First in Georgia for breast cancer. It’s true. WellStar is the first breast center in Georgia to be fully accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. What does that mean to you? Outstanding, state-of-the-art treatment. Here, every woman has access to a Nurse Navigator – a go-to team member who manages coordination among your doctors and helps you understand your treatment options. Treatment is provided by an experienced team of surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists, as appropriate, who have access to the latest cancer-fighting technologies. WellStar Kennestone Hospital, for instance, offers APBI (short for accelerated partial breast irradiation), one of the newest cancer-fighting options. In fact, WellStar treats more women using APBI than any health system in the nation. If someone you love has breast cancer, please tell her to call us. No one fights harder for women’s health than WellStar. For more information on the WellStar Cancer Network, call 770-956-STAR or visit wellstar.org. Put your breast health first. We believe To schedule your screening mammogram for $130, you are stronger call 678-581-5900. than cancer. The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare through our hospitals, physicians and services. Our not-for-profit health system includes WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital), WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Medical Group; Health Parks; Urgent Care Centers, Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and WellStar Foundation. TOWNELAKER | April 2013 1 April 2013 Volume 18, Issue 12 24 79 Featured Articles In Every Issue 24 Readers’ Choice Around Towne. 4 Awards Community News. 10 & 12 The readers have spoken. Birthdays. 14 Event Calendar. .22 54 Teachers of the Year Everyday Angels. 30 Cherokee County’s finest educators TLBA . .31 50 & 51 On the Cover Church Listings. 84 Acworth Art Fest 64 Summer Camps Clubs. 86 Activities and enrichment for kids. Elected Officials. 89 School Information . .90 77 Brian Stockton Classifieds. .91 Meet downtown Woodstock’s new A digital version of the Community Numbers . .92 Economic Development Director. magazine, along with Advertisers Directory. 94 information on how to contact us, submit a story or photo, 79 Faces and Places Real Deals. .96 or advertise is available at First Friday celebration. www.townelaker.com. Contributing Writers Peter Allen ...............................................41 Mayor Donnie Henriques ........................79 Don Akridge .............................................18 Dr. Jan Henriques .....................................42 Mark Billson .............................................62 Shelley Herod ..........................................38 Dr. Ross Brakeville ....................................46 Robyn Hohensee .....................................32 Rick Coughlin ...........................................48 Sheila & Kurt Johnson ..............................21 Michael Caldwell .....................................17 Kara Kiefer ...............................................27 Darlene DeMesa ......................................28 Dr. Mike Litrel ..........................................26 Chicka Elloy ..............................................40 Dee Locklin ..............................................36 G. Lora Grooms ........................................78 Bill Ratliff .................................................67 Dr. Scott R. Harden ..................................44 Lynne Saunders .......................................20 Patty Ponder is the Market Director for TowneLaker. She Dr. Amy Hardin ........................................47 Dr. Doug Thrasher ....................................68 can be reached at Kristina Havens ........................................76 Jodi Tiberio ..............................................72 (770) 615-3322 or [email protected]. David Hecklemoser ..................................39 Tim Timmons ...........................................34 2 TOWNELAKER | April 2013 TOWNELAKER | April 2013 3 COMMUNITY AROUND TOWNE The People, The Places and BY KARA KIEFER The Pleasures that make Towne Lake Most of us have had a teacher a lease for a building on Arnold Mill Way. Spencer Nix, CEO of or teachers who have left a Reformation Brewery, stated that it will probably be at least lasting impression. I had several summer before any production occurs. throughout my schooling, but The Cherokee County Aquatic Center is accepting registration the one I will always remember for upcoming classes. Three month and annual passes also can was my fourth grade teacher be purchased. Registration for classes and pass purchase can Mr. Rogell. At that time, it was be done online at www.crpa.net or by visiting the Recreation unusual to have a male teacher. Center, 7545 Main Street. The Center is expected to open this He was young and handsome, spring. and I don’t think there was a girl in his class that didn’t have a What’s Closed? crush on him. I’m sure I learned a thing or two from him, but to We are sad to report that Summits Wayside Tavern closed its Kara is the Editor of Townelaker magazine. this day, I still remember his “Tom Towne Lake location. The tavern opened on Eagle Drive in 2008. She lives in Towne Lake Selleck” mustache! I felt sorry for A message on its website stated, “We have had five years of fun with her husband Mike Mr. Skar, the fifth grade teacher and friendship with all of our loyal patrons in Towne Lake. It has and their two sons many of us got, because there been our pleasure to serve you and your families. It has been a Brandon and Garrett. was no way he could ever live up privilege to be a part of your lives. The Towne Lake community Feel free to send your comments or questions to our Mr. Rogell, and we always has been one that we’ve genuinely felt fortunate to be a part to editor@townelaker. compared, sometimes out loud, of. We will miss all of you and hope to see your friendly faces at com. the two teachers. one of our other locations.” Other locations include Cumming Teachers provide so much for and Snellville. our children including classroom and life lessons. They give a lot of themselves, and in the end, they want to make a difference in their students’ lives. This month, we are honoring our local Teachers of the Year on page 54 as a “thank you” for all they do. CONTEST CORNER Congratulations to Amber Bishop (left). She was the What’s New? first to spot the phrase Donna Ripley recently joined The Tomlinson Team and “Once Upon a Tree” on Prudential Georgia Realty. Donna is a Towne Lake resident and page 66 of the March brings years of experience with her. To reach Donna, call (404) issue. Amber won gift certificates at Canyon 372-1049 or email her at [email protected]. Burger Company! The Chevron gas station at Hobgood Park is under the new ownership of Danny Dutta. The station has been renovated Congratulations to Lyla Dennis (right). She was the first to find and now offers food service, including fried chicken. “I have our hidden picture on page 65. Lyla won gift certificates at brought in professional management, and we are highly focused Canyon Burger Company and Chick-fil-A! on customer service,” said Danny. Chevron is located at 5195 Towne Lake Parkway. Call (678) 858-7432. April Finds: Magnolia Thomas House recently made some design If you know the answer to the Find the improvements to its restaurant. It had closed its doors contest question or find the hidden temporarily but re-opened late last month. For more hidden picture, be the first to picture: information, visit www.magnoliathomas.com or call (678) 445- e-mail editor@townelaker. 5789. com. Please provide your name, contact phone number or email Be the first to What’s Coming? address. find the phrase: “Stop by and pick up a A Cherokee County based brewery is one step closer to Contest rules: A winner is eligible once every 12 months. Family Pack” opening in Woodstock. Reformation Brewery recently signed 4 TOWNELAKER | April 2013 TOWNELAKER | April 2013 5 COMMUNITY BOARD Townelaker Publisher AroundAbout Local Media, Inc. The TowneLaker Community Board consists of well-respected Market Director community leaders, from different walks of life. Our Board assists Patty Ponder us in many ways including contributing to our magazine, judging [email protected], (770) 615-3322 our annual Trailblazer award and providing valuable feedback. Our Board consists of four members: Dr. Doug Thrasher, Colin Morris, Gay Executive Editor Grooms and Dr. Scott Harden. Kara Kiefer [email protected], (770) 615-3309 Dr. Doug Thrasher — Doug is the Senior Pastor Art Director at Hillside United Methodist Church. He has Michelle McCulloch [email protected], (770) 615-3307 lived in the Towne Lake area and served at Hillside for six years. He and his wife, Debbie, Digital Marketing Director live in Eagle Watch, and they have two married James Ball children and four precious grandchildren. Doug [email protected], (770) 615-3310 can be reached at [email protected]. TowneLaker, a publication of AroundAbout Local Media, Inc., is a monthly community magazine. The magazine’s goal is to build a sense of community Colin Morris — Colin is a freelance writer and and pride in the Towne Lake and surrounding area stay-at-home mom to three children whom by providing its residents with positive stories and she describes as “two ninja sons and one dog- timely