Issuu

APRIL 2017

Pure

PlayAll!

Childrenâ€™s Charities to build kids' park in Milton

Bliss

Dance studio blends dance & fitness

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770-751-1240 • www.jwjordan.com 2 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

A lifetime of heart to heart talks.

The best moments in life are the ones shared with the people who mean the most. Take care of your heart to make sure youâ€™re around to enjoy those moments for many years to come. Get your heart checked regularly as well as your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you have any heart questions, call 404-851-6550. Weâ€™ll be happy to talk.

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A Lifetime of Care april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 3

4 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

ABBY BREAUX PHOTOGRAPHY

staff

Suzanne Pacey

PUBLISHER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER suzanne@northsidewoman.com

Candy Waylock EDITOR

{ INSIDE }

northside women { 6 }

WOMAN IN BUSINESS A passion for fitness leads mother/ daughter team to open Pure Barre studios in North Fulton.

{ 8 }

SHE GIVES BACK Lauren Holmes and Amanda White co-founded Children’s Charities to meet the unique needs of children.

{ 15 }

WOMAN IN ART Fountainhead Art Space in Roswell inspired by Ayn Rand’s novel of artistic integrity.

{ 20 } GOOD EATS Mother and daughter, Jodi and Courtney Chieco, bond through their shared restaurant and catering businesses

northside lifestyle { 12 } GOOD BOOKS Explore mother/daughter relationships in these literary classics { 14 } TAKE FIVE Welcome spring with five crafts you can do with your kids.

Abby Breaux

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER

the cover

Paula Cryan, left, and daughter, Ashley Haynes, offer dance-inspired exercise in their Pure Barre studios. Read more on page 6.

Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kathleen Sturgeon

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lori Wynne

STYLE CONTRIBUTER

Julia Grochowski

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

owner - Christina Appen general manager - Hans Appen

{ 16 } HER STYLE Coordinate your family’s fashion sense with advice from an expert. { 18 } NORTHSIDE MAN A passion for the Chattahoochee River inspires Jason Ulseth both at work and play. { 22 } OUTDOOR WOMAN A new outdoor group, Women Exploring the Georgia Outdoors (WEGO) { 24 } ASK THE VET Tame your pet’s bad behavior with simple steps from the vet. { 31 } HER HEALTH { 36 } APRIL CALENDAR

sales executives Wendy Goddard, Mike Dorman, Steve Neese, April Thornton, June Meltzer sales assistant - Susan Hernandez production - Suzanne Pacey, David Brown, A.J. McNaughton

770.442.3278 | 770.475.1216 (fax) 319 north main street, alpharetta, ga. 30009

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Northside Woman is published monthly & distributed free throughout north metro Atlanta. © 2015 Appen Media Group. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be copied or reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher. april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 5

women in business

Mother daughter team opens LOCAL Pure Barre Family medical situation fuels passion for business By KATHLEEN STURGEON

kathleen@appenmediagroup.com

ure Barre is more than a work out. It’s a lifestyle. That’s the philosophy Paula Cryan and her daughter, Ashley Haynes, follow as the owners of the Alpharetta and Roswell locations of Pure Barre, which uses a combination of ballet and dancing for exercise. The two always had a passion for staying fit, but they came to realized how important and fragile health can be after experiencing a medical concern in the family. Cryan’s other daughter and Haynes’ little sister, Ali, was born with a condition that required more than 70 brain surgeries in Ali’s first 15 years of life. Six years ago, Ali had a successful surgery and has since been healthy and happy. But it left an impression on her family. “After spending much of my early childhood in the hospital to be near Ali, I initially wanted to be a nurse to help others in the way that nursing helped her,” Haynes said. “However, once I started clinical rotations and was actively working with patients and their families, I realized that the hospital environment brought back too many painful memories. But I was still dedicated to making a positive, healthy impact on others and found a new way to do that through starting and operating a Pure Barre franchise.” Once Ali went to college, the mother and daughter had a chance to focus on their dream

6 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

of opening Pure Barre Alpharetta, which they started working on in 2015. Shortly after in 2016, they acquired Pure Barre Roswell. They wanted to manage both locations so customers could go between sites for classes. “Our family is very entrepreneurial, and I'm thankful to call my mom one of my best friends,” Haynes said. “When we had the chance to open a business together, we jumped on the opportunity to create and build a community that promotes positive and healthy lifestyles, especially for women.” The passion for Pure Barre extends to the locations’ staff as well. Roswell manager Gabrielle Ferree fell in love with the activity after a few classes. She eventually left her public relations job so she could get out from sitting behind a computer all day and do something she felt positively impacts people’s lives. She transitioned from client to instructor to manager in just about a year. She said Cryan and Haynes have made Pure Barre Alpharetta and Roswell home to so many. That includes Ferree who said she feels blessed to get to spend her days there. “I was ready to move on from corporate America and do something I truly believed in alongside owners, instructors and clients that I had grown to love during the past year,” Ferree said. “ It's been the single best decision I've made in my life, aside from marrying my husband, and I am loving every minute of working with our amazing owners, clients and instructors. I even tell my friends and family it should be illegal to love work as much as I do.” That mindset translates to the clients, Haynes said, who use the hour-long classes to disconnect from the world and focus on bettering themselves. “Seeing their results is incredible. It's not just about the physical results of what the Pure Barre technique can do, but also the emotional benefits of developing what we call a ‘mind/ body connection,’” Cryan said. “When clients are able to listen to their body and push themselves in healthy ways in the studio, it can translate to an all over healthy and happy lifestyle physically and mentally outside of the studio.” ■

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april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 7

A playground for all

she gives back

Children’s Charities to build all-inclusive play park in Milton

By CANDY WAYLOCK

candy@northsidewoman.com

hat began as a fundraising effort in 2012 to purchase a muchneeded medical vehicle for an area hospital has evolved over the years into an organization focused on a variety of needs for area

children. This month, Milton-based Children’s Charities will host its largest capital drive campaign – the Clarity Farm Showcase Home and Tour – to fund a playground in Milton benefiting children of all abilities. The goal is to raise $500,000 to build the all-inclusive play park, which will contain an ADA compatible clubhouse, a zip line, sensory center, music center, swings and much more. Children’s Charities co-founders, Lauren Holmes and Amanda White, say the playground reflects the vision of the organization, which is to fund the greatest needs for children in North Fulton and South Forsyth.

ders, Amanda White and

Children’s Charities co-foun

8 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

Lauren Holmes.

“The new park will be the first of its scale in North Fulton County by encompassing more than an acre of city property,” said Holmes, a Milton resident and Realtor/broker with Crye-Leike Realtors. “The park will provide a fun experience for children with all abilities and disabilities.” While the exact location for the park has still not been determined, White said the charity is working closely with City of Milton officials in the planning and development process and expects to announce the location soon. “This will be one of the most inclusive parks in the state,” said White, who lives in Milton and is the owner of Mountain Vista Rentals in Big Canoe. “Kids from all abilities and disabilities will be able to play together.” White said taking the idea of a play park from concept to reality was made possible by Pacita Wilson of Pineapple Park, the designer and decorator for the Clarity Home Show. She approached Children’s Charities and said she would like the organization to be the beneficiaries of the tour. “The possibility of raising $500,000 allowed us to dream bigger than we had in the past,” said White. “This is how the all-inclusive play park came about.” White and Holmes first joined forces in 2012, working to raise funds to purchase an emergency transport unit stationed at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta urgent care center in Forsyth County at the Collection. White had a personal connection to the need for the vehicle. Ten years ago her daughter, Meghan, now 22, developed a staph infection in her blood stream requiring immediate medical attention. At Northside Forsyth Hospital, the family waited several hours for an emergency transport vehicle —essentially a pediatric emergency room on wheels — to transport Meghan to Scottish Rite Hospital. “While on the way to Scottish Rite, Meghan crashed and had to be revived,” said White, noting her daughter spent the next 11 days in intensive care. “The doctors and nurses were so positive and supportive that it moved me. It takes a very special person to see these children in pain and suffering each day and make them better.” A few years later, after her younger daughter, Jordyn, spent time at Scottish Rite for a ruptured appendix, the idea for Children’s Charities took shape. “At that point I knew I wanted to do something for the hospital and the kids in North Fulton and South Forsyth Counties,” said White. Children’s Charities was granted non-profit status in 2014, with the mission that all money raised in the community stays in the community. Since its founding, the organization has focused much of its efforts on funding programs which support children with unique needs, supporting everything from equipment to programs to services.

“Designing for a Difference”

she gives back

THE CLARITY FARM SHOWCASE HOME AND TOUR MILTON, GA APRIL 19-23

The long list of projects funded or donated through Children’s Charities over the past five years include vein viewers and cell phone charging stations to Children’s Healthcare urgent Care Centers, an equine summer camp for kids with autism, an eye tracking device that can detect signs of autism in infants and lunches for foster kids during mentoring sessions at Independence High School. The organization remains grassroots with an allvolunteer staff of about 35 volunteers who donate their time and talent to Children’s Charities. Looking forward, White said they are looking to expand their reach to Dawson, Cherokee and Pickens counties. ■

This beautiful home is designed by architect Tim Bryan (Bryan Residential Planning), built by Jason Cole (Cole Constructions), and designed and decorated by Pacita Wilson (Pineapple Park). Guests have a unique opportunity to not only tour this 10,000-squarefoot home, but also to purchase the showcase fixtures and accessories. Boutiques, local artist and vendors will also be making their wares available to the public. All proceeds raised at this event will fund the new all-inclusive play park in Milton. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Visit https://childrenscharitiesga. org/projects/ for more information and to purchase tickets.

april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 9

Meet the women behind the Y

they give back

Local YMCAs choose Volunteers of the Year Jo Ann Sheppard, Karol Ann Dickinson receive honor By KATHLEEN STURGEON

kathleen@appenmediagroup.com

s an organization that relies on assistance, both with people, time and money, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta sees nearly 8,000 volunteers every year. Through that crowd, some have stood out to the Ed Isakson/ Alpharetta and Forsyth County locations staff which recently chose the Volunteers of the Year.

Karol Ann Dickinson Forsyth County YMCA Can you tell me about yourself, including your history with the Y? I was in residential property management in Florida and Georgia, real estate sales, mortgage banking for 35 years, then handled marketing and community outreach for a pediatric dental/ orthodontic practice. I was first invited to be on the Forsyth County Y Board of Directors in 2005. I have chaired Karol Ann Dickinson is the Board the Forsyth County YMCA Development Volunteer of the Year. Committee and actively participated on the “Golf for Kids” event committee since its inception. This year, it earned $52,400 toward the kids’ scholarship program. A lot of my Y involvement was aided through my business relationships, i.e., I brought oral hygiene care presentations to the Eagle Point summer Y camps in addition to sponsoring oral hygiene screenings for kids entering the Georgia public school system. I am also a member of the Membership Committee and have helped facilitate expansion of the Youth Fit 4 Life program in the Forsyth County Schools. What do you think sets you apart and helped you earn this honor? Utilizing my contacts and relationships in the business community to their fullest, coupled with the fact that the Y, what it stands for and what it gives back to our community and all around the world, is an easy sell. What’s the best part about volunteering for the Y? I believe the Y is different from other organizations because the Y is so totally focused on the holistic approach for the health of kids and their families. The concern is not only the health of the body, but the health of the soul, body and

10 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

mind and taking into account even the social factors that affect people and their lives. The Y’s “never turn anyone away” approach is an approach worth selling and inspires people to give to our fundraising efforts. That’s why a board member’s job is so important. We have so much conflict in our lives today. It’s so special and invigorating to see the smile on a kid’s face who has been given the opportunity to attend summer camp or participate in a soccer game when, in his/her mind, he/she might never be good enough to go to camp or compete. The Y, through the scholarship program, gives those kids the opportunity to realize their potential, so he/ she can achieve, be confident and feel that they are a gift from God and that they can succeed in anything they choose to do or be. All of this contributes to the wellbeing of the child. And, aligning with that story come the parents who are given the opportunity to see their children succeed, which gives them hope for their future. Why do you volunteer for the Y? When you are blessed, you need to give back to those who are less fortunate. The Y is my avenue for achieving that goal. Volunteering with the Y gives me the opportunity to give back and it makes me feel like I’m making a difference.

Jo Ann Sheppard Ed Isakson/Alpharetta YMCA Can you tell me about yourself, including your history with the Y? My first exposure to Y was as a kid in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. My brothers and I went to the Y every Saturday for swimming lessons and kid programs. I later went on to participate in the Teen Leaders program and worked at the John Island Jo Ann Sheppard was summer camp. When recently named the Ed I moved to Alpharetta, Isakson/Alpharetta YMCA Volunteer of the Year. the Y just seemed like the natural place to go. Current YMCA involvement: • Advisory Board member since 2010 • Advisory Board chair 2015, 2016 • Chair, Board Development Committee 2017 - current • Child and Youth Development

When you are blessed, you need to give back to those who are less fortunate.” Karol Ann Dickinson, Forsyth County YMCA Volunteer of the Year

Committee member 2015 - current Participate in various group classes, including masters swim and group cycle What do you think sets you apart and helped you earn this honor? Board activities, helped organize past spin-athons, past three community golf events, healthy kids day, bird house building projects, picnic table painting for Camp Big Creek. What’s the best part about volunteering for the Y? The Y has a real sense of community. It’s welcoming and inviting. If someone has a challenge, the branch rallies around them. It’s that level of comradery that helps get me to my early morning workouts when I would rather just sleep in. On several occasions, I have worked with other volunteers to spread truckloads of mulch at Camp Big Creek to get ready for the summer camp. Throughout the summer, I see laughing kids having fun with their councilors and fellow campers. I know that mulch supported thousands of small feet who experienced a wonderful and impactful summer. Why do you volunteer for the Y? Volunteering at the Y keeps me grounded. I enjoy knowing that we have made an impact on the lives of people in our community. Growing up, my mother was an active volunteer at the Y. She instilled in her children the importance of caring and giving back. Now it is time for me to pay it forward. The cycle continues with my husband and my two daughters now participating in Y activities and volunteer opportunities. Volunteering as a family has brought us closer together. It has allowed us to teach our daughters that there are others in our community who need assistance to be able to enjoy the Y programs that my kids take for granted. ■ •

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Feel Beautiful Today Hosts a Fashion Show for Cancer With Hope –Hosted by the Metropolitan Club and Dillard’s The Feel Beautiful Today organization (FBT), a 501(c)(3) created in 2010 with the mission of providing love, hope and encouragement to women and girls affected by cancer, announces its second annual Fashion Show to benefit cancer patients and survivors in the Atlanta area. The Fighting Cancer With Hope Spring Fashion Show and luncheon will be held at the Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta Wednesday April 19th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to benefit cancer patients right here in Georgia. It will be a great event featuring a Fashion Show, presented by Dillard’s, several beautiful survivors and cancer patients, Hors d’Oeuvres, formal seated lunch, dessert, Silent Auction, and a presentation from the Executive Director Biviana Franco. Tickets are $30. All proceeds, including sales from the Silent Auction, will allow Feel Beautiful Today to continue providing Arts in Health programs to cancer patients free of charge at their 15 beneficiaries-in-kind hospitals and cancer centers in Georgia. “We are excited about this event and appreciate the support of the Metropolitan Club and Dillard’s”, said Biviana Franco, FBT’s Executive Director. “This is our second Fashion Show and it is always extra special because it features several beautiful and courageous cancer patients and survivors”, added Franco. “My sponsorship of FBT is based on my own cancer experience. I believe that my heart and my head contributed as much to my success as any medical intervention. To help a woman feel like a whole, totally capable person and not a patient....is the way to save her life”, added Lee Chadwick Owner of the Metropolitan Club. “Dillard’s is over joyed to have the opportunity to style the courageously beautiful women of Feel Beautiful Today! We believe that styling women is not just about clothes, but about helping women feel their most beautiful everyday”, Leandra Mabry, ASM-RTW for Dillard’s Atlantic Station. About The Metropolitan Club: The Metropolitan Club is the ultimate culmination of a series of successful metro Atlanta event facilities owned and operated by Lee Chadwick. This spectacular venue has hosted events of every kind. Since opening in October 2003, the club has gained a well deserved reputation as one of metro Atlanta’s very finest event facilities with a unique, socially provocative design. Our dedicated professionals will guide you through every step of the planning process, ensuring a flawless event for you and your guests. www.themetropolitanclub.net About Dillard’s: Dillard’s, Inc. ranks among the nation’s largest fashion retailers with annual revenues exceeding $6 billion. The Company focuses on delivering style, service and value to its shoppers by offering compelling fashion, cosmetics and home selections complemented by exceptional customer care. Dillard’s stores offer a broad selection of merchandise and feature products from both national and exclusive brand sources. The Company operates 271 Dillard’s locations and 23 clearance centers spanning 29 states plus an Internet store at www.dillards.com. About Feel Beautiful Today: Feel Beautiful Today® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was established in September of 2010 with the singular mission of providing love, hope and encouragement to women and girls affected by cancer. The organization partners with cancer centers and hospitals who are focused on providing “Integrative Oncology” -- an approach that looks at the whole patient, body, mind and spirit. FBT is staffed entirely by volunteers, which enables us to invest more than 90% of the donations received into fulfilling our mission. Since 2010, FBT has delivered more than 5,300 Arts in Health programs to women and girls affected by cancer.

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april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 11

goodbooks

Mothers & daughters, by the book Local authors create reading list of 10 titles exploring mother-daughter ties

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI Contributing Writer

s Mother’s Day approaches, readers searching for books with plots that plumb the bond between mothers and daughters won’t be at a loss. In fact, the only challenge might be deciding what to read first. For help, we asked three local authors for motherdaughter book recommendations. All three – Rona Simmons, Rosalind Bunn and Peggy Spear – are published by Deeds Publishing in Athens. Together, they came up with 10 titles – from classics to newer releases – guaranteed to provide plenty of reading pleasure prior to, and long after, May 14. “Prayers for the Stolen,” by Jennifer Clement explores “the plight of Lady Di Garcia Marquez and similar young girls who grow up in a violent rural Mexican town in fear of being abducted and sold into slavery and the mothers that protect them by disguising them as boys, cutting their hair, or burying them in holes in the ground when the drug lords are spotted,” said Simmons. “The author knows – she has lived in Mexico her whole life and researched the topic at her own peril. She’s also a poet, and her prose is magical, leaving the reader with beautiful but haunting images.” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” by Margaret Atwood. First published in 1985, adapted into a movie in 1990 and soon to be a TV series, Atwood’s book, Simmons said, “is an interesting one for our times. In Atwood’s dystopian New England of the future, women are subjugated by the state and forced into strict roles; some are mothers, some are wives and the relationships between mothers and daughters and between husbands and wives are turned on their ears. Offred, the narrator, is one of those forced to bear children for others, but she remembers she once had a daughter and she refuses to succumb.” 12 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

“Swamplandia,” by Karen Russell. “Ava Bigtree grows up in one of the most bizarre families in literature,” Simmons said. “Her father, Chief Bigtree, struggles to keep the family’s Florida alligator amusement park alive as other amusements move in and thrive. The entire family breaks apart after the death of their beloved mother and alligator wrestler, sending each of the characters into separate fantastic orbits across the hinterlands of Florida. Ava’s orbit circles the memory of her mother in the author’s beautiful prose.” “One True Thing,” by Anna Quindlen. “A woman is arrested and accused of killing her ailing mother,” Simmons said. “We learn the facts in the first few pages, and then the story turns to the weeks and months Ellen Gulden put her life on hold to care for her mother, dying of cancer, and how she shifted blame from one character to the next.” Simmons called this book “an especially poignant one for those who care for an elderly parent.” “Mother of Rain,” by Karen Spears Zacharias. Simmons called this “a story of ‘haints,’ ones that possess Maizee, the heroine, and scream at her in voices only she can hear. After her mother’s death, Maizee is sent off to live with an aunt and uncle in rural Tennessee. There, she marries Zebulon, a loving man, who goes off to fight in World War I,” leaving Maizee with a disabled daughter. “According to the author,” Simmons said, “the story was

inspired by the case of Andrea Yates, who told of the voices that commanded her to drown her five children. It’s a dark novel, but ends with a ray of hope.” “My Sweet Vidalia” by Deborah Mantella. “Deborah is a local Atlanta author,” Bunn said. “The story is set in the 1950s in rural Georgia. It explores the complex relationships between not only mothers and daughters, but those in our lives who represent those roles. The narrator is the spirit child of Vidalia, Ciela Mae, who is there to help her mother as long as she is needed. Many difficult subjects are examined including how Ciela Mae helps her mother know that the ‘spirit always has choice.’ The Southern dialect and unforgettable characters bring this young mother’s struggles to life and shows her incredible strength. This story evokes every emotion.” Spear recommended four books with “iconic motherdaughter relationships” that revealed “moments when daughters discover the women who are their mothers. “The first two, ‘The Joy Luck Club’ by Amy Tan and ‘Moloka’I’ by Alan Brennert, show mothers paying great sacrifices to save their daughters – even forfeiting their love by abandoning them,” Spear said. “Another favorite is the classic ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott,’” Spear said. “Most little girls likely identify with Jo. I wanted to be her idyllic mother, Marmee. With the inevitable poignancy of Mother’s Day in mind, Spear also recommended “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” by Betty Smith. “Here, the mother’s love is her backbreaking labor eking out their living,” Spear said. “I first saw this book on my mother’s bookshelf when I was a young child, but didn’t read it for years because – as in many things – I underestimated her judgment.” ■

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Dance is the new yoga!

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5 takefive

Garden Crafts you can do with your children

providing an impromptu lesson on different plants in the garden all in one fun afternoon project.

4. Eco-Friendly Eggshell Starters

1. Marking Your Territory

If you're starting your garden from seeds this year, you'll need to have some markers in place to help you remember which sprouts are which, right? To make your own homemade markers, simply pull out your handy paints and put your pintsized Picassos to work on coloring in all of the veggies and fruits that you're planning on featuring in this year's family plot. Such a simple project, and yet one that you can use in years to come!

2. Colorful Garden Fun

One great way to get kids interested in gardening is to create a plot that includes a fun theme -- like a rainbow garden. You can plant your rainbow with flowers (and parsley for the green). So many colors to choose from and plenty of fun to be had while watching your rainbow grow throughout the season!

Why spend money on plant starter kits when you've got eggs in the fridge? Egg starters are perfect for starting your seeds indoors – you only will have to crack the shell gently before placing the sprouts in the ground when they're big enough. Easy and organic – just the way we like it!

5. Lovely Seed Starters

DIY shredded paper seed starters with the little ones – and what a perfect idea for introducing your kids to hands-on gardening! Made using shredded recycled paper and tissue paper, the paper mixture is simply combined in a bowl with water until soft. Drain out any excess water, and then place the paper mix into the decorative cookie cutter of your choice (or roll it up to create a seed ball!). Add your seeds to the wet paper once the shape is set, let dry for a couple of days, and you're ready to plant. ■ www.parentmap.com

3. Pretty Garden Posts

Another great idea for making easy-peasy garden crafts are bright and beautiful plant markers. Perfect for incorporating art and

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MAURA ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY

women in art

Fountainhead Art Space relocates to Oak Street By JULIA GROCHOWSKI

julia@appenmediagroup.com

t’s not just an art school, gallery or studio. Fountainhead Art Space is a modern-day atelier group created by Rae Broyles dedicated to supporting and mentoring a community of local artists. “In older times, with oil painting specifically, there were painting studios that were led by one particular mentor that were called atelier groups,” Broyles said. “But in modern times, we set up people with mentorships between each other. We help each other.” Broyles said she was inspired to create the group from her previous experiences in atelier programs. She and her artists friends used to belong to one such group in Atlanta, but Broyles had trouble finding one closer to home in North Fulton. Frustrated, she took matters into her own hands, and Fountainhead Art Space was born. “There really isn’t anything else out here like that where you can commune with other artists and have mentoring relationships with other artists,” Broyles said. “This is really about building a community of artists in the area.” Ayn Rand’s novel “The Fountainhead” inspired the group’s name. “It is a story of an architect who will not be satisfied with the status quo and sheds light on the difficulties of maintaining integrity in the arts,” Broyles said. “We call it an ‘art space’ because it is a multi-use venue for our working studios, classes and occasional shows. We are not a gallery, and we are not

a traditional art school. It is a place for artists to meet, connect and share with other artists.” To help their fellow artists, Fountainhead Art Space offers workshops, figure drawing opportunities and critiques along with mentoring programs. The group also works with the artists to help them promote, sell and enter their artwork into galleries. “Part of it is helping artists market their work: developing their websites, helping them get into galleries or find out what their niche is – what your goal is, really,” Broyles said. “Some artists just want to sell, while other artists want to dig deeper and basically do art for art’s sake. It’s to help guide people along their path as an artist.” The artists in Fountainhead Art Space focus mainly on abstract works rather than realism. The workshops they offer teach and discuss subjects like encaustic painting, cold wax, gold leaf, alcohol inks, abstract techniques and color theory. Interested artists can apply for membership by adding images of their work for review. According to Broyles, they are more concerned about a desire to improve than raw talent or skill when considering new members. “It is not a matter of technical skill necessarily, but rather a desire to progress in your painting practice and grow your knowledge of contemporary art and the market,” Broyles said. The studio is open to anyone who wants to rent space or attend the workshops. They have seen people come from as far away as Minnesota to attend. “We tend to attract mostly women due to the continuing limitations in the art world for female artists, but it is not for women only.” Broyles said. “It is still more challenging to be recognized and exhibited as a female artist than a male artist today.” Broyles has had work shown in galleries all across the nation. She currently is exploring minimalism “as a response to the over consumption of our society today” in her works. The group recently moved to a new art studio at 27 Oak St., Roswell and will continue services there. To learn more about Fountainhead Art Space and to get involved, visit fountainheadartspace.com. ■

SUZANNE PACEY/STAFF

Local atelier group grows artist community

april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 15

herstyle

Fajen Family Fashion Tips By LORI WYNNE Style Contributor

ilton residents Eliza and Jonathan Fajen have found a unique way to enhance the family bond between their four daughters, Ella (7), Hannah (5), Olivia (3), and Lauren (1). Eliza shared her fashion tips for dressing her young family.

Mother/daughter Fashion Coordination

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“The funny thing is, I thought I was going to have all boys! I never envisioned being a ‘girl’ mom. Once Ella was born it started. As I dressed her for the day, a color would come up and I would unintentionally dress in the same color. Baby girls have so many cute clothing choices. I wanted a fun way to create a mother/daughter bond. I knew there would be so many pictures of her, especially as a stay-at-home-mom.” Fajen shares a lot of pictures of the family’s daily activities on social media for her long-distance friends in Boston and family in Ohio. “I love to see the pictures of the girls wearing the same baby dress. I can picture all of my babies wearing them. “I don’t have a sister. I have one brother. I am not forcing bonds, but I am showing them how easy it is to bond. Before kids, it was very important to have close family ties. Just dressing alike, can tighten our bond together. Family togetherness is very important to us. My husband, Jonathan, has three sisters, so he is used to a houseful of girls.

Beginning the Bond

“I picked out the clothes for the girls until Ella started kindergarten.” Ella is starting to dress herself. Mom has veto power over crazy pattern choices. “I started talking about patterns that don’t

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go together and how even the shade of the same colors may not match. I explain why light pink and hot pink doesn’t go together. “I may say something to my girls like, ‘Together they don’t look the best, but if you like these items, you can choose one of these things to wear and we will find something that looks the best.’ “There are so many years ahead of us that we can talk about this. It’s important to me for my kids to be age appropriate. We talk about color and pattern combinations, not about styles. “Having something the same draws the family together. I hope it tightens their bond, dressing alike, sharing clothes and choosing clothes. Many times, the girls choose to match.

Coordinating the Whole Family

“On Saturday night, we decide what we will wear on Sunday to church. We choose a color and go from there. Sometimes, I will choose a dress that perhaps someone is about to grow out of and I want to see them wear it one more time, we will wear coordinating outfits around that dress. “Sometimes two girls will wear a matching dress, and the two other girls will wear complementary colors. The girls really like matching as well. My husband and I will wear coordinating colors in his neckties, and my necklaces, skirts or shoes.

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“Even though we have a lot of girls we don’t want to be too girly. If we wear pink, we also wear navy, and then Jonathan wears a navy tie. He owns a muted pink tie and muted purple tie.” Those items can be easily used in the family fashion pick of the day.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY THE FEJEN FAMILY

“It is so easy to wear glitter and hot magenta pink, but we have consciously chosen not to do that to open up choices for us.

Safety in the same

“As much as I love to coordinate the girls, there is also a safety issue. When I go out to major attractions, I match the girls’ outfits. Heaven forbid, one of them got lost, I know what they are wearing at zoos, and amusement parks.

love to help dress the girls. They are so sweet! They shop at Kohls and Gymboree. There are only granddaughters on my mom’s side. My mother-in law has seven granddaughters ages 7 and under. It is granddaughter heaven in our family!”

Shopping strategy

“Wearing coordinating outfits makes packing for trips easier. If I can envision activities and choose four outfits, it narrows down the mental choices. I just choose coordinating outfits for each daughter from the four main outfits. I want my kids to look good for pictures of our adventures and in front of extended family.”

NSW asked Fajen if it is starting to get difficult to find quality used clothing in Ella’s size? Fajen’s advice is, “Know before you go. I am always aware of things I might need. I have started an ‘8-year-old’ bin. I already know what I am looking for. That’s why I love the Gymboree brand. They have coordinating clothes past 6x. “All of my kids have been true to age and size. I look for seasonal clothes and the size they will be next year. At Kid to Kid, they have so many items, you can buy it when the season arrives and buy the size you need.

Where to shop

Not too girly

Packing/laying out the outfits

“I like classic rather than trendy clothes. I go towards clothes that will last over the years. I love Gymboree. I know they have clothes that are classic and made with quality materials. I avoid characters on clothing. I don’t want to wear a character on my clothes!” “Kid to Kid and Once Upon a Child have good prices and quality clothing. With a bigger family I need to find good deals. At Kid to Kid, I can find the next size up of some of the items I have purchased in the past in smaller sizes. When I find that, I get so excited! I am a much better mother if they come home from school with paint on their clothes and I realize that I only spent $5 on the item instead of $25. “My mother and mother-in-law totally

“In our household we also have trucks and blocks and other toys. We wrestle, and play in the creek. We want our children to be well-rounded and have their eyes open to a lot of things and not just girl toys and everything pink.

Final Fajen fashion tip:

“Matching/coordinating clothes should be fun and can be as easy as just everyone wearing the same color leggings or me wearing a necklace that is the same color as my daughter’s shirt.” Fajen’s ultimate goal is to create family closeness and her family fashion choices have helped achieve that. See their latest pics on Instagram @elizanfam. ■

As a personal wardrobe consultant and owner of Alpharetta-based Fashion With Flair, Lori Wynne helps people look their best. Contact her at fashionwithflair.com. april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 17

APRIL

JASON ULSETH

northsideman

northsideman By CANDY WAYLOCK

candy@northsidewoman.com

and use every drop wisely. This includes limiting outdoor watering, installing WaterSense-labeled water efficient toilets and showerheads, and only buying energy efficient EnergyStar appliances, because when we use energy, we are also using water.

City of residence: John’s Creek Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA College/Major: University of Georgia (Environmental Health Science) Family: My wife, Dawn, works as a veterinarian in nearby Peachtree Corners. We have two beautiful children, Sydney (age 8) and Easton (age 6). Occupation: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

or the past decade, Jason Ulseth has worked for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the nonprofit organization working to protect the Chattahoochee River and its lakes and tributaries for nearly 25 years. In 2014 when founding Executive Director and Riverkeeper Sally Bethea retired, Ulseth took on the title as Riverkeeper, serving as the organization’s spokesperson and lead river protection advocate. In this capacity, he leads the monitoring, advocacy and enforcement programs for the Chattahoochee River, the region’s primary drinking water source, working to ensure a clean and plentiful water supply for now and future generations.

Where did your love of the outdoors begin?

As a kid growing up in Gwinnett County, I was obsessed with fishing and exploring local waterways. I was especially intrigued by the portions of the Chattahoochee near Duluth and Suwanee. Every possible weekend, I was on the river, trout fishing with my dad, and with each trip my love of the river amplified. This passion continued into college and my adult life. At the

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what grade do you give to Georgia in environmental protection efforts?

University of Georgia, I was the guy who usually showed up to school with a canoe on my car as I likely had just hit the water for a few quick casts before class.

What is the No. 1 threat to our state’s waterways?

The threats to our waterways, and especially to the Chattahoochee, have a lot to do with dayto-day weather events and growing challenges brought on by long–term climate change. When it rains a lot, stormwater runoff is without a doubt the largest driver of pollutants into streams, rivers, and lakes. However, during periods of drought, the main concerns in the Chattahoochee basin are dropping lake levels and low river flows. The year 2016 was a very dry year and despite some recent rain, predictions are that the drought will continue well into 2017.

What can people do to lessen that impact?

It is imperative that people be more mindful of their water use, reduce their water consumption

Generally, the environmental laws in Georgia are protective of water resources. The problem lies with enforcement, education and special interests’ attempts to weaken existing laws. The state agency charged with enforcing our environmental laws is the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). EPD is extremely underfunded and understaffed. The agency simply does not have adequate resources to enforce the laws on the books, fully test our waterways to identify polluted areas, or educate the regulated community about how to comply with clean water laws. This is where nonprofit organizations like Chattahoochee Riverkeeper often must step in to help fill this void.

When you are not at work, where can we find you?

On the river, of course! Abbotts Bridge within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is my favorite location to trout fish. Launching my boat on a spring morning while the mist rises from the cold river water is truly a wonderful feeling. And now, I love being able to take my children with me and watch as they start to build their own personal connections with our natural world. ■

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goodeats

A taste of New Orleans in Downtown Alpharetta Flatlands thrives on Cajun authenticity By CANDY WAYLOCK

candy@northsidewoman.com

riving home one night last spring, Courtney Chieco saw the “For Lease” sign in front of a unique building in downtown Alpharetta and had a vision of New Orleans. “The building itself just called out to be a Cajun restaurant,” Courtney said of the site that just months later would emerge as Flatlands Bourbon and Bayou. “It was such a cool building with the porch and gazebo and pond and the upstairs!” Courtney brought the idea to her parents, Jodi and Vinny Chieco, longtime restaurateurs who own Brick House Pizza in Roswell. The vision for a Cajun-themed restaurant soon became a reality for the trio. Located just behind Mittie’s Cafe off North Main Street, the former residence had housed restaurants in the 20 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

past, so the structure was there to continue its life as an eatery. With a few cosmetic changes, including street lamps and Bourbon Street signs, Flatlands was transformed into a restaurant with a true New Orleans feel – and taste. The doors opened in August 2016 to crowds that filled the place on day one, and continue to come for both the menu and the ambience. “Upstairs we kept as the swamp and alligator ambiance, [putting] live tree branches up in the rafters and Spanish moss,” said Jodi. The finishing touch, and the most important piece of authenticity, was bringing on chef Francois Duquette, whose culinary experience includes considerable time in New Orleans, and recently under the direction of a Cajun chef in South Florida. “We were very fortunate to find a chef Duquette who has made every dish a dining experience,” Jodi Chieco said. “Flatlands is a truly chef-driven restaurant.” Originally from Canada, Duquette describes the menu as “Cajun inspired”. "My recipes were designed around the [Cajun] concept and were created in the kitchen at Flatlands,” said Duquette who is originally from Canada. “We’ve made a few changes since the opening, but all for the better.” Specialties of the house include all the traditional

Jodi and Courtney Ch ieco, owners of Flatlan ds Bourbon and Bayou.

Cajun fare, including gumbo, jambalaya, alligator bites, shrimp andouille and blackened redfish. Also available are po boys stuffed with fried catfish, shrimp, crawfish or oysters, and lighter selections including blackened shrimp and kale salad, lettuce wraps and gumbo.

goodeats

Flatlands Bourbo 52B N. M n and Bayou ain Street Alpharett a Ga 300 09 470-242-5 4 5 8 www.flatla nds52.co m

A full menu of bourbon/whiskey completes the complete dining experience at Flatlands, with selections including Woodford Reserve, Breckenridge and Bird Dog among many others. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner six days a week (closed Monday), with seating for about 80 people inside and plenty of room on the outside patio. For the Chiecos, who moved to North Fulton in 1995, working together as a family has its benefits. “My daughter, my husband and I have always worked together,” Jodi said of their partnership that goes back more than a decade. “I always rely on her to help in areas where I am weak and vice a versa - it’s a symbiotic relationship - we just try to make each other better!” Jodi and Vinny Chieco purchased the Brick House in Roswell in 2007, which Courtney now runs. The family also operated the North Fulton Cafe inside the North Fulton Hospital from 2008-2013 where Courtney first learned the food business while attending college at Kennesaw State University. Today, in addition to Flatlands, the Chiecos maintain an active catering business which began at the North Fulton Cafe and extended to the Brick House. Adding Flatlands to their portfolio was a wise decision in such a vibrant location. “The Alpharetta area is booming right now, and we feel blessed that we hit it at the right time,” said Jodi, who lives in Milton. Looking down the road, Courtney sees even more opportunities to extend the family’s restaurant reach as the community continues to attract new customers and business opportunities. “We would love to open a deli in the new City Scapes area that is being built in Alpharetta... so, who knows?” she mused. “An expanded oyster bar with voodoo bar would be ideal!” ■ april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 21

outdoorwoman

Michelle Webber (left) and Dustan Bishop (right) at Outside World Outfitters in Dawsonville.

Michelle Webber paddling Muddy Creek in Utah.

By STEVE HUDSON

Outside Georgia Contributor

ast week about this time of year – in fact, just a few days before Mother’s Day – I was sitting in a local coffee shop sipping hot chocolate when I saw a mom and her daughter come in. They ordered, got their drinks, went to a table – and then sat totally immersed in their smartphones for about 25 minutes. During the entire time, not a single word was exchanged between them. All of their attention was on their phones. You see that kind of thing all the time, and it’s a shame. What’s needed is a way to rediscover how much fun it is to actually interact with another human being – and the perfect way to do it is to get up, get out and get into the out-of-doors. For many women, stepping into the outdoors can be a little intimidating. But even as we speak (and just in time for Mother’s Day), a new group called Women Exploring the Georgia Outdoors is setting out to make the outdoors more accessible to women of all ages and skill levels. WEGO (as in “We Go Outdoors”) was launched earlier this year and is aimed at women throughout the area who want to learn more about outdoor recreation, especially outdoor recreation in Georgia. Founders Dustan Bishop and Michelle Webber are both on the staff of Outside World Outfitters in Dawsonville, which also hosts WEGO get-togethers as part of its community outreach. To say that Michelle and Dustan are enthusiastic about this new endeavor would be a serious understatement. “WEGO developed as a way to encourage women to enjoy the outdoors,” Michelle explains. The group’s goals include inspiring a passion for the outdoors while promoting outdoor stewardship; educating women about outdoor recreation; and building women’s confidence in their ability to enjoy the outdoors on their own. “Through WEGO, we want to bring women together 22 | northsidewoman.com | april2017

women with a wide range of skill levels. Offerings will and build a community that allows women to feel include such “traditional” things as hiking and paddling comfortable with outdoor recreation,” Dustan adds. trips, of course, but there will be much more. Why haven’t more women given it a go? ”We have even talked about an outdoor-oriented “For many women, a big part of learning to enjoy the cooking class,” Dustan says, “and maybe even a workshop outdoors is simply conquering fear,” says Michelle. “A lot on how to build an outdoor stove.” That, she adds, is easier of women fixate on personal safety in the outdoors, and to do than you’d think. yes, safety is definitely something that we talk about.” Stewardship is also a part of the overall WEGO But fears about safety can easily become boundaries, she initiative. That might include adopting and maintaining continues, and boundaries hold you back. a section of a trail, for example, or participating in stream “You have to push against those boundaries,” she clean-up or tree planting. says. “If you don’t, they’re not going to move.” In the long view, Michelle and Dustan see WEGO as Besides, she adds, “You’re probably not going to get a catalyst for the development of a community of outdoor eaten by a bear.” women. They also see it as a One of WEGO’s perfect way to allow mothers goals is to encourage and daughters to share unique women take those first experiences while developing steps. As both Michelle skills they can enjoy together and Dustan emphasize, for a lifetime. the key is to simply try it. “I get a lot of personal “We want to enjoyment from the outdoors, encourage women to and I find my peace outside,” simply let go and put Dustan says That, she adds, is themselves out there,” what she wants other women to Dustan says. To that experience too. end, WEGO will be Overall, the hope is that offering activities WEGO will provide a “safe ranging from programs space,” as Michelle describes and skills classes and it, into which women can bring workshops to organized a uniquely female perspective outdoor adventures Michelle Webber hiking in the Wind on the idea of exploring and such as hikes and River Range in Wyoming. enjoying the outdoors. paddling trips. All will “We want to empower you,” be designed to give she says. women what Michelle This Mother’s Day, give the describes as “the confidence and knowledge base needed outdoors a chance to bring you closer together. All you to take care of yourself in the outdoors.” have to do is set the phone aside, grab your daughter or Do you need to be an experienced outdoors woman to your mom, and step outside. It will be an experience, and benefit from WEGO and its programs? Not at all. WEGO’s an adventure, that you’ll remember for a long, long time. ■ programs and activities will be designed to appeal to

outdoorwoman

By STEVE HUDSON

Outside Georgia Contributor

re you looking for a great hike to share with your mother or daughter (or all of the above) this Mother’s Day? Let me suggest the Johnson Ferry North loop hike, an easy and particularly scenic trail located in the Johnson Ferry North Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. This is a perfect time of year to enjoy this particular hike, which offers easy walking as well as a great chance of seeing wildlife and spring wildflowers. The hike begins at the trailhead on Johnson Ferry Road just west of the Chattahoochee River bridge. Park there (remember the daily parking fee) and then begin your hike by following the gravel drive more or less and along the river. You’ll pass a boat ramp on your right and some concession buildings on your left; beyond them, as the trail swings left, look for a gate which signals the start of a dirt path leading farther upstream to the Johnson Ferry North Loop trail. Follow the dirt path. After a short distance you’ll cross a small bridge over tiny Nannyberry Creek. Just across the creek, the trail intersects the loop. You can hike the loop in either direction, but let’s go clockwise here. Turn left. You’ll almost immediately find yourself on a boardwalk which carries you over a wetlands area. It’s a great place for looking for wildlife. At the end of the boardwalk, the trail returns to dirt as it follows the toe of a ridge upriver. The ridge will be to your left, with more wetlands to your right. This is a particularly great area in which to keep an eye out for wildlife and wildflowers too. The trail continues along the toe of the ridge for a while, crossing two creeks (Arrowhead Creek and Owl Creek) along the way. Eventually, you’ll come to yet another creek (Mulberry Creek), but don’t cross that one. Instead, turn right and follow the clear trail which parallels the creek toward the river. Upon reaching the Chattahoochee, the trail will turn downriver and more or less parallel the Hooch as you

A great Mother’s Day hike

Experience the Georgia outdoors with a relaxing loop around the Chattahoochee River

Johnson Ferry North Loop 2, view of river from trail.

return to where you began. At two points (near the mouths of Arrowhead Creek and Owl Creek) the trail will swing away from the river to make a creek crossing. However, after crossing each creek, the path quickly returns to the river. Throughout this stretch, keep an eye out for wildlife… and if you want to take a break, you can enjoy a moment’s rest at one of several benches along the riverside portion of this trail. Eventually, as you near Nannyberry Creek again, the trail swings right (inland) to take you back to the point where you began the loop. From there, turn left to return to your car…or keep going straight to walk the loop again! ■

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elp! My dog is out of control. He barks all the time, jumps on people – what can I do? All dogs need to know their manners, and if we don’t teach them the correct way to behave, can we be surprised if they don’t know the rules? Of course this is easier when they are young, so I always recommend that even the smallest dog go to obedience classes. But what can we do if we did not teach them their manners as a puppy? We just use the same methods of teaching, and realize that it may take a little more patience on our part. I am a big proponent of positive behavior management, and I love clicker training. Basically that means we reward the behaviors we want and ignore (or don’t reward) unwanted behaviors. Owners need a strategy to tell their dog when they have done something right. This is where the clicker comes in. We use the clicker to “mark” the exact moment when your dog does the correct thing. First, we need to teach the dog that the clicker means something very good is coming. To do that you make the clicking sound with the clicker and then give your dog a small but yummy treat. You do this over and over and when your dog hears the click, he expects a treat. So if we were teaching your dog to sit, we hold a treat over his head and a little behind him so that he sits naturally to look at the treat. The exact moment his bottom touches the ground we click to mark the behavior. The dog then gets a treat. This

lets the dog know that what he was doing when he heard the click was a good thing! This is a simple example but it shows we have to click right when he is doing the desired behavior. Now to the dog that barks and jumps on visitors. You will need a friend to help you with this. When your friend comes in, ask your dog to sit. The trick is he has to learn he has to stay seated until your friend comes over and greets him. As long as your dog stays seated, your friend may slowly approach him. If your dog gets up, your friend must move back or even turn away from the dog. Then you tell your dog to sit again and your friend can try again. Sometimes having your dog on a leash so you can prevent your dog from running to your friend can be helpful. As long as your dog stays seated you may click, treat your dog and let your friend approach. This will take some patience, but eventually your dog will realize that to get the reward of greeting your friend he has to stay seated. Another thing to teach your dog for basic manners is to have a “place” they go to when told. It may be a mat or a pillow or his bed. We start by clicking and rewarding him when he is on the mat. Then we start linking the word “place” to the mat, eventually telling him to go to his place, and when he does click and treat him. We gradually extend the time he stays there and with patience we can tell him to go to his place when a visitor is in the house. Once again you need a friend to help you with this task. We have to make sure that our dog always follows the rules, and our rules are consistent. If we let him jump on some friends and not others, he will just be confused. ■

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Advice on Sunbeam Pet of the month choosing a school for S your child pring is here and everyone could use a little more sunshine in their lives! Meet Sunbeam, a year-old bulldog/labrador retriever mix who is looking for his forever home. This sweet boy is looking for a home where he can forget his rough start. Sunbeam landed in a shelter where he was diagnosed with a pelvic fracture that caused him lots of pain. Now, fully healed, and in a happy, safe foster home, Sunbeam is learning what it’s like to be loved. He plays well with his foster “brothers”, is learning to be gentle and well behaved with children, and loves his toys and attention. Sunbeam is fully vetted, crate trained and potty trained. For more information on adopting Sunbeam send an email to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue at inquiry@angelsrescue.org. ■

By KAY PASCHAL

Peachtree Park Prep Owner

ell here we are….April ~ the month for making school choices for the upcoming year from a Kindergarten level all the way through to your college-bound child! Having helped hundreds of families during the past 21 years through the process of deciding on private school versus public school choices after leaving my preschool as well as having two sons myself agonize over their college choice, I know this is no easy task no matter the age of your child! AP, IB, SAT, JATP, CRCT, ITBS, TAG, FOCUS….is there an acronym for “how to choose”? So, take a deep breath and try to remove the stress. For the preschool-age child heading to Kindergarten, you need to choose a school environment that will best match your child’s current educational level so their current skills can be advanced immediately. Coming from such diverse preschool backgrounds, Kindergarten is

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of considerable angst for a lot of parents. Kindergarten will encompass students from little to no preschool to students coming from academically enriched programs. Depending on which environment your child is coming from, how can YOUR child be best served when developmental skills are all over the map and when brain patterns for the future Love of Learning will be fostered in this first step into “real” school. Be an advocate for your child, no matter where on the learning curve they lie. Investigate and scrutinize the school, faculty, and administration team for what they have to offer YOUR child. All learning levels are of equal importance for parents and schools to address. For the college-bound child….oh my goodness….their selection may or may not be your selection! In-state, out of state, small school, big school, party school, athletics, dorm or apartment, frats & sororities! The only advice I can offer…. GOOD LUCK ! ■

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nyone can pull off this easy centerpiece. Just slide tulip-shaped marshmallow treats onto green hard- sticks and place them in a vase. Make this arrangement the day you give it to mom, since the tulips will dry out a little overnight. â–

april2017 | northsidewoman.com | 27

herstyle

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