Mar 22, 2016
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Acworth Art Fest 20
Aqua Guard Basements 65
Atlanta Communities 11
Atlanta Fine Homes - Jim Glover 44
Atlanta Kubota 53
Atlanta Lyric Theatre 56
Blackwell's Jewelers 31
Carpet Dry Tech 59
Christian Aid Mission Partnership 28
Cobb Hardware 64
Cochran Shutters 27
Compassionate Care Ministries 61
Cumberland Diamond Exchange 41
Debbie Redford - All Around Atlanta
Realty 61
Dermatology Consultants 26
Emory Adventist 45
Expert Carmedics 14
Fleming Carpet 37
Fresh N Fit 59
Gaines Park Assisted Living Home 30
GEICO 48
Georgia Memorial Park 46
Harry Norman 12
Henry's Louisiana Grill 19
Hutcheson Horticulture 23
Johnson Ferry Baptist 49
Kiss My Grass 38
Life Grocery 6
Marietta Art Walk 58
Marietta Cobb Museum of Art 21
Marietta Imaging 38
Marietta Podiatry 30
Marlowe's Tavern 18
Mayes Ward - Dobbins Funeral Home 67
Miracle Method 11
Next Stage Theatre 55
Northside Hospital 5
Northside Sleep Center 39
Parc @ Piedmont 4
Pinnacle Orthopaedics 3
Plastic Surgery Center of the South 33
Podiatry Group of Georgia 19
Presbyterian Village 54
Robins Realty 63
Roswell Street Baptist 10
Sterling Senior Living 47
Sue Hilton 36
Sundial Plumbing 15
Superior Plumbing 2 & 62
The Bottoms Group 7
The Framery 23
Three 13 Salon 31
Traditions In Tile 9
Wellstar 68
West Cobb Funeral Home 51
White Rabbit 40
Winnwood Retirement 13
I N D E X O F A D V E R T I S E R S
E X E C U T I V E
PUBLISHEROtis Brumby III
GENERAL MANAGERLee B. Garrett
V.P. ADVERTISINGWade Stephens
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERJay Whorton
E D I TO R I A L S TA F F
DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINESMark Wallace Maguire
LAYOUT AND DESIGNStacey L. Evans, Mark Wallace Maguire
CONTRIBUTORSAllen Bell, Joan Durbin,
Stacey L. Evans, Lindsay Field, Kevin Hazzard, Michael Pallerino,
Meredith Pruden, Lee Reich,Michael Venezia
PHOTOGRAPHERJennifer Carter
PHOTOGRAPHYJoshua Campbell, Nathan Self
PHOTO ASSISTANTMarti Sacks
PROOFREADERSBeth Poirier, Jennifer Hall, Anna Clark
A DV E RT I S I N G S TA F F
COBB ADVERTISING MANAGERBecky Opitz
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESStephanie deJarnette, Dawne Edge,
Paula Milton, Candace Hallford, Tara Guest, Charlene Kay, Katelyn Ledford,
Kelly Miears, Liz Ridley
DIGITAL ADVERTISING DIRECTORAllison Bentley
GRAPHIC DESIGNERSBeth Poirier, Jennifer Hall, Anna Clark
P RO D U C T I O N
CREATIVE DIRECTORLeigh Hall
CIRCULATION DIRECTORMatt Heck
I N F O R M AT I O N
Cobb Life magazine is published nine timesa year by the Marietta Daily Journal and
distributed to more than 33,500 homes andbusinesses.
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICESTo subscribe, visit our website at www.cobblifemagazine.com
ADVERTISINGTo advertise, contact
Wade Stephens at 770.795.4001
SUBMISSIONSPlease send all editorial correspondence to
Cobb LifeMarch 2013 � Volume 9, Issue 2
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W H A T ’ S I N S I D E
22 DIAMONDS IN COBB National eventcoming to Marietta
29 RISING STARS Profiles of Cobb’s youngmovers and shakers
50 ADORNING ARBORS How to keepvines under control
52 OH DEER Let these creatures help,rather than harm, your landscape
16 SPICE Discover the Aromaof fresh roasted coffee beansin northeast Cobb
24 WINE Our expert delvesinto the science of blends
i n e v e r y i s s u e
d e p a r t m e n t sf e a t u r e s
FROM THE DIRECTOR
NEWS & NOTEWORTHY
HIGHLIGHTS
SCENE
REFLECTIONS
24
08
10
54
57
66
29 16
ON THE COVER: Our 20 RisingStars of 2013.
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I made the phone call before 8 a.m. on a
rainy Friday morning.
Our food writer, another early riser, was
at her desk and picked up the phone on the
first ring.
“Joan,” I told her, a tinge of seriousness to
my voice. “I’ve got some bad news and I
hate to tell you that it in part concerns you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I’ve been summoned.”
Silence.
“I got a requisition last night when
I returned home from the Society of
Southern Gentlemen threatening to
take away my credentials after they
heard I ate several pieces of sushi
yesterday. You can imagine, as a sev-
enth-generation Georgian, how hard
this is for me and my family. They
are threatening to confiscate all my seer-
sucker, my Ferrol Sams and Flannery
O’Conner novels and put forth a statement
that I cannot ever use terms such as ‘knee
high to a grasshopper’ and ‘happy as a mule
eatin’ briers’ again.”
Joan, a good sport who has worked with
me over a decade and understands my droll
sense of humor, laughed.
She had been concerned the day prior
when we photographed a restaurant and,
following years of refusal, I finally ate
sushi. I didn’t have an anti-sushi complex,
rather an anti-fish thing. Raised in mainly
cities growing up – and none of them within
a few hours of the coast – my family rarely
ate seafood or country fried catfish, trout,
bass or the like.
My only true love for fish is
the delectable tastes of Captain
D’s or Long John Silver’s.
So I wasn’t at a point in my
life to try out anything new fish
or fish-related. But I was sitting
in a restaurant with the best food
writer in metro Atlanta. I real-
ized my life was proba-
bly over half over (not to
be macabre, but I hit 40
this year) and said,
“What the heck. Let’s do
this.”
I wound up eating six
pieces.
I won’t needlessly
gush here and say it was
the best dining experience of my
life and the chances of my ac-
tively seeking sushi again are
high - say as opposed to a good
steak or savory rack of lamb. But
it was good. It was a new experi-
ence and it was worth trying.
Again, what the heck, let’s do
this.
Maybe that is where it is all
heading now as I near the 40
mark.
The great Southern writer
Lewis Grizzard once wrote he
will try anything once and then
related how he sneezed out a
very pricey amount of cocaine
onto the dashboard of someone’s
pick-up. I surely am not going as
far as trying everything once –
especially anything involving
cocaine and a pick up truck.
But, I am realizing, that time
does not stop at age 22. Opportu-
nities and occasions don’t al-
ways pass your way twice.
So, this year I might venture to
try some more new experiences.
I’ve done my share of outdoor
adventures, chock full of hiking
and biking on two continents,
rock climbing, white water raft-
ing and even been stricken with
the unforgettable experience of
having food poisoning while
traveling in a foreign country
alone.
I also have enough excitement
working, raising two young boys
and trying to be a decent hus-
band to need to give skydiving
or hang gliding a try.
But, I am also coming to the
revelation that minor adventures
should not be forsaken.
A bit of sushi might be just the
jump start I need before settling
into a routine.
Mark Wallace Maguire
F R O M T H E D I R E C T O R
‘What the heck. Let’s do this’
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s t a y c o n n e c t e d
Like our print edition, but wantmore?You can visit our website,
www.cobblifemagazine.com for
exclusive content, including play
reviews, updated blogs and rare
photos. You can also follow us on
facebook and twitter.
Beef and bowties? Yes. Just a small part of our
MAN ISSUE coming in April!
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Two of Marietta Square’s best-known restaurants have new owners. Sterling and Nancy Wharton of Marietta purchased both Willie Rae’s and Sim-patico in January from longtime owner Ben Lyman. The two eateries have beenmainstays of “restaurant row” on North Park for years. The Whartons plan to lettheir daughter Katie Pfister and husband Micah — both of whom are accom-plished chefs — run the restaurants. The menu at Willie Rae’s will remain mostlythe same, with the addition of some Simpatico favorites.
Meanwhile, Simpatico is joining the trend of “local fare-to-table” movement byrelying heavily on growers from Cobb County, many of whom can be found atthe popular Marietta Farmers’ Market on the Square, Wharton said.
In another big change, the Pfisters will open a bakery upstairs in Simpatico,which will produce all the breads and desserts offered downstairs. Other plansinclude having late-night hours to capture the “after-show” crowd from theStrand, Wharton said. Simpatico will also get an updated interior, he said.
Pier 213 Seafood opened in February onS. Marietta Parkway not far from theSquare. Marietta residents and brother andsister Kevin and Kammie Sakprasit arebringing a variety of fried, grilled andsteamed plates of seafood to diners in afast casual restaurant.
The menu focuses on high-quality ingredi-ents and freshly-caught seafood from theGulf Coast. The siblings also own IrvingtonSeafood in Mobile, Alabama, and havebeen supplying metro area restaurants withseafood for the last eight years.
Signature items at Pier 213 include a crabcake dish made with plump crab meat,richly seasoned and pan-fried. In addition totheir regular menu, Pier 213 frequently of-fers shrimp, crab and crawfish low-countryboils on a seasonal basis. The family-friendly restaurant also has a special menufor children.
Inside the nautical-themed 3,200-square-foot dining area, the restaurant seats up to80 guests. The spacious patio can seat upto 16 diners.
Pier 213 Seafood is at 35 S. MariettaParkway in Marietta and is open daily. Formore information about Pier 213, call (678)290-8170 or visit pier213.com.
[ f o o d a n d d i n i n g ]
GOT AN ITEM FOR NEWSAND NOTEWORTHY?
Tell us! Just send us anemail at mmaguire@
cobblifemagazine.com.We want to hear from
you!
Culinary changes afootTwo downtown Marietta staples get new owners
New seafood restaurant Pier 213 opens
Cobb Life March 201310
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n e w s & n o t e w o r t h y
[ p e o p l e ]East Cobb’s Eric E. Jacobson, executive director forthe Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, wasrecently honored by the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACPfor the work of the council and its signature concept, theReal Communities Initiative. Real Communities waslaunched in 2009 and provides cutting-edge, intention-ally inclusive activities throughout the State with a focuson projects that create opportunities for all people - withand without disabilities - to be fully engaged in the so-cial life and civic development of their communities.
Real Communities supports programs across Georgiathat help people become better prepared to address avariety of issues that affect not only people with disabili-ties, but involve everyone in a community. Programsrange from transportation to housing to communitybuilding efforts that bring people together in new ways.GCDD'S current Real Communities Initiatives includeRefugee Family Services/Global Growers Network in At-lanta Clarkston area, City of Milton Better Together,Forsyth Farmers Market in Savannah, Centenary UnitedMethodist Church in Macon, Korean Coalition in Atlanta,Gwinnett Gives Time Bank in the Atlanta area and theCity of Fitzgerald.
March 2013 Cobb Life 11
East Cobb’s Jacobson honored by NAACP
Eric and Terri Jacobson at the banquet.
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Grow your own cure with natural herbs
[ h o m e a n dg a r d e n ]
Cobb Life March 201312
What if you could soothe a sore throat or a headache
with the snip of a scissors? Plant some herbs indoors now,
before fall sets in, and you could have a winter's worth of
folksy remedies.
Many medicinal plants, especially herbs, grow well in-
doors, says Amy Jeanroy, who runs a greenhouse business
near her Ravenna, Neb., home, and writes and teaches
about medicinal herbs. She recommends starting with these
five: thyme, chamomile, mint, lemon balm and sage.
Each works well as a tea: Grow, cut and dry them for use
throughout the year, or use fresh herbs. To brew a tea, add
1 teaspoon of dried — or 3 teaspoons of fresh — herbs to 1
cup of boiled water; steep several minutes, then remove the
herbs.
All five herbs aid digestion, says herbalist Christina
Blume, who has taught medicinal and other herb-related
classes at the Denver Botanic Gardens.
"A lot of herbs that people already cook with are herbs
that have medicinal qualities," adds Jeanroy. "It doesn't
necessarily mean it's kicking the flu for you. It helps you."
Physician Andrew Weil maintains a list of healthful herbs
and their uses at his website, DrWeil.com.
Consult a doctor before trying to treat a health problem
with herbs, Jeanroy says.
She treats her five children with herbs such as
chamomile. "It helps with the crankiness the kids get when
they're feverish," she says.
Thyme, Jeanroy says, can soothe a throat sore from
coughing, and Blume touts its anti-viral properties.
"I always drink thyme tea when I fly," says Blume, "be-
cause you're re-breathing all that air that everyone's breath-
ing and (the tea) tastes good."
Mint — especially peppermint — is a home remedy for
an upset stomach. And it can mask the strong or bitter taste
of some other herbs, such as sage, which can soothe mouth
sores and bleeding gums after dental work, says Jeanroy.
Lemon balm can be drunk as a tea to counter headaches,
added to other medicinal teas to mask an unpleasant taste,
or steeped stronger to make a topical, antiseptic cleanser
for a skinned knee or itchy bug bite, she says.
"If there's one herb that does tons of great stuff, lemon
balm is it," says Jeanroy.
Medicinal gardens are centuries old; modern ones date
back to the apothecary gardens of the Italian Renaissance
during the 16th century, says Teresa Mazikowski, a staff
gardener who spearheaded the Buffalo and Erie County
(N.Y.) Botanical Gardens' indoor medicinal garden last Oc-
tober.
Botanical gardens grew out of these early medicinal gar-
dens.
The indoor medicinal garden that Mazikowski tends goes
beyond common herbs. It was planted with public educa-
tion in mind, she says, and includes rare and tropical
plants, as well.
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The home-improvement and design shows make it look easy: Take a simplesheet of inexpensive plywood and presto! In a few minutes, you've got a table, acabinet or a lounge chair.
It's not that fast or dirt-cheap, but it can be that easy, according to woodwork-ing experts who speak fondly of plywood's many merits.
"Plywood is the starting point for many of the things I build," says artist anddesigner Jimmy DiResta of New York City. "With some imagination and inven-tiveness it can become anything."
Plywood is cheaper and often stronger than solid wood, easy to find at home-improvement or lumber stores, and — darn it — it looks good.
Plywood is made from thin layers — called plies, or veneers — glued togetherunder heat and pressure, with each ply laid perpendicular to the next. This"cross-graining" gives plywood its strength and stability, says Philip Schmidt, au-thor of "PlyDesign" (Storey Publishing, 2012).
Since plywood comes in more than a dozen standard thicknesses and twiceas many grades, check a buying guide — Home Depot has one online — beforepurchasing it. Schmidt recommends using a cabinet-grade material, such asBaltic birch, for do-it-yourself projects. The plies are thin and even, and the exte-rior is smooth, sanded and blemish-free.
"PlyDesign" includes 73 projects for novices and experienced builders. Do-it-yourself project magazines such as Ready Made and Make, and online sitessuch as Instructables offer many other ways to use plywood.
"Plywood is inherently modern, if you think of modern as starting in the1920s," says Schmidt, of Denver. "It's still beautiful wood.”
[ h o m e a n d g a r d e n ]
Plywood a solid choice for change
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Broccoli is the star of this substantial stick-to-your-ribs soup.
To be sure, there's some Canadian bacon in it, adding flavor, but
it plays only a supporting role. And just as this soup boasts
smokiness without a lot of bacon fat, it is thick and creamy with-
out any butter, cream or flour. The trick? Pureeing the vegetables.
Any soup with enough vegetables will be creamy when you
puree it. And just about any vegetable will work, though I'll
admit I smuggled in a single Yukon gold potato to assist the broc-
coli in this recipe. And by the way, a soup without a lot of cream
or butter will not only be leaner, it also will taste that much more
vividly of the vegetables with which it is made. Cream and but-
ter, much as I love them, tend to tamp down flavor.
I hope you will consider this mostly vegetable soup a suitable
candidate for the main course at dinner. With some grilled or
toasted country bread and a green salad on the side, I promise
you will be plenty satisfied.
SMOKY CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUPWITH SHARP CHEDDAR
- Start to finish: 45 minutes- Servings: 4 mains or 8 starters- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided- 3/4 pound Canadian bacon, chopped- 1 medium yellow onion, sliced (about 1 cup)- 2 pounds fresh broccoli (4 cups small florets set aside, the rest,including the stalks, trimmed of tough skin and coarsely chopped)- 1 small Yukon gold potato (about 6 ounces), scrubbed and thinlysliced- 5 cups low-sodium chicken brothKosher salt and ground black pepper- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste- 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
Heat the oven to 450 F.In a large saucepan over medium, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil.
Add the bacon and cook, stirring, for 6 to 8 minutes, or untilslightly golden. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to abowl and set aside.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add another tablespoon of theoil and the onion to the pan, and cook, stirring occasionally, untilthe onion is softened. Add the coarsely chopped broccoli (not theflorets), potato and chicken broth. Bring the broth to a boil, thenreduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes, stir-ring every so often, or until the broccoli and potatoes are very ten-der.
Meanwhile, on a rimmed baking sheet toss the florets with theremaining 2 teaspoons oil. Season with salt and pepper, thenspread in an even layer. Roast in the top third of the oven for 5minutes, or until lightly caramelized.
When the vegetables in the soup are tender, transfer the soup toa blender and puree, in batches, until smooth. Be careful and onlyfill the blender a third full each time.
Return the soup to the saucepan, along with the roasted broc-coli florets and the Canadian bacon. Add the lemon juice, thenseason with salt and pepper. Add water, if necessary, to achievethe desired texture. Ladle the soup into 4 shallow soup bowls andtop each portion with some of the cheddar. - Sara Moulton
This broccoli soup is sure to surprise
[ f o o d a n d d i n i n g ]
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The National Endowment for theArts announced in late December itwas awarding a $10,000 grant toThe Cobb Energy Performing ArtsCentre Foundation to support itsJAZZ ROOTS series.
Monies received from the grantwill support the education initiativesof the JAZZ ROOTS programlaunched by the Cobb Energy Cen-tre Foundation in 2012. The goal ofthe educational component of JAZZROOTS is to teach, inspire and en-rich young people through uniqueactive learning opportunities to ex-perience jazz music, both in the the-ater and in the classroom, includingthe cultural influences that impactthis art form.
Information: www.cobbenergy-centre.com/foundation andwww.jazzroots.net/atlanta.
[ h o m e a n d g a r d e n ]
Win brunch with DIY Network star JeffDevlin at the Spring Atlanta Home Show
The Spring Atlanta Home Show, Georgia’slargest home show (www.AtlantaHomeShow.com),will return to the Cobb Galleria Centre March 22through 24. The popular annual event will bring to-gether over 350 experts in the home remodelingand landscaping industries to showcase the latestproducts and services for homes of all sizes andstyles. Jeff Devlin of the DIY Network will bring hisentertaining blend of know-how and good humor tothe Reliable Heating & Air Home Show Stage,headlining a roster of exciting speakers who willappear throughout the three-day event.
“The Spring and Fall Atlanta Home Shows offerhomeowners one-stop shopping like no otherevent,” said show director Michael Schoppenhorst.“Here they can see new products demonstrated,ask questions, talk to the experts, comparisonshop and enjoy demonstrations by nationally-known home and landscape professionals.”
One lucky person and a guest will win the op-portunity to have brunch with Devlin on Saturday,March 23. Details on how to enter the contest willbe announced on the Atlanta Home Show’s officialFacebook page www.facebook.com/atlantahome-show. Plus, one lucky attendee will win a brandnew kitchen from IKEA.
JAZZ ROOTSmusic series receives grant
[ a r t s ]
Other speakers include WalterReeves, Tonya M. Williams andJoe Washington.
General Admission tickets are$10 and may be purchased atthe show’s entrance.
Information: 770.798.1997.
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teases your nostrils the moment
you walk through the door of the
aptly named Aroma Ridge, a specialtycoffee company
The tantalizing fragranceof roasted coffee beans
By Joan DurbinPhotog raphy by Jennifer Car ter
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“When we are roasting, a lot of our
neighbors come outside just for the aroma,”
CEO Nawal Shadeed said with a smile as she
welcomed us into the office area of the 23-
year-old family-owned business.
For coffee aficionados like me, the only
thing better than that wonderful smell is sip-
ping from a steaming mug of java brewed from
freshly roasted and ground beans. The coffee I
drank that day at Aroma Ridge was amazingly
good, far better than any I have ever been able
to make myself, even though I religiously
grind my own beans at home every morning.
Far right, NazimShaheed preparesto roast a batch.Below,CEO NawalShadeed takesfreshly-bakedWicked Jack’s Tavern Rum Cakesfrom the oven.Right, a butter andrum mixture isadded to thecakes.
17616328:CL MARCH 2013(18) 2/26/2013 11:04 AM Page 18
Podiatry Group of Georgia
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Lazer Treatment for Toenail Fungus • Sports Performance
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Plantar Fascitis • Aesthetic Podiatry • Sterile Spa Pedicures
Dr. Tammy K. Gephart
Board Certified
Podiatric Surgeon
147 Johnson Ferry Road
Suite 4230
Marietta, Georgia 30068
404.806.3731PodiatryGroupofGeorgia.com
One of the differences, Nawal said, is in the freshness of
the beans. Aroma Ridge roasts only enough beans each day
to fill orders on hand. It guarantees that the coffee a cus-
tomer buys is at its peak.
For bagged coffee, even for bulk coffees, sold at retail
markets, there is a time lapse between roasting and when it
is sold. The coffee can be sitting for days or even weeks in
warehouses and delivery trucks before it gets to store
shelves, where it can sit some more before a customer
takes it home.
But there is another major reason that Aroma Ridge’s
coffee is superior: the quality of the beans.
“We source from small established family-owned planta-
tions around the world,” Nawal said. “We’ve been around a
long time, and people we source from know our family
cares about the products they put out.”
All of the coffees are fair trade and all beans are hand
picked. “Each coffee has a story. Each coffee sack has its
own special artwork from its plantation as a form of brand-
ing,” she said.
Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Kenya, In-
donesia, Puerto Rico, Cameroon – the list of countries
sending beans to Aroma Ridge goes on and on. The Ja-
maica Blue Mountain beans are the real deal, certified by
the country’s coffee board, which permits only the highest
quality beans to be exported under the Blue Mountain
brand name.
The company also creates blends of the various beans for
even more variety. Two of these, Baba’s Blend and Mama’s
March 2013 Cobb Life 19
17616329:CL MARCH 2013(19) 2/26/2013 11:09 AM Page 19
Blend, quickly became favorites at our house.
“Baba” is Nazim Shadeed, the family patriarch who left
Lebanon when he was 16 to work in Jamaica. That’s where
he met and married Mirl, known affectionately to all as
“Mama,” learned everything he could about the coffee
trade and started a family.
When Nawal, his oldest child, was ready for college, the
Shadeeds moved to metro Atlanta so she could attend Ken-
nesaw State University. After incorporating in 1990, they
started with a three-pound coffee roaster and gradually
grew the business to what it is today, with a three-year flir-
tation with owning a retail coffee shop along the way.
Currently, the family all lives in East Cobb, just minutes
from their 11,000-square-foot space on West Oak Parkway.
Nawal and her parents all work there full time, with four
other full time employees. Other family members, even
some of the youngest ones, pitch in during busy times and
on school breaks.
They roast for 20 coffee houses and stores in the metro
area and 450 nationwide and pack the coffee with each cus-
tomer’s private label. “We help them build their own
brand,” Nawal said. “We also do a lot of fundraising for
churches and schools and baseball teams who sell our cof-
fees. We design their own order form and labels. We try to
make it so easy for them.”
Though they aren’t set up for retail sales at the ware-
house, the Shadeed family will gladly roast for small or-
ders from the public, as long as they call in the order at
least 24 hours in advance of pick up.
But there is more to Aroma Ridge than simply excellent
coffee. Wicked Jack’s Tavern rum cakes are baked on
premises using Mirl’s mother’s recipe. Appleton Estate
Rum from Jamaica is the key ingredient, with cake flavors
including chocolate, butter vanilla and red velvet.
A slice of Wicked Jack’s is almost sinfully good with a cup
of coffee, as are the luscious biscotti the Shadeeds also
bake there. I have never been a fan of biscotti, but these are
so delicately moist and full of flavor that I find them al-
most irresistible.
Aroma Ridge also makes coffees blended with all natural,
no sugar syrups for a change of pace. Those syrups are also
sold by the bottle and can be used with everything from
iced tea to ice cream.
Perhaps the most unique item Aroma Ridge sells is kopi
luwak, beans of coffee berries that have been eaten and ex-
creted by Asian civets, or “coffee mouse.” Popularized by
the film “The Bucket List,” this coffee is so rare that its
cost will startle the average consumer: $350 a pound or
$40 for two ounces, which will make a pot of 10 to 12
cups.
Coffee connoisseurs are still in the minority in Georgia,
where the sweet tea culture reigns supreme. But that is
changing, Nawal said.
“People used to buy coffee and not look at the label, but
awareness has grown and people are experimenting more.
Now there are so many different coffees to taste, it’s just
like wines,” she said.
“Life is too short to drink bad coffee.”
770.421.9600aromaridge.com1831 West Oak ParkwayMarietta 30062
17616330:CL MARCH 2013(20) 2/26/2013 11:10 AM Page 20
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Photos courtesy of Associated Press
17616332:CL MARCH 2013(22) 2/22/2013 4:03 PM Page 22
Award-Winning Landscapes Since 1989
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Design Work by Landscape Architects
Maintenance • Landscape Installation
Irrigation • Drainage • Hardscapes
Retaining Walls • Water Features
400 Arnold Mill Way | Woodstock770-924-1001
www.hutchhort.com
They will all be at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in
Marietta March 16.
Yes, one of the nation’s most esteemed events is com-
ing to Cobb County and bringing with it an A-list of ac-
tors, musicians and celebrities and helping raise (maybe
to help?) funds for a good cause.
The third annual Diamond Awards is taking place at the
theatre March 16 at 7 p.m. The event benefits the Not
Alone Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
providing financial assistance and educational and med-
ical resources for chronic kidney disease and end-stage
renal disease.
The event is being presented by Coca-Cola.
Cobb Life is a media sponsor.
In addition to the awards ceremony hosted by Emmy
Award winning actress Jackee Harry, The Coca-Cola
Corporation and The Not Alone Foundation have created
a bevy of events that will allow the public to interact
with celebrities, support collegiate scholars and raise
much needed contributions for the foundation’s general
fund.
Here is a brief overview of events throughout the week-
end:
- On Friday, March 15 at 9 a.m. the J.W. Marriot, Buck-
head will host The Diamond Awards Educational Sum-
mit. At Noon, Canton, Georgia’s Bridge Athletic Club
will be the venue as The Coca-Cola Corporation honors
men of distinction Ahmad Rashad, Alan Thicke and Ken
Howard at a reception to kick off the First Annual Not
Alone Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament.
- On March 16, host Jackee Harry will serve as the
celebrity ambassador for The Not Alone Foundation’s
signature program Laps for Life. From 9 a.m. to noon,
the Marietta Square will serve as the backdrop for free
health screenings, college and corporate recruitment
programs and one of the liveliest outdoor fundraisers of
the season.
- Directly following The Third Annual Diamond Awards
presentation, the weekend will conclude with the Chair-
man’s Annual Dinner. The invitation only banquet will
offer honorees, presenters, sponsors, VIPs and media the
opportunity to celebrate the many successes and accom-
plishments of the weekend events.
What do Paula Abdul,Dionne Warwick, Eric Benet,Lou Gossett, Jr. and Dr. Drew have in common?
17616333:CL MARCH 2013(23) 2/22/2013 4:04 PM Page 23
17616334:CL MARCH 2013(24) 2/22/2013 12:25 PM Page 24
Just as a chef utilizes a number of ingredi-ents to enhance a basic recipe, a wine-
maker will often incorporate any number ofblending variables to produce a wine whichultimately combines many different compo-nents with the hope of making a more com-
plete, complex and flavorful wine.
of f lavorsfusion
By Michael VeneziaPhotography byJennifer Carter
blends produce a
17616334:CL MARCH 2013(24) 2/22/2013 12:26 PM Page 25
Cobb Life March 201326
The Blend – Old World ModelMany producers are bound by tradi-
tional regulations which dictate several
rules which must be adhered to in wine
production. The French AOC (Appellation
d’Origine Controlee) and the Italian DOC
(Denominazione d’Origine Controllata),
are the two classic benchmarks.
Although many of the world’s most fa-
mous wines are blends of several compati-
ble varietals, many new world wine
regions such as California are not bound
by these old world regulations. For exam-
ple the Bordeaux region of France under
AOC compels the producer to fashion his
red wine from any combination of ap-
proved varietals. Therefore if a red wine is
produced in Bordeaux, the winemaker is
required to compose the blend from as
many as five grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon,
merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot and
malbec are the only red grapes permitted
under the AOC law. However there is no
regulation as to what percentage of each
must appear in the final blend.
This practice is based on the unpre-
dictable vagaries of Mother Nature and the
challenging weather patterns which affect
this region of Southwest France. As each
varietal has its unique growth cycle, the
prevailing climate conditions during a par-
ticular year will dictate when specific vari-
etals are harvested based on their ripeness
and what percentage will ultimately be
used in the final blend.
17616336:CL MARCH 2013(26) 2/22/2013 12:22 PM Page 26
March 2013 Cobb Life 27
The Blend - New World ModelCalifornia, America’s premier wine
growing area, often promotes on the label
the name of the prominent varietal. By
law, in order for a wine to read cabernet
sauvignon or any variety, it must contain
at least 75 percent of the named grape.
This gives the producer the opportunity
to blend up to a quarter of the wines’ total
constituents into the finished product.
This gives the winemaker the ability to
determine what will happily cohabitate in
the finished wine, enhancing the color,
aroma, and sensory impact of the final
blend. No rules or regulations on grape
type are imposed giving options like
syrah, zinfandel or even white grapes the
opportunity to join in the alchemy. So in
effect, there are no restraints to the cre-
ativity options.
Regional BlendsIn many wine grown areas, multi-re-
gional varietal components are often used
to add layers of flavor to a wine blend.
For instance, a wine labeled California
Chardonnay often contains fruit sourced
from a number of smaller American Viti-
cultural Areas (AVA). Sonoma, Santa
Barbara, Lake and Monterey counties are
used by many producers to accent the
fundamental and unique characteristics of
these regional viticultural areas. Weather,
soils, vineyard locations and even the
vines’ age, rootstock, and clonal selec-
tions will influence the final blend.
Weather, soils, vineyardlocations and even thevines’ age, rootstock, andclonal selections will
influencethe final blend.
17616337:CL MARCH 2013(27) 2/22/2013 12:21 PM Page 27
Cobb Life March 201328
Fermentation BlendsMany wines are the result of different fermentation regimens.
Certain white wines are fermented in temperature-controlled
stainless steel tanks used to retain varietal character and natural
acidity.
Often chardonnay ferments utilize both tank and oak barrels
to incorporate color, aromas and textured nuances that are natu-
ral elements found in the wood. This layering builds additional
components which are popular flavor enhancements enjoyed by
many consumers. The oak can be sourced from any number of
forests specializing in trees grown exclusively for barrel cooper-
age.
A handful of the most popular are found in central France,
Missouri, Slovenia, Hungry and Russia. Wine makers are ex-
tremely particular in their barrel sourcing and will often identify
specific forests in France such as Allier, Troncais and Limousin.
The thickness of wood’s grain, a tree’s age, the natural tan-
nins contained in the oak, the size of the barrel, as well as the
stave width will have an effect on the flavor of the wine. There
is a perceivable personality difference between the delicacy of
French oak to the more powerful impact of American oak. A new
barrel will have more influence on a wine than a used or sea-
soned barrel just as a new tea bag will produce a more flavorful
brew than a twice steeped tea bag. Lastly, the barrels are
“toasted” and release subtle aromas of vanilla by caramelizing
the natural sugars contained in the oak, which also impact the
character of the finished wine. All of these factors come into
play when blending decisions are made.
AgingWhether the wine is white or red, the time the wine rests in
cask will give the producer another way of enhancing the flavors
of his particular blend. For example, a chardonnay wine blended
from grapes fermented in 70 percent new French oak, aged for
10 months on the lees and introduced to a pure stainless still fer-
mented chardonnay will possess dramatically different character-
istics than one that is produced from a blend that is fermented in
100 percent French oak from 3 year old casks.
As you can see there are many different approaches to the
idea of blending wines with an infinite number of possibilities
offering the winemaker and consumer a multitude of styles to
taste and appreciate.
17616338:CL MARCH 2013(28) 2/22/2013 12:21 PM Page 28
Several of our ‘Rising Stars’ at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square.From left, Rob Swartwood, Tracy Rathbone, Crystal Johnson and Jeremy Abernathy.
20
40RISING STARS
UNDER
COBB’S
COMPILED BY STACEY L. EVANS, JENNIFER HAFER, KEVIN HAZZARD, MICHAEL PALLERINO AND MEREDITH PRUDEN.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER CARTER
17616339:CL MARCH 2013(29) 2/26/2013 11:12 AM Page 29
165 Vann StreetMarietta, GA
770-422-9856www.mariettapodiatrygroup.com
• Podiatric & Diabetic Clinic
• Physical Therapy Department
• State-of-the-Art Ambulatory Surgical Center
• Sports Injuries
FOOT & ANKLE
HEALTHCARE
Dr. Glyn E. Lewis
Dr. Narmo L. Ortiz
Dr. Donald R. Powell
Dr. Matthew G. ButlerPhysical Therapist
I
f you’ve ever wondered
what a real life Wonder
Woman looks like, just
spend a day with Marnie
Williams. Now a seven-year vet-
eran at The Weather Channel,
she began her career just out of
college at a local television af-
filiate in South Florida and held
positions at The Sally Jesse
Raphael Show and The Home
Shopping Network before mov-
ing to Atlanta to take a director
position at TWC. After spending
five years in the control room
there, Williams noticed a change
in technology that resulted in
leadership interest in the online
space.
“They were looking for a
community manager,” she said.
“I took a leap of faith, applied
and interviewed with people I
had never met, but I got it. It was
one of the best decisions I ever
made besides taking the job with
The Weather Channel in the first
place.”
The social team at TWC is a
small one—only Williams and a
social media manager—yet they
manage to sustain the social
strategy for all programming. In
fact, they’ve more than sus-
tained it, they’ve grown it to
close to 1.4 million fans today,
doubling their numbers across
platforms in 2012 alone. “What
I love about social media is the
instant reaction from the com-
munity,” Williams said. “If we
post something on the brand
Facebook page and it gets 3,000
Likes in an hour, that’s instant
gratification and lets us know
what we’re doing is resonating
with fans.”
When she’s not busy culti-
vating TWC’s social presence,
Williams writes for her own
popular food and wine blog,
founded in 2010 with her hus-
band Tim, called Grapes and
Hops Atlanta (at www.grape-
sandhopsatl.com). What did we
tell you? Wonder Woman.
MARNIE WILLIAMS Community Manager of Social Media at The Weather Channel
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 37 Family: Married to Tim.Education: Bachelor’s Degree,University of South Florida.Volunteer Activities: Univer-sity of South Florida boardAlumni Association AtlantaChapter board of directorsand social chair; Atlanta HeartWalk with TWC team.
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Cobb Life March 201330
17616340:CL MARCH 2013(30) 2/26/2013 11:14 AM Page 30
He’s quirky, quick-witted, affable
and passionate, and these qualities
extend beyond his personal life into
his professional career. In fact, it’s
easy to see why foodies flock to
Muss & Turner’s in Vinings for his
playful (and delicious) creations.
Chef de Cuisine
Dameren Par-
enteau puts so
much of himself
into his rotating
menu and daily
specials, it could
be said his food is
just an extension
of him—on a
plate.
“My philoso-
phy on food is comfortable but fun,”
he said. “That’s really it.”
Although he grew up in Cobb
County, Parenteau began his culi-
nary journey as a dishwasher at
Athens’ restaurant East West Bistro,
where he quickly started working as
a sous chef and picked up the head
chef’s enthusiasm for food and cre-
ativity. When he moved back to the
metro area, he regularly came to
visit a friend who worked at Muss &
Turners but Parenteau was employed
as a chef elsewhere.
“This quickly became one of my
favorite places to eat, but I was
working up in Ac-
worth,” Parenteau
said. “I moved over
here, started on the
line and moved up.”
Now the captain of
his kitchen for more
than a year, he’s al-
ways looking for the
next thing and finds it
in the passions of the
people on his team.
“The open-ended creativity of the
chefs here means we’re never stuck
on one menu,” he said. “We just get
to play with what’s in season and
local or some soy sauce made in
Japan that we can get our hands on.
We don’t lock ourselves in.” And
that’s what keeps locals coming back
for more.
DAMEREN PARENTEAU Chef de Cuisine at Muss & Turner’s
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 38 Family: Hilary Herlinger. Twochildren, Julian, 12 and Liet, 9.Education: “Some college, butI mostly sat around in thecourtyard reading books.” Volunteer Activities: “We do alot of community-based stuff atthe restaurant.”
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17616341:CL MARCH 2013(31) 2/26/2013 11:15 AM Page 31
(Gluten Free Certification Organization), which requires
monthly testing so you know lines are dedicated gluten free
and there’s no cross contamination.”
To that end, Shaw found a local bakery that
is free of all the same allergens as her prod-
ucts.
Only a little more than two years after
launching Frannie’s, Shaw is enjoying wide-
spread popularity and her gluten free muffins
are sold at local natural food stores and in the
natural foods section of all Kroger stores. “It’s
nice to provide something new to people who
have had food allergies for a long time,” Shaw
said. “But it’s a great feeling to have some-
thing little kids can eat and actually enjoy.”
Cobb Life March 201332
FRANCES SHAW Owner, Frannie’s Gluten Free Muffins
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Like many successful entrepreneurs, Frances Shaw
saw a problem and solved it. After experiencing health
issues and realizing she needed to eat
gluten free, she changed her diet and, ulti-
mately, changed her life.
“Changing my diet made a big differ-
ence for me,” she said. “Especially with
flours and milk, so I came up with a zuc-
chini muffin recipe and thought, ‘Maybe I
should do something with this.’”
A year later, in 2010, Frannie’s Gluten
Free Muffins was born.
“I really wanted to bring good, allergy
free muffins to the community for other
people who need to eat this way,” Shaw
said. “When you have multiple food aller-
gies it’s hard to find something that meets
all your requirements.”
Today, Frannie’s muffins are free of seven of eight
major food allergens—there’s even one that’s free of
all major allergens.
“I started off in my kitchen,” she said. “But, it’s re-
ally important to be 100 percent gluten free GSCO
Age: 24Family: SingleEducation: “I went to SCADfor three years but didn’t fin-ish.” Volunteer Activities: “We doa lot of donations to races andorganizations, including theKids Enabled Resource Fair forkids with learning and devel-opmental differences.”
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“When you have multiple foodallergies it’s hard to find somethingthat meets all your requirements.”
17616342:CL MARCH 2013(32) 2/26/2013 11:16 AM Page 32
March 2013 Cobb Life 33
JEREMY JAMAL ABERNATHY Pastor and Attorney
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
“I always thought I
would end up back here,”
said Abernathy, a family
law attorney. “Cobb is
the best mix of small
town and big town; you’re only a short
drive away from Atlanta and all it has
to offer, but at the same time, it’s a
great place to raise your family.”
An attorney with The Manely Firm
P.C., Abernathy sees his role as friend
and arbiter.
“The way I look at family law is I’m
reorganizing families the best way I can
in a tough situation,” he said. “I have to
be a friend, so my clients trust the ad-
vice I provide, and I’m also an arbiter
as well, in that I have to deal with the
opposing side.”
But there’s a bigger adversary Aber-
nathy takes on each Sunday in his role
as the recently installed pastor at Noon-
day Missionary Baptist Church.
“I feel like preaching is my first pri-
ority, which allows me to do everything
else effectively,” Abernathy said.
“Growing up, one quote that has stuck
with me is, ‘he who serves all best,
serves himself,’ and that’s what led me
into ministry, and law as well.”
After receiving the call to become
the 19th pastor of the 124-year-old
Noonday Missionary Baptist Church,
Abernathy made a surprising discovery:
His wife’s great, great grandmother is
buried in the church’s cemetery.
“It certainly affirms my appointment
was divinely inspired,” he said.
It almost seems as if Jeremy Abernathy’s
path back to Marietta was divinely designed.
A 1997 graduate of McEachern High School,
Abernathy attended Morehouse on a football
scholarship. After graduating from the esteemed
Atlanta institution, he graduated from law school
at Loyola University of New Orleans School of
Law before clerking in
DeKalb Superior
Court for two years,
followed by a year
spent with the public
defender’s office in
Carroll County and
two years with King
& Spalding.
Age: 33 Family: Married to Tiffany. Thecouple has three daughters,Havalynn, 10, Kyndal, 5, andEmory Grace, 4.Education: Bachelor of Arts,Morehouse College. Law De-gree, Loyola University. Pursu-ing a Master’s of Religion atLiberty University Seminary.Volunteer Activities: MUSTMinistries.
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17616343:CL MARCH 2013(33) 2/26/2013 11:17 AM Page 33
War may be hell, but for all too
many veterans, it pales in comparison
to the shock of returning to civilian
life. PTSD, alienation, a diminished
sense of purpose and survivor’s guilt,
often prove too much for the even the
strongest of minds. The government
tries to help, but often falls short. Civil-
ians lend a hand, but can’t relate. A full
transition back into civilian life, true
healing, requires the help of those who
know the road.
Marietta’s Rob Swartwood, an attor-
ney with Gregory, Doyle, Calhoun &
Rogers, is a decorated Army veteran of
the Iraq and Afghan wars. He knows all
too well the pressures returning vets
face.
“The war has had ill effects on the
military forces,” Swartwood says.
“Now they’re trying to transition to
civilian life and they face a number of
issues. I transitioned well, I want to
help others do the same.”
So, last year Swartwood and his
wife Mandy assumed ownership of a
company called Ranger Coffee. Though
the company had been generous to vet-
erans in the past, Ranger Coffee’s char-
ter didn’t go far enough for the
Swartwoods. So, immediately upon
taking over, they restructured its busi-
ness model, mandating that 50 percent
of the profits be given directly to
causes benefitting veterans.
Since then, the company has donated
to Team Red White & Blue, Gallant
Few and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to
Towers Foundation.
“I’ve always had a servant’s heart,”
Swartwood says. “And I want to help
shore up what could be our nation’s
next Greatest Generation.”
ROB SWARTWOOD Attorney, Gregory, Doyle, Calhoun & Rogers; President, Ranger Coffee
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 36Family: Married to Mandy. The couple has two sons, Trey, 3, and Harper, 6 months.Education: Bachelor’s Degree, United States Military Academy at West Point. Law Degree, University of Georgia. Volunteer Activities: Pro-bono legal services; board service on Congressman Gingrey’s Academy NominatingBoard, the State Bar of Georgia’s Military and Legal Assistance Program Committee, the Community Advisory Boardof the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta; mentor and advocate for U.S. military veterans, and volunteer for various vet-eran organizations.Awards and Honors: Decorated Army officer and two-time recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for combat service inIraq and Afghanistan; Blue Key National Honor Society; Ernest Barrett Award Recipient, Leadership Cobb ‘12.
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Cobb Life March 201334
17616344:CL MARCH 2013(34) 2/26/2013 11:17 AM Page 34
March 2013 Cobb Life 35
CRYSTAL JOHNSON Business Development, Applied Technical Services Inc.
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 31Family: Married to David. Thecouple has two children, SydneyLynn, 5, and Lawson, 3.Education: Bachelor’s Degree,Georgia State University.Volunteer Activities: PeachtreeRoad United Methodist Church(member and volunteer), EdenVillage, Toys for Tots, Children’sHealthcare of Atlanta, Habitat forHumanity, Neighborhood HOA.
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It’s not personal, it’s
business. Perhaps the best
known of the mobster
movie clichés, the line is
almost as over-used in
real life as it is in the
movies. Indeed, we accept
it as fact. Yet, if the career
of Crystal Johnson is any
indicator, perhaps it’s best
relegated to the world of
make-believe.
Johnson works in Busi-
ness Development, Con-
sumer Product Testing for
Applied Technical Serv-
ices (ATS), a Marietta-
based company that tests
the safety of everything
from nuclear facilities to
baby bottles. And for her,
the business is very per-
sonal.
Johnson’s grandfather
started the company in his
basement. Her father has
been the president for 15
years. Johnson, herself,
started working at ATS
when she was 12 – sweep-
ing the floors.
“ATS is in my dad’s
blood,” Johnson says. “He
brought me here when I
was a child. I’ve been
around it my whole life.”
After graduating from
Georgia State, Johnson
took a job at a payroll
company, but felt the pull
of the family business.
“I always knew I’d be
back,” she says. “Every-
thing I’ve done has been
preparation for this.”
She is drawn to ATS by
more than just familiarity,
however. In her role of
consumer product testing,
Johnson has found a calling.
“I’m very passionate about
my area of expertise because
I have very young children.”
Johnson says her ultimate
goal is to be a senior execu-
tive at ATS. Will her years
sweeping the floor help her
out? They can’t hurt.
“My dad really believes
you have to work your way
up,” Johnson says, with a
laugh.
17616345:CL MARCH 2013(35) 2/26/2013 11:18 AM Page 35
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Multi-Millon Dollar Producer(678) 631-1713 Direct LineVisit my website @ www.suehilton.com
An Independent Member Broker
The list of internet pioneers who dropped out of college
to pursue their goals is illustrious. Bill Gates, Mark
Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs. Gabriel Weinberg would have
joined their ranks if not for gym class.
“I had a summer internship after my junior year and I
planned to drop out after that,” says Weinberg, who was study-
ing at MIT at the time. “But I found out the only thing I was
missing to get a physics degree was a physical education re-
quirement. All I had to do to
finish was play soccer two
days a week.”
Though Weinberg returned
to finish his degree, his mind
was already elsewhere. He
sunk some of the tuition money
his parents had given him into
a business. His grand plan? He
didn’t have one.
“MIT is a brain pool,” he says. “I started asking around and
was pointed to people who knew what they were doing.”
Weinberg’s idea was a social networking site that he sold in
2006. Soon after he started a family and moved to Pennsylva-
nia, but he continued developing concepts. His next was Duck-
DuckGo, a search engine that has grown to notch over 50
million direct searches.
Any business plan that puts you in direct competition with
behemoths like Google, Yahoo and Bing might not seem like a
recipe for success, but Weinberg targets the things those larger
engines can’t – less clutter and none of the intrusive tracking of
consumers. If he can pull that off, will the big guys come call-
ing?
“There’s no room to sell, because the industry has room,”
the East Cobb native says. “Besides, selling would mean we’d
have to change.”
GABRIEL WEINBERG Founder and CEO, DuckDuckGo
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 33 Family: Married to LaurenMcCann. The couple has twoboys, Eli, 3, and Ryan, 1.Education: Bachlor’s Degree,MIT; Master’s Degree, MIT.
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Cobb Life March 201336
17616346:CL MARCH 2013(36) 2/26/2013 11:19 AM Page 36
March 2013 Cobb Life 37
LISA CUPID Cobb County Commissioner, District 4
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
As a Cobb County Commissioner
(District 4), Lisa Cupid understands
that the people who elected her into office gen-
uinely desire the best for their families and com-
munities. That’s what makes her first foray into
political office - she was sworn in Jan. 4 - so
worthwhile.
Cupid, a Georgia Tech mechanical engineer-
ing graduate who currently is completing gradu-
ate degrees in law and public administration at
Georgia State, ran her campaign on the rally cry
that District 4 needed better representation. It
needed a leader who could better engage people
in county matters; ensure equitable investment
of taxes across Cobb; recognize and support
business and entrepreneurship; and establish
communities that are attractive, safe, walkable
and complete with neighborhood amenities.
When it was over, Cupid’s passion to make
Cobb an even better place to live and work
spoke volumes. The final tally saw her end Cobb
Commissioner Woody Thompson’s quest for a
fourth term by a three-to-one margin.
“In my first job out of college, my manager
told me I was a change agent,” Cupid recalls.
“His words were far more fitting then I real-
ized. I feel
blessed that I
can translate that
same energy
from engineer-
ing to transform-
ing a
community.”
A former
manufacturing
engineer of
Eastman Kodak,
Cupid has a
strong track
record of suc-
cess. She has
served as a pol-
icy analyst for
the Governor’s
Office of Plan-
ning and
Budget, an assis-
tant project manager of an affordable housing
nonprofit managing collaboration of developers,
attorneys, investors and subcontractors of multi-
million dollar projects, and executive assistant of
a partnership of 15 metro Atlanta chambers of
commerce, helping support advocacy of policies
to keep the area competitive.
And since the people have spoken, Cupid, a
12-year Cobb resident, has this to say to them
about her first four years in office: “I did not get
this position alone, and I know with your contin-
ued zeal and participation, we will indeed have
observable, measurable, and positive change in
regard for our District.”
Age: 35Family: Married to Craig. Thecouple has two sons, Nehemiah,4, and Noah, 2.Education: Bachelor’s Degrees,Georgia Tech and Georgia State.Pursuing Doctorate and Master’sDegree at Georgia State. Volunteer work: Austell Com-munity Taskforce Partnership,South Cobb RotaryAdvisory; member of severalCobb County studies and Mari-etta-Cobb New Markets Inc.;member of several communityorganizations, including theCobb Chamber of Commerce,South Cobb Rotary, CobbNAACP and the Georgia Associa-tion of Black Women Attorneys.
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17616347:CL MARCH 2013(37) 2/26/2013 11:19 AM Page 37
JUSTIN PATRICK HART Radiation Oncologist, WellStar
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Cobb Life March 201338
Dr. Justin Hart is a specialist
among specialists.
As one of only three radiation oncologists employed
by WellStar Health System, Hart
treats about 300 patients annually.
“I think I knew since elementary
school that I would be a doctor,” he
said. “My grandmother was being
treated for cancer, and I remember I
wanted to learn how to do that.”
Boasting not only a medical de-
gree, but Ph.D. as well, Hart initially
thought about entering the research
and academic side of medicine.
“Ultimately, I decided taking care
of patients was the most important
thing,” he said. “I love doing what
I’m doing and working with patients.”
Some of Hart’s most treasured childhood memories
are the summers he and his cousins spent at his grand-
mother’s house.
“My relationship with my grandmother was a won-
derful trans-generational relationship,” Hart recalled.
“We got to spend a lot of time with her.”
Because of the nature of radiation oncology, Hart also
spends a lot of time with his patients cultivat-
ing relationships, which sometimes makes his
job very tough.
“But, at the end of the day, I think we’re
very fortunate,” he said. “We have so many
tools, technology and advancing treatments
that a lot of times there is a good outcome.”
With a newly dedicated oncology floor at
Kennestone Hospital, Hart said future plans
call for a cancer center.
“I love to tell people Marietta is a small
town with a big hospital,” he said. “It’s kind
of an exciting time to be here at Kennestone
and a physician in the Marietta community.”
Age: 37Family: Married to Anna Gray.The couple has three chil-dren, Merrill, 9, Nora, 7, andWilliam, 3.Education: Bachelor’s De-gree, Dartmouth College.M.D., Ph.D, Duke UniversityMedical School .Volunteer activities:Church-based outreach.
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“I knew since elementary school that Iwould be a doctor. My grandmotherwas being treated for cancer, and Iremember I wanted to learn how to do that.”
17616348:CL MARCH 2013(38) 2/22/2013 12:32 PM Page 38
A darling among elite musi-
cians, The Classical Review has
called Marietta native Christopher
Martin a “rock star” for his
“gleaming tone” and “nuanced
playing” as Principal Trumpet at
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
(CSO) since his arrival there in
2005. And, the Chicago Tribune
has named him
“The CSO’s
peerless princi-
pal trumpet,”
saying he is a
“superbly mu-
sical virtuoso
who would
make great
music even if the ocarina were his
chosen instrument.”
At once hardworking and natu-
rally gifted, Martin first picked up
a trumpet at the age of nine, but it
wasn’t until, at age 15, he saw an
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra per-
formance, where his mother still
sings and he later played, that he
knew he wanted to play the brass
for the rest of his life. Martin, a
Sprayberry graduate, and his
mother aren’t the only musical
members of the family. His father
is a band director at Westminster
Academy, his uncle was the Spray-
berry band director for 29 years,
and even his younger brother,
Michael, is an alumnus of the
Civic Orchestra of Chicago. That’s
quite a family pedigree.
Martin reports
having listened to
his father’s LPs of
the greats from his
formative years
and having an ex-
tensive collection
of orchestral
recordings from
the CSO, where he now plays. In
fact, he does more than just play—
he’s a Yamaha Performing Artist
and The Adolph Herseth Principal
Trumpet Chair as well as an ad-
junct professor of music at North-
western in his spare time. He has
performed as guest principal trum-
pet with the Los Angeles Philhar-
monic, the Seattle Symphony, the
Grand Teton Music Festival and
the Saito Kinen Festival.
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN Principal trumpet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 37Family: Married to Margaret.Education: Bachelor’s Degree,Eastman School of Music atRochester University in New York .
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17616349:CL MARCH 2013(39) 2/22/2013 12:32 PM Page 39
C
hrista Pitts was eight-
years-old when a school-
yard bully told her there
was no Santa Claus. For Pitts,
the news was doubling distress-
ing as she had a magic elf at
home who was a direct liaison
to Santa.
“I was devastated,” she said.
“I remember getting home and
running to the elf and telling
him I did not believe Santa
wasn’t real, and I still believed
in him.”
In 2005, Pitts launched Creatively Clas-
sic Activities and Books with her twin sis-
ter, Chanda Bell, and her mother, Carol
Aebersold. Pitts and Bell are co-CEOs of
the Marietta-based company that publishes
the best-selling “The Elf on the Shelf”
Christmas book.
“There is a lot of merit to the idea that
family members shouldn’t work together,
but Chanda and I, as twins, you grow up
not knowing a single day without the other
one,” Pitts said. “You know your family
better than anyone, and I think that allows
for very open conversation. You may not
like it all the time, but there is extraordi-
nary love and trust in our family.”
For five years Pitts was a popular host
with QVC before she joined forces with
her sister and mother. Coming from a sales
and business background, Pitts focuses on
building partnerships, licensing, strategic
vision, marketing, sales, IP development
and protection and legal affairs.
“When I left QVC, I very distinctly
thought to myself, if I’m going to work
this hard, I want to be able to succeed or
fail based on my own merits,” she said.
“There is something very exciting about
being able to make decisions with immedi-
ate impact and you know right on the spot
whether it’s succeeding of failing.”
CHRISTA PITTS Co-CEO, Creatively Classic Activities and Books
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 37 Family: Married to Bryan.Education: Bachelor’s Degree,University of West Georgia. Volunteer Activities: Savethe Children, the Atlanta Mis-sion, Children’s Healthcare ofAtlanta, The Sojourner House,The Leukemia and LymphomaSociety, The Path Project, andthe Cobb County Cops andKids Program.
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Cobb Life March 201340
“There is a lot of merit to theidea that family members
shouldn’t work together, butChanda and I, as twins, you
grow up not knowing a singleday without the other one.”
17616350:CL MARCH 2013(40) 2/22/2013 2:54 PM Page 40
Chanda Bell remembersvividly the day her elffell off the shelf.
“I remember talking to him and say-
ing, ‘I’m so sorry you’ve fallen; I know
you can’t fly in front of me, but I’m
going to try and help you,’” Bell said. “I
remember pulling my shirt sleeves over
my hands, so I could sit him back up.”
Bell, along with her twin sister
Christa Pitts, is co-CEO of Creatively
Classic Activities and Books, a Marietta-
based company that publishes the best-
selling “The Elf on the Shelf” Christmas
book.
The idea behind the book is a magic
elf reports children’s behavior to Santa
every night during December. The story
is rooted in Bell’s mother’s childhood,
and just like any good family tradition it
evolved over the years.
“When mom and I wrote the story I
knew what a special tradition it was and
what it meant to me and my family, and
I thought I knew what it could mean to
other families,” the former reading and
English teacher said.
But, unlike most family traditions,
“The Elf on the Shelf” has become a
multi-million dollar enterprise with
more than 4 million units sold since the
company’s inception in 2005. This fall,
the first sequel to “The Elf on the Shelf”
CHANDA BELL Co-CEO, Creatively Classic Activities and Books
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 37 Family: Married to Murry.Education: University of West Georgia. Volunteer Activities: Save the Chil-dren, the Atlanta Mission, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, The SojournerHouse, The Leukemia and LymphomaSociety, The Path Project, and the CobbCounty Cops and Kids Program.
the statswill be published.
“I never dreamed in a million
years I would be a children’s book
author going on book tours,” Bell
said. “I absolutely, with every fiber
of my being, love my job. I love
creating; I love coming up with
new ideas on the look and feel of
the brand; and I love writing with
my mom.”
March 2013 Cobb Life 41
17616351:CL MARCH 2013(41) 2/22/2013 2:54 PM Page 41
JEFF JAHN President/Founder, DynamiX Web Design
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 27Family: Married to Amber. The couple has oneson, Patrick, 9 mos.Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Berry College. Volunteer Activities: I volunteer a significantamount of time and attention towards devel-oping websites and improving the online expo-sure of non-profits, including homeless andsupport shelters, disaster relief programs andother good causes.
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hen Jeff Jahn made his first
sales pitch he was so nervous
people thought he was having
an allergic reaction. Though
only a teenager, he persevered, convinc-
ing the owners of a car stereo business
the site he’d built for them on spec was
better than the one they had. He was
shocked when they offered to pay him
for web development services.
“I wasn’t looking for a job,” Jahn
says. “I just wanted to trade the website
for a stereo.”
Jahn got the stereo. And much more.
During his years as a student at Berry
College he continued developing web-
sites, hired his first employee before
graduation and hasn’t looked back since.
Jahn has gone on to found numerous
web development companies, including
DynamiX Web Design, Dwellio and
Home Elephant. He’s worked with busi-
nesses both local and national, but his
most memorable client was Herman
Cain.
Just weeks before the primaries Cain
approached Jahn about polishing up his
website.
“I had to tell him his [website] was
ugly. It wasn’t close to functional.”
True to form, Cain took it in stride.
“He was great but we had a tight
deadline. It was one of those make or
break moments where you either go all
in or you don’t take the job,” Jahn says,
whose office is in Acworth.
Jahn’s work has paid off and earned
him accolades in publications such as
Adweek, Fox News, CNN, The Wall
Street Journal, Huffington Post, ABC
News and Time Magazine.
Jahn’s proudest of the work he’s done
with nonprofit organizations and is cur-
rently helping develop a web tool to
help coordinate disaster relief response.
As for his goals for the future, Jahn par-
aphrases Steve Jobs. “I want to put a
ding in the universe. In a good way.”
W>>>>>>
17616352:CL MARCH 2013(42) 2/22/2013 2:53 PM Page 42
Sometimes the best way to
help yourself is to start by
helping others. When East
Cobb’s Tracy Rathbone
was a child she often rode with her
grandmother, a local Meals on
Wheels volunteer. The experience
was formative.
“That’s when it started for me,”
says Rathbone. “I was given a pay-it-
forward mentality by my grand-
mother and my mom.”
As Director of Business Develop-
ment for the Coxe Curry & Associ-
ates fundraising firm, Rathbone has
elevated the ideal of service before
self to a status above mere family
heirloom. Rathbone has been with
the group seven years, providing
fund-raising advice to non-profit or-
ganizations including Spelman Col-
lege and Camp Twin Lakes, a retreat
for children will serious illnesses.
“I was a psychology major at
Georgia State and I always knew I
wanted to be involved in serving oth-
ers.”
After college, Rathbone joined a
Tennessee-based non-profit serving
young girls and made the switch to
the world of non-profit fundraising
out of a desire to help a wide range
of non-profit organizations. Just be-
cause she likes the business side of
the non-profit world, doesn’t mean
she’s forgotten her grandmother’s ex-
ample.
“We were involved in MUST
Ministries when we were children
and I’m still active now,” Rathbone
says.
Most recently she volunteered for
the Cobb-based service organiza-
tion’s annual Gobble Jog, a Thanks-
giving race that drew 10,000 runners.
Did she run?
“No,” Rathbone says with a laugh.
“I was just a volunteer. I gave moral
support, though.”
TRACY RATHBONE Director of Business Development, Coxe, Curry & Associates
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 34Family: Married to Aaron. The couple has one daughter, Lila , 5. Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Georgia State University. Master’s Degree, Vanderbilt University.Volunteer Activities: Center for Family Resources, Market-ing Committee Member; Cobb Chamber Membership Drive;
Team Captain, Leadership Programs; Junior League of Cobb-Marietta, Board Member, 2008 - 2012; Leadership Cobb,Class of 2012; Leadership Cobb Alumni Association, AlumniBoard Member, 2013; Marietta Pilgrimage Tour of Homes,Committee Member, 2009 – 2012 (Docent Co-Chair, 2012);MUST Ministries, Gobble Jog Committee Member, 2012;United Way Campaign Cabinet, 2012.
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17616353:CL MARCH 2013(43) 2/22/2013 2:53 PM Page 43
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Christmas Home Tour
“If you don’t care enough to dothe little things well, you can’t betrusted with the big ones.”
That’s the advice that Rob Leonard takes to his job every
day. As a Superior Court Judge for the Cobb Judicial Circuit,
every decision that Leonard makes is a big one.
“When you are dealing with people’s property, children and
freedom, what could be more important than that?” he asks.
“There is a lot of pressure and a lot of emotion in the court-
room. You have to do your best to sift through it and get it
right.”
Leonard honed his craft after opening his own law firm with
a fellow University of Kentucky graduate. Operating from a
space he rented from Gov. Roy Barnes and Tom Browning off
the Square in Marietta, Leonard eventually helped scores of
people sort through their legal issues. In 2010, Gov. Sonny Per-
due appointed him to the State Court of Cobb County, where he
subsequently was elected without opposition in 2012.
When George Kreeger retired from Superior Court in 2012,
Leonard applied for his seat
and was selected by Gov.
Nathan Deal. He was sworn in
on November 26, 2012.
Today, Leonard gets to
combine his passion of law
with public service, a career of
which he is most grateful.
What’s the best thing about his
job? “That’s easy. Adoptions
are the greatest reward. It’s
such a big day for those fami-
lies. To help make that special
day happen is a great feeling.”
ROB LEONARD Cobb Superior Court Judge
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 38Family: Married to Lauri. Thecouple has three children, Elli,10, Trey, 7, and Emmi, 5.Education: Bachelor’s De-gree, University of Kentucky.Law Degree, University ofKentucky.Volunteer work: Board of Di-rectors, Tommy Nobis Center,Coaching Youth Baseball.
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Cobb Life March 201344
17616354:CL MARCH 2013(44) 2/22/2013 2:52 PM Page 44
During her final quarter of college at Kenne-
saw State University, Amanda Seals only needed
two things to graduate: an elective course and an
internship credit. When her journalism professor
shared a job posting for a newspaper that covered
the State Capitol, she reluctantly decided to give
it a shot. Her professor even agreed to give her
the internship credit if she landed the job.
“I told my professor that I couldn’t stand poli-
tics. He asked if I wanted to graduate. I went on
the interview.”
The Georgia Times hired Seals to cover the
State House. She fell in love with the state leg-
islative process. After the Times folded in 1997,
she landed a job as a press assistant for Gov. Zell
Miller, moving throughout the state government
work force. Five years ago she was named execu-
tive director of government relations for the
Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia.
“Higher education is truly an exciting field,”
Seals says.
Seals takes pride in the fact that the 31 public
institutions under the University System are edu-
cating not only Georgia’s future, but also the next
leaders of this country across a broad spectrum of
industries.
“In my role, I have to keep many balls in the
air and work hard to make sure not one falls.
There are so many moving parts, so you have to
constantly be one step ahead, not only thinking
about what is happening at the moment, but what
may pop up down the road in the days, weeks,
months and years ahead. All of it is humbling and
I feel blessed to have this incredible opportunity
work with leaders at the local, state and federal
level on behalf of higher education.”
AMANDA SEALS Executive Director of Government Relations, Board of Regents of Univ. System of Ga.
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 39Family: Married to Paul. One daughter, Trinity, 6.Education: Associate of Arts, Young Harris College. Bachelor’s Degree, KennesawState University, currently pursuing a master’s degree at Georgia Southern University. Volunteer work: 2013 Class of Leadership Georgia; Junior League of Cobb-Marietta:Chair of Public Relations; Nominated as 2013-2014 VP of Administration; ConservativePolicy Leadership Institute: Founding trustee and Nominating Chair; Kennesaw StateUniversity Alumni Association, Member-at-Large; Member of the National AdvisoryBoard for the Department of Communication at Kennesaw State University; Well-spring Living for Girls –White Umbrella Circle member, volunteer and fundraiser;member of Marietta First United Methodist Church and volunteers with the Children’sMinistry.
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17616355:CL MARCH 2013(45) 2/22/2013 2:46 PM Page 45
Georgia Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, serving themetro area for over fifty years, is devoted to delivering the highestlevel of service and satisfaction possible to families. We arecommitted to excellence daily by each member of our staff. As anhonored Dignity Memorial™ provider, we are empowered tocreate a meaningful service.
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Not all bankers are on Wall Street. Some, like Jason
Sleeman, are right around the corner and though you haven’t
met them, they’ve spent their entire careers waiting for the
chance to help you achieve your dreams.
Sleeman is Assistant Vice President-Financial Center
Manager at Fifth-Third Bank. He’s been in the industry for
10 years, worked at other banks and credit unions, but Slee-
man has genuinely taken to his new life with Fifth-Third.
“The benefit of small banks is getting to know your cus-
tomers. Getting to work with the same people and build rela-
tionships. That’s what I love about it.” Sleeman says this
with enough passion to disavow you of any notion you may
have of banks as cold and sterile financial institutions.
And small wonder. When he’s not working or with his
family, Sleeman volunteers for a dizzying number of service
organizations. He also has a leadership role with Cobb
Young Professionals, a group whose charter Sleeman has
helped steer toward a more active, service-oriented role.
The East Cobb resident has even managed to blend the two
seemingly-incongruent vocations. For two years running, he
has volunteered to serve as Fifth-Third’s representative at the
Cobb Life March 201346
JASON SLEEMAN Assistant Vice President, Financial Center Manager
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 33 Family: Married to Kim. The couple has three daugh-ters, Gabriella, Isabella and Taylor.Education: Bachelor’s Degree, University of GeorgiaVolunteer Activities: Cobb Chamber Board of Direc-tors (2011-2013); Cobb Young Professionals Chairman(2011&2012); Cobb Young Professionals Chair of Corpo-rate and Community Development (2013); East CobbArea Council (Chair 2012); Upward Football Referee,Awana Cubbies volunteer.Awards and Honors: Cobb Chamber Ambassador ofthe year, Len Gilbert Award, Fifth Third Bank FinancialCenter Manager Rookie of the year.
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local Thanks For Giving benefit, where he provides free fi-
nancial advice to needy families.
The most rewarding part of that experience? Getting
his hands dirty. “This year I helped bring the food to the
families,” he says. “I really enjoyed that.”
17616356:CL MARCH 2013(46) 2/22/2013 2:35 PM Page 46
Ask Kim Carroll to tell
you the best part of her
job, and the answer is both
simple and powerful.
“The thing I get to do every
day is assist with the administra-
tion of justice in our county. One
of the biggest rewards has been
the opportu-
nity to work
with people
from all sec-
tors of soci-
ety.”
Starting in
1992 after
being hired by
Attorney
Adele Grubbs, who now is Chief
Judge of the Superior Court of
Cobb County, Carroll has spent
the last 21 years interacting with
citizens, the Cobb County Bar
Association, court personnel and
scores of elected officials.
And along with helping serve
these various groups of people,
Carroll has managed to make a
difference in their lives as well.
She recalls a quote that attorney
Joshua Schiffer made in the Ful-
ton Daily Report newspaper
about her when they worked to-
gether on a trail with Judge Adele
Grubbs.
“Although Judge Grubbs
taught me more about the ‘real
world’ of litigation than I could
have gathered
in five years of
firm life, it was
her assistant,
Kim Carroll,
who taught me
to be a ‘person’
as well as a
‘lawyer.’ She
seems to know the entire popula-
tion of Cobb County by first
name and is highly respected by
every person practicing or ap-
pearing in Cobb Superior Court.”
Carroll credits the praise and
success on the job to advice she
received before she started.
“When you don’t have a
choice on something, you can
still choose your attitude.”
KIM CARROLL Chief Deputy Clerk, Cobb Superior Court
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 39Family: Married to Terrance. Threechildren, Tracy, 19, Kahlial, 14, andTaylor, 5.Education: Kennesaw State Uni-versity. Michigan State University.
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17616357:CL MARCH 2013(47) 2/22/2013 2:34 PM Page 47
2125 Roswell Road • Marietta • 770-565-9696
Au t o • H o m e • B o a t • Cyc l e
N
els Peterson is one of a relatively small
handful of people in the country who get to
do constitutional and appellate law for a liv-
ing. As Solicitor General, Peterson oversees appellate
litigation and collaborates on all phases of significant
litigation with other attorneys in the Office of the At-
torney General.
“I’ve practiced other kinds of law, and they’ve been
important and rewarding, but nothing matches being
involved in litigating the most important issues of our
day, from the historic constitutional issues in the mul-
tistate lawsuit against federal healthcare reform, to the
water supply of Metro Atlanta in the tri-state water lit-
igation.”
After graduating from law school at Harvard, Peter-
son served as a clerk for federal appellate Judge
William Pryor (and former Alabama AG) in Birming-
ham. Following his clerkship, he spent several years at
King & Spalding in Atlanta litigating in the securities
and corporate governance areas, and working occa-
sionally on appellate cases.
In 2008, he became deputy counsel to Governor
Sonny Perdue, eventually moving up to executive
counsel toward the end of the Governor’s term. When
Sam Olens became Attorney General, Peterson moved
to his office as Counsel for Legal Policy. He was
named Solicitor General in 2012.
“I get to work with great people on important issues
that affect the lives of every Georgian, and I get to do
it for a great boss in Sam Olens,” Peterson says. “The
biggest challenges are usually resource-oriented – in
this economy, every area of government has to do
more with less.”
Cobb Life March 201348
NELS PETERSON Director of Policy, Georgia Attorney General’s Office
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 34Family: Married to Jennifer.The couple has two children,James, 5 and Elizabeth, 2.Education: Bachelor’s De-gree, Kennesaw State Univer-sity. Law Degree, Harvard LawSchool.Volunteer work: Activemember at Johnson FerryBaptist Church; board mem-ber, Atlanta Lawyers’ Chapterof the Federalist Society;member of the Indigent De-fense Committee of the StateBar. Previous: board member,Kennesaw State UniversityAlumni Association; commis-sioner, Georgia SuperiorCourt Clerk’s RetirementFund.
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Nels Peterson, right, speaks with Attorney General Sam Olens.
17616358:CL MARCH 2013(48) 2/22/2013 2:32 PM Page 48
A
s a Justice of the Supreme
Court of Georgia, Keith
Blackwell’s commitment to
the rule of law is explicitly honest.
“The idea that our government is
one of laws, not men, and that all
citizens stand equal before the law
is, I think, the foundation of our Re-
public and our greatest bulwark
against tyranny. The opportunity to
help to safeguard and promote the
rule of law is the most rewarding
aspect of my office.”
After graduating from the Uni-
versity of Georgia School of Law,
Blackwell made his way through
the law world, serving as a law
clerk for Judge J.L. Edmondson of
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Eleventh Circuit, an associate at Al-
ston & Bird, an Assistant District
Attorney in Cobb County and part-
ner at Parker, Hudson, Rainer &
Dobbs in Atlanta. In 2010, he was
appointed as Deputy Special Attor-
ney General to represent the State
of Georgia in litigation challenging
the constitutionality of federal
healthcare reform legislation. In
2010, Governor Sonny Perdue ap-
pointed him to the Court of Appeals
of Georgia. And in July 2012, Gov-
ernor Nathan Deal later named him
a Justice of the Supreme Court of
Georgia.
“At the Supreme Court, we deal
with some exceedingly difficult
legal issues,” Blackwell says.
“Every day presents an intellectual
challenge, but those challenges –
and the opportunity to work
through those challenges with dedi-
cated colleagues and smart lawyers
– are themselves the greatest re-
ward of the office.”
There’s a quote Blackwell refer-
ences to define what he does. The
quote, given to him by his friend
and mentor, Judge Edmondson, is
from St. Robert Bellarmine.
“Peace and union are among the
most necessary of all things for
men who live in common, and
nothing serves so well to establish
and maintain them as the forbear-
ing charity whereby we put up
with another’s defects. There is no
one who has not his faults, and
who is not in some way a burden
to others, whether he be a superior
or a subject, an old man or a
young, a scholar or a dunce.”
KEITH R. BLACKWELL Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia
20 RISING STARS UNDER 40
Age: 37Family: Married to Angela. Three daughters.Education: Bachelor’s Degree, University of Georgia, LawDegree, University of Georgia.Volunteer work: Board of Advisors for the Atlanta Chapterof the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies;member of State Bar of Georgia and its Appellate PracticeSection; member of the Cobb Bar Association and AtlantaChapter of the Federal Bar Association; Master of theJoseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court; former advi-sor to the House Judiciary Committee in hearings on therevision of the state evidence code; former member of theGovernor’s Judicial Nominating Commission.
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17616359:CL MARCH 2013(49) 2/26/2013 11:25 AM Page 49
ew plants adorn arbors or trellisesas beautifully as flowering vines.
They also can enhance the landscape with fragrance, pro-
vide shade and screen unsightly views.
But be careful which varieties you choose. Some vines can be thugs.
Vines are vigorous growers, which can be both good and bad for impa-
tient gardeners.
Fast-growing varieties provide thick barriers that screen well-tended
yards from unpleasant backdrops.
F
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But they also might overwhelm narrow plant-
ing beds and spread beyond their intended sites.
That means constant monitoring and frequent
pruning.
"There's nothing like vines for softening gar-
den fixtures," said Bob Polomski, a horticultur-
ist and arborist at Clemson University in
Clemson, S.C. "Most are perennials and come
back every year, heavy with blooms. They also
provide a cooling shade, which is especially
welcome in the South."
At the same time, he said, "being rapid (in
growth) is one thing. Being invasive is another."
He cited English ivy, which has overwhelmed
so many areas in the nation's East and North-
west that college students and other work par-
ties frequently hold "plant pulls" to help control
it.
"Ivy can take over as a ground cover," he said.
"Wisteria can grow so quickly and its vines be-
come so thick that it can destroy a small appara-
tus" such as a trellis, pergola, etc. "They get so
heavy that they can even take down trees."
Knowing where to place vines is critical,
Polomski said.
"Wisteria produces beautiful blooms, but that
attracts bees. Putting chairs and tables beneath a
flowering arbor can invite stings and creepy
crawly things," he said. "Putting vines around
mailboxes may not be such a great idea for mail
carriers, either - especially when you have all
those pollinators flying around."
None of which should discourage property
owners from adding vines to their landscape.
They simply need to plan first.
Vines climb in different ways, which may help
determine which variety to choose: clinging,
twining or sprawling.
Clinging vines, such as Virginia creeper,
trumpet vines and ivy, have adhesive tendrils or
rootlets that hold them to flat surfaces as they
grow. That can make them difficult and even
damaging to remove if the vines are attached to
shingles or wood siding.
"The aerial roots on some clinging vines will
work their way into chinks in walls and stucco
and slowly compromise the structure," said
Sydney Park Brown, an extension horticulturist
with the University of Florida.
Twining vines, such as clematis, jasmine, wis-
teria and morning glories, spiral upward, loop-
ing around poles, latticework or fences.
Roses, bougainvillea and sweet peas are sprawl-
ing plants that often must be tied to a trellis, es-
pecially when getting started.
A few things to consider when adding plant
supports:
�Give vines space to breathe to pre-
vent mold and decay. Set freestanding trellises a few inches awayfrom structures.
�Opt for strength and size when setting up an arbor, trellis or per-gola. Vines can live for decades and grow heavy with age.
�Place scented varieties near doors and windows to better enjoythe fragrance.
� Look for seed- or fruit-producing vines to attract more wildlife toyour yard.
March 2013 Cobb Life 51
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DEER MEOur hoofed friends can actually help us during
pruning season arrives. Here’s how:
By Lee ReichPhotography courtesy of the Associated Press
17616362:CL MARCH 2013(52) 2/22/2013 3:03 PM Page 52
Deer are ready to start pruning our trees and shrubs.
Although unconcerned with promoting plant health or aesthet-
ics, in at least one situation, deer can actually help us prune well.
Picture an overgrown shrub, especially one planted too close to
a home. With age and a little neglect, said shrub begins to swal-
low up the home, or at least block the view from a window.
There are many approaches to dealing with an overgrown
shrub. Briefly, you could, over the course of a few years, reno-
vate the plant each year cutting some of the oldest stems to the
ground to make way for younger, shorter ones. Or, you could
take the dramatic approach: Lop the whole plant to the ground
and start anew with all young shoots, which will enthusiastically
sprout forth from the established roots. Also worth considering is
just grubbing out the shrub and replacing it with something, or
even nothing.
Deer aren't much help with any of these approaches. But they
can help out with another, which capitalizes on the venerability
of such a plant: You and your hoofed friends can transform a se-
lected portion of the plant into a picturesque, small tree.
An ideal candidate for this operation is yew, a fast-growing
evergreen frequently snuggled against home foundations.
The first step in transforming an old yew — or any other old
shrub — is to select two or three of the oldest stems to become
the trunks of your tree-to-be. These stems should have pleasant
forms and extend from ground level to as high as the future
crown of branches.
Once selections are made, cut away all other stems growing
from the base of the plant.
The next step — cutting away any branches growing off those
new trunks between the ground and a few feet above the ground
— is where deer help out. They'll enjoy munching on all those
smaller branches. You and your deer helpers will want to remove
branches high enough along the trunk so the plant looks like a
tree, or, in the case of the deer, as high as they can reach.
The final step in pruning will be to shorten and remove enough
branches in the crown of your new tree to give it good shape. Do
this step yourself.
Yew is a particularly good candidate for this treatment because
its reddish brown, peeling trunk is well worth exposing and
highlighting, and age deepens its beauty. Yew also bounces back
enthusiastically from virtually any type of pruning, so you can
do the job fearlessly.
In subsequent years, new sprouts will arise from ground level
and off the trunks; after all, the plant was once, and really as-
pires to be, a bush. Deer will be eager to nip off all those young
sprouts, but check on their work to cut away any that they miss.
March 2013 Cobb Life 53
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ighlightsA closer look at events and activitiesthroughout Cobb County in March
LA TRAVIATA >>In celebration of the bicen-tennial of Giuseppe Verdi's birth, the AtlantaOpera's second production of the season isthe tale of opera's most beloved fallenwoman, “La Traviata.” Based on “La dameaux Camélias,” a play adapted from a novelby Alexandre Dumas, Verdi's “La Traviata”tells the story of Violetta, a worldly courte-san who is forced to give up the love of herlife. A tale of lavish revelry, family strife, un-fortunate misunderstanding, and selflesssacrifice, “La Traviata” is a treasured classicoverflowing with memorable music. Bothlongtime opera lovers and first-timers will betouched by this romantic tragedy. AtlantaOpera presents “La Traviata” on March 2 at 8p.m., March 5 at 7:30 p.m., March 8 at 8p.m., and March 10 at 3 p.m. at Cobb En-ergy Performing Arts Centre. The opera issung in Italian with projected English transla-tions. Ticket prices range from $22 to $123.Information: 404.881.8885 or www.atlanta-opera.org
SANDY HACKETT’S RAT PACK SHOW>>Celebrating 50 years of The Rat Pack,Sandy Hackett's “Rat Pack Show” has beenhailed as the next best thing to seeing TheRat Pack themselves. They were style withsubstance, swing with swagger, and a non-stop party that everyone wanted to access.Now audiences can experience this criticallyacclaimed, hugely entertaining theatricalproduction which includes exciting newarrangements of the classic songs everyoneknows and loves. In addition, audiences willhear original, never-before-heard songs writ-ten by the late, legendary songwriter, RonMiller, and recorded voiceovers made exclu-sively for this show by Sandy Hackett's fa-ther, the late, legendary comedian, BuddyHackett. Gas South Broadway Series pres-ents Sandy Hackett’s “Rat Pack Show” onMarch 14 to 16 at 8 p.m., and March 16 and17 at 2 p.m. at Cobb Energy Performing ArtsCentre. Ticket prices range from $17 to $47,plus fees.Information: 770.916.2808 or www.cobbenergycentre.com
H17616364:CL MARCH 2013(54) 2/22/2013 3:02 PM Page 54
PAJANIMALS LIVE: PAJAMA PLAYDATE>>For the first timeever, Jim Henson’s Pajanimals will hit the road for a nationwidetour this spring. “Pajanimals Live: Pajama Playdate” will featureSquacky, Sweetpea Sue, Cowbella, and Apollo singing all ofthe Pajanimals’ greatest hits. The live show features two actsand an all-new story that's full of audience participation and in-teractivity. The live show is written by Pajanimals creator AlexRockwell, along with Bradley Zweig. “Pajanimals Live: PajamaPlaydate” is March 29 at 6 p.m. at Cobb Energy PerformingArts Centre. Ticket prices range from $17 to $37.Information: 770.916.2808 or www.cobbenergycentre.com
RAGTIME – THE MUSICAL>>At the dawn of a new century,everything is changing, and anything is possible. Set in thevolatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, “Ragtime”weaves together three distinctly American tales — that of a sti-fled suburban mother, an inventive Jewish immigrant, and adaring young Harlem musician — united by their courage,compassion, and belief in the promise of the future. Their com-pelling stories intertwine to form a rich tapestry of hopes anddreams, struggles and triumphs, rhythm and rhyme, all set toan epic, Tony Award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty andLynn Ahrens. A colossal stage show based on the classic E. L.Doctorow novel, “Ragtime” also features a Tony Award-winningbook by Terrence McNally. Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents “Rag-time – The Musical” on April 12 to 28, at the Earl Smith StrandTheatre on the Marietta Square. Call for performance times.Ticket prices range from $25 to $50.Information: 404.377.9948 or www.atlantalyrictheatre.com
CASUAL THURSDAY>>Join conductors Michael Alexanderand Grant Harville as they discuss important features of theGeorgia Symphony Orchestra concert on March 9, featuringperformances of works by Bloch and Mahler. Audiences areencouraged to stay after the discussion to hear GSO rehearse.An inquisitive nature is recommended. Casual Thursday isMarch 7 at 6 p.m. in the Bailey Center at Kennesaw State Uni-versity. All tickets are $5. Information: 770.429.7016 or www.georgiasymphony.org
SPRING CONCERT >>Join Georgia Symphony Orchestra asthey present Gustav Mahler’s Symphony #1, “Titan,” andErnest Bloch’s “Sacred Service.” Mahler, who declared that “thesymphony must be like the world – it must embrace every-thing,” peppers his initial symphonic foray with peasant dances,bird calls, art songs, town bands, rousing fanfares, and a fa-mous nursery rhyme. Bloch learned Hebrew specifically tocompose his intensely spiritual “Sacred Service.” Georgia Sym-phony Orchestra performs on March 9 at 8 p.m., in the Bailey
Center at Kennesaw State University. Tickets are $20 for adults,$10 for students. Information: 770.429.7016 or www.georgiasymphony.org
CHEKHOV STORIES>>Three award-winning contemporaryplaywrights re-imagine stories by Anton Chekhov in this worldpremiere evening of short plays. Comedy and tragedy meet in thetwilight, transporting the themes, situations, and lyricism of one ofRussia’s greatest writers to contemporary America. This eventmay not be suitable for audiences under the age of 16. KarenRobinson and Kara Cantrell direct “Chekhov Stories” on March19 to 24 at 8 p.m., and March 25 at 3 p.m. in the Black Box The-ater in the Wilson Annex at Kennesaw State University. Ticketsare $12 for adults, $10 for students.Information: 770.423.6650 or www.kennesaw.edu/arts
AN EVENING WITH GEORGE>> “An Evening with George” fea-tures the charming melodies of American composer GeorgeGershwin. Presented in two parts, the first half is a musical the-atre revue titled “Rhapsody in Blue (and Pink!),” written and or-chestrated by John Whitworth. The second half features TomPazik's “By George!,” a show within a show that allows the audi-ence a glimpse into the backstage happenings of a dance com-pany. Presented by Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre, “AnEvening of George” is March 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m., and March23 and 24 at 2 p.m. at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in the CobbCivic Center. Tickets may be purchased at the ticket window onehour prior to show time. Call for ticket prices.Information: 770.426.0007 or www.georgiametrodance.org
March 2013 Cobb Life 55
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MARIETTA/COBB MUSEUM OF ART>> Marietta/Cobb Mu-seum of Art features two exhibitions on display through March24. “Yarbrough: 53.9 Years & Still Unpredictable” featureswork by James “Jim” Yarbrough, a precise painter and a mas-terful draftsman. He has painted the streets of Venice,dancers and musicians, fish, imaginings, history and myth,fantasy, and diabolic conflict. All are executed with the skilland artistry of a talented professional. “Vignettes of America”is an exhibition of select landscape paintings from the Mari-etta/Cobb Museum of Art permanent collection.
Most of the paintings on display were created between1850 and 1910. The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art is locatedin downtown Marietta at 30 Atlanta Street. Museum hours areTuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 11a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors andstudents, free for children younger than six years and free formembers.Information: 770.528.1444 or www.mariettacobbartmu-seum.org
FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK ON THE MARIETTA SQUARE>>The new season of First Friday ArtWalks on the Marietta Square begins on April 5, and contin-ues on May 3, June 7, July 5, August, 2, September 6, and
October 4. Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour of the MariettaSquare’s eclectic art scene. Galleries, museums, cultural ven-ues, restaurants and boutiques host artists within their busi-nesses from 5 to 9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, rainor shine. Look for an official Art Walk banner in the window toidentify participating venues.
Choose your own route, or begin from Artists' Alley at Dupre'sAntique Market at 17 Whitlock Ave. Art Walk informational mapsare provided at each participating location. Pick one up to learnabout the various locations and artists participating in Art Walk.There is no admission charge. Be sure to visit 2 Rules Fine Art,Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, or The Historic Marietta Trolleyand register for your chance to win a "Hip to Be Square" $100gift certificate redeemable at any participating merchant. Mustbe 18 years or older to participate in the drawing.Information: 770.429.1115 or www.artwalkmarietta.com
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST>>The Out of BoxTheatre production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” astory made familiar by the classic 1975 film starring Jack Nichol-son, features Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre award winner TravisYoung as Randle P. McMurhpy, and MAT award nominee Car-olyn Choe as Nurse Ratched. Into a world of medicated insanity,McMurphy, part savior, part con-man, introduces individuality.Confronting the institutional tyranny of Nurse Ratched, he con-vinces the other patients to question the status quo. Will thethreat of permanent incapacitation rule the day or will McMurphyand his friends win their fight for justice?
This funny yet terrifying story of rebellion and courage in theface of conformity is as relevant today as it was when the revolu-tionary novel was published in 1962. Directed by acclaimedactor and director Barbara Rudy, the Out of Box Theatre produc-tion of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is March 15 to 23 inthe Alley Stage off the Marietta Square at 11 Anderson Street.Call for performance times. All tickets are $15. This productionincludes mature themes and language.Information: 678.653.4605 or www.outofboxtheatre.com
NEW CHOREOGRAPHIC VOICES>>Atlanta Ballet’s “NewChoreographic Voices” features a premiere work by Ohad Na-harin and a world premiere by Gina Patterson. Naharin is hailedas one of the world's preeminent choreographers and garneredthe attention of many ballet greats, including Martha Graham.Both premieres promise a look at the bold, new directions in theworld of contemporary dance with Atlanta Ballet at the forefront.Atlanta Ballet presents “New Choreographic Voices” on March22 and 23 at 8 p.m., and March 23 and 24 at 2 p.m. in the CobbEnergy Performing Arts Centre. Ticket prices range from $15 to$86.Information: 404.873.5811 or www.atlantaballet.com
You can also add an event to
our online calendar at
www.cobblifemagazine.com
at no cost!
Cobb Life March 201356
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The Cobb-based Georgia Bal-let helds its annual fundraiserin late January at Mount ParanChristian School. Founded in1960, the ballet serves resi-dents throughout Cobb fromits location in Marietta. 1. MattZarch of Smyrna with Jackson, Nickiand Keith Schroeder of Roswell. 2.Jake and Beth Carnes of Marietta. 3.Greg and Vicki Aghajanian of Acworth.
PHOTOGRAPHY BYJOSHUA CAMPBELL
SCENEGeorgia Ballet Gala
March 2013 Cobb Life 57
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Cobb Life March 201358
4. Kevin, Carla, Erin andBryan O’Keefe of Kenne-saw. 5. Thomas Algarin andAudi Lopez, both of Mari-etta. 6. Leslie Croft, EmilyCroft and CynthiaClement, all of Acworth.
SCENE Georgia Ballet Gala
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4
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7. Halley Reed of Kennesaw, Corrinne Leahy of Kennesaw andMiriam Brown of Woodstock. 8. Andy Gastley of Atlanta, NatashaGastley of Atlanta and Nate Gastley of Gainesville.
SCENEGeorgia Ballet Gala
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HAVE YOU BEEN SCENE? Check our website to purchase exclusive
photos of you from one of our events.www.cobblifemagazine.com
17616369:CL MARCH 2013(59) 2/22/2013 2:57 PM Page 59
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The annual Home for the Holidays showtook place at the Cobb Civic Centre in December. Residents with VIP tickets weretreated to special events, including a dinnerprior to the concert. 1. From left, Denise Reeveof Marietta, Erin Palmer of Atlanta and Eileen Edwards of Smyrna 2. Allen and Debi Jue of Marietta. 3. From left, Brandt Blocker of Marietta,Christine Jones of Marietta and Elizabeth and GregWexler of Marietta. 4. Jocelyn Roper and Caroline Brumbeloe, both of Marietta. 5. Mary and WilliamDavid of Powder Springs.
SCENE Home for the Holidays VIP show
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4
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6. From left, Martha Earls of Marietta, Tami Gallagher of Acworth and Carol Eubanks ofKennesaw. 7. From left, Clark Barrow of Smyrna, Pattie Barrow of Marietta and EmilyFreedman of Atlanta. 8. From left, Stephanie Brumbeloe of Marietta, Eddie Canon of Cumming and Barbra Savage of Acworth.
SCENEHome for the Holidays VIP show
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North Cobb’s EaglePointe Church helda benefit concert inJanuary to raisefunds to help buildan orphanage inHaiti. The concerttook place at theElectric Cowboynightclub in Kenne-saw and featuredheadliner CowboyTroy. 1. From left, TerryJurgens of Acworth, TimRoman of Acworth, AmyRoman of Acworth, Chris McCommon ofKennesaw and TylerMcCommon ofKennesaw.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA CAMPBELL
SCENE Benefit Concert
Cobb Life March 201362
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2. From left, Sandy Dane, Deena Koepka and Debbie Dickinson,all of Acworth. 3. Aisling Nelson and Branna Koepka, both of Ken-nesaw. 4. John Schilling of Cumming and Hope Dixon of Kenne-saw. 5. Kathy Elkin of McDonough and Bobbie McAdams ofAcworth.
SCENEBenefit Concert
March 2013 Cobb Life 63
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6. From left, Monique Mercier, Vicki Staats and EleanorMartel, all of West Cobb. 7. From left, Suzanne Rogersof Powder Springs, Tony Rogers of Powder Springs andTammy McCommon of Kennesaw.
6
SCENE Benefit Concert
Cobb Life March 201364
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Have you been scene?
Visit our website for exclusive re-prints and
merchandise! www.cobblifemagazine.com
17616374:CL MARCH 2013(64) 2/22/2013 3:11 PM Page 64
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1
The American Cancer Society kicked off its Cancer Prevention Study 3
with a breakfast meeting at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in the Galleria
complex near Vinings. 1. Voice of the Braves Pete Van Wiere, with wife Elaine,
of John’s Creek. 2. American Cancer Society volunteers, from left, Erica Davis of
Smyrna, Jenny McCartney, of Buckhead and Sara Haj-Hussein, of Lawrenceville.
3. Cancer Society volunteer, Sheila Shessell, of Sandy Springs, left, and Molly
Herrin, Director of Events for the American Cancer Society, from Vinings. 4. From
left, YMCA Mission Manager Judy Godfrey, of Suwanee, Nicki Robinson, Associ-
ate Executive Director of the Buckhead YMCA, from Smyrna, and Terri Taylor
Senior Data Entry Manager of the American Cancer Society, from Marietta.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN SELF
SCENECancer Prevention Breakfast
March 2013 Cobb Life 65
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Now, don’t confuse this bonfire with going
out and buying a chiminea at Lowe’s and putting
it on your back porch. Those are nice if you live
on .23 acres of land, but my friends from home,
many of whom
were raised in the
sticks, build their
bonfires right.
Imagine a pile
of wood, mostly
tree trunks that are
probably the result
of someone clear-
ing land or cutting
down a rotten tree
in the front yard,
roughly seven feet
high and about 10
feet wide in some-
one’s backyard
and/or field near
their home. I mean
this thing could
clear burn your
eyebrows off if you
got too close; but it’s oddly beautiful and relax-
ing. And don’t forget in the backdrop of stars,
more than you’d probably see if you visited the
local planetarium, and more than likely the smell
of cow manure at a nearby farm.
It may seem simple — or gross to some — but
the camaraderie, ever-flowing “adult beverages”
and anything or everything that you can put on
the end of a wire hanger is pretty comforting, and
in my opinion, definitely something worth pining
to be back home for on a cool Saturday night.
Before moving here, my friends and I had get-
togethers like this at least once a month. The boys
would grill and the ladies would whip up some-
thing in the kitchen for sides. My duties typically
required making appetizers and one of their fa-
vorites are bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers.
P.S.- I honestly don’t recall where this recipe
came from, but it’s been a winner at parties for
nearly 15 years.
r e f l e c t i o n s
By Lindsay Field
Those were the days ...Facebook can serve as both a blessing and a curse. Blessing, because it allows
me to keep in better touch with family and friends. Curse, because I see photos
of the things I hate to miss out on, like my big brother being inducted into the
Sports Hall of Fame in the neighboring city (Who holds this on a Thursday
night?), and most recently, my group of Cairo friends hanging out by a bonfire
one weekend into the wee hours of the night.
Ingredients1 lb bag of fresh jalapenos1 8-oz container of cream cheese1 Tbsp of garlic powder1 pkg of REAL bacon – although turkey
bacon does work
Cut the stems off the jalapenos, cutthem in half and clean out the seeds.
Mix together softened cream cheeseand garlic powder. Stuff jalapenos withmixture.
Cut slices of bacon in half. Wrap eachjalapeno half with bacon.
Bake at 400 for about 30 minutes or grilluntil the bacon looks cooked through –should be bright red.
BACON-WRAPPED JALAPENO POPPERS
Cobb Life March 201366
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