A Spark in the Dark

On April 27, 2016, nineteen-year-old Christina “Tini” Semeria went to pray off campus with her four best friends before studying for finals. On their return to the University of Georgia campus, the driver lost control of the car. Tini and her three best friends went to be with Jesus, hand-in-hand, together that night.

During her time on Earth, Christina’s heartbeat and passion was to reach the least, the lost, the last, the hopeless and the unseen, and

By Samantha Canuel

“With each project, you are always starting over. There is an old adage in the theatre that says, ‘You are only as good as your last show.’ It’s true.”

So said Robert Farley, artistic director of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre and Conservatory (GET), who has been putting together new shows since GET’s inception in 1992. He was a founding member of the theatre and has been an influence in the Roswell community ever since.

Farley

By Farris Yawn

Cherokee County is very lucky to be the home of Hall of Fame Santa, Tim Cavender. Anyone who has seen him in character knows how good he is. It’s easy to forget that it’s Tim Cavender in a suit, and you begin to believe in Santa again.

Tim’s new book, Recollections of My Life as Santa Claus and Other “Magical” Adventures is, as the title suggests, a collection of stories that shows how he came to put on the red suit and bring joy to generations of

Whatever Your Story, Forever Begins with Art Jewelers Diamonds & Design

By Cyndi Braun

“You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace,” Song of Solomon 4:9.

If someone has stolen your heart, it’s time for a trip to Art Jewelers for a custom piece of jewelry that reflects your special story. Whether you’re getting engaged or celebrating an important event, Art

Celebrity Hair and Makeup Artist Who Gives Back to Her Community

By Tina Morris

At fourteen, Kelli Jones, or Kelli J as she prefers to be called, began styling hair for her friends. Little did she know; this hobby would lead to a lucrative career as a hair and makeup artist. Kelli J was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has always had a love and appreciation for the creative arts, especially dancing and singing. She is a self-described foodie who loves to travel

The Children’s Haven, a Canton-based agency that provides services to children who have experienced abuse or neglect, has teamed up with Prevent Child Abuse Georgia to help prevent child abuse in Cherokee County. The not-for-profit evolved from the organization originally known as CASA for Children, Inc. but changed their name in 2015 to The Children’s Haven to better encompass the many services they provide to children. Their programs work to give foster kids the opportunity to succeed by

What is Operation Not Forgotten?

Operation Not Forgotten was created to help veterans and their families achieve a better quality of life. Operation Not Forgotten works through Vet Life Community to connect veterans with other veterans, buddies they can trust and relate with to coach them through any difficulties.

Behind the Scenes

Meet the Staff at Woodstock Pediatric Medicine

By Cyndi Braun

A visit to Woodstock Pediatric Medicine (WPM) is more than just a visit with your child’s doctor. Staff members, from administrative to medical assistants to doctors, play a role in making sure your child receives courteous service, prompt attention and excellent care.

Independently owned, WPM has served the community since the late 1990s. Six providers offer

The Making of Horror Movie Sound Effects

By Julie Senger

*Disclaimer
Proceed with caution. This feature may not be suitable for little eyes or the faint of heart.

Have you ever stopped to think about how important music and sound effects are to a film? Even if you can hear actors speaking to one another, how might our reaction to a film be different without the underlying music soundtrack or the sounds of the movements and actions

By Julie Senger

On September 23-24, Cherokee County residents will be gearing up to attend the annual Riverfest arts and crafts festival! For the past 33 years, the Service League of Cherokee County has presented this juried show, which features original, creative works and products from artisans who come from all over the region. There will also be concessionaires, a myriad of local entertainers as well as a children’s area with various rides and fun activities!
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By Mary Akers

How do you know what medium of art is right for you? This question is impossible to answer without trying different types of art mediums to discover where your talents lie. Here are some examples of how some artists, myself included, have discovered their preferred medium.

Fred Ellis was a retired highway patrolman who was looking for something to do. His wife enrolled him in a pottery class thinking (hoping?) she might have to take the class in

By Farris Yawn

While the stories are reason enough to buy any one of these books, another thing that makes these whimsical tales so wonderful is that they are vividly brought to life by author Debbie Byrd’s beautiful watercolor illustrations. An accomplished artist in addition to being a children’s book author, Ms. Byrd has illustrated over eight books for other authors. Two of Byrd’s books were inspired by and feature her own grandchildren.

Lily and Grace is the story

The men arrive one by one at No Longer Bound’s (NLB) campus on the outskirts of metro Atlanta, heads bowed, bodies worn and hearts broken. Drugs or alcohol addiction having ravaged their family relationships, careers, personal finances — you name it.

Addiction strikes at the heart of what we hold most dear: our health and our families. And addiction doesn’t discriminate; it affects people from all walks of life. For many, addiction has a stealthy start, beginning with alcohol,