V3 Magazine June 2012

ANNIVERSARYANNIVERSARY

thMAGA Z I N E

Northwest Georgia’s Premier Feature Reader / June 2012

$4.00

2 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 3

VirginsSaints & Angels


GARDEN GIFTS&for your family & friends

440 Broad StreetRome, GA 30161

706.235.5530Like us on

Facebook


Visit our new and improved website!

EAST ROME706/378-5300

WEST ROME706/378-5305

ARMUCHEE706/314-0560

www.heritagefirstbank.com

OUR RELOCATEDWEST ROME OFFICE

WILL SOON BE IN

FULL BLOOM!full service banking at 2211 shorter

avenue will begin on june 11, 2012! (relocating from 522 Shorter Avenue)

Meet the Staff! Front (L-R): Susan Brock, Amber Tucker, Laurie Johnson; Back (L-R): Tonya Powell, Kay Chumbler, Amy Hays

Flowers make any day

Rome250 Broad Street

706-234-1040

Cedartown302 Main Street

770-748-4055www.busseysonline.com

Call today to schedule a delivery.

Special.

V3MAG.COMJUNE2012

26 Where There’s a Well...Sometimes, the storm precedes the calm. Just ask the minds behind Cave Spring's The Waterclub, who found their next foodie venture in the eye of an F3 twister

14 Garden of Good & EaselEleven years after his death, Chattooga's Howard Finster faithful are revamping Paradise Gardens in the image intended by its righteously talented creator

30 Salute to the TroupeIt's no secret that the 30-year marriage between the Rome Little Theatre & Desoto Theatre has been a blessedly reciprocal one. Can't you hear it? The hills are alive!

38 Exchange of Good WillLast year the Exchange Club Family Resource Center helped save 500-plus families from falling apart at the seams. Will your conscience bypass the next wave in need?

Columns+Opinions

Features+Faces

20 Cents & SensibilityFrom Congress' out-of-control filibustering to a Facebook billionaire's invasive "Asana" software, slumping in the seats of our philosophical foundations has become the norm

36 Trends & TraditionsSo what if we are the inheritors of pleasure-depleted, post-9/11 hellscape known as 21st-century air travel? It doesn't mean we can't enjoy it using a few pleasure-rich principles

SIXYEARSOF

HERITAGE NISSAN

1500 Veterans Memorial HwyRome, GA 30161

Phone: 888-512-0937www.romenissan.com

HERITAGE BPG


Phone: 888-232-3821www.gmcrome.com

HERITAGE HONDA


Phone: 800-942-3602www.romehonda.com

Experience the Heritage Way. Family Owned, Fr iendly Buying Experience.

W W W . H E R I T A G E R O M E . C O M

Our June 2012 issue is much like the 71 before it,

in that it offers an in-depth look at a variety of compelling Northwest Georgians who are contributing to our region’s ever-vibrant personality. The Rome Little Theatre and Don Rusaw (see pg. 30, “The Hills are Alive!”), for instance, are celebrating a birthday of their own, ringing in 30 years spent entertaining local crowds at Downtown Rome’s historic Desoto Theatre. We also take a look at 20 years of the Rome Exchange Club Family Resource Center’s relentless effort to assist NWGA’s families in need, Cave Spring’s tasty new Waterclub, and the restoration efforts at artist Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens.

Six years have flown by us far too quickly. Yet, despite the long hours, ominously approaching deadlines and ever-changing economic climate, we truly enjoy telling the wonderful stories printed herein each month. Our staff shares the dedication and passion Neal and I have for this publication, and we assure you that V3 will strive to make each and every issue we release in the future worth taking the time to peruse. Thanks for reading.

i n the last six years I have gotten married, witnessed the birth of my first son, watched my wife graduate from college, and enjoyed a run of six consecutive NCAA college football champions spawned from the mighty SEC conference. But really, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the milestones that have occurred amongst my friends and family since June 2006, the month that V3 Magazine published its very first issue.

As I’m sure my wife would agree, I have a second marriage to this business. And I’m positive I speak for V3 Creative Partner/Editor-in-Chief Neal Howard, as well, when I say that from the early days, when our founding partners wrote, edited, photographed and designed every inch of this magazine, to the far more efficient publishing process that we now have in place, this company has required just as much TLC as raising a child. Therefore, it is with great, beaming, fatherly pride that V3 Magazine celebrates its 6th Anniversary Issue, with this edition being our 72nd monthly installment. It has been a great ride, folks, and one that wouldn’t have been possible without each and every partner, sales rep, photographer, designer, writer, secretary and intern giving it 110 percent. Past or present in our employ, you know who you are, and we thank you for your contributions big and small.

Ian Griffin, Managing Partner/President

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + PRODUCTION MANAGER

+ ART&DESIGN neal howard

STAFF WRITERSanna armas, matt rood,

brian foster, j. bryant steele, dianna edwards, holly lynch,

nicole nesmith

PHOTOGRAPHYderek bell, MFA

706.936.0407

CHIEF OF ADVERTISING + OFFICE MANAGER/SALES

DIRECTORian griffin

AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS

chris forino, shadae yancey-warren

AD DESIGN + CREATIVE ENGINEERING

ellie barromeo

PUBLISHERv3 publications, llc

CONTACTone west fourth avenue,

rome, ga 30161 phone: 706.235.0748

email: [email protected]

v3magazine.com

ANNIVERSARYANNIVERSARY

thMAGA Z I N E

MAGA Z I N E

Ian Griffin, Managing Partner


Neal Howard, Creative Partner/Editor-in-Chief

publishers’note


ome theatreat the historic DeSoto Theatre

little

530 Broad St • Rome GA • 706-295-7171romelittletheatre.com facebook.com/romelittletheatre.inc

Shows are Fridays and Saturdaysat 8pm and Sundays at 2:30pm

presents

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 13 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 13

GODDON'T

JUNK14 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 15 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 15

GODDON'T

JUNKMAKE NO

TEXT IAN GRIFFINPHOTOS DEREK BELL

When world-famous folk artist and longtime Northwest Georgia resident, HOWARD FINSTER, began work on his multi-acre, multi-work masterpiece known as

PARADISE GARDENS, he envisioned it as something of a living, breathing, endlessly fascinating beacon to help spread the word of his Lord and Savior. Now, some 11 years after his passing, the icon’s Chattooga County faithful are emerging to shine his light for the long run


N orthwest Georgia has many treasures, but none perhaps as well known in

the art world as Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens. The now-deceased Baptist reverend spent the better part of his life spreading the word of the gospel through his art, ultimately creating what he believed to be a modern-day Garden of Eden on his estate in Pennville, Ga., just outside of Summerville in Chattooga County.

Finster passed away in 2001, after which time his vast, four-acre canvas fell into disrepair. Paradise Gardens, as it is known, was even in danger of becoming completely lost, given that each of its varied works were crafted from recycled materials. With the foundation of the property’s most iconic structure, the “World Folk Art Church”, nearly sinking into the earth, Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters decided to spearhead an effort to save the site. And in February 2012, thanks to donations from concerned locals and a generous grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the county purchased the parcel of land on which Paradise Gardens sits for $125,000.

Gearing its focus toward gaining volunteers to help with as much of the work as possible, the Paradise Garden Foundation (PGF) went to work saving the church, as well as the other structures and mosaics found on the property. PGF’s director, Jordan Poole, has experience salvaging these kinds of aging structures, having previously worked for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and serving as manager of restoration at Mount Vernon, the famed home of George Washington, near Alexandria, Va.

There is a lot of work left to do and further funding is needed to complete the task at hand, but the first slate of renovations are well underway and a successful Finster Fest 2012 in early May could very well have been a jumpstart for the second coming of Paradise Gardens. For devoted fans of the man who created these hallowed grounds, the efforts of Chattooga County to ensure Paradise’s preservation are a breath of fresh air. Finster’s goal, he said, was to spread

the word of God through his art. The more people who bore witness to his work, the further his righteous message’s net was cast.

Much of Howard Finster’s international fame can be attributed to his album cover art for bands like R.E.M. and the Talking Heads, the latter of whose 1985 classic, Little Creatures, won Rolling Stone’s coveted album cover of the year. “I think there’s 26 religious verses on that first cover I done for them,” he said in the 1989 book, Stranger From Another World: Man of Visions Now on This Earth. “They sold a million records in the first two and a half months after it come out, so that’s 26 million verses I got out into the world in two and a half months.”

Chattooga County has made clear that its residents understand the importance of preservation, and it is through them that the dream of Paradise Gardens’ creator will live on. VVV

More pics, pg. 18


CHATTOOGA COUNTY HASMADE CLEAR THAT ITS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION, AND IT

IS THROUGH THEM THAT THE DREAM OF PARADISE GARDENS'

CREATOR WILL LIVE ON.


www.kubota.com©Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2012

It Pays to Own Orange

$0 Down & 0%

A.P.R. Financing for 5 Years*

ZG227

*$0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for terms up to 60 months on purchases of select new Kubota equipment from available inventory at participating dealers through 6/30/2012. Example: A 60-month monthly installment repayment term at 0% A.P.R. requires 60 payments of $16.67 per $1,000 borrowed. 0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws. Only Kubota and select Kubota performance-matched Land Pride equipment is eligible. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended A.P.R. Not available for Rental, National Accounts or Governmental customers. 0% A.P.R. and low-rate financing may not be available with customer instant rebate (C.I.R.) offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 3401 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 6/30/2012. See us for details on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information.

Pro-quality cuts. Powerful Kubota gasoline engines. Low-rate, long-term financing. The rewards add up with Kubota ZG Series zero-turn mowers. Hurry! Offer ends June 30, 2012.

Rhinehart Equipment Co.3556 Martha Berry Hwy. NW

Rome, GA 30161(706) 232-8962


with only 16 occurring between 1840 and 1900. But in 2009 and 2010,

there were more than 130. This is not what the framers of the Constitution intended, Bondurant writes in Harvard Law School’s Journal on Legislation.

It’s not what the Founding Fathers intended, and it’s interesting to read what the framers of the Constitution had to say about the idea of a

“supermajority” Congress before the filibuster ever came to be. In The Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton wrote that a supermajority Congress could operate “to embarrass the administration, to destroy the energy of government and to substitute the pleasure, caprice or artifices of an insignificant, turbulent or corrupt junta, to the regular deliberations and

You may not know the name Emmet Bondurant, but chances are you will see his name in the news in upcoming months.

Mr. Bondurant, highly regarded by the peer-review publication Best Lawyers, has decided, with the support of the ethics watchdog group Common Cause, to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court that congressional filibustering is unconstitutional.

We all take the normal human stance on filibusters: When it’s the other guy depleting his lungs, and Congress’ time, we don’t like it. When it’s our guy doing the same thing, we root for the home cause. (Cue Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.) If Bondurant and Common Cause prevail, it will change current practice in Washington.

First, here’s a little history taken from news reports, including The

Washington Post.The U.S. Senate, back in 1806,

deleted from its rulebook the “previous motion” rule, the motion used by senators to end debate on one topic and move on to the next. Aaron Burr recommended deleting it because it was hardly ever used.

Hence, eventually, followed the filibuster. It would be three decades before the first filibuster occurred, five decades after the ratification of the Constitution. This is the core of Bondurant’s argument, that the filibuster was an unintended consequence of deleting the previous motion question.

Filibusters remained rare, however,

Hold it Right There, Buster

Cents & Sensibilitywith J. Bryant Steele

From Congress’ out-of-control filibustering to a Facebook billionaire’s workplace-altering “Asana” software, slumping in the seats of our philosophical foundations is quickly becoming the norm in America

...Only 16 [filibusters occurred] between 1840 and 1900. But in 2009 and 2010 there were more than 130. This is not what the framers of the Constitution intended...


There, Buster

decisions of a respectable majority.”Also in The Federalist Papers,

James Madison wrote, “In all cases where justice or the general good might require new laws to be passed, or active measures to be pursued, the fundamental principle of free government would be reversed. It would be no longer the majority that would rule; the power would be transferred to the minority.”

The framers debated requiring a supermajority in Congress to pass anything, and subsequently rejected that idea.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a longtime supporter of the filibuster, recently—and surprisingly—took the floor to apologize to would-be reformers. “The rest of us were wrong,” Reid said. “If there were anything that ever needed changing in this body, it’s the filibuster rule, because it’s been abused, abused and abused.”

We’ll see what the Supreme Court has to say about this. But it seems cle

Expect it again. ar that if filibusters are vanquished,

the business of the country might move along a little more smoothly. That won’t happen, though, before Washington has another fight over the debt ceiling, which interrupted nearly everything else last summer.

Facebook’s highly anticipated initial public offering (i.e., you can now buy stock in the company), has met with mixed reviews

(mostly tepid) so far. How it ultimately turns out, the free market will decide.

Meanwhile, a former Facebook innovator and subsequent 27-year-old billionaire, Dustin Moskowitz, has introduced something met with far less fanfare. Moskowitz is offering us Asana, a “task-based software, a shared to-do list for the company. Work is assigned and completed by a potentially unending set of teams created on the fly.” Asana is a Sanskrit word meaning “easeful posture.”

Moskowitz says, “You should read a lot into the name.”

Somehow, his creation is supposed to help manage the workplace in the

digital age.Moskowitz›s Asana

partner, Justin Rosenstein, also formerly of Facebook, told The New York Times, “We think of e-mail, in-person meetings, and whiteboards as our competition.”

With Asana, supposedly, “Tasks can be named and assigned across the company, then shut down or subdivided as the work progresses. People can rank, or have others rank, which of their jobs need attention soonest. If a company wants, anyone can look in on anyone else’s work, offering help and criticism.”

Will this really work? Businesses may initially jump in, the way they jump into concepts like “management by objectives” and “quality management” and rope climbing and other passé fads, each of which made money for the consultants but didn’t really change business practices or human intuition.

Look, here’s how it goes in the workplace: A “task” is indeed

Steele’s Biz Bits

“assigned.” It doesn’t assure an “easeful posture.” Colleagues and supervisors assume the task will be completed as soon as possible, unless another task pops up and takes priority. If you can’t convince a boss that another task was of greater priority, you will get a kick in the backside.

If you’re good, you can deal with stuff that happens on the fly. But how an “unending set of teams” achieves efficiency, well, I’m not sure how Asana is going to help manage tasks, especially if it invites meddling from people who have too much time on their hands.

Finally, this: The jobs outlook is get-ting better, slightly, month by month. Georgia’s unemployment declined for the ninth consecutive month in

April to 8.9 percent. The preliminary unemployment rate in Northwest Georgia declined to 9 percent in April, its lowest level since December 2008.

The rate was 9.9 percent a year ago for the region.

Metro Rome’s rate declined to 10.1 percent in April. It was 10.2 percent a year ago. Small gains, but better than the alternative. Greater Dalton,

unfortunately, remains above the state average at 11.4 percent. And Georgia remains above the national average.

The industries showing growth were, in order, trade and transportation, 9,200; leisure and hospitality, 9,200; professional and business services, 5,900; construction, 3,400; and education and healthcare, 2,700. And, according to the Georgia Department of Labor, while the state gained jobs

overall, state and local governments shed 3,300 jobs. VVV

J. Bryant Steele is an award-winning business journalist and feature writer based in Rome.


If you’re good, you can deal with stuff that happens on the fly ... I’m not sure how Asana is going to help manage tasks, especially if it invites meddling from people who have too much time on their hands.

• Meal Preparation

• Light Housekeeping

• Medication Reminders

• Shopping & Errands

Mothering your mother? We can help you be a daugther again.

Whether you are looking for someone to help an aging parent a few hours a week, or need more comprehensive assistance, Home Instead can help.

Each Home Instead Senior Care® franchise office is independently owned and operated. ©2012 Home Instead, Inc.

• Incidental Transportation

• Bathing Assistance

• Personal Care Assistance

• Dressing Assistance

Services Include:

Call for a free, no-obligation appointment

706.290.1367

hiscga.com

To you, it’s about making

the right choice.

To us, it’s personal.


T h e m e d C a m p s

Artistic ExprEssions For: Ages 7-12Dates: June 11-15

cAmp DArlington For: Ages 7-13Dates: Session 1: June 11-22

Session 2: June 25-July 13 Session 3: July 16-27

cAmp DElightAscopE For: Ages 2-6Dates: Session 1: July 2-6

Session 2: July 9-13 Session 3: July 16-20

intErculturAl cAmp - Esl For: Ages 9-16Dates: Session 1: July 7-21

Session 2: July 21-Aug. 4 4-Week Session: July 7-Aug. 4

lil’ miss mAnnErs EtiquEttE cAmp For: Ages 9-12Dates: June 25-28

musicAl thEAtrE cAmp For: Students entering grades 7-12Dates: June 11-29

7-on-7 pAssing cAmp For: Boys entering grades 9-12Dates: June 21-22

AthlEtic trAining mini-cAmp For: Students entering grades 9-12Date: June 12

BAsEBAll For: Ages 6-12Dates: Session 1: June 11-15

Session 2: June 18-22

BAskEtBAll For: Boys and Girls ages 6-14Dates: June 11-15

chEErlEADing For: Ages 5-12Dates: June 11-15

cross country For: Ages 10-19Dates: July 8-12 (Middle School, ages 10-13)

July 15-19 (High School, Ages 14-19)

FEncing For: Ages 6 and up Dates: June 15-20

FootBAll For: Ages 6-12Dates: June 11-15

lAcrossE For: Boys ages 8-18Dates: July 15-19

soccEr mini-cAmp For: Ages 6-12Dates: Session 1: June 11-15 Session 2: June 18-22

soFtBAll For: Ages 10-15Dates: June 18-22

tEAm BAskEtBAll For: Boys and Girls entering grades 5-12Dates: Session 1: June 6-7 (Middle School)

Session 2: June 8-9 (JV and Varsity)

tEnnis For: Ages 7-17Dates: Session 1: July 8-13

Session 2: July 15-20

WrEstling For: Ages 7-14Dates: Session 1: June 11-15

Session 2: June 18-22

There is still time to join us this summer !For more information and online registration visit www.darlingtonschool.org/summer

2 0 1 2 S u m m e r C a m p S

Through a broad range of activities and exceptional instruction, we encourage children to apply their talents, identify new interests, develop caring friendships, and build confidence in their ability to succeed.

a T h l e T i C C a m p s

s u m m e r s C h o l a r s

Flight simulAtor & sciEncE oF Flight/rockEtry For: Students entering grades 4-9Dates: June 4-15

roBotics AnD EnginEEring For: Students entering grades 4-9Dates: June 4-15

pErForming Arts AnD VisuAl Arts For: Students entering grades 4-9Dates: June 18-29

Camp Ad 7.5x10.125_2012.indd 1 4/11/12 6:49 AM


SSA006_LaserCtr_V3ad.indd 1 5/31/12 9:32 PM

Come in today and discover how the right tire changes everything.

THE RIGHT TIRES. THE RIGHT TIRE DEALER.

Copyright © 2010 Michelin North America, Inc. All rights reserved. The Michelin Man is a registered trademark owned by Michelin North America, Inc.Copyright © 2010 Michelin North America, Inc. All rights reserved. The Michelin MNew and used • all major brands

NOBODY BEATS OUR PRICES!

REECE TIRE46 Lake Wanda Rieta Road Summerville, GA. 30747 | 706.857 1566

meeting responsibilities of family and career

are what i prepared for…

Caring for my mother was not.

Your story continues here…

“When Mom needed more care than I could provide, I found a place that met

her needs – and mine, too.”

As a leading provider of Personalized Assisted Living we understand the

needs of seniors and their families. We provide assistance with activities of

daily living such as bathing and dressing, as well as personalized levels of

service designed to meet the unique needs of your loved ones. We also help

them to live as independently as possible. So all your time together will be

quality time.

Call or visit our community today to schedule your personal tour.

Let us show you how we can help improve your loved one’s quality of life –

and maybe yours as well.20453-ROP03-1211-HBB

ROMEIndependent Living • Personalized Assisted Living

180 Woodrow Wilson Way, Rome, GA 30165

(888) 331-1607 • www.brookdaleliving.com


SSA006_LaserCtr_V3ad.indd 1 5/31/12 9:32 PM

THE WATERCLUB'S K.C. & JEFF MYERS

forWATERELEGANCEThere is a mystical element to the town of Cave Spring,

Ga. If you grew up in the northwest portion of the state, chances are you took a swim in the town’s spring-fed pool, explored the cave, or bottled your own spring

water to take home and drink. The spring serves as the heart of the community, pumping its lifeblood into the surrounding waterways, enriching area crops, nourishing its livestock and the citizens who dwell here.

But the people of Cave Spring now have something else to enhance their town’s affinity for H2O: a restaurant simply known as The Waterclub. A fitting name, particularly since it was the spring that first brought Atlanta restaurateurs Jeff and K.C. Myers to the area. The couple says they had been struggling to drink the questionable tap water in Metro Atlanta, so they decided to look elsewhere for a fresher source. In turn, the Myers found a tiny town on the outer rim of Floyd County with a fresh spring, and though it was the water that pulled them in, it was the people that instantly made Cave Spring feel like a second home.

“K.C. and I have been coming to Cave Spring to bottle our water for about six years,” says Jeff. “We would bottle about 40 to 50 gallons each time and take it back home to Atlanta, and we just fell

TEXT BY IAN GRIFFINPHOTOS BY DEREK BELL

After riding out April 2011's deadly string of tornadoes with the good people of Cave Spring, Jeff and K.C. Myers of The Waterclub figured, hey, why not set up shop?



in love with the place. “We loved coming here,

but one thing that was lacking was a place to enjoy wonderful food. The people here wanted that, too, and after looking at a few places, this space became available and the city called us first to see if we were interested. We felt like this town was calling for us, and we were up and running in six months.”

The need for such a restaurant was identifiable during the couple’s first overnight stay in Cave Spring. While looking to purchase land in April of 2011, a storm front the people of Floyd County remember quite vividly steamrolled through, leaving Jeff and K.C. scrambling for a place to take shelter. The kind people of the Hearn Inn answered their frantic knocking, and within moments, the group began talking about their restaurant experiences.

“That was the trip where we truly bonded with this community,” says K.C. “We ended up staying here and riding out the storm with about 40 other people. From then on, we were in constant contact with our new friends in Cave Spring about the possibility of opening a restaurant.”

With two extremely successful restaurants already flourishing in Atlanta, TOP FLR in Midtown and The Sound Table in the city’s old Fourth Ward, Jeff knows a thing or two about the food-and-beverage industry. His background in event planning also accents Myers’ innate knack for understanding precisely what diners want, as well as how to deliver an environment sure to delight the senses in tandem with the food.

This multi-faceted knowledge, along with his proven track record in an industry that chews up and spits out the vast majority of those who attempt to profit from it, is showcased quite well at The Waterclub. The space’s interior décor is tempered with the irony of rustic elegance; the staff is

well-trained, well-informed, and eager to please.

With those elements firmly in place, the rest is left to the stylings of executive chef Shane Devereux, one of seven Atlanta-based chefs to receive the 2012 Rising Star Award from starchefs.com. Devereux manages to execute a surprisingly affordable menu

considering the quality, and his flavors hit close to home in several ways. For one, his pastas are handmade using real Cave Spring water and eggs harvested by local farms. “Shane has been the executive chef for all three of my restaurants, and he just started another restaurant called The Lawrence with one of my business partners,” Jeff says. “He created this menu and trained our [kitchen staff] to execute the dishes to his standards. And while we do plan to expand the menu, we couldn’t be happier with the quality of the dishes we put in front of our guests.”

The Waterclub’s one-page menu doesn’t overwhelm the diner with too many choices. Two salads, two soups, five sandwiches, five entrees: that’s

it. Each dish, however, presents a unique flavor profile that doesn’t intimidate patrons with too many ingredients.

As for dessert, fellow Rising Star Award recipient Taria Camerino,

Continued on pg. 43


"WE FELT LIKE THIS TOWN WAS CALLING FOR US, AND WE

WERE UP AND RUNNING IN SIX

MONTHS."


ALL SEVEN OF THEM, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO CELEBRATING THE 30th

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROME LITTLE THEATRE’S INAUGURAL SEASON AT

THE HISTORIC DESOTO, THE SOUND OF MUSIC—

BOTH FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY—MAY BE THE

ONLY THING AUDIBLE OVER A CACOPHONY OF APPLAUSE

TEXT BY NICOLE NESMITH PHOTOS BY DEREK BELL

THE HILLS ARE

ALIVE!



DON RUSAW, veteran RLT member/actor/director/

renaissance man

32 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine32 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

I n 1972, when Don Rusaw moved to Rome after a stint living in New York City, he likely never imagined that he would end up with a part-time career in community theatre, where

he has since dabbled in the lives of dancing cats, gypsies and Austrian children with impeccable vocal abilities. But soon after arriving here 40 years ago, the born stage performer immediately joined the Rome Little Theatre (then located on Maple Street) and lent his talents to designing the programs for a children’s summer theater production of The Hobbit. He later auditioned for and accepted the lead role in A Shot in the Dark.

Then, in 1982, the local theatre troupe moved its base of operation to the historic DeSoto Theatre at 530 Broad Street. The DeSoto was the first theatre in the Southeast constructed to show “talkies”—i.e., the first films featuring synchronized sound. Appropriately enough, Rusaw toasted the RLT’s christening of the venue in fine fashion, by directing The Sound of Music.

He also acted the part of Captain Georg Von Trapp in the RLT’s 1998 production of the same play, and though Rusaw even shaved his goatee and dyed his locks brown for the upcoming June 1 production of the famed musical, he didn’t get the part he had hoped to reprise. “It didn’t really bother me too much, since I had been involved with it on two occasions,” Rusaw says with a good-natured laugh. “But you always have a bit of disappointment when you don’t get a part that you like.”

Still, there is little doubt that he’ll be watching from the audience when The Sound of Music, kick-starts a season-long celebration of RLT’s 30 years at the DeSoto.

Though Rusaw’s will wear the hats of both cheerleader and patron for that particular production, he is also helping to promote the RLT’s impressive milestone by directing Broadway Spectacular 4, a culmination of songs, dances, and handpicked scenes from musicals put on by the RLT over the past three decades.

With more than 50 cast members and nearly 300 costumes for them to fill, the production is being touted as a superbly “well-rounded show.”

“People kind of doubt community theaters doing a production like this,” Rusaw says. “But when people saw CATS (which he directed in 2006), many were in awe of the quality and just overall production.”

Hence, with Broadway Spectacular 4, Rusaw is hoping to further elicit

the city’s appreciation for live, local performance over the course of the last 30 years. The play will be come as a seventh production tacked onto what is typically a six-show RLT season.

Theater is an experience like nothing else, says Allison Cox, vice president of public relations for the RLT board of directors. “You can feel the history. Parts that are older are part of the character. Beautiful details, photos of old shows, someone taking your

"...There are always going to be people who are made to do

this, who have a creative urge, and they need something like

this to express that urge."


tickets, someone telling you to have a great show, an intermission: All of these things add up to a great, unique experience unlike any other you can have on a weekend.

“A lot of people pass by the theater, but they don’t know what’s going on. We are a separate entity from the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation and we rent the space from them, but it’s a collaborative relationship. It’s not just an opportunity for people to act or for the technical aspect, it’s a chance for the community to support local artists.”

Cox says the best way is to show one’s support is to become a member of the RLT, which includes the chance to audition for upcoming plays, tickets to all performances and the “Roman Awards” (RLT’s answer to the Tonys), the chance to vote on future productions and more. “It is great for both the patron and the theatre; it’s a relationship,” Cox says. “By coming to the shows, you can give donations at different levels.”

Hey now, wipe that nervous sweat from your brow. If acting isn’t in your blood, there are other volunteer opportunities—technical/backstage work, perhaps hair and makeup, ticket-taking, concessions, directing, et al.

Funny, only three years ago, even Cox was clueless as to the inner-workings of community theatre troupes. Now she can proudly say she has acted and sold concessions with the best of them. “I just wanted to do anything I could,” she says. “It’s amazing how everything comes together. People are coming from all walks of life. You would probably never meet these people otherwise, but we’re being brought together through our love of theatre.”

Rusaw echoes Cox’s sentiment. “I try to help out with anything I can … Sometimes people get the feeling that if you have directed or [or have been a lead actor that you won’t do anything else, but for me] it’s a great experience.

For longtime veterans of Rusaw’s ilk, the RLT is kindly asking people to

gather various media and information from the last 30 years of DeSoto-based performance and bring it to their attention. Photos, stories, any kind of memory involving the RLT will be greatly appreciated.

“It will be something where the community will be invited to share,” Cox explains. “We want it to be a collaborative effort. Some people know what it was like 30 years ago, and we want to [recapture] that.”

If the 30-year mark symbolizes anything in Rusaw’s eyes, it is the revitalization of community theatre on the whole. “The reason is because the people in charge (of the RLT) are very progressive. They have put in a new computer system for tickets and concessions, for example, and we have refurbished the theatre.

“I feel like there are always going to be people who are made to do this, who have a creative urge, and they need something like this to express that urge. It’s just a matter of providing that opportunity, and there


are many opportunities with the Rome Little Theater. I don’t want to be all doomsday—like it’s ‘arts or die’—but this is a great community for the arts,” says Cox. “It seems like the community as a whole is appreciative and supportive of the arts. We just want to see that grow.”

RLT wants to show everyone how much they can do. Yes, they’ve proved they can put on a solid show, but the hope is that they can only get bigger and better. “There are so many possibilities,” Cox says. “We love Rome, we love this community. We want to give back as much as

we can. We want to invest in this community.”

Like a young Rusaw, three years ago Cox discovered that she was in need of scene change, so she made the move to Rome from Chicago. She didn’t exactly know what she was going to do once she arrived, only that she wanted to be involved with a little community theatre troupe she had heard about on Broad Street. She looked into the Rome Little Theatre online, saw they were set to host auditions for My Fair Lady, and timed her move back to Rome so that it would coincide with the auditions. Cox was cast in the show and has appeared in several since.

A lot can happen in three years, huh? Now multiply that by 10 and you may begin to scratch the surface of the RLT’s cherished DeSoto history.

Rusaw says his tens of years with the group feel like they have “scooted by.” Maybe 30 years down the line, Cox will be as proud to say the same. VVV


1818 Kingston Highway • Rome, Ga. 30161

PROVIDENCE PREPARATORY ACADEMY

At the Y, we exist to strengthen

community. Together with people

like you, we nurture the potential

of kids, help people understand

and improve their health, and

provide opportunities to give back

and support neighbors. So join

our cause. And create meaningful

change not just for you, but also

for your community.

YMCA OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY810 E 2nd Ave 706-232-2468










for your community.











for your community.



flight attendants—is much the same as before. They simply dress in a more comfortable fashion and wear less makeup, especially the male attendants. But the magic is there, still. Their job now is more directly related to the comfort of passengers, as much as they can provide it given all the post-9/11 restrictions. But it is also clear that passenger safety is now top priority for the flight crew, much more so than was the case for the stewardesses of yesteryear.

On a flight last summer to attend my grandmother’s funeral, the flight attendants made the journey much more pleasant, simply by way of their friendly personalities and shared attention to my comfort. I expressed my gratitude. I hope they knew how much I meant it.

The best part of the flight crew is, of course, the hello and good-bye on the jet-way. The much parodied ‘welcome

Summer weather brings the excitement of travel plans, tropical destinations, and time with family and friends. The first truly hot day of the spring season

always makes me yearn for a sandy beach and a cold brew. In my business, and in many others, the only way to really get away from it all is to truly get AWAY. And so begins an adventure that starts at the airport.

Air travel is a far cry from what it was when I was a child: glamorous stewardesses, airports that seemed as modern as the Jetson’s home, passengers who dressed up for a flight. The magic of air travel is often lost in the process of taking off your shoes for today’s security screening measures, but if you look and listen very carefully, it is still there.

The magic lies mostly in people-

watching, the way we act with strangers at the airport and on the plane. There’s a beauty to that interaction. And with a refresher on some tried-and-true etiquette principles, the experience of air travel can prove downright rewarding before you’ve even arrived at your destination.

I remember the glamorous stewardesses during America’s golden age of air travel, because my uncle, a pilot for the long-defunct Braniff Airlines, married one. (More than one, actually, but hey, who’s counting?). I remember fancy Aunt Janet best, with her long legs, high-heeled shoes, crisp uniforms and perfectly coifed hair. She showed my sister and I her make up compacts and we thought she was the epitome of feminine grace. Little did we realize then just how hard her job really was.

The current state of the fully evolved flight crew—now called

Trends & Traditionswith Holly Lynch

The Heir Up ThereSo what if we are the inheritors of a pleasure-depleted, post-9/11 hellscape called air travel? In part one of our three-part summer vacation series, Trends & Traditions shows that it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the magic of flight with the help of a few pleasure-rich principles of etiquette


aboard’ and ‘buh-bye’ routine is really the sweet punctuation mark to a few hours spent with complete strangers, each of whom occupied a tiny seat next to one another and put their lives in the hands of a few pilots and traffic controllers. On this aircraft, if you open your mind and your ears a little, you will meet people you will never see again. You will do the ‘excuse me’ dance across the legs and laps of people you don’t know from Jack. You will share the smallest of living spaces with a hundred other humans just to get somewhere more exotic than the

place from which you came, only to return again in a few days and do it all over again.

How nice, then, that we remember our manners when we fly—if only to make those few hours together a little more glamorous.

I’m reminded again about how everything we do in life is designed to connect us to other people. Why else do we act so politely on an airplane (most of us), more politely than we do anywhere else?

Take, for example, the cell phone. Most of us don’t think twice about

answering a call in a restaurant or riding in a car with another person. On an airplane, we aren’t allowed to use our cell phones. Thank God and the FAA. I hope that rule never changes. Because we can’t use our cell phones, we are obligated to talk to the people around us—even if it’s just to ask them to pass the empty peanut wrapper to the flight attendant in the aisle. When that ‘ding!’ comes on as the plane approaches the gate, only a few people feel the intense urge to begin talking on the phone. Most folks prefer to enjoy the last few seconds of peace before they go racing off to their next adventure, probably in baggage claim.

Baggage claim is an area where we see who was raised well and who wasn’t. Honestly, when I run my own airline (and subsequent airport), there will be a line drawn around the perimeter of the baggage carousel, one foot away from the conveyor belt with the bags on it. People would have to stand behind the line, and only enter the pick-up zone when their bag is close by. If everyone practiced this behavior, I wouldn’t have to knock down three people who are standing far too close to the carousel as I swing my bag off.

Continued on pg. 44

I know, I know. Checking a bag costs money. But isn't $25 worth a few hours of increased leg room...and a more comfortable walk to and from the gate?

Looking for more great advice for a wonderful airport/flight experience? Avoid a carry-on if at all possible. My husband has taught me this trick. I know there are some things that must be carried on (and I’ve never traveled with a baby, so I’m sure that experience qualifies for its own rules). But other than a bag with medication, ticket information, a wallet and a magazine to read onboard, what do you really need in that giant, rolling bag?


TEACH YOURCHILDREN WELL

In the year 2011 alone, concerned souls behind the

ROME EXCHANGE CLUB FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER helped more than 500 local families recapture a fighting chance at l ife in a functional home. But you can wait to see the results for yourself before thanking them. Believe us, you won't have to look far outside your front door

Imagine trying to raise a child amidst a busy schedule, demanding job, and a host of other obligations that fill your proverbial plate. You try with all your might, yet you fall further and further behind each day.

For many of us, this is not a far cry from our daily experiences. Many even discover that we need help finding the balance between child rearing and simply surviving. The Rome Exchange Club Family Resource Center seeks

to aid families in doing just that, by providing the tools and resources needed to help families juggle the demands of life with raising children.

In 1989, after a few years spent weighing the needs of the Rome-Floyd County area via meetings and study groups, the Exchange Club decided it was time to organize a center to help prevent child abuse—in particular, the kind that results from family members feeling overwhelmed by everyday stressors. Concerned citizens like Georgia State Representative Katie

Dempsey (R-Rome) stepped up to help create a central place for parents to take advantage of resources that could help strengthen—and, in many cases, save—their own families.

The primary goal of the Family Resource Center (FRC) is to give mothers and fathers the parenting and life skills necessary to hold on to the family unit. At its center are parenting classes, help with budget planning, household management, emotional support, finding added means of financial support, and much

Text by LUKE CHAFFIN Photo by DEREK BELL


more. Caseworkers also spend time one-on-one with parents and their children to help them set and accomplish goals.

“It inspires me to see these families with the odds stacked against them…hold it together and keep on going,” says Jason Sanker, president of the FRC board of directors. “It isn’t about taking the children away, but about working with the family so that they can stay together.” Sanker, an attorney with Rome-based firm McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning, has worked with the FRC for a number

of years, initially through his involvement in the Rome Exchange Club. “The strength of the center lies in the parent aides and the devotion they show to the parents that they work with … It’s amazing.”

Parent aides work on the “ground level” with at-risk families in need of intervention. When a family comes to the center, an initial assessment is made to see if the family will be able to make use of FRC’s services. Once this assessment is completed and the center staff has made the decision to continue with the process, needs specific to that individual family are examined, followed by a staff decision regarding how to go about fulfilling those specified needs. The families are then paired with their very own parent aide, who answers questions, provides a means for help, and works with them to achieve certain objectives.

Parent aides each typically take on around 10 families at any given time, a number that enables them to dedicate the right amount of service to their clients. In turn, children find themselves in healthier, happier, safer environments,

where they are more effectively encouraged to thrive. Preventing child abuse and child neglect within the clients’ home is paramount to the carrying out the Family Resource Center’s top mission.

As for the manner by which local families find their way to FRC, in many cases, the organization receives referrals from the Department of

Family and Children Services (DFCS), churches, schools, counselors, even other clients. Other times, however, families are legally mandated to seek FRC support. In these instances, the center works in conjunction with the court system to set parameters for what families must do to function properly and thereby achieve the goals set by institutions like DFCS. To achieve the meeting of these criteria, FRC hosts supervised, in-house visits with its clients, complete with playrooms for the children.

But just what kind of factors qualify a family “at-risk”—ergo, in need of aid from organizations like the FRC? A lack of family support or a safe place to turn for sound guidance, a lack of financial wherewithal in a floundering economy, and problems stemming from substance abuse can all play a role, leaving parents unable to provide a truly stable atmosphere.

According to Sanker, things like unhealthy environment, lack of professional skills and employability, and incomplete education result in a kind of upward mobility-stifling cycle; the next generation ends up in a life situation very similar to that of their parents, and so forth. “A lot of our clients grew up in a cycle of abuse and neglect. That’s why we offer these parenting classes. Until someone shows you otherwise, you don’t know any differently.” For some, Sanker adds,

“there is this preconceived notion that these parents are no good. But these parents have good hearts that just need some direction, to be shown the way.”

Sanker believes that helping these families uplifts the community as a whole, particularly because the children involved are more likely to become more productive members

"A lot of our clients grew up in a cycle of abuse and neglect ... UNTIL SOMEONE SHOWS YOU OTHERWISE, YOU DON'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENTLY."

FRC staffers (left to right) Kathy Phil l ips, Shemika Rober ts, Lynn Herrin, Jason Sanker, Audrey Montgomer y, Christie Elkins, Amy Knitig, April Wor thington


of society. A cycle is broken, a new mindset cultivated.

Last year, approximately 533 families were serviced by the Exchange Club FRC in Floyd County. “I feel instances [of potential at-risk families] are higher in this area,” says Sanker. The center currently finds itself at capacity; parent aides have full caseloads, with several cases pending.

Now celebrating its 20th year in operation, the Family Resource Center continues to make waves in the Rome-Floyd community, educating the general public on how to take the necessary steps to eliminate the mistreatment of our children. Throughout the year, FRC brings support to and awareness of this important cause throughout the year. The biggest event of the year is February’s “A Night at the Movies”, hosted by Rome Cinemas. Patrons pay a flat ticket price to pick from a selection of current movies, and the lobby is catered by an array of area restaurants. All proceeds go to help

the operating budget at FRC. The organization also benefits

from the Gary Tillman Memorial Clocktower 5k Road Race each August, as well as the annual “Strike Out Child Abuse” bowling tournament held in November. The Family Resource Center also receives assistance from droves of patrons who attend the Exchange Club’s annual Coosa Valley Fair, from which the center also receives a portion of its proceeds.

Each year since 1983, April has been designated National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Those wishing to bring awareness to the cause wear blue to show their support. Here in Rome, passersby often notice glimmering pinwheels in front of the Dempsey Lord Smith Building at the intersection of North Broad Street and Turner McCall Boulevard. These pinwheels represent local families who needed and sought help from the Family Resource Center.

Those wishing to go the extra mile and be a part of the great work being

done at the FRC are encouraged to act. Monetary and/or in-kind donations are always appreciated. Everything from school supplies to clothing and beyond is also welcomed. Volunteers are needed for help with special events and as class aides throughout the year. Additionally, the Family Resource Center is always on the hunt for people to serve on the advisory board, which helps the board of directors and staff with marketing, personnel and more.

As child psychologist Dr. Haim Ginott once put it, “Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.” Thanks to the Family Resource Center, more and more positive impressions are being made every day. VVV

For more on the Exchange Club Family Resource Center, please call 706.290.0764, or pay them a visit in person at 5 Professional Court SW, Suite B in Rome.


5-Star Rated For Overall

Orthopaedic Services

(2012)

Choose the best.

For more information or a referral to an Orthopaedic Surgeon, call MedLineSM at 706-368-8480 or

visit us online at RedmondRegional.com


TruckTownSummerville’s Largest Selection of Trucks!

11788 Highway 27 Summerville GA 30747706.857.6134 706.857.5745

www.mytrucktownga.com


owner of Sugar Coated Radical in Atlanta, adheres to a quality-not-quantity ethic. Her creations are as decadent as they are minimalist.

“The next logical step is adding a few new menu items and offering specials to our regulars,” says Jeff. “For starters, I want to add a country-fried steak, as well as an open-faced meatloaf sandwich with a fried egg on top. And we are in the process of getting these recipes fine tuned and ready to serve.”

A proper meal should be paired with the proper wine, of course, and here, once again, the wow factor with respect to taste—not to mention cost—is in place at The Waterclub. And while they don’t carry liquor due to county regulations, after-dinner spirits are available

thanks to the concoctions of resident sommelier, John Dirga. His wine-based spritzers are the perfect nightcaps to follow a wonderful meal.

While both Jeff and K.C. have plenty of collective experience in the restaurant business, The Waterclub is their first collaborative effort, and both seem thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside one another while raising their three sons (ages 9, 11 and 13) outside the hustle and bustle of

big-city living. “The beautiful thing that K.C. and I have done up here is create a business together,” says Jeff. “I have two different partners for my restaurants in Atlanta, and it’s nice to start something where I’m working exclusively with her. This business is a grind, but here I get to experience that grind with my family by my side.”

With only a few months of operation behind them, The Waterclub has been warmly embraced by the community of Cave Spring. Jeff and K.C.’s search for the purest water in Northwest Georgia has resulted in the Myers’ fulfillment of both a family and community need: a refined, after-dark dining spot. And judging by the smiles their dishes were producing on the night that paid them a visit, Cave Spring’s favorite new couple is no doubt pleased with the results. VVV

For further info on The Waterclub or to make reservations, call 706.777.8811

From pg. 34, “Water for Elegance”

"Planning a weddingwith Holly and The Season

is, in a word, fun. Everyaspect, from the biggestdecisions to the smallest

details, was expertlydesigned with such

energy anddedication,

that there wasno doubt that our

wedding daywould be

absolutely perfect!"

-Mary Kathryn Harrison Pitner

Katherine Birkbeck Photography

www.theseasonevents.com 706-767-0606

We deliver, set-up, mix, serve, and clean-up your bar so you don’t have to

worry about a thing. Call 706-767-0606 for more information.

Make serving beer, wine, and

cocktails at your party a Snap with

Spirits Bartending Service.

Fun!Professional Insured


I know, I know. Checking a bag costs money. But isn’t $25 worth a few hours of increased leg room, less stuff falling on your head when your flight is over, and a more comfortable walk to and from the gate?

If you do require a larger-than-a-purse carry-on, however, please follow these few etiquette principles to make the experience a bit more tolerable for your fellow travelers:

First, carry it through the aisle, as opposed to rolling it. It will move faster and it won’t bang into every elbow and knee it passes along the way.

Second, have whatever you want to read, et cetera, in your hands already before you put the bag into the overhead bin. No one likes the guy who has to get up to fish more stuff out every few seconds while another 50

passengers are attempting to board. Third, please, please, please use the

bin over your own seat. Stuffing your bag in the first available compartment is sort of like taking the parking space at the apartment complex that is

assigned to another tenant. It’s not your space.

Personal space is a big deal in air travel, which is why the airport itself is such a great place. The concourses between gates may not offer much, but the terminal is a great place to take a moment and relax either before or after your flight. Sip some

coffee, watch people. I particularly like to watch how we, in American airports, react to military personnel in uniform. There’s something about the airport, the military uniform, and the American spirit that collide in

one place to make the world a little smaller.

We all remember what flight was like just 11 short years ago, or during the heyday of air travel. But this modern version is pretty great, too, if we’ll just take a few moments to enjoy it. Maybe turn off your

cell phone before you get onboard. You never know who you might strike up a conversation with. VVV

Holly Lynch is owner of and managing coordinator for The Season Special Events Planning at 250 Broad Street in Rome.

...The terminal is a great place to take a moment and relax either before or after your flight. Sip some coffee, watch people.

From pg. 37, “The Heir Up There”

Covering North West Georgia

The Best In Talk Radio!

Up to the Minute Local, State, and National News & Weather Forecasts Top National Shows and Great Local Shows

Always Streaming Live on www.NewsTalk1270.com &TuneIn Radio App

Invest in Your Business and Let the Power of Fox News Work for You! Contact Us for Advertising Information– [email protected]


Wildflower Café & Country Store

Wildflower Café & Country Store


706.295.05583353 MATHA BERRY HWY | ROME, GA 30165

POKEYSHOMETOWNSPORTS.COMMON - SAT: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Kistler Magnesiums

$169.95 - $199.95

Kistler Heliums$229.95-$269.95

Kistler Z-Bones$279.95 - $399.95

• APRIL 7TH - WEISS LAKE- LITTLE RIVER MARINA• APRIL 28TH - GUNTERSVILLE- COMERS• MAY 19TH - WEISS LAKE- LITTLE RIVER MARINA• JUNE 16TH - NEELY (GADSDEN)• JULY 14TH - WEISS LAKE- LITTLE RIVER MARINA• AUGUST 25TH - NEELY (GADSDEN) • SEPTEMBER 22ND - GUNTERSVILLE – STATE PARK• OCTOBER 13-14 - TO BE ANNOUNCED

HOMETOWN SPORTS 2012 TRAILPOKEY’S

Rome’s Exclusive Business Directory


706.244.8848 [email protected]

222 Broad Street Rome, Georgia 30161 monday-saturday: 10:30am - 5:30pm

Girls stick together. When it involves one of us then you get us all. Staying breast cancer-free is tough,

but we’re strong enough for the challenge. Since almost 200,000 women are

diagnosed with breast cancer each year, were speaking out and fighting back! Annual mammograms and breast self exams are two of the best ways to

catch cancer in it’s earliest stages.

Schedule your mammogram today. Call 706.879.4741.

NEVER pick a fight with a girl.

A BREAST IMAGING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 2007.

Left to Right: Lizbeth Kennedy, MD; Cynthia Brown, MD; Jane Yoon, MD; Courtney Perez, MD

V3 Magazine June 2012

Documents

Transcript of V3 Magazine June 2012