer says.

“Because of how quick the team grew and how quick everybody got better, I see potential for more improvement. I really think we can be up there with all those big junior college teams, but we have to keep growing.”

The number of men’s and women’s track and field athletes has increased as well during Archer’s time at CTC, and according to Prettyman, will be at just under 30 combined heading into the outdoor season.

Mirroring the growth of the Golden Eagles program, Archer has improved steadily and, Prettyman says, “is just now coming into his own” as a collegiate runner.

“Over the past two-plus years, he’s really grown maturity-wise, strength-wise, and as a team leader.”

Realizing that his ability on the track could help him earn a scholarship, he approached head coach Steve Prettyman and assistant Patrick O’Brien about a spot on the team.

Now Archer’s task is to parlay his success at CTC into a continued career at a four-year institution, hopefully somewhere close by, he says. He and the coaching staff currently are working overtime to ensure that opportunity.

“There’s always a cooperation between us and the four-year coaches,” Prettyman says.

“There’s not only performance, but are they a team player, are they ambitious, are they easy to coach? Those aspects are always taken into consideration by the schools in addition to just performance.”

Archer fits the mold. A well-rounded student-athlete who has been involved with CTC’s International Club, he will choose his next destination not only on the merits of its track program, but on its academics as well. The school will have to offer a top-notch opportunity to further his knowledge in his true calling: graphic design.

“I love track, but graphics is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he says For more information, please visit www.chattahoocheetech.edu/. u

forward to continuing and growing our presence regionally and nationally at the Division 1 level. The entire University is on an upward path toward excellence in all areas and I want athletics to be a key part of the building process.

The vision we have is for us to be champions with integrity in academics, in the community and in athletics.”

The national search for a new Kennesaw State athletic director was conducted to replace David Waples, who stepped down last August after serving for more than 23 years as the university’s athletic director. Scott Whitlock, the school’s senior associate athletic director and head softball coach, was named by President Papp at that time to serve as interim athletic director. Whitlock will remain in the post until Williams’ arrival.

Kennesaw State’s athletics program made the successful transition to NCAA Division I competition in 2009, and now is embarking on a multi-million dollar fundraising initiative that is critical to making football part of the KSU athletic program. As athletic director, Williams will play a key role in this important initiative.

Another major assignment awaiting the new athletic director is the selection of KSU’s men’s basketball coach, to replace long-serving former KSU head basketball coach Tony Ingle, whose contract was not renewed for the 2011-2012 season.

For more information, please visit online at www.kennesaw.edu. u

20 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Home & Garden

Why Bad Pruning is Like Giving Your Garden a Bad Haircut

Expert Reveals 5 Pruning Tips That Will Save Your Shrubs

By Carol Chernega

There is nothing worse than a bad haircut.

The one thing you can’t do with a bad haircut is uncut it, so you just have to wait for it to grow out before you can fix it. That’s how expert gardener Carol Chernega views the art and science of pruning a shrub. If you trim it the wrong way, you’re only compounding your problems, but learning the right way is not nearly as difficult as going to cosmetology school.

“Instead of giving your shrubs a bad haircut, it’s actually very simple to give them a day at the spa, instead,” said Chernega, producer and star of the DVD Pruning Shrubs with Your Personal Gardener (www.onegardenatatime.biz).

Her tips on pruning might not only change your style, but help transform your garden and landscaping, as well.

“For me, it would be a perfect world if pruning shears came with instructions,” Chernega added. “Just because one has a pair of scissors, it does not necessarily follow that you know how to give a good haircut. And just because you have a pair of hedge trimmers does not mean you know how to prune a shrub. Now, that’s not to say it takes a PhD in horticulture to know how to prune. The basics are actually very easy to learn, and applying some basic tips can really help you improve the look and health of your garden 100 percent.”

Chernega’s tips for basic pruning include: 1. Know What You’re Pruning – Before you make your first cut, look carefully at your garden and identify what you’re going to be pruning. Use the Internet to identify them if you don’t already know. You want to learn how the shrub should look so you can prune it to maintain that natural shape.

2. Cut Back to the Branch -- Always cut back to a bud or branching point.

Never leave a long stub. A stub will not only look ugly, but it will also invite insects and disease that could cause long term problems.

3. Cut the Dead Weight First – Before you cut anything else, cut out the dead or broken branches. Sometimes removing a dead branch will leave a big gap, so by doing them first, you’ll be able to tailor the rest of your pruning to compensate for that gap.

4. Crossing Over – After you eliminate the dead branches, next you want to target crossing branches or branches that are likely to cross in the future.

Once they start rubbing against each other, they’ll leave a wound that will invite insects and disease, so you want to eliminate that threat.

5. Cut With the Flow -- Finally, cut out all branches that are not going in the natural direction of the plant. This is good for the health of the plant, as well as the look of your garden.

“After you master the basics, you’ll discover that your garden will have a crisp, clean look to it and your neighbors will not think your shrubs are having a bad hair day.” Chernega said. “Your garden will grow in accordance with how you prune it and you’ll do less work over time to maintain it. That means fewer hours of outdoor labor, and more hours of enjoyment.”

Carol Chernega has worked as a professional gardener since 1992. She’s been visiting England for fifteen years, fueling her passions for English gardens and literature. This led to her being chosen as the first International Visitor for the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). This honor meant Carol worked for two months in Jane Austen’s garden in Chawton, England. During that experience she learned why the English deserve their reputation as excellent gardeners. She now incorporates that knowledge into her pruning workshops. u

Smith Gilbert Gardens Awarded Grant for Conifers Courtesy of Pam Davis, City of Kennesaw

Kennesaw’s Smith-Gilbert Gardens has been awarded a $1,500 grant by the Southeast Region of the American Conifer Society (ACS) to expand their conifer collection.

Smith-Gilbert is one of four public gardens in the southeast to receive the award which comes directly from the proceeds of ACS meetings and auctions.

The grant money will be used to purchase new and replacement plants, expand and complete labeling in the collection and create laminated interpretive guides. “This grant is a wonderful affirmation of the hard work and efforts of our Conifer Committee,” said Gardens Director Doug Davis.

Kennesaw’s Smith-Gilbert Gardens has been awarded a $1,500 grant to expand their conifer collection.

Home & Garden Succession in the Garden

By Charlie Nardozzi Spring in the garden is a dangerous time. The temptation is to go out on those warm, sunny days and plant 'til you drop. Not only is that strenuous on your body and mind, it can also lead to the proverbial glut of food in a few months.

date, and another three or four weeks later. Since these crops take at least 60 days to mature, in regions with short growing seasons you may have time for just two successive crops before the weather gets too cold.

A better solution is to plan out your annual edible garden so crops mature in a more orderly fashion.

Succession planting requires a little knowledge of the type of plants you're growing, a little planning to have room for them to grow, and the patience to plant each crop in turn. Also, other gardening techniques, such as crop rotation and interplanting, can help maximize growing space and help your plants avoid many soil-borne diseases and insects.

As late summer weather cools, you can start planting lettuce again for a fall or winter crop, depending on your location. Because the amount of daylight decreases in autumn, plants grow more slowly in fall than in spring, so allow more time for them to mature.

Planting for Success Succession planting is a simple concept: Plant small rows or beds of plants periodically during the growing season. As one planting's harvest begins to fade, the next planting's harvest will be ready. The key is knowing what vegetables can be planted in succession, and the best time of year to do it.

To succession plant, start in spring with coolseason crops that can be planted early, such as lettuce, spinach, peas, broccoli, greens, pak choi, carrots, radishes, and beets. For example, instead of planting one long row or bed of lettuce, consider planting a short, 2-foot-long row or bed.

Two weeks later, sow another 2-foot-long row, and so on until the weather gets too warm for lettuce.

Since the plants mature in one to two months you'll get a continuous harvest of lettuce.

For warm weather crops, such as bush beans, summer squash, or cucumbers, follow the same planting pattern. Plant one bed after the last frost

The other key to succession planting is leaving room to plant. The temptation is to plant everything all at once and fill the garden. It's important to plan for subsequent plantings. Cover unused beds with straw or other mulch to deter weeds.

Pull out old crops as soon as they finish producing. Don't let those peas hang on just because there are a few fruits on the vine. Pull old lettuce and spinach plants as soon as they show signs of bolting. By being a little hard-hearted, you'll create lots of room to grow a second and third crop. It takes a little planning in advance, but you'll be amazed at where you can tuck in a few broccoli or pak choi plants or a small row of beans.

For more tips and garden information, visit www. garden.org.

Charlie Nardozzi has appeared on HGTV, PBS and Discovery Channel television networks. He teaches and inspires home gardeners to grow the best vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and shrubs in their yards. u

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 21

22 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

Parenting & Education

How to Pick the Right Summer Camp for You and Your Child Courtesy of Dottie Callina While summer camps may put out glossy brochures to convince parents that their camps are the best place for children this summer, there is more to camp than singalongs and campfires “Many parents don’t know that there is no government oversight of camps. It’s important that they are vigilant and visit several camps to find one that best suits their child,” said Fred T. Elsberry, Jr., President & CEO of the BBB Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia.

While summer camp has always helped children build social skills and selfconfidence, today’s programs are diverse and can include teambuilding programs or community service involvement.

When choosing a camp for their children, parents should use care and evaluate the programs that each facility offers. They should look for a camp that provides activities that are of interest to their child and appropriate for the child’s age and skill level.

Parents should be guided by their child’s interests and personality when choosing a program. There are many different types of summer camp out there; including specialty camps that meet a child’s specific interests, travel camps for the adventurous children, preschool camps for younger children, special-needs camps for children with disabilities and traditional camps with wide ranges of activities for children.

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), parents rate fun and safety as most important to the camp experience. When considering a camp for their child, parents should ask how long the camp has been in business and check with parents of past and returning students. They can check with the Better Business Bureau to find out about the camp’s handling of complaints and its trustworthiness.

The BBB offers the following tips for parents: • Visit the camp before making a decision.

Check its location and view the living, eating and recreational facilities. Be sure to ask about safety procedures (particularly for water activities, archery and out-of-camp trips).

• Assess the quality and commitment of the staff. Find out the camp director’s background, as well as the criteria used for hiring staff. It is also important to know the ratio of staff to campers. Parents sending children to specialty camps should inquire about the staff’s level of expertise in the specific area.

• Know the fees. What is the total cost of tuition? Is your deposit refundable? Are there extra charges for any activities?

Are meals and transportation included? Is financial aid available?

• Understand the safety rules. Find out what the rules are and how they are enforced. Ask about the camp’s insurance

Chattahoochee Tech Cheer Team Jumps to the Top at First Meet

coverage. Check the condition and safety of the facilities and equipment. Note any dangerous areas, like cliffs, swamps or water zones.

• Ask about the medical care. Check out the medical facilities to be sure they are adequate. Find out if a nurse or doctor is on site. Inquire about the procedures for transporting injured or sick children to nearby medical facilities.

• Be familiar with the camp philosophy.

Know what the camps goals are and how each program offered meets those goals.

Are family visits or other communication with campers allowed? How is homesickness handled?

• See a typical daily schedule. Note the camp hours, the variety of activities that are planned, the age range of the campers, what type of food is served, the pace of the day and any transportation that is involved.

• Get references. Ask parents of repeat campers about their child’s experience and why they recommend the camp. Find out the camper return rate as well as the counselor return rate. Look for camps that are certified by the ACA – their accredited camps have met up to 300 nationally recognized standards.

For more information on an individual camp or to check a BBB Business Review on any business or charity, call 404-766-0875 or visit bbb.org. u

The three-year-old Chattahoochee Tech cheer team took second place in a statewide competition at Georgia State University, the program’s first-ever meet.

In its first-ever competitive meet, the Chattahoochee Tech club cheerleading squad took second place in the Level 6 division at the Spirit Unlimited Competition in front of more than 1,500 onlookers.

The meet, held on Saturday, March 12 at the Georgia State University Sports Arena, featured other age-17-and-older all-star teams from around Georgia in Level 6, the top age group at the event. Over 35 teams from around the state competed across all six levels over the weekend. The Golden Eagles put on a two-and-ahalf-minute routine in one of the day’s last performances.

The Golden Eagles cheer program, which features 10 studentathletes — eight female and two male — on its competition squad, is in its third year of existence. On the sidelines at Golden Eagles men’s basketball games and club football games, the team features four or five additional members to its competition athletes. u

Copyright 2011 Northside News. All rights reserved. Northside News • P.O. Box 3052 • Kennesaw, GA 30156 • Telephone 770-420-7353 • www.northsidenews.com Northside News does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Readers are encouraged to notify Publisher when they suspect false advertising. Publisher reserves the right to edit editorial content for space availability and clarity. Publisher makes every effort to ensure accuracy of information published, but will not be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Editorials and opinions expressed in Northside News are not necessarily those held by Publisher. Reproduction in whole or part strictly prohibited without express written permission from Publisher.

End Note Kennesaw Mayor, Kids Clown Around at Circus Gas South, the Metro Atlanta Mayors Association and Feld Entertainment, which owns and operates Ringling Bros., recently partnered to provide a special pre-show experience for local children with special needs at the circus. More than 500 children and their families attended.

Adam, Allison and Chloe Blair of Acworth are all smiles with Ringling Bros. circus performer Fatiana during the pre-show event at Philips Arena.

Rebekah Heady and Kayla Heady of Kennesaw with a Ringling Bros. clown.

Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews (second from left) clowns around with Kennesaw residents Catherine Grant and son Cameron, and friend Nicholas Finkbiner.

Antonio Guzman of Acworth with Ringling Bros. circus performers.

April/May 2011 NORTHSIDE NEWS 23

24 NORTHSIDE NEWS April/May 2011

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