V3 April 2016

N W G A' S P R E M I E R F E AT U R E M A G A Z I N E A P R I L 2 0 1 6

the Grass is always Greener At least that’s the case for steeplechase steeds before and after the races have run. v3 magazine

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Community

Our mission is to serve the greatest generation with honor, respect, faith, and integrity. www.RenaissanceMarquis.com | (706) 295-0014

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CADILLAC CT6 COMING SPRING 2016

ROME, GEORGIA v3 magazine

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Social media … my, how you’ve grown.

I think most people would agree with me that the internet is possibly the most convenient and terrifying invention of all time.

Instant access to just about anything your heart desires at the click of a mouse is a powerful thing, and like Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

While there are many ways to get in trouble online, it seems that everyone has a Facebook page, and the company that started with the slogan “A place for friends” is more like a place for confrontation these days. It’s gotten to the point now that – unless you utilize the tools to be selective about the material you see and share – it’s hard to log in and enjoy the positive things about the site that caused you to sign up in the first place.

Owner & CEO Ian Griffin

Mag Art & Design Ellie Borromeo

Editorial Manager Oliver Robbins

Contributing Editor Ian Griffin OWNER+CEO

Publisher’s Note It’s great for business, promoting causes, keeping up with friends and family, and – depending on how frequently you post – it can serve as a virtual timeline of the days of your life. Those things can be positive, but it can also be easy to share too much. And if you aren’t selective about who you are “friends” with on Facebook, you could be sharing an intimate view of your life with people who are essentially strangers. That’s scary to think about.

This can be controlled, but it takes effort to streamline who sees your posts. I don’t post often, but I rarely bother to filter who sees what I decide to share, be it personal or business related. So, I guess I’m guilty of being a lazy poster myself. Others post everything from their baby’s first steps to what they cooked for breakfast, lunch and dinner that day – which I’m not condemning in any way, only suggesting that it might be good to think about who your audience is as a whole.

Then there are those who choose to use the platform as a personal soap box. This is where things get dicey. Friendships are ended, jobs are lost and, in some cases, a person’s dignity can be shattered. If you are like me, you tend to accept most “friend” requests as long as you know the person sending it in some capacity. So, people you are vaguely connected to or barely know can read and potentially share any heated thoughts you might post. Some people are obviously looking for that and would be happy to know their post went as far and wide as possible, while others likely regret venting their frustrations in such a public forum.

If you have a bad day at work and unleash the details on the Facebook community when you come home, you may not have a job to complain about the next day. If you share your political views, be ready to back up your statements, as they will be challenged. If you tell people how they should live their lives, be ready for them to tell you the same. It’s a slippery slope, but at the end of the day we all have the choice of whether or not we engage.

As for me, if I find it offensive, the “unfollow” button works wonders. I didn’t sign up for Facebook for it to stress me out, so a feed filled with pictures of my friends’ kids and funny videos sounds like a much more enjoyable waste of time to me.

Thanks for reading and until next time, post responsibly.

Tannika Wester

Writers J. Bryant Steele, Oliver Robbins, Erin deMesquita, Holly Lynch Corinna Underwood, Louis Spivak

Executive Photographer Derek Bell, MFA 706.936.0407

Contributing Photographers Christian David Turner Cameron Flaisch

Ad Sales & Client Relations Chris Forino, Diana Davis Morgan

Ad Design & Marketing Concepts Ellie Borromeo, Christian David Turner

Publisher V3 Publications, LLC

Contact One West Fourth Avenue Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 v3publications@gmail.com

Creator Neal Howard

Ian Griffin, Owner

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J. Bryant Steele is taking recent legislation that passed the Georgia General Assembly to task, in the midst of a recent veto by the governor’s office.

All times of year are great for weddings in Holly Lynch’s book; however, there are a few things spring offers when celebrating love in bloom.

The life of a steeplechase horse is all business, until they hang up their racing shoes to rest.

With a worldly feel and one-of-akind accents, this month’s Hardy Reality offering will transport its new owners miles away while making them feel right at home.

For Mike and Connie Sams, owners of River Dog Paddle Co., being a stand-up business is what they hope will get Northwest Georgians off the couch and out on the water.

In anticipation of development efforts across the river from Broad, the Rome Area Council for the Arts is rallying Romans around their cause by taking it to the streets.

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OR NO

DEAL

DEAL

cents&sensibility with j. bryant steele

I

remember well when I got religion, but I still don’t get religion.

A lot of people don’t, if you follow the newsmakers. Religion is being defined by narrow-minded narcissists who have forgotten, or maybe have always ignored, well-worn Scripture shorthand like “love thy neighbor” or “judge not” in preference of their personal dogma, or to their personal benefit.

Let’s start with Andy Stanley, pastor of an Atlanta megachurch and scion of one of the most notoriously dysfunctional Christian families in America.

Andy Stanley, whose church claims 30,000 members, said in a recent sermon that parents who prefer to attend smaller churches (smaller

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than 30,000 leaves a lot of wiggle room) are “stinking selfish” because there isn’t the proper indoctrination for their children.

A harsh enough judgment without the modifier “stinking.” The sermon went viral to much criticism.

Andy thinks, I guess, that his huge church is a more welcoming environment than a church where most everybody knows your name.

On an even larger stage, Donald Trump boasts of his Christian faith. Of course, most presidential candidates do that. They didn’t used to, but it has become commonplace, unfortunately, in order to woo voters.

But in Trump’s case, his religion has been called into question; first by Pope Francis, now

by Max Lucado, pastor of a megachurch in Texas.

That’s probably the only thing those two men have in common theologically, other than Christmas and Easter; yet they are communally upset enough to denounce Donald Trump.

But if Donald Trump wants to proclaim his Christianity (while misquoting the New Testament), who am I to judge? As long as he doesn’t claim that Jesus also had a dyed-orange, comb over, I’m good.

Which brings us, in a roundabout way, to the Georgia General Assembly and its passage of a “religious liberty” bill a couple of weeks ago?

But before we get into it, I’d like for everyone to sit down with pen and notepad and list the religious liberties you have lost in your lifetime.

Think hard. Do you still attend your preferred place of worship? Or, could you if you got your butt out of bed or away from the TV? Do you still give thanks for your blessings, including the last meal set before you, and still pray for God’s tender mercies for your loved ones?

Do you still say Merry Christmas and Happy Easter without being indicted?

So ... if you haven’t lost any religious liberties, why does Georgia need a religious liberty law?

Because it’s not about “religious liberty.” It’s about giving businesses and churches license to discriminate against people who are of a different sexual orientation than the majority of us.

It’s the same as when we had laws sanctioning discrimination based on skin color.

We’ve got serious issues in Georgia – education, transportation, air and water – yet there were seven (seven!) “religious liberty” bills introduced in the General Assembly in this past session before lawmakers finally settled on HB 757, cleverly labeled the “Pastor Protection Act.” HB 757 would’ve overridden local laws, and undermined federal laws, that protect gay Georgians; it would’ve used up public tax dollars; and it would’ve cost Georgia business investment. It would’ve allowed businesses to deny employment or benefits to gay workers, or landlords to deny housing, as long as they cite religious faith as the reason.

If signed into law, 757 would have been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, if it got that far, simply because it’s unconstitutional, because it does not give all citizens equal protection.

Already, Atlanta’s hopes of hosting a Super Bowl are dashed. I guess our enlightened ones under the Gold Dome didn’t see that coming from a mile away. The Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Studios said they would have taken their business elsewhere if the bill was signed into law.

In short, the bill doesn’t add up.

So Gov. Nathan Deal has vetoed 757. That is not only morally right and economically wise; it is courageous, except for the fact that Deal is a lame-duck governor. His future doesn’t lie in the ballot box … unless he decides to run for Congress again, in which case he will need the support of religious bigots like those who pressured him to make 757 law.

Religious liberty, Andy Stanley, Donald Trump. It’s enough to make you want to become a Pastafarian. Except for this bit of news: An Atlanta Pastafarian has been told she must retake her driver’s license photo, next time without a colander on her head. Pastafarians believe that the universe was created by the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

They actually are a tongue-in-cheek, loosely knit group that advocates for science and disdains

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the Bible and the institution of religion. They like to say that a colander is religious headgear. The driver’s license photo is an obvious attempt to strain the intent of the First Amendment while mocking religion.

But let’s suppose Pastafarianism gains traction. It’s only a matter of time before schism, and we’ll have differing denominations: Ziti, Linguine, Macaroni, Rotini and, for fundamentalists, Noodles.

Biz Bits Georgia’s lawmakers also passed a “campus carry” bill to allow weapons on the state’s public schools, and at the last minute declined to make modifications suggested by Gov. Deal. Great. I have been at campus parties and Saturday afternoon football games where alcohol (and perhaps other substances) flowed freely, and adding guns to the mix is a bad idea, plain and simple.

It’s a far cry from the poet John Masefield's tribute to universities many years ago. He wrote; “There are few earthly things more beautiful than a university. It is a place where those who hate ignorance may strive to know, where those who perceive truth may strive to make others see.”

Unless you grow up to be a Georgia lawmaker.

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In which case, you’re most likely a rock-headed bohunk.

Erin Andrews, the popular sportscaster who won a $55 million judgment against a peephole pervert and the Marriott hotel chain, isn’t actually going to see nearly that much money. The pervert, Michael Barrett, doesn’t have that kind of cash lying around. Otherwise, he’d be wooing and buying big-time strippers and hookers.

And Marriott will appeal on general grounds that it wasn’t their fault, that they’re just a convenient target. Erin didn’t suffer physical harm, just emotional distress, which matters less in our judicial system.

And then there are her attorneys’ fees. The lawyers are going to get a nice check at the end of the day, way more than Erin. And whatever she winds up with is taxable. Still, she should walk away with more than $5 million. Not exactly chump change, but not nearly what she could have done with 10 times more money. VVV

J. Bryant Steele has won awards for business reporting, feature writing and opinion columns, and is based in Rome. *The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine.

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4 THINGS ABOUT SPRING

trends&traditions with holly lynch

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Spring weddings are the best! (But ask me again in the fall.) I love spring. It’s such a happy season – birds are singing, trees are blooming, those winter bulbs have sprung forth with daffodils and tulips. Truly, spring is rebirth of all that seems right and good in the world. Therefore, spring weddings just thrill my heart. Yes there’s the dance of the April Showers but it seems we can play that dance any time of year (if my very rainy fall of 2015 is any indication). So, I thought I would write a story about why spring weddings are so popular but also why I love them so much. But then I realized that I feel the same way about autumn weddings as well, but for different reasons. So, this column will be part one.

I feel I should at least acknowledge the other seasons. After all, my company IS the Season Events! Any season is a good season to have a party. And, truly, I have nothing against a summer wedding. Except the unbearable heat. And the sweating. And the threat of wilting flowers. And I don’t have anything against a winter wedding, except for the threat of freezing rain ruining the plans. But both summer and winter weddings have their merits; I just like spring weddings better.

Here’s why:

The Obvious Metaphor The spring season is well matched to the philosophy of weddings. A wedding is the beginning of a brand-new family. The symbolism of blooming buds in the spring matches the philosophy of a blooming marriage. Yes, it’s an obvious metaphor, but sometimes that which stares us in the face is too good to ignore. Start your marriage when the Earth is anew, and each year at the same time, you can celebrate your anniversary and start anew as well!

Color!

Brunch

There is absolutely no color that doesn't match a spring wedding. If you take inspiration from nature, you have bright green grass, blue skies, purple buds on trees, pink tulips, yellow daffodils, white dogwoods and just every flowering branch in bloom imaginable. We’ve seen spring weddings with the bridesmaids all wearing various shades of blues or pinks, which always turns out so beautiful (and no, it’s not any shade of Rose Quartz or Serenity – see January’s column).

Something about the array of colors just suits the season, photographs so well, and simply looks bridal. Additionally, colorful patterns can easily be adapted to a spring wedding. I’m waiting for a bride to choose Lilly Pulitzer dresses for her bridesmaids, but until then I am happy to see all those bright, beautiful patterns show up at the rehearsal dinner and the engagement parties.

All those amazing patterns are so cheerful. The flower choices are abundant this time of year, and it’s the one season when peonies are not completely out of the question.

Who doesn’t love brunch? It’s the meal for non-morning people, but hearty enough to hold you until the dinner hour. When a bride mentions wanting a morning wedding with brunch to follow, I’m all ears! The spring is the best season for a morning wedding. Cue “Morning has Broken” as the mothers are seated. Early in the day, the temperatures are still cool, the colors outside are vibrant and the heat of the day hasn’t yet caused those common afternoon rainstorms. All of my favorite things are wrapped up in brunch – mimosas, fruit, sweet rolls and crepes! While I’m not always a morning person, how else could a couple get married in the morning and be in Paris by dinner unless they got started a little earlier?

About a year ago, we had a bride use azalea, mango and apricot as her colors (for those who aren’t “color” people – that’s pink, coral and peach). She had a morning wedding, followed by brunch and literally flew to Europe that evening.

The weather cooperated; strings played at the ceremony; the sweet rolls were perfect; and a fun, folksy trio played the perfect background music for the festivities. At this moment, that wedding ranks in the top five BEST WEDDINGS EVER in my book!

I’m ready for a repeat while this glorious season is upon us. Happy spring, everyone! V VV

Music Two of my favorite songs at weddings are they hymn “Morning has Broken” or the classical “Spring” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” Both are a perfect match for a spring wedding. While nothing will ever top Trumpet Voluntary (any time of year!), those two songs are just perfect for a spring wedding. These April and May occasions are also just the right time for violins, cellos and woodwind instruments. As a former band geek, the right instruments playing the music can really complement the season and the “feel” in the ceremony.

Holly Lynch is the owner of The Season Events, a full service catering, event planning and design company located at 300 Glenn Milner Blvd. in Rome. *The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine.

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Join us for the 51st running of the

Atlanta Steeplechase Beneeting Bert’s Big Adventure

Order your tickets today – call 404-237-7436 or visit www.atlantasteeplechase.org General admission tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, . select Publix supermarkets or charge-by-phone 800-745-3000.

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Born to Run Text Louis Spivak Photos Derek Bell and Christian David Turner

When taking in the races at this year’s Atlanta Steeplechase, let’s show appreciation to the hard work of the majestic creatures and riders who saddle the load.

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uirky uncles and inquisitive cousins congregate for this yearly Saturday reunion. Little ones cheer for the Thoroughbred-jockey dynamic duos rushing past.

Sundresses and seersucker suits crowd the fence to chat with their companions over a Tequila Sunrise. It is a community concern, a contest of athletic partnership and a showcase of whimsical attire. For the patrons of the Atlanta Steeplechase, an annual celebration of the equestrian sport and the resulting human spectacle since 1965, this 9-to-5 outing is an American institution.

Even a first-time attendee will see, smell 20

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and taste the ingredients of the Southern heritage while meandering through the race park.

From the family tailgate to the finish line, hospitality is everything – and it is evident everywhere. However, while the wide brims, easygoing banter, and refillable libations decorate the scene, the four-legged athletes and their 135-pound partners are the reasons for the season. Jump after jump, mile after mile, the contestants, under the direction of their jockeys, hustle for any opening or opportunity for a stride or a length. Although most races have a favorite to win, and many of these winners prove to be lifetime champions, nothing is certain on the turf.

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Currently based in Camden, S.C., owner-trainer Kate Dalton and her husband-jockey Bernie Dalton have been raising and racing steeplechase steeds for over a quarter of a century. Kate is on the board of the National Steeplechase Association, while Bernie, who has been riding since he was 8, is one of the top jockeys in the sport. Together, they intimately understand the art and the science of crafting a competitive steeplechaser.

Before beginning her independent career as a trainer, Kate learned under the tutelage of a Hall Fame expert. “After spending my teenage years riding, when I was 18, I called up Jonathan Sheppard, the only name in steeplechasing I knew, and told him, ‘I ride horses and I would love to learn how to jump, so please to teach me how,’” she recalls. “He hired me right there over the phone.”

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Nearly 20 years of raising and racing steeplechase steeds have passed since the providential phone call. Now a respected owner and trainer in her own right, married to a world-class rider, Kate’s life – from well before dawn until the golden hours – belongs to the Thoroughbreds.

“We start at the barn at 5 a.m. and we usually finish at 5 p.m.,” she says. “The day starts with us mucking out the stalls. We turn eight horses out at a time, each into an individual paddock, and we muck out those eight stalls.

Then we turn the next eight out and repeat the process until all stalls have been cleaned.

Two-and-a-half hours later, at around 7:30, we ride and groom each horse. At 2, we set aside an hour for errands and catching up on life outside the barn. The day wraps up with feeding and final chores.”

For a steeplechase steed, and for the Daltons, this is a day in the life because the routine and the regimen are the components of a profitable racer. With an accepting but joyful chuckle, Kate says, “People call me and ask what’s new in our world, and I say, ‘I don’t know; I spend my life in a barn.’”

All of these hours, weeks, and months of repetition, however, find a short and significant exception in the event of a race day.

“I’m probably one of the senior jockeys over here these days,” says Bernie, an Irishman who has almost 40 years in the saddle. “There are definitely a lot of young lads coming up. I rode in Ireland and England over jumps and had retired to travel the world a little bit, to Dubai and Japan and [other] places.”

Although he works alongside Kate in the daily doings of owning a horse training

operation, for Bernie, race day is otherworldly. “Jump racing is like no other,” he says. “It doesn’t matter whether you are riding a good horse or a bad horse; as long as it’s good jumping, you get a thrill out of it. That’s why most of us do it. It’s the adrenaline of it all – the buzz of riding over a jump at speed.”

While Kate does not race, she shares in the sensation, both as a trainer and as a lover of horses. “There’s a sense of achievement just in successfully bringing a horse to the race,” she explains. “For the steeds, they’re wound up, they’re nervous, and they’re ready to go because that’s how we all are and they feed off our energy. It’s a change in their routine, and I fully believe they love the high of it all.”

However, well before even considering the career of steeplechase steed, Kate must mother the horses from baby steps to National Fences, the official and primary obstacle on a steeplechase race as approved by the National Steeplechase Association.

“I don’t have children, but I would imagine it’s like watching your children learn to walk,” she says. “Most of the steeplechasers have had some sort of flat career before jumping and so they know how to gallop. The real work is then teaching them how to add a jump to

their galloping pace.”

Woodland jogs come first, with little logs serving as the starting hurdle for the horses.

“Once they jump those small logs comfortably, we move on to taller and wider ones,” Kate explains. “Like any training process, you start with small steps and you build until you reach your goal.”

From logs, to barrels, to those National

" Even after their careers come to an official end and the races are no more, there is a certain respect given to each animal. A jumper once is always a jumper.

Fences, the training of a steeplechase steed is more dynamic than the perpetual left turn coaching of a flat racer. With the barriers, the frequent course adjustments, and the long distances relative to the flat races, the jockey and the jumper must learn to ride and run as one.

But every race has a start and a finish. So as the horse matures and is eventually put out to pasture, the magic moments come to an end.

From a three-year-old meet or a maiden event for a newly born jumper to the final lengths and fences, the life of a steeplechase steed is a noble and, at times, exhilarating existence.

“Steeplechasing is kind of a second career for a lot of the horses,” says Bernie. “You can take a horse that was a flat horse, a horse that didn’t seem like it was any good at all, and it could turn out to be a stake horse over jumps.

It wasn’t useless; it just was meant to jump.

Even after their careers come to an official end and the races are no more, there is a certain respect given to each animal. A jumper once is always a jumper.”

This philosophy, while likely unknown to most in the flamboyant crowd, is the why behind each and every Atlanta Steeplechase.

More than an acceptable reason to wear a straw hat or another chance to eat fried chicken, this annual event is a shrine to the sport and the horses that live for one more jump. V VV

To learn more about the Atlanta Steeplechase, visit Atlantasteeplechase.org.

Book your stay or event at the Hawthorn Suites and enjoy all the season has to offer at Rome’s most prestigious downtown hotel.

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A Place Amongst the Pines

Cradled in nature’s arms is a beautiful retreat that awaits a new family longing for something unique. text CORINNA UNDERWOOD photos DEREK BELL

H

ave you ever dreamed of living in your own personal retreat, yet at the same time having the convenience of modern living just a short drive away? Now you can. This magnificent estate has an elegant home with a wealth of unique features and designs, mountain views, hiking, swimming, tennis, and Big Cedar and Lake Creeks for plentiful fishing.

From the moment you pass through the gates and arrive at the top of the sweeping driveway, the elegance of the house is apparent. The stone pillars and featured wrought-iron gateways present a dramatic perspective to the house and its natural landscape. Most of the stone used in the building of the house and exterior walls was created by Cescutti Stone Masonry, the same company that designed The Ford Complex at Berry College.

This breathtaking property is located in Cave Spring, Ga., at 1526 Chubb Road. If the name of the road sounds familiar – think of

the University of Georgia Bulldogs’ beloved tailback Nick Chubb – that’s because the area was settled by Chubb’s ancestors over 150 years ago.

Founded in 1864 by John Henry Chubb, Chubbtown was a colony of free blacks. The area was spared destruction by the Union Army during the Civil War and remained a community until 1916 when it was devastated by the great flood of Big Cedar Creek. One of the few remaining signs of the original Chubbtown settlement is a set of steps leading from Lake Creek, one of two creeks bordering the property, which once led to one of Chubbtown’s former mills.

The house was built in 1959 and remained a small homestead until the mid-1990s when the previous owners decided to make it their primary home and added considerable extensions to the property. Now owned by Joanne and Patrick Burke, the house boasts four spacious bedrooms and five full bathrooms as well as many eclectic features, one of which

28 | HARDY REALTY | HOME FEATURE

is the lovely living-cooking-dining area with a welcoming stone fireplace and beams made from reclaimed telephone poles.

The living area has a unique little detail designed by the original owner. “The man who lived here originally, who had it as his fishing cabin, was in a wheelchair,” explains Joanne. “He had a hook and bar installed [running across the ceiling] so that he could bring firewood through a trapdoor in the wall.”

Another stunning feature of the living area is the large, metal wood- or coal-burning stove, a fully functional relic from the 1800s.

Moving down to the master bedroom, the first thing you notice is the beautiful cast metal bannister and stair railings. These were salvaged from Chicago’s historic Paramount Theatre.

The focal point of the master bedroom is a

dramatic stone fireplace with a chimney that sweeps all the way up to the high ceiling. The marbled master bathroom has its own unique style with space saving, back-to-back, his-andhers vanities. Beyond the master bedroom is an exercise room that doubles as a safe haven in a severe storm.

Beyond the house you’ll find a beautiful L-shaped, in-ground swimming pool with bronze features created by Jerry Joslin. Joslin

" This is absolutely the perfect combination of elegance and size and character. It’s a little quirky and it has lots of Mediterranean-style features."

HARDY REALTY | HOME FEATURE | 29

(1942-2005) was an influential sculptor who inspired a resurgence of figurative realism in the late 20th century. In this setting, his sculptures add to the delicate ambiance of the natural surroundings. There is plenty of pool-side space for relaxing with friends and family on a summer afternoon. The outdoor

loggia, complete with stone fireplace, grill and a unique Belgian kitchen sink carved from stone, is ideal for preparing a delicious barbecue and entertaining guests.

When you’re in the mood for a little more energetic activity, you can play of a few sets of tennis on a private court situated within the serenity of the surrounding woods and the sound of the babbling creeks.

Each morning, the Burkes stroll down the paved driveway, accompanied by their dogs. As they pick up their mail, they enjoy the view of nearby Chapel United Methodist Church, another vestige of the Chubbtown settlement and one of the oldest African-American churches in rural Georgia.

In addition to the house, there is a detached, stone-built, three-car garage with a

one-bedroom guest apartment above it, so friends and family are always welcome to spend a few days sharing the hospitality and woodland tranquility.

Moving down to the creek, the comforting serenity of nature takes over. The only sounds are those of the birds and the flowing water.

“People come up here all the time … and if they haven’t been here before, they come outside [down to the creeks] and say, ‘My goodness, this is unbelievable! We had no idea this was here,’” says Patrick.

After looking at more than 20 properties, the Burkes knew that this was the one they wanted to call home.

“We thought, ‘This is absolutely the perfect combination of elegance, size and character.

It’s a little quirky and it has lots of Mediterra-

HARDY REALTY | HOME FEATURE | 30

nean-style features,’” says Patrick. “it’s things like that which make it very different.”

If you’re looking for a family home that has the exclusive style and feel of “Scottish estate meets Tuscan villa,” this property is a must-see. VVV Find out more about the property and arrange a private viewing by contacting Hardy Realty’s Brooke Brinson at 706-409-3838.

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“I FELT OVERLY TIRED AND IRRITABLE.” For my heart, I choose Redmond.

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Heart Attack Survivor

Women don’t always have the same classic heart attack symptoms as men. Many women may have a feeling that “something isn’t right.” Karen didn’t think she was having a heart attack because she just felt “tired and irritable.” But when she started having pains in her arm and back, thankfully she called 911. The Redmond team was able to resuscitate Karen and provide her with a cardiac stent. Karen says she would not have survived without the emergency heart team at Redmond. She tells everyone to “go immediately” when they have heart symptoms.

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RedmondRegional.com v3 magazine

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paddle me home Text Louis Spivak Photos Derek Bell If you’ve noticed that the south end of Broad Street is alive with activity lately, just wait until you see the action a little further up river.

Y

ou and your dearest friends are enjoying the short-sleeves weather, a cold IPA, and the lively type of conversation where no one feels forced to speak but everyone wants to when, quite abruptly, conversation halts and all faces turn in unison. From the deck of your riverside cabin, the patio of your favorite Floyd County beer garden, or any number of waterside hangouts, you notice the somewhat distant figure of what you assume to be a person walking on water. Together, you and your companions watch with expectant reverence for the arrival of this transcendent being. Closer and closer they come. With each subsequent step, you discover the figure, in fact, is a person – a person donning a backwards hat, brightly colored swimming trunks, and a pair of sunglasses complete with straps. Chuckling at your gut reaction, you soon determine this person is not a water walker. With conversation resuming, someone lightheartedly

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Ken Callaway

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Mike and Connie Sams

comments, “paddle boarders.”

Although the upright exploration of waterways may be a novel idea to many, historians often date the sport back to the 18th century and place its cultural origin in the island-rich geography of Polynesia. How did these surfboard-canoe hybrids find their way to the rivers and lakes of a county at the foothills of Appalachia, you ask?

You can thank Mike and Connie Sams.

Husband and wife co-owners of River Dog Paddle Co. and the River Dog Outpost, Mike and Connie love paddle boarding and love beer but had no intention of running a two-building, one-stop shop for both in Floyd County. For the Samses, the journey from enthusiast to entrepreneur has been all about being willing to say yes to a new perspective on adventure.

“The first time Connie and I went paddle boarding was May of 2013,” says Mike. “We 36

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" You can get off the water and not worry about changing.

You can be dripping wet in your swim shorts and feel right at home." had been going down to Destin (Fla.) yearly to spend time on the gulf and kept seeing all these people standing up and bouncing up and down on the waves.”

A lifetime lover of all things water, Connie was the first test pilot and, after an hour-and-ahalf, was a raving fan. “When we came back to Rome, Connie, right away, started researching where to get a paddle board and the best kind to purchase,” he continues. “The difficulty was, of course, there wasn’t anywhere local to talk with

someone who knew something about them, and, more importantly, actually try one out.”

Not discouraged by this hurdle, Connie soon purchased her first board. Mike, an avid kayaker, quickly discovered that their afternoons on the Coosa, with Connie on a board and him in the water, were leaving him envious and ready for a change of posture.

“After Connie bought it, we went out together, giving her a chance to try it out,” he says. “Quite hilariously, there I was hustling away to catch up with my wife who, with half the effort, was going twice as fast I was. It kind of sucked at first but, more than anything, it made me want one of my own.”

Again, Mike and Connie faced the predicament of buying a board without the convenience of testing it out. Their continued interest in the sport also produced a passion for educating others about paddle boarding and helping others navigate the waterways of online decision-making.

“Because we were out on the rivers, people were constantly asking us about our boards and where they could get one,” explains Connie.

“Pretty quickly, we realized there needed to be a local resource where people could come with their curiosity, find out more from people who love the sport, and, if they so chose, try one out.”

Even with this newfound purpose, Mike and Connie were only planning on purchasing and renting out a handful of paddle boards to meet the curiosity-driven demand. However, small ambitions have a tendency to grow on their own, and opportunity is a frequent partner of adventure.

After determining they needed more storage space than a trailer could provide, the “For Rent” sign at 5 Broad Street opened doors to open doors at River Dog Paddle Co. “It all happened organically,” says Connie.

“We didn’t sit around debating whether or not to open a shop; we just kept doing what seemed right.”

The Samses were not trying to compete with other local outfitters but, instead, wanted to bring a new recreational channel to the outdoor life of Rome. River Dog Paddle Co., affectionately named for a dog Mike and Connie rescued along the banks of the Coosa, provides paddle boards, both for purchase and for rent, water apparel, and other beach-life accessories.

“I think we really do fit in with the culture of Rome, but we are also in the business of bringing something different to Broad Street and to Floyd County,” says Mike.

With this attitude in mind and the welcome the Samses received at the storefront, those small ambitions did, in fact, continue to grow.

“We told the landlords, if the standalone structure right next door (1 Broad Street) ever became available, we wanted it,” Mike says. “We didn’t expect anything to happen for years but, sure enough, it opened up on Oct. 1 and by Christmas Eve, River Dog Outpost was open with ice-cold brews.”

Now, three months later, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Fridays from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturdays from noon to 2 a.m., you will find a steady crowd of folks who

are quite at home with the beach bar vibe of this riverside beer garden. Mike and Connie see it as the logical next step in their promotion of paddle boarding and, more generally, their passion for highlighting Rome’s waterways.

“I think people were hungry, and obviously thirsty, for something different than the typical bar scene,” says Connie. “We like to think, when you’re at the Outpost, you might feel like you’re at the beach, you might feel like you’re in the mountains, but either way, you’re experiencing a total getaway.”

With so many changes over the last two years, the Samses are settling into their role as a part of the local flavor of Broad Street. Although Connie jokes she wants to start up River Dog Costa Rica, more seriously Mike and Connie say they want to continue to “build the relationship between Romans and their rivers.”

“You can get off the water and not worry about changing,” says Mike. “You can be dripping wet in your swim shorts and feel right at home.”

Whether you are asking if you, too, will be able to successfully upright ride the Coosa current or you are just enjoying 5 o’clock at 1 Broad Street, the Samses and, of course, River the dog want everyone to know they are more than a customer; they are a guest. V VV

For more information about River Dog Paddle Co., visit riverdogpaddleco.com or call 706-512-5107.

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Text Louis Spivak Photos Derek Bell Fire Fly Fling 2016 is ready to light up the town with hopes of making all of Rome easy on the eyes.

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ith a glass of Merlot and a critical eye, the culturally mindful peruse the galleries of local artists, the showcases of eclectic craftsmen, and the promising work of young artisans. These patrons pause to appreciate the waterway below as they stroll along the bridge, enlightened by the brush strokes and the string lighting. Color, music and aroma saturate the setting. No one is in rush and everyone is at ease.

Time has decelerated for the express purpose of cherishing the ambiance. For these moments, suspended between the two riverbanks and over the water, you are in Paris, Milan, or Vienna, and life has never been finer.

This is the mood the Rome Area Council for the Arts (RACA) aims to offer at the 2016 Fire Fly Fling, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the organization, championing the artist culture of Rome and Floyd County, and campaigning for the future of the 5th Avenue River District. While it is not a riverwalk along the Seine or a cobblestone piazza, RACA will close off the 5th Avenue Bridge for the event on April 22, creating a temporary cultural hotspot to highlight the arts and hint at the possibilities to come.

Although RACA has a long history of financially fostering and organizationally supporting the local creative culture, Executive Director Rainey Campbell says the Fire Fly Fling has gained community support and clarity of purpose in recent years. “Over the last five years, we have really worked to reinvent the event as something anybody and everybody

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would want to come out to experience,” she explains. “These transitions really began when two members of the board, Megan Watters and Laurie Hubbard, took over the event as co-chairs for the 35th RACA celebration.”

Now, five years later, the planning committees for the annual festival have gained confidence and competence in organizing and orchestrating a real community affair. With the motivation from the success of last year’s Farmto-Table-themed Fire Fly Fling at the Woodlee Culinary Arts Center, Campbell is eager for this year’s downtown edition.

Although RACA is celebrating 40 years, according to Campbell, the event has never before been hosted within the city proper. “This is the first year ever having the Fire Fly Fling 42

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downtown in Rome,” she says, “and the choice to host it here stems from a desire to build energy around the continued development of the area.”

The decision of venue is an intentional complement to the selection of theme. Although the 5th Avenue Bridge does physically associate the south and north banks of the Oostanaula River, it culturally separates the maturing vitality of Broad Street from the unfortunate restraint of North 5th Avenue. While Broad Street has thrived thanks to enterprising restaurateurs, water-loving barkeeps and sidewalks that remain in place after 5 p.m., across the bridge, a canvas awaits.

Because RACA’s official mission is “to enrich the Greater Rome Community through the unifying and compelling power of the arts,” the

organization hopes the artistic atmosphere of this year’s Fire Fly Fling will unite the community behind their vision for the north bank.

“In 2012, the City of Rome contracted a consulting firm to produce a Rome Master Plan that would guide the expansion and development of the downtown area,” Campbell says.

“In this strategic manual, there was a chapter identifying the 5th Avenue River District as a potential center for the creative arts.”

She, along with many other community voices, believes in and supports this rebirth, knowing an arts district increases economic development, encourages community pride, and adds aesthetic value.

“We see this year’s Fire Fly Fling as a catalyst for activating that space so the Rome community

and to promote their work,” says Campbell.

“The competition was open to all high schoolers submitting two-dimensional artwork, and we awarded the top three artists with a cash prize.”

In keeping with the theme of celebrating the arts, the festival will display many of the submissions on the bridge. “In the past, we have had guests inquire about purchasing the paintings, prints and drawings from the students,” adds Campbell. “By organizing this showcase, we have an opportunity to celebrate with these young artists.”

can visualize what it could be like,” she adds. “If this River District became the Arts District, there would be a whole new locale for live music, for food trucks, and for businesses devoted to fostering an appreciation for local art and the artisans of our area.”

This possibility is propelling the theme of the 2016 Fire Fly Fling. “We are going to pop up the potential of North 5th Avenue on the bridge,” Campbell explains. “We are going to have a stage. We are going to have the food trucks. We are going to have art.”

Along with the macro-level inspirational purpose behind the event, the Fire Fly Fling will also highlight and feature the artistry of high school students who entered the Fire Fly Fling Student Art Competition.

“We are always working to provide opportunities for younger artists to hone their craft

" If this River District became the Arts District, there would be a whole new locale for live music, for food trucks, and for businesses devoted to fostering an appreciation for local art and the artisans of our area."

Although the competition functions primarily as a catalytic event for any aspiring brushes and pencils, the judges did select the three finalists: Lexi Beard in first place with “Downtown Midnight Glow,” Chandler Adams in second with “Lights of Rome,” and LeAnn Johnstone with “Untitled.”

For RACA and their other community partners, this component of the celebration is close to the heart of their mission. By empowering a group of rising creatives in immediate proximity to North 5th Avenue, the future of the north bank will be woven together with the future ambitions of Rome’s youth.

With so much support already gathered for the 2016 Fire Fly Fling and, more generally, for the riverside renewal, Campbell is ready for April 22 and the anticipation she hopes it will generate within the public. “When people first enter the Fire Fly Fling, we want them to pick up on the eclectic vibe of the could-be district,” she says. “If we can help them reimagine the old facades and brickwork of the area as a thriving arts hub, we have done our job. I want people to walk away from the event energized by the possibility of these transformations and ready to help pave the way.”

Forty years after the establishment of the Rome Area Council for the Arts, the organization continues to create community around creativity. Whether cheering on an eleventh-grade painter or painting the possibilities for urban restoration, Campbell and her team of top-shelf party planners, patrons of culture, and social connectors are confident in the merit of their cause. The 2016 Fire Fly Fling is, certainly, a celebration of their untold hours committed to a brighter tomorrow. Certainly, people will drink their wine, toast the future of Rome and realize a new appreciation for the arts. Certainly, people will forget they are in Rome, only partially due to the jubilant toasting. However, far more than a stage for self-promotion or an excuse for hosting a swanky block party, this festival – this riverside revival – is a bridge between the “here and now” and the future of a community not willing to settle for anything less than best. VVV

To learn more about the Rome Area Council for the Arts and to register for the 2016 Fire Fly Fling, visit www.RomeArts.org.

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Did you know?

There are a handful of corporately owned and operated funeral homes in Rome. This means, at the end of the day, the primary objective of these firms is to make a profit for their shareholders. On the other hand, Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes continue to be family owned and operated with our primary objective being to treat every family as one of our own. If you want the very best for your loved one and for the family that is left behind, call the family who cares.

Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes “Rome’s Locally Owned Funeral Homes” Barry R. Henderson

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Joe Paul Henderson (1919-2008)

www.hendersonandsons.com

Where YOU RECOVER AFFECTS hOW YOU RECOVER

Kindred’s nationwide network of transitional care hospitals are designed for medically complex patients who require continued care and extended recovery time. We specialize in ventilator weaning and management, complex wound care, short-term rehabilitation, dialysis and IV antibiotic therapy.

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The Dish urlee s Fish House & Oyster Bar

Rome, GA Est. 2012

650 Henderson Dr #403 Cartersville, GA

PH: 770-334-3431 www.johnnymitchells.com Open everyday from 11am-9pm Johnny Mitchell’s has hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood selections and authentic barbecue slow-smoked over cherry and hickory wood. Come experience the fusion of Southern hospitality and fine dining.

Whatever you are in the mood for, you’ll find a homemade meal at our Smokehouse that will bring you back again!

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2817 Martha Berry Highway Rome, GA 30165

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Hours: Mon -Thu: 11:00am- 10:00pm Fri - Sat: 11:00am-11:00pm Sun: 11:00am-9:00pm

WOW strives to serve the highest quality of food with the freshest ingredients. You will leave saying “WOW! What a Place!” Famous for: Wings and over 17 signature sauces to choose from!

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406 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-234-4613

PH: 706-238-9000

Hours: Mon-Thur: 11:00am-10:00pm

Hours: Mon - Sat: 6:00pm-10:00pm 400 Block Bar & Lounge: 4:00pm-1:30am

Fri-Sat: 11:00am-10:00pm

Schroeder’s menu includes sandwiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato skins, nachos, wings, and more. And don’t forget our pizza! It’s the best in town...and for a sweet treat, try our Cheesecake Calzone!

Live music each weekend.

La Scala offers both first-rate service and terrific Italian Cuisine in an upscale casual atmosphere.

50% off cafe menu from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

227 Broad Street Rome, Georgia 30161

PH: (706) 204-8173 www.curlees.com Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:00am-9:00pm Fri-Sat: 11:00am-10:00pm Curlee’s offers casual dining, fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, chicken and more! It is located on Broad Street in the center of the city, and it has a family-friendly atmosphere!

Takes Reservations, Walk-Ins

(Draft & Bottled Beers also offered)

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Out, Catering and Waiter Service

www.getjamwiched.com 510 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-314-9544

Like us on FACEBOOK Mon-Fri 11:00am-3:00pm

Jamwich - Serving distinctive sandwiches, salads, and soups.

Sandwiches built with the finest ingredients: Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, Zelma’s Blue Ribbon Jams and Jellies, fresh sourdough bread, premium Boars Head thick cut bacon and farm-to-table produce.

595 Riverside Parkway Rome, GA 30161

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Fuddruckers catering can help you feed just about any size group, anytime, anywhere. Our menu will please the most discerning tastes and meet the high standards you require. We know how to make your event spectacular with the WORLD’S GREATEST CATERING.

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Authentic Italian is what we do! We have enjoyed great success by providing our guests with a casual, friendly atmosphere and excellent service. In addition to the healthy portions of our food, you will see our entrees range from homemade sandwiches, pizzas and calzones to pastas, chicken, veal and seafood dishes. www.romamiagrill.com

Make it a meal worth remembering. Where to eat in Northwest Georgia. v3 magazine

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POWERING OUR COMMUNITIES

S E L E C T G E O R G I Asm

Rome/Floyd County is our home too. That’s why we’ve partnered with local chambers, development authorities and elected officials across the state to stimulate growth and invest in the future of our communities. And why, for almost 90 years, we’ve helped bring jobs and investment to the state – more than 125,700 jobs and $26.5 billion capital investment over the past decade alone.

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