Here Magazine May 2026 Issue

Dalton, GA

May & June 2026 | Volume 5

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From the pages of our magazine to the conversations on our podcast, Here Local Media is telling the stories shaping life in Northwest Georgia.

Entrepreneurs. Community builders. Local places worth loving.

Because you don’t need a bigger city. You just need a better lens.

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May & June 2026

FEATU Live Music Here 13

The 90s Childhood is Back 25

ON THE COVER Photo by Ryan Cobb, winner of our first annual Cover Photo Contest

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The Story Behind Soccertown USA 38

Volume 5

URED IN EVERY ISSUE

LOCAL TASTE

LOCAL LENS

5 From the Editor 6 Contributors 7 Here.Events 9 Seen & Heard 10 Near Here. Events 17 Here.Kids 35 Faces of Here 50 Here.People 51 There & Then

11 Eat, Drink & Be Here 29 Stay Cool Here 41 Eat This Story 43 Dining Guide

13 Live Music Here 18 Summer Reading Options College 20 Today's Admissions Process 25 The 90s Childhood is Back 27 Summer Camps Guide 31 Cover Photo Finalists Story Behind 38 The Soccertown USA 49 Write Here

SPONSORED CONTENT 48 Gardens Change Everything, by Fiddleheads Garden Center

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Letter from the editor Summer is nearly here, and I love it.

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Here Local Media, LLC is the home of Here. Magazine, Love of Here. Podcast, and local social media channels. We help people love where they live— because you don’t need a bigger city. You just need a better lens.

May and June are the best months. That’s my preference each year until September and October roll around, and then they are my self-proclaimed favorites. That is, until Spring arrives, and the world bursts into bloom. Living in a region with seasons brings its own magic with each passing month.

But I confess that I find summer glorious, especially for kids.

May is always wild with end of year activities, but June invites us to settle in, slow down, and make a little more time to play.

I used to feel pressure to plan every moment of summer with camps and activities (which is still helpful, as outlined in the Summer Camp options in this issue). But one day I realized I was stressing everyone out, myself included.

Now we create a Summer Bucketlist to prioritize what our family really wants to do in our precious months of summer. I save the Bucketlists year over year, remembering their sweet little handwriting and earnest additions of “Spend one month at Dollywood.”

Many of our bucket list ideas this year will pull from Here.

Events, like Off the Rails concerts and Fort Mountain hikes.

Others are as simple as “get ice cream at the Sweet Spot,” “play with neighbors,” “invite friends to swim each Friday,” or “read every day.” The point is that with a little vision, we ensure we savor the best of summer here.

We hope this issue helps you do the same. Choose from Dalton’s local outdoor dining spaces to grab dinner and head to live music, laid out in the Music Guide. Grab some friends and enjoy cool water and cold popsicles using the Stay Cool options. Our hope is that this issue gives us all a better lens to keep summer simple, local, and full of just the right amount of adventure.

- Erika Mosteller Visiting Booth Western Art Museum with my kids, a Summer Bucketlist tradition

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READY FOR A

BOLD

Editor Erika Mosteller

Assistant Editor Lauren Sneary

FUTURE? #1(Ga.)

BEST VALUE

affordability and return on investment The Wall Street Journal

Contributing Writers Harlan Braudlume Dalton Bite Club Emma Ensley Erika Mosteller Sarah Murry Sanjuana Rodriguez Misty Silvers Lauren Sneary Joni Tenney

Contributing Photographers

#2 (Ga.)

TOP PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the South

U.S. News and World Report

TOP 10%

In the Nation for STUDENT EXPERIENCE The Wall Street Journal

DaltonState.edu

Aaron Thomason Amanda Lovelace Ryan Cobb Cover Photo Finalists: Lupita Rodriguez Kacey Jones Austin Taylor Rachel Gonzalez Tamara Villaseñor Heather Watkins

Graphic Designer Jodi Wrenn

Sales & Operations Dayana Jaclan Julie Locke Erika Mosteller Carin Watts

Here.Dalton Photo courtesy of Dalton State College

April 30 – May 4 Artistic Civic Theatre

GALLERY OPENING RECEPTION May 1, 5:30 – 7:00 PM Creative Arts Guild

MONTHLY MEMOIR MEETUP WORKSHOP May 2, 10:00 AM Creative Arts Guild

POLLINATOR PAVILION OPENS

MEMOIR WRITING WORKSHOP May 9, 10:00 AM Creative Arts Guild

DANCE DEPARTMENT + BALLET DALTON EVENING CONCERT May 15, 7:00 – 8:30 PM May 16, 10;00 AM & 1:00 PM Dalton High School CreativeArtsGuild.com for tickets

GENERAL SHERMAN LIVING HISTORY DAY

May 2 Fiddleheads Garden Center

May 9, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tunnel Hill Heritage Center, 215 Clisby Austin Rd, Tunnel Hill

SOUTHEASTERN HOT ROD SHOW

SPRING RECITAL MOMENTUM DANCE

DALTON CIVITAN MUSIC FESTIVAL: DIAMOND RIO

DALTON STATE COLLEGE GRADUATION

May 5 – May 6 Dalton Convention Center

May 8, 6:00 – 10:00 PM May 9, 12:00 – 10:00 PM

DANCE THEATER OF DALTON SPRING RECITAL May 8 – 9 The Colonnade, Ringgold

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MAY

MAY

THE GOSPEL CABARET

Photo courtesy of Dance Theater of Dalton

CATHERINE EVANS WHITENER HERITAGE ARTS SERIES: BARK BASKET WORKSHOP May 9, 10:00 AM Creative Arts Guild

May 17 The Colonnade, Ringgold

May 19, 3:30 PM School of Health Professions & School of Education May 19, 7:00 PM WSOB & School of Arts & Sciences

UNITED WAY YOUNG LEADER’S SOCIETY PICKLEBALL WITH A PURPOSE

May 19, 4:00 PM John Davis Recreation Center, 904 Civic Dr. ourunitedway.org/yls-pickleball-purpose for more info

Events Photo courtesy of Creative Arts Guild

May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 (show times vary) Dalton Little Theater

GALLERY OPENING RECEPTION June 5, 5:30 – 7:00 PM Creative Arts Guild

THE MUSIC MAN JR.

June 5 – 14 (show times vary) Artistic Civic Theatre

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20 (show times vary) Dalton Little Theatre

BURR PARK OFF THE RAILS CONCERTS KICK OFF

June 12, Every Friday Through June & July

JUN E - JULY

MAY - JUNE

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

Photo courtesy of NAACP

JUNETEENTH PARADE June 20, 10:00 AM Downtown Dalton

JUNETEENTH GALA

June 20, 6:00 – 10:00 PM Dalton Convention Center

USA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION June 30–July 4 Whitfield County More details to come at whitfieldcountyga.com

POPS IN BURR PARK July 3 Burr Park

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4 Dalton Parks & Recreation

SPADES TOURNEY & FISH FRY June 13, 1:00 PM Dalton Station

NANA’S FAMILY FUN DAY

June 14, 1:00 PM Mack Gaston Community Center

POLLINATOR PALOOZA June 19 – 20 Fiddleheads Garden Center

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Seen & Heard Local Shout Outs Congratulations to these businesses and organizations for their anniversaries!

Dalton Parks & Recreation 70 years Coldwell Banker Kinard Realty 52 years Dos Bros Mexican Grill 8 years The Sweet Spot 12 years Dalton Brewing Company 8 years

Around Town Dalton State Wright School of Business Students recently met with Here Local Media to give insights to what interests college students and young professionals for quality of life and “things to do.”

Dalton’s 50 Year Time Capsule will be opened on May 22, 2026 to celebrate the United State’s 250th birthday! Follow Whitfield County social media for more details.

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Remember to vote on May 19th in the State of Georgia primary election.

Have something to share?

Email hello@herelocalmedia.com to share thoughts on living in Dalton, Georgia.

Near Here Events Dolly Day & Dash May 2 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM Ringgold Blossom Festival May 2 Downtown Chatsworth

Photo courtesy of Dolly Dash

Cohutta Town Fair May 2 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM Downtown Cohutta The Ringgold Playhouse Presents: Winnie the Pooh May 8–10, 15–17 Show times vary 7847 Nashville St, Ringgold Battle of Resaca Reenactment May 16–17 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Chitwood Rd NE, Resaca

Photo courtesy of Mercier Vineyards

1890 Days Jamboree May 22–23 Ringgold

250: Monumental Moments at Georgia State Parks Celebrate America’s 250th year at Georgia’s State Parks!

Details at gastateparks.org.

Summer Movies Series June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Patriot Hall, Ringgold The Ringgold Depot Opry June 13 7:00 – 10:00 PM The Ringgold Depot The Ringgold Playhouse Presents: Nana’s Naughty Knickers June 19–21, 26–28 Show times vary Fort Mountain State Park Summer Events Check their Facebook page for details

Festival of Flags May 25 12:00 PM Ringgold Lula Lake Land Trust Hike, Bike, and Brew May 16 Tickets available at lulalake.org

10 Photo courtesy of GA State Parks

Glasses of Champagne Coloring Page | Free Printable

3/23/26, 1:34 PM

Eat, Drink, & Be Here As the weather turns warmer, enjoy these options for Al Fresco Dining here.

Cold Creek at North Oaks 101 N Oak Dr #1, Dalton, GA @coldcreekdalton Cyra’s Simple Goodness 208 N Pentz St, Dalton, GA @cyrasrestaurant

https://www.supercoloring.com/media/coloring/1497069/glasses-of-champagne

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Red Wolf Grill 320 Wolfe St, Cohutta GA

Cherokee Brewing & Pizza Company 207-B W Cuyler St, Dalton, GA @cherokeebrewingandpizza

Farm to Fork 120 General Lee Dr, Ringgold, GA @farmtoforkga

Casa del Cafe 219 E Morris St, Dalton, GA @casadelcafe79

Jefferson’s 200 N Hamilton St, Dalton, GA @jeffersonswings

The Mill: Native Kitchen, Trinity BBQ, The Waggle, Sol de Mayo, Vocelli Pizza 825 Chattanooga Ave, Dalton, GA @themillatcrowngarden

Hamilton’s Pizzeria 243 N Hamilton St, Dalton, GA @hamiltonsdalton

Mariscos Costa Alegre 603 Fleming St, Dalton, GA @mariscoscostaalegredalton

Gondolier Pizza 900 S Thornton Ave, Dalton, GA 1229 N Glenwood Ave, Dalton, GA @gondolierdalton

Guadalajara 817 S Hamilton St, Dalton, GA @guadalajaraofdalton

Little Rome 209 N 2nd Ave, Chatsworth, GA @littleromeinc

Jerusalem Grill 1507 W Walnut Ave, Dalton, GA @jerusalemgrill_dalton

Mariscos Cuhhhmaron 229 N Hamilton St, Dalton, GA @mariscoselcuhhhmaron

Cold Creek

Casa del Cafe

Baja Coop

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Live

Music Here.

With Sarah Murry

T

here's something about live music that loosens shoulders, starts conversations between strangers, and turns an ordinary Friday night into a memory. If you haven't yet made your way down to Burr Performing Arts Park on a summer evening, you're missing one of Downtown Dalton's best-kept secrets (and one of its most beloved traditions).

We asked Sarah Murry, Marketing Director for the Creative Arts Guild and a selfdescribed music super fan, to talk about what makes Off the Rails worth circling on your calendar this summer.

For anyone who hasn't been, how would you describe the Off the Rails experience?

"Imagine a warm Friday night, you've grabbed some food, and you're surrounded by your neighbors — grandparents, little kids, young couples, everybody. And there's this incredible live music just filling the park. That's Off the Rails. It's completely free, it's outside at Burr Park [in Downtown Dalton], and it happens every Friday night throughout the summer. When people come once, they keep coming back."

What goes into putting together a lineup that works for a whole community?

"We're not just looking for great musicians — though of course that matters! We want each week to feel like a little discovery. Last season alone we had Latin music, Ragtime Jazz, Country, Jam... We want someone to show up on a random Friday night and hear something they've never heard before and fall in love with it. That's a gift you can give people."

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There's also a real emphasis on local talent, right?

"Absolutely. Every night starts with an acoustic set, and those slots exist specifically to shine a light on our homegrown artists. We try to get local groups on the main stage whenever we can, too. There's something extra special about watching someone from your own community up on that stage."

You've called this your favorite community partnership in Dalton. Why? "Because it genuinely takes a village. The Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Dalton Development Authority, the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, and the Creative Arts Guild — everyone has a role, everyone shows up. The Creative Arts Guild handles the artistic side, booking the musicians and making sure each night runs smoothly, which is of course my favorite part. But none of it happens without all of those partners at the table.

It's a real team effort. And local businesses sponsor the music and stage each week so that the music is free for the community. We are so grateful to be able to offer this all free of charge to attendees."

What's your favorite moment every week?

"Honestly? Just looking out at the crowd.

When you see every generation out there together, all enjoying the same music — that's the whole point. That's what live music does.

It connects people. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from; when the music starts, everyone's in the same place together."

Anything you can tell us about the 2026 season?

"We're putting the finishing touches on the lineup right now, and it will be announced very soon. I can promise it's going to be a great summer. I literally cannot wait."

Neither can we. Keep an eye out for the 2026 Off the Rails lineup announcement, and plan to spend some Friday evenings this summer exactly where you should be — outside, with good people, and great live music at Burr Performing Arts Park.

Off the Rails is free and open to the public. Visit the Creative Arts Guild social media pages or Visit Dalton social media pages for schedule updates.

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Live Music Here.

Wondering where to catch live music in Dalton? Local musicians Lauren Sneary and Jake Sane gave us their lineups.

Dalton Brewing Co. Live Music Line Up

Dalton Brewing Company 112 W King St @daltonbrewing

Cold Creek at North Oaks 101 N Oak Dr #1 @coldcreekdalton

Gallant Goat 307 S Hamilton St @thegallantgoat

Cherokee Brewing & Pizza 207-B W Cuyler St @cherokeebrewingandpizza

Hamilton’s Food & Spirits 243 N Hamilton St @hamiltonsdalton

The Spinning Room/The Mill 825 Chattanooga Ave @spinningroomdalton

May 29th: Bob Dylan Tribute Night (ft. various local musicians)

Crescent City 324 S Depot St @crescentcitytavern

The Waggle 825 Chattanooga Ave Unit 35 @the.waggle

June 12th: Matthew Paul Revere & The Kidney Stone Cowboys

D Food Collab 301 E Morris St @dfoodcollab

The LoFi Coffee Bar 336 S Hamilton St @theloficoffeebar

May 1: Joe Coke May 8th: Bob Keel May 15th: Zach Watts!

May 22nd: The Crump Brothers

June 5th: Drew Thams

June 19th: Marco Esquandolas June 26th: Nick Austin

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Original illustration by Audrey Batts Jones Answers on p. 45

Here. Kids is Proudly Sponsored By

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BOOK Here. summer CLUB

by Sanjuana Rodriguez

Summer offers the perfect opportunity to slow down and reconnect with the joy of reading. The titles highlighted here make excellent additions to any summer reading list for children and teens. One reliable way to discover outstanding books each year is by looking to the winners of the American Library Association Youth Media Awards, which recognize the most distinguished contributions to children’s and young adult literature. The books on this list are all award-winning titles from the past year and offer engaging, high-quality reading for young readers during the summer months.

Picture Book: Chooch Helped Written by Andrea L. Rogers, Illustrated

by Rebecca Lee Kunz Sanjuana Rodriguez, Professor of Literacy Education in the Bagwell College of Education, Kennesaw State University

Where To Get Kids Reading This Summer!

Dalton-Whitfield Library: Check their Facebook page for fun and free summer events!

Dalton Reads! Summer Book Giveaways: Follow the DPS Facebook page for information.

Whitfield County Power Lunches: Check the WCS Facebook page for information.

Books for Change USA: Follow the Facebook page for giveaways!

Visit Little Free Libraries all across town to pick up or drop off books. Go to the United Way of NWGA page to find a list of Little Free Libraries: ourunitedway.org/ little-free-libraries.

Chooch Helped is a Caldecott Medal winner. The Caldecott award is given to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This book is about sibling relationships, cultural traditions, and learning responsibility. The story centers on Oginalii (Sissy) and her younger brother Chooch, who constantly tries to help but often creates chaos instead. Each time Chooch “helps,” his help makes a mess, frustrating his older sister. Eventually, their parents remind her that young children learn by watching older siblings. This is a great book about sibling relationships and the development of empathy.

Middle Grades: 4th-7th: Popcorn by Bob Harrell This book is a Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award, which honors books that portray the disability experience for children and teens. This graphic novel uses humor and visual storytelling to follow Andrew, a middle school student who grapples with anxiety and OCD, on a high-pressure day like picture day. The book offers an insightful look into how common, daily situations can feel overwhelming, and explores the different ways students learn to manage and cope with anxiety. The humor that the author uses will draw readers in.

Middle Schoolers: The First State of Being by Erin Estrada Kelly This novel is the winner of the prestigious Newbery Medal. This award honors “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” This book is set in 1999 and is the story of twelve‑year‑old Michael Rosario. Michael is worried about the upcoming Y2K crisis when he meets Ridge, a teenage boy who claims to be from the future.

After Ridge proves he’s telling the truth, Michael helps him navigate life in 1999 and tries to get him back home. Through their friendship, Michael learns to focus less on fear and more on living in the present.

This book blends reality with sci-fi and takes readers on an adventure.

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What we give today shapes what our kids inherit tomorrow.

When it comes to charitable giving, families are considering IMPACT and EXAMPLE. How are we living and giving charitably?

Does our giving align with our family's values?

How do we care for the place we call home?

Where you give matters because kids don’t grow up in “portfolios.”

They grow up in communities.

At the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, we partner with families to steward generosity into something their children can see, learn from, and one day carry forward.

Start a family conversation about generosity with our Legacy Giving Guide for Families at communityfoundationnwga.org.

INSID E TO DAY ’S

College Admission Experience

By Joni Tenney, Christian Heritage School

The college admission experience has changed significantly in recent years. Expanded scholarship opportunities and greater access to financial aid have opened the door for more students to consider college, but that accessibility has made the process more competitive. Colleges and universities are now evaluating applicants in a more comprehensive way than ever before.

Historically, admission decisions often focused on two primary factors: grade point average (GPA) and standardized test scores. While fully maxing out your school’s curriculum, academic performance and high test scores remain essential, many universities today are adopting a more holistic approach to evaluating applicants. There is a growing desire to understand the whole student.

Admissions offices are asking broader questions: How did a student engage in their school community? Did they demonstrate leadership? How did they use their time and talents during high school? Would they be a good fit for our culture?

For students entering high school or currently in high school who plan to attend college after graduation, there are several meaningful ways to stand out in the admissions process.

Get Involved

Serve Your Community

Seek Leadership Opportunities

Many schools offer service clubs, like National Honor Society, Beta Club, or sports service requirements. At Christian Heritage School, we have intentionally woven service and student leadership into the fabric of the student experience. High school students are required to complete at least 40 hours of community service prior to graduation, and many go well beyond that requirement as they discover causes that matter to them.

One of the clearest signals admissions officers look for is engagement. Students who actively participate in the life of their school develop valuable skills in collaboration, resilience, and initiative. Whether through athletics, the arts, academic clubs, or service organizations, stepping beyond the classroom helps students grow and demonstrates a willingness to contribute to a community and university culture.

Leadership can take many forms, so students should expand the way they view that word.

While formal leadership roles are valuable, colleges are also drawn to students who take initiative—those who identify opportunities to improve their school or community and take steps to make a difference. Leadership reflects responsibility, confidence, and the ability to influence others in positive ways.

Universities want students who demonstrate empathy and a commitment to improving the world around them. Meaningful service experiences can reveal character and perspective in ways that transcripts alone cannot.

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Build Strong Faculty Relationships

Finally, mentorship matters. Students benefit greatly from teachers and advisors who challenge them academically while also encouraging personal growth. Across our local community, students find mentors through coaches, teachers, and family friends. At CHS, we pair each student with a faculty advisor in our intentional mentorship program to meet monthly and help students grow academically, personally, and spiritually. We have found that with intentional mentorship, students better recognize their gifts and also have strong connections for recommendation letters.

While the college admission journey can feel overwhelming, students who pursue their interests with intention—both inside and outside the classroom—are often the ones who stand out. In today’s evolving admissions landscape, authenticity, initiative, and engagement can make all the difference.

Because Early Detection Made All the i Sabrina understands the importance awareness plays in the power of early detection. Her cancer was identified early, giving her options, hope, and a promising future.

Scan to Learn More About Our Campaign to Support Breast Health at Peeples Cancer Institute

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Christian Heritage School is an independent, college-preparatory K–12 school in Dalton, Georgia, serving more than 640 students.

Joni Tenney serves as Director of College Advising with a 100 percent annual college acceptance rate for students at some of the nation's leading universities. Learn more at chslions.com.

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CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL

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“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.”

L.M. Montgomery

Photo courtesy of Believe Greater Dalton

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TH E

90S CHILDHOOD

I S BAC K

by Erika Mosteller

S

omething quiet is happening in neighborhoods across the country. Kids are showing up at front doors unannounced. Bikes are appearing in driveways without anyone having arranged a playdate. Parents are texting each other not to coordinate drop-offs, but simply to say: my kids are outside — are yours? It’s spontaneous, lowtech, and a little countercultural. And it has a name: the 90s Childhood Movement.

The premise is straightforward. A growing number of parents, frustrated with the anxiety, disconnection, and screen dependency they’re watching take hold in their children, are intentionally trying to recreate the kind of childhood that was simply ordinary thirty years ago, one defined by unstructured outdoor time, boredom, independence, and the freedom to fail without a parent nearby to manage the outcome. The trend is showing up on Instagram, in neighborhood Facebook groups, and in conversations at school pickup lines. The question worth asking is: what’s driving it, and what does the research actually say?

What the Data Shows

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt offers the most comprehensive answer to date in his 2024 book The Anxious Generation. Haidt documents how the mass adoption of smartphones around 2012 coincided with

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a sharp and measurable rise in anxiety, depression, and loneliness among adolescents, particularly girls. He calls it the “Great Rewiring of Childhood,” and the data behind it is difficult to dismiss.

Haidt's deeper concern isn't the screen itself but rather what was lost when the screen moved in. A whole kind of childhood — the kind where kids wandered outside after school and nobody tracked them, where boredom was just Tuesday, where you had to figure out your own fights because no adult was standing by to mediate — seemed to disappear. And the research shows that all of those unglamorous, mildly uncomfortable experiences were vital for appropriate development. That's where kids were learning to bounce back, think creatively, and handle their own emotions.

Haidt’s work draws on decades of supporting research.

Psychiatrist Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, has shown that free, unstructured play is essential infrastructure for developing executive function and empathy. Psychologist Carol Dweck’s landmark research on growth mindset demonstrates that children who are protected from failure become more fearful of it, while children who are allowed to struggle and recover build a fundamentally different relationship with challenge. Studies from the University of Central

Lancashire add that boredom itself is a creativity catalyst: when children aren’t entertained, they start inventing.

Screens, by design, eliminate the conditions that make all of this possible.

“The research is consistent: kids need more room to fail, to be bored, to figure things out without us.”

A Movement Gaining Ground

The cultural response to this research is already underway.

The Wait ‘Til 8th campaign, which encourages parents to delay smartphone access until eighth grade, has gained significant traction as more families seek safety in numbers on the decision. Let Grow, a nonprofit co-founded by Haidt and journalist Lenore Skenazy, works directly with schools and communities to restore age-appropriate independence to childhood. And on social media — with some irony — the 90s Childhood aesthetic is one of the most resonant parenting trends online, with parents sharing images of kids outside, dirty, unsupervised, and visibly fine.

Schools are the next frontier. Researchers and advocates are increasingly calling for more recess, more unstructured movement, and a reduction in on-screen learning time — particularly in the early grades — as evidence mounts that education tactics have drifted away from what developing brains need.

Free Entry

Food Trucks

Games

What It Looks Like in Practice

None of the research calls for a dramatic overhaul. Haidt’s book outlines small steps: send kids outside with no particular plan, let the quiet moments stay quiet, keep technology out of kids’ bedrooms, and let small failures happen without rushing in to fix them. The goal is to make sure kids have real chances to try things, stumble, and get back up — because that’s how confidence grows.

Kids learn by doing hard things, not by having hard things done for them. Brown’s research shows that when kids play freely — without a script or a screen — their brains get better at paying attention, handling emotions, and working through problems with other people. Dweck’s research shows that kids only start to believe that effort pays off when they’re actually allowed to put in the effort.

The 90s Childhood movement, it turns out, isn’t nostalgia. It’s just good science, and it’s been waiting for us to reintroduce the [old] new norm of childhood play.

Interested in learning more? Check out these resources:

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (Penguin Press, 2024) Let Grow - letgrow.org A nonprofit working to restore childhood independence.

Wait ‘Til 8th - waittil8th.org A pledge that empowers parents to rally together and delay giving children a smartphone until the end of 8th grade.

Inflatables

Live Music

Drone Show

Whitfield County Board of Commissioners will host their Independence Day celebration on July 2 n d at the Fairgrounds. The event begins at 3pm and concludes with a grand finale at 9:30pm.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! For more information visit www.whitfieldcountyga.com

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S U MME R Camps Plan a little local adventure for kids here.

Creative Arts Guild

Kids can explore their creativity through a variety of camps including Dance Camps, Culinary Camp, Pottery Camp, Visual Arts Camps, Wearable Art Camp, Wild at Art Animal Camp, and Tween Art Camp. Each program offers hands-on instruction from professional artists and educators in a fun, supportive environment.

More info: creativeartsguild.org

Christian Heritage School

Dalton Parks and Rec

Camp Joy is a Christian summer day camp designed for rising Kindergarten through rising 8th grade students. Campers enjoy games, activities, field trips, and community-building experiences with a focus on faith and life skills.

Offers a variety of summer programs and camps for children and teens, including sports, outdoor activities, and recreational programs. Camp schedules and registration information can be found on their official website.

Hours: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

More info: daltonga.gov/summercamps

Meals: Light breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack are included More info: chslions.com/campjoy

First United Methodist Church

Dalton Chamber of Commerce DEM Camp

Camp Lighthouse is a summer camp for Kindergarten through 6th grade students hosted by First United Methodist Church.

The camp includes fun activities, games, crafts, and faith-based lessons in a safe and welcoming environment.

DEM Camp introduces students to local careers, leadership skills, and community involvement while helping them explore future opportunities in Dalton and Whitfield County.

More info: daltonfumc.com

Dates: June 1–5 Grades: Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders More info: daltonga.gov

Dance Theater of Dalton

Offers summer dance camps and intensives focused on ballet, jazz, and creative movement for young dancers.

More info: dancetheatredalton.com

Whitfield County Schools Camps

Whitfield County Schools offers a variety of summer learning camps and enrichment programs for students including academic programs, sports camps, and creative activities.

More info: cch.wcsga.net/athletics/ summer-kids-camps

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Dalton Public Schools Camps

Grace Presbyterian Church Sports Camp

Basketball and soccer with daily skillbuilding drills, games, and scrimmages.

The theme is Family Reunion, focusing on the love of God. The week concludes with a cookout on Thursday from 6–8 PM. Lunch is provided each day.

Dates: June 1–4, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Grades: 1st – 7th grade More info: gracepresdalton.org

Fort Mountain State Park Junior Ranger Camps

Dalton Public Schools offers a variety of summer learning camps and enrichment programs for students including academic programs, sports camps, and creative activities.

Children learn about nature, wildlife, and outdoor skills through activities such as hiking, nature exploration, and educational programs led by park rangers.

More info: daltonpublicschools.com

More info: gastateparks.org/FortMountain

Level Up Camps

Fun-filled three day summer camp full of flips, ninja, and water slides! Level Up Summer Camp is the perfect way to level up your child's summer! It'll be a summer memory that we guarantee they won't forget.

More info: levelupgymnastics.com

Bradley Wellness Center Camps

Keep your kids active this summer with all kinds of sports, basketball, swimming, games, and crafts.

Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM More info: bradleywell.com

(706) 278-5404

www.daltonparks.org

Summer Summer

Camps Camps JUNE-JULY

Make the most of summer with DPRD! Our camps give children the chance to stay active, make friends, memories and explore new adventures all summer long.

Summer Fun Camp Summer Fun Camp

• Ages: 6-12

• Registration Fee: $100

Sports Camp Sports Camp

• Ages: 7-12

• Registration Fee: $100

Fishing Camp

Fishing Camp

• Ages: 7-12

• Registration Fee: $40

Camp Rising Sun

Camp Rising Sun

• (special needs) • Ages: 5-7

• Registration Fee: $80

Camp sunshine Camp sunshine

• (special needs) • Ages: 8-18 • Registration Fee: $80

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Where to

Stay Cool Here Grab your friends & family to cool off this summer.

Red Clay Resort, Cohutta

Murray County Splashpad in Chatsworth

Fort Mountain Beach, Murray County

Cascade Trail, Dalton State

Red Clay Resort, Cohutta

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John Davis Recreation Center Pool

Other Hiking &Water Holes

Other Pools & Splashpads

Jack’s Creek, Murray County Chattanooga Rainbow Lake, Signal Mountain Waterfall Park, Dalton State Lula Lake Trust (wade into the creek at the base of the falls, but no swimming in the lake)

Splashpad at Mack Gaston Community Center Martha Denton Swimming Pool, Ringgold

Ice Cream Shops Bruster’s Ice Cream 1307 Dug Gap Rd, Dalton

Scoops 238 N Hamilton St #1, Dalton

Ice Castle Inc. 2514 E Walnut Ave # 1, Dalton

Snapfinger Scoops at The Mill 825 Chattanooga Ave, Dalton

La Nina Ice Cream Factory 2518 E Walnut Ave, Dalton

Sweet Treats Ice Cream & Milkshakes 1863 Battlefield Pkwy, Fort Oglethorpe

La Original Nieve De Garrafa 801 Walnut Ave Suite G, Dalton

The Crave Of Chatsworth 1422 Green Rd A, Chatsworth

La Reyna - Paleteria Y Tortilleria 308 S Grimes St, Dalton

The Shakey Mutt 110 E Market St, Chatsworth

Paleteria Michoacan 1 335 Goodwill Dr, Dalton

The Spot Creamery, Ringgold 7813 Nashville St, Ringgold

Paleteria Monarca 901 N Glenwood Ave, Dalton

The Sweet Spot 410 S Hamilton St, Dalton

Pelican’s Snoballs 1501 Cleveland Hwy, Dalton

Tres Bros Sweets-N-Snacks 708 S Glenwood Ave ste 312A

PlumBob’s Ice Cream 1273 N Glenwood Ave, Dalton

Come join the Summer Fun!

Dance T heatre of Dalton Call (706) 529-5664 for classes/camps schedule

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Believe Greater Dalton

For a community that believes every child deserves to thrive.

That’s why

I chose Dalton.

A career opportunity with Dalton Public Schools first brought Jackie Taylor to Dalton after graduate school, but the community itself convinced her to stay.

Working alongside schools, nonprofits, and community partners, Jackie says Dalton truly lives out the idea that it takes a village.

“

I chose to come here 24 years ago, and I’m so grateful I did. Working in a district that supports the whole child, and a community that supports families, makes serving students a privilege, every day.

Jackie Taylor, Dalton Public Schools Lead Social Worker

“

Believe Greater Dalton connects people, partners, and resources to strengthen opportunity for families across our community.

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Tyler Hudson Shankly Elite Training

Tyler had initially planned to pursue physical therapy after graduating from DSC with a biology degree in 2019. The COVID pandemic disrupted that path, but it also gave him time to reflect on a different opportunity he now saw in Dalton.

The community had recreational leagues, academies, school teams and travel programs, but there was no dedicated private soccer training.

“So I thought, let’s take a chance,” Tyler said. “Let’s build something from the ground up and see where it can go, where we can take it here.”

He launched Shankly Elite Training in 2022, and the response was immediate.

What began with roughly 50 to 60 players quickly grew as word spread. Within six months, hundreds of young athletes were participating. Today, just four years later, the program serves roughly 2,000 players through training sessions, camps and clinics.

W

by Lauren Sneary

hen Tyler Hudson first arrived in Dalton, he wasn’t sure what to think.

The Liverpool, England native had come to the United States chasing a soccer dream. He landed first in Atlanta as a teenage player, staying with a host family and hoping to earn a college scholarship. But when an unexpected NCAA eligibility issue derailed his initial plans, a new opportunity emerged that would ultimately change his life: the brand new soccer program at Dalton State College.

At first, Dalton felt a world away from home when he arrived in 2015.

“I came off the Rocky Face exit and all I could see were mountains,” Tyler recalled with a laugh. “I remember saying to my host father (who had suggested DSC), ‘Where have you sent me?’”

Fortunately, it didn’t take long for the town to win him over. He found that there was clear community here, with incredible local talent and a lot of excitement around the sport he loved. And as he continued to build friendships and connections in Dalton, both within and outside of soccer, he was laying the groundwork for what would eventually become Shankly Elite Training.

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“It’s crazy to think about,” Tyler said. “But really, it started with just one coach and one kid who wanted to play better.”

But beyond improving soccer skills, Tyler believes the program’s true mission is bigger than the sport itself.

“We use soccer as the platform,” he explained. “But the goal is to build better people and bring the community together.”

Shankly’s philosophy is simple: everyone should have a chance to participate.

Will Russell, Shankly’s Manager of Operations and Technical Trainer, is a firm believer in that mission.

“We want every person — no matter their background, ability level or culture — to feel comfortable coming here to train,” Will added, “because this place and this sport are for everyone.”

That commitment extends to accessibility. Through scholarship funding supported by community partners like Mohawk Industries, the program helps remove financial barriers for hundreds of young athletes each year.

“We’re not going to tell a kid no, they can’t come train or do a camp, just because they can’t afford it,” Tyler

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said. “If someone wants to train, we’ll find a way to make it happen.”

The organization’s new Goalz Indoor and Performance Hub facility expands that vision even further. The space now hosts birthday parties, fitness classes, Pilates sessions, massage therapy and other activities — turning the complex into a gathering place for the wider community.

Looking ahead, Tyler hopes to expand Shankly Elite’s reach across Northwest Georgia through camps and satellite programs in surrounding communities.

But no matter how far the program grows, Dalton will always be home base.

Tyler and his fiancée, Paola, are now raising their young family in Dalton, and he says he can’t imagine building his life anywhere else.

“This town supports us,” he said. “And we want to keep giving back to it, and keep building something that brings people together.”

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The Story Behind SOCCERTOWN USA

By Erika Mosteller & Misty Silvers We interviewed Soccertown USA nonprofit cofounder Misty Silvers to learn more about the ins and outs of the soccer culture here in Dalton, Georgia.

D

rive by the soccer fields on a spring night and you'll see kids in every corner, families lining the sidelines in folding chairs and on old blankets. You’ll hear cheering in English, Spanish, and sometimes just in pure noise. Misty Silvers, co-founder of local nonprofit SoccerTown USA, understands these dynamics more than she ever expected. She laughs as she recalls the story of how she got pulled into a love for soccer, even though her kids don’t play: a group text, a wild idea, and a playoff week in 2021 that changed everything.

Southeast alumni Juan Azua and Amie Wood, all of them watching the bracket with the same mix of disbelief and barely contained excitement.

Somewhere in that swirl of messages, someone floated the idea of a county-wide celebration if everybody competed and won. They looped in Todd Hudgins — known locally for Monday Night Fútbol with Azua — and State Representative and local restaurant owner Kasey Carpenter.

Before long, the “Countywide Celebration of Domination” had a name and a purpose.

SoccerTown USA was born in a group chat.

In the spring of 2021, Dalton High, Southeast Whitfield, and Coahulla Creek were all still alive in the state playoffs. For anyone who followed local soccer, it felt like something you didn’t dare talk about too loudly for fear of jinxing it.

“I still get emotional,” Misty says, describing what happened to support soccer locally. In just six days, they raised enough money to help cover the cost of championship rings for every program.

Neighbors, parents, alumni, businesses, and people with no direct stake beyond pride in their town and love for these kids all chipped in.

Misty had been helping Dalton High build and promote its booster club. Her high school classmate, Brad Ramsey, was deeply involved on the Southeast High School soccer side.

Their phones buzzed constantly with texts from

The low end on those rings was more than two hundred dollars each, and once you did the math across multiple programs, it added up quickly.

Only then, Misty says, did they truly see how much soccer had been struggling financially.

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For years, this sport had been quietly filling trophy cases and shaping kids’ lives across Whitfield County without the level of support it deserved.

The celebration itself is still hard for her to put into words. What struck her most, though, was seeing how tightly woven the players already were. Silvers explains, “What I didn't know…is how tight knit all of these kids…are woven together. They play for Dalton through the week, and on the weekend, are on the same team with their rivals from Northwest and Southeast.”

Sitting at a soccer game here, especially when the local schools play each other, is a different kind of experience. These kids genuinely love the game, and they genuinely care about each other. “The soccer community we have is so special,” Silvers continues.

“I can’t put it into words, but they have all been so appreciative, so complimentary of each other.”

That bond was built over years along the county’s soccer pipeline. Most kids take their first touches at Dalton Parks and Rec or Whitfield County Parks and Rec. From there, some move into competitive clubs like NSA Belles & Hammers, Dalton FC, or North Georgia Soccer Academy (NGSA). NGSA has an official partnership with Atlanta United that offers local players elite youth camps and a real runway to college programs. The Atlanta United Foundation

funded a mini-pitch field through Believe Greater Dalton at Mack Gaston Community Center in 2025, further growing the relationship between Dalton and the state team. The pipeline here in Greater Dalton is effective and still one of the most underappreciated stories in local sports.

Since 2021, Misty’s group has helped with ring expenses every year. In 2023, they took the next step, forming a nonprofit and awarding scholarships to players continuing their careers in college. It still catches her off guard that all of it started with someone saying, “Let’s have a party for them.” She’ll apologize for getting emotional when she talks about it, though she absolutely doesn’t need to.

This summer, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to Atlanta, a community watch party is already in the works. Follow Believe Greater Dalton for more details about how to celebrate soccer with the world, right here in Dalton.

Misty Silvers Soccertown USA nonprofit co-founder

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Eat This

Story

By Dalton Bite Club

How The Spinning Room transformed a piece of Dalton’s textile past into one of its most inviting gathering spaces.

I

nside the historic walls of The Mill at Crown Garden — where Dalton’s textile industry once thrived — sits The Spinning Room, an intimate cocktail lounge that honors the city’s past while bringing the community together in unexpected ways. Step through the doors and you’re greeted by shared plates, clinking glasses and the steady hum of conversation drifting across the room.

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When The Spinning Room opened in 2018, the goal was to create a gathering space where the community could connect over small plates and drinks. At the time, nothing quite like it existed in Dalton, and the concept quickly resonated with guests drawn to its charm and intimacy.

History lives in the details. Original yarn spindles have been repurposed into striking light fixtures.

Reclaimed flooring frames artwork. Even the original ceiling tiles and tin roof metal have been incorporated into the bar itself.

The years that followed, however, were not without challenges. A pandemic slowed business and tested even the most optimistic outlook. “We’ve had several ups and downs, but I always envisioned what this place could be for the community,” Kirkman shares.

That vision led to an important evolution: bringing Karina Cervantes on board as general manager.

“In the build-out, we wanted to represent the rich history of The Mill,” says Nathan Kirkman, part owner of The Spinning Room. “The Mill is what put Dalton on the map, and we shouldn’t take our history for granted.”

Cervantes is Dalton through and through. Active in local real estate, serving on community boards and owner of Sol de Mayo, she brings both business acumen and deep community connection to the role.

Menu Highlights & Pairings Thoughtfully selected to complement each dish, these wine pairings elevate every bite without overpowering the flavors.

Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling + Baked Brie Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc + Turkey Bacon Avocado Panini Murphy Goode Pinot Noir + Turkey Burnt End Sliders

One of her first initiatives was refreshing the menu — no small task given the lounge’s compact kitchen.

“Our challenge is the small kitchen, so naturally there are limitations,” Cervantes explains. “Our goal is to create an experience for guests and give them something new to look forward to.”

With marketing led by Lily Pimentel — affectionately known as the “pop-up queen” — each transformation introduces vibrant textures, immersive décor and themed menus. The drinks and dishes evolve alongside each concept, offering guests fresh sips and bites to enjoy together.

The Spinning Room leans into intention over excess.

Fresh herbs grown offsite elevate aromatic dishes and handcrafted cocktails. Simple syrups and fruit purées are made in-house, adding thoughtful layers of flavor. Each drink feels carefully composed — the kind that lingers long after the last sip and has guests planning their next visit before they leave their seats.

Today, The Spinning Room is more than a cocktail lounge; it has become the heart of The Mill. It’s a place where old friends reconnect, business owners open their laptops for an offsite afternoon, and guests grab food from neighboring spots like Trinity BBQ or Sol de Mayo — lingering just a little longer over one more drink.

Perhaps the most dynamic evolution has been the introduction of seasonal pop-ups. The Tinsel Room debuted during the holidays, followed by Cupid’s Corner for Valentine’s season.

About the author: Dalton Bite Club spotlights Dalton’s dining scene through thoughtful storytelling and a commitment to supporting locally owned restaurants.

Follow on Instagram @daltonbiteclub.

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Here.Dalton

Dining Guide W

Mariscos El Cuhhhmaron

Spotlights

hether you live here, work here, or are just passing through, if you’ve spent any time in Dalton lately, you know we have one of the best local food scenes around!

From bake shops and little coffee spots to pizza and local brews to fine dining and craft cocktail bars, Dalton has it all! Not to mention the best, most authentic Mexican and Latin American food you’ll find in North Georgia.

Find the full list of 130+ locally-owned and/or locally-managed food and beverage spots on our website: herelocalmedia.com.

Here are our top recs for experiencing the best local flavors in town. So go ahead, put them to the (taste) test!

Table 43 FINE DINING

Table 43

263 N Hamilton St | @table43dalton | (706) 529-2243 Proudly local, Table43 serves elevated lunch and dinner made from quality ingredients — always with a warm welcome. Whether you’re celebrating or just craving something real, there’s always a seat for you at Table43.

Cyra’s – Simple Goodness

208 N Pentz St | @cyrasrestaurant (706) 370-7305 | cyrasrestaurant.com Cyra’s is the premiere dining experience in Northwest Georgia, offering delicious and healthy recipes crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients in unique preparations. Superb service, intimate indoor seating and a gorgeous outdoor patio ensure an incomparable, upscale visit with family, friends or customers — a fine dining gem right here in Dalton.

Want to be one of our featured dining guide partners and appear in print in every issue of Here.Dalton?

Email hello@herelocalmedia.com or visit our website: herelocalmedia.com/advertise El Maguey MEXICAN, LATIN AMERICAN & SEAFOOD

El Maguey Mexican Cuisine

209 W. Cuyler Street | 706-229-9377 | @elmaguey.mex.cuisine Where everything is fresh and cooked to order. Family owned, with authentic recipes from home! Catering and event space available! $1.99 margaritas every Thursday.

Mariscos Costa Alegre

603 Fleming St | (706) 229-9269 | @mariscoscostaalegredalton The taste of the sea is closer than you think! We have the best fresh seafood and cravings that will make your mouth water —plus breakfast and brunch specials like no one else!

Mariscos Costa Alegre

Mariscos El Cuhhhmarón

229 N Hamilton St | (706) 529-9274 | @mariscoselcuhhhmaron Mexican seafood & more, Sonoran style! But we’ll let our reviews speak for us: “The food is excellent. The staff is outstanding, the owner is great and [it’s] a great atmosphere! Hitting on all cylinders!”

The Gallant Goat BARS & TAVERNS

The Gallant Goat

307 S Hamilton St | (706) 529-8597 | @thegallantgoat The Gallant Goat is Dalton’s elevated craft cocktail experience, with signature craft cocktails and endless options for a custom experience — if they have the ingredients, they will make it for you! Aside from the excellent drinks, the upscale ambiance, indoor and outdoor seating options and intimate vibes make it the perfect place for a happy hour meet-up, a reunion with old friends or a fancy date night.

The Spinning Room x The Waggle

The Waggle & The Spinning Room

Inside the Mill - 825 Chattanooga Ave @the.waggle | thewaggledalton.com @spinningroomdalton | spinningroomdalton.com Come release some tension (or just stay out of the heat!) at The Waggle, Dalton’s state-of-the-art golf simulator bar and sports lounge. Then, grab some chef inspired flavors from The Spinning Room - small bites, wine pairing plates, soup, salad, sandwiches and crepes. Imaginative cocktails, sommelier-selected wines and tavern favorite beers. Golf and dine, or just grab drinks and hang with friends.

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Dining Spotlights Guide CASUAL DINING

D Food Collab

DFood Collab

301 E Morris St | dfoodcollab.com | (706)529-8359 A vibrant gathering spot known for burgers, shareable appetizers, and a curated selection of beer and wine. Live music every Friday night and trivia each Tuesday!

Gondolier

ITALIAN

Gondolier

1229 N Glenwood Ave & 900 S Thornton Ave Delicious pizza, salads, oven baked subs, pita wraps, Greek specialties, calzones, strombolies, Italian entrees, and white or red pizza. Customers enjoy our delicious food, often multiple times per week! A fresh Italian dining experience.

Small Batch Bakery BAKERY & SWEETS

Small Batch Bakery

FB: @SmallBatchBakery | IG: @smallbatch02 | (706) 264-8750 Small Batch Bakery makes the world a better place one loaf at a time! Run by sisters Deb and Lisa, they have weekly pre-orders for delicious sourdough loaves in multiple flavors, plus brown butter sourdough chocolate chip cookies and other weekly specials! Place orders by noon Wednesday each week for Friday local pickup!

CATERING / GRAB & GO

Millie’s by Chef Jasa

2604 Old Chattanooga Rd | (706) 459-0454 | @milliesbychefjasa From authentic street eats to elegant French menu pop-ups, Millie’s does it all. Contact Chef Jasa for catering parties of any size, any style of cuisine, or swing by one of their special menu events (watch their social media for info!). You can even bring the full Millie’s experience to your event by booking their food truck, with street-style tacos and much more!

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Housing Market Report New Listings: 94 Avg. Sales Price: $306,150 % of List Price received: 97.64% Avg. Days on Market: 83 days Months Supply of Inventory: 12.46% Available Inventory: 349 listings

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No change 9.83% 1.36% 15.28% 52.14% 1.45%

Source: Dalton MLS, Inc. for single family properties month to month comparison Jan. to Feb. 2026.

Gardens Change Everything

At Fiddleheads Garden Center, we believe the simple act of planting something can transform a home, a space, and even a life.

“

There’s something timeless about a garden.

Maybe it’s the quiet satisfaction of planting something small and watching it grow. Maybe it’s the way flowers bring people outside again—onto the porch, into the yard, into moments that feel just a little slower and more meaningful.

Fiddleheads was built around that idea. Not simply as a place to buy plants, but as a place where people reconnect with the beauty and rhythm of growing things.

Where someone new to gardening feels just as welcome as someone who has been tending their beds for decades.

Each season brings something new—spring bulbs pushing through cool soil, lush summer containers, fall color, and winter traditions that make a home feel warm again.

A garden planted with intention becomes a gathering place — a quiet retreat where life happens. ”

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Write.Here Here.Dalton’s Literary Corner

Emma Ensley grew up in Dalton, and now resides in North Carolina. Her stunning debut collection of short stories captures messy, heartfelt, and often surreal moments of coming of age in small-town America in the early days of the internet.

Here is an excerpt from “Epilogue,” in which the young protagonist navigates both the profundity and mundanity of death, set against the small, everyday frictions of self and community growing up in the South.

Emma Ensley I saved up all my money for a lime green camcorder that summer. I kept the bills in a shoe box under my bed, just like the one the guinea pig was resting in out back. I rode my skateboard around the neighborhood with the camera flipped open in my palm, falling and ending my footage with several seconds of the crisp, blue sky above.

That summer, a man had a heart attack behind the wheel and drove into my bedroom while I was at the grocery store with my mom and sister. When we pulled up to the house, she told me to stay in the back seat, buckled, until my grandma came to get me.

I painted my room neon green that summer. I liked how my bedroom contrasted my sister's, which was all soft pastels and porcelain dolls wedged into metal display stands. My room was my own, glowing loudly all around me.

That summer was the summer it rained every single afternoon, a slow rumble of thunder moving in at three p.m. on the dot. The asphalt would steam in the sunlight after a big storm. I tried to capture the vapor rising on my camcorder, but the lens went foggy, the same way it did when my sister got her face too close.

I bought my first Abercrombie shirt that summer. I had a crush on my friend's older brother, and we slow-danced to All or Nothing by O-Town at her birthday party in that same church gym. He was shorter than me and put his arms on my shoulders like the girls, while mine held his hips like a boy.

That summer, I started confirmation classes and learned about Presbyterianism and predestination. God's eternal decree. The short life of my guinea pig, Lydia Royal, and the man in the car all determined to be that length before they even made it onto this planet. It felt too big to hold.

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THE COMPUTER ROOM September 2025 Emma Ensley Available at loblollypress.com Excerpt published with permission of the author

Here.

People

The people, businesses and events across our community are what make this place feel like home.

These are just a few recent snapshots that capture the connections you can find here, at home, in Dalton.

Above: Wreath Ceremony honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Below: United Way Women's Leadership Council mahjong event.

Above: Dalton Heart Ball for the American Heart Association.

Left: Arbor Day Tree Planting at John Brown Recreation Center.

Above: Dalton Utilities team at Junior Achievement Hall of Fame event.

Right: Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce Women's Coffee.

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There & Then

Dalton’s Wink Was More Than a Blink

By Harlan Braudlume

I

n Dalton, Georgia, we don’t just lay carpet; we roll out the red one. And for a few decades, nobody did it better than the Wink Theater. Built in 1941, right there on Crawford Street, the Wink was Dalton’s own movie palace, complete with neon lights and Art Deco curves that made the whole town feel just a little more glamorous. In a town where the biggest excitement might have been a high school football game or the chatter at one of the local meat-and-threes, the Wink gave us Hollywood.

Bedford Falls one more time.

Now, you have to remember, 1941 was no ordinary year. While Clark Gable was stealing kisses on screen, our boys were packing up for World War II. The Wink opened its doors in September, just months before Pearl Harbor, and suddenly it became more than a theater. It was where young couples held hands before he shipped off, where families gathered to forget about ration stamps for two hours, and where Dalton kids saw their first cowboy ride across the big screen.

But the Wink wasn’t about to fade quietly. Community leaders and dreamers got together, dusted off the old velvet seats, and breathed life back into it. Today, the Wink is home to Rock Bridge Community Church, a stage for performers, and community events. It’s proof that Dalton doesn’t throw away its history; we repurpose it, polish it, and give it back to the people.

The Wink was the first airconditioned building in town, which meant in the summer you could escape the Georgia heat for a dime and a bucket of popcorn.

Folks lined up down the sidewalk just for the chance to cool off and watch Jimmy Stewart save

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By the 1970s, like many smalltown theaters, the Wink flickered. Big box cinemas and color TVs pulled the crowds away. The lights dimmed, the marquee came down, and for years the old place stood like a ghost of Saturday nights past.

Some folks even swear they heard actual ghosts inside, voices in the balcony, footsteps across the stage. Whether you believe it or not, it makes for good storytelling every year around Halloween.

Every Southern town has a landmark folks get nostalgic over.

In Dalton, it’s the Wink Theater.

And if you listen closely when the lights go down, you might just hear the echoes of a hundred first dates, the cheers of war-weary families, or maybe, just maybe, a ghost whispering for one more bucket of popcorn.

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429 Virgil, Dr. Dalton, GA 30721 | P 706.226.7474 | F 706.278.7474 | paradigmprinting.com