Everyone thinks of something different when they hear the word “summertime.” Lazy days at the pool, road trips, baseball—all of these come to mind. For me, summertime equals grilling time. Whether it’s grilling chicken wings, hamburgers, sausages or some great steaks, summer is about spending small moments with family and enjoying some great food along the way. I call steaks the king of meats. When I have guests over, I like to grill a variety of steaks so they can try different cuts. The following instructions apply to all kinds of steak, including ribeye and filet mignon. Perfectly cooked steaks,...
More Than a Haircut
At the heart of Henry County’s 2024 Goodbye Summer Festival, amid the lively music, the delicious aroma from various food trucks, and family fun all around, were the sounds of clippers, laughter, and meaningful connection. At the center of this was Terah Da Barber, a professional barber with a heart for serving the community, and his team of passionate instructors and the students from Scales Barber Academy. Terah’s journey began in Queens, New York, when he began barbering at 14 years old. He relocated to Georgia in 2021 for a fresh start and eventually opened his own salon suite, “Cuts...
Unplug. Reset. Find Balance.
A day at the spa like no other. True Rest Float Spa allows you to float effortlessly in a pod filled with warm water and 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt. The experience is like floating on air, eliminating the forces of gravity. “This allows muscles to fully relax, the spine to decompress, and the mind to enter a deeply meditative state,” explains Aubrey Jackson, Jr., General Manager of True REST McDonough and Peachtree City locations. True REST Float Spa is centered on science-backed wellness, providing a deeply relaxing and restorative experience. True REST Float Spa supports both physical and mental...
The Future of STEM Excellence
Henry County Schools’ mission to empower all students with exceptional opportunities that lead to success in a global society includes embedding STEM learning at every level. That mission, driven by the district’s goal to become a regional leader in STEM, is already yielding results, especially with one notable example at Ola High School. OHS VEX Robotics coach Dr. Christie Schmitt, an engineering teacher and advisor to the Technology Student Association, has led Ola’s elementary and high school robotics teams to success from local to international competitions. The high school’s 5203G Gremlin robotics team consistently ranks among top competitors and has...
Finding Answers
Outpatient Procedures at South Atlanta Vascular Institute May Provide Relief The patients of South Atlanta Vascular Institute (SAVI) have often been in pain for a long time. They attribute the feelings as typical symptoms of aging and feel all they can do is simply carry on as best they can. They may have even seen their primary care physicians or other doctors before and just never found relief. The doctors at SAVI, board-certified vascular surgeon Paul Jones, MD., and board-certified interventional radiologists David Allison, M.D., and David Penn, M.D., have helped thousands of patients with minimally invasive outpatient procedures. They...
Speedway Children’s Charities
Henry County’s largest and most popular sporting venue is also a source of significant financial assistance for young people in need throughout the region and the state. Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) was founded in 1982 in Charlotte by the late Bruton Smith, who owned and operated several NASCAR racing facilities. He did it as a memorial and legacy to his son, Bruton Cameron Smith. After losing his young child, Smith became passionate about wanting to help children in need. The organization spread nationwide, with the Atlanta Motor Speedway chapter, one of 11 chapters, created in 1994. Since its inception, the...
The Square Knot Crafts
Nestled beside Scoops on the McDonough Square is The Square Knot, a lovely hideaway where people gather to shop, craft and socialize. Ironically, it was on a Scoop’s bench that the store came to life, birthed from frustration over the lack of quality fiber arts stores south of Atlanta. “My husband I were sitting on the bench, eating ice cream, and I noticed that Mrs. Maureen’s was still for sale,” said owner, Melissa Pham. “My best friend Maria Prange and I had been talking about opening a local store for years. We were tired of driving an hour or more...
Henry County CASA
Henry County once stood alone as the last Georgia county without a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to help local children in foster care. Although Henry CASA officially launched in 2023, many people remain unaware of the program’s existence. Executive Director Lisa Dawodu hopes to change that. “I am ecstatic to be here,” said Dawodu, who retired from her career in finance to do something more personally meaningful to her. “Without CASA, some child’s story is not going to be fully told. With CASA, we can literally change a child’s life for the good.” CASA is a nonprofit organization...
Rediscovering Tools From Kindergarten
The movement of the seasons from Spring to Summer is powerful! We see the world slowly open up as Spring begins. Trees bud, flowers bloom, grass (or weeds at my house) turns green, and the layer of thick, yellow pollen coats everything. Like all things seasonal, the buds on trees, early blooms on flowers, the light green color of early grass, and even the pollen go away. They yield to stiflingly hot days where everyone longs to camp out by a pool or relax on a beach. Summer also signifies some other significant changes in our world. Kids of all...
Familiar Faces, New Home
If you’ve been wondering what happened to your favorite husband-and-wife eye doctor team from McDonough, wonder no more—Drs. Scot and Brenda Werner are back and seeing patients at their brand-new location in Locust Grove. After more than 16 years serving the community through their former practice, McDonough Family EyeCare, the Werners have opened a new chapter with Werner Family EyeCare—a locally owned small business with a small-town feel, built on the same friendly, patient-first values. “We didn’t retire—we just moved down the road,” says Dr. Brenda. “A lot of our longtime patients lost track of us when we sold our...