V3 July 2015

NWGA'S PREMIER FEATURE MAGAZINE / JULY 2015

on earth as it is in

heaven From patios to petunias, ACW Landscapes turns any outdoor living space into a land less ordinary.

KNOW YOUR

C RE 4

Did you know that there are 4 numbers that can give you a snapshot of your overall health?

For proactive health management, men and women of all ages should see their primary care physician yearly for these routine evaluations:

Blood pressure

Blood sugar / glucose

Cholesterol and triglycerides

Healthy weight ranges

888.427.2461 harbinclinic.com/healthscreenings 2

v3 magazine

Because we understand it’s your baby...

Shop with a dealer you can trust.

No hustle, just Heritage.

706-622-3783 965 Veterans Memorial Hwy NE Rome, GA 30161 www.heritageromehonda.com

706-622-3783 965 Veterans Memorial Hwy NE Rome, GA 30161 www.gmcrome.com

706-291-1981 1500Veterans Memorial Hwy NE Rome, GA 30161 www.romenissan.com

CRBI YO U R U P P E R C O O S A

RIVERKEEPERR

C O O S A R I V E R B A S I N I N I T I AT I V E

presents

Rivera biodiversity Revelry bash

Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 6-11 p.m. at Heritage Park on the Coosa River in Downtown Rome Tickets and details at www.coosa.org or follow us on Facebook for updates.

New

Summer products are in!

Protect your hair this summer with our new Bamboo Beach Products

F.H.F Hair Design

305 Main St. Cedartown, GA 30125 • (678) 901-0643 www.fhfdesign.com

Southern Comfort Farm, 205 +/- acres 420 Scoggins Road, Rome, GA

This beautiful farm is located in the foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of NWGA.

7,500 +/- Sq Ft custom-built house

Fully Finished Basement Apt. | Brick Exterior| Oak Hardwood Floors| Stone & Ceramic Tile Baths It has two creeks, Armuchee Creek on the east and Heath Creek on the south, that offer ample fishing or canoeing.

The farm is fenced and cross fenced with a mix of high tinsel electric fence and woven wire fencing.

Main Barn

Metal structure with fully enclosed indoor riding arena with lighting as well as an outdoor turf dressage arena with custom built stalls, large tack room, office, feed room, 2 wash racks, full bathroom, hay bin, bulk shavings bin, fly spray system, hot water, and a 9 ton upright feed bin.

Also includes 1,300 +/- Sq Ft apartment with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, large kitchen and living room.

WWW.AMERICAN-AUCTIONEERS.COM 866.789.5169

BROKER PARTICIPATION: AMERICAN AUCTIONEERS WILL PAY ANY LICENSED BROKER/AGENT A 3% COMMISSION FOR A REGISTERED, SUCCESSFUL PURCHASER. CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR PRECISE DETAILS. Keith Baldwin, CAI GAL AUNR 2860, GARE 247207 Lou Dempsey, GAL AU2431, GARE 160996

v3 magazine 5

JULY 2015

opinions 12 16

Is it possible to see a Triple Crown, a market for a good Cuban cigar and a new face on the 20 spot, all in the near future? J. BRYANT STEELE would bet we see this lot cross the finish line sooner than we’d expect.

Feeling the pressure of procrastination is a plight we all share, and HOLLY LYNCH suggests we give in to the lazy for just a little while longer.

features 20 26 30 36 42

NICK AND BETH ROGERS show us why they traded in their white picket fence for the contemporary comforts of a downtown loft.

On September 26th, the DeSoto Theater invites Northwest Georgians to hear one of our most cherished singers, the critically acclaimed JAMIE BARTON. Digging, cutting, planting and trimming are only part of the love ANDREW WARDLAW AND ACW LANDSCAPES puts into making your yard a Garden of Eden.

TEACH ME TENNIS is served, and three local tennis coaches have partnered with Floyd County Schools to teach kids about the true love of the sport.

This year’s installment of COUNTERPOINT MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL leaves Kingston Downs; however, the bonds made in the midst of the jam are strong enough to keep us rocking until next year.

v3 magazine 7

J

uly is upon us, and on the fourth day of this month we celebrate our nation’s independence and all that makes this country such a wonderful place to live. We have our issues, as all nations do, but for one day each year we celebrate being American together. The beautiful thing about this holiday is that because we are such a diverse country, you can celebrate it just about any way you like. While most like to barbecue and watch fireworks, I can’t think of anything more American than a good rock concert, and this year a very special event is taking place in Chicago, Ill., that I just couldn’t miss.

On the third, fourth and fifth of July at Soldier Field, the surviving members of The Grateful Dead (Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutz-

Owner&CEO Ian Griffin

Mag Art & Design Ellie Borromeo

Editorial Manager Oliver Robbins

Ian Griffin

OWNER+CEO

publisher’s note

mann) will perform what will be their final shows together with Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio filling in for the late Jerry Garcia. Tickets for the show and hotels in the Windy City sold out faster than people could click their mouse in attempts to book them, but with a little networking and some kind-hearted fellow fans, my wife and I managed to get a pair to every show.

The Dead have a reputation for improvisation, which is right up my alley, but the core of their catalogue is pure Americana, and anyone questioning that simply hasn’t listened. I grew up on The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, The Doors and much more, but The Dead were one of the first bands I found on my own – and once I found them, they never left my musical rotation.

After hearing a copy of their “Europe ’72” live album, I rushed to the record store to buy it. As fate would have it, I stumbled onto an album titled “A Picture of Nectar” by a band called Phish; with those two purchases, the foundation for my musical exploration was set in stone.

I was 13 when I started listening to The Dead and two years later Jerry Garcia passed away, so my chances to see them perform were practically non-existent. Phish, however, who were just getting started and on their own merit, became my band. These two bands shared similarities in their ability to improvise and to succeed with zero to little radio play, but were completely different animals musically. So to love one is not to love the other, but, for me, they both delivered a musical experience like none other.

If you haven’t figured out where I’m going with this yet, I’ll cut to the chase. The selection of my personal guitar hero to play Jerry Garcia’s role by the surviving members of The Grateful Dead is beyond a dream come true and the culmination of two musical entities that have dedicated their careers to their fans’ experience.

As a teenager and young adult, every penny I earned and was given went into my pursuit of the next show. My love of the music steered me and my 1998 Honda Civic into and out of all 48 of the contiguous United States as well as to Mexico and Canada by the time I was 23 years old.

It’s fair to say that I took advantage of my youth, and I can certainly say that the only regrets I have are not going to more concerts while I had the time. Fortunately for me, I married a music lover and we still make time to catch a few shows every year – which, with two children and one on the way, is no easy task! But it’s worth the effort.

I’m sure the show will feature fireworks, flags, and all things Fourth of July but, for me, this Fourth will be a celebration of the music that allowed me to see this fine country from corner to corner and everything in between. Happy Fourth, everyone!

Contributing Editor Tannika Wester

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

Executive Photographer Derek Bell, MFA 706.936.0407

Contributing Photographers Christian David Turner Cameron Flaisch

Ad Sales & Client Relations Chris Forino, Shadae Yancey-Warren,

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

8

v3 magazine

v3magazine.com

The Business Loan Leaders of Choice Small businesses have long served as the financial backbone of our nation.

They blend local ownership with service while providing needed goods and services. Large corporations, meanwhile, drive the economy, offering employment opportunities and enhancing the availability of technologies and products.

At Heritage First Bank, we serve Rome and Floyd County as the business lender of choice because we understand the unique financial needs of businesses large and small, and everything in between. Loan decisions are made locally by lending professionals who craft perfect loan solutions from SBA financing to direct lending, lines of credit and more.

Every successful business needs an edge to open, to operate and to grow.

Your edge begins right here.

Pictured Left to Right: Ronnie Wallace, Executive Vice President; Reed Biggers, Senior Vice President & Michael Baker, Senior Vice President.

EAST ROME • 1700 Turner McCall Blvd. • 706/378-5300 WEST ROME • 2211 Shorter Avenue • 706/378-5305 ARMUCHEE • 2950 Martha Berry Blvd. • 706/314-0560

Look for us downtown at 501 Broad Street this fall!

Local Bank. Local Decisions.® #40129 HFB CommercialLendingSeriesV3_7.625x4.987.indd 1

www.heritagefirstbank.com 6/30/15 1:25 PM

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.

304 Turner McCall Boulevard • Rome, Georgia 30165 706.378.6800 • GA TDD/TTY# 800.255.0135 www.kindredrome.com © 2013 Kindred Operating Healthcare, Inc. CSR 176719-03, EOE

Finding a new home is a difficult process. Finding a real estate agent that can take the burden off of you shouldn’t have to be.

IT WOULD BE MY PRIVELEGE, TO BE YOUR AGENT Sarah McElrath • Facebook: Sarah McElrath Realtor Call or text 404-313-0542 • www.SarahFineHomes.com • Sarah.McElrath@gmail.com

v3 magazine 9

NETWORKING

your business.

SERVING your community.

YOUR BUSINESS BY DESIGN.

For the best....Call Northwest!

We specialize in eco-friendly pest and termite control solutions, lawn care, energy-saving insulation services, wildlife services for animal control and removal, mosquito control, and heating & cooling services.

“Northwest Georgia’s Premier Feature Reader”, highlighting the latest buzz in local business to the finest in modern home decor. Read our issues online or pick one up at local businesses. Give us a call about our design and creative services as well!

Greg Turner 706-728-7636 www.callnorthwest.com

Ian Griffin, Co-Owner Phone: 706-235-0748 www.v3magazine.com

You deserve affordable legal and identity theft protection.

Everyone deserves legal protection. And now, with LegalShield, everyone can access it. No matter how traumatic. No matter how trivial. Whatever your situation is, we are here to help.

James “Cowboy” Cunningham 50 Chateau Dr. Apt A1 706-266-2483 arthurcunningham.legalshieldassociate.com

WWW.THECONNECTIONSCLUB.ORG

Stand out in a crowd…

706-291-7236 • 328 Broad St. Rome, Ga. 30161 • www.GreenesJewelers.com 10

v3 magazine

ACW

LANDSCAP ES

LANDSCAPING & LAWN MAINTENANCE We offer professional services such as: • Landscape Architecture • Design & Installation with 3D Auto-Cad renderings • Full Service Lawn Maintenance • Hardscapes • Irrigation systems • Rain harvest systems • Water features • Landscape lighting

Quality Service & Customer Satisfaction

1 Watts Way, Rome, Georgia / (706) 506-5618 / www.acwlandscapes.com / Find us on Facebook

T

he extremely hot days of late have caused me great sleepiness and fatigue. I’m betting many of you have felt the same way too. Like a dog, I just want to lie in a cool spot and stretch my arms and legs and let my heavy eyelids close in sweet relief. Even on mornings when I wake energetic and excited for the day, I walk outside to have a wall of steamy humidity hit me like a blanket and all plans for the day fall away. The struggle to balance the to-do list with the reality that everything takes twice as long in the heat is real.

Whoever invented air conditioning should be given a Nobel Peace Prize. I imagine that wars should break out because of the agitation people

12

v3 magazine

feel when they are extremely hot, but the warring parties would simply give up in the oppressive heat rather than take arms. Countries along the equator should be the most peace-loving nations. It’s too hot to fight.

Frankly, there have been times I think it’s too hot to do anything, and herein lies this column’s theme. When is laziness a character flaw, and when is laziness an art? I don’t think of myself as lazy (but, honestly, who would??).

There’s always something to do that’s useful and important. And most of the time I’m busy doing something.

As a kid, my family would occasionally have days where we wouldn’t leave the house, stay in our pajamas, and play games and watch movies

all day. As an adult, there are far fewer opportunities to get away with that type of day. In the summer, the temptation is GREAT. If I had a swimming pool, I don’t think I would ever go to the office!

The summer is the ideal time to carefully practice laziness. I say carefully, because (if you’re like me) skipping out on life would be too easy to turn into a habit. I know some of you who would go with me, like Thelma and Louise, but without the crime spree. Planned vacations to the beach or mountains are logical lazy opportunities, but I’m looking for opportunities in daily life.

The art of laziness comes from practicing the technique in ways that won’t cause you to lose

the art of laziness Trends & Traditions with Holly Lynch

your job, house, family, or respect for yourself.

In the summer, I find I’m waking earlier (frankly, I’m just not sleeping much) and enjoying morning coffee on my front porch, just before the sun rises and the heat becomes unbearable.

I’ve also started sneaking into antique stores for short periods of time, and leaving my phone IN MY CAR. Reckless, don’t you think? I’ve also taken up coloring books, complete with crayons.

While I have an ‘adult’ version that looks a lot like botanical prints from an art house, I admit I also have a Disney princess version. Don’t judge.

My coloring sessions are completely mindless, entirely focused on staying in the lines –or not – and forgetting about responsibilities or the pile of dishes in the kitchen. These distractions are much more comforting to my spirit than scrolling Facebook and getting all riled up over some recent nonsense in the news.

It’s awfully ironic that I am writing an article about laziness and I’m at least five days past my

deadline to write this column. As I meekly tell my editor, my work is keeping me quite busy, but so are my distractions. I admit there are lots of things vying for my time lately, all good and exciting. The things I’ve learned in the last month of renovating a building could fill a few volumes, but have certainly demanded a good bit of my time. Usually, I’m pretty good at managing my time. But lately, the art of laziness is calling, and I’m taking that call. The lazy days of summer will soon spill into the shorter, busier days of the fall wedding and event season, and my colleagues and I won’t come up for air again until shortly before Christmas day. In some ways, I can justify my lazy moods as preparation for the crazy days ahead. But if I’m really honest, really holding that looking glass up to my own self, I would see that deep down I just want to be lazy for just a little while.

With no specific vacation plans this summer, a few minutes or even a whole hour spent

“wasting” time lately feels like a gift. I’m fighting the urge to spend whole days in antique stores or doodling over a coloring book because real life is waiting. I’d love to just get in the car and drive for a while and get lost on some back roads.

To balance it all, I’ve given myself certain periods of the day to be completely lazy, like those early mornings, lunch hours, and pre-bedtime moments. Often, this means that the dishes are not clean when I go to bed, or a load of clothes doesn’t get put into the washer. Those chores will still be there tomorrow. If I never got to those tasks, then I would be getting precariously close to falling into a pool of mindlessness, and my clients and coworkers and family would have reason to be ill with me. But all the chores eventually are taken care of, and in this process I’m learning a bit more about prioritizing. Even my column eventually gets written!

While summer days linger into the summer nights (cue the Grease soundtrack), give yourself a chance to be lazy. Take the scenic route home from work, with the radio blasting. Get lost for 10 minutes (then plug your GPS in and get yourself back on course). Maybe I’ll see you wandering aimlessly in an antique store or perusing the selection of coloring books in our local bookstore. If we make eye contact, just remember that I will get back to my desk eventually, and I know you will too.

Holly Lynch is the owner of The Season Events, a full service catering, event planning, and design company located at 250 Broad Street in Rome.

v3 magazine 13

7

Great Reasons to Choose

RENAISSANCE MARQUIS & THE HARBOR 1. Caring Staff 2. Largest Suites in Northwest Georgia 3. Affordable Rates 4. Innovative Memory Care Program

5. Great Food 6. Great Activities and Life Enrichment Programs 7. VA Benefit Approved

706-295-0014 | 3126 Cedartown Hwy | Rome, GA 30161 | renaissancemarquis.com

14

v3 magazine

A perfect smile starts with a good foundation.

Foundations ORTHODONT ICS The Office of Dr. Jeffrey Crews & Dr. William Bennett

Consultations are always free.

Call us today to schedule yours!

F O U N D AT I O N S O R T H O D O N T I C S We specialize in creating smiles and recognize those that make our community smile.

The Office of Dr. Jeffrey Crews & Dr. William Bennett • 317 Redmond Road NW • Rome, Georgia 30165 • 706-291-2901 foundortho@gmail.com • www.FoundOrtho.com

Bet Ya Bottom Dollar

Cents&Sensibility with J. Bryant Steele

I

was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see another Triple Crown winner. It had been 37 years, after all.

Every few years, there’d be a thoroughbred that would win both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness races, only to fall short in the more grueling Belmont Stakes – three distinct horse races in five weeks that were not created so that we could call a single horse the winner of the Triple Crown. That coronation had a more organic birth: It was coined by sportswriters.

16

v3 magazine

Still, it has a nice ring to it, and it is one of the rarest feats in the sporting world.

Thoroughbreds today are bred and trained to run either shorter races like the Derby or longer races like the Belmont. They’ve become athletic specialists like their human counterparts. So it may well be that American Pharaoh, who won the Belmont on June 6, will be the last Triple Crown winner I’ll see, maybe the only one that my grown children will see.

And that’s fine with me. The mystique of the

Triple Crown is like last Sunday’s casserole: its shelf life has passed.

If this disappoints and you want to assign blame, follow the money. Owners can get richer by winning a few prominent races on tracks their horses were designed for than by winning the Triple Crown. That’s why over recent years you’ve seen more horses that race in the Derby and the Preakness held out of the Belmont ... and, conversely, more horses breaking their maiden in the Belmont.

Then there’s the gambling: a multi- billion-dollar animal in America, and that’s just counting where it’s legal. States that stood religiously (pun intended) against horse racing and pari-mutuel betting have, with an ambiguous moral distinction, legalized state-run lotteries to produce revenue (looking at you, Georgia).

There is reason enough to believe that state-run lotteries have drained interest in pari-mutuel betting.

I have never purchased a lottery ticket. Never will. Because when I went to school, they still taught arithmetic.

But I have bet on the ponies, legally, when I lived outside the Bible Belt. And I would again, given the opportunity.

It was a lot of fun. A consistent group of us would go to the Meadowlands race track in New Jersey occasionally, have dinner and place bets.

You could watch your hopes surge and fade on the back stretch. Horses packed together in full stride, neck and neck. You don’t get that thrill buying a lottery ticket at a filling station.

Besides the excitement, you have better control of your chances at the racetrack. In addition to the printed odds, you can read the handicappers’ notes … how each horse did in its most recent races, whether it’s a “mudder,” etc., and you at least feel like you’re making a more intelligent decision than picking a lottery number based on superstitious, personal trivia.

I once took a date on one of those Meadowlands excursions, a new experience for her. As I was explaining things to her, she noticed that a horse in the first race was listed at 70-to-1 odds.

I remember the rest of the conversation clearly.

“If I bet $10 on this horse, I would win $700?!”

“If the horse wins.”

“Doesn’t it have as good a chance as the others?”

“No.” “Why not?”

“I don’t know why not, but I know there’s a reason that horse is 70-to-1.”

It would be an interesting evening. My date stopped trying to get rich quick after about the fourth race. I, betting conservatively as usual, won about $22. But I’d already spent that amount on my date’s dinner and drinks. When I took her home, she didn’t invite me in.

Using the ATD (actuarial table of dating), which I invented and which takes into account odds, investment, dividends, etc., the evening was a loss for me. See, my date didn’t win anything with her bets, but she got dinner and drinks. I won a modest amount with my bets, but I didn’t even get the thanks that I deserved for buying dinner.

BIZ BITS

I have rather had it with high praise bestowed on low achievers.

There is a movement under way to place Harriet Tubman’s likeness on the $20 bill. The idea will face strong opposition from racists calling themselves historical preservationists, but supporters have legislative proposals in motion in both the U.S. House and Senate.

Tubman was the escaped slave who, in the 19th Century, was a leader of the Underground Railroad that helped dozens of other slaves to freedom; Jackson was our seventh president, best remembered for defeating the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814. He was also a slave owner with a large plantation in Tennessee.

For less-supreme irony: the last time a face on paper money was changed was way back in 1928 when Jackson replaced Grover Cleveland on the $20 bill.

J. Bryant Steele has won awards for business reporting, feature writing and opinion columns, and is based in Rome.

The Obama administration has been working to normalize relations with Cuba, a move that prior administrations have kicked down the road and something that is long overdue. The stumbling block had been how easy it was to portray Fidel Castro as a Communist boogeyman, long after the Soviet Union dissolved and Fidel was ineffectual. Also, Cubans who fled Castro and became American citizens were a vocal and vital minority, especially in Florida general elections.

Being good neighbors and trade partners is going to benefit both nations.

There are a couple of things I’ll never understand (well, more than a couple, but these two things intersect): the appeal of professional wrestling and charisma as discerned by the common masses. Dusty Rhodes, a.k.a. The American Dream, died June 11. His obituary got more ink than some Nobel Laureates.

Somebody should have written this: Dusty Rhodes was not an athlete, despite the several “title belts” he won. He wasn’t even a sophisticated entertainer. Yes, he was quotable, but only because he was inarticulate. He was merely a sideshow, a “contemporary boonswoggler,” to borrow a phrase from Carl Sandburg.

J. Bryant Steele has won awards for business writing, feature writing and opinion columns, and is based in Rome.

Unbelievable Summer Specials! See store for details

The New Way to Buy Cabinets Premium cabinets, low prices.

All-wood cabinets | Custom design & install | Locally owned

30-60% LESS than big-box stores CALL OR VISIT US TODAY! 706-766-3472

249 N. 5th Ave. Rome

www.kb-depot.com

facebook.com/KBDPO

v3 magazine 17

Made in Enjoyed Rome Nationwide

Join our Better Than Bouillon速 Community

www.semills.com

ROOSTERHEAD FLOORING XTRALONG XTRAWIDE XTRAPRECISE available in numerous species and grades

TM

Roosterhead Antique Heart Pine & Brick Inc. Roosterhead specializes in flooring, beams and custom-milled products. www.AntiqueHeartPineFlooring.net 6 Center Street Rome, GA 30165 Roosterhead@bellsouth.net 706-233-9358 v3 magazine 19

BROAD HORIZON If it’s the feeling of SoHo in the South you desire in a home, 206 Broad Street is a property that certainly fits the bill.

TEXT OLIVER ROBBINS P H OTO S D E R E K B E L L

A

rt and architecture are often more satisfying when they knock you over the head, startling the senses with an unexpected jolt. Finding a home cut into the red-rock hillside of Sedona is spectacular, but one would almost expect to find a structure of this sort there, given the nature of its surroundings. Right here in Downtown Rome, Nick and Beth Rogers have managed to create a space that is city-chic, laced with Southern charm and – after ascending the steps at 206 Broad Street – you will never see it coming.

The acrylic handrail leading up the stairs, accented with copper joints, is the first clue to visitors that this loft is like nothing within 10 blocks of its address. The walnut hardwood of the staircase and landing continues onto the floors of a large open living space.

Cheerful voices of their two small children echo off of the 11-foot ceilings, filling the home with life. Surprisingly, there is little background noise, which is enough to get the conversation rolling since their front door is literally steps from the traffic of an afternoon rush.

“There is insulation on both sides of the apartment,” Nick says. “Mark Cochran, an architect here in Rome, bought the building from

Lee’s Furniture. The space was used as one building but legally and technically, it is two.

When Mark bought the property, he started demolition and we came in and bought this section. That’s when we separated it into two buildings. We had to put in a middle wall, that Lee’s had torn out, upstairs and downstairs to separate the spaces.”

The wall that they share with the architect’s office next door is double insulated, ensuring that Owen and Julia, Nick and Beth’s children, will not disturb the office environment of their neighbors when playing.

“We’ve got one layer of sheetrock, a layer of insulation, another layer of sheetrock and then there is a gap,” Nick explains. “Then, there is a frame wall. From there, there are two more layers insulation and sheetrock.”

Although this process was key in helping keep the noise of an active family out of the office next door, Nick and Beth have the added bonus of not being bothered by the often-noisy sidewalks of Downtown Rome.

Three nine-foot, double-paned windows add yet another buffer between the Rogers family and city streets, but still allow for the excitement of living on Broad as well as tons of natural light

v3 magazine 21

of not having enough storage, and now we have too much and can’t fill our cabinets,” Nick laughs.

Perhaps his favorite feature of the kitchen is the Advantium oven, which cuts cooking time by more than half. With busy schedules, it is nice to get lasagna to the table in 20 minutes rather than two hours. A conventional oven is located right underneath, providing the “low and slow” some recipes require.

Around the corner is a lovely powder room.

Using Pinterest as inspiration, Beth was able to track down an old radio console from an antique shop which was transformed into a vanity. The modern bowl design of the sink gives the repurpose a 21st Century makeover, adding style to a once-forgotten piece.

Just past the powder room is a large laundry room where Nick added a special touch to for the Mrs. “We also got Mark Weed to build shelves in our laundry room, and they are made from that flows into their living room. A hip-high glass wall keeps the children and guests from falling into the stairwell while, at the same time, making the modern kitchen-living room layout feel more open.

The Steger and Sons baby grand piano in the corner of the living room is the perfect spot for an impromptu performance while guests gather around with martinis. Opposite this stately accent piece is the mantle; the rustic wooden beam, reclaimed from a barn in Pennsylvania, marries perfectly with what Beth calls “the focal point of the room.”

“We needed something to break up this long, 120-foot wall that stretches almost the length of the apartment, so we got online and found this really great piece,” says Nick, “It is a 63-inch linear fireplace.”

Much like a piece of art, this gas-powered fireplace seems to hover just above the floor and is mounted flush with the wall. Not only is it elegant, it’s also functional.

“This fireplace will heat 2000 square feet,” Nick adds.

In essence, the fireplace could keep the three bedrooms, half bath and three full baths in this 2,400-square-foot loft warm if power was lost on a cold winter day.

Turning toward the rear of the apartment, Julia Rogers is busy tinkering underneath the six-person dining table that acts as a separation to the kitchen. Nick lifts her up and sits her on a massive granite island. The grey, black and white swirls of this center workstation lead the eye to countertops and a backsplash that are given the same treatment. The deep mahogany of the hardwood floors, installed by Mark Weed of Roosterhead Antique Heart Pine and Brick Inc., give the white custom cabinetry a clean line against the wall, while the chrome hardware and

22

v3 magazine

Downtown Rome is a happening place!

When we lived in a house, we had a swing set but my kids always wanted to go to the park and play with other kids. Now, we are closer to the parks and the foot bridge, and they love to go to the fountains. fixtures sprinkle the space with modern touches.

A six-burner, professional grade range is paired with stainless steel appliances, and the family’s soft-close cabinets were designed to maximize storage space.

“Billy Crawford, who works out of Cedartown, custom built and installed all of our cabinets,” Beth says, “and everywhere we could squeeze in a little storage, he was able to add some for us. We built a blind corner underneath the counters just to store all of our [small] appliances, and every drawer was designed to have extra space.”

The clean look of the counters further adds to the big-city style of the loft. “We were afraid

the floor joists we had to remove to build the rear stairwell,” he explains. “We are really trying to integrate as much of the old structure into our design as possible.”

Weed, owner of Roosterhead Antique Heart Pine for 16 years, specializes in using old wood to create flooring, shelving and other wood finishes in homes. “The Roger’s loft has a really unique look. We did a wide plank, rustic-grade walnut floor,” Weed explains. “It has a little more character than normal walnut floors you may see. The larger knots and different grain patterns, paired with the hand scraping we did on the edges of the planks, gives the floor an old-time look you would find in a really old floor.

“All of the touches they selected for the loft work really well with the flooring,” Weed continues, “from the mantle we made using an old barn beam from Pennsylvania, to the almost marble look of their granite counter tops. I think we all were really pleased with how they turned out, and everyone who comes up to the loft always comments on the floors.”

Two bedrooms, each complete with large walk-in closets and full baths, are down the long hallway that runs almost the full length of the property. At the end of the hallway is a cozy retreat that Nick, an agent at Hardy Realty, and Beth, an elementary school teacher, can enjoy after a long day. The master bedroom is open and airy, mostly due to the high ceilings and the placement of four square windows on the back wall.

A large walk-in closet and a master bath that looks as if it were ripped from the screen during one of HGTV’s high-end remodels complement the room. “This is my wife’s soaker tub; she really wanted to add this to our bathroom,” Nick says, flashing a loving smile at his better half. “We also decided to put in a large shower with two shower heads.”

The large glass shower doors and the shiny finishes of the fixtures add elegance to the room.

“And the water pressure on Broad Street is wonderful,” Nick adds. “We can run both shower heads, wash clothes, run the dishwasher, and we still don’t lose pressure. There is nothing like it!”

Porcelain tiles on the master bath’s floor have been designed to look like weathered wood, a truly unique twist on the standard patterns seen in most en suites.

v3 magazine 23

we had a swing set but my kids always wanted to go to the park and play with other kids. Now, we are closer to the parks and the foot bridge, and they love to go to the fountains. We don’t really miss our yard.

“We also really love to travel,” she continues, “so it’s nice to take trips and not worry about the grass being kneehigh when we return.”

When her husband is asked why they chose to relocate downtown, his answer is simple: “Because she wanted to.”

As a real estate agent, Nick would be open to letting someone else take the keys to their trendy Broad Street space.

“I’m always selling,” he says. “We can just find another one and do it again.”

However, son Owen may have a bit of a problem with moving elsewhere if he can’t walk to Honeymoon Bakery with dad to grab an ice cream – one of the little guy’s favorite things to do on Broad. V VV The exposed brick walls, integrated sound system throughout the loft (which, by the way, can be remotely controlled with their cell phones), and an old fire door – now used as an artistic nod to the past – are but a few of the other elements that add charm to this home.

But Beth says their decision to move downtown was inspired by much more than the walls of this refurbished historic building.

“This move was like an adventure for us,” she says. “Even though I don’t see us living here for the rest of our lives, it’s nice to live where everything is going on. Downtown Rome is a happening place! When we lived in a house,

24

v3 magazine

Gordon Hospital was honored with an “A” grade in the Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries, and infections. The Hospital Safety Score is compiled under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts on patient safety and is administered by The Leapfrog Group (Leapfrog), an independent industry watchdog. More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals were assigned scores in the latest ratings with about 31-percent receiving an “A” grade. We are proud to be part of this 31-percent and of the work that our physicians and staff do daily for our patients and their families.

STRAIGHT A’S

A SINCE 2012

HOSPITAL SAFETY SCORE SM

www.gordonhospital.com v3 magazine 25

SINGING her praises A community gathered to celebrate life with song and, in turn, inspired a soul to sing.

T E X T LO U I S S P I VA K P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F S TAC Y B O D E

A

fternoons thick with grease, grins and guitars denote the “pickin’ ‘n’ grinnin’” gatherings dearly recalled by a now mezzo-soprano talent. Somewhere between Armuchee and Rome, in Floyd County’s “Pocket,” Jamie Barton ate fried chicken with cousins and pestered older relatives who lovingly tolerated the younger generations.

Along with the sticky palms and food-freckled faces, fingers picked the tricky riffs to bluegrass classics that entertained all, regardless of age. These banjos, fiddles and mandolins, accompanied by the choral arrangement of southern accents celebrating the sunshine, inspired the young Barton. Instead of a classical education designed to stimulate high culture aspirations, this operatic voice discovered her fondness for the community of music making in country coves.

Celebrated for her personality and her performance, Jamie Barton is an opera star raised in the arms of the Appalachian Mountains. The mesmerizing resound of her Floyd County-bred, Mozart-inspired voice has placed her as the winner of the Metropolitan Opera National

Council Auditions, the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition and the Richard Tucker Award. This success, however, has not separated Barton from her roots or detracted from her personable disposition. Quite the contrary, in September, she will return to the DeSoto Theatre for a benefit concert supporting the restoration of this historic community center for the arts.

Despite the richness of her vocal ability and her international acclaim, Jamie Barton was not born into socioeconomic affluence. “I grew up in Armuchee, but actually not even really in Armuchee,” she says. “I grew up in an area of Floyd County known as The Pocket. My brother and I were the kids furthest away from our school. Heck, we were probably the kids the furthest away from any school.”

Although her family was not wealthy, Barton’s childhood was rich with community and abundant with familial love.

“Every once in awhile, my extended family would get together at my great aunt’s place, which was just across the road, and we’d have a pickin’ ‘n’ grinnin’,” Barton recalls. These gatherings, community-wide potlucks with bluegrass on the side, nurtured her passion for music and

the social congregation it fosters. “I remember preparing for these celebrations when I was 7, 8 and 9 years old because they only came every once and awhile. For me, the music was everything.”

And while her family had little interest in operatic arias and overtures, Barton nonetheless credits her musical passion to her upbringing on the back roads of Floyd County. “My parents were very much into classic rock,” Barton says.

“My dad played guitar and cousins of mine played the mandolin and the banjo. No one in my family thought about opera. No one really listened to classical music at all.” With a fond chuckle at the recollection, she adds, “I was that random, lone teenager having my teenage rebellion by listening to classical music and dreaming of leaving the farm. It’s a little hilarious, I think, that my version of acting out was choosing opera over bluegrass.”

However, Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe were not the only muses in the musical maturation of young Barton. “The DeSoto was the first theater – and really the only theater – I experienced as a child. I remember taking a field trip in elementary school to see a performance of “Pinocchio.”

v3 magazine 27

The DeSoto was the first theater – and really the only theater – I experienced as a child.

I remember taking a field trip in elementary school to see a performance of “Pinocchio.”

It enthralled me It enthralled me,” Barton recalls. This initial encounter with banjo-absent art inspired her foray into stage performance, a pivotal moment that would direct her development through high school, her education in college and her success as young professional.

As her high school career and the associated antics ended, Barton did not abandon her passion for classical performance as she aspired to enroll at the elite centers for musical education.

“Quite honestly,” Barton confesses, “I wanted to go somewhere like The Juilliard School, anywhere but Rome. However, my parents sat me down and explained that there are two colleges in Rome that have music departments, and I could choose between them.”

While the local relocation may have initially have discouraged Barton, she soon recognized the blessing she would find in professor Brian Horne. While at Shorter College as an undergraduate student and, later, at Indiana University for graduate studies, Barton relied on Horne as a vocal mentor. Horne, a former professor at Shorter and current faculty member at Indiana, and his wife, Kimberly, have known Barton since the opera star was in middle school. He recalls his early connection with the budding talent, “My wife had been hired to be the choir director for Armuchee Middle School, and Jamie was in her middle school choir. Because Jamie was so into music, she hung around my wife a lot, and we stayed in touch throughout her high school years.”

28

v3 magazine

This partnership of professor and pupil sharpened Barton’s talent, challenging her to pursue her gift and not accept average. “She didn’t always pay attention to her practicing and to her grades the way that she should,” Horne recalls. “She got distracted with other things as many people do when they first come to college, so I had to sit her down at one point and tell her that she wasn’t really being fair to me, or to her parents, or to her talent. I told her I could not guarantee that if you work as hard as you can you’re going to have a career, but I could guarantee that if you don’t work hard, you won’t have a career in music, and you might as well quit now.”

From Barton’s perspective, this call to action only furthered her respect for Horne. “He was the one who was responsible for starting me out,” she says. “He was the one who was responsible for making sure my voice was going in a healthy direction. He pushed me and I grew.” Their relationship did not cease with the conclusion of her collegiate studies because, to Barton, Horne and his wife are second parents, a musical mother and father, so to speak. “They are part of my life and always will be,” she says.

As Barton’s career scaled new vocal ranges, the relationship with the Hornes continued.

Visiting her after her semifinal victory at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Horne noticed something special about Barton’s character in her dealings with others.

“She walked me back to the dressing room,

and every step of the way, there were security guards or ushers who she addressed by name,” he recalls. “She had just won and yet she was just as down to earth as she could be.”

It is this authentic personality in concert with her voice that leads Barton back down country roads in September as she hosts a benefit concert for the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation. “The foundation believes in not just saving the theater, not just fixing the walls and making the sure roof doesn’t leak,” says Chris Jackson, president of the organization and a litigator at McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning. “We also want to restore it as the showplace and the palace that it deserves to be and that Rome deserves to have.”

Heralded as the “Jewel of Broad Street” after its debut in 1929, the DeSoto Theatre has served the community as a hub for culture and a center for entertainment. As with any structure, memories created equals maintenance required. Now, 80 years after first opening doors and raising curtains, the theater, thanks to the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation and other partners, is an active restoration site.

A passionate advocate for the DeSoto, Jackson is thrilled by her willingness to contribute.

“The New York Times just said she won the ‘Heisman Trophy’ of the Opera World, and she grew up here!” Jackson beams. “What could be better for the youth of Floyd County than to see someone who had a dream, who worked at it and turned her passion into reality? And not just in a small way!”

With fond recollections of hours spent on stage and in the seats, Barton calls the DeSoto as a special part of the community with a rich history. “From its silent movie days to its role as a community theater, it’s a venue for displaying the creative and artistic sides of the community,” she says.

From The Pocket to Carnegie Hall, Jamie Barton is an enigma of the opera. Not because she cloaks herself in the theater décor, but because of her truthful presentation of self and of voice, with her vocal capacity only exceeded by her passion for the people.

“When she was in Indiana and when she traveling elsewhere, she wanted to go back to Rome and she wanted to have her nana’s vegetable soup,” Horne says with pride and admiration.

“For Jamie, it’s the red earth of Georgia that gives her strength, and she’ll always be coming back home.” V VV

To learn more about Jamie Barton, visit jamiebartonmezzo. com. To support the restoration of the DeSoto Theatre and find out more information about the Jamie Barton concert, visit romelittletheater.wordpress.com.

Service....because every life is worth honoring.

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

Joe Paul Henderson (1919-2008)

www.hendersonandsons.com North Chapel and Crematory 4900 Martha Berry Hwy Rome, GA 30165 (706) 291-9855

South Chapel 3002 Maple Road Rome, GA 30161 (706) 234-5302

Rome Memorial Park Cemetery 2446 Cedartown Hwy Rome, GA 30161 (706) 290-0990

v3 magazine 29

30

v3 magazine

A Great

ESCAPE

Cancel the vacay and open the shades, because Andrew Wardlaw and his crew of landscaping professionals are creating stress- melting getaways just outside your door.

TEXT IAN GRIFFIN P H OTO S D E R E K B E L L

v3 magazine 31

F

or most, playing in the dirt is something you did as a child. Be it in a sandbox, mud puddle or while burying your GI Joes (or your sister’s Barbie dolls) in a shallow grave, boys enjoy getting a little grime under their fingernails. For Andrew Wardlaw of ACW Landscapes, this love of dirt never subsided, and based on his current resume of landscapes and hardscapes, that’s a victory for residents of Floyd County and the surrounding areas.

As soon as he was old enough to push a mower, it was Andrew’s responsibility to mow the lawn. At the age of 15, he began working for Jerry Jones at D&J Lawncare doing whatever grunt work he could get to put a few coins in his pocket. For the next six years, he absorbed every ounce of knowledge he could via handson experience with equipment, installation and maintenance. At the ripe age of 21, he began his own business.

“I was fortunate to work for someone who not only showed me the ropes, but let me continue to work while I established my own accounts,” says Wardlaw. “I started with a couple of yards on the weekends and grew to 15 accounts in no time. It was enough for me to go on my own completely, so I turned in my notice and focused

32

v3 magazine

on ACW full time. That was in 2003 and the majority of those clients are still with me today.”

The entrepreneurial spirit was strong in the Wardlaw family with both of Andrew’s parents owning small businesses. So, this was a natural next step for Andrew. And while it might have happened at a young age, he was meant to walk this path.

“I never wanted to work in a corporate setting,” says Wardlaw. “You can contribute a lot to the world from that side of business, but I always felt I could do more by running my own business, and ACW has allowed me to do just that.”

What started with a rag-tag Ford Ranger, a push mower, weed eater and a few backpack blowers has grown to a three-crew (two maintenance, one installation), 102-yard power player in the landscape scene of Northwest Georgia.

From cutting grass to installing patios, ACW Landscapes is equipped with the know-how and tools to turn a back yard you “put up with” to a staycation destination you won’t want to leave.

“No yard is too big or too small,” says Wardlaw. “We pride ourselves on keeping our price points consistent – regardless of the neighborhood – and guarantee the quality of our work.

If an ACW client isn’t pleased with every detail

of the job we’ve done, then we come back and fix at no additional charge.”

While the business continues to grow on all fronts, hardscapes are an aspect of ACW’s services that have seen substantial growth in the last few years. Pool decks, patios, pergolas, retaining walls and outdoor lighting are all areas of expertise, so turning your outdoor area into

a space to enjoy and entertain is just a phone call away.

The first step in that process is a consultation and design rendering, which is based on a survey of the property and discussion about the scope of work you want done. From there, clients receive a 3-D rendering and pricing so they can choose which aspects of the design they want ACW to execute. The end result is a lot more time spent outside.

“Installing hardscapes is my favorite aspect of the business,” says Wardlaw. “We have completed some huge installs recently, and transforming people’s yard into a work of art is the most satisfying feeling you can achieve

right down to the name. Not only is ACW a play on Andrews initials, but the letters also stand for “A Christ-Centered Workplace.”

“I am a devout Christian and my beliefs play a role in every decision I make,” says Wardlaw.

“A good business puts the client first and we certainly do that, but knowing that every task you take on serves a greater purpose pushes you to go the extra mile each and every time.

Everyone on our crew understands why we do what we do, and I think that focus shines through in our work.”

It’s this ethos that leads ACW to mow the lawn of a home left unattended or build a handicap ramp for someone in need. In fact, in

A good business puts the client first and we certainly do that, but knowing that every task you take on serves a greater purpose pushes you to go the extra mile each and every time.

in my business. It’s something our clients will enjoy with their families for years and to have a hand in that is priceless.”

Family is something that’s important at ACW. Andrew and his wife, Beth, have three children – two of whom they were blessed to adopt – and it’s important to him that his business represents the message he sends to his family as a father and husband. The man who first put Andrew behind a mower, David Wardlaw, also works side by side with his son on a daily basis, making ACW a true family business.

Andrew’s mother and father raised him in a Christian household, and these values are interwoven into every aspect of his company,

addition to helping the people in need he sees in passing, he often seeks out volunteer projects for his crews.

ACW’s attention to detail and faith-focused business plan are complemented by their follow through. With a state-of-the-art scheduling system, Wardlaw’s crews know when and where they need to be without having to think twice. All the information they need to complete the day’s tasks are automatically updated throughout the week, leaving clients satisfied with their service.

While the yard of your dreams may seem light years away, ACW Landscapes can work with your budget to create an outdoor living space you can be proud of or to simply keep

your lawn in pristine condition so that you don’t have to lift a finger. Regardless of your needs, Wardlaw encourages anyone unhappy with their current lawn care service – or ready to take yard work off their personal to-do list – to give him a call.

“All I want is the opportunity to present myself and what ACW Landscapes can offer to anyone willing to give us a chance,” he says.

“Once they see our work, they’ll be glad that they did.” V VV

Contact ACW Landscapes at 706-506-5618 or visit www.acwlandscapes.com v3 magazine 33

GENERAL STORE 222 Broad St, Rome, Georgia 706-331-2072 GoatsGeneralStore@gmail.com Goat’s General Store

34

v3 magazine

W

ho knew that weekly road trips to Athens, Ga., to watch the Dawgs chew up opponents would lead to a country-style general store in Downtown Rome?

Mike Elliot – lovingly referred to by anyone who has taken a stroll along Broad Street as “Goat” – sees this unique addition to downtown as a response to the growing number residential properties filling with tenants.

“My attorney and I noticed a store in Downton Athens while in town for a football game,” he says. “It was a little general store, and they had drinks, snacks, household supplies, and alcohol was sold in the back. We both thought, ‘Wow! Something like this would be great for Rome!’ and after planning it out for about two years, I decided to give it a try.”

Open since July of 2014, Goat’s General Store features much more than odd and ends.

“We’ve made this space one that is inviting to all ages. Not only do we have drinks, snacks and groceries,” he explains, “but we’ve added an arcade and a DJ who plays in the rear of the store on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.”

With each night designated to different types of music, Goat hopes to accommodate music lovers with a wide range of styles. “We have dance music on Fridays and oldies on Saturdays. Thursday nights are going to be our college nights and Wednesday nights will be for ladies,” he adds. “This is a night for ladies to come and enjoy an evening out with their friends.”

Animal AV DJs provides the music, which is coupled with comfy leather couches and party lights to set the mood. For those Romans who enjoy live music, Monday

“We have dance music on Fridays and oldies on Saturdays. Thursday nights are going to be our college nights and Wednesday nights will be for ladies” nights are reserved for Scott Warren and his soul-inspired lyrics over acoustic guitar. Karaoke and trivia are available upon request, further expanding entertainment options for those who book the space that Goat calls “The Barn” for get-togethers.

Eagle Rock Distributing stocks his coolers with the latest brews for his guests to take home, and soon he will be able to fill beer mugs on site. The big screen TV, hanging high on the wall in The Barn, will be put to good use this football season as Goat plans to pair snacks provided by local downtown eateries with cold beers for the big game.

“Last year, we had seasonal items like Christmas trees, and that went over really well,” Goat smiles. “We are going to try and bring those items and more to the folks who live on Broad Street.”

The big screen TV, hanging high on the wall in The Barn, will be put to good use this football season as Goat plans to pair snacks provided by local downtown eateries with cold beers for the big game.

The self-proclaimed “Mayor of Broad Street” does not meet a stranger. His kind smile and charming conversation pairs perfectly with the philosophy behind his business. “I love talking with people who are walking by, and it just seemed natural to provide a place to help them out,” Goat says. “If they want to cool off with a drink or play a game of checkers in the front, it’s just fine by me. I just like to see folks happy.”

v3 magazine 35

What's all the

RACQUET? With the back-and-forth associated with growing up, Teach Me Tennis helps kids to keep the ball in the court of fair play and healthy competition.

T E X T LO U I S S P I VA K P H OTO S D E R E K B E L L OT H E R P H OTO S C O U R T E S Y O F T E AC H M E T E N N I S 36

v3 magazine

By hosting a competition as a culmination of the tennis learning process, the Teach Me Tennis team can celebrate with their pupils and showcase their new talent to parents and educators, while also reinforcing the championed ideals.

“There are ways to foster competition in kids – teaching them to respect each other and believe in themselves,” Selle says. “So, the whole process of Teach Me Tennis ends with a tournament, allowing the kids and their schools to compete.”

Spring semester of 2015 marked the launch of the program at Floyd County Schools.

“We had a school sign-up deadline for Teach Me Tennis, and five days before this deadline, we had about 15 kids signed up,” recalls Selle.

“We all thought, ‘This is really not going to work.’

Two days before the deadline, 40 kids had signed up. The day before, we had 90.”

S

un visors and country clubs no longer monopolize the clay courts or limit access to the premiere racquet sport, at least not in Floyd County. Often stigmatized and associated with Ivy League trust funds, mansions on Martha’s Vineyard and poolside tuxedoed waiters, tennis has found a grassroots home in Rome through the community of Teach Me Tennis. By equipping local schools with the racquets and resources to teach elementary students, this local organization aims to connect kids with this lifelong sport, whether they are the next Andre Agassi or a future Saturday afternoon doubles athlete.

With Floyd County already well supplied with courts at the Rome Tennis Center and the Rome Tennis Center of Georgia at Berry College facilities on the horizon, Teach Me Tennis sees an empty field with 15,000 prospective players waiting to lace up their sneakers, cross into the white lines and discover their racquet. Behind this vision is the leadership of JP Selle, Christian Lopez and David Araiza, coaches who believe the sport creates community. More than topspin lobs and crosscourt backhands, their passion is for serving Floyd County through the philosophy of tennis.

A native of Chile with a heart for the sport as deep as his accent, Selle is the tennis director at Coosa Country Club. His lifelong tennis journey is not the product of a weekend hobby, but springs from a personal creed of constant improvement.

“In order to succeed at tennis, you have to put in a lot of effort,” he says. “It’s not a freebie, and even if you were born with natural talent, if you don’t work hard, you won’t excel. Tennis has shown me over time that in anything I do, I need to invest effort.”

After competing in the Junior Davis Cup as a junior athlete and departing his homeland for

higher education at Shorter University and Berry College, Selle is a testament to his own wisdom.

“If kids take hold of this value, the community will grow,” he says. “In our society, we need young people to learn sportsmanship, to respect each other and learn how to compete in a healthy environment. By just touching a racquet and a ball, we are giving them the opportunity to embrace those values for the rest of their life.”

For Selle and the team, the big win is enabling each student to have his or her own racquet, take it home and be able to play – whether it’s against the garage door or on a court with friends. Because partnership with physical education teachers is vital to the program, they even designed the lessons to easily integrate with the school system’s P.E. curriculum and calendar.

“Our program is step-by-step, lesson-by-lesson,” Selle says. “We bring the kids from never having picked up a racquet to competing in a tournament in six weeks.”

When the first session began, 140 students had signed up to don a T-shirt, swing a racquet and commence the rousing journey as a beginner.

An advocate of the organization from its inception and a believer in the lifelong benefits of tennis, Suzanne Clonts, director of federal programs for Floyd County Schools, says that spring semester was a victory for the youth, for the educators and for Teach Me Tennis.

v3 magazine 37

In our society, we need young people to learn sportsmanship, to respect each other and learn how to compete in a healthy environment. By just touching a racquet and a ball, we are giving them the opportunity to embrace those values for the rest of their life. “[JP] wanted to specifically speak to the elementary school principles because we knew where we needed to start,” explains Clonts. “I was able to help them get their foot in the door at the schools. I went to Dr. McDaniel, our superintendent, and I explained that this is absolutely outstanding for everybody. It gives our P.E. teachers another tool for teaching and it’s an opportunity to introduce kids to tennis.”

Because the Board of Education had confidence in Teach Me Tennis, the schools and over 15,000 elementary students will witness the program’s impact.

“I heard one from one mom that her son had forgotten his racquet that morning,” says Sam Couch, P.E. teacher at Johnson Elementary. “She called me in a panic because the kid was always

so excited every Wednesday for tennis lessons.

She said he always was asking, ‘Is tomorrow Wednesday? Is tomorrow tennis day?’”

Clonts adds that students are already looking forward to next year. “They’re going to be asking their friends, ‘Has your mom signed you up for

Stand Up Paddleboard SaleS, rentalS, and leSSonS Kayak rentalS - Gear - Surf Style apparel SUP Yoga & FitneSS - Doggie goodS & Good TimeS

More Than a lifeStyle www.riverdogpaddleCo.Com

5 Broad Street rome, ga 30161 706. 512. 5107

38

v3 magazine

Connie & Mike SamS owner & Co-founder mike@riverdogpaddleco.com Connie@riverdogpaddleco.com

the tennis program?’” she says. “Who’s to say that I don’t have the next tremendous athlete here in Rome, but nobody has put a racquet in their hand yet?”

The founders of Teach Me Tennis say they are grateful to their employers for supporting their vision and to the schools for embracing it. “Coosa Country Club allows me, Parks & Rec allows David, and Rome Tennis Academy allows Christian to put our time and our effort into this,” Selle says. “We were able to put this plan into action thanks to Suzanne Clonts, to Superintendent Daniels and all the principals.”

As for the future, Selle hopes that community support for Teach Me Tennis will continue to grow.

“If I want to give a kid a tennis racquet and I want to train the teachers or coaches to help these kids, and we want to coordinate the entire program, it takes a lot of time, effort, and money,” he says. “The program depends on local donors as well as commitment from parents. We are currently pursuing a non-profit status because if we can receive community support, we will be reaching way more than 140 kids.”

Not every tennis player walks across the Wimbledon turf, and every kid returning a serve won’t necessarily leave a legacy worthy of John McEnroe. But for Teach Me Tennis, the goal is not to produce Grand Slam champions. The vision – the dream – is to connect local youth with a sport that can change the game of life entirely. VVV

To learn more about Teach Me Tennis, contact JP Selle or Suzanne Clonts at sclonts@floydboe.net

v3 magazine 39

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

Karen

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.

Learn more about heart symptoms or tell us your story at

MyRedmondStory.com 501 Redmond Rd NW, Rome, GA 30165 40

v3 magazine

•

(706) 291-0291

•

RedmondRegional.com

SUSHI , GR ILL & CATER ING

Georgia's Best Sushi & Hibachi

727 Turner Mccall Blvd, Rome, GA

(706)-232-3317

Get focused.

Get hired.

Apply Now!

GNTC provides you with the hands-on education needed to help you get hired.

• Day, Evening, and Online Classes • Financial Aid for Qualified Students • Locations: Rome, GA; Calhoun, GA; Rockmart, GA; Rock Spring, GA; Dalton, GA

www.GNTC.edu

TOLL FREE: 1.866.983.4682

• Over 200 Programs of Study • • • • • • •

Business Health Industrial Public Service Degrees Diplomas Certificates

GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institute.

v3 magazine 41

STRAIGHT TO THE

Luke Allmon, Jedd Lovel

POINT

Counterpoint Music and Arts Festival has come and gone, and for those who missed the show, V3 offers a look inside the get-down at “The Downs”.

T E X T E R I N D E M E S Q U I TA P H OTO S D E R E K B E L L A N D CA M E R O N F L A I S C H

42

v3 magazine

the haze of the night sky and interjected in a linear dance, matching the pulsing vibrations in the rib cage.

Saturday brought the reign of The Point stage with a full afternoon of dancing in the sun, playing on the lawn and straight jamming out.

Galactic and Rebelution kept the hula hoops spinning and the bubbles blowing through the sunset of a summer night until the time arrived for Georgia’s own Widespread Panic; lights rose with the sounds and flags waved as each individual fan found their own personal movement to match the melody. There’s never a dull moment when you get the opportunity to watch how people are affected by music.

D

ust-covered toes and paint-dipped limbs, high-flying flags and low-rolling hoops; a place where rhythm and tempo are royals, confetti fills the air, light shows paint the crowd, and self-expression is anything but discouraged. If you didn’t make it to Kingston Downs this year on Memorial Day weekend to absorb CounterPoint Music and Arts Festival for yourself, allow V3 to lend you a little insight. Close your eyes a moment and take this in.

Tip your head back and raise your fingertips toward the purity of vivacious blue skies so wide with unrestraint that your senses heighten and gently twinge; for a moment, you forget mortality as the golden summer sun wraps you in its remedial warmth.

Bring your gaze down to take a look around you. Smiles stretch so wide they seem audible.

Vivid colors balance on the breeze and the music … the music is the lifeblood of this superorganism.

This is just a little snippet of a three-day celebration that lures music and arts appreciators from all over the globe. CounterPoint (CP) 2015 dawned its second installation at Kingston Downs on Friday, May 22; gates opened and ushered in thousands of campers, glampers and day trippers. License plates from Delaware, Michigan, California and Florida – just to name a few – found homes in organized rows. Colorful folks from all walks were adorned with armbands for admission and set loose onto the transformed site – a horse track turned music

fest (well done, MCP Presents!) For the next three days, whether in tent city or an RV haven, we were home.

Friday presented all Romans in attendance the opportunity to smile upon some familiar faces as local band, Jerry on the Moon (see V3 June 2015 issue), kicked off the evening festivities at the Underground Stage. Being that CP’s roots are in electronic dance music (EDM), JOTM’s funk-infused jam is a perfect example of the lineup diversity that the festival has begun to explore. Friday may have been the first day, but CP didn’t skimp on the music. From 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., a steady flow of sound filled the air as more and more festivalgoers arrived with fierce energy and full hearts.

The crowds gathered around the three stages and grooved into the night with Friday headliners like Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, a band that opens new portals in the cosmic melodies of The Grateful Dead. Paying tribute to the beats that bring the kids out to play, CP featured the Australian EDM duo, Knife Party, at the Steeple Stage; red, green, and purple light beams cut

v3 magazine 43

With a rough estimate of 15,000 people per day swarming the gates, CP followers and first-timers, took positive notice of their surroundings on the way in.

A first-time attendee from North Carolina initially thought, to her dismay, that CP 2015 was to be held in a larger city and was pleasantly surprised upon arrival. “I like it out here,” she says. “I had never been to Rome and this is a really nice, secluded area...when we drove 14 miles off the interstate, I got really excited.”

A slow-moving Sunday afternoon was awakened by the sounds from the Underground and Steeple Stages. The multifarious modulation of EOTO on the Steeple Stage brought all elements of diverse musicianship together into one completely improvised set. Creating an eclectic blend of EDM stylings and live instruments and vocals, they hit the stage with an act that forages deep into the possibilities of sound, plucking new fragments and creating on the fly.

Grammy Award-winning hip-hop crew The Roots blasted Sunday evening ears with funk, jazz and neo soul, causing contagious energy that sent oversized beach balls sailing through the air and bouncing across the crowd. A personal highlight of the set was watching the guys construct a shuffling choreography reminiscent of Motown stage flair.

The weather this Memorial Day weekend could not have been a better pairing with the yard games, yoga workshops and mid-day dancing.

Constant play and engagement opportunities in the campgrounds included games like volleyball, yard darts and water balloon dodgeball. Throughout the day, the eclectic crew of festival cats could stop in at the campground headquarters to find a little inner peace with meditation, yoga, and even partner Thai massage with Rome’s own Healing Arts Center owner and operator Beth Novian Hughes.

MCP Presents has made sure that CP offers

Everybody’s friendly, no one’s mean, no one’s rude. Everyone gets along; it’s like a family.

44

v3 magazine

every outlet possible for festivalgoers to exercise whatever method of enjoyment they choose – escape and explore, observe or dive in, dance it up or take a load off. Either way, the experience is ours and the pleasure is all theirs.

While the activities and the music make the scene, CP attendees can’t help but attribute the easy-going atmosphere to the myriad of souls

that swarm the green hills and soak up the moment. It’s not uncommon that you leave CP with a handful of new friends that you’ll never forget.

“The atmosphere is awesome,” says a returning CP patron from Norcross, Ga. “Everybody’s friendly, no one’s mean, no one’s rude. Everyone gets along; it’s like a family.”

As we lounged on the grass, the words he

had just spoken became reality right before us as we laughed and got to know each other. Aside from good vibes and auspicious folks, my new friends from Norcross and Dunwoody rattled out a few of their other favorite CP features that included the Silent Disco, a twist on perspective where the crowd dons headphones and the artist (usually EDM) performs on stage while

the audience bounces to the intimate surge of sound waves channeling directly down their auditory canal.

The ferris wheel was the other favorite; they’d been on it for hours, they said. Lighting up in orange, red and purple against the night sky, the ferris wheel carried you high to hover over the entire CP scape, adding yet another perspective

v3 magazine 45

of an environment that consistently awakens and challenges the senses and, in this case, the equilibrium.

If there is any message to relay from my CP experience, it’s this: immerse yourself in the crowd; allow the lights, sounds and energies to lift and amaze you. Don’t forget for a moment what it is that you’re a part of – a culture comprised of many gathered into one breathing, dancing, progressive movement, living for light and love. It’s all just land without these people – they make the experience; they are the experience.

When Umphrey’s McGee closed out the Underground Stage on Sunday night, they played for one big family filled with tentmates, neighbors, friends and soulmates. Against the backdrop of Umphrey’s rolling symbols, funk rock guitar and mesmerizing light show, CP had one last dance for 2015.

While the crystalline lights dripped from the trees, the color-changing glow of the letters on the hill – “COUNTERPOINT” – oversaw the beauty of diversity, vivacity, love and total liberation.

We could all use a daily dose of CounterPoint-style stimulation … but until next year, friends. V VV

46

v3 magazine

Coosa Valley Home Health Care, an Amedisys company, is in the business of helping our patients maintain and improve their quality of life-at home. Home is the place where family, friends and familiar surroundings make patients feel most comfortable - and recover faster.

With more than two decades of experience in the health care industry, we understand the importance of delivering high-quality services to patients in their homes. Choose Coosa Valley for all your home care needs.

The Dish 100 Covered Bridge Road Euharlee, GA

PH: 700-383-3383 www.johnnymitchells.com Open everyday from 11am-9pm Johnny Mitchell’s has hand-cut steaks, fesh 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!

www.wowcafe.com/rome

2817 Martha Berry Highway Rome, GA 30165

PH: 706.291.8969

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!

www.schroedersnewdeli.com 406 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

300 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-234-4613

PH: 706-235-0030 www.partridgerestaurant.com

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

Hours: Mon-Sat: 11:00am-8:30pm

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

Sun: 11:00am-4:30pm

It’s the best in town... Ain’t nothin’

The Partridge Restaurant is like stepping back in time when families gathered at the table with real plates and silverware. Each group of patrons are seated at their individual table and served family-style.

mellow about it! (Draft and Bottled

With our variety of meats and

Beers also offered) Famous for:

vegetables, you are bound to find a delicious dining experience with every visit!

Schroeder’s menu includes sandwiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato skins, nachos, wings, and more. And don’t forget our pizza!

Their Roast Beef Relief!

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

PH: 706-233-9960 Hours: Sun -Thu: 11:00am-9:00pm

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

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.

www.lascalaromega.com 413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161

PH: 706-238-9000 Hours: Mon - Sat: 6:00pm-10:00pm 400 Block Bar & Lounge: 4:00pm-1:30am 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.

3401 Martha Berry Hwy Rome, GA 30165

PH: 706-291-1881 Hours: Sun -Thu: 11:00am-10:00pm

Fri - Sat: 11:00am-11:00pm Dine in, Take out, or delivery...

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 47

67th Annual

COOSA VALLEY

FAIR O C TOBER 6 – O c tober 10, 2015

Family Fun at the Fair

Watch our website for contests COMING - WADE SHOW, INC. RIDES Like Coosa Valley Fair on Facebook www.coosavalleyfair.com SPONSORED BY THE EXCHANGE CLUB OF ROME

48

v3 magazine