October 2012

Northwest Georgia’s Premier Feature Reader / october 20122012

swamp THINGS

M AG A Z I N E

Down and dirty with the

7 HILLS 3 RIVERS ADVENTURE RACE

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OFFICIAL ENERGY PARTNER OF WEATHERING THE STORM. Even when things look their darkest, Georgia Power is always working to keep the lights on.

When the skies turn ugly, there’s nothing more beautiful than seeing the men and women with the red triangle on their helmets working along your street. Georgia Power is more than a company. We’re 8,300 of your friends and neighbors, dedicated to keeping your home running, rain or shine. It’s just one way we strive to be the official energy partner of you.

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©2011 Georgia Power

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V MAG 2012 AZINE.COMOCT

FeatureS+FACES 16+WHILE you were sleepinG RIFF + FIRST FRIDAY BLOCK PARTY + ROME BEER FEST + 7 HILLS 3 rivers adventure race

24 Rip, the red-nosed reindeer

THe peddler's rip montgomery & curt burch tell us why they're chomping at the sleigh bit to service christmas shoppers

32 waiting to exhale

leigh whittenburg callan simply couldn't stand the pressure waiting for R.J. Fricks designer carol youd's big "reveal", so she up and bolted

42 indie'r than you

all the cast & crew of the critically acclaimed indie film, tears of bankers, did to make it to the big apple was huddle together and say, "hey Bros, We're making a movie."

pg.

columns+opinions 16 cents+sensibility

While in New York City last month for a screening of the highly praised indie film he helped make a reality, contributor Allen Bell (see "Broad Street Bullies", pg. 42) made sure to stop by the site of the majestic new Freedom Tower that rises from the ashes of the former Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Above is a shot that no doubt makes us all proud.

warning: in this month's column, etiquette expert holly lynch relays some outrageous pregnancy stories so incomprehensible that your head may well explode

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j. bryant steele buses the b.s. offsite with regard to georgia's proposed Charter school amendment

38 trends+traditions 49 take on health

dr. Benjamin jessie of the harbin clinic Determines whether or not any you fellas will make the cut as a good candidate for vasectomy

e

veryone has at least one month on the calendar during which they are overwhelmed with birthdays, anniversaries, and other varied celebrations. And while you’d think it safe to say that December takes the prize for most, October certainly takes the cake at the Griffin household.

My wife and I were married in the month of October (Happy anniversary, dear); our mothers’ birthdays are on the 18th and 19th, respectively (Happy birthday, moms); my wife’s sister and two aunts all celebrate birthdays this month.

Needless to say, there’s cause for celebration at every turn. Tack on fall break for Floyd County Schools atop Halloween, and it’s a fast-break for November from the first to the 31st.

Sure, there is a good deal of stress that Managing Partner/ arrives with this busy hubbub, but it’s Chief of Advertising usually a lot of fun as well. I am a particular sucker for watching my kids get

Ian Griffin

publishers’ note

all geared up to go trick-or-treating, and while most sitcom husbands do little but complain about the in-laws, I enjoy mine quite thoroughly, so the extra time spent with them isn’t a bad thing at all.

It’s just so easy to get caught up in where you have to be and whom you have to see— so easy that stopping to smell the roses is an afterthought until your head hits the pillow at night.

In turn, my personal goal during the busiest month of my 2012 is to make sure and Creative Partner/ take the time to smell those roses. If you Editor-in-Chief keep putting it off until tomorrow or your next deadline, eventually you’ll find you never got around to it, and remembering to appreciate the blessed lives that we live and the people that make them so special is something each one of us should do more often.

As always, we here at V3 appreciate the thousands of you who make our magazine a part of your lives each month. Happy October and God bless.

Neal Howard

Ian Griffin, Managing Partner

M AG A Z I N E Northwest Georgia’s Premier Feature Reader / october 20122222

swamp THINGS

M AG A Z I N E

Down and dirty with the

7 HILLS 3 RIVERS ADVENTURE RACE

$4.00

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + PRODUCTION MANAGER + ART&DESIGN neal howard STAFF WRITERS bryant steele, holly lynch, nicole nesmith, luke chaffin, mandy loorham PHOTOGRAPHY derek bell, MFA 706.936.0407 CHIEF OF ADVERTISING + OFFICE MANAGER/SALES DIRECTOR ian griffin AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS chris forino, shadae yancey-warren AD DESIGN + CREATIVE ENGINEERING ellie barromeo PUBLISHER v3 publications, llc CONTACT one west fourth avenue, rome, ga 30161 phone: 706.235.0748 email: v3publicatons@gmail.com

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WYWS 9.6-9.8.2012 FILM BUFF

BUFFET Commencing with American Songwriter, a sweeping documentary on the life and work of legendary Nashville songwriter Danny Darst, , the ninth annual installment of the

ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAl welcomed audience members and film-makers from across the country last month. By the time the end credits began rolling on Saturday night's final feature, a gritty western by the title of Heathens & Thieves, over 1,000 silver-screen aficionados had turned up to enjoy the year's most acclaimed indie gems—locally made Tears of Bankers (see "Broad Street Bullies", pg. 42) among them.

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WYWS 9.7.2012 The Last shall

BE a first Unofficially hailed as the coolest public event manifested in Rome since the city's 1834 founding, the first ever first friday block party wrapped the Downtown Development Authority's 2012 First Friday Concert Series in rocking fashion Sept. 7. Three of the area's favorite homegrown bands—Jerry on the Moon (seen below), Curiosity Shoppe, Kneck Down— took the stage to christen the landmark shindig, each laying down a killer set to commemorate the occasion.

An estimated 1,000 concertgoers flooded the 200 Block of Broad Street to listen in while zoning out. Word on the street is that the block party was such a success that plans for another are already being discussed.

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WYWS 9.15.2012 Hip to the

Hops With 89 exotic brews from 24 globally dispersed breweries represented in this year's Heritage Park festivities, rome Beer Fest 2012 "lagered" (pardon our penchant for the cheesy) another chapter in its growing legend by not only doubling its attendance numbers to 1,000 from 500 in 2011, but also by delivering a deliciously funfermented Saturday of networking, taste-testing and tomfoolery for the fifth consecutive year. Among the more interesting bottle labels noted by V3 staffers onsite: Kรถnig Ludwig Weissbier (seen right), Leffe Blonde/Blond, Chatoe Rogue First Growth OREgasmic Ale, and Double-Wide India Pale Ale (which earned additional style points for its label graphic depicting a '50s-era, doublewide trailer being sucked into the vortex of a giant twister). Providing the afternoon's entertainment were bands Jerry on the Moon, Underwerewolf, The Strange, and Shameless Natives (with V3's own Ian Griffin on guitar/vocals); proceeds from all ticket sales go to funding the Rome Area Council for the Arts.

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Rhinehart Equipment Company R H I N E H A R T E Q U I P M E N T. C O M

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DaVita Cartersville 203 s. Tennessee street Cartersville, GA 30120 678-721-9090

WYWS 9.22.2012 Amazing

racers Racers Emily Edwards (front) and Addie Grace Trejo (middle) must really love NWGA's native fish species—we mean like, really, really love 'em. Because if they didn't, then why on Earth would this otherwise charming pair of young ladies subject themselves to this super-icky bog crossing, (captured below by V3's Derek Bell at the Fifth Annual 7 hills 3 rivers adventure race and Second Annual Family Challenge) solely for the benefit of the Coosa River Basin Initiative? After all, that appears to be CRBI executive director Joe Cook pulling up the rear behind them, and that dude runs the whole organization!

We reiterate: Those girls must really, really love those fish. (on the cover Fellow racer Gene Williams, 39, of Adairsville, who took third in the solo category with a time of 7 hours and 55 minutes after pausing for this close-up.)

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eddle P ushers P

D

on’t be surprised if when you step through the doors of The Peddler you are treated to a hearty, Hello! How are you?—perhaps even a hug, if you’re a regular. That’s just the kind of place it is, warm and welcoming. The wide, planked wooden floors and textured brick walls are bathed in a soft glow from lamps stationed strategically throughout the store. The smell of homemade fudge beckons from glass cases, attempting to lure customers in the second they walk through the door.

But wait, do not give in so quickly. You have an entire shop to explore before you go getting your fingers all sticky.

The Peddler is a difficult place to describe. Not because it lacks anything worth describing—just the opposite, actually.

A few of the items you will find here include jewelry, Christmas collectibles, oil paintings, scarves, collegiate fan gear, baby gifts, scented soaps, candles and, of course, Martha Jane’s Homemade Fudge. Still, that list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all that owner Rip Montgomery and designer Curt Burch have brought together in their effort to create one very distinctive shop in historic Cave Spring.

Owner Rip Montgomery, a Cave Spring native, can even boast of having graduated from Cave Spring High School. Even more 24

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OK, OK, so Rip Montgomery is a certified Christmas fanatic. Guilty as charged. But if there’s one thing above all that customers should know about the affable owner of Cave Spring’s top gifting retailer,

The Peddler

,

it is this: When it comes to a focus on quality, you'd better believe the nut doesn’t fall far from the family tree

interesting is that he is related to the equivalent of Cave Spring royalty—a.ka. Martha Jane Montgomery, of Martha Jane’s Fudge notoriety, is his cousin. She operated a successful gift and fudge shop for over 20 years, making it a North Georgia mecca for the region’s most fanatical sweet-teeth. “I helped her uncrate her first fudge-making machine in 1979,” Rip reminisces.

Montgomery was in love with his wellknown cousin’s shop, and over the years, he began toying with the idea of one day

owning a little store of some kind himself.

When Martha Jane closed her doors in 2003, Rip recognized the perfect window to erect a gift and collectibles shop in that area. In 2007, that desire became a reality.

The Peddler opened for business, offering an incredible selection of home décor accessories, crystal, antiques, pillows and, of course, Martha Jane’s Fudge.

“A lot has changed in the five years that we’ve been open—a lot,” Rip says. “But the one thing that hasn’t changed is our motto:

Text Mandy Loorham

PhotosDerek Bell vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

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‘Where quality matters.’ That is still very important to us.” According to Montgomery, he takes great pride in ensuring that every product line The Peddler carries is of top quality, as well as being reasonably priced.

“We carry a lot of product lines that are made in the U.S.A. Most of the gift items are also priced $20 or less.”

One of the best-selling sections found here features a beautiful array of scarves and scarf accessories.

Scarves of every color, weave and fabric overflow their display racks, even draping over an adjacent, antique piano.

European candles, soap, and skincare products artfully line the shelves. The scents radiating from this area of the store are intoxicating. Aromatic sages, lavenders, pears, and magnolias mesh to remind one that a little pampering can go a long way.

For the home, custom lamps, framed works of art, and oil paint-

“We carry a lot of product lines that are made in the U.S.A.” 26

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ings are among The Peddler’s standouts. As with everything, quality and a reasonable price tag are of the utmost importance. “We have been very successful with the oil paintings,” says Burch. “People really seem to enjoy those. They are surprised by the quality that they can get for a good price.”

But while business is steady here year-round, the most anticipated time of year for Montgomery and Burch is quickly approaching: the Christmas shopping season. In fact, Montgomery has already begun his Christmas countdown on The Peddler’s Facebook page. “This kind of irritated people a little bit,” he laughs. “I put up a post that said, ‘100 days ’til Christmas.

The elves are coming out everywhere at the Peddler.’ ” In Rip’s defense, though, there is ample reason to be excited here in the months preceding Christmas. For one, the shop offers one of the self-professed largest selections of Snowbabies anywhere in North Georgia.

(For those who haven’t yet caught the bug, Snowbabies are small, porcelain-molded collectibles highly sought after by a rabid collector base. Famously, people travel far and wide with relentless passion to find these oh-so-cute figurines.) “Some people have been collecting them for decades,” Rip explains. “Sometimes a relative may give one to a young child, then give them a new one each Christmas after that. People come from all over to find these.”

Continued on pg. 50 >>>

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Cents& Sensibility . with J Bryant Steele

t

he Nov. 6 general election holds two hot-button phrases, and we don’t mean ʽObama vs. Romney’ or ʽblue state vs. red state.’ We’re talking local control and charter schools, two phrases that generate highly emotional responses and, in this case, are somewhat at odds. A proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution asks us whether to give the state authority to establish independent charter schools, even if that authority overrides the wishes of local school boards.

Charter schools, simply put, are publicly financed yet privately managed by for-profit companies. Proponents see them as a quality alternative to traditional public schools.

They contend that if only local school systems can create charter schools, those local school systems would not be inclined to do so because it would mean ceding authority.

They also say there would be tight controls on for-profit management companies—an assurance they had better be able to back up, because some privately managed charter companies haven’t exactly done a spiffy job with their respective schools.

To be fair, charter schools generally perform well, as do traditional public schools.

But the phrase “failing public schools” is a battle cry in the charter-school lexicon.

On the opposition side of this legislative tussle, teachers associations, many Democrats, and cynics at large see this amendment as an attempt to weaken a public school system that has already been badly hurt by state budget cuts. In addition, they maintain, the charter schools will surely wind up in affluent niches of the state, while poorer inner-city and rural areas will be forced into an even tougher struggle.

They also question the motives of for-profit private companies in the realm of public education.

State Schools Superintendent John Barge, a Floyd County resident and Re-

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publican, has spoken quietly against the constitutional amendment, saying it could harm traditional public schools and further reduce state financial support for those schools. He does, however, support allowing local school boards to establish charter schools. Barge has said he won’t campaign against the amendment, but he sure ticked off fellow Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, who criticized Barge publicly and is solidly in favor of letting the state have the authority to establish charter schools, even against the wishes of local school boards.

Last year, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that a state commission instituted to license public charter schools was unconstitutional. The court said the Georgia Constitution gives that right to local education systems, although the state Board of Education maintains that right (an aspect of the

issue the court didn’t undertake).

Amendment proponents have launched a nearly $3 million campaign known as “Brighter Georgia” to get out the vote. As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the effort is squarely targeted, not broad based, and only 4 percent of the money raised so far has come from Georgia. No other state has voted for an initiative similar to this, meaning that if proponents succeed, other states will have a legal foundation on which they can build.

The ballot question on Nov. 6 will be both confusing and emotional for voters. Parents may read the words “charter schools” and get a positive vibe. Voters who favor local control may not like giving the state additional authority over anything. The only thing certain is that a “yes” vote will change the face of public education in Georgia—in

some cases for the better, in others for the worse.

Don’t be so easily wooed. Approval of the amendment is not a cure-all for the state’s education woes.

t

Steele's Biz Bits

he Federal Reserve Bank has again shown the influence of America.

After announcing measures to try and energize the economy, primarily buying $40 billion a month in mortgage bonds for as long as necessary, stock markets shot up not only on Wall Street, but around the world. Doubters say it will be short-lived; investors are trying to get a quick gain, not looking for a long-term investment.

They’ll be sellers soon.

Giant retailers—Walmart, Target, Best Buy, 7-Eleven among them—are creating a company called Merchant Customer Exchange that will allow customers to make purchases with their smartphones. Each company will incorporate coupons, rebates, et cetera to entice customers. The good news is

U.S. Postal Service in a couple of years, won’t it?

Speaking of jobs, Georgia’s 15 largest public companies, as ranked by revenue in the Fortune 500, have stockpiled a ton of cash ($42 billion, to be exact) as a result of recession-motivated cost-cutting measures and a growing global economy. But the companies, by and large, are doing very little to expand or create jobs. Many of them have fewer employees than at the start of the Great Recession in October 2007.

Here are some interesting tidbits for those who watch television: ABC News is being sued for $1.2 billion for reporting on the “pink slime” (in meat products) story a few months back. The defendant may settle

stories from 60 Minutes for themed editions on VH1 and CNBC, but the sports program will include new stories specifically made for Showtime.

In sports, ESPN long ago passed from a quirky idea many thought wouldn’t last to a broadcast behemoth. Now it just renewed a $2.6 billion contract with just one—yep, just one—college conference, the Big 12.

ESPN no longer has to be concerned with what it pays because it can simply pass the costs along to the cable companies, which then pass it along to the customers. There are some cable companies that offer discount packages to subscribers, but typically those packages don’t include ESPN. Finally, this: Nielsen research has found

Even more difficult to contend with than the tonguetwister below, though, could be the consequences witnessed in Georgia public education if proponents of a hotly contested amendment to the state constitution are wrong. Meanwhile, opponents are biting their nails to the quick over the prospect of farming out our kids' daily lessons to men in much nicer suits than the one your high-school principal used to wear

Say It Five Times, Fast As You Can— 'Charter Chuff Charting Our Children Off Course'

that it should eventually put a dent in the junk mail you get along with your magazine subscriptions; the bad news is if you sign up for such an app, your smartphone will be filled with junk mail. The economy is going to have to get used to rapid developments, and the inevitable job destruction/ job creation trough that comes with them.

It will be interesting to see the effect on the

for less, but it would be fun to see that one play out in court. It would be great—and entirely reasonable—to see a countersuit filed by ABC. CBS News and Showtime are teaming up to launch a sports-themed news magazine, 60 Minutes of Sports. It’s the first time original 60 Minutes segments will appear on a cable network. CBS already recycles old

that males and females react to TV ads with different types of humor.

I hope they didn’t spend a lot of money on this one. They could have called me for free. Anyhow, the research says males like “slapstick, edgy, sarcastic” comedy, while females like an “off-beat, but not mean-spirited” approach.

Ha, but here’s my favorite bit floating in the new data: Females watch about 11 more hours of TV a month than males. Stuff that in your stereotype and smoke it. VVV

J. Bryant Steele is an awardwinning business journalist and feature writer based in Rome. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

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textlukechaffin

photosderekbell

betweentheRivers

revamped

L

eigh Whittenburg Callan’s home Between the Rivers speaks of a well-traveled life, a keen interest in the outdoors, and a propensity to throw a good party. In recent months, however, considerable interior wear-and-tear from years of raising children and pets had become more evident. Leigh realized that she and the house deserved a major change. In addition, her daughter and son-in-law had recently purchased their first home with room to spare, so she decided to pass along some cherished family pieces to the newlyweds while making space for a fresher look with the same stroke.

The next step of the transformation involved connecting with Carol C. Youd of R.J. Fricks, located just blocks away in downtown Rome.

“This house deserved a little more grandeur than I had given it in past years,” Callan confesses. After moving here in 1984, Leigh and her family oversaw many changes throughout the years—grown children, a successful career in higher education, subsequent retirement, and now, grandchildren. When all was said and done, the six-week

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As shown by R.J. Fricks’ Carol Youd via the downtown home of Leigh whittenburg callan, a minimalist “transformation” featuring the anchor pieces you already own can be just the ticket to the surprisingly big change for which you’ve yearned so long

Before

process gave new life to four rooms with good, firm bones, and updated each of the main living spaces in the circa-1905 home.

After a stroll into R.J. Fricks one Saturday afternoon, Leigh met with Carol to discuss the particulars of the big makeover. “Carol asked me, ‘What style?’

And I said, ‘Pick one,’ ” Callan laughs. The concept from thought to execution was not limited to Callan’s home in downtown Rome, but extended to her daughter’s new home in Buford, Ga. For Leigh, one of the greatest rewards of the revamping was being able to pass on what she calls her “heritage furniture.” Years ago, when Callan found herself faced with furnishing and accessorizing a new home for a new family, one with nearly empty rooms, her own mother gave her some of the main furniture pieces that she had begun with in the 1940s.

One of the larger pieces that went to Callan's daughter, Avery, was a spinet piano (accompanied by a bust of composer Richard Wagner; also an inside joke among the Whittenburg siblings). An antique sofa, two chairs, a music cabinet, and an

AFTER

Before

AFTER

upholstered rocking chair were also moved from Rome to Buford. Under Carol’s direction, draperies were repurposed and furniture reupholstered to give them a 2012 feel. “I was as excited to see her furniture re-covered in her new rooms as I was to see my own spaces,” says Callan. Sweetly, the furniture passed again from one generation to the next, as it will one day pass to Avery’s children.

makinglikeatree

d (from left)

Carol Youd & LEIGH WHITTENBURG CALLAN

uring the last week of the project, Leigh left town to spend time with friends, exploring the outdoors in middle Georgia while Carol and her crew assembled the final pieces of the puzzle.

“Then I said, ‘I have to leave my house? What?’ But it was totally worth it,” says Leigh. She had planned to stay nearby the last four days of the “installation,” but felt she would be too tempted to peek before the job was complete. “I knew I would be close by with binoculars,” she laughs.

Youd’s transformation began with asking Leigh to arrange her decorative items and other tried-and-true accessories atop the dining room table. One group was comprised of belongings and knick-knacks that Leigh positively could not do without, and the other was of a take-it-or-leave-it variety. “Leigh is tailored, minimal,” Carol explains (i.e. there was no need for unnecessary fluff.) “I love dual-purpose things,” Youd adds, motioning to the new storage ottomans containing Callan’s photo albums. With these in place, the seating capacity of the living room is bumped to 10.

“For me, the most exciting thing at the reveal was to be able to sit in different parts of the house and see it from that perspective,” Callan says. After

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“it is a special work of love to combine a client's treasures with new pieces to create a new, fresh environment.” several weeks of pinballing around a nearly emptied first floor, the completed project was certainly a sight for sore eyes. The now-relieved homeowner also enjoyed seeing items—decorative pieces that had, until recently, been stuffed away in storage— given prominence within the new design scheme. “I was going to throw that away!” an excited Leigh squealed during the big reveal. A beautiful set of prints and plates that hadn’t seen the light of day in years helped to create a bird theme in the dining room.

Leigh loved finding rearranged mainstay pieces peppered within the mix of newly acquired items, as well, among them a pair of Metamorphosis table lamps picked out

by Youd.

The designer elected to work with shades of “spa”, a soft tone similar to sea foam, as well as “bittersweet stem”, a khaki hue for the walls. As an accent, both shades of salmon (found in one of Leigh’s paint-

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would later be used. “An important part of this transformation was choosing things that could go with me, should I decide to downsize into a smaller house,” Callan says. “You have to think about the future and how [the pieces] are going to work.”

interiorpsych101

ings) and mineral, a rusty, deep red, were used. Building on Leigh’s collection of antiques and mementos from her world travels, Carol added new accessories to complement them. “It is a special work of love to combine a client’s treasures with new pieces to create a new, fresh environment,” says Youd.

One of the many jewels of the home’s new lease on life is the reupholstered settee in the living room, which overlooks a fishpond. This is Leigh’s favorite spot on the main floor; it’s where she goes to meditate.Beautiful Turkish rug work adorns the hardwood floors, warming with shades of pallid turquoise and low-pile fibers. After the rugs were chosen, each of which helped to better harness a general look for its room, Carol moved on to assist Leigh in picking out new furniture and assorted fabrics that

C

arol’s use of succulents as botanical accents throughout the home pulls the aroma of fall in through the home’s large, double-hung windows. Also a part of Carol’s master plan, the combination of multiple items into varying, larger shapes with varying colors and heights. This way, in her words, “you can appreciate them individually and as a group.” Youd took several preexisting elements (pieces of artwork already scattered around the house, for instance) and repositioned them to give them a more featured role in the overall scheme.

A total of 17 different pictures were reframed to give them this added emphasis,

Before

including a signed Howard Finster print in the living room. Another meaningful piece given greater prominence is an antique, wool, hand-loomed coverlet that now hangs in the den. Callan’s great-great grandmother raised the sheep herself, spun the wool, even handcrafted the coverlet.

Designer Carol C. Youd helps differentiate the interior decorator from the interior designer: “A decorator is one who paints, a designer is the one who selects the paint,” she says. Having worked for other interior companies in the past, Youd can quickly point out the R.J. Fricks difference. “R.J. Fricks has unique products, a great selection of those products, expertise, and customer service is paramount to the staff,” she says of the local furnishing and design icon at 420 Broad Street in Rome. “We can get just about anything and we can do anything, from wall-to-wall carpet to draperies, lighting, anything.”

Heard during the grand reveal were exclamations of, “Oh, that worked!” and “I remember picking that!” Leigh Whittenburg Callan is still singing the praises of R.J. Fricks. “I like to think of interior designers as psychologists,” Callan says.

AFTER

“They’re able to get inside the head of the customer so that their personality can be expressed [in the design].”

From a tabletop figurine of a crane depicted standing atop a turtle (purchased by Leigh in Beijing) to the microscope she once used for graduate-school courses, Callan’s love of nature has become more prominent in this phase of her home’s life.

“You have to trust the designer’s vision, to give it over,” Callan explains. “I like that because it takes the pressure off.” Playing host to a book-signing for friends in the coming weeks, enjoying time with family, maybe throwing a party or two this holiday season, Leigh is ready to show off her interior upgrades. “Every inch of it feels new, fresh, clean—and mine.” VVV

More pics, pgs. 36-37 >>> vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

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Before

“...R.J. Fricks...can get just about anything and we can do just about anything, from wall-to-wall carpet to draperies, lighting, anything. I like to...get inside the head of the customer so that their personality can be expressed [in the design].�

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AFTER

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Trends& Traditions

w

w i t h H o l l y Ly n c h

hile visiting with some girlfriends recently, the conversation turned to pregnancy. Since one of the friends had recently given birth to twins, the topic was inevitable. Besides the usual talk of layettes, nursing, and labor pains, my friends also started sharing the unusual, shocking, and downright cruel things that have been said to them by otherwise well-mannered strangers.

Typically, I’m very uncomfortable during these conversations, having never had children of my own. But this time the topic spoke to my sense of duty, which I believe is to help educate the public on improving their social skills. And so, I began asking questions in order to find out just what we should or shouldn’t say to a pregnant woman. I realized that by inviting this ultra-sensitive conversation I was breaking one of my own rules, but for the benefit of V3 readers, my friends obliged, answering my questions with great candor and humor.

Every quote in this column was transcribed as part of an actual, firsthand account of a real-life exchange that took place.

To begin, a wise person should never, ever ask a woman if she is pregnant. No matter how obvious it may seem. There are a variety of reasons for this rule, but the most basic is that the question is far too personal. In an age of TMI, we’ve lost sight of the boundaries that once defined personal from public information. Pregnancy is very personal and intimate, despite the inevitable public display that accompanies it. So, even though you can see a belly doesn’t mean you should ask how it came to be.

The second, more obvious reason not to ask: Many women still appear pregnant even if they have already given birth (or worse, have recently suffered a miscarriage). One friend was even asked when her baby is due

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she should/should not, can/cannot do, you are sending both judgmental and condescending signals her way. Instead, offer to carry the dog food for her in a way that doesn’t ring of pity.

Many of my pregnant friends have also been told by well-meaning people that perhaps they should exercise more or to take a weight-lifting class. For some, pregnancy alone is all the activity a girl can handle.

To quote my friend L, “It’s all I can do to waddle around my neighborhood during what I consider vigorous exercise, while my husband saunters along in flip-flops.”

Don’t judge. One person’s experience is not another’s.

Also, avoid looking at a woman’s dinner plate or grocery cart and suggesting she shouldn’t eat this or that. I have recently discovered a mile-long list of things a woman shouldn’t eat while pregnant. I also know that babies have been coming into this world for many years now, long before the prattling of wellintentioned blogs, the misdiagnoses

while pushing a grocery cart in the store— with the baby in the cart!

A woman’s size should never be a topic of conversation. Never. Nor should a man’s, quite frankly. And, if she is pregnant, it’s not appropriate to ask, Wow, how many are in there? or Have you gained a lot of weight? or Man, you look ready to pop!

Conversely, avoid commenting on how small a woman is, as well. Surely her doctor is monitoring her weight. Whether or not you mean well, refrain from talking about the size of the bump.

An extension of this rule is to avoid commentary on the clothing a woman is wearing, which may or may not make her appear pregnant. Flowing dresses are

engage in civil conversation. I am slightly terrified of pregnant women, believe it or not. They seem so fragile, yet so god-like.

The reality, however, is that these ladies are in the midst of a beautiful and wonderful life process.

Say something kind—You look beautiful!

Even if she is not pregnant, a woman usually appreciates being told she looks good.

If you do know for a fact that a woman with whom you are acquainted is pregnant, and you think the two of you are close enough to ask additional questions, start with, How are you? Read her body language. She may not want to talk about how she’s feeling. If she does, though, just listen. Resist the urge to tell your own

fashionable; consider the possibility that you aren’t up-to-date on the latest trends.

If you have confirmation that a friend is, in fact, pregnant, be cautious about the questions you pose to her. As one smart friend of mine pointed out, there are three questions a pregnant woman is asked a million times each day: When are you due?

What are you having?

What are you going to name him/her?

If your friend is relatively forthcoming about her pregnancy and you are curious about the future arrival, try to come up with a more creative way of asking about the baby, so as not to agitate or overwhelm the poor woman. She has probably answered the due-date question a few times already that day. Simply telling your friend how great she looks will likely invite her to volunteer the information.

If she doesn’t offer it, let it drop. You will find out when the baby arrives, sometime between the second you discover she is pregnant and 40 weeks later.

When I pooled a group of my close friends to find out the unbelievable—sometimes atrocious—things everyday people say to pregnant women, I couldn't believe my ears. Trust me, you won't believe it, either

Baby, You Don't Know the Half of It

P

Listen, for Once erhaps the sight of a pregnant (or seemingly pregnant) woman is so intimidating to some that they lose all concept of how to

pregnancy story and please, please, Lord help us, do not retell your miscarriage or inlabor stories. Reserve those for infrequent, very intimate times when your friends ask for them specifically. As several of my own friends confessed, pregnancy can be a scary time, too, so keep things positive.

w

86 Food Talk

hile many women are active during pregnancy, others feel the worst they ever have in their lives. Try to stop yourself from asking or commenting about anything specific, like, Should you really be lifting that 40-pound bag of dog food? Most pregnant women are seeing a doctor more often than anyone else around them, so rest assured that they are well aware of their personal health and physical limitations.

By implying that you know better what

made via a vast, online medical dictionary, and the day when outspoken strangers suddenly became comfortable offering their two cents on everything we do. Leave the comments about food choices off the table—pun intended.

The same holds true for comments about the baby’s future health prospects—nursing versus formula, for instance, or the great vaccination debate. (Delving into what one should/shouldn’t say to a new parent is an entirely different column.)

Keeping your opinion to yourself is really the golden rule here. If, for example, you discover the parents of the unborn have decided not to discover the gender of the baby, that’s their business. Same rule applies for the choice of name. If your best friend wants to name her baby Osama, that’s certainly her choice by right. Avoid facial expressions that indicate negative emotions, too. The boundaries of personal

Continued on pg. 53 >>> vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

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I

n August of 2010, a ragtag team of indie filmmakers arrived in Rome from more than four corners of the country—Brunswick, Maine; Oakland, Calif.; Houston, San Antonio, and Lubbock, Texas; Little Rock, Ark.; Boston, Mass.; and Atlanta. With the goal of capturing enough footage over the course of five days to create an all-new feature film, we began with no script and, in scope, the bare bones of a story. We knew a major shoot location would be the Claremont House Bed & Breakfast on East Second Avenue, and that our producer, Barry Norman, would also play the lead character, owner of the B&B. We also knew that we would be filming one scene at the Victorian Rose Tea Room on Broad Street (famed for its demure “Red Hat Ladies”), and another in the Schroeder’s Deli courtyard, set to a Roger Miller concert.

This minimalist, improvisational approach to filmmaking is the signature method of director and growing indie film legend, Rick Schmidt, who, to date, has produced and directed 24 feature films. He is also the author of Feature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices, a book credited with inspiring the movie careers of Hollywood hitters like Kevin Smith and Vin Diesel.

Our cast was mostly first-time actors, several of whom didn’t know they would be involved in the production until week one of filming. There were no superstars, although wrestler Sid Eudy, a.k.a. “Sid Vicious,” and musician Roger Miller, of Mission of Burma, were recruited to participate in the production in some capacity. On day one, however, nobody knew exactly how the rest of the cast would be involved—except for Rick, of course. But he kept his cards close to his chest.

Text Allen Bell

Photos Allen & Derek Bell

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wheninrome

Reset: This story really begins in January 2004, on a rainy Saturday, down Broad Street. Three months earlier, the Rome Area Council for the Arts (RACA) Board of Directors hosted a strategic planning retreat. At the all-day meeting, held at the Mount Alto home of Nancy and David Smith, the RACA board expressed the desire for a film festival, film series, or film society as part of the organization’s future programming agenda.

As executive director of the organization at that time, I knew it would be difficult to make this promise come true without enlisting additional expertise in film. As luck would have it, a few weeks after the RACA planning session the founder of the Dahlonega International Film Festival, Barry Norman, called to express his interest in moving his festival to a new location with a larger population, a more active arts scene, greater community support, and an organizational partner that could help produce the event.

We scheduled to meet a couple of weeks later to tour potential venues on Broad Street and discuss the possibility of a creative partnership. After that fateful winter meeting, the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) was born.

Three years later, with Barry Norman serving as RIFF executive director and working in partnership with RACA, the festival was in full swing. As part of the program for 2006,

(back row, left to right) actor Brittany Hannah, videographer Ron McClellan, director Rick Schmidt; (middle row) actor/producer Barry Norman, actors Paige, Haley and Gregg Parnell; (front row) sound tech Kevin Powers, actor/ production manager Allen Bell

BroadStreet bullies Twenty-six months ago, when production began on our critically acclaimed indie film, , k f director Rick Schmidt, producer Barry Norman and myself, a former RACA executive director, came together equipped with neither a script nor third act. Lucky for us, in the 21st-century world of art, turns out you don’t need to muscle your way into a worthwhile project on which you can proudly hang your hat

Tears o Ban ers

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RIFF screened two Rick Schmidt films, 1988: The Remake and Rick’s Canoe, later bestowing the esteemed director with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented via pre-recorded video by indie film director Kevin Smith.

As chance would have it, during his film festival visit, Schmidt slept at the Claremont House Bed & Breakfast. By the end of his stay, he vowed to return to Rome and make a film in this enchanting Victorian home.

Claremont House, would ever see it. This was my first time being involved with a film production, after all. But veteran filmmakers Schmidt and Norman kept chipping away at the big gray wall of rejection mounting before me, until my negative leanings eventually gave way.

Then, in July, we finally received some good news. Tears of Bankers received an invitation to screen at the storied indie film venue, The Courthouse Theatre (home of the Anthology Film Archives in New York) as part of its New Filmmakers Series.

It was unbelievable.

This little film, from little Rome, Ga., two years in production, some nine years in the making, would be projected on the same screen where hundreds of notable indie and avant-garde films are exhibited each year.

Then, only a month later, we received word that Bankers had been accepted for a screening in the film’s hometown at RIFF. We were elated, as this outcome wasn’t a given. The film has some challenging content and difficult themes, and we weren’t sure the RIFF jury would find it to be a good fit, even if the film was produced entirely in Rome.

Thanks to some open-minded and considerate adjudicators, though, the film would have its day not just in New York, but also Between the Rivers.

newyorkcalling Four years after Schmidt’s initial visit to Rome, the film Tears of Bankers (originally known by its innuendo-laced working title, “Rome Movie”) was underway. We had a legendary director, a first-time producer, a professional wrestler, a punk musician, the Red Hat Ladies, an experienced crew, an extremely green supporting cast, a magnificent setting, and the bare bones of a storyline.

Five days later, we wrapped production, having recruited numerous, additional supporting-cast members from among local friends and colleagues—Wright Ledbetter, Brittany Hannah, and Derek Bell among them We also secured the help of several local businesses for additional locations, such as Greater Rome Bank and the Masonic Lodge. Under the talented guise of our tenured director, we created a twisted tale of financial hardship, personal heartbreak, mysterious intrigue, a glint of hope, and a touch of redemption. But it wasn’t until 12 to 14 months after wrapping the project that we discovered we had an indie gem on our hands, when the final edit was at last complete. And even then we weren’t so sure, since we were viewing the film through self-critical eyes and a pinch of self-doubt regarding how the story would translate to audiences.

Then New York called.

bigapple bigscreen

After months of submitting Tears of Bankers to film festivals and critics, I was beginning to wonder if anyone outside those who showed up for the cast-and-crew screening, hosted in early 2012 by none other than the

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youcango homeagain

The day after Labor Day, a humid afternoon in September, I made my way to the New York via Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, laying over in D.C. before taxiing into JFK. Exiting the plane, I met Barry Norman. We took an expensive cab to SoHo, the neighborhood home of the Anthology Film Archives, and one of the “hippest” areas in all of Manhattan.

The Anthology Film Archives is undoubtedly one of the best indiefilm venues in the U.S., but the emphasis here should be placed on its avant-garde leanings and independent nature. The Courthouse Theatre was originally Manhattan’s Second Avenue Courthouse, and has been home to Anthology Film Archives since 1979. It was renovated to create two screening rooms, a ref-

waitingisthe hardestpart

erence library, an area for preservation and offices. Yet, the venue has changed little since.

There is no red carpet, no paparazzo in waiting, no stadium seating. There isn’t even a giant, blinding marquis with your film’s name basted in big bright lights and thick lettering. There was a huge screen, however, as well as immaculate sound and projection quality. (The folks at Anthology Film Archives pride themselves on their technical proficiency, come to find out.)

And the exhibition was in the larger of the venue’s two screening rooms. We had publicity via Facebook and the Anthology Film Archives and New Filmmakers Series websites, and we even hired a New York publicist, Sujewa Ekanayake, to promote the film.

After a long dinner featuring extended conversation with Barry, Sujewa and a longtime friend of mine, Kae Taniguchi, joined us at the authentic Heart of India for dinner (sumptuous samosas, warm tandoor chicken, sweet chicken korma) and the screening to follow. Later we met Barney, our projectionist, and Huck, one of our intrigued audience members, before settling in to watch our film’s big New York debut.

Three days later, after a rainy jaunt to the Museum of Modern Art, a security-maxed visit to the World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial, a flight back to Atlanta, a few hours to regain my senses, and a quick drive to Rome, I was sitting in the Rome Area History Museum with almost 60 other film aficionados—including a number of our cast and crew. Also in attendance: a gaggle of Red Hat Ladies all set to watch the Southeast premiere of Tears of Bankers.

Suddenly, it hit me—this Rome screening was actually making me nervous.

Here were, after all, most of the people involved in the film, their friends and relatives, RIFF board members and volunteers, all about to view a film featuring myself at the festival that I had helped found in the town where I went to undergraduate school, the home of RACA, where I worked for ten years, and they were all about to view our hard work, blood, sweat, tears, laughs and shenanigans, every bit of it captured on film. Of the two, this was the screening

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that gave me butterflies and made my palms sweat. I cared what these good people thought about our finished product.

An hour and a half later, after witnessing the trials and tribulations of a downtrodden bed-and-breakfast owner and his wife, the

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maneuverings of bankers with less-thanhonest intentions, Masons, a fly mask, the disappearance of an 1877 coin, a tearoom meltdown, a rock concert, and a short battle with a night-deposit box, the audience concluded the film to humbling applause,

having laughed and sighed and whispered with one another throughout the movie—and in all the right places.

But while the applause and vibrant, clever Q&A session were perhaps most rewarding, two comments made were especially encouraging. The first was from Michael Altman, director of the RIFF opening night film American Songwriter and son of legendary director Robert Altman. Michael commended the film for quality acting, writing, directing, editing and storytelling. The second critique was from musician “Reckless” Johnny Wales, who complimented the film for its outstanding score.

For Rick Schmidt, for Barry Norman, the Claremont House, for the entire cast and crew, RIFF and, most importantly, for Rome, Tears of Bankers was an across-the-board winner. Everything came full circle that afternoon, and if there’s a lesson to be learned here, it is that producing quality art in the 21st century need not be formulaic.

Round up a group of talented people and just do it. You may well yield something of real value on your own terms. VVV

P aris M ountain Ph o t ograp h y

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>>> Cont. from 26, “Peddle Pushers” Among other Christmas collectibles sold at The Peddler: Dickens Christmas Village figurines and the increasingly popular Possible Dream Santas. Both of these lines, as well as the Snowbabies, are by Department 56. (Note: Combine them all to create your very own, very wonderful winter wonderland.)

And hey, if you want your home to display that perfect Christmas look but don’t feel like decorating yourself, no biggie. Sit down, put your feet up, and let The Peddler do all the decorating for you. Better make your appointment in a hurry, though. According to Montgomery and Burch, they are booking for Christmas work at a lightning pace.

Curt Burch is the first to admit that he is one of those rare individuals who truly enjoys everything about the Christmas holiday. No, seriously—everything. Prior to his tenure at The Peddler, he made his living creating and designing Christmas ornaments and other assorted decorations.

He even applied the craft in China, working in product development with Christmasthemed items marketed to American consumers. “It is amazing to have seen how… much work goes into creating just one

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stem of one flower, to see how many hands have to touch that product before it hits the store,” Burch marvels.

These days, Montgomery and Burch are super busy designing and customdecorating Christmas trees. Several of their creations, in fact, are currently available in the shop. At The Peddler, it seems that whatever a person can dream up for his or her snow-covered, candy-coated Christmas wish, the boys in Cave Spring can deliver. In this case, much like the Staples “Easy Button”, there’s a Christmas tree for that.

And while Burch is busy decorating your home and designing your tree, don’t forget that special table piece for the dining room table that will have everyone ooh’ing and

Curt Burch & Rip Montgomery

ah’ing as they pass the Christmas ham.

Custom floral arrangements are also available in either your own container or one specially chosen by The Peddler.

Attend Montgomery and Burch’s “Christmas Open House” Nov. 10 and 11 for a firsthand look at what they can do for your holiday décor.

Now that you have toured the store, met its gracious hosts, and scribbled down gift ideas for everyone on your Christmas list, let’s return to that famous fudge calling to you so loudly from the front counter. Should you choose the Peanut Butter, the Chocolate Caramel Nut, the Rocky Road? Whichever you go with, there’s one thing upon which we can all agree: Time to get those fingers sticky. VVV

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>>> Cont. from 39, “Baby, You Don't Know...” information also demand that we reserve our personal opinions on these personal subjects.

For many, personal topics are dealt with using humor. In the case of pregnancy, that’s not always a wise choice. For example, my very brave, very tired friend was shopping with her three children while pregnant with her fourth. A man in the checkout line ahead of her said, “You know what causes that, right?” gesturing to her swollen belly.

I’ll give you a minute to be as appalled, as was I. Exhibit A, folks: Joking at a woman’s expense when she is expecting is just not funny.

Another friend reported that men had joked that the unborn child might not belong to her husband. Come on, really?! I feel as though I shouldn’t have to say this, but such comments are not as amusing to the mother-to-be as you might think. It’s simply inappropriate, even posed as general conversation, to suggest a person has been

unfaithful to his or her spouse. Would that comment have even been made if she hadn’t been pregnant?

Most sane people realize that touching a pregnant belly is an unwelcome, invasive gesture, yet word among my girlfriends

touching a pregnant belly is a great fear of mine (right below heights and clowns), so this is an easy rule for me to follow.

At the end of these intriguing interviews, the most hilarious thing I heard from my sources was, Do not ask to sit on a pregnant woman to help get the baby out.

Yes, it’s true, someone—not a child, I might add—asked one of my friends if he could do just that. I’m sure he was only trying to be helpful, or perhaps funny. He was neither.

Be positive with pregnant women. Treat them just as you would treat any lady who isn’t expecting, but maybe take your kindness one step further. Tell her she’s gorgeous, beaming.

She’s growing a human, after all. Show a little reverence.

VVV

Most sane people realize that touching a pregnant belly is an unwelcome, invasive gesture, yet word among my girlfriends suggests that it still happens. It's unlikely you would ask to touch a woman's stomach when she isn't pregnant, so why would the fact that a baby is inside it suddenly change the rules? suggests that it still happens. It’s unlikely you would ask to touch a woman’s stomach when she isn’t pregnant, so why would the fact that a baby is inside it suddenly change the rules? Keep your hands to yourself, people, unless they are invited. I admit,

Holly Lynch is the managing events planner/owner of The Season Special Events Planning at 250 Broad Street in Rome.

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