The Current June 2013

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North Fulton Hospital Places On Quality Honor Roll Meet Dr. Michael Lispcomb North Fulton Celebrates EMS Week

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theCurrent June 2013

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There Are Cougars

Everywhere

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DATING

Summer Has Begun That’s Music To My Ears PAGE 24

PAGE 14

MISCELLANEOUS

RAMBLINGS 8

COMMUNITY DESIGN

Keep The Chatter Down On Gattis And Pray For Ferry

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SPORTS

GRUMPY 18

REAL ESTATE

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Living Local Loving Global

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COMMUNITY PAGE 26

CAPTURED 27

OUT & ABOUT 30

HIDDEN GEMS 36

I’m On A Sugar High FOOD

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CurrentBriefs

To have an event listed on To have a brief listed here send info to events@thecurrentplus.com the out & about calendar send info to News and information updated all week: www.thecurrentplus.com events@thecurrentplus.com

DJ Mark McCain, The Etiquette School of Atlanta, Inc., Promo-Photo, Speedpro Imaging, Wells Fargo, WellStar, and West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory.

of The Drake House. Burpees is a dynamic exercise made popular by person trainers that are used to shed fat, build muscle and quickly bring about exhaustion. This event will be similar to a walk-a-thon where participants collect pledges for their efforts.

ART, BARKS AND PURRS Instead of walking they will have 90 The Cobb County Animal Control Shelter seconds to complete as many burpees as is having their 2nd annual art festival on possible. This challenge is part of a larger June 22 on the shelter’s front lawn at 1060 international events taking place Al Bishop Drive in Marietta. This popular internationally. Fitness Revolution Roswell event will feature crafts made by local owners, Andre and Deidre Coman, support Left to right: Mary Ann Bryant, 2011-13 Dogwood District The Drake House because of the care it Director, Debbie Vann, current RGC President, Caroline Silcox, artists featuring animal themes. There is no admission though cat or dog food dona- gives to women and their children in north Carolyn Herndon, out-going RGC President Helen Grogan, tions are welcomed. metro Atlanta, providing short-term crisis 2013-2015 Dogwood District Director housing, education, and empowerment. To ROSWELL register for this free fitness challenge, visit COMMUNITY www.fitnessrevolutionroswell.com/burpees ROSWELL HIGH SCHOOL HALL foracause.

GARDEN CLUB NAMED BEST IN

STATE

OF FAME ESTABLISHED The recently established RHS Athletic Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for the inaugural group of inductees. The Hall of Fame was formed to honor athletes, coaches, administrators and other community contributors who have made significant contributions to the program.

The first group will be honored at the initial induction banquet on Oct. 17. For additional information on guidelines and sponsorship possibilities visit roswellhighhalloffame.com.

The Garden Club of Georgia (GCG), for the second time in it’s 62-year history has named the Roswell Garden Club, top club in the state. The GCG was founded in 1928 and today has over 12,000 members within over 400 individual clubs. These clubs strive to fulfill the mission of beautification, conservation ands education.

The Roswell Garden Club is involved in numerous projects around the community as well as providing assistance to community programs such as the holiday decorations done throughout Roswell. For more information visit their site at www.roswell- CHARITY FITNESS CHALLENGE gardenclub.com.

Fitness Revolution Roswell will host Burpees for a Cause on June 22 in support EAST COBB

The Coalition of Cobb County Business Associations and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce have partnered to present the third annual Summer JAM on July 17 from 5 to 8 pm at the Cobb Civic Center. The event will celebrate the county’s small business community. The event will have complementary food and drinks to enjoy while networking with local business professionals. The online ticket cost is free for members of participating associations or $20 at the door. For non-members the online registration is $20 or $30 at the door.

The 2013 Summer J.A.M. is sponsored by Adriane’s Delectable’s, the City of Marietta,

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GOLF UNDER THE LIGHTS TopGolf is an entertainment themed facility that offers golfing games for all ages. They recently broke ground on a new 65,000 square foot facility located on Westside Parkway in Alpharetta, which will open in the spring of 2014. The facility will have an upscale ambience that will feature 230 HDTV’s and a full food and beverage menu. The facility is expected to serve 400,000 visitors in year one. In addition to the main space there will be over 2,000 square feet of private event space and over 100 climate controlled hitting bays, which can hole up to 6 players at a time.

Rachel Barre Photography

Contributing Writers Michael Hadden Elaine LaMontagne Michael Finch Helen Kelley Tom Bowen Lynette Hoffman Phyllis Barron Don Rizzo Lisa Eckman Stacy Shade Beau Bock Main Phone Number 770-810-5943 Calendar Events events@thecurrentplus.com

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ROSWELL CVB AND RBA HOST COMMUNITY AWARDS

Jimmy Penman of Hawthorne Retail Partners and Ken Davis of Renasant Bank.

Publisher Tripp Liles

Matthew W. Quinn

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In a collaborative effort the Roswell CVB and the Roswell Business Alliance held their annual community awards presentation. These awards are given to community leaders who make significant contributions to the betterment of Roswell.

The list of the winners is as follows: • Young Professional Award to Ryan Pernice owner of Table and Main restaurant. Table and Main is widely recognized as one of the best in the Atlanta area and serves as a Canton Street success story.

• Economic Development Award was presented to the North Fulton Medical

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Briefs... continued

Plaza. Debbie Keel, CEO of North Fulton Hospital, accepted the award for the facility, which is the first class A medical office in the vicinity.

• Economic Development Award to Hawthorne Retail Partners for their $2 million makeover of Holcomb Woods Village in east Roswell.

• History Maker of the Year Award went to Sally White. White has made numerous contributions to Roswell since 1959 having served on numerous committees, boards, tasks forces and much more.

• Additional awards: President’s Award: Tom Ladow, Roswell Folk and Heritage Award: David Hicks

Grand Openings & Gatherings...

Grand Opening at The Ant Farm.

RESIDENT

Rose & grandson Vinny

Grand Opening at C2 Education.

NOW TEACHING A NEW LANGUAGE: GRANDKID.

It’s never been easier to connect with your loved ones.

Through our new technology classes, St. George Village is taking the fear and uncertainty out of using the latest gadgets. Making it easier than ever for our residents to keep up with family, enjoy the latest entertainment and navigate the Internet seamlessly. It’s all part of our mission to help residents live active, independent lives. Call 770-645-2340 to learn about upcoming classes. And remember, you’re never too old for the digital age.

First Friday art reception at Teal Gallery and Events.

Grand Opening at Smart Care Urgent Care. www.stgeorgevillage.com 11350 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075 Owned by Catholic Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Inc. and managed by Wesley Woods, Inc. of Atlanta.

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JUN 2013

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Alpharetta Film Academy Finishing Feature Film

By Matthew Quinn Creative Studios of Atlanta owner Ken Feinberg, whose Alpharetta office is located on North Main Street, has cast many of his young stars in the film Santa’s Boot Camp, now in post-production.

The movie began two years ago, when Feinberg’s editor told him how the students had made so many short films that with all the time and effort they put in, they could have made a full-length feature film. Feinberg decided to make a film during the 2011-2012 year that would appeal to those outside of the film academy. He assembled a team of writers to elaborate on an idea he had about Santa Claus being audited by the IRS. What grew out of it was a story he described as a cross between The Breakfast Club and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Santa on set with some of his helpers.

In the film, Santa’s elves tire of bratty human children and go on strike. Santa abducts a group of teens whose antics were the straw that broke the camel’s back and puts them to work.

Although Eric Roberts and Doug Kaye portray a fake and the real Santa Claus respectively, the film stars mostly young actors trained in the academy. Feinberg designed characters to fit his actors’ personalities. Actress Ansley Williams’ personality is rather diva-ish, so the role of strike leader Diva Elf was designed to suit her. Actor Matthew Smock did improvisational comedy with some of the younger actors, and so the role of “Tiny,” an elf taller than many of the teens, was born. In one case, an actor even created his own character—Michael Rosen of Alpharetta suggested one of the elves be Jewish, so Murray the Hanukah Elf was added to the script. The students’ skills were incorporated as well—Annie Daniel, who plays Cacie, performed with the Atlanta Ballet for years, so her character maneuvers through sleeping elves in one scene using dance moves.

Although the filming is done, there is much post-production work left to do.

The editing needs to be finished, the sound and color need to be mixed, and the special effects need to be inserted. Feinberg estimated it will cost around $250,000 to finish and to do some marketing and promotion besides. To raise the remaining money, Feinberg went to the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May. Should sufficient investors not be found, Feinberg will hold an invitation-only screening of the rough cut to raise the remaining funds.

Alpharetta siblings Abbey, 11, and Andrew Kochman, 9, play elves Sunny and Skippy in the film.

Just before the filming began, Andrew got a black eye in an accident. Though his mother Heather feared it would need to be covered up with makeup each day, it was decided that the black eye helped emphasize Skippy’s tough character. As the bruise healed, it became necessary to apply dark makeup to keep it there.

Heather said her children’s participation in the film meant driving around a great deal. However, she enjoyed meeting interesting people and being on a lot of film sets. This was not something she anticipated doing when she became a mother.

She was pleasantly surprised the kids’ class project turned into a full-blown feature film. “I feel they were very lucky they got to be a part of it,” she said. “It’s a family-friendly movie. Not all the auditions we go on are family-friendly, so we love it when there’s a project they can work on and actually watch.” ❑

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JUN 2013

Colonel Cooper Reporting for Duty!

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clared worm-free and given a clean bill of health, and therefore able to begin his new life-calling of destroying my (then) new home. By the time he had ruined all of the carpet in every room in the house, our sweet little Cooper found his name on “the list” at the vet’s office. You know the one where you say if anybody is looking for a dog, and I mean anybody—including Satan—have them call me ASAP! Oddly enough nobody ever called. I’m not sure there really is a list now that I think about it.

For the next fifteen years, Colonel Cooper embraced his multiple roles as companion, watchdog, and personal bodyguard for Sweetie. He stoically stood watch in the living room with a direct view of the driveway through the front bay window; and somehow knew who was missing from the house and when they were expected home.

He always alerted the household upon any arrival and gladly welcomed home each member like the Prodigal Son, as I think he took this job the most seriously of them all.

I’m actually not sure if it’s biblically true if dogs and cats will be in heaven, and I’ll let the theologians and biblical scholars wrestle with that one; but, I do know that it somehow soothes my heart a bit thinking of Cooper standing proudly at his new post with a clear view through the gates, watching and waiting to welcome us home. ❑

I’m not sure when you start looking like your dog or your dog starts looking like you, but the similarities between our senior Cocker Spaniel and myself did become somewhat startling. Even our abilities to fall asleep within seconds and deliver a roaring snore audible from adjacent rooms, were eerily akin. And in retrospect I should have protested a bit more when Sweetie had us both sporting the same “short on the side and spikey on the top” hairstyle (although thankfully we used Miscellaneous different Ramblings barbers).

MIKE FINCH Furthermore, if this pet- and owner-cloning phenomenon continues, I will soon be facing a battle with incontinence as well as the development of a minefield of moles and warts. But just like him, Sweetie assures me I will still be loved. Sadly, Cooper went to heaven this past month.

I remember that original phone call as if it was yesterday, as Sweetie described the scene before her: A gloriously sunny summer day, a small waft of clouds drifting aimlessly in the sky, a smiling Great Grandmother, and my three darling little girls under the age of 10 running, jumping, and frolicking with the newly found, happy-go-lucky, and obviously homeless, Cocker Spaniel. Seriously? I never stood a chance and actually think the phone call asking permission to add this family member was merely a formality.

And, within hours the girls were filing out of the van in rapid succession still dry heaving from the putrid odors coming from their new puppy, which to this point still did not have a name.

We eventually settled on “Cooper” and following several trips to the vet Mike Finch can be reached at and several hundred dollars he was de- miscellaneousramblings@comcast.net.

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JUN 2013

Vampires Invade Red Door Playhouse to reclaim the throne of Freesia—this world’s Russia— The Red Door Playhouse in from a Gyspy sorceress.

Dawson started writing the Roswell’s historic square book in February 2012, just berecently hosted alcohol, perfume, and a vampire based fore the first book premiered that March, and finished it in on the Russian princess Anastasia Romanov as Delilah three months. One criticism of Wicked as They Come is that S. Dawson premiered her her protagonist is weak and second novel, Wicked as She lacks a strong personality, so Wants. Dawson, originally for Wicked as She Wants, she from Roswell, described how the “Blud” series began with a decided to do something a bit different. dream in which Tish Everett, “I wanted to pick the the protagonist of her first strongest, fiercest girl I could,” novel Wicked as They Come, met the novel’s male lead, the she said. “I liked… just writing vampire circus master Criminy a very aggressive female lead.”

So Ahnastasia was born, Stain. In Wicked As She Wants, Casper Stirling, a musi- both a predator and a princess. cian from Atlanta who ended She wakes up after four years in a suitcase and has to up in the alternate world of reclaim her kingdom from the Sang in the first novel, takes vengeful woman who has the lead and allies with usurped it. vampire princess Ahnastasia

By Matthew W. Quinn

Another aspect of the novel she likes is the tie-in to Walt Whitman. Stirling’s favorite book is Leaves of Grass and that ties into the main story.

It didn’t take long for the second novel to receive recognition. Two days after its premiere, RT Book Reviews (“Romantic Times”) gave it its May seal of excellence. All four of the magazine’s editors praised it, singling out aspects like its exciting nature and well-done character arcs.

One difference between the first novel and the second is that the first one did not start out as a romance. Dawson started it as as a general Delilah S. Dawson signs a copy of Wicked As She Wants for Sally Kilpatrick, the vice fantasy novel, but was later president of programs for Georgia Romance Writers. asked to include sex scenes.

The second novel is a romance intricate,” she said when asked how to compare writing the two. from the beginning.

“There’s just more foresight to the romantic involvement.”

“The story is just as

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JUN 2013

“She writes a really good story and her characters are terrific,” he said.

“She knows how to turn a phrase.”

He signed many copies of his own work that night, especially his third novel Blood and Magick.

One guest was Georgia Romance Writers Vice President of Programs Sally Kilpatrick, who found Dawson on Twitter and invited her to present at a meeting last fall. There she bought a copy of Dawson’s first book.

“It’s a very unique,” she said. “I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. It was just a fun adventure.” (Editor’s

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Kellie Jureka of Alpharetta dressed as Dawson’s heroine Ahnastasia for the signing. She made the costume herself using materials from Joanne’s Fabrics.

Dawson isn’t finished yet. One more novel and one more novella in the “Blud” series are slated for release in 2014, as is a young adult novel entitled Servants of the Storm.

Seth Decker, the owner of the playhouse, said Delilah is a good friend and a member of the writer’s group that meets there. She infused the themes of her novel into the venue to allow guests to experience it. Since much of the action of Wicked as She Wants takes place in a snowy forest, snow-covered trees rose throughout.

The “bloody” punch reflects the novel’s vampirism and there is a lot of red light.

“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “This may be the best one we’ve ever done.”

Ellen Ward, co-owner of FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, brought 150 copies of Dawson’s two books and three books by Woodstock urban fantasy writer James R. Tuck. She enjoyed the experience, citing in particular its relaxed atmosphere and how the playhouse allows for mingling and interaction with the author.

“It’s kind of a perfect venue,” she said.

Tuck enjoyed the party, in particular how well-attended it was, how friendly the guests were, and how the drinks and the cake kept flowing. He strongly endorsed Dawson’s work

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note: worldbuilding is the process of constructing an imaginary world, sometimes associated with a whole fictional universe.)

After that, she read the novellas The Mysterious Madam Morpho and The Peculiar Pets of Miss Pleasance, available online for e-readers. She particularly enjoyed the second novella, which features a cameo by Stirling.

It gives the reader a different side of his character and made her look forward to what Dawson would do with him in Wicked as She Wants.

Overall, Dawson’s work is very imaginative and a breath of fresh air.

She just wants to go along for the ride, whether it is in a circus carriage like Wicked as They Come or in a dirigible like in Wicked as She Wants.

Another guest was Kellie Jureka of Alpharetta. She came dressed as Ahnastasia, wearing a costume she made herself.

“It was a new endeavor to make a dress like this and it turned out really well,” she said. “I’m very pleased with myself.”

She asked Dawson’s permission in advance, which was enthusiastically granted. She will be selling the pattern on the Etsy site of her new business, Kaij Designs.

Jureka had read half of the second book before the premiere, although she had not read the first. She described the book as “exciting” and “captivating,” something she attributed to the believability of the characters and the realistic dialogue. ❑

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JUN 2013

Call This A Future Success Redevelopment of the Frasier Street Apartments is the first big step to a new Roswell.

currently. Given the cost of the property and need for profitability, this is the opYou can call the project whatever you timum amount that Lennar believes is want; apartments, stacked flats, dense, suitable. Additionally, people living in close proximity to amenities is what cregentrification, revitalization, progress, ates truly walkable places. catalytic. But, no matter where you Another big concern was that it did stand, it increasingly looks like we will soon see the first major redevelopment not adhere to the Groveway code because it was not mixed-use. First, in Roswell’s historic district under the there are many varieties of mixed-use new Groveway code. Lennar from vertical to horizontal.

Multifamily is planning on Second, not every building dropping $43 million+ into or parcel in our historic disthe parcel of land where the trict needs to be mixed use Frazier Street Apartments and the code does not currently sit and the Roswell require that. All mixed-use City Council allowed Lennar all the time is a nice vision to take a major step forward but realistically, it doesn’t allast month when it approved ways work. Putting space for the site plan by a 5-1 vote. It Community Design retail on the ground floor should come as no surprise Matters doesn’t magically bring a to readers that I am a propobusiness to fill it. Ideally, nent of this project. I MICHAEL HADDEN these apartments will actually purchased a home in April that quite literally backs up to this provide patrons for what should eventually be a vertical mixed-use parcel right project, not in small part due to my next-door where the Value Village and strong convictions about the project’s Southern Skillet strip mall currently sit. value to the surrounding community.

There have been no shortage of argu- These apartments will be the spark needed to finally get that parcel ments made as to why this is a bad redeveloped. idea. They tend to focus on five main Probably the single biggest concern is themes; Density, Mix of Uses, Cars, Schools, and Displacement. If you were the automobile. Yes Roswell, we are preoccupied with our cars, but not just our able to attend the May 13 City Council own cars. We are preoccupied with meeting you would have seen Chris everyone else’s cars and what they do Cassidy, Regional VP, Lennar with them. The evil twins of Traffic and Multifamily, address these concerns Parking came up numerous times and with the council and audience. were addressed well by Mr. Cassidy. On Here’s a recap with color. parking, Lennar feels that the number As far as density is concerned, this of spaces they are requesting (a project will be 32 units per acre (320 units on 10 acres) which is an increase variance, as they are CONTINUED 38 requesting fewer from the roughly 16 units per acre

By Michael Hadden

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There Are Cougars Everywhere I even tried it. When I was single at 39 years old I went out a few times This is not a warning about large fe- with a very mature (no really I mean it) 26-year-old. However, I knew it lines escaping from the zoo.

By now, most of you know the term wouldn’t work for me early on. Once “cougar” refers to an older woman in- when he picked up for a date I was listening to Sly and The Family Stone volved with, or pursuing, a and he asked “who’s this?” Guess if I significantly younger man. were looking for a short This is not a new thing. term fling that wouldn’t It’s become a phenomenon bother me. But if I have to that has exploded over the give history lessons, past decade. especially in the area of Our generation (or more musical genius, to anyone likely our parents) was other than my children I’m introduced to the older not interested. women-younger man Another Current reader concept through cinema. told a staff member that The 1967 film The Sex she has 4 friends who are Graduate and the 1971 And the Suburbs married to or seriously datmovie Summer of 42 were ing younger men. shocking when first STEPHANIE LAMONT One of those friends, released. I nicknamed older women with younger men “Mrs. who we’ll call Lynn, complained that when dining at a popular Roswell Robinson” long before I ever heard restaurant recently, the server asked the phrase “cougar.” her husband what his Mom would Interesting is the fact that Anne Bancroft, who played Mrs. Robinson like to eat! Lynn replied to her cougar friend with “Well, what do you expect in The Graduate, was only 6 years older than Dustin Hoffman, who por- when your hubby is 20 years your juntrays recent college grad Benjamin in ior?”

I think that waiter was stupid. It’s the now classic film. as bad as asking a fat woman when Amazing what make-up, she’s due when she’s not pregnant! styling, and great acting can Anyway, you shouldn’t have to do, huh? endure insults about your MayI mention these movies December relationships. No (both based on books) matter whom the older because art does imitate one is. life. It’s still happening in Years ago when Demi the current TBS comedy Moore was dating Cougar Town, which Ashton Kutcher, Bruce touches on a hot Willis, her ex, spoke in divorcee who goes at it Demi’s defense. He said with a younger guy. something like “How A male reader of The come it’s okay when men Current told me that when (including me) date someone he was at Johnny’s 15 years younger but when Hideaway in Buckhead at women do it everyone least half the cougars there makes such a big deal?” were from Roswell or Well Bruce, maybe there’ll Alpharetta. always be that double Why are more women standard. ❑ these days attracted to Send your comments, younger men? Is it what we’ve questions, and stories to: heard about a woman not stephanie.lamont reaching her sexual prime until @mail.com 40-something? Or does a “boy toy” boost the female ego just like the “trophy wife” does for a man?

By Stephanie LaMont

15

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JUN 2013

Keep The Chatter Down On Gattis And Pray For Ferry I sauntered down the driveway in a pre-coffee, bleary-eyed condition and picked up the AJC. I removed the ďŹ sh wrapperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plastic protection and fumbled for the sports section. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, No, No,â&#x20AC;?

I yelled. Then promptly apologized to the neighbor for startling her as she fumbled a Sports steamy Perspective beverage climbing into her car.

BEAU BOCK And, I must apologize to you as well, because I just was not brought up to chatter about delicate matters!

There are some things you just do not talk about.

There will be plenty of time for discussion, but the time is not now. I believe in karma, and its precursor, good olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fashioned superstition, and in that regard, it is absolutely forbidden to talk about Evan Gattis. When you are at the copier and a coworker tries to engage you on the topic of the Braves wonder kid just pretend you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak English.

Between you, the lamppost, and me the manner in which Gattis is delivering bombs in the clutch is literally, unspeakable. Unlike a ďŹ ne wine, his debut is sudden and it is upon us. We should not swish this around and savor it. Instead we look the other way with an air of nonchalance, and pray that this bottle of wine is a bottomless magnum of euphoria!

I read a Mark Bradley column in the AJC that, as the ďŹ nal roster was being discussed, cajoled and manipulated, Evan Gattis went to Freddie Gonzalez and asked: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do you want to win?â&#x20AC;?

The amused manager said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course,â&#x20AC;? and the kid, out of the side of his mouth responded, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then, I need to be on it.â&#x20AC;?

This kid is something, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t he?

Long Road For The Hawks Watching the NBA Playoffs has been thrilling. The games between the Pacers and Heat have featured some clutch performances. The human locomotive known as LeBron James is cementing his place in sports history.

His layup the end game one was a classic.

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For those of us here at home, this series should have been a classic show nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tell of the long road facing our Hawks, in order to attain that same level of hoops nirvana.

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By Beau Bock

game that has a lot on the line.

So, this is the challenge facing Hawks GM Danny Ferry. Armed with only one viable piece, Horford, he must create an upper echelon NBA squad; Integrate new coach Mike Budenholzer. Then mold what will probably be a whole new team into a championship unit amidst a lackluster organizational environment that is more embracing of daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s money than it is hard work and a championâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mentality.

I think Ferry can do it, or heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll die trying and you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask for any more than that. â?&#x2018;

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JUN 2013

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School’s out, but I’m feeling quite scholarly these days! If you’re with me and you’re in the mood for some cerebral excursions (or just some great reading options), you’re in luck this summer as our local organizations, libraries, and fellow geeks have plenty planned to keep us and our little ones busy reading and writing! Just this past weekend I attended an event put on by Georgia Writers Association (GWA) (GeorgiaWriters.org) that featured expert writers, speakers and publishers from all genres. The GWA also sponsors workshops and contests for writers of all stripes, and each year they organize the Georgia Author of the Year Awards, honoring Georgia’s hard-working writers! As luck would have it, the 49th annual Awards banquet is coming up very shortly on Saturday, June 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Kennesaw State University—be sure to visit their website to learn more about attending.

As for you readers out there—I’ve got you covered! If you didn’t get the chance to read the Friends of the Roswell Library 2013 Roswell Reads!

(Forl.net) novel selection, Sweeping

Up Glass by Carolyn Wall, do yourself a favor and grab a copy! The book’s main character and narrator, Olivia Harker, effortlessly folds you into her life story in Aurora, Kentucky. It’s an easy yet captivating read and one of those that you’re sad to see the charters exit your life once you’ve finished reading. I can’t wait to learn more about the Friends’ selection for 2014; I’ll be staying tuned via their website. As for some other communal reading options, there’s the Noonday Nosh Book Club that will meet on Tuesday, June 18 at 12 p.m. to discuss Pride and Prejudice at the Roswell Branch Library. There’s also the Mystery Readers’ Book Group that is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen, also at the Roswell Branch Library.

Now that you’re reading, what about feeding the kids’ brains this summer? Cobb County is offering a great summer reading program for the kids called “Dig Into Reading.”

Visit CobbCat.org to sign your kiddos up today as the deadline is June 1.

For teens and adults, Cobb is offering a “Beneath the Surface” book review contest for teens and adults. All

17

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JUN 2013

olds interested in the dramatic arts.

Registration is required.

My Reptile Guys â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tuesday, June 11 at 1:00 p.m. Lizards, snakes and tortoises will be on display! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limited to 50 participants, so registration is required. Contact the Roswell Branch Library to get signed up!

Arthur Atsma â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I Really Dig Comedy/Magic Show. Monday, June 17 at 1:00 p.m. Artist and magician Arthur Atsma gives a great show and encourages the kids to participate throughout.

Roswell Branch Julie Austin Sing Along â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Behind the Scenes at the Tuesday, June 25 at 1:00 p.m. AwardMovies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monday, June 3 at 4:30 winning singer and songwriter Julie p.m. An interactive workshop where Austin presents a sing along for little teens can explore the process of mak- ones ages 2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7 to enjoy. ing movies from storyboards, screenplays and casting! Ages 11â&#x20AC;&#x201C;17. Ocee Branch in Alpharetta French Story Time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Wednesday Chess Club â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Wednesdays at 6:00 June 5 at 10:15 a.m. Alliance p.m. All future geniuses ages 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;13 Française hosts this franco story time are invited to come and learn chess for kids ages 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5. Registration is re- strategies and participate in a tournaquired. ment.

The Suitcase Circus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monday Ocee Astronomy Club â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thursday, June 6 at 1:00 p.m. A delightful pup- June 6th at 4:30 p.m. Club members, pet show performed by Lee Bryan for ages 7 to 13, participate in a variety little ones ages 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8. of experiments, activities and games.

Chocolate: From Bean to Magnificent Monday Crafts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thursdays in June at 4:00 p.m. Mondays June 10 through July 22 at Find out how chocolate is made and 2:00 p.m. Crafts for kids ages 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12. sample (of course)! Ages 11â&#x20AC;&#x201C;17.

Henna Tattooing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thursday, CAREing Paws â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Wednesdays June 13th at 2:00 p.m. If they want a throughout the summer at 4:00 p.m. tattoo, give them a go at this! Open Gidget, a therapy dog, loves stories. to middle school and high school stuReluctant readers are encouraged to dentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll learn how to create sign up for 15-minute of time to read great tattoos without pain or permawith her. nence using the Indian art form of Shake It Up! Theatre henna.

Class â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monday, June 10 at 6:00 Balloon Storyteller Dewayne p.m. The one hour workshop focuses Reynolds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thursday, June 13 at on improv and introduces 11:00 a.m. Dewayne creates balloon Shakespeare to 11- through 14-year- characters and puts on an entertaining and funny show for the kiddos ages 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12.

Beginner Readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book Club â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tuesday, June 18 at 4:00 p.m. This is for beginner readers ages 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;8.

Registration is required, so be sure to contact the library to sign up.

Dig into Reading with Digger Billâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Thursday, June 20 at 11:00 a.m. Storyteller and magician Bill Packard will put on a musical puppet and magic show. Ages 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12.

Just Read It Book Club â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monday, June 24 at 4:30 p.m. This

participants will compete to win a free Kindle! Entry forms will be available at Cobb County Public Library between June 1 and July 31stâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I mean, just go for itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;write a little book review on your summer read and snag yourself a Kindle.

Other ideas for the kids include the following events at our local libraries throughout the month of June. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so be sure to check your local libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calendar of events all summer long!

There is plenty for children to love at local libraries.

CONTINUED 38

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18

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JUN 2013

Grumpy Reunites With His Father in-law “Do you own a bar?” she asks Diane.

“He says you’re spending to much on your Club.

Most wives drag their husbands out “Oh no!” I groan to myself. “It’s my shopping. Mine drags me into the world of spirits. Not long ago, the beau- father-in-law, Victor. He’s outing me for tiful and talented Diane was invited to my golf and bar tab.”

Once when he was actually with us, participate in a séance. Through clever he took one look at our new BMW and manipulation, she convinced me to go warned me that if we kept spending, along—strictly as a disinterested observer. Not that I would tread on the “One day you’ll be living in that car.”

Victor was a young man back during toes of the mystics among us—I’m a the depression. He rode the firm believer that people rails to find work. It made should be free to believe him, let’s say, hyper-cautious. whatever they want, as long The medium continued; as it doesn’t interfere with or “You have too many dangerhurt others. But, personally, ous investments!” (i.e: I’ve always been very skeptimoney not in a bank savings cal of people who say they account.) commune with the deceased; Some of the ladies gasped. maybe because history has Grumpy No other spirit had been so given us so many charlatans Old Man critical of their loved ones. in that arena.

The spirit was offended.

Still, there are wonderful DON RIZZO “Hey,” he said, “I’m a nice mysteries we don’t understand. Or, as Hamlet said, “There guy! I’ll have a drink with the best of ’em.” are more things in heaven and earth, Ah yes, I can attest to the truth of Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your that message. philosophy.”

Then he said, “By the way, the dog is With that thought in mind, off we here. I couldn’t stand him, I know, but went to the “spiritual center” to meet now I walk with him a lot.” the medium. About eight ladies and I Wow! This was getting are ushered into a drab, too scary for me. All this non-descript room. To stuff is specific and the best of my knowledge, “One day accurate. Whoever this none of them had met or you’ll be living medium had channeled spoken to the medium. in that car.” was too much like my Certainly, we hadn’t. She father-in law for comfort. enters. I expected an I’m outta here. I skulked exotic, mysterious phantom-like creature in flowing robes. out the side door to wait for Diane.

Although he scared me off, there was In walks a pleasant woman with reddish hair and freckles in a very ordi- something really comforting about thinking that Victor was still himself nary dress. Hmmm… out there somewhere. Still looking to obviously she wouldn’t be relying on protect me from my own profligate fooltheatrics to mesmerize us.

Finally the medium was ready to see ishness. All is well.

Upon reflection, I don’t really believe who was lurking in the ether and eager we can commune with the other side. to chat with Diane. I was hoping it When I figure out another plausible exwould be her mother, who always planation for what happened at the thought I was wonderful. séance, I’ll let you know. ❑ The medium closes her eyes.

Don Rizzo sits on the Board of the “There’s some noise, here,” she intoned. “There’s a man demanding to Horseshoe Bend Community Association and volunteers as a courtbe heard.” (oh oh…hope it’s not an exappointed special advocate at the boyfriend). “Hmmm, he’s pushing his way ahead of some others,” she intones. Fulton County Juvenile Court.

By Don Rizzo

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health & wellness presented by North Fulton Hospital

The More Things Change… the More They Don’t

By Debbie Keel When I got my first hospital job in 1985 as a marketing person for a Women’s Hospital in New Orleans, I heard members of the staff talk about their upcoming “Jayco” survey. Like so much in the hospital business, I had never heard that term before and didn’t know why it struck fear into everybody.

I heard people wondering “Will we pass our Jayco survey?” and “Will we get our accreditation from Jayco?”

Luckily, I befriended a nurse who would interpret all the “hospitalisms” I heard during the early days of my time there. She told me that Jayco was slang for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. She explained that hospitals had to gain

Jayco’s stamp of approval in order to care for any patients with Medicare or Medicaid insurance.

That was 28 years ago. North Fulton Hospital was already established here in Roswell since it opened in 1983.

Much has changed about accreditation

since then.

First, we no longer use the term Jayco but simply call it the Joint Commission. And it’s now the accrediting body for health care systems, not just hospitals. The surveys which used to be scheduled about 90 days in advance at hospitals (so you had plenty of time to “fix” anything that wasn’t quite right), are now unannounced about every three years.

Also, there are other Joint Commission accreditations you can receive and other accreditations by other organizations.

In its 30 years of existence, North Fulton Hospital has always had its Joint Commission whole hospital accreditation. But several years ago, the hospital sought and received a special accreditation as a Primary Stroke Center. This means we excel at meeting the highest standards of treating stroke victims. We recently received re-accreditation as a Primary Stroke Center.

Also, in the last 30 years, other organizations have begun to issue accreditations that are accepted as the Gold Standard of care in various specialties. For example, last spring, North Fulton Hospital received accreditation as a Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

Most recently, the hospital’s breast cancer program took its first step to becoming an accredited breast health program becoming certified as a Quality Breast Center of Excellence as part of the National Consortium of Breast Centers, the only breast program in Atlanta to receive such a designation.

So you see, much has changed over our 30 years serving the North Fulton area, but the quality of care we deliver just gets better and better. ❑

North Fulton Hospital Community Calendar June – August 2013 SUPPORT GROUPS COMMUNITY Nicotine Cessation Group EDUCATION Every Tuesday, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Classroom C. Join other men and women seeking motivation, education, and support to live free of nicotine. The only requirement for attendance is the desire to start the journey. Contact Pam at Babysitting Workshop Saturdays 7/27 and 8/3 9am404-428-8799 for more info.

2pm Sunday, 6/2 1:00 to 5:30 Look Good, Feel Better p.m. Teaches children ages 11-14 Wednesday, 5/8, , 10 a.m. to how to be prepared and responnoon, Medical Arts Center. A sible babysitters. Bring a doll or cosmetologist will discuss how to stuffed animal and a sack lunch care for skin and hair to combat and drink. $30 . the appearance-related side efAmerican Heart fects of cancer treatment. Free make-up and skin care products Association Heartsaver CPR* are provided. Call Ryan at Saturday, 7/13 and 8/10 404-582-6153 to register.

CPR course for the community.

Caring, Sharing, and Adult and child CPR, 9 a.m. to Learning: Breast Cancer noon; $35 Adult, child and infant Support Group CPR, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $45 .

Fourth Tuesday of every month, 6 p.m. Cope and connect with oth- Healthcare Provider CPR* ers who are facing the same Saturday, 6/8, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 struggles. Please call Micah Brown, RN, Breast Health Nurse p.m.Friday June 28 1:00 pm-4:30 pm CPR course for Navigator, at 770-751-2556 to healthcare professionals. $55. register.

WomenHeart Support Group

Diabetes SelfManagement Workshop

Saturdays 6/22, 7/27, and 8/24 Second Tuesday of every month, The Diabetes Association of At7:30 p.m., Classroom C. Womenlanta (DAA) offers classes at Heart, the National Coalition for North Fulton Hospital to teach Women with Heart Disease, diabetes self-management skills. brings support and education to Call Katie at 404-527-7180 for women who are at risk or who almore information and to register. ready have heart disease and Childbirth Preparation would like to know more about Saturday, 6/15, 7/20 and 8/17 risk factors and symptoms. We will be addressing different topics 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each month. To register, call Nicki Active class consisting of both lecture and discussion/sharing. at 404-386-6037.

Topics include anatomy and physOstomy Support Group iology; nutrition and fitness; disA group open to anyone who comforts of pregnancy; stages of has or will have an ostomy and labor and what to expect; ceany friends, family or sarean birth; medications; possisupporters. The meeting ble complications; postpartum structure is informal with group care; and comfort, relaxation, discussion and guest speakers breathing and coping techniques throughout the year. Call John for labor support.

Dorso at 678-694-8726 to $100 per couple; registration reregister or to obtain more quired.

information. Please note that Water Birth meetings will not be held the months of June, July and August Thursday, 6/13, 6/27, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8 and 8/22 7:00 p.m. but will resume on Sept. 17.

For couples desiring to learn about the option of a water birth delivery. Completion of the class is required to be considered for water birth at NFH. $30.00 per couple; registration required.

Call 770- 751-2660 for more information and to register.

Maternity Tours Please join one of our Women’s Health nurses in the hospital atrium on alternating Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. for a guided tour of the Labor and Delivery suites, Mother/Baby Unit and the Neonatal ICU. The tour last approximately one hour. Please call 770-751-2660 for the schedule and to register.

SPECIAL EVENTS LifeSouth Blood Drive Tuesday August 13, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. North Fulton Hospital Classrooms. Give blood, and help save up to three lives with just one donation. LifeSouth is a community blood center, which means the blood collected in your community goes to local hospital patients.

FREE CPR Training Saturday, 6/29, starting at 9 a.m.

Free CPR classes for those who want to learn the basics of CPR but who do not need a certification. Registration is required.

Just Yell Fire Teen Self-Defense Class for girls 11 and older. Sunday August 18, from 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm.

Teen girls face a high risk of violence from strangers, acquaintances and dating partners. This single session self-defense class will teach your daughter how to take ownership of her personal safety and defend herself against an attacker. For more information and to register, visit www. revvedupkids.com. $35.

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JUN 2013

One Mission. One Team.

North Fulton Hospital celebrates EMS Week With the recent tragedies in Boston and Oklahoma still fresh in everyone’s mind, North Fulton Hospital recently celebrated national Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week with a thank you lunch for the area’s first responders. EMS personnel are the first on the scene whether it’s an auto accident, home incident or even a larger tragedy such as a terror attack or tornado. EMS providers include paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders, firefighters and police, some paid, some volunteer. These are the people who may someday save your life.

“You have to have a passion for this type of work,” said Robin McClatchey, a local paramedic. “I love what I do, and it is the excitement that keeps me going.”

North Fulton Hospital has long been a Level 2 trauma center, the first in the area, and as such has a deep, close-knit bond with area EMS personnel.

Having an important resource, such as a level 2-trauma center, is vital to keeping people alive in emergencies big

and small. In the world of emergency medicine there is something called the Golden Hour. That is the time from when an incident takes place to the point where a patient receives care at a hospital. It has been well established that the patient’s chances of survival are greatest if they receive care within a short time after severe injury.

According to Trauma Coordinator at North Fulton Hospital, Jim Sargent, the hospital receives approximately 700 patients per month through the Emergency Room. He clarified the two basic types of calls: medical and trauma. Medical refers to when people are sick or are having difficulty breathing, heart problems, stomach issues, heat exhaustion or allergic reactions.

Trauma refers to injuries such as broken bones or blunt injuries resulting from falls (the most common at North Fulton) or auto accidents.

In an effort to gain a better understanding of what EMS personnel go through, selected employees from North Fulton recently spent time with them going on rescue calls.

✱

Local EMS workers and North Fulton Hospital personnel at the EMS Week celebrations.

“This year we decided to do something we haven’t done before. We wanted to get a better understanding of the day-to-day operations and learn how they work,” Lindsey Harber, Director, Business Development for North Fulton Hospital said.

“Pretty awesome,” were the words of Teresa Urquhart, COO of North Fulton, who was a participant. “The process of what they go through is amazing. It was a really good and informative day.

Their job is always on edge.”

Toni Colvard-Groover is Director of Emergency Services and Trauma at North Fulton and works together with EMS personnel. She summed up their jobs: “They can bring in patients from minor to major - anything from

someone not really sick to people in critical condition. Their ability to multitask is amazing. They are amazing people.”

Colvard-Groover is especially close to EMS workers because she is in charge of preparing for the incoming patients. Once they receive word of an accident, the hospital gears up the room preparation with doctors and nurses at the ready.

In the end this is about teamwork and saving peoples lives no matter the situation.

“It’s nice knowing there is a level 2 trauma center here. Knowing that you can count on them is very important.

We’re a great team” McClatchey summarized. ❑

Practice Sun Smarts In The Summertime Everyone needs some sun exposure.

The emphasis is on “some” because too much sun can cause skin cancer, eye problems, weakened immune system, prematurely aged skin or unsightly skin spots. Knowing how to protect yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can turn the “ouch” of a painful sunburn into the “ahhh” of healthy skin.

Sun Safety for Children Do not use sunscreen on babies under six months old. Keep them out of the sun whenever possible or use an umbrella to create shade. Dress them in clothing that covers their entire body, including a wide-brim hat to shield the face. Put sunscreen on older children and encourage them to wear real sunglasses that have UV protection for their eyes rather than toy sunglasses.

People with fair hair and complexion, or a personal or family

history of skin cancer are at greatest risk of sunburn. But regardless of skin color, everyone can take steps to be sun smart.

• Try to stay out of the sun when rays are strongest, typically from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day. Up to 80 percent of rays can penetrate even on an overcast day and reflect off water, sand and concrete.

• Wear long-sleeve shirts, long pants and a hat to cover the skin and protect against harmful UV rays.

• Apply a generous amount of broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher approximately 15 to 30 minutes before going outside.

Remember your lips, hands, ears, feet, shoulders, behind your neck and top of your head if you don’t have much hair. Throw away suntan lotion that is past the expiration date or more than three years old.

• If around water or swimming, se-

lect waterproof or water resistant sunscreen that stays on skin longer.

However, you will still need to reapply sunscreen every two to three hours, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology.

• Protect your eyes with sunglasses that offer 99 to 100 percent UV protection.

• Check if any medications can increase sun sensitivity, such as antibiotics or acne medications. Sunscreen may not be able to protect skin from sun sensitivity caused by medications.

• If you use an indoor tanning bed, wear goggles and do not go over your time limit.

• Check your skin regularly for signs of skin cancer. See your doctor if you notice anything unusual.

You may not realize until it is too late that your skin is burned because sunburn can take six to 48 hours to develop. In these situations, apply cool compresses or pure aloe vera to the skin to alleviate heat and help skin heal faster.

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken to relieve pain. A moisturizing or hydrocortisone cream may be applied to rehydrate skin and reduce swelling. Leave alone any blisters that may develop to reduce the risk of infection or scarring. ❑ For more information about protecting your skin in the sun, talk with your doctor or call 770-751-2600 for a free referral to a dermatologist near you.

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21 JUN 2013

Meet Dr. Michael Lipscomb he went unconscious. With the help of the firemen, we did CPR, started an IV, gave epinephrine, and defibrillated him.

I rode with him to North Fulton Hospital, where he was stabilized. He underwent cardiac catheterization about an hour later, where he had a 100% blockage opened up. Today, he is normal and back to his normal routine.

I’ve had others as well, some I remember (like a 41-year-old woman who was HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THE having a heart attack), and some I MEDICAL FIELD AND DECIDE TO don’t. It is always rewarding to have a MAKE IT YOUR CAREER? patient return to the ER and ask to ANSWER I actually went to college undespeak to me so they could cided, but wound up graduating with an thank me. electrical engineering degree. After There are other moments, though, trying electrical engineering for a while that come to mind. Sometimes it’s just and talking with my parents (both about trying to get a patient who you doctors), I decided to go into know doesn’t have health care the medimedicine. It was one of the easiest deci- cines and care he or she needs until they sions of my life. It did add two years to can find someone else to care for them. I my undergraduate studies, but it has remember helping a gentleman who had been very rewarding. high blood pressure and no health care.

I gave him two months of medication so WHY DID YOU CHOOSE he’d have time to get a doctor to care for EMERGENCY MEDICINE AS YOUR him, but about two months later his SPECIALTY? name came back across my desk. He’d ANSWER Most people gravitate toward been brought back to the ER—this time something they like to do more than for a massive stroke. He was 30 years old anything else, or they decide they like the pace of a practice. I liked everything and was paralyzed because the medicines I’d given him had run out and I studied, and emergency medicine he hadn’t seen another doctor. gives me the opportunity to see all kinds of cases. I also like to see something WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? exciting every day, and the variety in the ER really suits me.

ANSWER I was born in New Orleans, like our wonderful CEO, Debbie Keel.

IS THERE A MOMENT, OR MORE After New Orleans, I lived in Seattle for THAN ONE, THAT STANDS OUT IN 3 years, and then we settled in Dallas. I YOUR CAREER? remained in Texas for my ANSWER On March 15, 2012, I helped undergraduate and medical studies. My save my tennis partner’s life. He went residency was in Michigan, and then in into cardiac arrest in my car.

Larry called me from the tennis court 2000, we moved to Alpharetta. saying he was having chest pains. By the YOUR WIFE IS A WELL-KNOWN time he called me, he felt fine and told ATHLETE. WOULD YOU TELL US me that he just had a little indigestion.

ABOUT HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND After talking to him a few minutes, I ACTIVITIES? made him call a cardiologist who was a ANSWER Susan is now an active friend of his. I thought about this for a triathlete, but began her career as a few minutes, and I decided to get in my swimmer. She attended the 1988 car and get him. After picking him up, Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and swam in he looked terrible, and although he the 100 Meter Breaststroke for the didn’t complain of chest pain, I told him United States. She placed 11th despite we were going to the hospital. On the having a fever of 104 degrees on the day way, he became worse, and rather than of the race. She left the water after Seoul drive 10 minutes to the hospital, I went and didn’t return for two years.

2 minutes to the local fire station. About Susan and I married in 1990 so she 30 seconds before arriving at the station, could move to Dallas with me when I Whether the emergency room is calm or chaotically busy, Dr. Michael Lipscomb strives to find a way to help each of his patients trust in him to make them better. A busy father of two and active athlete, Dr. Lipscomb has found his home in Alpharetta and at North Fulton Hospital, where he has been practicing for 13 of his 19 years in emergency medicine.

Q

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Dr. Michael Lipscomb and his family.

started medical school. She wasn’t finished with her college courses, so she transferred to Southern Methodist University and got a partial scholarship in swimming. We wouldn’t have been able to afford SMU otherwise. In 1992, she was the first woman to win the NCAA championship for SMU in the 100-Yard Breaststroke. It was a huge surprise for everyone else at the meet because her name had changed, and they didn’t realize she’d been an Olympic Athlete. She won by 0.03 seconds—just a fingertip!

Q

Q

golf. One sport I haven’t learned to enjoy (yet) is golf. I think I’m too competitive, and hitting that little ball straight is too darn hard!

Q

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT IN THE ER OR ENJOYING THOSE ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES?

ANSWER Actually, I like to take

pictures. I used to shoot Katy’s and Tyler’s sports activities, but now I shoot family and special events. I really like to take the pictures and make photo books and videos with them so that they tell a story. I tend to like working alone, and I like the challenge of finding the story that makes the book or movie memorable. To do one right really takes a lot of effort.

Q

IF YOU HADN’T DISCOVERED YOUR LOVE OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D HAVE DONE FOR YOUR CAREER? ANSWER I’d probably like to have

Q

Q

YOU’VE LIVED IN MANY PLACES, AND PROBABLY HAVE A FAVORITE. WHICH AREA OF THE COUNTRY HAVE YOU LIKED THE BEST? ANSWER Without a doubt, it is Georgia

and Alpharetta. Everything is convenient—except the traffic! The weather is great here, and I’ve learned tennis, running, biking, and frisbee

chosen a similar career to the one my twin brother chose. He was one of the first three guys involved in NetSuite (an internet based accounting software company). The company has been extremely successful allowing him to retire last year. He couldn’t stay retired, and he now teaches math. If I couldn’t practice medicine, I think I’d teach. Teaching really is a large part of what I do in the ER anyway. In addition to helping my patients get better, I like to teach them about their illness and what they need to do to care for themselves better.

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JUN 2013

ApolloMD Sponsors Power of Pink

North Fulton Hospital Places On Quality Honor Roll North Fulton Hospital in Roswell has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Core Measures Honor Roll. North Fulton Hospital is one of 17 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Chairman’s category, the highest on the list. The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation’s Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data was collected from October 2011 to September 2012.

Hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS, which details how well a hospital’s caregivers adhere to a list of Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) core measures. These measures are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of

Fulton Hospital’s commitment to patient safety,” said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. “Compliance with these important core measures ensures that every patient receives the best, most effective health care possible.”

“We constantly strive to maintain the highest standard of patient care,” said Debbie Keel, chief executive officer of North Fulton Hospital. “This honor validates that and is a tribute to the dedication of the staff members who ensure that great patient care is made even better.”

For more information on Quality Core Measures and the Honor Roll, visit https://quality.gha.org/.

North Fulton Hospital (NFH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acutecare hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell.

Opened in 1983, NFH serves North

treatment for surgical patients and patients who have suffered heart attacks, pneumonia and heart failure.

For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital, as well as at discharge. A suggested treatment for pneumonia is to administer an antibiotic within four hours of a patient’s arrival. It is recommended that surgery patients are given an antibiotic one hour prior to surgery to prevent infection. The VBP core measure is a composite measure that determines whether or not a patient received the right care at the right time. A hospital’s adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.

“We are pleased to recognize North

Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of more than 1,000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFH is a statedesignated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, women’s health services, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and is also recognized by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer as an Accredited Cancer Program, as well as being certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency . ❑

Left to right: Boykin Robinson, MD President, Region 1 ApolloMD; Debbie Keel, North Fulton Hospital CEO; Michael Lipscomb, MD Chief of Emergency Medicine North Fulton Hospital.

This year, North Fulton Hospital, through its Check-Up for Chicks program, is again taking a stand in the fight against breast cancer with the Power of Pink. This annual luncheon, fashion show, and silent auction will take place on Friday, September 20 at the Country Club of the South in John’s Creek. ApolloMD is one of the many businesses that have stepped up to support the event as a sponsor and one of three who have done so at the event’s highest level.

The event supports the noble efforts of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, and all proceeds from Power of Pink will be donated to their Greater Atlanta Affiliate. Last year’s event raised more than $25,000, and with sponsors like Apollo MD on board, North Fulton Hospital is well on the way to surpassing last year’s donation.

“We were thrilled to be able to support both North Fulton Hospital and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® by being a sponsor,” said Dr. Mike Dolister, President of ApolloMD. “So many of us have been touched by breast cancer, and we are excited to support such a great event that gives to a great cause.”

Visit www.checkupforchicks.com/powerofpink/ for more information about the event. If you would like to become a sponsor or donate an item to the silent auction, contact Beth Downs at 770-751-2869 or elizabeth.downs@tenethealth.com.

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23 JUN 2013

As House Prices Rise So Do Mortgage Rates Fixed mortgage rates edged up following a solid employment report for April. The economy gained 165,000 The Real Estate Market is on fire with a tremendous amount of activity. new jobs on net in April, more than the As previously, reported homes are no market consensus forecast and the largest monthly increase longer sitting on the market this year. On top of that, for months waiting for buyrevisions added 114,000 ers. The average days on more jobs to February and market (DOM) for the first March. All of these factors quarter of 2013 is currently allowed the unemployment at 77 DOM for Metro rate to fall to 7.5 percent in Atlanta; with the North April, the lowest since Fulton arc besting that at December 2008. This is just around 29 DOM (and home another sure sign that we prices are edging up just as Real Estate are in the midst of a market quickly as contracts are KIRSTEN RICCI rebound. being written. That 29 Unemployment levels are DOM makes heads spin.

Real estate agents, buyers, and sellers dropping each month, home values are work to stay on top of true fair market increasing 18% – 20% over last quarter, value, which can change week to week. and we are experiencing the lowest levWith homes selling just as quickly as els of inventory available in our market. they are listed, the home values are sky- This is the polar opposite of where we were last year at this time, and it is not rocketing right behind each sale. The likely to remain this way for long. If you supply is just too low to meet the demand and buyers are forgoing contin- are considering a move in the real estate market something to consider is gencies that once were crucial to the sale. If you are in a bidding war the best how much buying a home cost you and possibly worst advice is to agree in today vs. this time next year. Barring advance to pay the offer amount regard- anything unforeseen, if you are looking less if it is backed by an appraisal. Since at a home today that will cost $300,000—the mortgage with home values have been below 2001 estimates of principle and interest are prices for so long it is hard to say you going to average $1,050. If the same are overpaying for a property that is priced at today’s fair market value but it house next year has increased in value is important to have the funds available 20% and the mortgage rates are up to 4.5% as predicted, the same home will to pay the difference. Speaking with a cost you $1,620.00. lender before Whether you are a entering this buyer or seller in unpredictable today’s market or market will give buypulse checking for fuers and sellers the ture decisions the confidence they need best thing you can do to be aggressive and is meet with a win in the Realtor and lender. negotiations.

Another big change happening for the Together, you can craft the scenario that works for you, before finding the first time in years is the fact that mortgage rates are officially on the rise. A perfect home that you may not be able 30-year Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM) av- to buy. ❑ If you would like a market analysis eraged 3.42 percent with an average 0.7 on your home or if you have suggestions point for the week ending May 9, up from the previous week when it averaged for future articles, please contact Kirsten Ricci – Associate Broker – Keller 3.35 percent. A 15-year FRM the same week averaged 2.61 percent with an aver- Williams. kirsten@roswellrealty.net or age 0.7 point, up from the previous week 678.472.3832. when it averaged 2.56 percent.

Now Enrolling For Summer Camp!

By Kirsten Ricci

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JUN 2013

Summer Has Begun, That’s Music To My Ears Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre continues to entertain the burbs and beyond.

By Elaine LaMontagne Now in its 6th season and the only outdoor concert hall of its kind in North Atlanta, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park brings a variety of world class entertainment to a stage nestled in a beautifully landscaped 45-acre site. Bring family, bring clients, bring friends, bring dates—weather permitting, Verizon does not disappoint.

The state-of-the-art Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre serves as the summer home for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO). With its opening, it became the first U.S. Orchestra to annually perform in two major amphitheaters: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre and its sister legendary establishment, Chastain Park Amphitheater. According to Holly Clausen, Director of Marketing, “The scope of Verizon has brought a new dimension to the region’s seasonal artistic offerings featuring concerts with the internationally recognized ASO, leading popular presentations as well as emphasizing community events including high school graduations, local fundraising events, and collaboration to create family-themed days, school music concerts, and competitions.”

Owned by the Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center, Inc., the Verizon Amphitheatre has quickly become characterized by its distinctive fanshaped roof, comprised of translucent cloth-like material, suspended over a steel-framed structural system. The park-like atmosphere allows veteran and first-time concert-goers to enjoy music under the large heritage trees, which are plants and flowers all native to the vicinity. Not surprising, it was selected by Pollstar Concert Industry Awards as the “2009 Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue”.

Verizon’s season extends from April through November, however the venue is rented out 12 months of the year for various fundraising, social, and business events. Musical powerhouses such as Chicago (coming Saturday, September 17) complement a wide

range of other artists—from Peter Frampton and B.B. King to The Black Crowes and from Keith Urban to Steely Dan. Examples of non-concert events which take place at Verizon include the recent Shamrockin for a Cure (Eat, Drink and Cure Cystic Fibrosis), Scott Rigsby Foundation’s Greater Atlanta’s Veteran Hiring Expo, Fulton Science Academy’s International Heritage Festival, as well as such previous affairs as Never Quit: An Evening with Rudy (from the movie, Rudy) and North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit Workshops.

Both Verizon and Chastain are favorite attractions in Atlanta and serve the community in exemplary fashion. There’s a natural assimilation between the two and comparisons are noteworthy: The larger Verizon Amphitheatre has a total capacity of 13,000 (7000 in covered seating, 5000 in lawn seating and an additional 1000 can stand during certain concerts between the stage and box seats). Chastain has a total capacity of 6,800, both seated and lawn.

The ASO operates Verizon whereas the city-owned Chastain presents approximately half of its performances with ASO inclusion, while the other half of the performances are not associated with ASO. Food and beverages must be

purchased within the Verizon venue.

Gourmet Picnic Baskets (including themed baskets and cuisines reflecting the evening’s program) are available for order in advance; plus on-site concessions feature burgers/sandwiches, salads/wraps, pizza, chicken tenders/chicken skewers, super nachos, and specialty popcorns and pretzels. At Chastain, most performances allow food and beverages to be brought in by guests, however, there are several options to purchase both on-site. Wine, beer, cocktails and frozen drinks are available at both theaters with proper identification.

Exclusively Encore is a program for season ticket holders, box/suite tickets holders and sponsors; and the Carl Black VIP Club is the private club area

for these special patrons. In addition to having reserved seating, perks of being an Exclusively Encore member include reserved parking, premium food and beverage service with a full bar, live video feed of the show, private restrooms and priority ordering for additional tickets.

The ASO is currently in its 68th season, and consistently affirms its position as one of America’s leading Orchestras by performing great music, presenting stellar artists, nurturing young talent, and engaging with the community. There are 88 full-time members of the ASO, however, depending on the artists being featured at the Verizon venue, there could be anywhere from 25 to 88 ASO musicians performing on any given evening. Symphony conductors rotate depending on the musical genre and featured performers.

During its 32-year history with Telarc (an independent record label), the ASO and Chorus have recorded more than 100 albums and their recordings have won 27 Grammy Awards in categories including Best Classical Album, Best Orchestral Performance, Best Choral Performance, and Best Opera Performance. The Orchestra continues to record regularly on its new in-house label, ASO Media, which demonstrates the Orchestra’s commitment to celebrating classical masterworks while continuing to perform commission, premiere, and record with some of today’s leading composers.

Musical powerhouses such as Chicago (coming Saturday, September 17) complement a wide range of other artists—from Peter Frampton and B.B. King to The Black Crowes and from Keith Urban to Steely Dan.

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25 JUN 2013

Not only does Verizon provide quality entertainment and aesthetic value to the community, but it also enhances business entities and further contributes economically through job opportunities. In addition to the musical artists and their comprehensive staffs, there are eight full-time and four part-time associates, seasonal employees, plus support jobs via special event suppliers, landscapers, concession and bartender employees, servers, maintenance teams, parking lot attendants, and catering services. Area bars, restaurants, and hotels also benefit.

Case in point, Verizon has annual joint promotions with local restaurateurs Miller’s Ale House, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Bahama Breeze, and Village Tavern. ❑ UPCOMING CONCERTS AT VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE AT ENCORE PARK

Summerland Tour 2013 Alternative Guitars Starring Everclear, Live, Filter and Sponge – Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m.

Keith Urban with Little Big Town & Dustin Lynch – Saturday, July 27, 7 p.m.

Frampton’s Guitar Circus: Peter Frampton and B.B. King with Sonny Landreth –

Hank Williams, Jr. & Gregg Allman – Friday, June 21, p.m. Tuesday, August 13, 7 p.m.

Cirque Musica with Atlanta The Killers with Special Symphony Orchestra – Guest – Thursday, August 15, Sunday, June 30, 7:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

All American Celebration with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – Friday, July 5,

Chicago – Saturday, August 17, 8 p.m.

8 p.m.

Phish – Tuesday, July 16, 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 17, 7:30 p.m.

Robert Plant Presents the Sensational Space Shifters with Bombino – Friday, July 17, 7:30 p.m.

STS9 & Umphrey’s McGee – Saturday, August 24, 7:30 p.m.

Allman Brothers Band with Grace Potter & the Nocturnals – Monday, September 2, 6 p.m.

Steely Dan – Saturday, September 7, 8 p.m.

The Black Crowes & Tedeschi Fall Out Boy Feat Panic! At Trucks Band with The London the Disco and Special Guest – Souls – Saturday, July 20, Saturday, Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Fun. – Tuesday, October 8, p.m.

Last Summer On Earth: Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds 2200 Encore Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30009 5, Guster and Boothby 404-733-5013 Graffoe – Friday, July 26, 7 p.m.

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CONCERTS BEYOND VERIZON...

COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (CEPAC)

(Watch for a feature article on CEPAC in The Current later this year.)

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Legend of Zelda, Symphony of the Goddesses – Thursday;, June 6, 8 p.m.

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The Village People – Friday, July 12, 8 p.m.

Da Kink In My Hair – Friday, September-Sunday, September 8, 8 p.m.

The National – Monday,

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Jeanne Robertson – Saturday, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan. (coming Saturday, Sept. 7 ) Photo: Danny Clinch

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Cody Simpson and Ryan Beatty – Tuesday, June 4,

Joe & Basie – Thursday, September 25, 8 p.m.

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JUN 2013

Living Local Loving Global

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This April there were two big events in the area: the infamous Final Four basketball playoff; and the semiannual Project Live Love Event, a gathering of approximately 250 volunteers ready to take on charitable projects throughout the city by lending a hand to a dozen nonprofits.

By day’s end, the Live Love volunteers had served meals to homeless men and women at SafeHouse Outreach, as well as residents at Sober Living America and formerly homeless veterans at the Veterans Empowerment Organization. They had purchased food and packed groceries for Save It Forward; painted the dugouts at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club; and assisted the Food Bank of Atlanta in their community garden. They had helped the Furniture Bank, a nonprofit group welcoming ex-homeless individuals to “shop” at no charge for furniture, make a warehouse move; built furniture for needy families, and built a vertical garden at the Gateway Center.

It was a productive day for Project Live Love, a 501(C) 3 based in Roswell and founded by 33 year-old Drew Benton in 2009. He orchestrated the day of service, pumping up volunteers with a commitment to put love into action to make a difference to those in need in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

“Project Live Love is dedicated to

engaging people to demonstrate charity in action,” says Benton. “We create resources to help people, corporations, and organizations connect with each other to collectively meet our community’s needs.” That, he explains, is the purpose behind the two Live Love Events: to provide hands-on opportunities for individuals and groups to serve others for the day. But, the events themselves also serve as the charity’s means of recruiting individuals and groups for collaborative projects that continue 365 days per year.

Projects such as “Three-Oh-We-Go” dispatch volunteers bearing blankets into the streets of Atlanta during freezing winter nights, searching for homeless in need of warmth.

Collaborations with Rainbow Village help women and children in Duluth, and a partnership with the Young Men’s Service League assists local organizations in Alpharetta.

Collaborations with Grady Hospital and the Gateway Center assist homeless hospital discharges. Efforts with the Golden Key International Honor Society help official refugees in Clarkston, Georgia, a United States Refugee City.

Drew Benton is one of the new young breed of charity founders who have heeded a call to put their love of people into action. Once on track to become pastor of an inCONTINUED 28 fluential church, he

capturedinthecurrent Steven and his friends found a way to beat the heat!

By Lisa Eckman

Cedea just won â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best of Showâ&#x20AC;? for her drawing named Tru Religion! This summer, the young artist will be designing iPhone cases.

Griffin and Mikey were just grabbing a bite to eat after winning the game. Griffin hit two triples and Mikey hit a homerun!

Zac just caught and released a bass.

Kenny G. was caught performing a random act of kindness!

Maritza was being shy at first, looking to her mother to make sure it was okay.

28

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JUN 2013 17

770-442-0023 1050 Northfield Court Suite 400 Roswell, GA 30076 Conveniently located near North Point Mall and GA 400

Your child is a star at Studio 23!

Studio 23 offers Dance and Musical Theater Camps throughout the summer for dancers ages 3 to teen Visit us at www.studio23dance.com for a complete camp schedule and additional information!

Reading Pleasures… continued

realized his life needed to be more about hands-on charity service than standing in a pulpit. “I’m a man of faith, and for me that means loving people through hands-on giving,” he says. “I wanted my faith to be one of action, and that led to continuously rolled-up shirt sleeves for charity work locally.”

He cut his teeth walking the streets of the city after sundown, working through SafeHouse, an outreach center to homeless Atlantans, providing them with meal tickets, bus tickets or shelter for the night. One evening, as he turned a corner to the steps of a church in downtown Atlanta where he knew up to 40 people regularly slept on the concrete, he was shocked to see a gentleman in a shirt and tie distributing supplies to the very same needy he had come to help.

The gentleman, Kel Long, an attorney from Buckhead, had a Jaguar at the curb, and after exchanging surprised expressions of “Wow, you’re here helping, too?” introduced himself to Drew.

In and out of cold nights, the two men bumped into each other on the church steps, distributing meals and blankets, caps and gloves. They gave conversation and attention to the homeless, a rare experience for the disenfranchised population. Drew had decided during 2009 that he was driven to start his own charity initiative, and began Project Live Love.

Then, in the summer of 2010, the two men decided it was time to solidify their tandem homeless initiative. “I realized that I was ready to introduce this experience to others who seek ways to give back to the community,” says Benton.

And so “Three-Oh-We-Go” was born, and Benton became its public face. Every year between November 10th and March 30th, Benton and his team of volunteers are on call to take to the streets with winter items including blankets and warm beverages when the weather report says temperatures will fall below freezing.

Since formalizing the nighttime outreach, Three-Oh-We-Go’s numbers show 1307 homeless served during 2010 to 2011, a particularly cold winter; and 912 served during the milder winter of 2011 to 2012. Over

two hundred volunteers participate in the program, which takes at least four cold hours a night of their time.

“The counting is coming to an end for 2012 to 2013,” Drew says. “We expect higher numbers this past winter as the temperatures dipped below freezing quite often. We also add in the number of homeless hospital discharges we help each year, which has totaled over 70 so far this year.”

Benton learned early on that a mission of mobilizing and networking with corporate sponsors and organizational partners could exponentially improve his community outreach and results. “Corporations and other charities give us the ability to increase and magnify the effects of our resources.

Seeking and maintaining sponsors and partnerships has given us the ability to improve the services we offer, as well as expand them.” Benton has cultivated support from Georgia Natural Gas, Mycoal, Atlanta Union Mission, Service Experts, and Gleaning for the World, among many others. In addition to his personal activities in the field with the homeless and other initiatives, he meets constantly now with potential partners and collaborators.

“Right now the cost of our events is approximately $35 per volunteer. To us, that is a high cost, but to a corporation, it’s less than they spend on company picnics or paintball experiences.” With a mission of continued growth, outreach, and collaboration, Benton seeks funding from individual contributors as well as corporate sponsors. “We are starting to reach outward from Atlanta proper, which is thrilling to us. The more donations, materials, collaboration, and in-kind services we can attract, the more we can grow the love we give to the community, city, state and beyond.”

If the April Live Love Event with 250 volunteers eager to help local charities is any indication of the strength they are bringing fresh solutions to philanthropy. The message of the day was clear.

They are designed to influence culture through love in action. Whether here in Atlanta, across the state, or around the world, they’ll organize and execute the work that’s needed. ❑

29

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JUN 2013

Redemption In Ripples

SAVE the DATE

Live And Love In The First Person

“I am doing this to try and change the world in some way with the power of love.”

Drew Benton, founder of Project Live Love.

By Frank Mack I have spent countless hours with Drew Benton. Out at night offering blankets and emergency supplies to the homeless, watching him run projects, listening to him talk to people, taking notes on how he handles himself. This is a man who walks the walk and quite frankly is not interested in the talking part. Words, especially in this day and age of Internet chatter, are next to worthless. We need more walkers in our society.

I started not expecting anything, I was just curious. When we first met I asked Drew what this thing Live Love thing was all about and he said: “As naive as it may sound, I am doing this to try and change the world in some way with the power of love. I know that is cliché’, but I really mean it.”

How many times does youthful exuberance boil over into saying things like that? And no smug cynic like me is going to fall for that malarkey, no sir, I know better.

Except I didn’t.

Still, changing the world, changing culture, changing the very way we look at our lives, this is an audacious goal to say the very least. Where does the courage, where does the confidence for all this come from?

“When I was a young man, my father exposed me to some great authors and leaders. The more I began to read,

listen, and understand, the more I realized that I could accomplish whatever I set my mind out to accomplish. So, years later, when I came to the self realization that the greatest thing one could actually do in the world is serve, I set out to develop an organization that lead others to serve. I set my mind on the focus of serving and leading others to serve.”

I’m looking at Drew hearing this with a smile thinking yeah, yeah, heard it all before. The road to hell is paved with good intentions like this and even if true, reality would teach this kid a few lessons. The world isn’t set up for people who want to do-good. Right?

Yet something about Drew seemed more serious and more consistent than most people. Even more plausible and possible than others, the barkers, the mealy mouthed, the cons and crooks.

Besides, you have to take some chances if you are looking for stories. And it sounded great. Custom made for those who like their redemption straight.

What I saw when working with Drew was amazing on every level. Some nights just a few people were involved, some days hundreds. If gloves, socks and blankets were needed then that’s what Live Love brought and in hours dozens of peoples lives were changed, at least for a little bit, for the better.

Not just the clothes of course. It’s the being there for people that matters.

CONTINUED 38

PRESENTS

Power of Pink Luncheon, Fashion Show

and Silent Auction

Friday, September 20, 2013 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Country Club of the South 4100 Old Alabama Road Johns Creek, GA 30022 Celebrating survivorship by uniting the community.

Proceeds Benefiting

For more information or to become a sponsor, visit

www.checkupforchicks.com/POP

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JUN 2013

Out&AboutinJune ROSWELL

feature live music, outside vendors, face painting, a trolley, and extended retail hours. www.aliveafterfiveroswell.com.

See page 16 and thecurrentplus.comfor many more events at the ROSWELL LIBRARY

JUNE 21

JUNE 8

DATE NIGHT CANOE TRIP

The Chattahoochee Nature Center will host evening canoe trips exclusively for adults. Arrive The Mountain Park Playground will host the at 4:30 p.m. for a trip that begins at 6 p.m. and Second Annual Swing-A-Thon and Festival will last ends at around 8:30 p.m. Participants will be able from noon until midnight. The goal is to help raise to enjoy the grounds until 9:30 p.m. This is the at least $75,000 in order to fund new playground perfect setting for a first date, an anniversary, or equipment, remove and dispose of old equipment, just catching up with a friend. Reservations are purchase new surfacing material and beautify the required. Call 770-992-2055 ext. 237 or e-mail existing equipment and playground surroundings. scheduling@chattnaturecenter.org.

Arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, a fishing competition, and live music. Call (678) 234-4190. JUNE 22-23

SWING-A-THON

JUNE 8

LAVENDER FESTIVAL Barrington Hall will host Roswell’s third annual Lavender Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free outdoor event will feature music, children’s activities, art and antique vendors, plant sales, food samples, and hourly classes and demonstrations showcasing all things lavender.

The Zen Zone will return with healing and soundtherapy demonstrations. Food trucks available.

CIVIL WAR LIVING HISTORY ENCAMPMENT Barrington Hall will host a Civil War encampment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring both military and civilian Civil War re-enactors. There will be 1860s dancing and music, a contest for best period costume (military and civilian), children’s activities, food, and fun. For more info, visit www.southerntrilogy.com or call 770-640-3855.

JUNE 22

If you have an event listing please send it to events@thecurrentplus.com.

This is just a partial list of area events and activities.

For more, please visit www.thecurrentplus.com.

Atlanta author Bennett Shelfer, author of the mystery novel “Drawing Dead,” will visit the Roswell library (115 Norcross Street) from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, e-mail comments@co.fulton.ga.us or call 770-640-3075.

JUNE 30

GA. 400 HOSPITALITY HIGHWAY BIKE RIDE Local cyclists will get the chance to ride multiple routes on Ga. 400. Registration will begin at 5:15 a.m., with those who arrive after 6:15 a.m. not being able to ride on Ga. 400. Participants will gather at the King’s Market shopping center in Roswell, with the Sky Zone being the beginning and ending point. For more information and ticket prices, visit http://www.ga400century.com/ JULY 8

LIFE BENEATH THE SURFACE The Chattahoochee Nature Center will make a presentation featuring live animals that live underground from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Roswell library, 115 Norcross Street. Reservations are recommended. For more information, email margaret.eves@fultoncountyga.gov or call 770-640-3075.

JUNE 9

JUNE 8

SINGING OF THE SACRED HARP

DEAD MEN DO TELL TALES

Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church at 4490 State Bridge Way will host the uniquely American tradition of singing the sacred harp. People of shared cultural heritages will sing four-part hymns and anthems. Beginners and newcomers are welcome to sing or listen. There will be a “dinner on the ground” at noon and everyone will bring a covered dish to share.

The largest Confederate cemetery south of Virginia is in downtown Marietta and guests at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, will learn more about it. Marietta Parks and Recreation employee Joanne Ellars and former Marietta City Councilwoman Betty Hunter will tell tales of underground “life” at the Confederate Cemetery and the nearby City Cemetery from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration is required; to register, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-509-2725.

JUNE 14

FREAKY FRIDAY POOL PARTY The Alpharetta City Pool at Wills Park will host the Freaky Friday Pool Party at 6 p.m. The party is Halloween-themed, so wear a costume or mask over one’s bathing suit. The pool party will feature games, tricks and treats, prizes, and more! In case of inclement weather on the event day, please call the pool rainout hotline at 678-297-6107 for updates on event plans. Admission is $3, but those with Pool Passes admitted free. Call 678-297-6100 or e-mail accprograms@alpharetta.ga.us JUNE 22

CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL AND ROAD RACE

The Olde Blind Dog in Alpharetta will host the 2013 Craft Beer Festival and Road Race. 6 p.m. to Riverside Park will host the Water for the World BACK TO THE CHATTAHOOCHEE 11:30 p.m. featuring beer, live music, and 5K and 10K run at 7 a.m. Contaminated water is JUNE 8, 17, 25; JULY 6 entertainment. There will be over 100 craft beer RIVER RACE AND FESTIVAL the #1 cause of death in developing countries. The ALPHARETTA FARMERS’ MARKET vendors from all over the U.S. lining the streets of The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper in partnership run will benefit the world by funding the provision Historic Downtown Alpharetta from 8 a.m. to downtown Alpharetta, as well as a craft brewing with the National Park Service and City of Roswell of clean and safe drinking water, enabling many 12:30 p.m. Farmers with fruits and vegetables, seminar. Come 8 p.m., there will be a 5K road race will present an eight-mile race from Garrard people to serve internationally to also support gardeners with fresh flowers and plants, and beginning at the Corner Deli. Registration $30 Landing to Riverside Park, followed by a free orphanages, soup kitchens, health care and makers of all sorts of edible home goods from before June 14 and $35 afterward. For more family-friendly festival. More than 400 paddlers training, elderly shut-ins, those who are yummy desserts to local raw honey and homemade information, visit www.awesomealpharetta.com. and 1,000 festival-goers will enjoy live music, food, persecuted, vocational training, abstinence sauces and jellies. The event will run each beverages, arts and crafts, and vendors, while JUNE 29-30 training & leadership development. Make a Saturday until mid-October. children can cool off at the Splash ‘N Play Park. difference & join 1,000+ runners for awards, ART IN THE PARK The race will begin at 9 a.m., while the festival will JUNE 8 entertainment and fun.

See artists at work creating masterpieces right last from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $40 for solo boats and www.waterfortheworldrun.com YOUTH FISHING DERBY before your eyes at this outdoor market under the $60 for tandem boats through June 7; $50 for solo Children will cast their lines and cross their fingers trees that attracts art lovers and exhibitors from all and $70 for tandem boats (based on capacity) on- JUNE 25 at this event, to be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at over the Atlanta area. Combine this with the site. 404-513-4068 or visit DIVE-IN MOVIE the Brookside Office Park Lake on Old Milton Alpharetta’s Saturday morning Farmers Market to www.chattahoochee.org.

The Roswell Area Park Pool will host a screening of Parkway. Prizes for longest fish and most fish create a fun filled weekend. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on “Ice Age: Continental Drift” beginning at dark. The caught. Bring fishing gear and bait. Free event but Saturday, June 29, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, JUNE 15 film is rated PG. The park is located at 10495 pre-registration required. Ages 4 - 12 accompanied June 30. Old Milton Park.

HOUSE OF HEARTS CASINO NIGHT Woodstock Road in Roswell. The cost is the pool by an adult. Lake is 1/2 mile east of GA 400 on From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Emory Johns Creek JULY 4 entrance fee, but pass holders get in free.

Old Milton Parkway.

Hospital will host the House of Hearts Casino FIREWORKS AND FESTIVITIES Night to benefit the Drake House. Take your JUNE 26 JUNE 9 Wills Park. Children’s activities and local friends and business associates on at the blackjack MAGIC UNDERGROUND ALPHARETTA CITY BAND CONCERT entertainment will be on the lawn behind table, roulette wheel, craps table, and the poker The Roswell library (115 Norcross Street) from 2 The Alpharetta Adult Activity Center on Cogburn Alpharetta Community Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. table, or outbid them on auction items. Tickets p.m. to 3 p.m. will host lessons on performing Road will host a medley of patriotic music to Food vendors will be located throughout the park $100 per person or $150 per couple. For more info simple and amazing magic tricks with cards and celebrate Flag Day at 3 p.m. The Alpharetta from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Spectacular and to purchase tickets, visit coins. Participants will be introduced to the history Golden Age Club will provide refreshments. For fireworks begin at dusk rain or shine. http://thedrakehousecasinonight.org/. and major figures of magic and be shown how the more info, call 678-297-6140 or e-mail library can help one pursue this hobby.

JUNE 19 activeadults@alpharetta.ga.us.

EAST COBB Ages 11-17. Call 770-640-3075 or CHOCOLATE: FROM BEAN TO BAR Reservations.

JUNE 9 e-mail Margaret.eves@fultoncountyga.gov.

JUNE 8, 9, 17, 18, 26, 27 From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., patrons of the Roswell CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION Library will learn about how chocolate is made and JUNE 27 MARIETTA SQUARE FARMERS’ take home samples. Recommended for ages 11-17. PETTING ZOO CYCLE FOR LIFE TRAINING RIDE MARKET Registration required Call 770-640-3075 or eThe Roswell library (115 Norcross Street) will host Beginning and ending at the Alpharetta Thirty plus vendors featuring homegrown mail Margaret.eves@fultoncountyga.gov.

Government Building on Broadwell Road in a petting zoo from 10 a.m. to noon on the front vegetables, fresh flowers, local honey and baked yard. All ages are welcome. For more information, Crabapple, bicyclists will make a 40-mile round JUNE 20 goods will come to the Marietta Square. Saturday trip through Milton City and Cherokee County. Free mornings from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. through June and e-mail comments@co.fulton.ga.us or call ALIVE AFTER FIVE to participate, but RSVP is recommended. The 770-640-3075.

Sundays April-June from 12–3 p.m. Free. 770-499The Roswell Historic District will host Alive After event will begin at 8:30 a.m. For more information, 9393 MariettaSquareFarmersMarket.net.

Five, the street party that gained Canton Street the JUNE 29 contact vcervantez@cff.org.

Georgia Great Street designation. The event will AUTHOR VISIT: BENNETT SHELFER JUNE 15

WATER FOR THE WORLD

ALPHARETTA

JUNE 9

BUNNYFEST Unity North Atlanta Church, 4255 Sandy Plains Road, will host the Georgia House Rabbit Society’s Bunnyfest from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Bunnyfest is a gathering and celebration of our love for rabbits and their care. It’s a party for bunnies! $5 per person, or $15 per family. 678-819-9100.

JUNE 11

TIE–DYE WITH PERMANENT MARKERS Sixth-graders and above will have the chance to make their own tie-dye designs using permanent markers and a splash of water at the East Cobb library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road. Please bring your own items to dye. Registration is required and should be done at the library. The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. Call 770-509-4997.

JUNE 15

JUNETEENTH The Cobb NAACP and the City of Marietta will host the 10th annual Juneteenth celebration June 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Marietta Square. The event will have activities for the whole family, including moonwalks, food, vendors, music, and a WellStar health fair. www.cobbnaacp.org or call 770-425-5757.

JUNE 15

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS The Carnival of Doom and the Out of the Box Theater will host a screening of Roger Corman’s 1960 film “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Artisan Resource Center, 585 Cobb Parkway South, Marietta. 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at http://carnivalofdoom-zvents.eventbrite.com/.

JUNE 17 AND JULY 2

COMPUTER BASICS June 17 at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, and July 2 at East Cobb Library. Class for computer novices. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the parts of the computer, using a keyboard, and using a mouse.

Registration is required. 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 770-509-4960 for Mountain View, and 770-5092730 for East Cobb. www.cobbcat.org.

JUNE 18

THE DEAD DO TELL TALES Mike Gerhard from the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office will present patrons of the East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, a program about forensic science and what autopsies reveal. Participants will examine accident photos and learn about the job of medical

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31 JUN 2013

examiner. Due to the graphic nature of the program, participants must be at least 13, no exceptions. 3:30 p.m.

Register at the library. For more information, call 770-509-4997 or visit www.cobbcat.org.

JUNE 25

ROCKS AND MINERALS IN YOUR HOME The Georgia Mineral Society will challenges guests of the Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, on matching raw materials with the finished product. There will also be a messy “hands on” project. The event will run from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Participants should register online at cobbcat.org or at the adult reference desk. For more information, call 770-509-2725.

nomination in the process. He entered the film world in 2005 with “Hitch” and starred most recently in “Here Comes The Boom.” The show will begin at 8 p.m.

Tickets range from $39.50 to $65 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, in person at the venue box office, or by phone at 1-800745-3000.

JUNE 8

MURIEL ANDERSON The Six-String Social Club will host Muriel Anderson at 8 p.m. Anderson is one of the world’s foremost finger-style guitarists and hard-guitarists. Tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. The club meets at Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North, 11420 Crabapple Road, Roswell, GA 30075. Call 770-3657738 or visit sixstringsocialclub.com

JUNE 29

BATTLE OF KENNESAW MOUNTAIN 149TH ANNIVERSARY

JUNE 8-10

FROGGIE WENT A COURTIN

Bulloch Hall hosts the musical melodrama “Froggie Went a Courtin’” at This event at Kennesaw Mountain 10 a.m. Audiences will cheer hero National Battlefield Park includes Froggie and heroine Miss Mousie and activities on infantry, artillery and boo the evil Tom the Cat. Tickets $12 per civilian life demonstrations. Admission to person. Reservations: 770-992-1731 x 2. this event is free. For more information, JUNE 14-15 call 770-427-4686 or visit JON REEP www.nps.gov/kemo.

The Punchline Comedy Club in Sandy ENTERTAINMENT Springs will host Jon Reep, winner of the 2007 Last Comic Standing Competition.

JUNE 7-23 Before that, he was known to millions as JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING the loveable redheaded redneck in the Dodge Ram commercials who leans out TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT of a beat-up car and utters the now The Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents this famous line: “That thing gotta Hemi?” well-known biblical tale of a young man He’s also the world’s best redneck dancer with a very special gift and some very big since Elvis. Performances will be 8 p.m. adventures! All performances will be at and 10 p.m. both days. All tickets $25. the Earl Smith Strand. 404-377-9948 or Call (404) 252-LAFF(5233) or visit visit www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com. www.punchline.com for reservations and information or visit www.punchline.com.

JUNE 7-8

CHRISTOPHER TITUS

JUNE 14-15

The Punchline Comedy Club in Sandy Springs will host Christopher Titus, whose comedy is based on his dysfunctional upbringing. Performances 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. June 7 and 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. June 8. $25. Reservations 404- 252-5233 or www.punchline.com

PEDRO LIMA

Tickets are $20. For more info, visit www.thevelvetnote.com.

JUNE 15

SUPERBASS The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Parkway, will host bass guitarists Ramon Pooser, Chris Riggenbach, Craig Shaw, and Kevin Smith for a once-in-a-lifetime performance. All four musicians have extensive experience, performing all over the U.S. and the world. 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Tickets are $20. For more info, visit www.thevelvetnote.com.

JUNE 19-22

THE RASCALS: ONCE UPON A DREAM The Cobb Energy Centre will host four performances by the band The Rascals, 7:30 p.m. on June 19, 20, and 21, and 8 p.m. on June 22. Original band members Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Dino Danelli, and Gene Cornish will present a complete concert performance. Tickets $29.50 to $185 plus applicable fees.

Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, 800-745-3000, or at the Bank of North Georgia Box Office at the Cobb Energy Centre.

JUNE 21

HANK WILLIAMS, JR. & GREGG ALLMAN Hank Williams Jr. and Gregg Allman, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Encore Parkway in Alpharetta. Williams will be performing 11 new songs, from his album “Old School, New Rules.” Allman, a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band and a 1995 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will be performing as well. 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets $19.50 on the lawn to $99.50. www.vzwamp.com JUNE 28, 30

PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION

The 120-voice Roswell United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir and the 60Pedro Lima will bring his comedic perspective in a low key, sarcastic style. member Atlanta Wind Symphony will join He will perform at Bonkerz Comedy Club, forces to present an inspiring music 11000 Alpharetta Highway three times—9 tribute to our nation. Tickets are p.m. June 14 and 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. June complimentary but necessary to ensure seating at a concert that will draw 15. Tickets $12. thousands.

For more information, call roswell.bonkerzcomedy.com.

JUNE 7-8 770-594-0512 or visit www.rumc.com.

KEN MILLER JUNE 14-JUNE 29 The concert is at 7:30 p.m. June 28 and 4 Bonkerz Comedy Club, 11000 Alpharetta JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR p.m. June 30.

Highway, hosts Ken Miller—9 p.m. on Next Stage Theatre Company presents June 7 and 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. June 8.

SENIORS Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic rock Hitting on topics like weight, divorce, opera that tells the biblical story of Jesus kids and, of course, dating at 30, his JUNE Christ’s final days of life. All show will have you laughing and begging performances are at The Alley Stage. For LUNCH & LEARN for more. Tickets $12 more information, call 678-744-6398 or Chambrell Roswell is having a three-part roswell.bonkerzcomedy.com. visit NextStageTheatreCompany.com. summer learning series featuring a panel of experts on senior living. June 12JUNE 8 JUNE 14 Choosing the Right Retirement Lifestyle.

KEVIN JAMES DEE LUCAS June 19- Making Your Move: Timing and The Cobb Energy Centre will host actor The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton June 26- Healthy Toods Affordability. and comedian Kevin James for one night Parkway, will host national recording That Taste Great, Too. All events are at only as part of his national stand-up tour. artist and saxophonist Dee Lucas. He James starred in and executive produced pushes contemporary jazz in a different 11:30am with free admission and lunch.

For reservations or more info call “The King of Queens” for nine seasons direction with a unique melodic styling. Rebecca Himes 770-594-4600. 1000 beginning in 1998, earning an Emmy Showtimes 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Applewood Dr. Roswell 30075.

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JUN 2013

It’s Summertime In The City At North Fulton Hospital

The B52’s are still going strong. They will be performing on June 28 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

By Jennica Justice

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InQuickER is not intended to take the place of a visit to the ER when emergency care is needed. If you’re experiencing trauma, chest pain, or stroke symptoms, call 911 or have someone bring you to the ER immediately.

After one of the most tempestuous springs we’ve seen in a while, the weather has finally turned a kind eye on the citizens of Atlanta and we’re crossing our fingers that the sun is here to stay. For those of us who feel the need to make up for lost time spent huddling indoors, and want to venture south inside the perimeter or ITP here is the scoop on the happenings in and around Atlanta this month.

A SPOTLIGHT ON SUMMER FESTIVALS As if the presence of the sun itself isn’t enticing enough to get you outdoors, there are going to be plenty of events and festivals going on around Atlanta to draw you out of your caves. June kicks off the first weekend with the Virginia-Highland Summerfest, celebrating the beginning of summer with arts, food and live music. Red Stripe is bringing back the MidSummer Music and Food Festival to Candler Park this year the 14th and 15th, with a fantastic line up including headliner Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic

Zeros, along with The Soul Rebels, Whisky Gentry, and Connor Christian & Southern Gothic. The main acts play Saturday, but I would be sure to make an appearance on Friday as well for the street food truck happy hour and artist market!

Best part? It’s free entry, so your funds can go toward drinking, eating, and other fun stuff!

Beer fest lovers have a couple of nice options going on both ITP and OTP. The in-towners have probably already marked their calendars for Saturday, June 22, the return of the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest at the Masquerade Music Park, featuring selections from local breweries, live music on two stages, and the Bud Light Game Zone. As usual, a new beer festival has popped up this summer, and they’re calling this one “Brews & Tunes.” It sounds like your standard beer fest with over 300 tasty brews to sample and live music from some local acts. If that sounds up your alley, buy a ticket and come out June 1 to the Town Green in Duluth.

ITP FUN A shortage of live music is one thing Atlantans definitely won’t be

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33 JUN 2013

lamenting this June. For some oldtime favorites revisited, check out Pat Benetar and the B-52s in the “Concerts in the Garden” series at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on June 23 and June 28 respectively, and experience the edge of seventeen again with Fleetwood Mac at Phillips Arena on June 10. The top indie picks for June are sure to cost you a little shuteye, because these shows are packed in tight. Starting with The Postal Service at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on the 6th, and picking right back up with Dawes the next night at the Buckhead Theatre, these crooning lads will leave the ladies swooning for days. If you seek to spice up the workweek, you can spend Monday the 17th getting groovy with the self described “psychedelic hypno-groove melodic rock” group Tame Impala at The Tabernacle, or kick back on Tuesday with American singer songwriter Chan Marshall, better known by her stage name “Cat Power” at the Buckhead Theatre. If the return of Arrested Development has you seeing blue, don’t miss The Blue Man Group, June 8 at The Fabulous Fox! Check out the Fox schedule for some other great performing arts and musical acts appearing this month.

haunt, The Punchline, brings some must see comedy acts to you as well, starting with 3 nights of Chris Kattan (of “Night at the Roxbury” and SNL fame) ending on the 2nd, and finishing up the month with award winning comedian Jeremy Hotz appearing the 28th through the 30th.

CHEAP AND EVEN FREE FUN

If you took your big vacation early this summer, or did a little too much online shopping waiting for the sun to come out, then you may be feeling the pangs of poverty by now. While the summertime blues are sure to strike us all at some point, that’s no reason to hide indoors eating Ramen when there are plenty of pocket friendly activities to occupy your time. As a notorious deal diva myself, I like to stay up to date with sites like Atlantaonthecheap.com for discounts on Braves tickets and info on free activities, as well as mobile social apps like ScoutMob and LivingSocial for deals on meals and discounted tickets to concerts and other events.

There are plenty of cheap and fun ongoing events that you can take advantage of all summer long. The Downtown Alpharetta Farmers’ Market on Old Canton Street is open every Saturday for your browsing OTP FUN pleasure, and if you happen to be And the live music marathon strolling by on the 29th you can catch continues outside 285 as we prepare artists creating masterpieces at the Alpharetta Art in the Park market. to throw down with Hank Williams Der Biergarten in downtown Atlanta Jr. and Gregg Allman for a raucous hosts “Barks & Beers” every Saturday evening at Verizon Wireless from 4-8 p.m. with five dollar half Amphitheatre in Alpharetta on the liters of Weihenstephaner Hefe bene21st. The biggest act of the summer, in my humble opinion, is going to be fiting the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If you enjoy your libations the Americanarama Festival at in the presence of nature, look for onAaron’s Lakewood on June 28.

Despite mixed feelings on the venue line deals on “Cocktails in the Garden,” hosted by the Botanical itself, the unprecedented lineup of Garden every Thursday from 5-10 Wilco, My Morning Jacket and the p.m., May through September. You legendary Bob Dylan is simply too can also check out the “Unplugged in good to pass up. This trio is guaranteed to attract fans from every the Park” series at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park for the lineup of free generation, most notably to the chagrin of embarrassed teenagers on acoustic shows every Sunday through September. a mission to avoid a social run in I would say there is no nicer way with mom and dad. to live frugally than a picnic in the The sharp-tongued comedian park and a free concert. Hopefully Daniel Tosh of Comedy Central’s Tosh.0 descends on the Cobb Energy this is enough to keep you fully occupied through June, and stay tuned for Centre on June 15, sparing no one with his viciously witty commentary. more to come in July! ❑ Long standing Sandy Springs comedy

Summer Camps at Ragamuffin Music Hall

Ages 4-17 Voice Guitar Keyboard Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Songwriting

June 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28 July 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, and July 29-Aug 2 Pricing per class $150 one week $250 two weeks $375 three weeks $450 four weeks

770-744-3814 585 South Atlanta Street Roswell GA 30075

www.ragamuffinmusic.com

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JUN 2013

I’m On A Sugar High

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The Paper Mill Village offers a couple of delightful experiences.

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Veronica Estrada, cake goddess at Sugar Benders

sweets I have ever had the pleasure to know. Wow. Wait till you see it. The bakery case In this column are the tables, the kitchens, the counters and the people itself is only five foot wide. They have I trust. At the end of the day these are ten stools, one table, with a few patio the people who show up every day and tables front and back. They open early do it right. They give it everything that and for lunch with a small but inviting talent, heart, and skilled hands have to menu. There are eight sandwich or wrap items in addition to eight breakgive. These are the people who send you home happy, well fed, relaxed, and fast items. Each so pretty, so well prepared, so very fresh it’s crazy. From ready. scratch? Of course.

So I search. I go here, I go there, I It’s top shelf in every way try this and I try that. And and downright inexpensive then sometimes you just get as in $6 per meal lucky. inexpensive. When it comes I found two wonderful, to the lunch items I didn’t fascinating, and delicious liteat it all, but I saw enough. tle family businesses that For that alone it amounts to are just killing it with a lovely little hidden creativity, quality, and treasure worth mentioning gumption.

Foodie News but frankly, it really isn’t They are deep in East the point. Not to my sweet Cobb in the Paper Mill FRANK MACK tooth anyway.

Village. Sadly my lunch at It’s the bakery case that really tells the Paper Mill Grill didn’t go very well the story. The wonders within it are so we’ll skip that. However it is still “the place” to be if you’re over fifty and like a wish granted. I think we have single in East Cobb any evening of the hidden away the most fantastically talented cake designer, in the county. week. I have had other good meals This is a stunning example of artist there and the bar is always hopping and chef. whether you are eating or not.

I have eaten 20 different things Anyway. This month I’ve discovered from that case, most several times a bakery, Sugar Benders.

Meet Veronica Estrada, owner and now, and all in two weeks. I put on five pounds for you guys that now I have to cake goddess. She’s the creator of take off! So let’s spare the words here. some of the most finely balanced

By Frank Mack

35

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JUN 2013

“

I found two wonderful, fascinating, and delicious little family businesses that are just killing it with creativity, quality, and gumption.

“

Don’t trust me. Trust your own eyes first. Then trust your own tastes.

Watch it though, seriously addicting.

I think this young lady understands the things cakes and dreams are made of better than a corporate grocery.

I don’t know about you. But I want my daughter’s wedding cake from someone’s heart. It will never be the same as the time you spend with someone with Veronica’s skills, her drive to excel or the cake you are about to receive.

She started all this by accident. It began at home by making better cakes for her own children ten years ago and before you know it she is training with Nicholas Lodge (of Princess Di’s wedding cake). Past that she did some catering and yadda yadda yadda now she is all ours.

You can’t ever compare the best of mom’s home cooking, especially in my family, to anything else. Or do so at great risk. The Gazpacho kills and the Chicken Parmesan rocks. People, if my wife likes it its way past good. So to recap my house—thumbs up from the wife, big thumbs up from me and even our grumpy teen is onboard. That’s three out of three and rarer than you can possibly know. There’s usually less consensus at my house than in Take Out Of This World Congress.

Also in the Paper Mill Village is a The essence of American success is family kitchen doing fabulous work. found right here. We are so very lucky It’s called Simply Fresh. It’s a takeout to be amongst so many talented concept that produces restaurant qual- people working so very hard. Go find ity food for your kitchen. them! Don’t just eat, eat well my I am married to a fantastic Italian friends! ❑ cook. And you know how that goes.

Lazaro’s Cuban Cuisine Mon. 11:30-3 Tue.-Sat 11:30-9 Sunday Brunch 11:30-3 Cuban family owned and operated All dishes prepared fresh to order Great atmosphere

Check our photos on Facebook!

Corner of Canton St. and Woodstock Rd. in Downtown Roswell

678-277-9661

Foodie News & Notes I grabbed a porch table at Table & Main during the May Alive After 5 on Canton Street. Went for The Fish (that’s what they call it). Grilled Cobia in perfectly sharp, sweet, fresh and lively complicated compote. Just perfect. The Minestrone soup by the way just shames anything anywhere.

I’ll tell you what. If Table & Main isn’t on your top five allow this to serve as your reminder. It’s always unique, it’s always excellent and, it’s a shining example of modern southern dining. And all that is great enough.

But in the end it’s that soup, the smiles, and a flawless meal with warm effective excellent service. All together that’s art.

Is it fair to say it’s worth noting where the food writer chooses to eat and write?

These are places on my once a month list. And to be on that list you have to have something I just can’t live without. I am writing at VUU, the little Thai/Sashimi and Pho spot in front of the Home Depot on Crossville

Road in Roswell. Do not mistake any old Pho for the Pho here. Alongside their little tray of handmade, homemade Asian condiments. Guys, the food is always ridiculously well crafted, fine and pleasing beyond measure but that little tray takes it over the top. Be careful, a little drop will do. Vuu, Vuu, Vuu. Go! Under last but not least—I eat at Thumbs Up Diner, in Roswell, on Alpharetta Highway, more than anywhere. It’s my regular breakfast joint between my East Cobb home and Roswell business. George, who runs the floor, has a crowd-sourcing thing going on a boat charter initiative. You know, a hole in water leads to a hole in the head.

Anyway, in the interest of improving service where I eat my eggs, if any of you having any extra money or just like getting soaked—getting George out of town to anywhere is likely to do all us regulars there a real favor. Thank you very much ;)

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Near Hwy 120, close to Chaplins.

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JUN 2013

Hidden Gems Food-To-Go Shops Are Places-To-Treasure

Joanne Rooks of Mom’s Table.

day they may even get added to your iphone favorites: BAKED – Bright welcoming adironFood-to-go boutiques play an important role in today’s market place. dack chairs adorn the exterior entranceway at this spacious East Cobb The trend is for people to eat more shop which specializes in comfortoften at home, however, people are busier than ever and don’t always have foods-to-go with healthy prep, and offers a modest dine-in area, the time (or the skills!) to a kids corner, curb service cook on a daily basis. and catering. A touch of Consumers continue to be southern cuisine is evident, more health-conscious and lots of gluten-free options want to provide better and an impressive assortment choices of food, regardless of of wines (for retail, not who prepares it. poured). Co-owners Ricky Additionally, food-to-go Parker and Scott Bianculli shops give great value to cite the top reasons people pathose who like to Hidden tron Baked are: (1) complete complement their own Gems meal replacement for busy home-cooked items with a ELAINE LAMONTAGNE families without relying on gourmet item or two when fast food, and (2) helping peoentertaining others—or for those picking up something yummy to ple in stressful transition situations. For take to someone’s home for a cocktail or example, food for new neighbors or sick friends, or for those having guests in dinner party. Again, sometimes you have the time to make something your- from out of town (with hosts preferring self, sometimes you don’t. Some people to spend time with their guests rather are stellar at creating great dishes, other than cooking throughout their time).

Weekly features complement “Everyday people’s talents lie elsewhere. Quite Favorites” and categories include entrée frankly, it’s comforting to have go-to meals, sides, desserts and wines. Fried places for a variety of these Chicken, Shrimp and Grits, Baked circumstances— especially when you know the product will be a winner! As Tilapia, Beef Short Ribs are a few signature items (I have to add that the Sweet someone who takes full advantage of those who are gifted at cooking and de- Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts are veloping terrific food-to-go options, I’m sublime!). Drop by once—I promise thrilled to share the following locations. you’ll return. Guests can order over the Add them to your contact list, and one phone (up to one week prior), on-line

By Elaine LaMontagne

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JUN 2013

or in person at 770-61-BAKED (612-2533), 1111 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta 30068, www.bakeithappen.com.

MOM’S TABLE – “Old fashioned home-cooking-to-go” is the elevator description of Mom’s Table by owner Joanne Rooks. She loves traditional family-style meals enjoyed around the kitchen table. But Rooks understands the demands on others and thrives on preparing seasonal refrigerated and frozen main dishes, sides, breads and desserts all cooked and ready to heat and plate. Spaghetti Pie, Chicken Salad, and Chicken Pot Pie are musts. Most items are available in small (2 servings) and full (4-5 servings) portions.

Located on Roswell’s historic Canton Street, Rooks appreciates the “easy access and slow speed limit by Mom’s Table”—making it a convenient stop to shop! 770-552-7515, 1207 Canton Street, Roswell 30075, www.momstableonline.com.

News Alert: With the success of Mom’s Table, Rooks is opening Mom’s Table Luncheonette at 1255 Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell this June. The All-Americana cuisine at this retro-dinein option will also offer take-out items reminiscent of the 50s and 60s plus lunches (dine-in-or-out), just like Mom used to make, but a little healthier.

GIGI’S TO GEAUX – Not surprising from its name, Gigi’s offers Real New Orleans Creole, and is the best kept secret in Roswell, according to Gigi herself. A seasoned restaurateur from New Orleans, Gigi Gibson came to metro-Atlanta following the Hurricane Katrina disaster and settled in the North Atlanta suburb. Using all local and natural products, Gigi’s favorite authentic New Orleans fare includes Muffalettas, Crawfish Pies, Seafood Gumbos, Savory Red Beans, Remoulade Sauce, and Bodacious Creole Seasonings. Gigi also manufactures her most popular items to sell in Kroger and specialty food stores (products such as Creole Seasoning, Seafood Gumbo, Creole Corn Chowder and Red Beans) and has spicy and fun gift baskets which feature many of the aforementioned along with gourmet coffees, cookbooks, rum cakes and pralines. A chef personality seen regularly on CNN-TV, Gigi exudes a warm personality and cooks terrific togo items for family dinners and entertaining parties. 678-499-0511, 34

Webb Street, Roswell 30075, www.GGSFineFood.com.

SIMPLY FRESH MARKET – A true hidden gem located in East Cobb’s Paper Mill Village, Simply Fresh specializes in “fresh, 100% natural food-to-go that tastes good and is good for you, which can be enjoyed in the comfort of

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Dolores Svensson of Simply Fresh.

Fax: 678-391-3690 Email: simoni@kw.com www.psimoni.com

your home,” per Owner Dolores Svensson. This gourmet boutique highlights products made by a variety of local artisans, whose products are immensely popular at Simply Fresh as well as Farmers Markets throughout My exceptional service will MOVE YOU! metro Atlanta. Originally, the shop became known for its organic whole GuitarL essons grain vegetarian salads with high protein and fiber, catering to the glutenfree and vegetarian crowd. That niche 678-697-7674 expanded to include soups, sandwiches, entrees, desserts and unique appetizers 1st Lesson (I can personally recommend the Olive Summer FREE When and Goat Cheese Tapenade, Pimento Group Classes You Purchase A Forming Cheese, and Roasted Red Pepper Month Of Now ATL Lessons Hummus) all with a focus on healthy inGuitar gredients. A few signature items essons • All Ages Taught L include Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken • All Levels Of Ability Parmesan, Beef Bourgignon, Quinoa www.atlguitarlessons.com • All Styles Of Music and Caprese Salads. This place rocks.

Ryan Strickland, 3 locations: Roswell, Norcross, Alpharetta • 15 Yrs. Experience owner & In-Home Lessons Available 770-952-9010, 255 Village Parkway #760, Marietta 30067, www.simplyfreshmkt.net. ❑ Hidden Gems highlights businesses, products, and services worthy of attention for the enhancement they can add to our lives—whether simply or significantly, for fun or health, for supporting our local neighbors or just embracing our corner of the world. They may be “hidden” because of location or newness—or out of mind due to all that surrounds us. They are “gems” because of the value, convenience, and shear happiness they may provide.

Enjoy and engage! (Ideas are welcome at elainepr@bellsouth.net.)

ATL

38

see thecurrentplus.com for more community • out & about • sports • music • food • garden • business • health & wellness • life

JUN 2013 13

Future Success... continued

spaces than our minimum parking reqs. require) is appropriate given the usage in similar properties. They have found that they require approximately .9 spaces per room in similar projects. This means that the 420-445 that they are considering would be appropriate and they will tweak the number of spaces to meet the number they feel is appropriate. Big concerns were raised by councilman Igleheart as well as others in the audience that this would not be enough and the “what ifs” were flying. But, you must remember that apartments are rarely 100% leased, people vacation, take business trips, work at different times and some don’t even have cars (some). The point is that you don’t build the church for Easter Sunday and we shouldn’t build our parking lots with excess capacity. It’s a waste of space and money.

It’s as simple as this. Lennar and Mr. Cassidy understand apartment parking needs far more than an ordinary citizen going off their gut feelings. If Lennar isn’t interested in doing more projects in Roswell, it would be shocking, considering they are putting such a sizable

investment into the heart of our city.

Gambling on parking requirements and upsetting the city seems like a losing deal for them. Additionally, we want walkability in this area. Nothing kills walkability more than the blank expanses of surface parking lots. Mr. Cassidy referred several times in his presentation to the Highlands of West Village project in Smyrna as being a good comparison for what they are looking to construct here. The parking allotment there is roughly the same as what they are looking to do here without any significant issues.

The car dominated another discussion which was about what cars do when they aren’t parked. Arguments were raised that the traffic counts would be unbearable and that we would grind to a halt in that part of town. The city’s traffic studies suggest otherwise (these are the same people that were crazy enough to suggest that the round-about would not be a total disaster).

Lennar had the most conservative analysis possible done. They did not remove the Frazier Street Apartments traffic from the count and added the estimated traffic from their project on top of that. The models showed increased

or your big company, for any person or group, to be of service to your community.

And not just to them. It matters to us.

At the center of it all is this one And that’s the thing, Drew ain’t selling people. He is giving us a chance to make young man leading by example.

Teaching by words, simply, calmly, ina ripple, to be able to simply reach out and touch people’s lives in the best way telligently leading. One young man speaking softly about love and leading possible. No contract, no sales pitch. others by providing a strong example.

When you can volunteer it’s up to you.

And by that example others are beginLive Love is a conduit for those of us unattached. For your smaller company, ning to collect around him. Drew leads a core of about 12 others. It is by his deeds and through the simple direct honest efforts all can see in his heart the world begins, slowly of course, to change.

If this is the next generation, we’ll be fine, heck we’ll probably be better off.

For more information and to contribute your financial support visit their site at ProjectLiveLove.com. ❑ 29

Redemption… continued

Drew with volunteers at a recent event.

traffic but not significant enough congestion to warrant concern from DOT. The concerns raised about the impact to schools would normally apply. The only problem is that the demographic that Lennar is targeting generally won’t have kids or won’t have them living with them. Thus, Fulton county’s estimates of 168 to 265 students borders on absurdity. The true number will be much lower than that and comparable properties say that the number may even be in the single digits but it is more likely between 10 and 20. That does not account for the displacement of the school age kids that are currently living there which could end up with an overall reduction to Roswell North, Crabapple Middle and Roswell High.

Another concern raised, which I agree with, is that the current conceptual name is not appropriate.

Canton City Walk tries to play on the success of Canton Street and the fact that the target demographic will desire walkability. However, it just doesn’t sit well with most people who hear it. The name is conceptual and will be reviewed

by Lennar. I have even heard that they may be open to suggestions.

Finally, there were some folks in the audience who were appropriately concerned with the designs. The initial concept was exactly that, a concept.

Lennar has worked extensively with our city staff and their team of architects and advisors to put together a project with a design that will reflect some of the history and vernacular of Historic Roswell while also incorporating a new feel. Mr. Cassidy stated that the designs had “significantly changed” since they were initially released. The new designs should go before the Historic Preservation commission in June and final approval could be granted as early as July.

It is exciting to see a project coming to us in the near future that increases walkability, brings unique residences, and cleans up the heart of our city. If all goes well, we could see construction begin toward the end of this year and we might have some new neighbors sometime next year. Once that happens, the true power of proximity and walkability will start to be realized in our historic district. ❑ Michael authors the blog newurban roswell.com. You may contact him at: michaeldhadden@gmail.com.

thought-providing stories from six enslaved families. program is for pre-teens ages 9 to 12 (AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.)

And, through the rest of the year, and is limited to 15 participants, so Bank of America/Merrill Lynch registration is required. customers can get FREE admission And finally, for a brainy date or family outing, check out The Atlanta every first weekend of each month!

So go ahead, slip on the pocket History Center. The Atlanta History protector, put on your brainiest Museum is one of the largest in the eyeglasses, and get out and learn nation and covers our region’s history. This summer, they are featur- something new this month! ❑ Stacy Shade authors ing a special exhibition, “Jefferson’s Monticello: How the Word is Passed GeorgiaandBeyond.com and can be reached at stacy.shade@gmail.com Down,” that explores the issue of slavery through the lens of Jefferson’s or on Twitter @StacyShade.

Monticello plantation—the exhibit features detailed artifacts and 17

Reading Pleasures… continued

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