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7e VaultPAWNJewelry & Coin

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We Buy, Loan & Sell...Visit our luxurious showroom

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April 2012

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IN THIS ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS

Education pg. 4&7

Parenting pg. 12

Events pg. 12

Real Estate pg. 20

Health & Wellness pg. 22

ALSO

Looking for a unique camp for your child? See Museum of Modern Design’s Camp MODA on page 5.

See O

ur Ad

On P. 13

{ food}

PG. 6

Get Ready For Alive After

See Page 30

HEALTH&WELLNESS

The area’s biggest streetparty is more than just a

good time.

WHAT IS NEW URBANISM?

THE STARS SHINE BRIGHTER WITHTEAMWORK

EMPTY-NEST TRIAL LEADS TOTOPLESS NIGHTS

NOT YOUR AVERAGE EMERGENCY ROOM

LITTLE ALLEYSTEAK IS BIG ONFLAVOR

PG. 8

PG. 19

{community}

{humor}

PG. 7

PG. 18

BRING IN SPRING WITH AFLING…OF COLOR THAT IS!

{design}

PG.28

CurrentBriefsCo-PublishersTripp Liles

Brandt Haney

SalesBrandt Haney

Director of Salesbrandt@thecurrentplus.com

Monica McNeeleyAccount Representativemonica@thecurrentplus.com

Olga HerndonAccount Representative

olga@thecurrentplus.com

Ed MorrisMarketing Coordinator

Howard LandsmanPublishing Consultant

Editorial & Creative

Tripp LilesEditor &

Creative Directortripp@thecurrentplus.com

Laura MooreCopy Editor

Jeremy CoveGraphic DesignRachel Barre

Photography/Writing

Main Phone Number

(404) 920-8590

Contributing WritersElaine LaMontagne

Michael FinchTom Bowen

Tori RodriguezLesley King

Lynette HoffmanPhyllis BarronOur Mission:

The Current aspires to communicate in away that’s useful, engaging, enjoyableand unique. We strive to reflect the fullrange of what the area has to offer, alsoadvocating positions that strengthenunity and continuity.

We desire to create and maintain a challenging, enjoyable and caring workenvironment that encourages creativityand innovation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied advertisers, happy employeesand profitable growth.

The Current is published monthly. Pre-sort standard poastage paid at Atlanta, GA. Postmaster send changes toCurrent Communications, 942 AlpharettaSt., Roswell, GA 30075

Publisher has the priviledge to reject anyadvertising. Advertiser is responsible forfull content of advertisments providedand are responsible for any claims madetherin.

The Current is owned by Current Communications LLC

To have a brief listed here send info to events@thecurrentplus.com

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compilation services• New business start up assistance• Income tax return preparation

• New home? Children? Let us help.• Income tax planning

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A FULL SERVICE CPA FIRM FOCUSED ON SMALLBUSINESS AND INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAXES

LET US HELP ELIMINATE THE STRESS OF TAX SEASON.

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Mention �is Ad For

Roswell to Host Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The Roswell Police Department (RPD) will becollecting potentially dangerous expired, unused andunwanted prescription drugs for destruction duringDrug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 28, 10 am to 2pm at the Roswell Recycling Center, 11570 MaxwellRoad, Alpharetta. The RPD is partnering with theDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and KeepRoswell Beautiful for the event. The service is freeand anonymous.For more information, please contact Officer Lisa

Holland at the Roswell Police Department, 770-640-4422 or visit the DEA’s website at www.dea.gov

Board-certified Nurses Honored In the increasingly complex world of healthcare,

board certification of nurses plays a vital role in de-livering high standards of care for patients and theirloved ones. While a registered nurse (RN) licenseprovides a strong foundation for general nursingpractice, certification affirms advanced knowledge,skill and practice to meet the challenges of modernnursing. On March 19, North Fulton Hospital cele-brated worldwide Certified Nurses Day by honoringthe hospital’s 39 board-certified nurses. Represent-ing 12 different areas of specialty, the nurses wererecognized for their professionalism, leadership andcommitment to excellence in patient care.For a complete list of honorees please visit our sec-

tion on The Current website,www.thecurrentplus.com by clicking the link on thefront page.

Night Construction Begins on Westside Parkway

Drivers on Old Milton Parkway in the vicinity ofWestside Parkway will see a lot of activity begin-ning Monday, April 2. Between then and April 26,contractors will be working a Monday through Sat-urday, 24- hour schedule to complete the final legof Westside Parkway as quickly as possible.Motorists should expect to see some lane clo-

sures or shifts along Old Milton Parkway duringconstruction. These will be limited to occur be-tween the hours of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and 7:30pm to 5:30 am so as to avoid peak commute times.Still, drivers are encouraged to avoid the intersec-tion of Old Milton Parkway and Westside Parkwaywhen those closures and shifts are occurring.

For more info, contact the City of AlpharettaDepartment of Engineering and Public Works at(678) 297-6200. q

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By Laura Liles

Welcome to camp season.While most kids don’t hit the pool untilthe summer months, their parents arebusy making choices about summercamps months before they start. Theprocess can be daunting for some, solet’s cut through the clutter to helpmake your camp choices easier.Ask Your ChildThe first place to start is by asking

your child where they may want to go.Perhaps they have friends who are at-tending someplace special, or perhapsthey want to learn something newthrough activities that appeal to them.Gather this information first and let itassist in shaping the decision.Ask OthersOf course what your child may want

is not the only thing to bear in mind.There is still homework to do, like ask-ing other parents, or even other kids,where they’ve been in the past. It’s im-portant to get a few opinions sincesomeone may have had a bad experi-ence that was unusual and unrelated tothe one you will ultimately have.Tour FacilitiesGo see the camp with your child. Ask

the staff about their philosophy and or-ganization. While there, pay attention

to how your child reacts to the facility.This will often give you a strong indi-cation of how the experience will befor them.Length of ProgramsDepending on your interaction dur-

ing the normal school year, considera-tion of your time spent with yourchild is also key. Some children maylove camp so much that they want togo all the time, but you may want tohold them out for some quality timewith you. Also, consider convenience.You may have a long drive that makeslife needlessly difficult.Specialty CampsThis is the new trend in summer

camps. There are camps that focus oneverything from science to surfing.Based on your child’s needs, researchcamps that appeal to their talents. Youcan also choose a camp that helps de-velop skills that your child needs aboost in, in the more entertaining set-ting of camp.

Choosing The Right CampOne Day At A Time

There are seemingly endless summer camp options available forarea parents – let us help you come to the right decision.

ROSWELL BUDOKANIn addition to the different themed adventure campstaking place each day @ Budokan, campers will ex-plore Aikado-Martial Arts, Japanese Language &enjoy outdoor water play! Our certified instructors &camp counselors provide excellent leadership for allcampers in a fun, state of the art environment.770-649-8383 / www.roswellbudokan.com

CRABAPPLE ACADEMYAdventure abounds as Survivor meets Top Chef meetsExtreme Couponing in this year's life-skills themedcamp that will help your children learn how to be self-reliant, productive citizens through fun activities, cre-ative projects, and exciting field trips! 770-475-4544 / www.crabappleacademyonline.com

CAMP MODAAt campMODA, students 6-14 years old learn basic robotic engineering, programming principals, and sci-ence, technology, engineering and math conceptswhile having fun!Your child’s natural curiosity and ingenuity will helpthem envision possibilities and develop innovative so-lutions to difficult technology problems.404-979-6455 / www.museumofdesign.org

ATLANTA DANCE CENTRALOffers summer camps for Ages 2.5 - 18.  They runfrom June thru August.  Kinder Camps, Youth Camps,Summer Intensives. Drop In classes in: Ballet, Tap,Jazz, Contemporary, Acro, Hip Hop.  All levels. 770-992-0170 / www.atlantadancecentral.com

Current Camp Guide

Happy campers! Students from Atlanta Dance Central.

STORIES IN FORM:CHAIR DESIGN BY

PORTFOLIO CENTERFEBRUARY 5 – JUNE 3, 2012

Museum of Design Atlanta1315 Peachtree StreetAtlanta, GA 30309

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By Michael Hadden

How do you view your city?Do you see things in terms of walkabil-ity, sustainability, productivity, lovabil-ity and proximity? Do you know howto evaluate those? All too often, oureyes are closed to what truly drivesthem.Can you easily walk to a corner

store to buy some milk or bread? Doyou ever see ladies or children ridinga bicycle around town? Withoutlycra? Is there a park within a 5-minute walk of your home? Dopoorly placed road signs bug you?Have you ever wondered why a utilitypole is smack dab in the middle of asidewalk? How much do all of thosefire hydrants cost? Do empty parkinglots in front of strip malls drive younuts? Are those lots ever full? Arewide roads safer? Why are round-abouts safer when they feel danger-ous? What are those round 30-Abumper stickers? How did I gethere?I can answer that last one pretty

easily. I fooled the good people at TheCurrent into believing that I can

write coherent sentences. They arebetter judges of literary talent than I,and had a hunch that their readersmight find my topics interesting.My blog New Urban Roswell fo-

cuses on how our city can becomeeven more livable. I like looking atwhat’s going on in and aroundRoswell through a different lens thanmost. That lens is new urbanism.For those readers unfamiliar with it,this is how the Congress for the NewUrbanism explains it:• New Urbanism Uses Less En-

ergy... and Energizes Communities • Builds More Value... by Valuing

the Spaces Around You • Is more Efficient with Tax Dol-

lars... and Improves Public Servicesand Safety • Makes Streets More Inviting...

and Safer for Everyone • Conveniently Greens... Your Daily

Routine • Is Healthier... by Being More

Pedestrian and Bicycle-FriendlyNot everyone will agree, but I hope

to spark some thoughts and dialoguearound how wecan develop abetter city.Some peoplemight eventhink it’s acommunistplot. However,I like to thinkthat it's equallypragmatic andvisionary.Whether youknow it or not,

anyone who has one of those round,blue “30-A” stickers is promoting it.If you’ve ever visited Seaside, Rose-mary Beach, Charleston, Savannah,The French Quarter, Beacon Hill,Serenbe, or Main Street USA at Dis-ney, you’ve experienced the concept atwork. Most of us like it even thoughwe can’t easily put it into words.Each month, I will try to put it into

words with my take on projects thatare rumored, planned or in progress.Last month, on our blog, we took alook at Strip Malls, Food Trucks, andGroceries. Stop by and check it out orwait until next month here in TheCurrent. Here’s a hint for nextmonth’s topic... It rhymes with ‘FallCart Saberwood Parkit’ and it’s unfor-tunate that it doesn’t rhyme with‘Gator Moe’s.’ q

Michael Hadden blogs at NewUrbanRoswell.com. He is a certi-fied member of the Congress for theNew Urbanism and a member of theStrong Towns Network.

You may contact him at: michaeldhadden@gmail.com

Introducing a new column – community design matters.What Is New Urbanism?

Community DesignMatters

MICHAEL HADDEN

““I hope to spark somethoughts and dialoguearound how we can develop a better city.

April 2012 7out & about • education • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • life

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By Tripp Liles

In 1993, a group of communityvolunteers started a small after-school program geared toward assist-ing low-income children in theRoswell area, in an effort to inspireacademic success. At its inceptionthere were only about 2 dozen chil-dren in an apartment-learning center.Today STAR House serves over 250students at Ester Jackson Elementary,Mimosa Elementary, Elkins PointeMiddle and Roswell High. All of the funding for STAR House,

which is of no charge to students,comes from donations and volunteersupport. A prime example of thatmulti-layered support comes fromNorth Fulton Hospital.“The nice thing is that they (North

Fulton) have adopted the EstherJackson program,” Keller Torrey, De-velopment Director at STAR House,said. “It’s really great what they'vedone.”Beyond just writing checks, North

Fulton Hospital emphasizes employeeinvolvement in the community. Theyhave assisted in many projects andactivities for STAR House by havingbake sales, donating much neededschool supplies and even holding anEaster egg hunt for the children.“The cool thing about North Fulton

is that they went into the community

and asked what we needed,” saidNancy Diamond, a member of theSTAR House Board of Directors.“That is an important feature that wedon't often get. What they've done isgive us time, and that is important.”Amberlee Moore, an Executive As-

sistant at North Fulton Hospital, is aprime example of a heavily involvedemployee who devotes time to STARHouse. She is a member of a dog ther-apy group called Therapy Dogs Inter-national. Through that associationshe is able to bring dogs into the pro-gram where the kids can interact withthem, which has been very popular.“Our employees have shown a great

interest with STAR House and theyenjoy the interaction with the kids.The kids love seeing familiar facessince we are there every month,”Moore said. “The dogs are a big hit.” As the STAR House program ex-

pands, support from local entities likeNorth Fulton Hospital will be the keyto success and positive growth. Thephilosophy behind that growth is toprovide programs for children fromthe elementary level through highschool. According to Torrey, the Cen-tennial High cluster is a targeted area

The Stars Shine BrighterWith Teamwork

North Fulton Hospital proves community involvement is more than check writing.

Adella Kelly, North Fulton Hospital Patient ExperienceManager, and Chris Moore assist with the STAR HouseEaster Egg Hunt.

CONTINUED 25

8 April 2012 out & about • education • arts • community • garden • business • health & wellness • life

www.InQuickerRoswell.com

www.nfultonhospital.com

Go to InQuickerRoswell.com Select a designated time Wait at home

By Mike FInch

Now that the last “Finch”in our nest is driving and gettingmore and more involved in eveningand weekend activities, Sweetie andI have found ourselves in somewhatof an empty-nest trial scenario.We’re not completely unprepared forthis eventuality, but I thought westill had at least another year or twobefore this family metamorphosis.I’ve talked with other parents who

have already gone through this phaseand have heard the stories of depres-sion, feelings of loss and emptiness,but no one warned me of the anxiety.That is, the anxiety of figuring outwhat activity Sweetie and I are goingto enjoy next and which new restau-rant is worth an outing. We actually reached out to our

first-born the other evening for animpromptu drive into Atlanta fordinner, but alas, she already hadplans. Somehow this led her to con-clude that we were really strugglingwith our new child-less situation. Se-riously? Do you realize how much

cheaper sushi for two is versus forthree, four, or five? And, when didthey start showing movies on Sundayafternoons? What a brilliant idea! And what better way to exploit the

fantastic spring weather, than toenjoy more topless drives withSweetie! Let me explain my HowardStern-like sensationalism by defin-ing “topless” as driving in Sweetie’sMini-Cooper Convertible with thetop down. Okay, it’s actually my car,but I’m suffering from a slight caseof “little car syndrome” and feel that

maybe I should be driving some-thing more manly, like a big truckthat can haul a deer or bear carcass -but perhaps I’m over-compensating.Anyway, I think this car fits Sweetieperfectly and if you see her runningaround town make sure to tell herhow cute she is in her MINI!She is embracing our new situa-

tion with gusto and actually thoughtother emptynesters mightbenefit fromsome type offorum or asso-ciation wherepeople couldrecommendnew hot spotsand excitingempty-nest ac-tivities. So, shedeveloped theacronym

“WRENS” (a little play on the aviantheme), which stands for “WayfaringRoswell Empty Nester Society”.Originally she wanted the “S” tostand for “Swingers”, but I explainedthat might attract something morethan she was anticipating. As for me, I’m in the market for a

kayak. No, I’ve never kayaked before;yes, I do have a bad back; and no, I’mnot a great swimmer. But with mynewfound free time I thought I’d giveit a go! Sweetie is leaning more to-ward ballroom dancing lessons, but Ithink she’s just making fun of my car.I also suggested skydiving, butSweetie just quoted her Dad saying,“only bird-poop and fools drop out ofthe sky” (although, he didn’t say itthat nicely)! Anyway, we sure are going to miss

those three little angels; and whenthey do happen to have time to stopin to save us from our boredom we’llbe sure to act appropriately de-pressed and lonely! This will be ourlittle secret! q

Mike Finch can be reached at miscellaneousramblings@comcast.net.

Empty-Nest Trial Leads ToTopless Nights

Miscellaneous Ramblings

MIKE FINCH

““What better way to exploit the fantasticspring weather, than toenjoy more topless drives

with Sweetie!

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April 2012 11out & about • community • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • life

Roswell ConnectNetworking and Social Event

for Roswell Businesses

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!is is a unique way to meet other Roswell Business Owners. If you are not already a Find It All Roswell partner,

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By Lou Raimondi

The Friends of Roswell Li-brary’s “Roswell Reads” program con-cluded its 2012 program with aliterary luncheon held at the RoswellAdult Education center on GrimesBridge Road. Over 200 readers fromthroughout Georgia and the south-east attended the event. This year’sspeaker was Tom Franklin, author ofthis year’s selection “Crooked Letter,Crooked Letter”.This is the seventh year of the

Roswell Reads program and eachyear has brought more interest fromreaders and book clubs throughoutGeorgia. Roswell Reads is a “OneBook…One City” community-readingprogram. Each year the selectioncommittee chooses a book, which isintended to serve as a communitybuilding experience. The program of-fers people the opportunity to cometogether and discuss the issues andideas presented in the selection. Thisyear’s selection by author TomFranklin is about two friends whogrow up in rural Mississippi. One iswhite and is suspected by the com-munity of killing a young girl he tookto a drive in movie. He lives a se-cluded life as a mechanic for occa-sional customers. The other is blackand becomes the town Constable.Twenty years later another girl goesmissing and their worlds conjoinagain.It is thought provoking books like

this that make the Roswell Readsprogram successful. Recent examplesinclude last year’s selection “MyName Is Mary Sutter” by RobinOliveira, a civil war era historicalnovel, and 2010’s selection “OutcastsUnited: A Refugee Soccer Team, AnAmerican Town” by Warren St. John.This is a story based in Clarkston, GAabout a Jordanian woman coach of arefugee soccer team trying to estab-lish itself, while overcoming social re-sistance and financial hardship in therural south.I’ve attended the last three Roswell

Reads literary luncheons and have

watched it grow. It’s no surprise theprogram is growing and gainingrecognition throughout Georgia andthe south. Other book clubs are nowfollowing the Roswell Reads selec-tion, due to the quality of the selec-tions and the opportunity to hear theauthor speak and answer questions atthe luncheon. This year’s luncheon was the

largest in the seven-year history of theprogram and those who attendedwere entertained. Mr. Franklin’s sto-ries about his youth and growing upin the hamlet of Dickinson, Alabama(population 400) were humorous.He shared experiences from his past,many of which are weaved into thebook either directly or indirectly. Heanswered questions about his writingstyle, how the names in the book werederived, and the decisions he maderegarding character and plot develop-ment and discussed his past and up-coming books. After speaking, Mr. Franklin signed

books and programs for many ofthose in attendance. Many additionalcopies of “Crooked Letter, CrookedLetter”, as well as his past books weresold at the event. q

For more information on theFriends of Roswell Library andRoswell Reads visithttp://www.forl.net/

Roswell Reads Continues To Grow

Author Tom Franklin speaking at Roswell Reads.

12 April 2012 out & about • community • arts • parenting • garden • business • health & wellness • life

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By Lynette Hoffman

Last week when putting myson to bed he asked why I get to stayup late. I gave him my standardparental reply of “because”. That shortbut sweet reply didn't seem to answerhis question appropriately so I'll try tobe more explanative to all of our kids.Kids – I'm sure you wonder what

happens after you go to bed at night.Surely there must be a reason thatyour parents are anxious to get you tosleep every night. Your parents stayup late and yet still get up early in themorning with you. They seem to bejust fine with far less sleep, right?Well now the secret comes out. I

know many of you are on to this. Afterall, adults think kids are dumb right?

Well not me, Iknow you arejust a bunch ofgeniuses, so I'mgoing to spill thebeans.Here are a

few things thatyour parents donot want you toknow: after yougo to bed, theyhave a big party.Not sometimes,

but every night. They over indulge insoft drinks, while you have to drinkthat organic orange juice. Your par-ents eat all of the candy and otherjunk food hidden in places you willnever find. (You will receive bonuspoints if you find the hiding places forholiday and birthday presents.)It's all starting to become very clear

isn't it? While you are in deep sleep,your parents watch television, playvideo games, turn up the music andjump on the furniture. Don't let thatget to you, though. You will do betterin college for not having watched theKardashians.Basically, parents do all of the

things you would like to be doingafter bedtime. It's very clear thatthere is a conspiracy to stop you fromhaving fun. They are, in fact, stealingit all for themselves.

To be clear, they eat sticky candyand gooey brownies – on the sofa –while playing violent video games.They run around the house with scis-sors and pointy objects. And to top itoff they never utter a “thank you” or“yes sir” or a “no ma’am”.Think that when your parents act

like they are tired, that they reallyare? No way. It's an act. They are justpretending, it's all part of the game.

I'm not even going to go into whathappens when you have a baby sitter.Basically, parents want to party with-out you. But of course you knew all ofthis. Being a kid sucks.Be patient. If you become a parent

you'll get your turn – if you manage tostay up that late. See, that will giveyou something to look forward to.Nighty night. q

Lynette is a mother of 2 and an ama-teur humorist - she feels they go hand inhand. She can be reached at

Lhoffman30062@mail.com

It’s Bedtime SomewhereThe secret life of parents after the kids go to sleep.

Lighter Side of Motherhood

LYNETTE HOFFMAN ““While you are in deep sleep,parents watch television, play video games, turn up the music and jump on the furniture.

14 April 2012 out & about • community • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • life

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In the last several years,a huge focus on a global effort to re-cycle and optimize energy resourceshas taken place. The United Statesand China have the most opportuni-ties for improvement, and Roswell isleading the way for other small citiesin the State through their recyclingprogram. Every week Roswelliansenjoy curbside recycling and garbageservices provided by the city. By international standards,

Roswell’s recycling program is easy tounderstand, a fact that may con-tribute to its popularity. Unlike manyEuropean systems, Roswell’s pro-gram is a one-stream program thatdoes not require separation, makingit both convenient and affordable.The city of Roswell has a history ofcitizen action, and the recycling pro-gram is an example of citizen actionat its best.Roswell was one of the first cities

in Georgia to start a recycling pro-gram. “Roswell citizens were really the

catalyst in beginning the program”,says Janet Liberman, Director of En-vironmental Programs in Roswell.“It first began as a citizen movementwith several volunteers working outof a parking lot, which is now the po-lice station.”The city eventually took over the

recycling program in the mid 90’sand moved the center to the currentlocation at 11570 Maxwell Road. “The center was operating out of

trailers, and while it was a productivefacility, it was still very basic in de-sign”, Liberman explains . In 1998, the city of Roswell re-

ceived a $200,000 grant from theGeorgia Environmental Finance As-sociation which, says Liberman,“completely changed the way the cen-ter operated” and helped to modern-ize the recycling process. Roswellimplemented the curbside serviceprogram in 1992. Liberman esti-mates that the curbside participationacross the city is at rates of 70-80%,which is well above the national aver-

age of 15%. “Roswell residents havealways exceeded expectations, so wewere not surprised at the high resultsof participation,” she elaborates. Every community in Roswell is eli-

gible to receive curbside service, andit is part of the bi-monthly sanitationbill. Even apartment communities inRoswell are required to have a recy-cling bin. Free receptacles are avail-able via the city’s recycling site atwww.roswellrecycles.com and will bedelivered upon request. Nationally,recycling rates have increasedtwofold since the late 80’s. Roswellresidents have also demonstrated ahigher demand for their recyclingneeds. “Some households would reli-giously have three to four 18-gallonrecycling receptacles full”, says Liber-man. Roswell’s initiative is one of the

most popular in the state, and othercommunities use the Roswell pro-gram as a manual to build their ownrecycling programs. Liberman con-tinues, "We are really proud of whatthe city and citizens of Roswell haveachieved, and we look forward todecades of Keeping Roswell Beauti-ful." Roswell’s recycling program isan example of the progressivenessand thoughtful leadership ofRoswell’s citizens. It serves not onlyas a source of pride for the city, butalso as a template for other commu-nities throughout the state. q

What’s In Your Bin?The City of Roswell’s recycling efforts are amongst best in the state.

Janet Liberman at Roswell City Hall.

currentchoicesApril 2012

The Month in Preview

April 2012 15out & about • community • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • life

Alpharetta ArtsStreetfest10:00 am to 6:00 pm at Outdoor Festival inDowntown Alpharetta, Alpharetta, GA. Thearts are alive this spring on the Northside,with 100 juried artists from throughout theU.S. showcased at the 8th Annual Al-pharetta Arts Streetfest.

Enjoy the weekend strolling through anoutdoor art gallery filled with diverse artisticmediums from new and well-known artists.Complimenting the event will be free chil-dren’s art in action area; live performing ari-tists on the main stage; interactive ceramicarts; and much more. Admission and parkingare free. For more info and to preview ourartists go to www.alpharetta.ga.us.

>>Art4/ 14-15

>>April 14Market on the Green at Mountain Park118 Lakeshore Drive in Roswell from 4-8pm.Call Cristina 760-580-7186 for any details.

>> Concert4/ 14Josh Turner Live!Josh Turner has a deep, soulful voice and sinceearning a standing ovation as an unknown singeron the Grand Ole Opry stage in 2001 with hisimpressive delivery of “Long Black Train,” he hasestablished himself as one of the most identifi-able male vocalists in country music. The Han-nah, S.C. native has sold more than 4 million albums and garnered two multi-week No. 1s. Concertis at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Saturday April 14.

>> Food4/ 28Touch A Truck

The City of Alpharetta Recreation andParks Department will sponsor the 14th An-nual Touch A Truck at at its new location,Willis Park behind the City Pool Near 1825Old Milton Pky.

Touch-A-Truck activitiesinclude moon-walks, facepainting, animalballoons, and ofcourse the dozens of unique vehicles avail-able for children to see and explore. Parkingwill be available at the Alpharetta Commu-nity Center (175 Roswell Street), Wills ParkRecreation Center and Wills Park Eques-trian area.

The event starts at 10:00 a.m. until 2:00p.m. For more info please visithttp://www.alpharetta.ga.us or call678-297-6133.

AARP Driver SafetyTraining

AARP Driver Safety is the preeminent na-tional older driver safety program. The pro-gram has helped millions of drivers protecttheir safety on today’s roads. In each class youwill tune up your driving skills and update yourknowledge of the rules of the road, as well aslearn defensive driving techniques. In somestates, taking this course may qualify you for amulti-year insurance discount. Cost is $12 forAARP members /$14 for non-members,payable the day of class to the instructor.

This event is located at Mt. Bethel UMCB118. RSVP to Kim McGarr – 770-579-9224, ext 25.

>> Seniors4/ 24

April 19Stitches South 2012at Cobb Galleria Centre: Take a class, check out exciting specialevents, or shop to your heart's content. 770-955-8000 for info.

April 15Fitter & Faster Swim TourOlympians Lacey Nymeyer & Josh Schneider lead swim clinics.Mountain View Aquatic Center. 770- 509-4925 for info.

∞ � B

3rd AnnualWalk4Paws Dog Walk& Jog

Join other dog lovers at beautiful Wills Park,11915 Wills Road, Alpharetta, GA for the 3rdAnnual AlpharettaUGA Walk4PawsDog Walk & Jog

Proceeds will goto the Arch Foun-dation for the Uni-versity of Georgiaand will benefit theCanine Pathologyand Oncology departments at the UGA Col-lege of Veterinary Medicine. The walk starts at9:00am, registration at 8:30am. Visithttp://www.walk4paws.net or call 678-762-7729 for more information. Pre-registration$25, on site registration $30

>> Fundraiser4/ 21>>Home Design

4/ 29Showcase of Homes

The Roswell Women’s Club is proud to present the 16th Annual Showcase of Home Tour ben-efiting educational and charitable organizations. This year the Women’s Club has teamed up withretired Atlanta Braves refief pitcher Mark Wohlers and his wife for the 2012 Showcase home.Enjoy all that the Showcase has to offer from April 29 - May 20. For more information visitwww.roswellwomansclub.org.

Riverside Sounds Kicks Off In MayRoswell’s Riverside Sounds concert series

will kick off on Saturday, May 5. These freemonthly outdoor concerts are held at RoswellRiverside Park, 575 Riverside Road,May thru October from 7-9 p.m.Guests are invited to bring blan-kets and coolers. A shuttle serv-ice will be offered this year totransport attendees to the parkfrom the Ace Sand lot on River-side Drive.

This year’s line-up includes:May 5: Little TybeeA mini orchestral pop music band with stringarrangements and artful southern charm en-gaged in intricate musicianship.June 2: Sol JunkyHigh-energy performances with music repre-senting a unique mix of cross-fusion with in-struments including the banjo, mandolin, fluteand even beer kegs.

July 7: Yacht Rock Revue Playful band that pays tribute to the smoothhits of the late '70s including Michael Mc-

Donald, Hall & Oates, and Steely Dan.August 4: Brandon GilesBand Sweat-infused, hard rock/boo-gie piano solos with the inten-sity of a wild man coupled withheart-felt renditions of beautiful

country standards.September 1: The Black Lilies

An earthy, gritty, melancholy sound remi-niscent of old mountain music a century ago,speaking of pain, love, revenge and revelry.October 6: The Lee BoysA hard-driving, blues-based beat inspired fromGospel music that’s infused with rhythm andblues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, and country.

For more details, call 770-641-3705 orvisit www.roswellriversidesounds.com

16 April 2012 out & about • community • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • life

Out&AboutOur can’t miss guide to Current events.

musicart entertainment outdoors community kids lectures

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Power of PinkLuncheon, Fashion Show and Silent Auction

APRIL 12-29RING OF FIREThe Johnny Cash Musical Show, presented by Georgia Ensem-ble Theatre at Roswell Cultural Arts Center. GET will raise theroof with this barn-burner of a musical that celebrates thesongs of an American legend – the Man In Black himself,Johnny Cash. This production is sponsored by Bank of NorthGeorgia and Comfort Suites – 3000 Mansell Road. 770-641-1260 or www.get.org

APRIL 14LARRY GATLINPresented by the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre Encore Seriesat the Cobb County Civic Center Complex, Marietta, GA 30060Country star Larry Gatlin, widely known for his performanceswith the Gatlin Brothers, is scheduled to close out the Encoreseries 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14.

APRIL 19-22 STITCHES SOUTH 2012STITCHES SOUTH 2012at the Cobb Galleria Centre.   This is your chance to meet withknitting authors, educators, and suppliers from around theworld. Take a class, check out exciting special events, or shopto your heart's content!

APRIL 13-14GOING NATIVE at the Chattahoochee Nature Center Go native in your yard thisyear at the Spring NativePlant Sale at Chatta-hoochee Nature Center. Thisspring native plant sale offers a gar-den of delights and horticultural ad-ventures. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (April 12thfrom 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. there will be a special members’ only pre-view sale.) www.chattnaturecenter.org

APRIL 13-MAY 11CELEBRATE 100 YEARSat Roswell Visual Arts CenterCollage celebrates its 100th birthday in 2012 and the AtlantaCollage Society consists of fine art collagists from four south-eastern states! Attend the opening, meet the artists, and experi-ence the reinvention of what the iconoclasts began 100 years ago.Opening Reception: April 13 from 7-9 p.m..; 770-594-6122.

APRIL 14-15TASTE OF MARIETTAThe 19th annual Taste of Marietta takes place in the historicMarietta Square and features over eighty restaurants andcaterers showcasing their best food. Food ranges in price fromjust $0.50 to $4.50. In addition, there are five live music stages

and a sunset concert on the Main Stage in Glover Park. Thereare games for the kids, a sports corner as well as a cookingstage with celebrity chef cooking demonstrations.Don’t forget to bring some canned goods to help feed the hun-gry in Marietta. MUST Ministries is having a food drive with adrop off booth to help stock their food pantry.

APRIL 15GEORGIA FESTIVAL CHORUS7:30 p.m. at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, GA. 110voices of The Georgia Festival Chorus, led by Founding Direc-tor, Frank Boggs, will present their Spring Concert, along witha GALA CELEBRATION of his 85th Birthday; solos by Mr.Boggs, Special Guests, and surprises. All are invited; FREE Ad-mission.

APRIL 15HEAR THE FUTURE4th Annual High School Music Festival presented by MichaelO’Neal Singers at Roswell UMC at 3 p.m.. Tickets $10 each.

www.mosingers.com or 770-594-7974

APRIL 18RUMCK ‘FUN FEST’at Roswell United Methodist Church (RUMC)The community is invited to participate in the 40th anniversarycelebration of the RUMC Preschool & Kindergarten (RUMCK)on Wednesday, April 18, 4-6 p.m. Please join us on The Com-mons – the large lawn outside the Sanctuary – for inflatables,petting zoo, animal balloons, face painting, art activities,cookie walk, cotton candy, popcorn, music, and more. Entryfee: $5/child.

APRIL 21-22BIG SHANTY FESTIVALThe City of Kennesaw celebrates its annual Big Shanty Festival.The festival combines the best of the rich heritage of Kenne-saw and the Civil War era with today's fun filled activities.Over 50,000 attendees will enjoy the more than 200 boothswith arts & crafts, food vendors, merchants, parade and liveentertainment.

APRIL 21HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICALSSaturday, 4/21, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Sponsored by North Fulton Hospital, students may receive a freephysical from a team of doctors, primary care and orthopedics. Noappointment necessary. Call 770-751-2660 for details.

APRIL 21LAURENCE JUBER IN CONCERTpresented by The Six String Social Club. The two time GrammyAward winning guitarist will be in concert at the Unitarian Uni-versalist Metro Atlanta North, 11420 Crabapple Road, Roswell,on Saturday April 21 at 8 p.m.

April 2012 17out & about • community • arts • home • garden • business • sports • life

The events listed here are just the beginning. For a complete list of all that’s happening in the area visit www.thecurrentplus.com

To have your event listed just send an email to events@theroswellcurrent.com w w w . b o w e n c p a . n e t

(770)640-5042

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The Six String Social Club presents

Two Time GRAMMY® Award Winning Guitarist

Laurence

Juber In Concert

Saturday

April 21, 2012 8 PM

$30.00 Advance—$35.00 Door

Group Discounts Are Available See website for details.

*The Six String Social Club is not affiliated with, funded by or endorsed by UUMAN. This event is not a UUMAN sponsored event.

Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North (UUMAN)*

11420 Crabapple Road Roswell, GA 30075

Purchase Tickets Online:

www.sixstr ingsocialclub.com Info: 770-365-7738

APRIL 22SOUNDS OF THE SPIRIT CONCERT SERIESpresents The Atlanta Chamber Players at Roswell UnitedMethodist Church. The Atlanta Chamber Players, a mixed en-semble of strings, winds and piano will perform at RoswellUnited Methodist Church at 4:00 p.m. Comprised of principalwinds and titled players of the Atlnata Symphony, the group isconsidered one of the artistic treasures of the Southeast. Tick-ets are not needed for this concert.

APRIL 22TUNA DOES VEGAS2:30 pm at Theatre In the Square, Marietta, GA. Some of themore colorful denizens of Tuna (third smallest town in Texas)head for Las Vegas and you can bet on hitting the belly-laughjackpot. Grits meets Glitz as some Tuna regulars run head-oninto a pair of dueling Elvises and other riotous Sin City citi-zens. The latest in the Tuna cycle as two actors play multipleroles with lightning fast costume and character changes.

APRIL 24GARDENING PRESENTATIONRoswell Garden Club presents John Kreiner giving a presenta-tion on Dahlias. 10 am, Free at the Bill Johnson Community Ac-tivity Building at Roswell Area Park.www.roswellgardenclub.com

APRIL 26PARADE OF HOMESChambrel's Annual Parade of Homes A wonderful afternoon at Chambrel where you will have theopportunity to experience delicious food prepared by Cham-brel’s culinary staff and take a tour of resident apartments andcottages. 2 p.m.; RSVP to 770-594-4600; free of charge.

APRIL 27RELAY FOR LIFE ROSWELLFriday, 4/27, 6 pm, Roswell High SchoolJoin North Fulton Hospital as we walk to support the AmericanCancer Society’s mission to raise funds for cancer researchand to spread awareness. To register, visit www.roswellrelayforlife.org

APRIL 28SCARECROWS IN THE GARDENGarden Faire 2012 - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. atHistoric Bulloch Hall in Roswell. Botanical bargains andunique, hard-to-find plants, gardening accessories, deliciousfood and much more will be featured at the North Fulton Mas-ter Gardeners 9th Annual Garden Faire held on the grounds ofhistoric Bulloch Hall in Roswell, GA. This year’s theme willshowcase five unique scarecrows that will be available forsale. Admission is free and proceeds from Garden Faire willbenefit the six community project gardens supported by theNorth Fulton Master Gardeners volunteer organization. Mas-ter Garden will be on hand to help shoppers choose the plantsthat best meet their needs and answer gardening questions.For more information visit http://www.nfmg.net

APRIL 29ROSWELL CRITERIUM BICYCLE RACERoswell Criterium Bicycle Race in Roswell’s Historic District. Afull day of bicycle fun and activities. The Mayor’s Bicycle Ride,Kids’ Bicycle Safety Rodeo, a thrilling Criterium and so muchmore. www.roswellcriterium.com

APRIL 29TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERSLive at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Doors open at6:30PM. Ticket Price(s):$125.00, $85.00 Reservedand $35.00 Lawn. Rock andRoll Hall Of Fame inducteesTom Petty and The Heart-breakers released theirdebut album in 1976. Theyhave since sold more than60 million records. Betweenthe Heartbreakers’ record-ings and his solo work, TomPetty has won twoGRAMMY awards and beenhonored with lifetime achievement awards including inductioninto the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Billboard’s CenturyAward, and MTV’s Video Vanguard Award. For tickets and in-

formation visit http://www.vzwamp.com/

MAY 1THE ATLANTA OPERA - DON GIOVANNIat the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galle-ria Parkway, Atlanta, GA., by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWidely regarded as the greatest opera ever composed, DonGiovanni tells of the devious schemes and hijinks of history’smost beguiling scoundrel, Don Juan.

MAY 2THE EAGLES IN CONCERTLive at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. Doors open at6:30PMTicket Price(s): $185.00 Reserved; $65.00 Lawn.The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide,earning five #1 U.S. singles and four Grammy Awards. TheirGreatest Hits 1971-1975 is the best-selling album of all time, ex-ceeding sales of 29 million units.Their Greatest Hits 2 & 3have sold more than 16 and 11 million albums respectively. Ea-gles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.For tickets and information visit http://www.vzwamp.com/

MAY 5ANNUAL DOWN HOME DERBYto benefit the Child Development Association (CDA). Cele-brate Kentucky Derby Day by enjoying the festivities of theDown Home Derby at a private equestrian venue in North Ful-ton County. Live music, fabulous food and drink, auctions, fungames, and a horse show will keep you entertained. A fantas-tic way to benefit the children served by the Child Develop-ment Association. www.cdakids.org

MAY 5LITTLE TYBEEkicks off Roswell’s Riverside Sounds concert series on Satur-day, May 5. These free monthly outdoor concerts are held atRoswell Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, May thru Octoberfrom 7-9 p.m. Guests are invited to bring blankets and coolers.A shuttle service will be offered this year to transport atten-

dees to the park from the Ace Sand lot on Riverside Drive.Little Tybee is a mini orchestral pop music band with stringarrangements and artful southern charm engaged in intricatemusicianship. For more details, call 770-641-3705 or visit

www.roswellriversidesounds.com

MAY 5TASTE OF EAST COBB Taste of East Cobb relocating to a larger venue directly in frontof the area’s premier retail center, The Avenue East Cobb from11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

MAY 5DRAKEWALK AND FESTIVALto benefit The Drake House A family event with various walking routes through historicRoswell, followed by a finish line festival with refreshmentsand family fun. www.thedrakehouse.org

18 April 2012 out & about • parenting • arts • home • garden • community • health & wellness • life

By Tripp Liles

Millions of Americansvisit an emergency room each year.For many of those people, an emer-gency room visit can be a stressful ex-perience. There is the fear of notknowing what's wrong with you, howlong you will have to be there, or hav-ing to deal with an unfamiliar place.A successful emergency depart-

ment is like a well-oiled machine,with each part doing its specific jobefficiently. At North Fulton Hospital,the emergency room runs with maxi-mum efficiency, and patient comfortand immediate treatment are para-mount.“Generally we see people pretty

quickly. Our average wait time, fromthe time you walk in the door to thetime you see a doctor, is less than 15minutes,” Dr. Michael Lipscomb, ERMedical Director at North FultonHospital, said. “Painful conditions arethe most common conditions patientsare seen for in an ER. Usually at theend of the day, it’s acute pain fromsomething you would not considerlife threatening, but it is somethingthat you need acute relief for.”Another important aspect to the

flexibility of North Fulton's ER is theability to utilize technology to facili-

tate admittance. They have In-QuickER, which is available as a mo-bile app or through the website(www.InquickerRoswell.com). Thisservice, which essentially holds aplace in line, will give you a range oftimes available to visit the ER andperhaps offer you the opportunity towait in a more convenient environ-ment until you can be seen.When you do arrive at the ER you

will go through triage, where a pa-tients priority is determined by theircondition. The injuries and condi-tions that are handled in the ER arevaried, and North Fulton Hospital'sER, designated as a Level 2 Traumacenter, is one of the best equipped inthe state of Georgia. There are only20 trauma centers in Georgia, andthe North Fulton ER covers a widegeographical area stretching fromSandy Springs to Johns Creek. Thereare 38 trauma certified nurses and 10physicians directly assigned to theER, with multiple other specialists oncall as needed. Many of those employ-ees are also members of the commu-nity.“A lot of our physicians and work-

Not Your Average Emergency Room

North Fulton Hospital's trauma unit is an asset to the community.

L to R: Dr. Mark Gravlee , Nurse Karen Wallace, Dr. Michael Lipscomb and Jim Sargent.

CONTINUED 25

April 2012 19out & about • parenting • arts • home • garden • food • health & wellness • life

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www. l a z a r o s c u i s i n e . c om

Finally, Authentic Cuban Cuisinein the Heart of Roswell !

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OpenTues- Sat 11:30 am 10:30 pm

Serving Beer, Wine andOur House Sangria

By Frank Mack

I have been outwith friendsfor dinner to the new, and frankly re-markable, “Little Alley Steak” in theheart of the Roswell's Historic District,on Canton Street, dead center ofRoswell's restaurant row. Allow me toreport for the three of us that it is, in aword – Stunning.To start, it is a beautifully done space.

Classy, subtle, comfortable and warm. Itfeels good. When smokey teases, waft-ing from the grill, greet and grab yournose right at the door, your knees will goweak. You go by clinking glasses,

bustling servers,action, laughter,wine, whiskey,fire and worldclass OMG glori-ous steak on theway to your tableand you knowthis is going to begreat. Sorry Veg-ans, this one is acarnivore's de-

light. Watch your fingers, kids.Dinner was ridiculously delicious.

Every single bite served was perfect, fullheavenly flavors, clean, eye pleasingpresentation and most important, thefinest meats and the finest ingredients –period. The star, for me though, was themost succulent, sinful steak on thisplanet. It is there, on your fork, inchingtowards your mouth... a steak so goodyou know you are going to finish itdown to the smell. Not a molecule, notan atom, not even a hint will be left. Letit hurt and diet be damned.A word about steak. If you want the

finest, the no doubt about it best, thenthere is just no comparison to properlyaged beef. You can't fake it, machine it,pour it from a bottle or lie it up. You ei-ther do it or you don't, and frankly mydear, this kind of quality is what sepa-rates the real pros from the wannabesand pretenders, no matter what townyou're in.The exceptionally imaginative and

talented ownership of Hisham Azhariand Fikret Kovac have created a superbnew dining experience from scratchonce again. Already serving Roswellvery well with Inc & Salt, the partner-

ship has brought to life their most de-manding menu yet and some of thedeepest, most luxurious flavors I havehad the pleasure to enjoy in years.The other human ingredients making

Little Alley superb: Serious barkeepsmaking serious cocktails in a serious barso well stocked it’s like entering anotherera. Mark, Randy & Tariq are handlingan unparalleled set of rare whiskeys,and a wine list that easily ranksamongst the tops in town. The staff isvery sharp and the service standards areset at “highly professional, gentle andsouthern”. And always the most impor-tant in any restaurant, the exceptional,extremely talented, Executive Chef BobMcDonough, overseeing the flame-throwing kitchen cacophony that is cre-ating it all.Bottom line is this. If you want clas-

sic, power, steakhouse dining (and everygreat restaurant city has to have one ofthose to even rate) then I am sayingwith complete confidence this little gemis a crown jewel - and if anyone hasn’tnoticed yet, the restaurant scene inRoswell has arrived.No more going in town Atlanta or

Buckhead to impress. Those ITP types,they are going to learn soon enough thatthe best dining in Georgia, the excep-tional, the dynamic, the future, is righthere in the Historic district on CantonStreet.Sirs, staff and chef, on behalf of all

who love truly great tastes, I’ll say itagain, Little Alley Steak is Stunning. q

Little Alley Steak955 Canton Street, Roswell, GA 30075770.998.0440 / www.littlealleysteak.com

For more food news visit our websitewww.thecurentplus.com.

Little Alley Is Big On Flavor

Foodie News

FRANK MACK

Hamid Azhari, Hisham Azhari, Barkeep Mark Normanand Chef Bob McDonough.

20 April 2012 out & about • parenting • arts • home • garden • community • health & wellness • life

Home Plate – A Legacy of Grace and Gratitude

APRIL 29 THROUGH MAY 20A CHARITY EVENT BENEFITING EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Retired Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Mark Wohlers and his wife Kim invite you to Home Plate, the 2012 Showcase

Home. Destroyed by fire in 2011, the Wohlers’ family residence is now being rebuilt with a purpose. Home Plate has a legacy of gratitude for the Wohlers and through this fundraiser they are expressing their deep appreciation for

the community who ‘came to bat’ during their tragedy.Ticket information: www.roswellwomansclub.org

Use your smartphone to purchase

tickets.

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By Raimy Rich Ethington

We are off to a wonderful startfirst quarter with sales here inRoswell and Alpharetta. It’s startingto feel like the good old days. Dayson the market for a new listing can be

anywhere from1 day to 92 daysbefore it sells.Wow, that’s only3 months andless.The number

one time to sellyour home isspring. Thereare more buyerslooking for the

perfect home right now vs. any othertime during the year. Let me point out a few positive

facts about buying or selling NOW;interest rates are at an all time low,the area is growing, there are greatschool choices, awesome local parksand an exciting inventory of homesthat changes daily. Keep in mind that school is about

to be out for summer. There will be alot of activity in the real estate marketin the coming months. Now is thetime to meet with your realtor andmake a game plan. If you’re wanting to sell and you

have children that will be changingschools midyear, keep the followingthings in mind:

• Concentrate now on the sale or pur-chase of a new home because timewill fly fast. Come fall, the supplyand demand will be very different.• Find a good website to follow andregister to get updates on the marketdaily, weekly etc.• If your home is priced right andmarketed by a professional, then youhave as good a chance as any to sell at top value before school starts.

In Roswell, we will have an esti-mated 1400 plus sales transactionsthis year. Make sure when you’reputting your home on the market

this year to follow these steps:

1. Contact a local realtor – they willhelp advise you on what to do to getyour house ready to sell.2. Give your house a good cleaninginside and out.3. Remove any excess stuff and makesure closets and cabinets are organ-ized.4. Price your home right.5.Make sure showing conditionsaren’t too restrictive. 6.Have a professional sign and flyerbox installed. 7. Put a brag book on the counter (togreet agents) that tells a story aboutyour house.8. The internet is huge. Make sureyour home is marketed in the topportals. Over 80% of future buyerslook on line to find their home. 9. Be realistic, make sure when nego-tiating that it’s not personal. 10.Have a smooth closing -workhard to make sure the process is aseasy as possible for your family andthe buyers family.

Best of Luck!

Article is written by Raimy RichEthington. She has over 20 years ex-perience in the real estate industryand is founder/owner of RoswellTowne Realty. You can reach Raimyat raimy@roswellrealty.net or 404-219-5005

Spring Has Sprung TheHousing Market

Real EstateRAIMY RICH ETHINGTON

Area Housing Market By The Numbers

Roswell 2012 To Date:142 Sold Detached Residential38 Sold attached Residential141 Pending Sales Solds $35,000-$829,000

Alpharetta 2012 To Date:145 Sold Detatached Residential47 Sold Attached Residential157 Pending Sales $28,000-$876,000

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22 April 2012 out & about • business • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • life

By Tom Bowen

One of the ways to reduce Federaland State taxes owed is to purchasetax credits. There are both federal taxcredits, which all taxpayers can useagainst their federal tax liabilities,and state tax credits that are uniqueto each State. Credits are more valuable than de-

ductions as they represent a dollar fordollar payment of tax. However, if itis a dollar for dollar value, it maymake you say “why bother since it’sthe same as paying cash for the tax li-ability?” However, benefit is that thecredits can be purchased at a dis-count. The actual discount varies ac-cording to the type of tax credit but in

every instance it is some amount lessthan one to one. For example, itmight be that a credit sells for 90cents on the dollar resulting in a 10%discount on your tax liability. This isjust one example and discounts canbe 25% or even higher. Where credits offer larger dis-

counts, it is critical to understand theother conditions and risks of the cred-its before you buy them. For exam-ple: Can the credits be used for thecurrent tax year or can they be usedfor prior tax years? Do the creditshave any risks of recapture or other-wise not being honored at full value?What increments can you acquire taxcredits?The purchase of a state tax credit at

a discount will produce a gain youwill need to report on your Federal in-come taxes. If in June 2011 you buy astate tax credit at 80 cents on the dol-

lar and use it tocover a 1.00 lia-bility on your2011 tax return(due April 15,2012), you willhave a 20 centgain which youwill need to in-clude on your2012 tax return

due the following year (2013). Thiswill still make the purchase of thestate tax credits beneficial but the ef-fective discount will be less than the

20 percent discount you may have ex-pected. Finally, the purchase of thecredits more than 12 months beforetheir use will subject the gain to morefavorable long-term capital gain ratesrather than higher short-term capitalgain rates. Understanding the fullcost, benefits and risk is critical andso you should always consult a profes-sional who is familiar with purchaseand sale of credits.

Thomas Bowen, an attorney and cer-tified public accountant, is a principalwith the accounting firm of ThomasBowen, CPA, located in Roswell. Thefirm offers tax and accounting servicesto both individual and small-businessclients. www.bowencpa.net.

By Lesley King

It’s springtime in Roswell. The glow-ing light of the sun and the brilliance ofthe blue sky are calling us outside. Yetmany of us still spend most of our timeindoors, especially for our workouts.

Interestingly, re-search showsthat exercising innatural environ-ments is associ-ated with greaterfeelings of revi-talization, in-creased energy,and positive en-gagement, aswell as decreasesin anger and de-pression. It’s

time to step off the treadmill and headoutside! To help you get started, I puttogether a Roswell Park Workout thatrequires no equipment; just you and abottle of water. Think Rocky Balboarunning through the streets ofPhiladelphia, except greener andwarmer!Turn into the Roswell Area Park off

Woodstock Rd. and drive to the veryend of the road. Park on the left side

where your workout will begin. (This is an interval workout so paus-

ing to read each step below is part ofthe workout. You can search YouTubefor exercise clarification.)Start at the trail opening on the left.

Turn Right and walk to the first bench.

1. At the first bench do 15 pushups.

2. Walk to the next bench, thensprint to the following bench on theright. Do 15 tricep dips.

3. Continue on, then cross the roadand jog down the hill to the left to-wards the steps.

4. At the steps, home of the RoswellHornets, do 15 step-ups on yourright leg then switch to your left leg.

5. Do 40 jumping jacks.

6. Jog to the yellow goal post, thensprint to the white soccer goal.

7. Jog to other yellow goal post, thendrop to the grass to do 30 bicyclecrunches.

8. Jog back up the hill and cross over

to the sidewalk. Walk tothe right up the hill.

9. At the bottom of thehill, do 40 mountainclimbers.

10. Turn left and walk upthe next hill.

11. At the picnic table do20 step out lunges alter-nating legs.

12. Jog down the hillpassing the Community Center andCommunity Pool on the right.

13. Jog left to the wooden handrailby the lake and do 20 squat jumps.

14. Turn right and walk towards thepicnic table near the water fountain.

15. At the picnic table, hold a plankon your elbows or hands for 45 sec-onds.

16. Walk back to the trail and turnright. At the second light post sprintto the stairs.

17. Jog up then backdown the stairs twice.

18. Jog left and back upthe hill to the picnictable.

19. At the picnic table,do 20 air boxingpunches, then put yourhands up and dancearound to the themefrom Rocky in yourhead! You did it!

Americans spend 90% of our timeindoors, forgetting the amazing bene-fits of being outside in nature. Let thisRoswell Park Workout be the catalystfor you to take full advantage of thegorgeous weather and amazingRoswell Parks, while freeing your innerRocky Balboa within.

For a list of Roswell Parks near you,visit www.roswellgov.com.LDK FitnessLesley King ~ owner/certified personaltrainerLesley@ldkfitness.comldkfitness.com

Spring Has Sprung - Let’s Workout In The Great Outdoors

Buying Tax Credits to Reduce Your Tax Bill

Health & WellnessLESLEY KING

FinanceTOM BOWEN

Lesley King in action at RoswellArea Park.

April 2012 23out & about • parenting • arts • home • garden • community • health & wellness • life

currenthealth&wellnessBy Debbie Keel

For the woman pregnantwith her first baby, there are hun-dreds of questions to ask of herphysician and her hospital. An im-

portant onethat she willwant to re-member to ad-dress is “Whatis the C-Sectionrate at the hos-pital where Iwill deliver?”It’s an im-

portant ques-tion simplybecause over

the last several years, that rate hasrisen across the country. Recent datafrom the National Center for Health-care Statistics (NCHS) show a na-tional cesarean section rate of 24.4percent -- an all-time high. Other re-ported studies suggest it is as high as32.9%.

A recent study by the AmericanCollege of Obstetrics and Gynecol-ogy indicates almost one of everythree babies delivered are deliveredsurgically by Cesarean section. Themost recent data available in thestate of Georgia indicates a 33.6%statewide C-section rate and contin-ued increases are expected.Possible reasons for the increasing

C-section rate include delayed child-bearing, the rising obesity rate in ex-pectant mothers and an increase inmultiple birth deliveries. Recentanalyses also found that longer labortimes and an increase in inducedlabors are also factors.“Cesarean sections are a very im-

portant tool as far as delivering ababy,” says Dr. Hughan Frederick,chief of Women’s Services at NorthFulton Hospital. “It is one of thoseways that we use to essentially de-flect risk from the fetus onto themother.With all that being said, most ob-

stetricians and most expectant

Moms would like todeliver vaginally if it’ssafe for mother andchild. Now for the good

news: According toGeorgia HospitalPrice Check, fromApril, 2008-March,2009, North FultonHospital, right here inRoswell, had the low-est C-section rate ofany hospital in themetropolitan Atlanta area at 20.5%. “While we do not completely un-

derstand why C-Section rate vary, Ido think that the low C-Section rateat North Fulton speaks volumes tothe nursing staff and the attitude to-ward vaginal deliveries,” says Dr.Frederick. “We still encouragewomen to VBAC (Vaginal Birth afterC-Section) and I think that is onereason why our C-Section rate islow.” An ongoing conversation about

your birth plan is im-portant to begin duringyour first visit withyour provider. How-ever, it is just a plan. Ifthe plan changes andcalls for a C-Section, itis important that youtrust your provider. For more informa-

tion about North Ful-ton Hospital’sWomen’s Services, par-ticularly birthing op-

tions, waterbirths and midwifeservices, call 770-751-2666. q

A Conversation On Your Birth Plan

Health & WellnessDEBBIE KEEL

North Fulton Hospital Community Calendar

Dr. Hughan Frederick

Childbirth PreparationSaturday, 4/21, 5/19 or 6/16; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Active class consisting of both lecture anddiscussion/sharing. Topics include anatomy and physiol-ogy; nutrition and fitness; discomforts of pregnancy;stages of labor and what to expect; cesarean birth; med-ications; possible complications; postpartum care; andcomfort, relaxation, breathing and coping techniquesfor labor support.$100 per couple; registration required.

Call 770-751-2660 for more information and to register, or visit www.nfultonhospital.com.

SUPPORT GROUPSNicotine Cessation GroupTuesdays. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., starting April 10, Classroom C Join with other men and women seeking motivation, educa-tion and support to live free of nicotine. The only requirement

for attendance is the desire to start the journey.

Look Good, Feel BetterWednesday, 5/16, 10 a.m. to noon, 3rd Floor ACE Unit DayRoom (please check in at the main entrance front desk)Learn to combat the appearance-related side effects of can-cer treatment. Call 888-227-6333 for more information and

to register

Caregiver SupportFourth Monday of every month, Medical Arts Center To focus on caregivers’ stress, community resources, and strate-gies for care giving. Please call Beverly Ostrowski at 404-843-6523 for more information and for date confirmation.

Water BirthThursday, 4/5, 4/19, 5/3, 5/17, 6/14 or 6/28, 7 p.m. For couples desiring to learn about the option of a water birthdelivery. Completion of the class is required to be consideredfor water birth at NFH.$30.00 per couple; registration required.

Call 770-751-2660 for more information and to register.

SPECIAL EVENTSLifeSouth Blood Drive4/9, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Classrooms A and BDonate the gift of blood. Remember to eat iron- rich foodsand drink plenty of non-caffeinated beverages prior to donat-ing. Please bring a photo ID.

Mothers and Daughters Only Sunday, 4/29, 2 to 3:30 pmJoin a healthcare provider for an informative presentation onpuberty and what to expect. $10 per family; registration required.

Skin ScreeningsTuesday, 5/1, at North Fulton Hospital, appointments startingat 5:30 p.m. Do you have a suspicious-looking spot on yourbody? Have it checked out by an NFH physician.FREE, but registration is required.

Komen Race for the CureSaturday, 5/12, at Atlantic StationJoin North Fulton Hospital at the Komen Race for the Cure.Contact Micah Brown at 770-751-2566 or

micah.brown@tenethealth.com for more information.

Senior Health FairWednesday, 5/30, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Grimes Bridge ParkAdult Center. North Fulton Hospital will be offering free bloodpressure and bone density screenings at this event. Total cho-lesterol and glucose screenings will also be offered for a $10charge. No registration required.

"Must Do" Legal Matters for Caregivers & ParentsTuesday, 6/12, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Classroom A and B, call to register.Newborn in your life? Parents of school-age kids? Caring for yourown parent or relative in ill health? "Caregivers" are people whocare about, as well as care for, the well being of another. Get yourlegal questions answered and don't miss this informative discus-sion on six key provisions all caregivers must do for their chil-dren, aging parents and those you care about. Call770-751-2660 to register.

Have medical questions or topics you would like covered ?Send your questions or suggestions to our editor

tripp@thecurrentplus.com

24 April 2012 out & about • parenting • arts • home • garden • community • health & wellness • life

By Tripp Liles

When the dogwood treesare blooming, you know that allergyseason is upon us. Forty millionAmericans suffer from allergies, mak-ing it one of the country's most com-mon, yet overlooked healthconditions. In fact, allergies are thefifth leading chronic disease in theU.S. for all ages.“People who have allergies consider

it a real condition. The people whodon't, don't re-alize how badit can be,” Dr.ThomasChacko, ofNorthsideENT and Al-lergy said, “Weare ridicu-lously busythis time ofyear. It is dou-

ble or triple that of other times of theyear.”In fact here in the Southeast the

potential for allergy symptoms is fargreater than most other areas of thecountry. Allergic symptoms occurwhen a person's body overreacts to“allergens”, often referred to as trig-gers. And there are a lot of triggers inthis part of the country. The pollen re-leased from trees, grass and weeds inthe spring sends many people to thedoctor in search of relief. This is espe-cially true this year with our record-breaking temperatures, whichincrease the presence of the commoncauses of spring allergies.

Why see an allergist?Allergists are not only trained to

treat your symptoms, but can identifythe source of your allergies and de-velop a treatment plan to addressyour symptoms. A doctor who is alsoa certified allergist can teach you howto avoid potential triggers for your al-lergies, and recommend treatmentoptions that may go beyond over-the-counter medications. “If you get by with OTC (over-the-

counter) stuff then you're okay. Donot use sprays a lot, as it can worsenthe condition. If they (allergies) donot get better then we have treat-ments that can do better,” said Dr.Chacko, who is on the medical staff ofNorth Fulton Hospital.If OTC medications are not effec-

tive in eliminating the symptoms, anallergist may recommend a couple of

different options. According to Dr.Chacko, nasal steroids such as Na-sonex are effective methods. If thatdoesn't work then allergy shots, alsoknown as immunotherapy, can alterthe progression of allergies. Even if anallergy shot might not be for you, anallergist can recommend both pre-scription and over-the-counter med-ications that can best treat yoursymptoms.Without the proper treatment, al-

lergies can be expensive. More than 2million school days and 4 millionmissed or lost workdays are accumu-lated each year due to seasonal aller-gies.

DIY solutionsThere are numerous ways to reduce

allergen exposure and/or relieve al-lergy symptoms this spring.• Garden with greater ease: When

doing yard work, keep hands awayfrom your face to avoid contact withyour eyes and nose. When finishedpruning, planting and potting, don'tbring gardening tools indoors, andimmediately change into clean cloth-ing. Showering following a gardeningsession can also help reduce symp-toms. • Sleep more soundly: Place remov-

able allergen-resistant coverings onmattresses, pillows and box springs,and wash your bedding in hot waterevery 7 to 14 days. • Keep indoor air clean: Keep the

windows in your home and car closed,and don't forget to change filters inair conditioning units and vents fre-quently this time of year. • Monitor the pollen count: Sea-

sonal allergy symptoms can flare upwhen pollen counts are particularlyhigh. Before heading out, check forcurrent pollen counts. If high pollencounts are forecasted, take an allergymedication before symptoms set in,and keep outdoor activity to a mini-mum when possible.

Since so many factors contribute tohigh pollen counts, it's all but impos-sible to predict how intense an allergyseason will be or how it will affect anindividual. However, in addition totaking steps to limit your exposure toallergens that affect you, seeing an al-lergist can also help ensure that youfind relief. q

For more information on Dr.Chacko and Northside ENT and Al-lergy visit www.northsideallergy.com

Allergy Season Is In Full Swing

Pollen levels are well publicizedthese days, but what exactly do theymean? Plants release pollen in order to re-

produce, these tiny particles becomeairborne and while their mission is tofertilize other plants, many neverreach their targets. Instead, someenter our airways and can cause allsorts of problems; including sneezingand coughing, and they can even trig-

ger an asthma attack.Pollen counts are performed by

using an air-sampling device to col-lect airborne pollen on a glass slide,where it can be stained with a dyeand counted using a microscope.Pollen counts are expressed as thenumber of pollen grains per cubicmeter of air, and are usually stated asan average over a 24-hour period. With our unusually warm winter

and mild spring, conditions are ripeto set record levels. Recently thepollen count in Atlanta reached be-yond 9,000 particles of pollen percubic meter of air.Much pollen is released early in the

morning, shortly after dawn. This re-sults in high counts near the sourceplants. Pollen travels best on warm,dry, breezy days and peaks in urbanareas midday.

The counts reported are always fora past time period and may not de-scribe what is currently in the air.Some monitoring services give "totalpollen" counts. They may not breakdown the particular pollen or moldthat causes your allergies. This meansthat allergy symptoms may not relateclosely to the published count. Butknowing the count can help you de-cide when to stay indoors.

Dr. Thomas Chacko

Making Sense Of Pollen Counts

April 2012 25out & about • parenting • arts • home • garden • community • health & wellness • life

THE MOST COMMON OF ALL CANCERS,

skin cancer accounts for nearly half of all

cancers in the United States. Be proactive

and take care of your body’s largest organ

by attending this FREE head-to-toe skin

screening and evaluation.

Registration is required, and space is limited.

Please call 770-751-2660 for your

appointment.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

North Fulton Hospital 3000 Hospital Boulevard in Roswell

www.nfultonhospital.com

NORTH FULTON HOSPITAL

Skin Cancer Screening

for expansion.Playing a big part in seeing those

plans move forward will be the newExecutive Director, KimberlyWalther. Walther, who begins thismonth, will be responsible for themanagement of programming andoperations at STAR House, and shebrings over 15 years of experience innon-profit development and adminis-tration. She has been an advocate forchildren as a professional and as avolunteer with a local women’s shel-ter and at Sweet Apple ElementarySchool. Most recently, Walther was a

Market Research Analyst for NorthAmerican Market.“I am thrilled to be returning to the

non-profit arena. My experience inbusiness, as a non-profit leader and asa volunteer will serve me well as wecontinue to grow the reach of STARHouse,” Walther said. “STAR Houseis an amazing organization serving atruly diverse population of studentsright here in Roswell. I hope to buildon their success and can’t wait to getstarted,” she added. q

ers here live within 15 miles from the hospital,” Jim Sargent, Trauma CenterCoordinator, said.“If you have a problem, we can take care of it. Other hospitals do not have

the level of backup that we have here,” Lipscomb added.The geographical location of the hospital is also unique in that most hospi-

tals with this level of care are located in urban centers or near highways. Dr.Mark Gravlee, Acute Care Surgeon at North Fulton, and local resident said:“As a person who lives a couple of miles from here with a family – just know-ing there is something this close-by, is comforting. It's nice having that peaceof mind, from a father’s perspective. This is a very high quality place. The hos-pital has spent the money to make this top notch. Its unique to have this in themiddle of the community.”

STAR House... continued7

North Fulton ER... continued20

Scenes from previous North FultonHospital/STAR House events.

Debbie Bobb (left) (NFH staff) and Marie Jenkins (right)(NFH staff) assist with Mardi Gras mask craft activity.

Therapy dog Oreo with a STAR House student during reading time.

Residents from Tapestry House Assisted Living Facilitywith students from STAR House.

Debbie Keel, CEO of NFH, (in green); Jane Hayes ( inblue) with students reading children’s’ books about MardiGras history and tradition.

26 April 2012 out & about • business • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • life

The era of big-bucks homerenovations is coming to an end. Thoselarge, expensive projects that trans-formed our homes during the housingboom are giving way to more practical,dollar-conscious ones that are alsofriendlier to the environment.During the housing boom era, reno-

vations soared with the real estate mar-ket, then crashed with it, too. Nowhomeowners are looking for ways toimprove their homes without emptyingtheir wallets. Running concurrent withthat desire is the consumer’s ever-in-creasing awareness of the environment. “It’s a trend, not a fad. There will al-

ways be demand for green products,”Mareks Meija, of Floor and Décor, said.“10 years ago there were very few peo-ple asking for green products, but nowmany are asking. And in these toughereconomic times, people are looking tomaximize the money they spend onhome projects. Fortunately we can givepeople great value for their dollar.”When people hear the term “green

remodeling”, they think of bet-ter windows, more efficientHVAC systems and energy-star appliances. These areimportant components ofmaking your home green,but there are a lot of otherways to make your projects en-vironmentally conscious – and it willnot break the bank.Flooring is an area that can have a

big impact on your home and the envi-ronment. Carpets are traditionally highin VOC's (volatile organic compounds).VOC's can trigger asthma, and if yousuffer from allergies, having carpet cancompound those effects. There aremany products available that can en-hance the beauty of your floors and helpprotect your home environment. “We have many products that can

last for much longer than carpet. If youuse materials like granite or marble,they will last as long as your house isstanding,” Meija said.If you use sustainable materials in a

floor project, that is a great place tostart. Bamboo, for instance, growsquickly and harvesting it doesn't re-quire cutting down forests of trees. Corkis also a sustainable material and is apopular choice in home flooring.

“Flooring sets the tone of the room -the look and feel of a room – and corkand bamboo flooring is taking the de-sign world by storm. We have manybeautiful options that will greatly en-hance your home,” Melissa Hagerty, de-signer at Floor and Décor stated.Using these products is not only

more environmentally friendly, but inmost cases it is a better value for themoney. Many carpets can look worn in

as little as five years and requireregular, intensive cleaningwith the use of harsh chem-icals and equipment. Theaforementioned cork andbamboo flooring materials,or engineered wood prod-

ucts, are durable and they donot hide particulate matter, mak-

ing for a safer living environment. Ad-ditionally these products can last manytimes longer than carpets, making thema sound investment.The overall trend toward both eco-

nomical and green choices is an integralpart of the Floor and Décor businessmodel. In each of their locations, thebuildings' HVAC system is managed byan outside company that monitors useand ensures the temperatures andlighting are maintained using maxi-mum efficiency. If you require assistance, the associ-

ates at Floor and Décor can help inminimizing the environmental impactof your home projects, and maximizingyour return on the money you spend.Also, on their website www.floorand-decoroutlets.com the green productsare labeled with a green/ECO friendlyproduct logo.

Sponsored by Floor and Decor

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Roswell’s Premier Design Team

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By Danna Honeycutt

Spring sprang up on us in aflash this year, ready or not! You’veembraced it in your clothing - be-

cause theweather won’thave it anyother way.What about in-side? Are youstill lookingaround yourhouse whenyou get homeand thinking,“Am I reallypumping the

AC already?” It may be because yourhome’s decor does not yet reflect theseason. Coziness is what most of uslook forward to in the winter, but itcan feel suffocating when the heatstarts to creep in.A few tips to bring the spring feel-

ing to your décor in a flash:To make the most impact, pare

down in the accessory departmentbefore getting started. This will notonly make room for any new décor,but it is almost like looking at yourroom with fresh eyes.

Popping a few brightly colored pil-lows on your sofa will do wonderswithoutbreaking thebank. If thethought ofbright pillowsis a little scary,then opt to gowith a moretraditionalpattern to en-sure a pleas-ing aesthetic.

Flowers are the number one signof spring outdoors. You can use themfor the same purpose inside yourhome. A large scale floral or singularfloral print will make a huge state-ment without floral overload.

Flowers on a table or console areso refreshing, but not everyone canhandle their fragrance indoors. Not aproblem! Faux flowers are just plainfun, no green thumb required.

A pop of color in your linens is oneof my favorites. They really add apersonal touch and show off your funside. Insert a paper napkin, orbleachable linen inside, and guestswill use that in order to preserve thecolorful linens.Bonus tip: If you aren’t sure what’s

missing in your color palette, pop insome white using flowers, containers,or background pillows. You’ll beamazed at how it brings it all to-gether to feel fresh, fun, but sophisti-cated. We hope this helps you“spring” into action! q

Bring In Spring With AFling…Of Color That Is!

InteriorDesign

DANNA HONEYCUTT

April 2012 29out & about • parenting • arts • home • garden • community • business • life

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By the timewe reach adulthoodmost of our bone mass is fully devel-oped. As we grow older, that bone massor density thins and could ultimatelylead to osteoporosis, potentially leadingto a broken bone. Our diet, lifestyle, oruse of medications can all play a role inthe density of our bones. The mostcommon way for bone density to de-crease is simply by aging and settlinginto a more sedentary lifestyle. Oncethe body becomes used to a less activeroutine, it becomes harder to changethat, and an individual’s condi-tion can spiral out of controlvery easily.In the past, the main

method of treating thiscondition has been withdrugs. But now, with ad-vancements in technology,there are numerous ways totreat decreases in bone mass. Aleading new technology is available lo-cally through Wholebody Systems.Wholebody Systems is not an equip-ment manufacturer or a gym - it’s in-stead a revolutionary new way to offsetthe loss of bone density with an easyand convenient program that takesonly about 10 minutes per week.“A lot of people are intimidated by

the gym, and it takes a lot of time. Ourprogram is an ability commitment nota time one,” Alexander Simmons,founder of Wholebody Systems said.“This doesn't replace going to the gym.It’s something that’s going to increasemuscle and bone density.”Wholebody Systems, the only

provider in Georgia, is an all-naturalprogram that is geared toward assist-

ing the body into a natural recovery.“The body is designed to heal itself.

Drugs can slow the bone density loss,but with potentially troubling side ef-fects,” Simmons said. “The side effectsof our system are all positive.”The Wholebody Systems program is

for all ages, but is specifically geared forpeople over 50, to help promote func-tional strength and increase bone den-

sity. The program consists ofan initial consultation anda session that sets a base-line for your currentstatus, and your needsare then assessed. Oncepast the first visit, youwill then have a session

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press for upper body, leg press for thewaist down, a core pull for the abs andlower back and lastly a vertical lift forthe legs and upper back.The exercises are not long in dura-

tion or potentially dangerous like thegym, but rather high intensity self ap-plied loads that will increase bone den-sity and muscle mass. During each visita patient’s progress is measuredagainst the initial baseline and a visualreport of progress is given. It is a webbased management system, so yourdata can be used in multiple locations,if the need arises.“The stronger you make your

body, the better your life will be,”Simmons said.

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30 April 2012 out & about • community • arts • home • garden • business • health & wellness • sports

By Elaine LaMontagne

“Roswell’s CantonStreet has been doing well formany years, however, Alive After Fivehas absolutely supercharged the en-ergy of this unique area.” This is thesentiment of Roswell Mayor JereWood, who grew up in Roswell andunderstandably appreciates the popu-larity of this event and the businesssurge it has impacted, from what wasonce a sleepier time.April 19, 2012 will mark the kickoff

of Alive After Five’s seventh consecu-tive year. This street festival is heldthe third Thursday of each monthfrom April through October, 5-9 p.m.The event features extended hours forretailers, live music at various points,and specialty vendors sprinkledthroughout Canton Street’s historicsidewalks and corridors. It brings ap-proximately 1500-2000 additionalpeople to the area each time it’s sched-uled – most of whom are locals, but italso introduces many people fromother pockets of metro Atlanta to thisgem of a street. The impressive mix ofboutiques, restaurants, gift shops, an-tique markets and art galleries in anidyllic setting has been bringing themback in droves.The concept was birthed at a meet-

ing with the Historic Roswell Mer-chants Association (HRMA) as theystrategized ways to enhance businessfor slower days of the week. Notori-ously less busy Thursdays became thetarget. Unanimous credit is given toSally Johnson, both owner of TheChandlery (landmark and anchor giftshop on Canton Street) as well as thePresident of the HRMA. Her vision,leadership and passion have created arevitalization considered the envy ofthe state of Georgia.“Success, success, success,” echoes

Steve Stroud, Director of the newly es-tablished Roswell Business Alliance.Stroud (who also grew up in Roswell,married his high school sweetheart,Kathleen, and has three daughters)owns Stroud’s Printing & Design andhas been an active advocate forRoswell area businesses and non-profit organizations. The RoswellBusiness Alliance partners public and

private entitiesfor effortswithin certainjurisdictionsfor the bettergood.Stroud

proudly notesthat February2012 had arecord 10 rib-bon-cuttings inthe City ofRoswell, in-cluding CantonStreet’s LittleAlley Steakand Oil & Vie(specialty oliveoil and vinegarshop). LittleAlley Steak isowned byHicham Azhariand FikretKovac, whoalso own andoperate sisterestablishmentsSalt Factoryand Inc. StreetFood restau-rants. Azhariand Kovac’s in-vestments insuch primeCanton Street property has addedsubstantial vibrancy and substanceto this magnetic street. Win-win.No doubt.“Walking down Canton Street is

truly one of the best strolls anywherebecause of its artsy, eclectic charmentrenched in a real historic back-drop. Over the last 20 years, the Cityhas done a terrific job of adding clas-sic pavers, lampposts, curbing andbenches, which have certainly high-lighted the already appealing archi-tecture and nostalgia.” Stroudcontinues, “I love coming to AliveAfter Five and running into my

daughters’young friends,and thenturningaround andchatting withmy parentsand theirfriends. It’s adraw for allages.”Mayor Jere

Wood sharedone of themost interest-ing notesabout CantonStreet, whichis that thetrue salvationof this specialstreet and itsbusinesses oc-curred in the1940’s whenhighway plan-ning bypassedit and veerednorth, allow-ing the vin-tage charm toremain and apedestrian en-vironment tothrive.Mayor

Wood is nostalgic about CantonStreet and his ties run deep. His lawpractice, Wood & Perry (which spe-cializes in representing small busi-nesses), has been situated on CantonStreet for over 25 years, plus his wifeJudy’s art gallery, Raiford Gallery, islocated there as well. RaifordGallery features jewelry, art and ac-cessories, and is Mayor Wood’s fa-vorite shop on the strip! Hereminisces of the street during hisboyhood days when it was the epi-center of Roswell, with an old movietheater, grocery, drug store, and a“five and dime”.

Originally, the City of Roswellhelped launch the Alive After Fiveidea with approximately $2500 inseed funds, but after the first year, itbecame self-sustaining. Mayor Woodexpresses gratefully that the area busi-nesses have been enthusiastic aboutAlive After Five and all that it entails,as it has added much to the hip vibe ofhistoric Roswell. He also notes, to hissurprise, that the residents tuckedwithin the Canton Street web havenever complained. In fact, town-homes (including Canton Street Walkand The Providence) have been builtto accommodate those that enjoy liv-ing in this Virginia Highlands of thesuburbs, and home values in the areahave benefited.The one problem that has erupted

from Alive After Five festivities isparking, which showcases the level ofsuccess it experiences. Ongoing meet-ings have focused on this issue andpossible solutions, and although therehave been a couple of recent amend-ments (see sidebar), Mayor Wood in-dicates that he’s “not ready forprimetime to announce more formalplans – it’s just too soon.” The chal-lenge is addressing the reality of theneed, but not wanting to hurt thebeauty and timeless charm of the area.According to Buddy Milton, treas-

urer of the HRMA, additional securityhas been procured to handle thelarger crowds and monitoring forbootleg vendors. The owner of PlumTree Village (which offers such CantonStreet favorites as The Bilt House,Uniquities, Plum Café, Pet Fancy,Plum Tree Yoga, and Scotia Salon),Milton explains that event organizerstry to have a quality blend of vendors,being sensitive to the existing CantonStreet merchants, while wanting toadd new synergy for those attendingAlive After Five. The lucrative resultsof the event have brought a few out-door vendors who try to circumventthe requirements and fees. But the aforementioned issues are

growing pains that many event plan-ners would love to have! Watch forupdated details on the event websiteat www.aliveafterfiveroswell.com. q

For more visitwww.thecurrentplus.com

Getting Ready For Alive After 5The area’s biggest street party is more than just a good time. It’s impact on business has

been undeniable.

Photos by Gittel Price

WELCOME SOWMYA REDDY, MD

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Saturday, April 21, 2012 | 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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3000 Hospital Boulevard in Roswell

North Fulton Hospital and Resurgens Orthopaedics are offering

high school sports physicals to all private and public schools

within North Fulton County.

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freeHigh School Sports Physicals