Issuu

Make it Count Unconditionally

August is the month that reminds every parent who they are. The summer slowdown is over. The backpacks are out. The alarm clocks are set again. And whether your child is headed to a classroom down the road or sitting at your kitchen table for another year of homeschool, the question underneath all the logistics is the same one it has always been: are we being intentional about this? Not perfect. Intentional.

I remember reading the first parenting manual ever written. Talk to your children when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, when you get up. In other words, every ordinary moment is a teaching moment. The school year does not start in August. It never actually stopped.

The numbers around us are worth paying attention to. The United States recorded its lowest-ever fertility rate in 2024, at just 1.6 births per woman. In 2026, Africa is projected to account for nearly 36 percent of all global births, with Asia contributing another 49 percent. That means roughly 85 percent of the next generation is being born somewhere other than here. The children growing up in North Georgia right now are a rare and precious thing. And they are watching us more than we realize.

A 2025 survey found that 49 percent of American parents rely on screen time every day to help manage their parenting responsibilities. A separate study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that parental technology use in a child's presence is consistently linked to poorer cognitive and behavioral outcomes, and that small, intentional changes can make a meaningful difference. Put the phone down at dinner. Ask one real question in the car. Show up to the thing that matters to them, even when it does not matter to you. These are not revolutionary acts. They are the whole job.

This issue, we celebrate the families doing that work. We feature Jessi Meeks, who is parenting authentically and out loud in a world of highlight reels. We visit the newly renovated Sequoyah Regional Library in Hickory Flat, one of this county's great gifts to curious kids. And we look at how LGE Community Credit Union is strengthening the community that holds all these families together.

The days are long. The years are short. Make them count.

This is Your City, This is Your Lifestyle

August 2026

PUBLISHER

Chicka Elloy | chicka.elloy@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jennifer Elloy | jennifer.elloy@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kelsey Walters, Mark O'Donnell, Glenn Lazarus

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Katie Neilson, Naomi Hopkins

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Mary Albers

LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas Learn

CHICKA ELLOY, PUBLISHER @CANTONCITYLIFESTYLE

PRODUCING OUTSTANDING RESULTS • CREATING GREAT EXPERIENCES TREATING OUR PATIENTS LIKE OUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS

WHEN YOU LOOK GOOD, WE LOOK GOOD.

MEET DR. ANDY KRAGOR

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: Couples skate at The Mill on Etowah. 2: Student Takeover at Generations Church is essential 3: Tennis champions with a cause in Bridge Mill. 4: Happy Fourth of July from our favorite orthodontist students at Kragor. 5: Cherokee Aquatics pet day with Baz and Biff 6: Exit 14 has some collaborative space and great coffee 7: They say it’s 0.8 of Augusta! Must Ministries Golf tournament was awesome in 2026

business monthly

Canton Dumpster Pros

Canton Dumpster Pros provides reliable, affordable dumpster rental services for homeowners, contractors, and businesses throughout Canton, Georgia. Offering 10, 20, 30 and 40-yard roll-off dumpsters, the company supports projects ranging from home cleanouts and renovations to construction and commercial projects. Customers appreciate straightforward pricing, prompt delivery, flexible rental periods, and responsive customer service. With a focus on convenience and dependable waste removal, of luxury items, call Chris at: 678.679.1062

A Canton ten-year-old wins one of junior golf's most storied titles

FOR GLORY Putting

ARTICLE BY GLENN LAZARUS

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

SARAH BURRIS

The crowd surged toward the eighth green before the ball even stopped rolling. Cole Burris, ten years old and standing in the middle of his biggest golf moment, had just made the putt that mattered most. Not a practice round. Not a warm-up. The championship putt, on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff, at one of the most storied junior golf tournaments in the world.

Cole is a Woodstock native, a rising fifth grader at Timothy Ministry Homeschool, and the kind of kid who has been chasing something specific for a long time. He picked up his first club at age six through Georgia Golf Performance at Bridgemill Golf Club in Canton, where the coaches spotted something early. By 2024 he was their 8-10 year old player of the year. At nine, he added dedicated swing coach Chad Phillips of Summit Golf Training in Kennesaw. He plays on the JPGA All-Star team out of Towne Lake Hills Golf Club and calls Cartersville Country Club his home course, partly because he loves walkable layouts with fast greens. Speed and agility training at Fury Performance in Woodstock has helped him drive the ball over 200 yards. He weighs 72 pounds. The kid is serious.

This past June, all of that work led him to Dothan, Alabama, and the 77th Press Thornton Future Masters, where the best junior golfers in the country and the world converge each summer on Dothan Country Club. The tournament has been running since 1950. Its alumni list reads like a who's who of professional golf: Scottie Scheffler, Bubba Watson, Trevor Immelman, Harris English, Stewart Cink. Cole had been here before. He tied for 24th in the 10-Under division in 2025, went home with unfinished business, and spent a year putting in the work to come back and do something about it.

After three days of stroke play on Dothan's newly redesigned course, Cole found himself in a tie with Sean Wilding, a ten-year-old who had traveled from Thailand with his family, the farthest-traveling competitor in the entire field. What followed was only the second playoff in the history of the 10-Under division across the tournament's 77 years. Three holes of sudden death. Neither boy gave an inch.

On the par-4 eighth hole, Wilding's par putt stopped just outside the cup. Cole stood over an uphill putt with a championship on the line. "I was just thinking, I need to make this," he said afterward. "And, I did, so. And, it was uphill, and his was downhill." He rolled it in. The crowd erupted.

Watching from the scorer's table was Jake Creel, the 1996 10-Under Future Masters champion and one of only two players in history to win that division in a playoff before Cole. Nearly thirty years after his own dramatic finish on this same course, Creel had a front-row seat to history repeating itself. "It's nostalgic," he said. "That kid will remember that story. I will remember that story."

Cole dreams of playing on the PGA Tour one day and designing golf courses the way Jack Nicklaus did. He has his eye on the University of Georgia and Clemson. For now, he is ten years old, he is the Future Masters 10-Under champion, and he has a putt he will never forget.

ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT

The Press Thornton Future Masters has been held at Dothan Country Club in Dothan, Alabama, since 1950. Now in its 77th year, the tournament draws nearly 1,000 applicants annually from 37 states and 8 countries. Alumni include world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Masters champions Bubba Watson and Trevor Immelman, and British Open winner Ben Curtis. Winners of the prestigious 15-18 division earn a coveted blue jacket.

Great Taste of Mexico

Lower the Bar

How one Cherokee County mom turned raw, real motherhood into a movement.

Before the 200,000+ followers, before the viral videos, and before anyone told her she was doing something worth watching, Jessi Meeks was just trying to survive. She had three little kids, a house that looked like a house, and a scrolling feed full of perfectly matched outfits, Pottery Barn playrooms, and activities that required a glue gun and a color-coded bin system.

"I just wanted to bring the realness back," Jessi says. "If you see a picture of my house, I'm not cleaning up the background. You're going to see it exactly as it is."

That honesty landed. A couple of videos went viral, and the Cherokee County mom, a former Mill Creek Middle School science teacher who raised her kids in the shadows of the North Georgia mountains, found herself at the center of a community of mothers who were, for the first time in years, desperately exhaling. Today her Instagram bio says it all: life with three kids is part survival, part sitcom. Her mission is to lower the motherhood bar so parenting can be fun again.

Q: What inspired you to start sharing your motherhood journey online?

A: It just kind of started as something fun. Then it took a couple of viral videos to become an actual job. Once I started making content, I had to find my angle, what I wanted to be known for. At the time, I noticed

ARTICLE BY GLENN LAZARUS

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY JESSI MEEKS

everything was so perfectly curated. Every kid was matching, and the rooms looked like they were from Pottery Barn. It just didn't feel real. I wanted to bring the realness back, like, you're going to see my house exactly as it is. My kids probably won't match because they dress themselves. An "activity" at our house is me handing them a bowl of rice and calling it a sensory bin.

Q: What advice would you give a busy mom trying to keep joy at the center of family life?

A: Lower the bar. Peel away everything that doesn't matter, like matching outfits or elaborate activities. All the stuff that just takes up brain space. What you're left with is the stuff that actually does matter: the fun parts of motherhood, just spending time with your kids, whether their clothes match or not. If you forget shoes, oh well. I've done that many times. We get somewhere and I'm like, okay, why don't you have shoes on?

"Peel away all the things that don't matter. What you're left with is the stuff that actually does."

Q: What would you tell a brand-new mom who's overwhelmed right out of the gate?

A: When you're a brand-new mom, you stress about so many things: germs, making sure the diaper bag is fully packed, the car is locked and loaded. There's a joke that by the third kid, sometimes they have clothes on and sometimes they don't. As a baby, you've got nothing (for them) in the diaper bag and you're handing them a spoon at a restaurant to play with. We can take that attitude and apply it to a first kid. So many moms would truly enjoy those baby months so much more without all the added stress.

Q: How do you personally manage being a screen-time influencer while keeping your own kids off devices?

A: It is a very hard thing to balance. I use the Brick app to lock myself out of my phone. During the school year, I do the majority of my content work while they're at school, so I'm not setting a terrible example. My kids don't have any devices yet, and they're just now getting to that age where they're like, well, you're on your phone. Teaching that to a seven-year-old is very, very hard. Modern motherhood as an influencer is definitely still something I'm figuring out every single day.

You can follow Jessi's real, unfiltered life with her three kids, her husband, Tyler, and the world's most mischievous black lab on Instagram.

Follow Jessi @jessimeeks — people already know the bar is right where it belongs.

COMMUNITY Commitment BEYOND FINANCIAL Services

How LGE Community Credit Union champions public safety, partnerships, and meaningful local impact in Cherokee County

ARTICLE BY LGE COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

LGE Community Credit Union is guided by a simple but powerful belief: strong communities are built through connection, care, and collaboration. Rooted in the credit union philosophy of “people helping people,” LGE’s presence in Cherokee County extends well beyond financial services, reaching into the lives of those who help keep the community safe every day.

Since 1951, LGE has served metro Atlanta and northwest Georgia, building lasting relationships along the way. In 2026, the organization celebrates its 75th anniversary, an important milestone reflecting decades of commitment, trust, and hands-on community involvement.

That commitment is visible not only during business hours, but after hours as well. LGE teammates are active throughout the community, attending events such as the Cherokee County School District’s Key Scholars ceremony, and celebrations honoring local leaders, including the recent retirement of Fire Chief Eddie Robinson. These moments reflect a deeper investment in the people and stories that shape Cherokee County.

At the center of this work in Cherokee County is Ashley Rowe Harwell, LGE’s business development officer for Acworth and Cherokee County. A member of the Cherokee County Fire Foundation board of directors, Harwell exemplifies the credit union’s mission by seamlessly connecting her professional role with her passion for community service. Her involvement

supports fundraising initiatives, strengthens advocacy for first responders, and helps advance programs that directly benefit both those who serve and their families.

“Serving on the Cherokee Fire Foundation board has allowed me to stand alongside the first responders who protect our community every day while building lasting relationships through service,” Harwell says. “I’m proud to represent LGE Community Credit Union because our entire team shares a commitment to making a meaningful difference.”

The Cherokee Fire Foundation plays a vital role in supporting Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services (CCFES) and surrounding departments. Its mission extends beyond equipment and operational needs, placing a strong emphasis on people. The foundation provides financial assistance to firefighters facing serious medical challenges, supports the families of fallen personnel, and offers immediate relief to residents displaced by house fires. It also invests in the future through the CCFES Explorers Program, which introduces young people to careers in public safety.

Whether assisting a family in crisis or supporting a firefighter during a medical emergency, the foundation often responds in critical moments when help is needed most. Through fundraisers such as the Cherokee Fire Foundation Casino Night, along with ongoing community support and hands-on engagement, these efforts ensure that first responders and their families never face hardship alone.

Harwell’s involvement, combined with LGE’s sustained support, continues to make a tangible impact. Firefighters gain access to crucial resources during times of personal hardship, enabling them to continue serving the community with strength and resilience.

Beyond its work with the Cherokee Fire Foundation, LGE’s broader community commitment is reflected through the LGE Community Outreach Foundation. Since 2010, the LGE Foundation has contributed more than $3 million to nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout metro Atlanta and northwest Georgia. Through sponsorships, partnerships, and volunteerism, LGE supports individuals and organizations across the community, including local partners like Next Step Ministries in Cherokee County.

“I’m proud to represent LGE Community Credit Union because our entire team shares a commitment to making a meaningful difference.”

As Cherokee County continues to grow, strong connections between organizations and residents remain essential. LGE’s ongoing involvement reflects a thoughtful balance of progress and appreciation, honoring first responders while investing in the future. By supporting those who protect and serve, LGE helps ensure the community remains not only a great place to live, but a place where people feel genuinely supported, valued, and safe.

Doing Amazing Things

TWO CHEROKEE COUNTY STUDENT ATHLETES WHO LEAD WITH HEART

ARTICLE BY KELSEY WALTERS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AYLO HEATH

Some scholarships reward the highest GPA. Others go to the fastest or the strongest. The Do Amazing Things award, presented by Aylo Health in partnership with Positive Athlete, was created for a different kind of student entirely.

Positive Athlete is a national recognition and leadership development program that highlights high school student-athletes who go beyond the scoreboard. Since 2017, Aylo Health, the independent, family-owned primary care network serving communities in Cherokee County and across Metro Atlanta, has partnered with Positive Athlete to present the Do Amazing Things Award, recognizing young student-athletes who demonstrate leadership, character, perseverance, and commitment to serving others.

The award is open to any student athlete in grades 9 through 12, in any sport, at any level. Nominations are made by coaches, parents, teachers, and community members who see something special in a young person long before a trophy ever does. What sets this recognition apart is what it does not require. There is no minimum GPA threshold. There is no stat line to hit. Positive Athlete instead looks for young people who have overcome real adversity, served their schools and communities in meaningful ways, or simply carry an attitude so infectious that it makes everyone around them better. Aylo Health proudly supports that vision because it aligns with their own commitment to helping people live healthier lives and building stronger communities..

This year, for the first time, two scholarship recipients were named from the Cherokee County area, each awarded a $1,000 college scholarship at a special awards ceremony held June 1st at the Georgia State Capitol, where scholarship recipients from across the state were celebrated alongside their families, coaches, educators, and community supporters. Both students are exactly the kind of young leaders this award was built to honor.

Jaxon Pfansteil, a 2026 graduate of Cherokee High School, built his character the hard way. After being dropped from his top club soccer team, he did not walk away. He worked, earned his spot back, and eventually captained that same team. On the high school field, he played through significant health challenges without complaint, always putting his teammates first. As a two-year varsity captain, a member of the Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), and Co-President of the Pickleball Club, Jaxon organized community food pantries and special needs field days alongside his peers. His faith, anchored through First Priority and three weeks of summer service at Woodlands Camp SALT, runs through everything he does. Whether greeting elementary students at the start of their school day or running social media for the Cherokee student section, Jaxon leads quietly and consistently.

Addie Kate Beck, a rising Senior at Sequoyah High School, has been playing basketball since kindergarten. Her sophomore season tested her in ways no coach can prepare a player for: a season-ending hand injury just three games in. She showed up to every practice and every game anyway, including the day after surgery, cheering on her teammates from the sideline. That kind of grace under pressure is not something you teach. She returned as a varsity starter and team captain for the 2025-26 season. Beyond the court, Addie Kate serves on SALT, holds leadership roles in National Honor Society, Beta Club, Student Government, and DECA, recently served as a Senate Page for the Georgia Lieutenant Governor, and travels to serve families battling childhood cancer through the Lighthouse Family Retreat. She is currently preparing for a mission trip to El Salvador. Together, Jaxon and Addie Kate represent something Cherokee County has always known but does not always stop to celebrate: the next generation is already here, already leading, and already doing amazing things and Aylo Health is proud to stand right behind them. Find out more at: Aylohealth.com

“These are student athletes who stepped up for others and chose to lead with purpose. That is exactly the kind of story Cherokee County deserves to celebrate.” - Shannon Bucy, Aylo Health

TREY & KATIE KENNEDY

ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE

Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.

Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.

Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.

ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”

Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.

After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”

The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.

FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY

Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.

Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE

MEET THE DOCTOR

Introducing Dr. David Meyer

Dr. David C. Meyer is a board-certified general and colorectal surgeon specializing in minimally invasive techniques to treat colorectal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease and complex anorectal conditions. He is committed to patient-centered care, building strong relationships and partnering with his patients and their families to provide education, support and tailored treatment decisions that improve quality of life.

What foods improve colon health?

The strongest evidence supports highfiber and Mediterranean-style diets. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and other fiber-rich foods supports regular bowel function and overall colon health.

What triggers diverticulitis attacks?

The exact cause is not fully understood, and our understanding has changed over the past decade. Risk factors include obesity, smoking, inactivity and low-fiber dietary patterns. Nuts, seeds and popcorn have not been shown to increase risk. No single food has been proven to trigger diverticulitis. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise and a high-fiber diet may reduce risk.

Is this IBS or something more serious?

You may have typical symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but there are numerous alarm features that mean any abdominal pain symptoms or changes in stool frequency or consistency, even if present for months, should be properly evaluated by a professional. Symptoms such as rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, anemia, persistent diarrhea or constipation, new symptoms after age 50, or a family history of colon cancer should prompt medical evaluation. Don't assume new symptoms are simply IBS.

Are there specific high-fiber foods I should prioritize or avoid while on vacation?

Choose fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and nuts when possible. Limit excessive fast food, processed snacks and large amounts of alcohol, which can contribute to bowel irregularity.

How can I manage constipation or diarrhea while traveling?

Traveler's constipation is extremely common. Stay hydrated, maintain a consistent fiber intake, stay active and avoid waiting too long to use the restroom. Consider bringing your usual fiber supplement when traveling. For diarrhea, prioritize oral rehydration and avoid excessive antidiarrheal use if fever or bloody stools are present. Evidence supports fiber supplementation as one of the few interventions that can improve both constipation-predominant and diarrheapredominant symptoms by normalizing stool consistency.

Are there specific high-fiber foods I should prioritize or avoid while on vacation?

Choose fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and nuts when possible. Limit excessive fast food, processed snacks and large amounts of alcohol, which can contribute to bowel irregularity.

How much water should I be drinking to avoid heat-related constipation?

Evidence is surprisingly limited. Hydration alone does not reliably treat constipation in adequately hydrated individuals. Most adults should drink enough fluids to keep urine pale yellow, usually 2 to 3 liters of fluid daily. In hot weather or during exercise, additional fluids are often needed.

Inside the renovation redefining what a Cherokee County library means for your family.

PAGES, PEOPLE, AND POSSIBILITY

ARTICLE BY MARK O’DONNELL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEQUOYAH REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM

It started in 1922 with a borrowed room behind a jewelry store on Canton's Main Street and a collection of donated books tended by a volunteer two days a week. More than a century later, the Sequoyah Regional Library System has grown into one of North Georgia's most quietly essential institutions: eight locations, more than 1 million checkouts, and nearly 500,000 in-person visitors every year.

BEYOND THE BOOK STACKS

That growth has been deliberate. Cherokee County is one of the fastest-growing communities in Georgia, and the library system has worked hard to keep pace, evolving from a reading room into something far more expansive. The Hickory Flat Public Library recently completed a full renovation, a transformation shaped entirely by what local residents said they actually needed. Community surveys guided every decision, from the layout of the rooms to the kinds of spaces available. The result feels less like what people remember a library being and more like what a library can genuinely become. You notice it immediately upon walking in. To the right of the entrance sits what the staff calls the third space: a community lounge complete with a kitchenette, booth seating, and gathering spots that invite you to stay a while. Conference rooms and private meeting rooms are available to reserve at no cost. There are quiet corners for concentration and open areas for collaboration. It is a space that works equally well for a ten-year-old finishing a book report, a high schooler prepping for exams, a parent running a small business between school pickups, and a retired neighbor tackling a lifelong passion project.

THE LIBRARY BUILT IT FOR ALL OF THEM.

"The Hickory Flat Public Library was designed with the future in mind, serving as a flexible, dynamic hub that will enrich the lives of everyone in our community for years to come. The library brings people together by offering collaborative workspaces and a welcoming environment." - Lisa Fowler, Branch Manager, Hickory Flat Public Library

The renovation also answered something practical and urgent. In a county where growth continues to outpace resources, the library remains one of the few places where every family, regardless of income or circumstance, walks in on equal footing. Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots are available for checkout at no cost, meaning a student without

reliable internet at home is never left behind. Across the different SRLS locations, services such as 3D printers, computer stations, and various seating areas ensure access to creativity and learning for all.

"A library card with Sequoyah Regional Library System is available at no cost for community members in Cherokee, Pickens, and Gilmer counties. We have so many wonderful items and services available to our community at no cost. There truly is something for every age and every stage at the library." Sarah Childers, Marketing Manager, Sequoyah Regional Library System

The Sequoyah Regional Library System runs more than 1,100 programs annually, attended by over 32,000 people. Story times, STEM workshops, digital literacy classes, tutoring spaces, and hands-on creative programs fill the calendar year-round. For students across Cherokee County, the library is not a supplement to their education. It is a cornerstone of it.

STILL RELEVANT. MORE THAN EVER.

One of the system's most practical tools is the EZ Student Access program, a partnership with the Cherokee County School District that makes library access nearly automatic. When parents and caregivers register their child for school each year, they can opt in to have their child's lunch number serve as their library card, allowing the child to check out up to 5 items, fine-free. No barriers between a curious kid and the resources waiting for them.

For early learners, the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program has become a beloved community milestone. The library's seasonal reading initiatives keep momentum going at every grade level, with Summer Discovery wrapping up each July and additional reading initiatives available yearround to effectively engage the community.

"Whether a child is six years old, discovering their first chapter book, or sixteen, preparing college applications, everything they need is right here, and it costs them nothing." - Sarah Childers, Marketing Manager, Sequoyah Regional Library System

It is the question that comes up at every dinner table where technology dominates the conversation: Do libraries still matter in an age of artificial intelligence, instant search, and on-demand everything? The answer, at least in Cherokee County, is not just yes. It is a resounding and well-funded yes. The Sequoyah Regional Library System logged more than 490,000 in-person visits in its 2025 fiscal year. Its digital catalog includes over 46,000 ebooks available around the clock. Public Wi-Fi sessions at its eight locations topped 134,000 in the most recent survey period. These are not the numbers of an institution fading into irrelevance. They are the numbers of a community leaning in.

What AI cannot replicate is physical space, human connection, and equitable access. A family without a home computer cannot search Google from their living room. A student without broadband cannot stream a tutoring session. A small business owner without a printer cannot submit a proposal. The library solves all three, quietly, every single day, without a subscription fee or a data plan required. The Library of Things takes this idea even further. Beyond books and digital titles, the system lends items that expand what learning and living

look like: Chromebooks, Wi-Fi hotspots, and 3D Printers that reflect the real and evolving needs of a modern community. Experience Passes open doors to cultural destinations across the region, ensuring that a child's education is not limited to what a family budget can stretch to cover.

"Our libraries today are more community-focused than ever. We are here to connect with people exactly where they are, with the tools, spaces, and support they need to move forward. That mission has new significance as things rapidly change and evolve." - Angela Cortellino, Executive Director, Sequoyah Regional Library System

The renovation at Hickory Flat is one chapter in a longer story of a library system that has refused to stand still. From that first borrowed room on Main Street in 1922 to a thriving network of eight locations serving hundreds of thousands of neighbors across Cherokee, Pickens, and Gilmer counties, the Sequoyah Regional Library System has always been something more than a place to check out books. It has been the place where this community comes to grow.

Your library card is free. Your next chapter is waiting.