V3 September 2014

NWGA'S PREMIER FEATURE MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2014

FIRST LADY ELLEN THE

GENEROUS

MYRTLE HILL

celebrates the

resting place of a lady of first-class notariaty: Ellen Axson Wilson.

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SEPTEMBER 2014 OPINIONS

J. BRYANT STEELE lays out his idea of what we endure to be an American, in the wake of tragedies at home and abroad HOLLY LYNCH challenges us to dig beneath the ice-cold water in a bucket to heighten the awareness of another deadly disease

FEATURES

HENNESSY JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH POINT shows us how they have raised the bar in car sales AMBERWOOD EAST PRESCHOOL’S dedicated leadership tells us why they are much more than a daycare

MYRTLE HILL CEMETERY, resting place for many local greats, also holds a First Lady who worked to beautify the world through her art and philanthropy.

MATT DAVIS sits down with the new Darlington Head of School, BRENT BELL, who explains how he earned his stripes and his plan to lead his streak of young Tigers into the future.

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H

appy September to everyone and to all the parents out there, congratulations on being one month removed from our children’s triumphant return to school. For those of you who share my need for routine, welcome back to normalcy, and may I just say it’s amazing the difference one hour of sleep can have on your day.

Selfishly, my children’s summer vacation becomes my own and this summer was the first I can remember in which we didn’t send our kids to some form of day camp. So, I really took advantage of my newfound freedom. No homework in the evenings, no lunches to pack, no grumpy kids to wake up in the morning before work … it was a beautiful respite, but I paid a heavy price when the summer was done.

That hour – that precious, precious hour – kicked like a mule when the school days returned. Waking up wasn’t the problem, however. It was the zombie-like state I settled into

Publisher’s Note

once I sat down at my desk that hindered my productivity. Caffeine worked in spells, but the crash wasn’t worth it as it left me in even more of a stupor. It also seemed to arrive around the time I had a meeting, leaving me with no choice but to warn the poor souls I met with that my brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders that day.

The low point of the week came at my networking meeting with the Connections Club of Rome. I was running the meeting and to say I struggled through it would be an understatement. I got the acronym for the title of our guest speaker for the following week wrong at least 10 times and regularly had a hard time completing cohesive sentences. I did succeed in making fun of myself enough to save face and produce few chuckles from my clubmates while I crashed and burned.

This bumbling-idiot version of me subsided after a restful weekend, and life returned to normal at the Griffin household and at the V3 offices. All was right with the world again. I took the easy road this summer and learned a valuable lesson from it: don’t schedule any meetings during the first week back to school. You didn’t think I would actually give up the extra sleep, did you?

My kids are back in the groove, their dad has had his tune-up and football season is underway. Life is good Northwest Georgia … enjoy it.

OWNER+CEO

Ian Griffin

OWNER + CEO Ian Griffin MAG ART & DESIGN Ellie Borromeo EDITORIAL MANAGER Oliver Robbins CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Tannika Wester WRITERS J. Bryant Steele, Holly Lynch, Oliver Robbins, Erin deMesquita, Matt Davis, Dan Tompkins, Luke Chaffin PHOTOGRAPHY Derek Bell, MFA 706.936.0407 AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS Shadae Yancey-Warren, Chris Forino, Arion Bass AD DESIGN + MARKETING CONCEPTS Ellie Borromeo, Christian Turner PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT One West Fourth Avenue Rome, Ga. 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 Email>v3publications @gmail.com CREATOR Neal Howard

Ian Griffin, Owner

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“For my hEArt, I choosE rEdmond.”

Scott

Heart Attack Survivor

“When the ambulance arrived, they put me in the back to take me to the hospital and they said where do you want to go? And I said take me to Redmond.”

Scott was running up the bleachers at the high school stadium when he began to have severe chest pain. He knew it was serious and he knew that Redmond was the place to go for heart care. Redmond’s heart team determined that Scott had experienced a massive heart attack and needed triple bypass surgery. Scott is one of more than 500 patients that have heart surgery at Redmond each year.

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W

e recall each year some dates of dark moments in American history. For example: Dec. 7 – The sneak attack on Pearl Harbor Nov. 22 – President Kennedy shot through the head in a Dallas motorcade April 4 – Martin Luther King murdered in Memphis by a concealed assassin This month, September, we recall the most recent dark moment. We don’t even say the month when we speak. It is so ingrained that it is sufficient to say, simply, 9/11. The day metal birds dropped from the up yonder and strong buildings fell down. The day terror, cowardice and bravery were given new meaning.

Remotes in one hand, phones in the other, we watched the actual event – not a re-creation or taped replays – unspool on our TV screens, for hours, until we’d had enough or decided we needn’t be afraid … for the rest of that day anyhow.

We were soon saying America would never be the same, in ways large and small, but we broke small promises before football season was even over, labeling pigskin stars “heroes.”

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More than one sports commentator had said that word should be reserved for those who risk or lose their lives by putting themselves in harm’s way, and not bestowed on those who merely play a game.

We vowed not to “give in to terrorism” by trading liberty for security; instead, we’ve given away liberties and aren’t much more secure.

We said “never again.” Then a couple of bush-leaguers in Boston said, “Watch this.”

We killed bin Laden and a bunch of other al-Qaeda masterminds. Today we ask

is a monster that never should have been, a country created by meddling Western powers that comprised a deranged Dr. Frankenstein.

Eerily, the unveiling in 1840 of Mary Shelley’s portrait at the Royal Academy in London was accompanied by lines from a poem written by her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley. The poem is titled “The Revolt of Islam.”

Back to modern times, nearly 300 young women in Nigeria were kidnapped and sold as sex slaves by a terrorist Islamist movement called Boko Haram (translates as “Western ed-

OLD GLORY, HALLELUJAH ourselves, “Does the U.S. have anything to fear from ISIS?” – a more ruthless, perhaps-better-organized-and-equipped group operating in Iraq. Children of Christian parents are beheaded daily only because they were born to Christian parents.

Mary Shelley was perhaps clairvoyant when she wrote her novel “Frankstein” in 1818. Iraq

ucation is forbidden”) for the crime of wanting an education, and the civilized world is powerless to effect a rescue. We all know those young women. They’re the daughters of us in the Western Hemisphere, of all who love liberty, liberal or conservative. They’re the daughters we’ve raised and sent off to college.

A commercial airliner is shot down over

Ukraine, and by all unfiltered accounts Vladimir Putin’s fingerprints are all over the crime scene.

Major Western democracies have stepped up sanctions against Russia. Putin has answered with Russia’s own sanctions on the West and Asia. We know who’s got the upper hand (us).

A riverboat gambler might advise Putin it’s time to fold his cards. It’s just that Putin is playing the long game, and if he thinks he’s got an advantage in that regard, he may be right. Also, as they would say in Vegas, Putin is playing with house money.

munist dictators, it’s almost a shrug to them.

In Iraq, people are just plain afraid of Sharia law, which puts strict religious observance over any yearning and snuffs out any hope. A man learns on his wedding night that his bride isn’t a virgin. The question we can’t ask the man is how he knew she wasn’t a virgin. The “proof” of an intact hymen is so 19th Century. But the man didn’t have to answer questions or provide proof. His bride was stoned to death, as he desired, the next morning. Gives new meaning to “’til death do us part.” Is there no room here for

CENTS& SENSIBILITY WITH J. BRYANT STEELE

The only outcome so far is the biggest strain on U.S.-USSR relations since the Cold War. Maybe we can weaken the Russian economy; we can’t do much about the Soviet-style propaganda machine that’s been taken out of mothballs.

We in the West keep thinking once oppressed people get a taste of democracy, they’ll hunger for it and fight for it. We need to get over that notion. “Camelot” and “Les Miserables” make for inspiring, even romantic, tales.

But Russia isn’t England, and Iraq isn’t France.

The Russian people have suffered oppression so long, under the czars and then under Com-

love? For forgiveness even when the “sin” – a woman’s sexuality – shouldn’t need forgiving?

Even if the condemned Muslim woman would have gladly traded places with Hester Prynne, let’s not be smug or content, here at home, in thinking we have a better understanding of relationship with the divine. In Kentucky, a boy receives a rifle for his 5th birthday. His grandmother leaves him alone “just for a minute” with his 2-year-old sister. You know what happened next. This isn’t about the right to bear arms or the Second Amendment. This is about the grandmother.

You don’t leave a 5-year-old alone with a 2-year-old, even “just for a minute” (how many times have you heard that phrase following a tragedy involving children), rifle or no rifle. A Kentucky sheriff says it’s not unusual for a 5-year-old boy to have a rifle, and no charges will be filed.

The grandmother is seemingly at peace with her baby granddaughter’s s death because it was “God’s will.”

I don’t think so. It is one thing to take solace in divine comfort when we are troubled or grieved. It is something distinct in us that opens us to understanding God’s grace. But our negligence is not God’s will, and it is sinful to shift blame for the death of that baby onto God. Neither is it God’s will that young women be kidnapped or tortured for desiring an education. It is not God’s will that a young woman be stoned to death for acting on her God-given sexuality.

And it is not God’s will that we crash airplanes into buildings just as long as we’re taking as many of the “enemy” with us as possible.

Maybe we need an additional plea in the Lord’s Prayer right after “Thy will be done:” “Thy will be comprehended, at least approximately, by those to whom you have granted powers of reason.”

J. BRYANT STEELE is an award-winning journalist and feature writer based in Rome, Georgia.

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A

s I write this column, the social world is filled with tributes to Robin Williams, multi-day positivity challenges and ice water deluges. It’s an interesting world we live in. For the most part, it seems people are supporting each other and basically not tearing each other down.

For now.

With all the excitement of the incessant bucket dumping and MILLIONS of dollars raised, there are folks out there accusing some of not donating, expressing mock indignation that many are public do-gooders and private hellions. It doesn’t take long in this world for your good deed or your supportive post to become some cynic’s next soapbox.

As all this "stuff" fills my head, and yours, it's easy to see how someone can appear to be positive and together one minute, but falling apart the next. No wonder so many suffer from depression and anxiety.

I don’t see many big fundraising drives for mental health cases. What is that organization anyway? I'm sure there is one, but the name

doesn't come to mind as easily as the American Cancer Society or the Red Cross, or now, the ALS Association. But there is one – it’s called National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. You can donate on their website at www.nami.org.

But this isn’t a column about a charity. It’s a column about social graces. For me, it comes

Williams, a friend of a friend said something very profound: he cheered for Williams for beating his disease for 63 years.

A person who lives to 63 years old with MS, or someone who fights

TRENDS & TRADITIONS

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WITH HOLLY LYNCH

down to how we treat each other on a daily basis. And, more importantly, how we cheer for each other.

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cancer for five or 10 years, would be lauded as a fighter. Why not Williams? Aren't there younger victims of mental illness we wish could learn from Williams' efforts to fight for his own health?

As humans, I feel certain we’ve all dealt with depression at some point or another. But how many among us fight that disease every day?

I’m willing to guess there are more than I realize.

So how are we cheering for them?

Are we so afraid of someone having something we don't that we tear down other people’s successes with criticism? Are we too afraid to be an optimist anymore? Do we shy away from conversations we know will be difficult because we are more concerned about our own comfort than someone else's?

The ice buckets have shown me that we aren't afraid to be uncomfortable (and wet) in an effort to spread awareness and to cheer others on. Could we start something like that for mental health awareness? If we can be uncomfortable with ice on our heads, why can’t we engage in a conversation that might make a difference right here, right now?

There are individuals in our community who need us to be aware that they are struggling. For some, it's obvious by the items they carry on their back as they walk the streets of our town.

(You know the man I’m talking about.)

Others hide

their illness at home, in a bottle, or in the private confines of a doctor’s office. It's not just the rich and talented who feel walls closing in or voices talking to them. It’s the guy next door and the lady across the hall.

So talk to them. Ask questions and wait for the answer. Encourage them on their journey.

If we can be uncomfortable with ice on our heads, why can’t we engage in a conversation that might make a difference right here, right now?

I'm a cautious rule follower. I play by the book. It's very difficult for me to always look for the opportunity in a challenge. But I'm not afraid of talking to people.

The best thing to say to someone with depression and other mental illnesses is to say, "I'm here for you." There will be times when listening to someone is enough. And times when listening won’t be enough. I know that, ultimately, people have to help them-

selves. But simply speaking to someone and treating them like a person is a start.

The second thing is to actually be there. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, do what you say you will do. If you say, “I’ll pray for you,” actually go and pray. Most people in crisis mode or who suffer from severe depression are BARELY taking care of their basic needs, like food, shelter and clothing. Offer to go grocery shopping or help get the kids off to school.

Mental illness can affect anyone. Be willing to step out and cheer on the people you know who struggle with coping on a day-to-day basis.

Build each other up. If you can dump ice on your head, you can start a conversation with someone about their well-being. Ask. It might be a step in helping someone fight their illness.

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.

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ALL SIGNS

POINT NORTH With a revamped sales approach,

HENNESSY JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH POINT has made car buying easy so that you leave the lot with a little more in your tank.

PHOTOS DEREK BELL TEXT OLIVER ROBBINS

O

ftentimes, we require very little

about the transaction long after you sign

lahassee, Fla., Carrin found his way to

help when making a decision on

the dotted line.

Georgia’s capital when he was accepted

what we want to buy. There are,

Michael Carrin, centre manager, and

to Emory University. There, he studied

however, those items that can

the dedicated team at Hennessy Jaguar

English and would graduate with a de-

be a little more overwhelming without

Land Rover North Point (1505 Mansell

gree in the subject, but he was drawn to

the help of a knowledgeable profession-

Road, Alpharetta), understand this con-

another field. “My degree lends itself to

al. For instance, a new pair of wing-tips

cept and have fashioned a method of

teaching and other avenues, but those

or a to-die-for handbag can be mulled

buying cars that creates long-lasting re-

avenues didn’t seem nearly as fun as

over with only a few considerations be-

lationships. Carrin wants to give would-be

working in the automotive business,”

fore handing over your cash. But, buying

buyers some insight into why his clients

Carrin says. And after falling in love

a new set of luxury wheels is a journey

often cruise by the lot to chat, even when

with the city of Atlanta, he decided to

best taken with a trustworthy expert

they aren’t looking to buy a thing.

make Georgia his home and find a ca-

whose goal is to make you feel great

An Atlanta transplant by way of Tal-

reer that would allow him to pass on the

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 21

passion he had for automobiles.

After working in the large fleet industry, assisting Fortune 500 companies in securing and managing transportation, he joined a Lexus dealership for a short time. It didn’t take Carrin long to find a perfect business model in Hennessy Automobile Companies (HAC) 19 years ago. In his exodus from the competitor’s Lexus dealership, he bought into the vision and was impressed with the attention Hennessy showed their clients. And with no desire to return to Florida, he felt it fitting to join an automotive group that had been exclusive to the Atlanta area for 30 years.

When HAC began their service to Georgians in 1964, the company only sold the Cadillac brand. Now, Hennessy offers a healthy helping of model lines including Porsche, RollsRoyce, Lincoln, Lexus, Honda and GMC to name a few.

Carrin was excited to join the sales team at the North Point location because of a new flag that they alone would be allowed to fly over the lot. “While I was not one of the initial [North Point] employees, I joined the company soon after,” Carrin says. “Our Alpharetta location was the very first stand-alone Land Rover centre in the United States. Interestingly, in August of this year Jaguar/Land Rover North

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Point will celebrate its 20th anniversary.” Also noteworthy, Hennessy Automotive Co. will have 50 years of automotive service to Atlanta and surrounding areas under their belts.

In 2012, Hennessy purchased the Jaguar franchise and coupled it with Land Rover.

Buyers now had even more options available to them at the North Point lot. Two other dealerships, one in Buckhead and the other in Gwinnett, also carry the Jaguar/Land Rover dual-franchise name.

With the ever-expanding ways to buy cars, it is important to offer something extra to the public, making a visit to the dealership a rewarding experience for buyers. Carrin and the team at Hennessy strive to go above and beyond to keep their fellow car enthusiasts happy.

“We try to have fun here and we try to make a difference. We want to exceed your expectations,” says Carrin. “We want to make the car-buying process fair to all parties. We know and understand that people come to us not wanting to pay too much for a car. So through the years, we have worked to take the adversarial aspect of trading cars out of the transaction.

“I think we have been successful because roughly 65% of our business comes from repeat and referral customers,” he adds. “That speaks to the point that we have met our goal of making it a pleasant transaction. What has

been gratifying to me is that we are now selling cars to the children of people we sold cars to when I first began working for Hennessy.

We are not interested in selling you a car just one time. We would like for you to consider us friends.”

Hennessy has streamlined the entire process, from the test drive to the maintenance of your vehicle, and customers can rest easy knowing that they will have a single contact person after they purchase a car. You will not find yourself sitting in front of multiple desks, or waiting while the salesperson conferences with the manager to negotiate a price. Nor will you

shakes your hand when you enter the lobby at Hennessy.

“Our sales team members are not called

" What has been gratifying to me is that we are now selling cars to the children of people we sold cars to when I first began working for Hennessy. We are not interested in selling you a car just one time. We would like for you to consider us friends." need to meet with a finance manager to sign the paperwork and make your deal official and binding. And to ice the cake, all of your service needs can be arranged with the person who

salesmen. We refer to them as ‘sales guides,’” Carrin says. “As the name implies, they are here to guide you through the entire process of buying a car. We try to ask the right questions and

allow you to tell us what your objective is. By taking the long view and treating people the way you would want to be treated, we have created these long-term relationships.”

Automobiles, undoubtedly, will need the occasional tune-up to extend the life of the vehicle. Hennessy is happy to provide transportation to your desired location, or offer a loaner for you to drive while they pamper your car. And before you leave the lot, your vehicle is washed and vacuumed so that it leaves the rack clean.

They aim to go the extra mile at Hennessy Jaguar/Land Rover North Point.

Folks who are in the market for a Jaguar will be happy to know that the brand was recently named No. 2 on the 2014 list of initial quality by J.D. Power. So with scheduled maintenance, the garage may not be a frequent stop for owners of a Jag. And the Land Rovers

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 23

are now ahead of Infiniti, Acura and Jeep in quality and problems experiences by owners. Hennessy Jaguar/Land Rover is seeing a reduction in the times their vehicles are in the shop, which leads to more time enjoying the cars on the road.

“Both Land Rover and Jaguar are owned by Tata International, which has been the best steward and advocate of the brand we have experienced during my time with the company,” Carrin explains. “They have poured billions of dollars into research of both Jaguar and Land Rover, and they hold people accountable. I think this is why we have seen the quality of our cars improve so dramatically.”

Maybe your idea of a nice Saturday afternoon includes a drive through the winding

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ter we host a customer appreciation event. In the case of our Land Rover owners, at least one of those annually will be an off-road driving event,” Carrin says. “The company maintains a large piece of property down in South Fulton County on the Chattahoochee River with designated trails for off-road driving instruction.

We recognize that most of our customer’s cars never leave the pavement, so it gives us an opportunity to take them out and show them what they and their vehicle are capable of. And I think Land Rover is well justified in carrying the term, ‘the best 4x4 vehicle in the world.’”

Carrin has opportunities to share with his Jaguar family as well. “An example of the type of things we do for our Jaguar owners is a driving event up to Montaluce Winery and Estates in Dahlonega,” he says. “There, we hosted a tour of the winery, a wine tasting and lunch.

Very soon, we have a trip to Gibbs Gardens planned, which is located in Northwest Georgia. We also host the Atlanta Jaguar Society’s annual Concours D’elegance in September.”

The Concours D’ elegance is a gathering of luxury cars and their owners for judging, special rides and fellowship among car-lovers.

“We try to involve ourselves in our community,” Carrin explains. “We recognize that the community is our lifeblood and with that comes an obligation to return things to our community.”

In line with Hennessy’s commitment to the community, they also host several charity events throughout the year – one example being a golf tournament to benefit the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

“We are always open to charities we feel are a worthy cause, and that will allow us to show our appreciation to the community around us,” Carrin says.

This October, Hennessy Jaguar/Land Rover North Point is breaking ground on a $1.5 million expansion of the dealership in hopes of providing a better buying experience for their neighbors, family and friends. The cars are works of art, and it seems that Carrin and his crew at North Point have created a masterpiece with the car-buying process. VVV

Visit Hennessy online at roads of the North Georgia mountains as you hug corners in your Jaguar F-Type. Or perhaps you crave the thrill and adrenaline rush that comes with an off-road course in a Land Rover LR2. Well, you’re in luck because Jaguar and Land Rover customers are offered outings of this type, all courtesy of the Hennessy team.

“What I find most unique is that each quar-

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little If Amberwood East was graded on their preschool curriculum, they would likely be head-of-the-class. p hotos D erek Bell text Erin d eM esq uita

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I

t’s 6 a.m., the start of a new day. As the sun prepares for its daily debut, bundled babes are tenderly lifted from car seats and sleepy-eyed sprouts are stumbling to the front door of Amberwood East Preschool.

Greeting the wobbling tots are the wide smiles of the owner and the director, father/ daughter duo Jerry Taylor and Vicki Baird. As the children say goodbye to their families for the day, they say hello to another at 16 O’Neil Street.

This particular family has a passionate investment in the happiness and well-being of children; in fact, it is their life’s work. A children’s pastor for over 30 years, Taylor lent his daughter the example and the experience that lead her to a career in nurturing our young people. Taylor recalls a puppet show performance he put on for his spiritual pupils. He chuckles, remembering the sight of 7-year-old Baird mouthing the words to the entire performance from her cross-legged position in the audience.

After assisting her father for 10 of his 30 pastoral years, she went on to plan the words for her own lessons and potential puppet show performances; she followed suit and became a children’s pastor.

It was the children that brought Baird to Rome by way of her native state, Ohio; she accepted a job with the North Rome Church of God as their children’s pastor. Five years later, Taylor and his wife, Darlene, were Tammy ready to join their daughter in her city and in her new business venture to establish her own preschool, utilizing her faith, her experience and her love for children.

“This was just a natural progression for us; we love kids,” Taylor beams.

“There are not a lot of Christian preschools in this area,” Baird says. “We felt like the need was great for that type of ministry.”

Just over a year ago, an opportunity arose in the form of a business offer to purchase an established preschool with which Baird already held ties and deeply admired. Since Amberwood already maintained a Christian base, a facility and a footprint in the Rome community, Baird needed only to make it her own.

As soon as breakfast has been gobbled, the energy begins to surface. Dull moments and dull pigments are non-existent here. From floor to ceiling, classrooms are accessorized with colorful compilations of letters, numbers, artwork and animals. Organized cubbies line the walls, filled with every type of toy, block and

book imaginable. Giggles and squeals echo through the hallways as the 75 currently enrolled children eagerly embark on the rest of their day at Amberwood under the watchful eye and nurturing wing of a thoroughly trained staff.

A total of 19 employees and one right-hand assistant, Tammy Perry, round out the delightfully exuberant air of the Amberwood family.

Of those 19 staff members, all are CPR certified and 15 are Child Development Associate degree-holders (CDA certified).

While Baird’s process of accepting new

with its own schedule and teachers (always two per room if need be). The teachers use a faithbased curriculum called Pinnacle, and while there is a different lesson plan for each age, emphasis can always be found on language, motor skills, art, music and movement, and sensory exploration.

Each week yields a different theme, whether it be “My Friends,” “Colors and Shapes” or “Opposites,” and there is always a Bible focus that incorporates the spiritual element that Baird feels is so important. And since Amber-

Perry, Vicki Baird, Jerry Taylor

" What we try to impact here is a preschool mentality, using a Christian curriculum, to be of help to the community and a servant to our families by providing structure, safety and a home environment for their children." employees is very thorough (initial interviews, reference and background checks, situational interviews, certification authorizations etc.), fortunately, it is not something that has to be done often. Tenure for current teachers at Amberwood sits at a high of 11 years.

“We strive not to have a big turnover in teachers because our kids get attached to their teachers, and the teachers to them,” Taylor explains. “Having a new teacher come in changes the entire dynamic for the child.”

That dynamic, for Amberwood, is all about stimulation, interaction and progression; beware of the word “babysitter” amongst these color-splashed walls. There are six classrooms (A-F) divided by age from infant to pre-K, each

wood has no TVs (except one for an occasional Friday movie), parents and prospective parents can be sure that cartoon binge watching and cheese puff gorging will never have a place in the lesson plans.

Georgia childcare standards and criteria are outlined and enforced by Bright from the Start: the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, but Baird considers those guidelines as the minimum. “We try to take it a step beyond that,” she says. “Our goal is that by the time [the kids] leave pre-K, they can read a small book, and they know all of their sight words, thus achieving all of their milestones for kindergarten.”

Her efforts to go above and beyond begin

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with her teachers, who are required to have lesson plans prepared for each week, at which point, Baird sits down with them, one on one, to review the material.

“It’s more than just daycare to us,” she says.

“We really are impacting [the children]. What they’re going to learn here, they’re going to take with them forever.”

Going beyond the minimum seems to be regular practice for Amberwood East. Weekly extracurricular activities like ballet, piano and soccer are provided to the children. “We really feel like home time should be the most important time [parents have] with their children, so instead of them rushing around to [fit in] these extracurriculars, we try to have them come to us,” Baird says. “That gives mom and dad more time with their kids.”

Taylor and Baird are both very attuned to the fact they are caring for the most precious commodity a family can have, always putting the welfare of the children above all else. The emotional investment formed with each individual child is a constant fuel for the instructors at Amberwood, perpetually reflected in their smiles and enthusiasm, their interaction, and their patience. And patience is definitely a virtue here; with the good days, always come the bad. Potty training and cutting first teeth can absolutely make for a few trying days, but the staffers at Amberwood seem to take those days in charismatic stride.

Also taken in stride are the growing expectations from parents. In working with children over the years, Baird has dealt with a number of hopes and requests from parents, from inclusion of technology to specific dietary needs. Her idea of meeting those expectations is quite simple, listen and then implement.

“We could be sticklers and say, ‘Well we only provide this,’ but we want to go above and beyond that, so we make arrangements for each child because we want that parent to feel comfortable,” Perry says. “We

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don’t mind taking that extra step because we care about [parents] and their children.”

Baird expresses that establishing a relationship with the children and with the parents are on an equal plane, saying, “We have had parents that have gone through life changes, whether it be divorce or losing loved ones. We try to be an outreach to them. We are here for them, too.” After all, what is a family for?

Security is tight under the Amberwood roof.

Upon entering the building, a Procare Software system awaits the fingerprints of parents and employees; if you don’t scan, you don’t get in.

Baird hopes to install a Procare Keyless Entry system for front door security. While they have never had a problem, she knows that it only takes one time.

As the curtains are drawn on summer days, Amberwood prepares for fall enrollment. The grins on the faces of Baird, Taylor and Perry are practically seconds away from bursting giggles as they talk about the new set of twins arriving this fall; that will make five sets in all under the Amberwood roof. The staff will be especially busy planning for their upcoming Open House, pumpkin patch trip and Christmas program.

Parents are always welcome to peek in on the sights and sounds of their child’s daily surroundings, and prospective parents are encouraged to schedule a tour and bring the kids along. After a thorough tour experience, Baird encourages a family to shop around,

to be and [parents] can see that in us and in the teachers and they feel it in the environment.”

In fact, sometimes the kids don’t want to leave. Baird laughs and admits that she and the rest of the staff love it when a child wants to stay because it’s the perfect testament to Amberwood's family-centered investment.

“What we try to impact here is a preschool mentality, using a Christian curriculum, to be of help to the community and a servant to our families by providing structure, safety and a home environment for their children,” Baird

says, although you can tell she could say so much more. With warmth, she adds, “We are a family. We are involved in some of the most precious years of these kids’ lives and so we want to make sure they’re the best.” VVV

Call 706-291-9977 to schedule a tour and bring the kids! Located at 16 O'neill Street, Rome, GA.

so to speak, and check out other preschools because each family and each child will have different needs and expectations.

Baird is right on point when she says, “It is probably one of the most important decisions they’re going to make in their child’s life, who they are entrusting them with.”

“I’ve had parents come in literally in tears because they are leaving a bad experience,” Perry says. Almost reluctant to boast, she adds, “The truth is, we are good. This is a great place

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 31

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FLOWERS FOR

ELLEN First lady Ellen Axson Wilson gave her life to her country and gives Rome’s Myrtle Hill Cemetery a kiss from a rose. p hotos D erek Bel l and Rome Area Histor y M useum text L uke Chaf f in

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T

he term “first lady” usually conjures images of a president’s wife, one who wraps herself in a special cause, or perhaps a woman dressed in a beautiful gown fit for state dinners and inaugurations.

But Merriam-Webster also draws a picture of a first lady as “the leading woman of an art or profession,” one who leads the charge and exemplifies the vocation in which she excels.

Rome’s Ellen Axson Wilson lived up to all definitions and notions of the term “first lady” – with or without a stately Washington, D.C. home.

As the beloved first wife of 28th President Woodrow Wilson, Ellen crafted and formed the role of first lady as many Americans and members of the global society know it today. Ellen painted the picture of what the official White House hostess could be and should be, as she championed for better living conditions for the poor who lived in the shanties strewn about the nation’s capital.

An accomplished impressionist painter, Ellen also covered the canvas of Washington and the world at large with her talent, intellect and sophistication.

“Painting was not just a hobby for Ellen; it was a fulfillment of a life's desire to paint,” says Layton Roberts, Rome businessman and art collector.

Ellen not only left her mark on the lives of the impoverished, but also through beautifi-

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cation projects in and around the president’s house, including the creation of the famous White House Rose Garden just outside of the Oval Office. Press conferences, small dinners, special events and photo opportunities still take place in this iconic spot today.

Born in Savannah, Ga., in 1860, Ellen Louise Axson came to call Rome her home after her father answered the call to become the minister of the First Presbyterian Church. The future first lady learned early of the fleeting nature of life, having lost a mother shortly following the birth of Ellen’s much younger sister, Madge.

ship formed by way of Rome and Atlanta, but the miles did not keep them a part. Following another chance meeting in North Carolina, Ellen and her friend Woodrow became betrothed.

Her artistic prowess had to sit on the backburner as a young Ellen cared for a sickly father and the rest of the family, following a move back to the Georgia coast. The reverend passed away in May 1884, leaving Ellen an inheritance that allowed the blossoming painter to study at the Art Students League of New York City the following fall. The young artist took classes in drawing and painting, studying under the

“She was the first first lady to have her own causes other than that of her husband, the first to accompany the president on the campaign trail, and the first to earn money from her own career...”

It is not widely known that Ellen met the future love of her life (and future president) one Sunday morning in April 1883 at her father’s church in downtown Rome. Then-lawyer Woodrow Wilson had been visiting Roman relatives and taking care of other family business when their paths crossed. A long-distance relation-

experts of the day alongside friend and fellow Roman Anna McNulty Lester. It was at her new church in the big city that she began to do mission work and participate in other charitable causes.

Ellen did not get the opportunity the complete her studies, however, because the future

Mrs. Wilson was prompted by her fiancé to marry him in June 1885. Over the next few years, the two became parents to three daughters and lived a happily married life in various locales as Woodrow’s work in higher education took him around the eastern seaboard.

Beyond her studies in New York, Ellen also had the chance to learn and create at art colonies in New Hampshire and Connecticut. Ellen’s work attracted interest and in 1913 she was the sole talent at a one-woman art show in Philadelphia.

In 1914, the Rome Chamber of Commerce decided to throw a special homecoming to celebrate the sophisticated and progressive community that Rome was quickly becoming.

Integral to “The Homecoming,” as it was officially called, famous Romans past and present were invited to return for the festivities that October. The most notable Roman at the time was Mrs. Wilson, who graciously accepted.

In the months that followed her response, Ellen grew weaker as a result of a kidney disorder that she had suffered with for several years.

Bright’s disease, as it was then called, ultimately took her life on Aug. 6, 1914, just a few months shy of what was supposed to be a joyous return to Rome. She was 54.

“She not only was a beautiful southern lady, wife and mother – she was also an activist for social causes, an artist, scholar and mentor,” says Nancy Smith, Rome Area Council for the Arts

(RACA) Board member.

Ellen was more than just a gracious hostess and president’s wife who welcomed dignitaries and other guests to her home.

Ellen was a trailblazer.

“She was the first first lady to have her own causes other than that of her husband, the first to accompany the president on the campaign trail, and the first to earn money from her own career,” says Emily Hjort, RACA Board president.

Now, 100 years later, the Rome Area Council for the Arts and Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum are honoring the memory of the first lady with the Ellen Axson Wilson Homecoming. The centennial commemoration began in July with the opening of a gallery exhibition featuring 22 of Ellen’s original oil paintings at The Martha Berry Museum.

Nancy Smith, RACA Board Member

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Woodrow Wilson with his wife and three daughters The plein-air pieces on display showcase beautiful landscapes in the American impressionist style. Ellen’s natural and trained ability can be observed through these masterpieces of various sizes. The paintings will hang in the gallery until Nov. 1, and are a part of admission onto the mansion grounds.

“Ellen and Martha Berry actually knew each other as young women in Rome,” says Tim Brown, director of Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum and Historic Berry. “As an artist who could have profited from her work, she really didn’t feel comfortable receiving money as the president’s wife, so she donated proceeds to fund a scholarship to the developing Berry Schools in her brother, Edward’s, name.”

So just how did Rome get such a high-profile exhibition from one of her most famous residents, you may ask? The project started about two years ago when Layton Roberts donated a large oil painting of Woodrow Wilson by John Dunsmore to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Virginia. Completed in 1916, the work is titled “The Problem” and shows Wilson at his desk as America is on the brink of the

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Ellen Axson Wilson funeral at Myrtle Hill, mourners at entrance

South Broad Bridge Ellen Wilson funeral 1914 first World War. In exchange for the large-scale work, it was negotiated that Rome be the final stop on the traveling exhibition of Ellen’s work.

A painting of Ellen with her daughters by Robert Vonnoh, one of Ellen’s former instructors, is one of the first pieces that greets visitors at the exhibit. Also a part of the installation is a painting of Ellen that will be familiar to many who have seen it prominently displayed at the Sara Hightower Regional Library in downtown Rome.

“This painting of the first lady truly completed the exhibition and gave context to the rest of the show,” notes Brown. “We are so thankful

to RACA and to the Sara Hightower Regional Library for their participation in this exhibition.”

In addition to the library and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, artwork from the Woodrow Wilson House and, in particular, a piece of Ellen’s entitled “Maples” from Layton Roberts’ personal collection round out the Rome leg of the installation.

On the heels of the exhibition and a centennial memorial service held just last month, the Homecoming Committee has also scheduled other events that honor Ellen’s contributions and life’s work, both as an artist and an activist.

On Sept. 11, the Berry College Science Center’s McAlister Hall Auditorium will play host to a special lecture by Pulitzer Prize nominee Kristie Miller, author of “Ellen & Edith, Woodrow Wilson’s First Ladies.” The biographer will share more about the story of Ellen and her relationship with Woodrow, while contrasting the two first ladies at this free event. A book signing with Miller will take place on Friday, Sept. 12, at Dogwood Books in Rome and on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Barnes & Noble in Rome.

On the evening of Sept. 13, the community is invited to come together once again for the Ellen Axson Wilson Gala at Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum. The event will feature music from the Rome Symphony Orchestra and welcome such honored guests as Gov. Nathan Deal and First Lady Sandra Deal, who will speak on the role of the first lady. Guests will enjoy savory-period food similar to the cuisine served in the White House during the Wilson administration, as well as beautiful period décor. During this black tie-optional affair, the gallery installation will be available for viewing just inside the doors of the adjacent museum.

Later in the fall, the Northwest Georgia community will have the opportunity to see a free exhibit of Ellen’s personal belongings, photos and other memorabilia that will be on display in the Rome Area History Museum, also coinciding with the commemorative celebration.

“These events provide the citizens of Georgia a closer look at Rome’s first lady and the impact that she had on the world, both as an artist and as the first lady,” says Roberts.

The magnum opus of the centennial celebration will be a bronze statue of Ellen that is slated to be erected at the Town Green by the spring of 2015. There, Rome’s first lady will be

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Ellen Wilson Landscape Pink Flowers

" She not only was a beautiful southern lady, wife and mother—she was also an activist for social causes, an artist, scholar and mentor."

Ellen Wilson

able to welcome visitors and locals to the new center of historic downtown Rome, poised with a perfect view of the confluence of Rome’s three rivers, easel at her side, paint brush in hand.

When Ellen was not using her hands to paint, she used them to reach out to the masses, for those who had no voice.

“Mrs. Wilson would certainly be considered one of Rome’s most important citizens and we are thrilled to honor her as such,” says Hjort. “To be able to display the art of a former first lady of the United States of America to any community is indeed a gift; presenting Mrs. Wilson’s beloved art collection to her hometown community is an honor.”

Ellen’s final resting place above downtown Rome at historic Myrtle Hill

Cemetery is free and open to the public to visit during daylight hours. She is buried there alongside her parents and her brother. The shaded family plot on one of the cemetery’s six terraces is both reserved and elegant, just like Ellen. VVV

For more information about Rome’s first lady and the Ellen Axson Wilson Homecoming commemorative events, or to purchase tickets for the September gala, call 706-250-1ART or visit www.RomeArts.org. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 39

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Brent and Andrea Bell

Answering

THE BELL

DARLINGTON SCHOOL

is well known for its long legacy of commitment to excellence in all things education. Teachers partner with parents to provide the best possible educational experience for the bright young students who will take the wheel and drive us into the future. Matt Davis of 95.7 The Ridge recently had the opportunity to sit down with Darlington’s new head of school and find out what makes him perfect for his job.

BRENT BELL,

a 20-year educator and former basketball coach, has accepted the position of head of school and, as expected, he has no reservations about becoming a part of the Darlington and Northwest Georgia community. During his years at other schools, including Woodberry Forest School in Virginia and Randolph School in Alabama, chatter of Darlington’s great reputation in the world of education found its way to his ear. His mother and former elementary school principal instilled in him the value of a great education, and Darlington is a learning environment that exceeds his expectations.

Inspired by his wife, Andrea, and their three children as well as the lessons he gathered from his mother, Bell lets us all in on why he signed on to lead Darlington School into the 2014-15 school year and beyond with the passion and commitment that has become a standard for everyone on campus.

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students. Also, that Darlington was a school in a southern town and an international school with global perspective. I really was intrigued by the opportunities and the ambition that come with that type of learning environment. I was also really excited about traditions of the school and the affection people have for the place. They care about it and the third stanza of the school motto is “honor above everything.” That has been the motto for my career and continues to be a defining part of the sort of environments and communities I want to be a part of.

You've been noted for your inspirational leadership and strategic focus. What inspires you?

I think that certainly my family inspires me. Also, the students in the schools that I've worked in and worked with have inspired me. Those are really huge influences. In the end, we have to always remember that schools exist for children, and when we do that, we create or help create better environments for them to grow up in and be learners. We also become learners with them. I've been really fortunate to work with great colleagues in every place I've been.

How do you feel that Darlington school differentiates itself from other schools that could be considered similar?

PHOTOS DEREK BELL Q&A MATT DAVIS

MD: SO, WHAT LED YOU TO TAKE THE HEAD OF SCHOOL POSITION AT DARLINGTON? BB: First of all, Darlington has a very rich

history and is very well known in the Southeast.

People have mentioned the school to me and I was in admissions in a similar boarding school, so I have been familiar with the name for a long time. In the search process, what I really liked was the combination of day and boarding

Independent schools have their own missions and at Darlington, we believe strongly in our mission. It's literally written on the walls as you walk around campus and you can see it. I love the word “empower” in the Darlington mission.

Empowering students to learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect – and the idea that we are empowering them and helping them grow within a really strong community – is a significant differentiator. Darlington provides an academic experience that is beyond the classroom, and it is a place where many different students can find a great place to try and fulfill that mission, while learning and growing in a very high level of classes. Whether it’s on the football field, on the stage or in the music classroom, there are lots of great opportunities to pursue your passions and to learn about who you are.

What is the process of preparing for the position as head of school? I imagine there's a lot that goes into that.

That's a really good question. First of all, you have to decide that being a head of school is

something that is of interest to you. Many people move to that position from some other type of work in a school. It may be on the external side in admissions or advancement, or it maybe through the classroom or the academic ranks.

But, the role is different and you need to understand the complexities. It helps to have an interest for that. For me, my interest is the challenge of fitting puzzles together. I like the idea of having a Pre-K through 12-year school and how the various pieces fit together. I certainly wanted to have a seat at that decision-making table. So, that kind of led me on this path to being a head of school. There are significant changes, challenges and opportunities in the role. Whether it's the financial aspects of the life of the school or it’s a physical plan for the facilities and different levels of relationship engagement on a larger scale with students, teachers, and staff members, all of it is very challenging.

When you talk about Darlington, a word that comes up pretty often is tradition because of its long and rich history here. So what are your thoughts and feelings about tradition, in relation to continuing to move forward while preserving that tradition along the way?

I think Darlington gives us a great opportunity to combine two things that have struck me here, which are tradition and ambition. Darlington’s history spans more than 100 years, but it has always been a school that's looking to move forward, a school that's looking to be better and a school that focuses on the future of its students versus, say, their past. Looking through that lens of what is best for our students is really great. That is timeless. The idea that we want to continue to do what is best for our students and their future, making sure that we are continuing to learn and grow, is part of Darlington’s tradition.

Obviously you're just getting started with your journey here, so to speak, at Darlington, but what would you say your main goals are as you move forward in your career here?

My main short-term goals are to get to know the community as well as possible – to spend time with the students and bond with the faculty, staff

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 43

and constituents in the community. I've had a great time hearing stories from alumni, getting to know each of our faculty and staff members, and interacting with our students. Schools are so quiet in the summer and it’s great to have the students back. Additionally, I think that we want to make sure we are great caretakers of the mission of the school. We are focused on our students. We want them to say they feel that Darlington was a student-centered place

when they graduate or in reflection. We want to keep doing all we can to prepare them for their future. Certainly, part of my goal is to help ensure that Darlington continues to be the vital component in this community that it's been for a long time and continues to be a strong partner in everything that is going on in Rome and the surrounding areas.

My next question isn't necessarily about the school; it's about your experience so far in the community. Tell us

" …the motto of the school is: “honor above everything.” That has been the motto for my career and continues to be a defining part of the sort of environments and communities I want to be a part of."

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about your first impressions of being a Roman?

I have really enjoyed moving to Rome. Needless to say, moving is hectic and it’s pretty cool for us as a family to move into a home where people discussed what to name the town in the living room. That's pretty impressive stuff when you sit and think about the things have happened there. So, we feel very privileged for that. I love that Rome and the surrounding areas have placed such an emphasis on education. Obviously, the higher educational institutions and the other schools in the area are really great, so I look forward to learning more about them.

I think that focus is great in terms of just creating a community that's intellectually curious.

We've enjoyed wandering around downtown a little bit and look forward to exploring beyond the campus. Our boys have got 500 acres here, so they're making their way around. All the different things that we've got here on Darlington’s campus are nice to look forward to but there is also hiking at Berry, floating the river or going to some of the local events. And I'm sure my children will get into all the sports and other activities in the community. We're excited about that.

This is an opportunity for the community to get to know you better so do you have any final thoughts you would like to share?

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Just that my family and I are excited to be here, excited to be at Darlington, and excited to be a part of Rome and this really fine school. We see great days ahead for Darlington and Rome, and we look forward to being a part of that growth and that excitement.

For information about Darlington School, visit www.darlingtonschool.org For more of Matt Davis, tune in to 95.7 FM weekday mornings from 6-9 a.m.

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 45

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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!

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

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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. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 47

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vini vidi vici / v3 magazine