May 2024

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STERLING ESTATES

Senior Living Communities

Voted 5 Years in a Row, Cobb’s BEST Retirement, Assisted Living & Memory Care

• A Variety of Large Floor Plans to Meet Any Need

• Diverse Amenities Inspiring Our Residents to Live a Social, “Sterling” life

• Certified Parkinson’s Programs - Emphasizing Balance & Maintaining Strength

• State of the art Wellness Centers & Programs, led by Sterling Recreation Therapists and Exercise Specialists

• Award Winning Food

• Beautifully Landscaped Campuses, in Neighborhood Settings

“We sold our home of 20+ years earlier this year, above our asking price, and moved into our beautiful cottage home at Sterling Estates, freeing us from all the responsibilities of homeownership. We freed up cash, traded in property taxes and constant maintenance for the many benefits we’ve discovered living here at Sterling. We exercise more than ever. I love to walk through the grounds and enjoy the large wellness center, while my wife swims almost daily in the indoor heated pool. She is fond of her weekly art classes. A day here is much more fulfilling for us, we wished we had moved sooner. We encourage you to come see what we mean.” - Bill and Sally R.

In This Issue

Expert, Heather Meliski, has the Best Kept Secret in the Carribean..........................................................................30

appy “May-cember”! I hope you are not too crazy to enjoy the moments this month. My advice: Take a breath and soak up every second. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, let it be perfectly imperfect...and allow yourself to let that be ok.

“Enjoy every moment in your life. Today’s crazy moments are tomorrow’s beautiful memories.”

...And if you run into me in the community this month, can you do me a favor and remind me of this?

Our Town is published and direct mailed monthly to prestigious homes in Cobb County. Opinions expressed by the editorial staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town reserves the right to edit and or reject any editorial or advertising content.

Our Town is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2024 by Our Town. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.

PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR

Tara Hill Hanover

EDITOR/SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Justin Hanover

GRAPHICS AND DESIGN

Jules Fandos

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES West Cobb Sara Young sara@ourtownmonthly.com

Smyrna/Vinings/Galleria/Cumberland Amy Knight amy@ourtownmonthly.com

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Anna Margaret Wilson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Katelyn Hua SMY Book Club

Heather Meliski OTM Staff PO Box 813610 Smyrna, GA 30081-8610 (678)337-7844 info@ourtownmonthly.com www.ourtownmonthly.com

We are excited to open our doors and provide comprehensive care with compassion, commitment and care.

We welcome all pediatric patients from newborn to age 21.

We pride ourselves on our patient-centered approach in promoting well being and achieving optimal health outcomes.

Dr. Figaro

Cora Crumby, PNP

Talkin’ Sports

By Justin Hanover

THE FALCONS andsome Hope!

There is no more important position in the world of professional sports than the quarter back position. Teams would give up almost anything these days to get the right guy under center. Unfortunately for many it’s not that easy as the Tom Brady’s and Patrick Mahome’s of the world just don’t grow on trees.

Nobody has seen this first hand as much as our Atlanta Fal cons. Former quarterback Matt Ryan may be a future Hall of Famer who locked it down for 14 seasons in Atlanta, fi nally leaving the city after the 2021 season. The man known as Matty Ice owns the franchise records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, completions, passing rating and wins and helped the team to that one Super Bowl game (yes, that game). Ryan never led the team to a Super Bowl win but there was some high-quality competitive football during his tenure.

Father time eventually caught up with Ryan as the skill set wasn’t what it was earlier in his career so the last few seasons of course showed a little drop off in productivity. Add in the Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder years and it’s easy to see that, despite having some decent surrounding talent, the last few seasons were dumpster fires in the end.

Let’s face it, the Falcons have some really, really good offensive weapons with Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and a few others and before Cousins signed, the team just did not have the right offensive system or the right guy to get these playmakers the ball. The Arthur Smith head scratching/ mind boggling head coaching era is over and now it’s up the beloved veteran and former Falcons interim coach in Raheem Morris to get things organized and successful. It will be better, no doubt, but how much better? One more win better? Playoffs better? Division winning better? Super Bowl better?

Well, probably not the latter, but the NFC South has been down for a little while and is still down opening up the door for these birds to uncrown the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and take the top spot in the division, automatically having a seat at the playoff table. As they say, “you gotta be in it to win it.”

The Bucs are currently mediocre at best, the Saints have been toiling around the middle of the road for awhile now and have a dreadful salary cap situation and the Carolina Panthers are frankly a pretty awful football team. So, it’s all right there for the taking and conventional wisdom would say that all the Falcons needed was a solid professional coach and a better quarterback and an increase in wins would be a certainty.

Three straight 7-win seasons leave little to be desired but it’s not a coincidence that when you have subpar quarterback play the record will take a hit. So what did the Falcons need to do for this upcoming season? Yup, get a quarterback.

And quarterback getting they did! Here comes our saviour, Kirk Cousins. Seven wins be damned!

Well, no, let’s certainly not go that far as giving a 35-year-old, who is coming off of a torn achilles a four-year $160 million dollar contract with a $50 million signing bonus and $90 million guaranteed over the next two seasons is somewhat playing with fire. But there was no signal caller more experienced and more qualified to come into Atlanta and win now. Owner Arthur Blank, who is starving for a winner, probably had no choice other than to go for it. He could have tried to get somebody through the draft but who knows how that goes? You know what you are getting with Cousins and if he is healthy and performs at even his average career level then Atlanta is going to be drastically improved.

Vegas, the people in “the know”, seem to be high on the Cousins led 2024 Falcons. Atlanta has an over/under win total of 10 and is installed as the clear minus 140 favorite to win the division. The team also has the 12th best odds in the league to win the Super Bowl at right around 35:1 which is better than average as there are 32 teams overall. So, after all of those poor seven-win seasons it seems as if suddenly Blank’s bunch is expected to go right around 10-7 and make it into the post season. And once you get to that playoff stage who knows what can happen as all bets are off.

Are you buying into this new and improved look or will it be the same old Falcons? Either way, buckle up as we are really not that far away!

Legacy Academy in Acworth opened March 10, 2022. The journey of how the owner, Tarah Wolf, came to this venture is quite intriguing. A small-town farm girl from Southwest, Minnesota, Tarah was raised in a community known as the “Heart of the Prairie”. Her father was a physical education teacher and well-known football and wrestling coach, and her mother provided childcare for several families in their home. Little did Tarah know she was destined for a future in childcare.

Tarah earned her bachelor’s degree in science from Hamline University and played varsity tennis and hockey. Shortly thereafter she graduated with her master’s degree in business management. She joined the military in early 2001 and was later commissioned in 2009. She was blessed with her oldest son, Layton in 2011 and her youngest, Tristan, who was the inspiration behind Legacy Academy, in 2019.

Tristan struggled with colic. The endless hours of crying lasted for weeks that led to months. He was inconsolable and slept for minutes not hours. Tarah tried various childcare centers and nannies, but her options became limited due to long wait-lists and an overall lack of high-quality childcare with compassion for Tristan’s condition.

Her career responsibilities in the Georgia Army National Guard were increasing and time for a solution was running out. She could not just leave the military being so close to retirement (and could not afford to stop working) but finding care for Tristan was her priority. She then knew what to do: build her own school.

Tarah educated herself in the process and toured every locally known preschool until she discovered Legacy Academy. Due to the trademarked Framework for their Future ® Curriculum, well-designed school with open windows into classrooms, a fun summer splash-pad, thorough policies and procedures, and adherence to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) core standards, which is the “gold standard” of childcare, Tarah knew this was “it”. She contacted the franchisor, enrolled in a graduate program for Early Childhood Education, and began caring for children in her available time at Living Hope Lutheran Church in Kennesaw. The next step, finding a site to build.

Since Tristan would only nap well in the car for the first year of his life, long rides throughout the metro area were part of the daily routine. The trip then destined to find a location in need of a new preschool. After countless car rides and researching reputable elementary schools with great family communities, 5445 Brookstone Dr NW in Acworth, was found.

After a challenging road to secure financing, the COVID pandemic, and construction delays, Legacy Academy finally opened with over 60 families. At the present day, the school is thriving and home to more than 130 families! Tarah’s mission was a success. The school employs 31 teachers and staff who emulate the values expected of early learning professionals.

Ms. Chris DelFavero is the Executive Director, with over 40 years of childcare experience, who leads the team. She is passionate about her role and invests herself fully in ensuring Legacy Academy delivers on its promise to provide high-quality care, adheres to state licensing requirements, builds relationships with families, and upholds the franchise brand expectations.

Mrs. Emily Faries is the curriculum coordinator who has been with Legacy Academy since it opened. She was previously a teacher in several classrooms before recently being promoted. By collaborating with teachers, she makes certain that the trademarked curriculum is implemented, and children are learning while still receiving compassionate care. Mrs. Melissa and Ms. Ricki manage the administration and are the friendly faces you will see when you enter the school. They wear many hats, including cooking, event-planning, and assistant teaching.

The teachers at Legacy Academy are incredible and what sets Legacy apart from others. They are friendly, kind, personable, and honest. They are among the best of the best and are the primary reason for the school’s success. Tarah is so proud of the impact Legacy Academy has had on the community and the family support they have received.

Tarah retired from the military in 2021 and is an active owner who you will find in every role of the school. When asked what makes her a good owner, she simply replies, “because she’s a mom”. She invites you to come by and meet her and the team!

Structured learning for children ages 6 weeks - 12 years

Pre-K4

Accredited Kindergarten & 1st grade programs

Dr. Chris Shim and The Oakdale Family Dental team is excited to introduce Dr. Jeremiah Cook!

A native of the Smyrna area, Dr. Cook has been in the field of dentistry for over 13 years, first as an assistant, then as a dental hygienist for 8 years. Dr. Cook recently received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from The Dental College of Georgia in 2023. As an associate dentist, Dr. Cook is looking forward to providing excellent and gentle dental care for all our patients at Oakdale Family Dental. He has been married to his wife Kim for 6 years. Dr. Cook enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and friends, along with fishing and playing soccer.

NOW OPEN!

varenita.com/westcobb

AGE IN PLACE

At Varenita, residents can “age in place” comfortably and securely.

One of the main benefits of choosing Varenita of West Cobb is that residents can stay in the same community and, in many cases, the same “living area” even as their health care requirements change. This means that once you or your loved one moves into our beautiful community, it’s home. No matter how much needs to change over time.

ASSISTED LIVING

The perfect option for independent seniors who want support with daily tasks and personal care.

Varenita of West Cobb’s personalized assisted living care is designed for primarily independent seniors looking for a rich and rewarding lifestyle with an enhanced level of support. Guided by compassion and clinical expertise, our highly trained team members offer residents the gentle, individually focused support they need to flourish while retaining their independence.

Personalized Care for All Stages of Aging

ASSISTED PLUS

This specialized program is ideal for those living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early memory loss. Our industry-leading transitional care program is built around an inclusive “open campus” model. It is specifically designed for residents experiencing the early symptoms of memory loss or MCI but may not require the full attention or secure environment of a traditional memory program. Residents who are appropriate for transitional care continue to reside in the Assisted Living area of the community while receiving additional support with daily activities.

MEMORY CARE

An enriching and supportive program designed for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Based on the latest research, Varenita’s memory care program offers a truly compassionate approach to care designed for those residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. This living option combines an engaging, secure memory care neighborhood with a stimulating, person-centered lifestyle often missing from other cognitive care programs.

ON-SITE THERAPY SERVICES

Unlike many other senior living communities, Varenita offers comprehensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy services for all our residents without the hassel of having to leave the community.

FIVE-STAR RESTAURANT-STYLE DINING

Varenita offers residents and their families an impressive mix of delicious cuisine and rich dining experiences. Our accomplished chef and culinary team create an ever-changing menu of delicious entrees made with organic, locally sourced ingredients across three beautiful dining venues. These include vegetarian, gluten-free, and specially designed dishes for residents with specific dietary needs. In addition, we have a registered dietitian available to help with residents’ nutritional needs.

THE VALUE OF CONNECTION

At Varenita, we offer an impressive mix of activities, classes, and events that foster engagement, stimulate the mind, and provide a rewarding sense of purpose.

• Arts & Crafts

• Daily Gardening

• Group Outings

• Move & Dance

• Animal Activities

• Cooking Classes

• Music & Song

• Live Concerts

• Exercise Classes

• Family Events

• Guest Speakers

Varenita of West Cobb | 1979 Mars Hill

OUR TOWN’s Community Spotlight

Congratulations to all of our 2024 Cobb County Graduates!

Our Town Monthly is proud of you. And, if we can give you one piece of advice:

No one has ever succeeded without moments of defeat and failure. You don’t learn from the easy moments; you will learn and grow the most from the moments when you had to work the hardest. No is not the end of the road, it is a stepping stone to YOUR NEXT BIG YES!

“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” - Richard Branson

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” - Wayne Gretzky

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison

“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding on the 20th.” - Julie Andrews

“I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.” - Jeff Bezos

And remember: In 1919, Walt Disney was fired from one of his first animation jobs at the Kansas City Star newspaper because his editor felt he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas”. That wasn’t the last of his failures. Disney then acquired Laugh-O-Gram, an animation studio that quickly went bankrupt. Finally, he decided to set his sights on a more profitable area: Hollywood. Walt and his brother moved to California and began the Disney Brothers’ Studio, eventually creating Mickey Mouse and Disneyland and winning 22 Academy Awards. And the rest is history...

Class of 2024 - Go conquer the world!

As we commemorate the accomplishments of the class of 2024, youth-led nonprofit Sketching with Seniors has been diligently working to support Georgia’s older senior population since last year. Started by high school juniors Akanksha Manna and Claire Jiang, the organization has accumulated student volunteers from 25 high schools across the state to serve around 15 senior living residences. While Sketching with Seniors aims to improve the mental health of often-isolated senior citizens by teaching them in free-of-cost art classes, the volunteers can also gain insight from the elderly residents who they work with. At Sterling Estates in Marietta, which Sketching with Seniors be gan volunteering at in January 2024, the volunteers met resident Kirby Smith III who has drawn dozens of cartoons over several decades. Mr. Smith shares that he has a natural love for art and started to create it at a very young age. While he most frequently makes one-page illustrations accompanied by his lighthearted humor, his artistic skills also extend into vibrant paintings of nature and animals. Sketching with Seniors’ cause and their time with Kirby can be a motivating example for communities far and wide, proving that the effort to close generational gaps can provide positive, impactful connections and experiences for anyone. - byKatelynHua

2024 Harrison High School Grads L-R

Landon Davis, Harrison Lumpkin, Robby Young, Cameron Carland & Collin O’hara

Book Club

By Myra,

THE O

ur book club loves a road trip! While traveling in our stages of life is complicated to coordinate, we sure do enjoy the time together exploring new places. Our recent travels include road trips to:

The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC for major relaxation in their beautiful spa, reading by the grand lobby fireplaces, singing in the dueling piano bar, and hopping over to Bouchon for the most amazing dinner!

The beautiful beach in Cape San Blas, FL. We loved hitting Peachy’s for beach eats, as well as the Constitution Convention Museum in neighboring Port St. Joe for a history lesson.

The gorgeous mountains of Highlands, NC, where we hiked the Whiteside Mountain trail. We also enjoyed cocktails at The Old Edwards Inn and delicious meals at Paoletti’s and Wolfgang’s.

As Our Town goes to print, our book club will be embarking on another road trip. We’re headed to Tallahassee, FL to Word of South, a music and literary festival. We will be sure to report back on our adventure!

Are you making summer travel plans? Need a road trip book? Let us recommend Colleen Oakley’s most recent novel, TheMostlyTrueStoryofTannerandLouise

Our Book: TheMostlyTrueStoryof Tanner and Louise, by Colleen Oakley, published in 2023.

her full ride to her dream university. As an intervention, Tanner’s parents kick her out of her childhood house, finding her a job and new home: she’s going to move in and be a caretaker for 84-year-old Louise, whose children demand she have someone stay with her after a fall.

Tanner spends her first few weeks in her new home barely sleeping, playing hours of video games, and not making much conversation with her new employer, until one night she catches a breaking news story. A photograph of a notorious jewelry thief is released on television, and this photo looks shockingly like Louise. Almost immediately, Louise begins to panic and insists they leave in the middle of the night. What ensues next is a wild ride, a breath of fresh air, and the perfect story to enjoy on your next road trip.

Our Scene: We met at Laura B’s home this month. We enjoyed a menu that played off road trip classics! We feasted on boiled peanuts (a road trip MUST), Big Mac Casserole, Candy Bar Pie, and Louise-inspired vodka cocktails. Recipes can be found: https://ohsnapmacros.com/big-mac-casserole/ and https://www.sprinklebakes.com/2022/06/easy-candy-bar-pie-3-ingredient-filling.html

During our book club night, we had the pleasure of hosting Smyrna’s own Colleen Oakley as our special guest. Not only were we able to ask her all things Tanner and Louise, but also all the questions we’ve had in the back of our minds about life as an author. USA Today bestselling author, mother of four, and an active volunteer here in Smyrna, Colleen really balances it all. We loved hearing how she fits her writing time into the very early mornings of her busy days. We were also especially tickled to learn Colleen’s grandmother was the inspiration for Louise, even the 4-o’clock vodka happy hours. It was so special to have Colleen with us!

Our Synopsis:

Tanner spent weeks sulking and bottling up her anger and frustration after having an unfortunate accident that ended her soccer playing days and losing

Our Favorite Questions:

1. When Tanner and Louise first meet, they make a lot of assumptions about each other. Have you ever gotten a negative first impression of someone that turned out to be wrong (or right) as you got to know them?

2. Louise muses: “People always said life was short, but it wasn’t. Not really. You could cram so many different lives into one. Be so many different people.” Do you think that’s true? Do you feel like you’ve lived different lives or been a different person at different times in your life?

3. The author was inspired to write this novel because of her close relationship with her grandmother and everything her grandmother taught her. Have you ever had the experience of learning from an older generation? What was the most valuable thing they shared with you?

Our Key Takeaway:

The surprising friendship between this college dropout and her octogenarian employer had us thinking about the intergenerational friendships in our own lives. Having friends ahead of you in life stages is so enriching. Even within our group of six, we have a wide range of life experiences, and learning from each other is really valuable. We loved how The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise celebrated this notion through the unusual friendship between the two main characters.

Our Stars: 5 stars

Our Next Book:

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. The Reading Attic in Marietta (21 W Park Square) will be hosting us for a book chat on Tuesday, May 14th from 6-8 pm. We’d love to have YOU there!

A Note:

Last month’s pick, LadyTan’sCircleofWomen, received a 5-star rating from our club! Please excuse the misprint.

Jen, Laura B, Laura H, Shannon, and Allison

In-Home Services for Seniors by Seniors

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Live Boricua

Want to know the best-kept secret in the Caribbean? An island that I’m sure you’ve heard of but it most likely hasn’t been top of mind for a vacation? And it doesn’t require a passport to visit?

The answer is Puerto Rico!

I recently had the opportunity to visit Puerto Rico on a familiarization trip for work and absolutely fell in love with the island, its people, and of course its food. Puerto Rico truly has something for everyone – beautiful beaches, mountains, outdoor adventures, bioluminescent bays, great surfing, history and culture, and amazing food. It also has the only tropical rainforest in the United States.

Where To Stay – San Juan offers several fantastic locations including Isla Verde with its swimmable beach and proximity to the airport, the lively Condado area, and the charming history of Old Town. For a more luxurious, upscale stay, head to Dorado. If you want to stay like a local, go west to Rincon.

What To Do – Puerto Rico truly has something for everyone. My top must-dos for a first-time visit include kayaking in one of the bioluminescent bays, hiking and enjoying the waterfalls in El Yunque, and taking a walking food tour of Old Town San Juan to learn about the food and history of the island. There are also a ton of adventure activities including river tubing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and zip lining. If you’re feeling really adventurous, Puerto Rico is home to the second longest zip line in the world, ‘The Monster’, which is over 1.5 miles long. There is also great shopping, world-class golf, and tons of casinos.

What To Eat – Food is where the vibrancy of the Puerto Rican culture comes to life, and there are so many delicious dishes to try while visiting. My top choices are mofongo (mashed plantain with garlic, butter or oil, and chicharrónes), tostones (sliced plantain that is marinated, fried, smashed, and then fried again), pasteles (green banana masa stuffed with pork, then wrapped in a plantain leaf and boiled – similar to a tamale), lechón asado (whole pig marinated in adobo and then slow roasted over coals), empanadillas (similar to an empanada), and arroz y habichuelas (pink beans and rice). Puerto Rico is also the home of the piña colada and coquito (a creamy rum and coconut drink which is traditionally served in December around the holidays), and has amazing coffee. Pro tip - portions in Puerto Rico are quite large so you can easily share meals.

How To Get There – Delta offers several daily direct flights from Atlanta to San Juan, and the total flight time is about 3.5 hours. No passport is needed to visit Puerto Rico since it is part of the United States, so it’s very easy to visit.

How To Get Around – Puerto Rico is easy to get around, so I recommend renting a car so you can get out and explore the island. Uber is also available throughout San Juan and other areas of the island.

Visit Puerto Rico and come see what Boricua is all about!behavior.

Hit the road and have fun!

Heather Meliski is a travel agent specializing in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Australia, the South Pacific, cruises, theme parks, and more. She lives in Smyrna with her husband two sons. Heather@yellowshoetravel.com FB @ heatheryellowshoetravel IG @yellowshoetravelheather

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