Final

Published on March 2017 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 82 | Comments: 0 | Views: 715
of 52
Download PDF   Embed   Report

Comments

Content

fa l l 2 0 12

The Magazine

a rts · entertainmen t · Des ti n atiOn s · peOple

Choose the best.

Ranked Top 10% in the Nation for General Surgery
(2012)

You Always Have a Choice for Your Healthcare Needs.
Choose the Best. Choose Redmond.

Welcome
Dear Readers, At Enjoy NW Georgia, It’s not about us…it’s all about you! It never ceases to amaze when we learn something new and otherwise unknown about people and places we take for granted. Sometimes it’s just that we need to take that second look, or think twice. That old clocktower we take for granted standing guard over our downtown opens its heart— and soul—for you to see and understand how it ticks. (Ever notice its “owl” look at night?) A good math exercise would be to figure how many times one crosses a river in Rome over a course of a lifetime. But thinking what the rivers have truly brought us would be miniscule in comparison. (Popeye, featured on the cover, was “born” on our river!) Dr. John Barge, Georgia’s Superintendent of Schools, says that to place Georgia education in the bottom rungs of national ranking is really untrue. We invite students, parents and educators to read the conversation with the Rome native. (Did you know he commutes daily from Rome to Atlanta?) We especially thank our historians, contributors and expert resources for their dedication, thoughtfulness and patience. They give their time generously in providing historical accuracy and accounts contained within the pages of Enjoy. We appreciate them beyond words, and hope we do them justice. It is our intent to enlighten our readers with how important, superb and delightful this place we call home, can be. We just love to tell the story. The Editors Visit our website at www.EnjoyNWGeorgia.com. Click to explore the pages of back issues and previous stories.

The Magazine

1

On the Cover:

When Elzie Segar, the original creator of Popeye, passed away in 1938 Tom Sims who was born in Cave Spring began writing for the comic strip. He based much of his writing and character development on what he learned spending time with his father, a captain on the “Leota” steamboat which worked the Coosa River.

The Magazine

Click on www.EnjoyNWGeorgia.com and enjoy our online version!

1

Welcome Salute to Downtowns : Downtown Rome The Inside Story of the Clocktower The Race of a Lifetime - Janet Cherobon-Bawcom Redmond Regional - The Best Choice From a River’s Point of View The Triangle - Allatoona, Weiss and Carters Lakes Sara Hightower Welcoming Change - Downtown Cedartown A Conversation with Dr. John Barge Come Spend the Day in Downtown Cartersville The Pause That Refreshes - Rome Area History Museum Janie Dempsey Watts - A Georgia Novelist Play Ball! Lake Point Sporting Community and Town Center Event Caledar Meet Bill Crane

4

4 8 10 12 14 16 18 22 24 28 30 32 34 43

8

48

enjoy! magazine is published by Advertising Dynamics, Inc. P.O. Box 1345 Rome, Georgia 30162 706.290.0202 www.EnjoyNWGeorgia.com

TM

enjoy! magazine reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and space availability, and to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication. No reproduction of printed materials is permitted without the consent of the Publisher. enjoy! magazine is a publication of Advertising Dynamics, Inc., ©Copyright 2012 by Advertising Dynamics, Inc. Editorial offices located at 104 East Sixth Avenue, Rome, GA, 30162. All rights reserved.

30

Leeta M. McDougald, President; April J. Howell, VP; Michael H. McDougald, CFO

Unbelievable performance.
Fast Loan Approval Low Loan Rates No Loan Application Fee

2

As low as

.99%
APR

New or used, we offer unbelievable rates for your auto loan.

www.nwgacu.org

to downtowns

Salute
rome

DOWNTOWN

rOME
THIRTY YEARS IN THE MAKING
4

A one-night wonder thirty years in the making—that’s the way Rome’s Downtown Development Authority Director Ann Arnold describes the current popularity of Rome’s city center. After being the retail and business heart of the community in the first half of the 20th century, slowly, in the 1970s and 1980s, downtown faded, eclipsed by strip shopping centers and the opening of first Riverbend Mall in the 1970s, and then later Mount Berry Square Mall as shopping destinations. However, as it slowly lost favor with the public, it also slowly began to revitalize, Arnold says. “I think it goes all the way back to Rome’s becoming a Main Street City in 1981,” she says. The national Main Street program is an economic development tool that guides individual communities in making the most out of their unique assets within a historic preservation approach. In addition, the Rome Downtown Development Authority had also been formed two years ago to increase support for a viable downtown. In the first five years alone after becoming a Main Street City, downtown Rome saw more than $8 million in re-investment and completed 92 renovation and new construction projects. By 1990, public and private investment had reached $22.6 million, which, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was almost double the national average, and the city undertook a streetscaping project to make four-lane Broad Street more pedestrian friendly. “It is really our architecture and history that sets Rome apart,” Arnold says. “What has happened is that we are not just filling space on Broad Street, but we have been, and are, adapting space for creative re-use,” she explains. “We are celebrating our history and heritage by promoting downtown as an entity, as a unit.” Rome not only has the second widest Broad (or Main) Street in the state, it also has the largest Victorian-era historic district. In 2003, the city received the Great American Main Street Award for its ongoing preservation and economic development efforts as it began filling its many late 19th-early 20th century buildings. “Our city and county governments understand the importance of working together and the value of what downtown means to our community,” Arnold says. “They are a big factor in our continuing success.” Broad Street, she notes, is very pedestrian friendly. “There is a lot to see and do within a very compact, walkable distance,” Arnold points out. “There are businesses of all kinds, retail stores, restaurants and residences. Downtown is a unique place where a variety of groups have come together: churches, government offices, civic organizations, retail and dining. They have all come together to adapt and make use of buildings that are part of our history.” And, there is green space and recreational space. The popular Town Green attracts visitors of all ages virtually every season of the year, with the adjoining Forum and a revamped Barron Stadium a short walk across the new pedestrian bridge. “The rivers themselves are an attraction,” Arnold explains, “thanks in large part to the work of the Coosa River Basin Initiative and their regular schedule of programs and events.”
(continued on page 6)
5

DOWNTOWN

rOME
(Downtown Rome continued from page 5)

Sites like Myrtle Hill Cemetery, the ongoing restoration of the 1920s-era DeSoto Theatre, along with the events and programs of the Rome Area History Museum, bring many people downtown. The First Friday concert series is fourteen years old and is still going strong, Arnold says. “Now, there is almost always something going on, and we see a regular addition of new, first-time events,” she adds. Take First Friday, for instance, which will have a new twist in September. “We will have a block party on Broad Street itself,” Arnold says, “when both sides of the street will be closed from 6:00-11:00 p.m.” First Friday, Arnold points out, is made possible by the Business Improvement District (BID), a self-tax levied by business and property owners. “This is just another example of collaboration and cooperation,” Arnold says. “We are continuing to see growth, including job growth downtown,” Arnold explains. “At the end of 2011, we had a net gain of 122 jobs, and, thanks, to low interest rates, we have had, and are still seeing, some significant public and private investment.” Arnold points to a number of programs that offer financial incentives for new and prospective business owners. “These grant programs have undoubtedly contributed to our success,” she adds, “and the renovation of property continues. To name only one individual, Ira Levy, should certainly be recognized for what he has contributed to downtown re-development. He has done quite a bit of out-of-the-box thinking to upgrade and revitalize the face of downtown Rome with projects like the Forrest Building, now Forrest Place, and the old Battey Building, which was transformed into the Hawthorne Suites Hotel. And, my hope is that we may soon have a new hotel on West Third Street to add to the vibrancy of this area.” An additional hotel could be expected to stimulate an increase in
(continued on page 20)
6

superior customer service.

Wherevalue meet tradition, quality and

312 Broad Street, Historic Downtown Rome 706.291.8811 www.fgkjewelers.com
12 Months. 0% Interest. Ask for Details.

The Inside Story of

THE CLOCKTOWER
If you know Rome, then you know the Clocktower. The 141 year old icon stands 104 feet tall on top of Neely Hill, one of Rome’s seven. The octagonal brick beauty shows four faces to Rome and at night takes on the face of an owl. It’s name has been used dozens of times for businesses and events. You know it well. Or do you? You have to go inside to get the real story...

The Clocktower was a water tower that held 250,000 gallons of water and was the first major building project after Sherman came through, burning Rome before his infamous trek to Atlanta. Modeled after a similar structure in Bowling Green, KY, it was designed to provide water for Rome’s citizens and to fight fires. Before the clock was added a year later, it was simply an iron made cistern, hand riveted in place. Spiraling stairs were placed along the sides to gain access to the top and then an outside layer of brick served to protect the entire structure. Eventually the tower was retired from service and emptied, but not until serving its utilitarian purpose for 22 years. In hindsight, the fortuitous addition of the clock served to create an ongoing life to the structure long after it was drained. The original clock, manufactured by the E. Howard Clock Company, required weekly winding, somewhat like the mechanisms that you see pulling an anchor out of the water. Johnny Davis, a lifelong Roman and history buff recalls Ed O’Neill, the city employee tasked with that job. “Ed used to come to wind the clock and all the kids in town would run up there and follow him around.” Eventually, the old hand windlass mechanism--which is on display inside--was replaced by a small electric motor. Leigh Barba, Director
8

Johnny Davis (l), volunteer and Leigh Barba, Director, Rome Area History Museum.

of the Rome Area History Museum, amusingly states, “When we were winding the clock by hand, we never had a problem. However, the Clocktower gets struck by lightening about 3 or 4 times a year, and when it does, we have to go to the top and reset the newer motor. It never bothered the old one.” So what do you do with an empty, but beautiful water tower? You make a museum. In 1995, the Rome Jaycees raised enough money to do that. The water tower was cleaned, primed with XIM to help to prevent rust on the metal surface and a muralist was hired. Charles “Chuck” Schultz was given old pictures depicting scenes from Rome’s history and created a miniCyclorama, which is made to look like a continuous roll of film. One scene however was painted only through Chuck’s imagination because a picture didn’t exist. Did you know that Rome had its own version of Paul Revere? Chuck recounts, “I was asked to try to paint the ride of John Henry Wisdom, a guy that rode his horse from Gadsden to Rome to warn Rome of the impending Yankee militia, but when they asked me to do it, they figured that it couldn’t be done. I thought about it for awhile and gave the horse a wild look in his eyes as John Wisdom was yelling that the Yankees were coming.” Of course no tour would be complete without the 107 step climb to the top of the Clocktower. It is a beautiful way to see Rome. Leigh Barba did acknowledge that on rainy days, you can’t go up there because the floor is made of metal and very slippery. Also, if you are claustrophobic, you may find yourself turning around halfway up since there is only three feet between the water tower and the outside brick structure.
The Clocktower museum is open to the public the first Saturday of the month from 12pm - 1:30pm, March - November. For more information or to arrange private tours, contact the Rome Area History Museum at 706-235-8051 or www.romehistorymuseum.org
Above: At the base of the clock tower, on the western side, the door to the museum swings open to visitors. Once inside, you find the amazing clockwork, beautiful likenesses of Rome in days long gone.

9

THE

RACE
OF A LIFETIME
Janet Cherobon-Bawcom

You might see Janet Cherobon-Bawcom running the often vehicle-sparse roads at Berry College followed by a man on a bicycle helping to set her pace or round and round at our local track or pumping iron at the local YMCA. You might not think much about who this sinewy, native Kenyan is and just pass it off as a young woman who is dedicated to fitness. Perhaps if you do see her in the future, you might want to pay closer attention because you could be looking at a medalist from the 2012 Olympic Games; a journey that started in Kapsabet, Kenya fourteen years ago. The route that Janet has taken has been neither short nor straight. She grew up in a mud hut, the oldest daughter of a single mother with eight siblings in a small village where the opportunities for education were limited. Even though she was in the top 25% for academics in her country and had a deep desire to further her schooling to become a nurse, she found herself perplexed on how she was going to make that happen after graduating from high school two years prior. In 1998, she was walking to her Aunt’s house, a forty mile trip, when halfway there she was offered a ride from a stranger. Turns out it was Peter Rono, a 1988 Olympic Gold Medal winner for the 1500-meter race. He took an interest in Janet, noticing that she was quite fit and impressed upon her the notion that she could use athletics as a vehicle toward an education. She listened to him throughout the car ride, but realized that after he had dropped her off that although she had remembered where he was from, she didn’t know his name. Several months later, she realized that her dreams might be realized through this man, so she went to his village to find him. Serendipitously, he spotted her walking down the street and thus they began a two year training program which led to a sports scholarship to Harding University in Arkansas where she majored in Healthcare Management. Simultaneously, Jay Bawcom, an American from Searcy, Arkansas where Harding University is located was doing missionary work in Kenya, met Janet’s mother who asked him to deliver a care package to her daughter back in States. When they met for the exchange, they fell in love and got married in 2005.
(continued on page 41)

10

Redmond Regional
The best choice for your next surgical procedure.

12

“This new unit is just a better place to recover – faster, which means getting back home sooner and back to work more quickly”
Whenever the doctor prescribes a hospital stay, a patient’s first question is inevitably “When can I go home?” What if a hospital room was more like home, or at least, more like a hotel? That’s the philosophy behind Redmond Regional Medical Center’s newly renovated and upgraded surgical services floor. “It’s comfortable, it’s friendly, and it’s a lot more like a home environment,” says Kristin Bowman, outreach relations director. “Let’s face it—little niceties, little extras, have a lot to do with how people, including hospital patients, feel, and how quickly they recuperate.” Located on the fourth floor, the unit cares for general surgical patients. “These are primarily general surgery, urology, gastroenterology and gynecology patients,” explains Kathy Henderson, floor nurse director. “Here at Redmond, we have specialized units for our orthopaedic and neurology patients and our cardiovascular patients. When the orthopaedic and neurology area opened, we then had some space that could be devoted to the general surgery patients.” Along with general surgery, urology, gastroenterology and gynecology, patients having surgery in a variety of other areas, such as ear, nose and throat (ENT) and cosmetic/ plastic surgery, all procedures with typically short stays will also be accommodated on this floor, adds nurse navigator Nancy Lowe. Lowe’s role as nurse navigator for general surgery patients is an important one, Bowman explains, and one not found in other area hospitals. “What Nancy does is to follow patients’ progress closely, working directly with their surgeons,” she says. “This is in addition to the experienced surgical services nurses that care for the patients. Nancy is with these patients every step of the way.” In addition to Redmond’s clinical staff, the upgrade was also directed by an interior designer to ensure that the rooms would be as visually appealing as possible for patients. “This new, more upscale environment is definitely going to mean a different hospital experience and a more comfortable stay for our patients,” Lowe says. The 34-bed unit features new, state-of-the art beds, wood flooring, new furnishings, new bathrooms with high-end showers (replacing the typical “hospital”-type bathroom) and wide, flatscreen televisions. Patient rooms are equipped with the latest technology, including computers for accessing patient charts and records and updating information. For families’ convenience, the floor also includes a private and comfortable resource/waiting room with computers with Internet access. There will also be some new “behind the scenes” facilities that will also facilitate patient care. “We will have a new exam room, a state-of-the-art medication room, a new nurses station that is more open and accessible and a new physicians’ dictation room,” Henderson adds. “This new unit is just a better place to recover—faster, which means getting back home sooner and back to work more quickly,” says Jan Routledge, perioperative services director. “We are so fortunate to have five excellent general surgeons in Rome,” she notes. These surgeons, she adds, are increasingly performing the most minimally invasive procedures possible for the patient. “So many surgeries can now be done laparoscopically: gallbladder, hernia and some colon surgeries.” Laparoscopic surgery is proving to be a major advance over many formerly invasive surgeries. Patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery experience much shorter hospitalization time (the average hospitalization after a laparoscopic procedure is one to two days compared to five to seven days after a traditional open procedure), a more rapid recovery (approximately two weeks compared to four to eight weeks after open surgery) and, therefore, return to work earlier. In addition, there are also indications that the postoperative pain is reduced after laparoscopic surgery. “In the past, many people have delayed general surgical procedures that they may really need because of the concern of missing time at work because of the recovery time with traditional open surgery,” Bowman points out. Now, for many patients, having surgery means being in the operating room on Friday and back at home or work by Monday.” As an example, Routledge points to a procedure known as an adrenalectomy, or removal of adrenal tumors, which is now performed laparoscopically at Redmond. In this procedure, small incisions are made to insert a video chip camera and long, narrow tubes called ports through which instruments are introduced for the surgery into the abdomen. The video chip camera projects an image of the inside of the abdomen on a television monitor, and the surgeon performs the surgery while monitoring the procedure on the TV screen. The maximized patient experience at Redmond begins before the patient ever enters the operating room, however. “We’ve been working to streamline all of our processes,” Routledge says. “This begins with the necessary pre-op phase, which can now be accomplished by phone. We’re trying to make patients’ experience as easy as possible from start to finish.” While warm, beautiful, comfortable surroundings obviously mean a lot, as does ease and convenience, Redmond general surgery patients can also feel additional assurance in the quality of care and patient outcomes at the hospital, which have been recognized by the leading national healthcare ratings company, HealthGrades. “Redmond was among the top 10% in the nation for general surgery care in 2012,” Bowman says. “We have also been ranked number one in Georgia for prostatectomy two years in a row—2011 and 2012.” Redmond’s five-star rating for prostatectomy compares with the national average of three stars. Men who choose to go to a top 10% hospital have a lower risk of experiencing complications from their prostate surgery. When the most advanced procedures pair with recognized quality and a new upscale environment in which to recuperate, Redmond Regional Medical Center is the best choice for your next surgery procedure.
13

From A River’s Point of View

14

Some people might call me lazy. All they see is that I go with the flow, always in a lackadaisical and downhill mode, quietly and placidly. I’m usually pretty calm and don’t fuss about much. Ignored most of the time, people go about their daily business running back and forth across my bridges. However, if a little too much rain falls too quick and too soon, I can really go on a rampage; yet, in my defense, I’m not quick to ire. They’ve even written lots of songs about my easy-going style. Remember…up a lazy river’? As I meander through your city, I have seen things that only a river like myself, could see. I’m different here, because Rome is where I get it together. Most towns (if they are even slightly lucky) get only one watery component. But you lucky ducks get the Oostanaula, the Etowah, and then voila...a confluence. It’s where I got my first big break. I have become the Coosa River. As I wander on, I leave Rome to stretch my way for some 280 miles. What a trip! My journey ends just northeast of the Alabama state capital, Montgomery, where I join up with the Tallapoosa River to form the Alabama River just south of Wetumpka, Alabama. Around 90% of my length is located in Alabama. Hey, I’m a star over there, but I digress. I do have quite the pedigree. Let me tell you that my “family,” doesn’t exactly have Anglo-Saxon monikers. American natives, more specifically the Creek and Cherokee nations that lived and roamed on our banks, named us. The American Indians appreciated their vital river resources, and named us accordingly. They did not defile us, pollute us with sewage and garbage, or make us uninhabitable or inhospitable. Instead of big thundering concrete dams, they devised simple fish weirs made from native stone which did not spoil our waters, and helpful in the harvest of crop and fish. The waters sustained life in the pleasant villages along the way. The Indians were respectful of the rivers. They gave us our names and today all the rivers in Georgia still bear proud Indian names. I have been fished in, floated on, swam in, skiied on and been bridged over ever since. All in the name of progress and recreation. Perhaps I shouldn’t brag, but I actually brought the first hopeful settlers. I helped move goods from one place to the next, helped you develop a level of commerce and trade, put out your fires, provided drinking water and enabled newfound cities to grow and thrive. I was happy to be of service, thank you very much. While I may seem lazy and indolent, don’t forget that I carried you on my back – you and your family and your worldly goods… your cotton bales, sand, coal, timber, furs and chemicals. In fact, all sorts of things, all on my back, without a splash. Lots of times we went downstream – but don’t forget how often we worked together to come ‘upstream,’ never as much fun. My stories are many and I am proud of the influence that I have made in Rome, but at times you have forgotten my contributions. Lest you label me just another grumpy “old man river,” I used to be the center of attention. Steamships filled with cotton rode my currents all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. Without me you couldn’t have built up enough steam to generate all that electricity or in times past, even the mills to grind corn. You might never have had grits!

Buildings were constructed along my shoreline not only to benefit from my natural resource of water, but also for my natural beauty, as well. And yes, I know that I have spilled over on occasion flooding your lower land. But, if I hadn’t flooded that one in particular I’d really rather not recall, you probably would not have TJ Maxx, Barnes & Noble, or Panera Bread today. These days, I watch you all drive by on surface streets, pedal by me on bikes, walk the shoreline paths and play in the city’s fountains and I feel a little left out. I get some fishing boats, canoes and kayaks, and even a skull racer from time to time and I wouldn’t mind having the guys and gals on jet skis occasionally. Hey, I can handle it. I just wanted an opportunity to help you see things my way... the river way. You see, if you have never traversed me, you haven’t seen Rome from my point of view. I invite you to spend some time with me. Have a smooth, safe, sail on pleasant waters… on me. I think you’ll have fun and a new appreciation for my contributions. You can bank on it. • The Joel Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat is a good way to start things slowly. Named in honor of Joel Sulzbacher, one of Rome’s classic business and real estate executives who loved the city and its beautiful rivers. His daughter, Villa Hizer, gave tribute to his memory by making the Roman Holiday possible for everyone to have an opportunity to experience the river. It is managed by the Rome Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and available for public or private excursions. It is currently housed at Heritage Park. It is a chance for people to experience a pleasant afternoon learning more about one of North America’s most biologically diverse river basins. Educational information is included in the river tour as well as a chance to go in Rome’s very own aquarium depicting marine life on us rivers. The Roman Holiday is staffed by a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain and a first mate. You can take your time on this leisure vessel viewing Rome in a way that you may never have. • CRBI - Coosa River Basin Initiative offers kayak and canoe rentals and provides shuttles to different launch sites. If you are not ready to venture out on your own, the CRBI can provide guided tours which will help you gain further understanding of the rivers and their importance to the community. You’ll enjoy historical and natural highlights along the way. Want to see actual Native American fish weirs? You can on one of these tours. For more information contact: Joel Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat www.romegeorgia.org or (706) 295-5576 CRBI www.coosa.org or (706) 232-2724

15

TriaNglE
16

ThE

The Coosa Valley of Northwest Georgia is nestled in what we call the “ABC Triangle” which of course refers to the major cities Atlanta, Birmingham and Chattanooga. We are connected easily by interstates, with hardly a few hours drive between them. Water sport enthusiasts are excited to live in the “ACW Triangle”... a quick reference to the lakes known as Allatoona, Weiss and Carters.
Each of these popular lakes was created a little over half a century ago, designed primarily for flood control and the production of hydroelectric power. Today however, the average Joe would probably argue that their primary use is either as source of water consumption, or recreational purposes. Each of the lakes serves as a municipal water supply and each also serves as a major economic driver for its respective surrounding communities. Calhoun’s Billy Payne, a carpet industry executive, said that all three of the lakes are excellent fisheries. “It’s a whole different kind of fishing from shallow, largemouth fishing at Weiss to these lakes closer to us. They feature good water which predominately produces spotted bass, which generally takes some fishing finesse to catch,”Payne says. Lake Allatoona, just north of Atlanta, impounds a little over 12,000 surface acres of water, backing up the Etowah River. Its shoreline, which touches Bartow, Cobb and Cherokee counties, encompasses approximately 270 miles. Allatoona is the busiest of the three lakes, as one might imagine. With its proximity to metro Atlanta, the lake drew more than 6.2 million visitors in 2010. The United States Army Corps of Engineers says that total visitor spending easily exceeds $150 million. Payne also thinks that all the recreational traffic generates a different kind of challenge for the serious angler at Allatoona. When the lake was created, much of the natural ground cover was decimated, but Payne said it still has a healthy population of fish, with a great opportunity to land a spotted bass or hybrid bass. The huge nearby population base gives Allatoona
(continued on page 40)

17

Sara Highto we r
Sara Hightower was born in Cedartown, Georgia on April 14, 1911, the daughter of Frank and Rossie Huston Hightower. Her father managed and operated a local lumber planing mill. She had one older sister, Margalene, and two younger brothers, Frank and Charles. Sara was a member and past elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Cedartown and a member of the Daffodil Garden Club. In addition she was a member of the Polk County Historical Society, the Polk County Retired Teachers and served as a trustee of the Cedartown Library. Until her death on April 5, 1991 at the age of 79, she continued to live in her family home located on Ellawood Avenue in Cedartown. She was laid to rest in Cedartown’s historic Greenwood Cemetery.

Those who knew her remember her as a helpful and smiling “little lady” whose giant efforts pioneered library service in Floyd and Polk counties.

Miss Sara Hightower sent the library out of the stacks and into the community. In the late 1940’s, she offered readers the concept of the bookmobile. Because of her efforts, books became available to residents of rural areas who prior to its inception were unable to use library services. The bookmobile made regularly scheduled stops at rural stores, gas stations and farm homes offering access to hundreds more within the Cedartown, Rockmart and Rome/Floyd area. That joint effort grew into today’s Sara Hightower Regional Library. It encompasses four libraries serving Cave Spring, Cedartown, Rockmart and Rome. The Rome/Floyd County Library
(continued on page 36)

18

With Strings Attached
Darlington’s Instrumental Music Conservatory balances superior instruction by experts in the field with the high expectations of a rigorous academic program to create the perfect high school experience for aspiring musicians. Live for music while you prepare for life.

Catalyzing Extraordinary Lives.

Darlington School is an independent, college-preparatory school serving pre-K through grade 12, with boarding students in grades 9-12.

w w w.darlingtonschool.org/conser vator y

Rome, Georgia | 80 0 -36 -TIGER

(Downtown Rome continued from page 6)

meetings, conferences and events at the Forum. “We can’t forget that the Convention and Visitors Bureau and our Chamber are also important partners in downtown development,” Arnold says. “Business development is important for everyone because it brings amenities to the area that all residents can enjoy.” Arnold also points to the work of developer Ron Goss and his West Lofts project on the corner of Broad Street and Second Avenue, which contain 18 residential lofts. “In total, there are now 156 residential units along Broad Street, which has been an exciting development for us,” Arnold says. “Having residences here means people are here all the time, which will, in turn, continue to spur more and different types of businesses. I’d love to see us have a small grocery store downtown, which would not only benefit people who live in the greater downtown area, but also those who work in town.” Restaurants, as anyone who visits Broad Street regularly knows, have been a catalyst in downtown’s comeback. “There are almost too many to mention now,” she admits. The Partridge, a downtown landmark since the 1930s, got a new lease on life earlier this year, and El Zarape, Rome’s first full-service Mexican restaurant, underwent a complete overhaul, reopening in the summer of 2012. Schroeder’s New Deli and its courtyard have not seen their popularity dim after more than 30 years in business, in spite of the fact that it has been joined by popular newcomers like Johnny’s New York Style Pizza, The Mellow Mushroom and 333 on Broad. Fine dining has also made its way to Broad Street with the opening of La Marie’s at Margretta Hall. Across the street in what was once the Fahy Department Store building—built in 1895—is the Harvest Moon and adjoining Honeymoon Bakery. “The Moon” opened in 2001 after an extensive renovation by owners Ginny and Doc Kibler and continues to grow. In addition to indoor and outdoor seating for lunch dinner and a popular Sunday brunch, the Moon Roof Bar is one of Rome’s favorite places to gather with friends in the evenings for drinks, appetizers and some great entertainment. One block up Broad is the Old Havana Cigar Co., a full-service tobacco bar offering imported beers and a fine wine bar, a relaxing spot to enjoy live blues and jazz. “On the upper end of Broad, we have the Great Harvest Bread Company and the new Swift & Finch coffee shop, and our newest entry into the lineup of dining options is Curlee’s Fish House,” Arnold notes. “There is just a real synergy here,” she adds. “I think that someone could eat downtown every day for two weeks, and not have the same food twice. And, we hope that, in turn, the traffic to our restaurants will bring other businesses that provide various goods and services.” To build on its success—even if it was 30 years in the making— will take ever more strategically focused planning, Arnold says. To that end, the Downtown Development Authority has initiated a master planning process to be completed by the end of 2012. If the past is any indicator of what can be accomplished, without a coordinated plan, the future, therefore, looks even brighter for downtown Rome.
20

SIMULATED DIAMONDS STERLING SILVER BONDED WITH PLATINUM. RETAIL STARTING AT $100. SEE US AT ATLANTA JEWELRY SHOW, BOOTH 901-903, AUGUST 11-13, 2012 WWW.LAFONN.COM | 855.252.3666

Welcoming change

downtown
Local business owners in Downtown Cedartown are welcoming the change that has been taking place on Main Street. This million dollar plus renovation of the downtown area is what Main Street Director, Ramona Ruark, calls the “facelift” that Cedartown needed. Because of these improvements the business district of Cedartown has turned the corner. “Two years ago, we had lots of empty stores and many of our downtown businesses were barely hanging on. Now, we see new businesses opening almost every month. The street is busy and our merchants are making money,” Ruark said. The downtown area improvements, including added parking along Main Street, are a move in the right direction for many merchants who have reaped the benefits of the Downtown Cedartown Association Façade Grants. The grants have encouraged reinvestment in downtown commercial property. One can visibly see the difference that it has made: storefronts have been repainted, new awnings, windows and doors have been installed; one can rest awhile on the new benches and swings that have been put in place while enjoying the vibrant landscaping along the recently poured sidewalks.
AFTER

BEFORE

to downtowns

Salute
cedartown

These great assets have added to a community that once showed very little growth. After being burned out during the Civil War, downtown Cedartown had to begin again after suffering such heavy losses. Main Street began to be rebuilt around the 1890’s and events such as the Spring Festival and fire tournament began taking place around the 1900’s. Much like today, the twentieth century would bring growth and change to Cedartown where it was most needed. The first dirt road section of Main Street was not paved until 1911, which before was only planks nailed to cleats for sidewalks. As these very roads were being taken up for the new asphalt to be laid during Cedartown’s recent restoration, the paved bricks were found underneath the asphalt. Interest in the downtown district has been revived in the past year, however, due to Cedartown’s participation in the Main Street Program and Façade Grant Program. Many are impressed with the renovations that have taken place because of these two programs, including Historical Society Director Greg Gray. “Once everything is done we will have a beautiful streetscape,” said Gray. “People that have not been here in years will see that it doesn’t even look like the same place.” Gray has high hopes for the new Cedartown and foresees that the recent improvements will bring even more growth and business to fill in the vacancies between the thriving new storefronts.

22

The business owners who currently fill in these newly remodeled businesses are enjoying the added benefits of the improvement process such as the additional parking that is now available for their customers. Ideal Bakery owners, Debbie Brown and Ruth Garner, are more than willing to welcome the change due to the improved business that it has brought to their family owned pastry shop. Even though all it takes is one whiff of the cakes, pies and pastries that the mother-daughter team make from scratch each morning, they do admit that the new parking space has helped. “Since we now have additional parking at the front of the store people who are in a hurry in the morning can get in and out quickly while picking up breakfast before work,” said store owner Debbie Brown. One can also enjoy lunch or dinner a few blocks down Main Street at locally owned Pirkle’s Deli or Southern Flavor Restaurant. While working off some of the local dining fare one might want to take a look in the shops that the Cedartown Downtown District has to offer. The newest addition to the locally owned businesses on Main Street is Pink Sugar, which will surprise you with it’s modern exterior as well as its interior which houses a wide variety of specialty items that are some of the “most popular and trendy things on the market today!” If you are looking for gifts, interior accessories, plants or beautiful fresh flowers, Bussey’s Flowers, Gifts and Décor are known for their “classical style, smartly updated with contemporary twists”. If you are searching for something fun to do, visit Cedartown’s West Theatre for a choice of two showings that also boasts a new paint job as part of the district’s newest improvements or grab tickets at the Cedartown Performing Arts Center, providing plays, musicals and concert events to Northwest Georgia. The recently built “passive park” that has been landscaped will feature a stage for bands to play and the locals to enjoy rhythmic sounds pulsing down Main Street. The upcoming 1st Annual Festival will be taking full use of the recent improvements that Main Street has to offer for the official dedication of Cedartown’s downtown streetscape along with the locals and any old or new visitors who are interested to find out about the new face that Downtown Cedartown wants to share!

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

BEFORE

BEFORE 23

Dr.jOhN
A conversation with
georgia state school superintendent
“It has almost been en vogue to bash public education. If we limit our perception to just what we see and hear in the media, then we have a stunted view.” Such is the thinking of Georgia’s State School Superintendent, Dr. John Barge. What he is telling us is that there is much more to discover and understand about our public school system than we know. When we hear about national SAT testing results, and learn that Georgia shows up near the bottom, the joke has been ‘thank goodness for Mississippi.’ However, we don’t find it funny at all and we shouldn’t, for good reason. It just isn’t accurate. According to Dr. Barge, “It’s a problem of perception. Consider that when final results are released, the rankings are shown in the first column of the report. There’s Georgia, all right, one rung above the bottom. Anxious to release the findings, the media grabs onto the 1st column pronouncements. However, the information continues, and reading what’s in column two exposes the picture more sharply. The facts become apparent. Here’s why: Each state provides a percentage number of the students who participated in the SAT. The majority of the states provide only single digit numbers, such as 5%. And, guess which students pop in that group? You guessed it – the students with the highest scores, the top students who are the best and the brightest. On the other hand, Georgia encourages EVERY qualified student to take the SAT. Therefore, 80% of the student scores appear in the second column – not just the top 5%!
24

BargE
If Georgia selected only the top 5% of the students tested, the ranking would change dramatically. Georgia’s top 5% would have much higher individual scores to show. In fact, the 1805 average of the top 5% of “their” scores would have to be compared to the Georgia students in the top 5% – a high 2000! Dr. Barge says good news in Georgia Public Education also includes the state as ranking 7th in the nation on the 2011 Quality Counts report. Additionally, the state placed 13th in the percentage of students scoring a 3, 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement (AP) exams and passing them. Georgia’s SAT score for its top 10% of students is 1,820 compared to the national average of 1,500. The results of the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in science show Georgia’s 8th graders had a four-point score increase, compared to just 2 points for the nation. This increase brings Georgia’s average scale score to that of the nation’s scale score average (151). It’s important to note that Georgia public education is moving forward at a nice pace. Georgia is a leader in education reform and accountability, and is one of only 10 states to have been granted a waiver from No Child Left Behind federal law. And, as a winner in the ‘Race to the Top’ grant, Georgia was one of 22 states to receive the much needed $400 million grant. Georgia also is the first state to adopt full “Career Pathways” requirements for all students, allowing students to receive relevance
(continued on page 26)

“Our teachers and educators deserve kudos for the dedicated work they are doing – working in a system that is underfunded over the last 10 years.”
Dr. John Barge

25

(Dr. John Barge continued from page 24)

alongside rigorous academics. The list of accomplishments continues to grow as new opportunities arise. Georgia’s 17 Career Cluster/ Pathways provide a structure for organizing and delivering quality Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs. Modeled after The National Career Clusters configuration utilized by most of the United States, the Georgia 17 Career Clusters model represents approximately 80 career pathways to help students navigate their way to greater success in college and career. The 17 Career Clusters provide essential knowledge and skills for the students’ career pathways. Dr. Barge says that though we appreciate good news, we have to know that “by no means is everything perfect.” Education,

too, has suffered from economic woes. The state budget has been hit hard in the last few years and school systems had prior financial difficulties even before the downturn. Several school systems currently teeter on the verge of bankruptcy. Some, in metro Atlanta, are having trouble making payroll and rural systems are having a tough time, too. Education is certainly not exempt during economic difficulties, and times have been uncertain. “Our teachers and educators deserve kudos for the dedicated work they are doing – working in a system that is underfunded (to the tune of one billion dollars) over the last 10 years,” continues Barge. “Even the price for a text book is based on 1984 prices...funds allocated and received wouldn’t even touch replacement costs.” Calendar wise, Floyd County schools are very successful. There are 183 Georgia school districts operating 180 days (required by law), but two thirds of them are running on fewer days, with teacher furloughs happening during the last three years. Although they are certainly deprived, teachers are still getting things done by being innovative and creative. They are to be commended and appreciated for their accomplishments and success. It shows true dedication and commitment. Recently, Dr. Barge spoke to the National Leadership Forum in Atlanta, which is sponsored by Growing Leaders, a nonprofit organization created to develop emerging leaders. The event brought together administrators, educators, coaches and non-profit leaders in an effort to equip them to develop “Gen Y” students and nurture a leadership culture on campus. Through Growing Leaders, public schools, state universities, civic organizations and corporations are provided with educational tools they need to turn ordinary students into growing leaders for a more positive and productive society. To the audience of 800, Dr. Barge said, “I hope for each of you the takeaway here is a restored passion for teaching. With the requirements of ‘no child left behind’ and so much emphasis and attention on standardized testing, we need to get to the business of teaching again, and not degrade teaching by turning kids into numbers. Test scores are not all of it.” What’s ahead for Georgia Education? So much has to do with technology. The future of text books, for example. In our modern world, a child needs more than the average textbooks. All kids don’t fit into the same square hole. The state’s infrastructure is not ready to be where the student wants and needs to be. However, the five-year plan in place is that every school, capitalizing on the Internet and fiber optics, could access vast digital content quickly. A high school textbook costs almost $100, but with a tablet in every kid’s hand, students could download textbooks and other material via “apps,” delivering instant and inexpensive access. A program called BYOT (bring your own technology) is already being piloted in Forsyth County. “We can’t approach education any longer as the great purveyor of knowledge,” Barge shares. “As we begin a new school year, I want our educators and parents to know how much I appreciate their hard work to ensure our students’ success. With their help, I am confident that we will realize our vision of Making Education Work for All Georgians.”

Dr. Grant Lewis (left), state school board member, talks with Dr. Barge, state school superintendent. 26

Cartersville
Saddle up and head for the Booth Western Art Museum, which has the largest exhibition space in the country for Western American art. Galleries include contemporary Western art, historic Western art, Civil War art, Presidential portraits and letters, Western movie posters and Western illustrations. In the Sagebrush Ranch Gallery, children can learn about Western art and history in an interactive environment. The museum also contains space for special and traveling exhibitions. From May 15 through September, visitors can view the works of Harry Teague in “Saddle Up: The Western World of Harry Teague,” and from June 14 through October 7, “The Indian Gallery of Henry Inman” exhibition, organized by Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, will display more than a dozen portraits of Southeastern Indian leaders from the early 1800s, including the Cherokees, Creeks and Seminoles. A number of important artifacts are also on view. The museum shop has a collection of books on art and the West, as well as prints and other items that feature Western American art images, while the museum’s café is a good place to stop for a light but tasty lunch. The adjacent Bartow History Museum offers a wealth of resources for the serious local historian, researcher or genealogist and for the curious visitor. The museum features a popular lecture series, Lunch and Learn on the third Wednesday of each month from noon until 1:00 as well as evening lectures on the last Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Speakers are noted local and regional historians and authors. Special on-going exhibits are also on display. If you’re ready for a short stroll from either—or both—museums, the award-winning Appalachian Grill is just around at the corner at 14 E. Church Street. Enjoy the signature appetizers crab cakes or shrimp bisque followed by a seafood dish, filet mignon or thick-cut grilled pork chops. Two Italian favorites are Antonino’s Italian Grotto, 28 Museum Drive and Armando’s Italian Restaurant, 3 S Dixie Avenue. Both serve homemade authentic Italian dishes with freshly baked bread, pastas and antipastos, soups, salads, and desserts. The City Cellar and Loft, now located in the former home of M’Vorneen’s Irish Pub & Club 104 at 110 S. Museum Drive, offers casual yet classic dining in a charming, comfortable atmosphere. The Swheat Market at 5 East Main Street features natural and specialty deli sandwiches and food. The menu changes daily, and the outstanding dinners are worth the wait. Customers may choose to eat in, carry-out or order ahead. Swheat Market features delicious soups, salads and combination plates as well as a vegetarian and children’s menu—it’s one of Cartersville’s newest culinary treats!

Come spend the day in

downtown

to downtowns

Salute

cartersville
28

Knights 1889 is the place to go for Cajun food in Cartersville. The building, which, at one time housed Knight’s Hardware, has been in the Knight family since 1889. The tables and bar in the restaurant boast the original wood that once made up the floors of the hardwood store, giving the space a rustic charm. An eclectic collection of shops “Under the Bridge” (around the Appalachian Grill) includes Periwinkle, recognized year after year as the People’s Choice Award for Best Shop in Bartow County by the Convention and Visitors Bureau, is filled with home furnishings, wall art and a lot of jewelry and clothing. Also, stop in the Cartersville Antique Gallery at 9 East Main Street. The gallery focuses on period American antique furniture, complimentary accessories, Persian rug, and Georgia art pottery. The gallery’showrooms include a variety of furniture styles including High Country, Primitives, Victorian, Empire and examples of Southern craftsmanship. It’s hard to miss nearby Young’s Pharmacy, a downtown Cartersville treasure. In 1894, a syrup salesman decided the pharmacy’s exterior wall would be the perfect location to advertise his product. He obtained a paintbrush and the world’s first Coca-Cola painted wall sign was created. The iconic sign received the Georgia Trust Award for Preservation in the early 1990s when 25 layers of paint were removed during the restoration to reveal the original sign, and it was repainted. Inside Young’s, visitors can browse through the store’s CocaCola memorabilia and collectibles. The Legion Theatre is one of downtown Cartersville’s historic landmarks. The white building with the bright red letters “Legion” on its white art deco façade is a 1930s movie theater that is now home to the Pumphouse Players, who refurbished the old movie house. Founded in 1975, Pumphouse Players is one of the longest running and most successful community theaters in northwest Georgia. The Grand Theatre has been a centerpiece of performing arts in Cartersville since it reopened in 1929 after a fire had destroyed the original building in 1923. Over 40,000 people each year participate in a wide range of events and programs that are presented by various local performing arts organizations at the Grand Theatre, which also sponsors educational programs in the schools and a summer camp for theater students. The Grand Theatre is located at 7 N. Wall Street. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Rose Lawn Museum is a beautifully restored Victorian mansion that was home to world-famous evangelist Samuel Porter Jones. In addition to the writings and memorabilia of Sam Jones, the museum also contains exhibits dedicated to Rebecca Latimer Felton, a Bartow County resident who became the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate in 1922. The museum is situated on 3 acres of landscaped property with a rose garden, a carriage house, a coachman’s quarters and an old schoolhouse. An excellent time to visit Rose Lawn Museum at 224 W. Cherokee Avenue is during the Annual Arts Festival in September when original works of art and heritage crafts from the Southeast are exhibited.
29

The Pause That

Refreshes
Ten Things You Don’t Want To Miss At The Rome Area History Museum
30

Maybe it’s your first time ever to walk Rome’s wide wide Broad Street (second widest main street in Georgia), or perhaps you grew up here and it’s old hat for you. Either way, the Rome Area History Museum at 305 Broad Street located in one of the city’s most historic buildings, has gathered over 10,000 items they would be glad to show you. But maybe you don’t have that much time. Tell you what – we’ll pick out the ten you NEED to see so you’ll know lots more about our history than you ever did before! Ready? Here goes our whirlwind tour of the ten things you just gotta see! Are these the ten ‘most important’ items in the Museum? Hardly! But we think you’ll find them unique in a special way, and be very glad you got to see them. Next trip, you can make up your own list of what YOU think is most interesting. But first, try ours! • A real jail cell. Honest. Taken right out of Rome’s famous old jails. (We had a City and a County jail and all the graffiti scratched on the cold steel walls is still there for you to read. You can lie in one of its four bunks – not exactly comfortable – instead of a mattress you get a slab of steel. In fact, if you want to know what it feels like, the museum folks will close the door and go ‘tick-a-lock’ and you can always say you’ve been to jail! However, this particular cell carries with it some rather somber memories. As the Civil Rights drive of the Sixties got underway, a number of Rome’s African-Americans, mostly high school seniors from Main High School, exercised their right to eat at the ‘white-folks’ lunch counter of a Broad Street store. They did, and were promptly arrested, booked, and jailed. Some were obviously placed in this same cell – and you know all the ‘rest

of the story’. RAHM archivist Russell McClanahan did a good bit of research and talked with some of the police who made that arrest. Ask him and he’ll tell you some stories to help you understand far better what those times were like – before – and after. And oh yes, the rule is: Go to jail. Go straight to jail. Do not collect $200. • The Wild West??? No, Rome was always a genteel, pleasant, family-oriented and highly cultured little town. Or was it? Maybe after you see the RAHM collection of ‘early Rome days’ you’ll come away wondering why we are not featured in all the ‘western’ cowboy movies. Of course we had the horses, as well as a goodly supply of cows right downtown, and don’t be surprised to learn that we had 13 saloons (or more) right on this same Broad Street. Of course, we were a “river” town as well, and when the boats came in, the lights came on, and the fun began at night. River boat gamblers, even Pirates, had their say on these same three rivers. Dancing in the streets, partying on the boats, lifting that bale, totin’ that barge – we did it all. You will even learn that Popeye (remember, the sailor who sailed the seven seas) was truly ‘born’ in Rome and became known world-wide from his antics on these same river boats – along with Olive Oyl (the thinnest girl in history), Brutus, Wimpy and ‘lil baby Sweet Pea. Yes, they all had their origin here in Rome. But so did lawless groups who found their horses were faster and their guns shot truer than the lawmen – and for a while, you wouldn’t have felt safe around Rome...it wasn’t in the west, but it was WILD. The Museum can tell you the whole story!
(continued on page 38)

What’s this guy got that others don’t?
He can offer you not only 850,000 advertising specialty items, but also creative ideas and solid solutions! He understands your brand, your programs, your corporate culture and your most challenging customers.

Plus...he’s a fun guy.
For any – and all – advertising specialties, call Joey.

ADI Georgia Specialties

(706) 290-0202
TM

[email protected]
31

Janie dempsey Watts

A Georgia Novelist

and Her Book with Local Flavor
The American South has long held a wealth of inspiration for its women authors. We instantly recognize the names of Flannery O’Connor, Celestine Sibley, Margaret Mitchell or Harper Lee. Their classic tales have allowed us to observe the lives of people similar to those we know and some we hope we will never meet. The romance, the intrigue, the humor, the drama and even the eccentricities of the lives and relationships of those in the South never fail to lure you into their web. One such tale unfolds in the new novel crafted by an author with ties to our northwest Georgia territory. Janie Dempsey Watts, niece of retired Rome, Georgia physician, Dr. Lee Dempsey and herself a resident of Ringgold, is an example of the wordsmith of the New South. Her writing has been featured in newspapers, magazines and television and she has authored five screenplays. Her literary efforts have given her success and recognition among her readers and her peers. She is a two time guest speaker and was asked to present her short story, “Backyard Messages,” at the Southern Women Writers Conference at Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Her words of inspiration are popular features in Guidepost Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor and the ever popular series, Chicken Soup for Soul. She was a finalist in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition for 2004 and a semi finalist in 2005. Her essays have appeared regularly in the well-known regional periodical, Georgia Backroads. She is a regular columnist for Catoosa Life Magazine. She holds journalism degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Southern California. Her newest effort is a work of fiction and her first novel, titled Moon over Taylor’s Ridge. The story evolves in a small fictional southern town that lies near the actual Taylor’s Ridge, located in nearby Chattooga County. Watts’ ancestor, Amos Williams, was one of the first settlers to move to the Woodstation Valley area of our state in the 1830’s. In writing the novel, she drew upon stories of life in pioneer Georgia passed down through her family over the years. With this novel, Janie Watts enters the group of modern southern women writers such as Kathryn Stockett, author of novel turned smash motion picture, The Help. Their work chronicles the south with new eyes, showcasing a region still jam packed with all the ingredients for laughter, love, introspect or just maybe...a good cry. Moon over Taylor’s Ridge is scheduled for release by Little Creek Books in September of 2012.
32

TILLMAN AVIATION UNIVERSITY

What better way to bring a community together than a brand new sports development that will benefit both families and youth alike? That is just what Bartow County has in mind for Northwest Georgia with the upcoming Lake Point Sporting Community & Town Center that is underway in Emerson.

Play Ball!

Bartow County and surrounding areas will be experiencing many positive changes in the years to come including multiple restaurants and hotels that will be part of 1 million square feet of mixed-use retailed space. The focus, however, will be on the 262-acre sports complex which will be home to 16 baseball fields, 14 soccer/lacrosse fields, 14 fast pitch softball/junior baseball fields, a 16-acre wake park on Allatoona Lake, a Miracle League field and a 114,000 square-foot indoor facility for gymnastics, wrestling, volleyball and basketball... just to name a few. The sports mecca will be divided into three campuses with five ‘villages’: sports, entertainment, medical/research, outdoor adventure, and lake for the whole family to enjoy.
34

According to Neal Freeman, managing partner of Consortium Realty, the hotel space that will be available along with retail and entertainment venues such as bowling, movie theatres, go-karts, and a variety of restaurants will make Lake Point a “one-stop shop” for families who are traveling to competitions/tournaments. The main goal for Consortium Realty when planning such a large development for the community was to provide “a family vacation destination.” Here’s a mental picture for you: when completed, the Lake Point development will be expected to host four million people per year, while providing a major hub for seventeen sports facilities as well as retail, dining and entertainment venues. The players will be able to enjoy the world’s largest installation of environmentally sustainable synthetic sports surfacing, produced by Shaw’s Sportexe division, while putting to use the latest and greatest sports equipment available. Their families can venture outside of the sports complex to one of the 4,000 hotel rooms

that will be available to them and enjoy lunch or dinner at any of the twenty new restaurants of their choice. By providing one of the world’s largest amateur sports complexes, Lake Point Sporting Community & Town Center partner, as well as former Atlanta Braves manager, Bobby Cox, wants to make sure that the development is set to revolve around youth competition. “First and foremost, [the] Lake Point project will enhance the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of our youth—our future—by participation in team sports. And, it will develop the ultimate youth sports destination in the world, bringing unparalleled economic impact to the local community and region,” he said. Youth will have access to three major tenants: Perfect Game USA, the “gold-standard” resource for baseball recruiting for collegiate, minor and major league scouts; LB3 Lacrosse, one of the nation’s premier organizers of Lacrosse camps, clinics and tournament travel teams; and North

Atlanta Soccer Association, the largest youth soccer organizations in the southeast. With such a major development, also comes something that this economy is in desperate need of: jobs. With 1,380 acres in sudden use between Interstate 75 and Highway 41 around 2,000 jobs will become available and when complete there could be around 4,000 job opportunities up for grabs. When the work begins during the construction phase, jobs will be created as needed and again when the construction is completed and retail employment will be of use. As the site is finished Bartow County will benefit economically and surrounding counties will see a financial boost as well. Work on the facility began in April and by spring of 2014, the first phase will be open for business.

35

(Sara Hightower continued from page 18)

serves as the system headquarters. She began her career working as an elementary school teacher during the Great Depression. After obtaining her master’s degree in library science from Emory University, she was appointed librarian of the Pepperell Schools in 1941. She remained there until 1973. In 1947, Ms. Hightower achieved the distinction of becoming one of the first professionally certified librarians in the state of Georgia. During her tenure in the school system, she led the way for libraries to be placed in elementary schools. She initiated a formal campaign to bring formal book collections to young children when only a few books were available to them, usually found in the back of classrooms. Every elementary school library in Floyd County owes its existence to Miss Hightower. Sara Hightower’s commitment and considerable charm worked to help her gain statewide influence which in turn helped to orchestrate great numbers of books filtering into the local area school collections despite a lack of funding by the state. Her determined effort to get books out into the community brought her the highest honor in library service in the state of Georgia. In 1969, she received the Nix-Jones Award for Distinguished Service to Georgia Librarianship. She also served as president of the Georgia Library Association from 1951 until 1953.

36

(What Makes It Tick? continued from page 31)

• The Government Would Give You Land! That’s right, if you qualified in several ways, you could win the land lottery and go home with many acres to tend. Let them show you the papers from the original land deeds of the 1834 Cherokee Land Lottery – but Uh! Oh! If they discovered you had been a “pony club” member you were fresh out of luck. Pony Club guys were pretty lawless, riding their (grown up) pony’s and stealing and robbing and beating up folks...so if you had that in your resume’, you were not likely to be given a grubstake where you could build a home and start a family, and perhaps farm or become a blacksmith, or maybe a minister or a lawyer or a merchant. It was America – the land of opportunity – but Rome says: NOT for the ‘bad guys’.

• Talk About A Historic Flag! You’ll want to see this one. When that late great unpleasantness broke out in 1860 and brother took up arms against brother, and America became involved in what many historians call the most important war ever fought, there was a rash of patriotism on both sides...north and south. Many southern women made sure ‘their man’ had his own home-made-home-grown flag to carry into battle. Rome was no exception. Among the many groups that were formed here was one called The Rome Light Guards, but there was nothing ‘light’ about their exploits. They marched off to war, and made a name for themselves – if they survived. And they carried with them a southern battle flag sewn by Roman ladies for their fighting men. Though not all the Light Guards survived the war, the battle flag did, and was lovingly cared for all these years by historically minded Romans. Today, you can see this same flag that flew in many of the battles now found only in the history books and movies and museums. You are looking at a very important and very rare piece of history when the RAHM shows you the flag of the Rome Light Guards. IF you get to touch it, you’ll need to be wearing pure clean white gloves. • The Norton Diary and Weather Reports. With war all around him, you wouldn’t think a man had the time (or the inclination) to keep a daily diary, but Roman Reuben S. Norton did. Too old to go into battle, he kept a daily recap of what happened at home, what it was like with war all around us, who went where, and who came here, and the price of cotton and the scarcity of food, who grew which vegetables, and whose name came in by telegraph to say “killed in action” at one of the many battlefields across America. Not only did he meticulously write down each little detail for each day, but he recorded the weather, so much so that historians are still calling to Rome to find out what the weather was like on a day that represented certain historical things. No computer, no typewriter, and of course no texting – just hand written reports (some might call them the first ‘tweets’) of what life was like between 1860 and 1865 in Rome, Georgia – even to the day when Rome was captured by Yankee forces. The diary is highly protected – handled only with ‘white gloves’ to protect it – but it is a genuine piece of rare history, and it is yours to see when you visit RAHM before you head out for a Coke or Coffee. • And Speaking Of Coca-Cola! The RAHM believes it houses the largest museum of Coca-Cola memorabilia in the world – second only to the huge Coke Museum in Atlanta’s downtown Olympic park. And why wouldn’t Rome have it? You see, Coca-Cola was ‘concocted’ in Columbus, grew up in Atlanta, and bottled principally in Chattanooga. But the foresight of William F. Baron of Rome, located strategically between these three centers, gave rise to a CocaCola dynasty in Rome that is a true piece of history in the world story of this remarkable company. The Baron family, and principally grandson Frank Baron, started a collection of ‘all-things-Coca-Cola’ and now has lovingly placed it in the care of the Rome Area History Museum. No way to tell you of all the things you’ll see – some you will recall as a child – others you’ve never seen – and for today’s young people, it opens a world of fantasy where you reached down in an icy-water-box at the local service station, and pulled out a 6 oz green bottle of Coca-Cola, paid the man a nickel, and enjoyed what millions of people all over the world enjoy each day – delicious ice cold Coca-Cola. And oh yes, you always lifted up the green bottle to see where it was made – not only was that important to know, but it

38

lives in Rome? It’s 60 miles away. No telegraph. The boat will take two days to make the trip. And automobiles won’t be invented for at least another 35 years or so. Simple. You tell your horse pulling your buggy that “we’re going to Rome!” You ride from 3pm to midnight, you swap out horses five times, you take the back roads to avoid being shot by the Yankee soldiers, and you make it in time to wake up, and save Rome. Sixty Miles on horses and one lame pony. Romans love you. So they give you a little gift. A beautiful multiple piece tea-set of sterling silver. Would you like to see that famous silver? Stop in RAHM. • Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Actually, he didn’t mean to. He really meant to invent a way to send lots of telegraph messages on the same set of wires. Up to his time, you could only send one at a time. He had a gentleman working with him on his inventions: Mr. Thomas Watson. In one of the strangest paradoxes in history, according to some historians, just as he got his device to transmit the sound of the human voice, in a three story house, with his aide and assistant Watson two floors away, Mr. Bell had an accident. He had to use batteries to power his devices, as the home was yet to have electrical service. Most ‘wet’ batteries contained sulphuric acid, which is not something to mess around with. In a moment of nervousness, Mr. Bell overturned a battery, spilling the highly toxic acid all around him, and needed some help, so he yelled INTO his device, what turned out to be the first emergency telephone call ever made, especially since it was also the first ‘real’ telephone call ever made: “Come here, Mr. Watson, I need you!” Of course, today he would just call 911, but remember we’re talking about the year 1876. RAHM has nothing connected to inventor Bell, but strange as it may seem, the typewriter belonging to Mr. Watson is part of the display at the Museum. Want to see a REAL piece of world history? Want to know how come we’ve got it in Rome? Come see Mr. Watson’s own typewriter! • The Floor That Is Not A Floor, Yet It Is Rome’s Original “floor”. We told you the Museum is housed in a really ancient and historic old building. When it was built, Rome’s Broad Street came down from an “upper” end (where Turner McCall intersects now) to the South Broad Street Bridge (Charles Graves Bridge) at the rivers level (about 680 feet above sea level). This meant that as you moved down Broad closer to the river, you likely reached a level that could be flooded from time to time. One time, in the late 1800’s, it really flooded and all the first floor show windows, doors, etc. on that level were totally inundated by the rising waters from the three rivers. (Remember, a steamboat actually floated down Broad Street, but its wake broke display windows in many of the stores). Frustrated merchants thought that something had to give, so they pretty much ‘abandoned’ their first floors...made them sort of ‘basements’ and filled in dirt on the street so it was level leading to the bridge (note today how high above the water the bridge sits. In the old days, the bridge was on the waters edge). What happened to all those ‘basements’ that used to be ‘first floors’? You can see for yourself. It is clearly depicted by the brick and masonry lines you’ll find when the Museum lets you ‘tour underground Rome’. These may not be RAHM’s “top ten”, but they certainly rank up there near the top. Why not visit and see how YOU would rank the thousands of items to see when you visit this gathering place for all things historic in our city by the rivers?
39

opened the door to some friendly gambling among your fellow Coke drinkers – like for instance, ‘whose bottle came from the farthest distance?’ • Gone With The Wind? No, Margaret Mitchell didn’t write GWTW (the best selling book in the world second only to the Holy Bible) here in Rome, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t know Rome, appreciate Rome, and get many of her ideas from both Rome and Adairsville. The RAHM highlights that connection with a major exhibit of lots of stuff you never saw or thought you would ever see, right here in Rome. And they’ll tell you of how the author knew folks here, and some say, patterned some of her characters after wellknown Romans. The Museum follows these connections, and shows you in their exhibit how it all plays out. If you like GWTW, you will like RAHM’s telling of how we really are a part of that great book. Even maybe???? 12 Oaks patterned after Barnsley Gardens? Could be? Why not come see? • A Little Gift For A Job Well Done: Let’s set the scene. You are a grown family man, your mother lives in Rome and you come often to help her with certain real estate matters (mother owned some property), but you yourself lived 60 miles away down the Coosa River in Gadsden, AL. You normally drove a horse and buggy, needed on your job. When the riverboat came to Gadsden with mail, you picked it up from the steamer and distributed it to homes throughout the countryside. On the morning of May 2, 1863 (with a war raging all across the middle Atlantic Seaboard, across Tennessee and down the Mississippi to New Orleans), you take some corn to your grist mill a few miles out of the little town and when you return your ferry boat across the Coosa has been burned and sunk, a key wooden bridge is in ashes across Black Creek, and your friends yell across the river that “The Yankees Came and are on their way to Rome to burn the city and destroy the Cannon Factory!” What would you do? Your Mom

(The Triangle continued from page 17)

boosters opportunity to host tournaments on a nearly year-round basis. “It takes a lot of skill to consistently catch big stringers,” Payne said. “Typically, the stringers of bass, the five fish limits at Carters are going to weigh a good bit more than they do at Allatoona. Carters Lake, which dams the Coosawattee River, is the youngest and smallest of the three lakes with a surface area of just 3,220 acres and just 62 miles of shoreline, shared by Murray and Gilmer County, Georgia. It is easily the deepest of the three lakes and is the least developed. Uncle Sam owns a minimum of 300 feet from the shoreline along every mile of shoreline and does not issue any permits for boat docks or shoreline development of any type. In spite of significantly stricter shoreline regulations, there Corps of Engineers reports indicate that almost 600,000 visitors to Carters contributed more than $16.3 million to the area economy in 2010. Payne said that Carter’s is enjoying a growing national reputation as an excellent lake for Coosa River strain of spotted bass. “It may be the best trophy spotted bass lake in Georgia, he says. “We catch lots of fives and several sixes every year, even some seven pounders.” Stihl’s Reel in the Outdoors, featuring Joe Thomas, shot two episodes at Carters in the last couple of years. Hook N Look with Kim Stricker has also taped recently at the lake just south of Chatsworth and Payne said that Hank Parker is expected to tape one of his fishing shows at the lake soon. A little different from Allatoona and Weiss, Carters is a pumpedstorage hydroelectric lake. Water is stored behind the largest earthen dam east of the Mississippi and flushed through turbines to provide peak period power across the North Georgia grid. At night, water is pumped back to the upper reservoir and the process is repeated day after day. The lake is named for Farrish Carter, a major property owner in the mountainous region during the 1800s. Weiss Lake, unlike Allatoona and Carters, is operated by Alabama Power. It was named after F.C. Weiss, a former chief engineer with Alabama Power. It is the largest of the three lakes with 447 miles of shoreline in Cherokee County, Alabama, with backwaters in Floyd County, Georgia. The lake has a surface area in excess of 30,200
40

acres. Known as “The Crappie Capital of the World” Weiss draws around half a million visitors each year. Many of them are serious fishermen who travel from as far away as Kentucky and Missouri on any given weekend. “I don’t think it’s as much of a secret as it used to be, but it’s a great largemouth fishery and it takes over 20 pounds to win a tournament for five fish,” Payne said. More out-ofstate fishing licenses are sold at locations around Weiss Lake than any other lake in the state of Alabama. The state estimates that more than 63 percent of the anglers who visit Weiss come from outside the state of Alabama. Theresa Hulgan, president of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said the population of Cherokee County swells by more than 15,000 people who come to spend time at, or on, the lake. The Alabama Department of Tourism reports that visitors to Cherokee County, Alabama, can be pleasantly overwhelming. The draw of the lake accounts for more than $18 million in annual revenue. Weiss is also the shallowest of the three lakes. If you’re boating, a depth-finder is a must because outside the channel of the Coosa River, the depth of the water is frequently less than four feet and debris lines the channel following rain events. The stumps and structures however play a huge role in making Weiss a top-notch sport fishing lake. Evidence of the successful fishery at each of the lakes can also be found in the wildlife that is abundant at all three. Bald eagles and osprey nest at each of the lakes. Without good, quality water producing a sufficient food supply for the raptors, they would not have been as successful in producing young at each of the lakes — which they have done for close to two decades. Other aquatic birds, including several species of herons and cormorants, can be found in abundant numbers, particularly in the shallow waters of Weiss Lake. Whether you’re wetting a hook, enjoying the splendor of nature or riding the waves on a Jet Ski or pontoon boat, each of the three lakes offers visitors first class fun in the sun.

(The Race continued from page 10)

During her time at Harding, Janet accumulated eight NCAA All American titles and three Division II National Championships. Upon graduation, Janet and Jay eventually settled in Rome, GA. Jay states, “Janet and I moved to Rome from Nairobi, Kenya, where I was teaching at an international school. She came back to the States a couple of months before I did and wanted to find a place where she could go to nursing school and continue running. I had coached in Atlanta for several years and we were familiar with the Berry campus as a place to run. When she learned about the nursing program at Georgia Highlands, it made Rome a perfect place to settle down.” Although running initially was a way for Janet to further her education, she continued to enter races around the area as she pursued her U.S. citizenship and nursing school. Her running at that point was just for fun. However, in 2009 after winning three marathons, she began to consider entering races that would lead to an opportunity to represent the United States at the Olympic Games. There was a problem, however. You must be a citizen of the country you are representing for two years. Due to a mistake made on her original citizenship papers, she would be three months shy of qualifying. John Elliot, the founder and owner of marathonguide. com , intervened for Janet and made various petitions to the USATF (USA Track and Field) and IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) to waive the wait period and they were granted permission for her to participate in the Olympic trials. It was obviously a good decision, because Janet eventually did win a spot representing the U.S in the 10,000m* race which is an indoor track event where runners start in a standing position and run 25 laps (6.214 miles). Jay recently noted, “The people of Rome might not realize what an exceptional facility they have at Barron Stadium. When Janet went to preview the track for the Olympic trials this year, we were shocked to find that it’s the exact same track as at Barron-a truly world class track. It’s a huge reason we enjoy Rome and it could be a real draw for other athletes looking to train in the South.” Jay and Janet recently bought a house in Rome but have been spending time in Flagstaff, AZ as well. Jay said, “Our move to Flagstaff was just so that I could complete an accelerated BSN program at Northern Arizona University. We still consider Rome our hometown, but we’ve enjoyed being out of the summer heat for a change.” When asked about what he loves about the area, Jay said, “There are great places to run and it’s close to our extended family in Tennessee and Alabama. We enjoy the small town environment, but we also like being close to Atlanta when we want a taste of city life. We enjoy the natural beauty, the climate (for most of the year) and just the general disposition of the area. It’s surprisingly diverse, offers plenty of things to do, and we’ve made lots of good friends here. We like the size of Rome and the lack of traffic!” When this story is published, we will already know the outcome of Janet’s race. Should you see her running (literally) around the streets of Rome, you will now know that she is a resident, the first Kenyan-American woman to represent the U.S. in track at the Olympic Games and a person that has come a long way to be here. And if you happen to forget her name, I’m sure she will understand, because, after all, what’s in a name? It didn’t stop her from running in the race of a lifetime.

Discount. Discount. Discount. Discount. Discount. Discount. Discount. Discount. Discount.
Get them all with Discount Double Check®.
It’s a quick and easy way to make sure you’re saving all you can. And it's free. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY.

Melissa Storey, Agent 414 Shorter Avenue NW Rome, GA 30165 Bus: 706-234-5333 insureme24-7.com

0901125.1

State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL

lOOkiNg
fOr sOMEThiNg TO DO?
Here’s a great place to start...

43

aug 11-sept 1

Mountain Music Series at Red Top Red Top Mountain State Park Cartersville “Mountain Music” concerts every Saturday night. A different band each week will play for an hour or more. Bring a chair or a blanket to sit on, and meet at the restored Vaughan log cabin located behind the park office. Parking is $5. Info: 770.975.0055 Handicap accessible. • August 11: 8pm-9pm • August 18: 8pm-9pm • September 1: 8pm-9pm

unforgettable romantic date night or for a group of friends looking for an out of the ordinary Saturday evening experience.

aug 21-sept 13

august 1-26

Beyond the Mountain The Harris Arts Center Calhoun “Beyond the Mountain” features photographer Lisa Schnellinger’s larger than life images of the people and places of Afghanistan printed on silk. The public is invited to an artist’s lecture and reception on September 6 from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

fee by Movie Maker Magazine in 2011, RIFF offers filmmakers and festival goers alike a unique small town atmosphere with the famous southern charm. A walking festival with great mingling opportunities between filmmakers and festival attendees. Filmmaking workshops, opening gala, filmmaker exclusive party, and student competitions are just a few of the reasons why directors and festival goers year after year continue to choose RIFF as their festival of choice.

september 8-9

American Legacy Exhibit: Our National Parks Booth Western Art Museum Cartersville View a collection of more than 100 plein air paintings depicting the great pastoral beauty of Americas’s loveliest spots.

september 1 & 2

august 11

Firefly Nights at Barnsley Gardens Barnsley Gardens, Adairsville 8pm–11pm A night of enchantment and more await as Barnsley Gardens Resort’s award-winning Firefly Nights returns for the third year. Normally the stuff of fairytales – fireflies, fairies and enchantment – are all a part of what makes north Georgia’s Barnsley Gardens so unique and memorable. The evening is perfect for an

Running Water Pow Wow Ridge Ferry Park Rome Native American Indian Festival held annually on Labor Day weekend at Ridge Ferry Park on the banks of the Oostanaula River. Over 45 arts and crafts booths from tribal members from northern, southern and central states selling such things as clothing, jewelry, paintings and much more. Competition and intertribal dancing, social dancing, Aztec dancers, audience participation, educational and cultural programs and demonstrations.

33rd Annual Pine Log Arts and Crafts Fair Rydal Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Admission $3 ages 12+ Quality arts & crafts fair displayed in historic camp meeting cabins and open-air Tabernacle in this juried show. Enjoy BBQ and entertainment. 770.607.5350

september 15-16

september 6-8

Rome International Film Festival Named one of the top 25 film festivals worth the submissions

37th Annual Arts Festival at Rose Lawn Cartersville Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 12 noon-5pm. Free admission. A juried fine arts festival held on the spacious lawn of historic Rose Lawn, the home of evangelist Sam Jones. The show includes everything from fine paintings and jewelry to basketry, quilting,

44

The Magazine

weaving, pottery, glass, photography and wood - all original works by exhibitors with prize monies being awarded in Juried Categories. Victorian House Museum Tours $5 adults, $2 children. Visitors will enjoy a variety of foods such as BBQ, fish and chicken, greens, apple dumplings, fat back and cornbread, sweet potatoes, roasted corn, stuffed potatoes, cotton candy, funnel cakes, ice cream and Cartersville Shaved Ice. AAUW Annual Book Sale also included. Don’t miss the Hospitality Heroes Awards and prestigious People’s Choice Award Winners presented by the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau on Saturday! Hosted by Bartow County Government. 770.387.5162

begins at 8am rain or shine. 770.606.9438

september 22

Calendar
october 2-6
The Coosa Valley Fair Rome Fall’s Finest Festival! The Coosa Valley Fair marks the beginning of fall for the residents of the Coosa Valley including northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. 44th Annual Great Locomotive Chase Festival Rail Depot Museum – On the Square, Adairsville Adairsville will hold the 44th Annual Great Locomotive Chase Festival downtown on the Square, October 5th–7th. The festival includes arts and crafts, live entertainment, carnival rides and games, great food and free tours of the historic Rail Depot Museum.

7 Hills 3 Rivers Adventure Race Rome An urban wilderness adventure! Run 5 miles, bike 12 miles and paddle 4 miles. Prepare for mud, muck and mystery challenges as you compete as a solo racer or on a team. Info: 800.444.1834

october 5-7

sept 24-nov 6

september 15

Beautiful Back Roads Century Bike Ride Anheuser Busch Brewery Cartersville An event to benefit the Hickory Log Vocational School. The fully sagged rides begin and end at the Anheuser Busch Brewery with a wonderful meal at the finish and the option for a self-guided brewery tour. The rides are 12 miles, 27 miles, 44 miles, 64 miles and a century, 105 miles. Rest stops every 15-20 miles with juice, water and goodies to eat. Pre-register ot register event day at 7am. Ride

Pumpkin Patch at Pettit Creek Farms Cartersville Handcrafted items from A–Z top the list of great things to see. Classic Car Show, pony rides, petting zoo, inflatable bouncers, clowns, live entertainment and food galore. Info: 770.386.8688

september 28-30

october 6

Wings Over North Georgia Richard B. Russell Airport Rome Join in the fun in Rome, Georgia on September 28-30 for the Wings Over North Georgia Show at Richard B. Russell Airport! In addition to all the aviation fun for the weekend, don’t forget to check out our Smoke-nThunder Barbeque Classic on the air show grounds.

An Evening at Oak Hill Cemetery Cartersville Voices will once again echo in Oak Hill Cemetery as the Bartow History Museum and StageWorks, Inc. presents “An Evening at Oak Hill.” Become acquainted with some of Georgia’s most fascinating fiqures. Costumed actors will portray various “residents” of the cemetery, highlighting the people and stories of the Civil War. Meet Major General P.M.B. Young, the youngest Major General in the CSA and Warren
(continued on page 46)

45

(continued from page 45)

Aiken, the only confederate to rise to a cabinet position during Reconstruction. Call 770.387.2774 for tickets.

october 13

october 6-7

Battle of Allatoona Pass Cartersville Join Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, Red Top Mountain State Park and the Etowah Valley Historical Society in commemorating the events of this hallowed ground. Tour the hillside and the railroad cut through the pass, visit the star fort earthworks and follow the old Tennessee Road just as the soldiers did in 1864. Explore daily life in the tent city. See rifle and cannon firing demonstrations. Info: 770.975.0055

Annual Veterans Memorial Service Euharlee Valley Historical Society inc. will present the Annual Veterans Memorial Service on Saturday October 13, 2012 at the Historic Van Wert Church and Cemetery. The Sons of Confederate Veterans and The Daughters of the Confederacy will be providing the Memorial service starting at 10am.

october 20

october 19

october 6

Cedartown Fall Festival Historic Downtown District Cedartown · 9am–8pm The Cedartown Fall Festival is an annual event that brings families from across the region to the Historic Downtown District for a day of food, live bands and old fashioned community fun. Watch the parade, listen to the live bands, enjoy a fried pie or funnel cake and shop the numerous booths of handmade items. There will be something to delight the whole family for tots to gramps.

5th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Historic Downtown District Rome Hospitality House for Women, a local non-profit serving victims of domestic violence, will host the 5th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes at 12 Noon. This event is a part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and allows the community to take a stand against family violence. For more information about participation or sponsorship, contact Amy Wheeler, Exec. Director, Hospitality House, Inc. at 706.235.4608.

“Where Romans Rest” 10am–1pm Historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery Rome Tour guides lead guests through intricate paths, tell stories and note the symbolism of the cemetery, circa 1857. Grave hosts will tell incredible stories of the lives of those who rest along the way. Tours depart at 10am,10:30am, 11am and 11:30am from Veteran’s Plaza, at the corner of South Broad and Myrtle Streets. Parking is available along Myrtle Street and in the Kingfisher lot on Branham Avenue. Tickets are $10 adult, $5 children 12 & under. They will be available for pre-event purchase only at the Rome Visitor Center located at 402 Civic Center Drive across from Applebee’s. There are limited numbers of tickets available for each departure to insure the safety of all participants. Please note: This is a moderate to strenuous walk with steep steps and slopes. Facilities are not available.

october 20

october 20

Haunted on Broad Historic Downtown District Rome Rome’s history comes to life through storytellers throughout a tour of the historic downtown district. Call 800.444.1834 for more information.

Rome Symphony Orchestra VIP Party Woodlee Culinary Institute of Georgia Northwestern Technical College · Rome The first of three fundraising events to benefit the Rome Symphony Orchestra as they enter their 90th year. The events will feature fine

44

The Magazine

wines and gourmet foods prepared by the chiefs of Woodlee. For more information about this event and others and top purchase tickets contact the symphony offices at 706.291.2697. www.romesymphony.org .

schedule, festival admission and concert prices. 770.387.1300 www.boothmuseum.org

Calendar
in artistic designs in the Stilesboro Academy (1859 - National Register of Historic Places). Enjoy lunch in the Tea Room, offering the same menu as in the 1950’s - homemade Brunswick stew, chicken salad and fresh-baked cakes. 770.382.7773

october 27-28

october 20

Frontier Day at New Echota New Echota Historic Site Calhoun Cherokee artists, craftsmen and the Friends of New Echota will demonstrate early 19th century skills such as spinning, weaving, basketry, candle making, weapons and blacksmithing. Enjoy stories, music and tour the historic grounds and buildings.

october 25-28

10th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium Booth Western Art Museum Cartersville Join the Booth Western Art Museum for this four-day celebration of the West with featured artists John and Terri Moyers highlighting the work of Bill Moyers, and two performances by Roy Rogers, Jr; plus art and history lectures, children’s activities, pioneer demonstrations, re-enactments of historic Western gunfights, Native American dancing, Cowboy Church, and much more. Art & History lectures will be held on Friday. Visit online for a complete

The 48th Annual Chiaha Harvest Festival Ridge Ferry Park Rome The Chiaha Harvest Festival celebrates the arts and crafts of Georgia’s Rome. Chiaha Harvest Fair is a toe-tappin’, hot cider –sippin’ fun for everyone arts festival! The family-friendly festival offers a variety of handmade arts and crafts by more than 120 artists from around the region, with an eclectic mix of music and entertainment, some of the best food around and wonderful projects for the kids throughout the weekend long event. Come enjoy a beautiful fall weekend in historic Rome, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Call 706.235.4542 for more information. Notice: For health and safety reasons, no pets are allowed.

november 3-4

november 3

100th Annual Stilesboro Chrysanthemum Show Historic Stilesboro Academy Cartersville 11am-8pm. $2 adults, $1 children. Oldest chrysanthemum show in the state of Georgia. Many varieties are grown by ladies of the Stilesboro Improvement Club and displayed

Come Harvest Our History: Tour of Homes Cartersville Saturday 10am-4pm. Sunday Noon4pm. Make your plans to attend the 2012 Etowah Valley Historical Society Tour of Homes “In & Around Main.” Tours begin with purchase of tickets at the 1903 golddomed Bartow County Courthouse in downtown Cartersville. Shuttle buses will take visitors to the homes and return visitors to the courthouse parking. At each stop, hostesses will be available to provide historical points of interest and information about each home. Tickets will be available on tour days at the 1903 Bartow County Courthouse. Advance tickets may be purchased in advance from the EVHS Office in the 1903 Bartow County Courthouse. 770.606.8862

45

Meet Bill Crane
One of my favorite political debates is the oft repeated, “...why bother, one person, one voter or a regular Georgian really can’t make much difference any more.” I almost always reply, with a smile, “...Well, what about Margie Lopp?” My first encounter with Margie Lopp was a campaign headquarters’ answering machine. On a Wednesday fall evening, in mid-September, Margie had left a message and lilting jingle on the answering machine, after consuming a bit of liquid courage in the form of a couple of vodka and orange juices. Ms. Lopp was a retired grandmother and widow, age 72 at the time, living modestly in Cuthbert, Georgia, the county seat of Randolph County, just south of Columbus. Ms. Lopp had raised her children on her own, working part-time, most recently proof-reading the Cuthbert Times. As a Randolph County GOP volunteer, she had met Paul Coverdell, a former State Senator, State Party Chairman and most recently Peace Corps Director during the first Bush Administration. Margie was frustrated watching the polls surge in favor of then U.S. Senator Wyche Fowler (D-Atlanta), a 16-year congressional incumbent, with ten years in the U.S. House representing Atlanta, and then seeking a second term in the U.S. Senate representing Georgia. Fowler had already raised and spent nearing $2-million (a considerable media buy in those times) blanketing the state with a folksy song, “Wyche Fowler...He’s Our Georgia Man.” Fowler was tall, folksy and southern, articulate and of good humor. Coverdell was short, bespectacled, and resembled Dana Carvey doing a George Bush impression with a voice to match. Less than a month prior to Election Day, Fowler’s lead was 22 points. But then, a funny thing and Margie Lopp’s zippy jingle came along. “Let’s put Paul Coverdell in the Senate and put Wyche Fowler out. Wyche has proved we don’t need him in it.. And Georgia wants him out... But with Paul Coverdell we’ll have leader Of that there is no doubt So...vote Paul Coverdell in the Senate and put Wyche Fowler OUT!”
48

Joining enjoy! magazine as a regular contributor and columnist is Bill Crane, one of Georgia’s best known political analysts and commentators. Crane has been in and around Georgia politics since the mid-80s. He served as an advisor and senior staffer to Secretary of State Max Cleland, Governor Zell Miller, U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell and Attorney General Mike Bowers just to name a few. Since 2000 he has been providing broadcast commentary on Atlanta’s 11Alive News, WSB-Radio AM and FM and is now the lead political analyst for WSB-TV Action News. His other print commentary outlets include Georgia Trend magazine and a growing list of weekly and community newspapers.

The first media buy for Margie’s jingle was roughly every dollar left in the campaign following a brutal primary run-off election victory just a few weeks prior. That $88,000 bet was placed on Braves Baseball (then in their worst to first season) as well as Georgia and Georgia Tech football. A nominal TV buy was placed in metro Atlanta only, also featuring Margie and her jingle. Love for the ad, and the jingle was far from universal. Some found the spot insulting to senior citizens, others asked for refunds of earlier campaign contributions. But then a funny thing happened...the jingle caught fire. Folks could NOT get it out of their heads. Election night was just a few weeks later. Then President George Bush lost decisively to challenger Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas. Fowler came in first with 49% of the vote, Coverdell second with 48% and Jim Hudson, the Libertarian Party nominee was third with 3%. Due to a quirk in Georgia law, a majority was required to win a statewide election, not just a plurality. The first U.S. Senate run-off in Georgia history would occur three weeks later. Coverdell narrowly won that run-off, by just under 25,000 votes, roughly 6-8 votes per precinct. Margie led a large crowd in Atlanta singing the jingle on Run-Off Election Night as Coverdell was declared the winner just in time for the 11 p.m. newscast, and after the results had been swinging back and forth all evening. Margie recorded two later jingles to assist the campaign efforts of other candidates including former Attorney General Mike Bowers and former U.S. Senator Mack Mattingly (who was seeking to replace Coverdell in a special election following his untimely death). Lightning did not strike twice, though Margie was still in good spirit and voice, until she succumbed after a long and multi-pronged fight with cancer. It’s been more than 20 years now, and I still never tire of hearing her sing that jingle...

Bill Crane lives on the east side of metro Atlanta in Scottdale, Georgia, and owns his own full service communications be a Bill Crane’s columns will and public affairs firm, CSI Crane, regular enjoy! feature beginning LLC. our next issue. Crane your with You can give him lives thoughts back via his website, http:// on the east side of metro Atlanta in www.csicrane.com andvia emailown Scottdale, Georgia, or owns his at full [email protected]. and public service communications affairs firm, CSI Crane, LLC. You can give him your thoughts back via his website, http://www.csicrane.com or via email at [email protected].

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close