From the Editor Aim for a great 2014 The start of a new year always seems so full of promise and opportunity. We get the chance to wipe the slate and say goodbye to old habits. I hope this issue of HOME: Living in North Georgia will inspire at least one person out there to jump in with both feet and tackle a new goal. In this issue, we are featuring several local individuals who have taken risks to showcase their talents: from artist to actor to entrepreneur. Our cover story features former Miss Georgia Teen USA, Jena Sims. Her story is one of a shy young girl from Winder, Ga., stumbling into the pageant circuit and ending up in Hollywood, where she became the star of Roger Corman’s “Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader.” Page 8 highlights a Brenau alum whose business venture was just recently featured in the Wall Street journal. Page 11 is all about the many talents of Gainesville artist Chad Shore, who only recently returned from Miami where he was commissioned to build a surreal scene for a stage play. Hall County, and all of North Georgia, is chock full of talented people with winning ideas and largerthan-life personalities. We also have outstanding places to showcase those talents, like the Quinlan Visual Arts Center here in Gainesville. And wether this year has you looking for a new love, a new hobby or a healthier body, may there be at least one story in here to help you get motivated. Don’t let another year go by without doing the things that make us happy and leave us fulfilled. So here’s to 2014! Cheers!
M
J
Publisher Dennis Stockton Editor Michelle Boaen Jameson Advertising Director Sherrie Jones Advertising Sales Trent Sexton Melisa Sizemore Graphic Design Michelle Boaen Jameson Katherine Hake April Seymour Kerri Ivie Production Support Chris Campbell Dana Erwin Betty Thompson Contributing Photographers The Times staff
HOME Magazine, a division of: The Times Gainesville, GA The Paper Hoschton, GA A Morris Multimedia Inc. property 345 Green St. | Gainesville, GA 30501 | 770-718-3421
ichelle ameson
www.homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com
Michelle Boaen Jameson mjameson@homemagazinenorthgeorgia.com
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January | February 2014