Aging in Place in Chatt Hills By: Laurie Searle, Citizen Reporter

Last month when we hosted a volunteer activity at our house, I

spent a good part of the day racing up and down our stairs to work

with the different volunteer groups. I didn’t give it a second

thought until one trip found me sandwiched between two older

volunteers. The lady in front of me clutched the single railing while

gingerly taking one step at a time; the man behind me used one

hand on the railing and the other on the wall to steady himself – all

that for going down 15 stairs! That got me to thinking, what’s it

going to be like living in this house – and in this community – as my

husband and I continue to age?

A little Googling brought up the term “Aging in Place” which is

used to describe a person living in the residence of their choice, for

as long as they are able, as they age. A companion term,

“Livable Community” makes that posssible.

According to an AARP report, “Beyond 50.05: A Report to the Nation on Livable Communities: Creating Environments for

Successful Aging,” the concept of livable communities has been evolving over the past several decades, but for the

purpose of the report:

A livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and

services, and adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement

of residents in civic and social life.

In this month’s special report, we look at what aging in place is like for some of our residents and what the future holds

for livable communities in Chatt Hills. We’ll also look at innovative approaches other communities are implementing

and which of those ideas might be developed in Chatt Hills. “is the time”

This Month’s Issue:

P1 – Aging in Place in Chatt Hills

P6 – City Government

P10 – School Updates

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ISSUE No. 2

Feb 2016

A monthly publication of the Chatt Hills Community, a citizen-run news service for

connecting, informing, and engaging friends & neighbors of Chattahoochee Hills, GA.

P11 – Local Businesses: Cherry Hollow Farm

P14 – Local Culture: Chatt Hill Music

P15 – Announcements

P 19 – Community Events

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 2

Aging in Place in Chatt Hills

Libby Parrott: Independent Living

A light dusting of snow swirls past the kitchen window that over-

looks the apartment in Libby’s back yard. That was the first home

she and her husband J.B. built when they moved back to Libby’s

home town in Chatt Hills some twenty years ago. Soon after, J.B.

began construction on their forever home, the one she still lives in

today. She remembers him methodically laying the foundation

blocks each night after working at his fulltime job in Atlanta as a

bricklayer. When asked if she had considered moving after J.B.

passed she said, “No way! This is my home, Providence is my

church, this is where my life is.”

Libby grew up on Cedar Grove Rd, just a few miles down the road.

She started attending Providence Baptist Church when she was 12

and went to school in Rico. Then like many of her friends, she

married and moved, first to College Park and then to Cobb County, where she raised her four children. Twenty years

later, she divorced. Then in 1972 she met J.B., a nice fellow who loved to hunt in Chatt Hills. “It was his idea to move

back here,” Libby said, “so when Curtis Croker offered some land for sale, J.B. jumped at the chance.”

J.B. was in his 70s and Libby was in her 60s when they moved back to Chatt Hills. They both enjoyed their early

retirement years, socializing with friends, hosting ceramics parties for Libby’s lady friends, enjoying their hobbies, and

staying active in their beloved church. But when J.B. developed emphysema their idyllic retirement changed.

Libby said, “What was hardest for J.B. was that his friends pretty much stopped visiting. Guess folks just don’t want to be

around sick people.” What was hardest for Libby was the constant demands of being a fulltime caregiver: taking J.B. to

the VA, which was quite a distance away (however, that improved once she received approval to go to a local branch),

and feeling isolated because she couldn’t leave J.B. alone for more than an hour at a time. J.B.’s illness lasted 10 years

and it was only in the last few months when he went on hospice that home healthcare visits were made available.

Two days before their 42nd anniversary, J.B. passed, and for the first time in her life Libby found herself on her own. Life

was difficult for a few months, but then she made a conscious effort to pull herself out of it. After about six months, she

went on a cruise. “That was the turning point for me,” she recalls, “as it made me begin to feel alive again.” After that

she joined a gym and began working out, regaining her strength and confidence. Today she jokingly boasts that she’ll

start mowing the lawn again, if she ever gets a new lawn mower.

When asked what her secret to a happy life is at age 82 she said, “J.B. told me a long time ago, back when he was

nearing the end, that he wanted me to meet people, to be happy, to enjoy life. So I did.” She gives a wink and a smile

towards the handsome gentleman sitting in her living room.

As for feeling secure here in Chatt Hills? Well that honeymoon apartment she and J.B. first built has now been occupied

for six years by her beloved friend Sylvia Redic and her son Jack, so help and comfort is only just a few steps away.

Libby Parrott enjoys living in her forever home in Chatt Hills

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 3

Aging in Place in Chatt Hills

Joyce Toole: Assisted Living Next Door

Attend the annual Veteran’s Day service at Providence Baptist Church

and you’ll see the sanctuary walls decorated with military uniforms

from almost every branch of service. You’ll also see the proud

veterans lined up at the front of the church as they are called forward

to be recognized for serving their countries. Front and center is Joyce

Toole, who served in the Woman’s Royal Navy Service (WRENS), the

women’s branch of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy.

She was serving in the WRENS as a secretary to the Commander in

Chief when she first met Jim Toole. She said, “I was dating a guy who

didn’t show up, but he sent Jim to take his place.” And take his place,

he did.

Joyce and Jim soon married and she came over on the Queen Mary as

a war bride. After the newlyweds briefly reunited in New Your City, he

went to his next duty station and Joyce traveled to Waycross Georgia

where she met her mother-in-law for the first time, arriving at 2 in the morning! After Jim left the service, the couple

made their home in Florida for many years before moving to Georgia, where they eventually made their way to

Chattahoochee Hills.

Jim and Joyce lived in a modest home in the Rico Community for many happy years into their retirement. Then one day,

to the surprise of her friends and family, they made the decision to move.

“We just walked out of our home with the dishes still in the dish washer,” Joyce recalls. They were in their 80s and the

house had become too much for the couple to manage. Joyce said they didn’t want to be dependent on anyone.

So while the couple enjoyed many independent years “aging in place” in the Rico community, for the next phase of their

lives they selected the next best option to staying close to their family and friends in Chatt Hills – they moved virtually

next door, to the Georgia Baptist Manor in Palmetto Park, a retirement community that adjoins the GA Baptist

Children’s Home on Hutcheson Ferry Rd, just past the city limits of Chatt Hills.

In her new home, Joyce and Jim had everything they could ask for: a private apartment, full service dining, light

housekeeping, 24 hour emergency alert system, café, library, hair salon and gym, on-site chapel and planned activities.

But the best part according to Joyce was, and still is, the companionship. “We have several friends from the (Chatt Hills)

community here,” she said, “plus many others we’ve come to know. We especially enjoy playing Bingo and Canasta, and

attending the church services.”

When Jim passed in 2011, being in a safe and secure place surrounded by friends was no doubt a comfort to Joyce.

When asked if she ever regretted making the move to the Georgia Manor Joyce said, “No. I wouldn’t want to be back on

Rico Rd, I would feel too alone. Just the other night when a storm was coming through, the staff stayed over so they

would be there to prepare our meals the next day. They were such a comfort. Where I’m at now, I feel very cared for.”

Joyce & Jim Tool honored at a Veterans Day service

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 4

Aging in Place in Chatt Hills

Mado: Independent & Assisted Living in a New Livable Community

Trudging up a wooded hillside trying to keep pace with Steve Nygren, I’m

huffing and puffing while he’s barely panting, all the while describing his

Phase III community in Serenbe called Mado (meaning things in balance).

“Phase I is focused around the arts, Phase II is focused around agriculture,

and this Phase III will be focused around health and wellness,” he said with all

the pride of a father talking about his newborn child.

Throughout the tour, Steve, who is the ultimate baby-boomer, says people

want different options than were available to their parents. They don’t want

to be secluded in institutional settings like nursing homes; they want to be

part of an active community, with access to friends, nature, and engaging

activities.

Targeted to age 55 and up buyers, Mado will offer one and two bedroom

cottages from 900 to 1,400 square feet in the $400,000 plus price range. The

cottages include partial ownership in the fully furnished Common House, which offers two guest suites, a gourmet

kitchen and entertaining space. The cottages also are being designed to accommodate aging in place features, such as

connections for medical technology and telehealth systems that enable residents to receive care at home as they age.

The Serenbe website says the goal of Mado is to introduce facilities that appeal to everyone, not only age specific, for

those who want a well-lived life. Planned amenities include a resort destination spa and wellness center, community

pool, fitness center with yoga/Pilates studio, Montessori school campus ages 3-14 and child care for ages 0-3 plus a

wellness center to integrate all medical and health needs of residents and visitors.

Steve painted a vivid picture of what the future could hold for those who want a livable community in Chatt Hills. Mado

could offer the opportunity to live in a more closely knit community, while still living near nature; to live among retirees

your own age, while still enjoying young children attending the community school; to have access to medical and well-

being care as well as assisted living, without having to leave your community – and an opportunity to remain in Chatt

Hills close to all that you know and love.

Yet as much as Mado sounds idyllic, this type of community living isn’t for everyone. Many residents who live in the

“back 40” of Chatt Hills’ countryside highly value living in homes with acreage between them and their neighbors.

Others who no longer want the responsibility of tending land might be able to afford a home in Mado, but not the

annual fees for its amenities.

Then there’s the elephant in the room, so to speak, of living in a rural community like Chatt Hills, 15-20 miles from

essential services retirees need such as transportation, medical care, shopping, housekeeping, and respite care.

If retirees are to age in place in Chatt Hills and enjoy a high quality of life, these problems must be resolved.

Mado concept from Serenbe.com

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 5

Being Moral Discussion Group Date: Thu, Feb. 25

Time: 7pm

Location: Serenbe Community Center

(Upstairs behind the Hil Restaurant.)

Speaker: Walter Coffey

Additional Resources http://aginginplace.com

http://www.ageinplace.org

Golden Girls Network - helping people

50+ stay in their homes by matching

them with like-minded housemates

who can share expenses and provide

companionship.

Village-to-Village Network helps to

establish and manage models for

coordinating volunteers to help with

the inside-and-outside of the home

tasks that might become difficult as a

person ages.

AARP Fact Sheet: The Village (1)

Act III: Your Plan for Aging in Place by

the National Aging in Place Council

Aging in Place in Chatt Hills

Will it take a Village?

In his book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, surgeon

and New Yorker staff writer Atul Gawande takes us back in time when it was

the norm for aged parents to live out their lives in their home, honored,

revered and cared for by the many generations of their family living under

the same roof. But as social norms changed over time – families had fewer

children, life expectancies extended, women left the home for careers – the

aged found themselves alone and faced with the questions:

If you become incapacitated, do you have a plan for what you want done?

Who will take care of you? Do they know that? Do your loved ones know

exactly what you want done? How will you afford care and treatment?

Gawande spends several chapters discussing options such as nursing homes,

assisted living and hospice, and the history of how these services formed is

fascinating. But what seemed most relevant to aging in place in Chatt Hills is

a consumer-driven approach that offers an alternative to institutional care.

The Village The Village concept aims to support the medical, functional, emotional,

social, and spiritual needs of older adults. Residents create Villages to help

coordinate and deliver services and supports within their communities.

Villages reflect their communities through variations in design, capacity, and

operation. Many older adults join these Villages because of a desire to

remain in their homes and not be dependent on family members and

friends.

The Beacon Hill Village, established in Boston in 2001, is one of the most

recognized models of the Village concept. What started as a group of

residents who wanted to receive services and supports in their homes and

communities has now evolved into a national movement. Currently, there

are 50 operating Village organizations across the United States.

Villages are committed to maintaining and strengthening members’ connection to their community while providing

needed services and supports. While the range of services varies, they typically include information referrals, home

health care, access to transportation services, and assistance with household tasks, as well as access to social and

educational activities. (1)

Chatt Hills resident and city council representative Faye Godwin (Dist. 4), who has spent 30+ years focused on senior

housing and services, says this topic is timely for our community. She is a part of a discussion group that has formed to

talk about the Being Mortal book and consider the many options Gawande described. Interested residents are invited to

attend.

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Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 6

City Government

New to City Hall

Meet Michael Jackson, Interim City Manager

Mike is an experienced local government professional with over 30 years in local

government. He has served as city manager for the city of Toccoa Georgia, and is

a former faculty member of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University

of Georgia for twenty years.

Mike has held several interim management assignments throughout Georgia and

thoroughly enjoys the work, even when the job requires him to make difficult

discussions, as is the case with the current issue of re-instating Matt Rook.

“I will do the best I know how to do,” Mike said, “and will use my 35 years of

experience to make a deliberate, thoughtful and unhurried decision, using as

much input as possible from the citizens.” He says his door is always open, but

jokes that he may need to install a “take-a-number” machine to accommodate his

many visitors.

Mike and his wife (he affectionately calls) “Sweet Martha” reside in Cobb County.

They enjoy traveling and have plans for a family trip to France later this year. He

is also a self-described “enthusiastic bogie golfer, who would rather play golf than

eat when he’s hungry.”

Meet James “Ricky” Stephens, Dist. 1 City Council Rep

Ricky is currently employed as the Chief Operating Officer for an Atlanta based

manufacturer (located in Buckhead) of Food Service Equipment for National food

chains like McDonalds, Starbucks, and Dunkin Donuts to name a few. He attended

school at Georgia State University.

Ricky and his wife Debby have been married for 37 years. They attend nearby

Bethlehem Baptist Church and have raised their family in Chatt Hills. Their son

Chris, and his wife Kelly and daughter Elle, live in Chatt Hills. Their daughter is a

senior at Georgia State University and is currently living in the Brookhaven area

while she attends college.

When asked what he likes most about living in Chatt Hills, Ricky said he enjoys the

country atmosphere and wide open space. The people are friendly and it is a safe

place to enjoy life.

Mike Jackson is under a 3-month

contract as Chatt hills Interim City

Manager

Ricky Stephens took the oath of

office on Jan 5, for District 1 city

council representative

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 7

City Government

Update from the Parks Commission ~ Maribeth Wansley

Cochran Mill Park had the final inspection by Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Recreational Trails

Program Grant Administrator, Jodie Gardner. She seemed quite pleased by what she saw and was especially

impressed with the equestrian mounting block saying that accessibility is very important. She was also happy

with the Interpretive Trail and said it was much better than any others she had seen. Jodie was very glad to see

that the "Georgia Trails and Greenways" sign that is displayed at the entrance to the parking lot (which is a

requirement of the grant) is so prominent. It is the largest and most substantial sign of any other grant recipient,

and the Parks Commission was able to have it constructed for free.

John Taylor served as Dist.1

city council representative

from 2008-2015.

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Farewell John Taylor – Thanks for your years of service

Residents, city officials and staff said a fond farewell to John Taylor at the Jan. 5

city council meeting as he stepped down from his eight-year position as city

council representative in District 1.

John was among the first elected officials in Chattahoochee Hills. He was elected

to the office in 2007 and served from 2008-2015.

Many in the community know John from his family business Taylor Gas, which he

operated in Fairburn since 1985 and recently sold.

John and his wife Teri have been active supporters of the Cochran Mill Nature

Center and they are both passionate about preserving the beauty of nature and

the land here in Chatt Hills. We thank John for his years of service and wish him

well.

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 8

City Government

Update from the Planning & Zoning Commission ~ Robin Cailloux

The Planning Commission recently said Goodbye to two long-term members, Gene Griffin and Fuller Anderson. They

were huge assets to the Commission and we will miss their level-headed and thoughtful perspectives. The five remaining

members are staying busy reviewing development codes and making recommendations the City Council for policies.

Currently, the Planning Commission is taking on three initiatives:

1. The Chairman is working with the City Planner and the City Manager to draft a public comment policy that encourages public input and communication.

2. The City Planner is coordinating with the Atlanta Regional Commission to help with the State-required Comprehensive Plan update. Chattahoochee Hills has to complete this update, meeting all State minimum requirements, this year. Given the incredible public input that the Comprehensive Plan had during its creation and the desire of the community to encourage public input, the City Planner is working to increase the amount of public meetings above the State minimums. Strong public participation is the key to a healthy comp. plan and will help encourage City Council to use it as a guide in their future decisions.

3. The Planning Commission is reviewing the adopted zoning code for any errors or unintended consequences. We established the top three issues that we feel need either clarification in the code. These are:

1. When should a conservation easement be required during the permitting process? (this is a much harder question than it appears)

2. At what point during development should a home owners association take responsibility for management of that development, and are there minimum standards that an HOA should meet to ensure solvency?

3. Should there be limits on the number of short-term rentals permitted in a development?

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Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 9

City Government

Do you have a question you’d like the City to address? This is the place.

Q: What is the city doing to address the issue of re-instating Matt Rook? This issue was raised by many residents

during the past two council meetings. What is the status now that city manager Jay DiPasquale resigned?

A: Mayor Tom Reed:

Thanks for raising that question – it’s obviously an issue that has raised a lot of questions, and lot of passion recently,

and certainly an issue that deserves an update.

In the City's legislatively drafted Charter, all issues around staff hiring are the responsibility of the City Manager. I've

talked to Acting City Manager Mike Jackson, and know he's weighing the issues around this issue very carefully. Over the

past weeks, he's been undertaking a rigorous investigation of the circumstances around former Chief Rook's departure

and what the best go-forward course of action might be. I know that he's looking at many issues as he develops that

plan.

He's working hard to learn about the history (in as balanced a way as possible), getting input from the Council, City staff

and volunteers, many citizens, the former Chief himself, and others that have been close to the issue. He recognizes that

there are a lot of strong and very different points of view on what happened, how, and why.

He is weighing performance issues (positive and negative) and the circumstances that led to the resignations. The input

of the Council and staff is hugely important, and has to be taken into account. The previous City Manager couldn't

function effectively once he lost the Council's support. I'm not sure that the situation would be different for any former

employee without that support. He's looking to what level public input can and should drive the decision-making

process, and what impact that might have on the management of employees going forward.

I've shared my thoughts on the issue with the City Manager, as I know the members of the Council have, and feel

comfortable that he will weigh all of the input he receives without emotion, and will make a good decision. I expect to

hear from him soon about what the results of his thoughtful process are.

He's got a lot of experience in resolving tough issues in cities like ours. He won't be here long enough that the politics

should matter; he doesn't have any baggage with any of the people involved, and he's got no personal dog in this fight.

He takes the responsibility to make the best possible decision for the benefit of all of the citizens and the City that serves

them very seriously, and I appreciate his transparency and candor as he works through that process.

As Mike noted in our last Council workshop, ANY decision he makes will be difficult, and (after the level of discord of the

past months) may create some disagreement. (There are citizens who want the Chief back and citizens who don't;

staffers who dealt with a difficult environment through the past months and stayed and those who didn't, just as

examples). I do hope that the citizens of Chattahoochee Hills see the City Manager's process as robust and fair, and

accept whatever outcome comes from it as the best outcome for the City. I hope, too, that folks understand that this

isn’t a ‘punt’ by the Mayor or the City Council. The authorities and responsibilities in the City Charter are very clear and

legally binding – we’re all trying to work inside of those boundaries to the benefit of the community as best we can.

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Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 10

School Updates

The Chatt Hills Charter School:

The ITBS test scores show CHCS ranked high above the county average for Fulton County.

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is a "norm-referenced" test, which means that it compares student performance

nationally, as opposed to statewide or within a district.

Levels 9 through 14 are aimed at students in third through eighth grade and assess skills in language arts, including

vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, usage and expression; math computation,

problem solving, data interpretation, concepts and estimation; social studies; science; maps and diagrams; and

reference materials. The Level 9 test also includes questions about word analysis and listening.

[Sources: Images from Clay Johnson’s FB.]

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 11

Local Businesses

Cherry Hollow Farm

Owners: Carter & Laura Williamson - http://cherryhollowfarm.com

If you’ve ever had a sense of Déjà vu when you passed by Cherry Hollow Farm on

Jones Ferry Rd chances are you’ve seen some of the artifacts that make up the

impressive structure that now serves as a destination venue for weddings and events.

Carter and Laura Williamson, the owners of Cherry Hollow Farm, bought their old

farmstead in 2002, raised four boys and then began the construction of Cherry Hollow

Farm in 2010 using a multitude of resources from all over the Southeast.

At the center of the main structure is an 1860’s sharecropper home that was moved a

few miles down the road from its original location on Campbellton Redwine Rd. This

old home represents a slice of history that connects Chatt Hills to its past, and its

careful adaptation into a useable venue represents the owner’s passion for preserving

Chatt Hills rural heritage.

In the following inverview, Carter and Laura share their story of how their dream of

owning a hobby farm morphed into something quite unique.

Meet Carter & Laura Williamson

How did you come to live in Chatt Hills?

Laura and I wanted to raise our four sons in the country and on some land that we could create a gentleman’s farm. My

family had been in the dairy and ornamental nursery business and I was a graduate of the University of Florida with a

degree in Animal Science. Laura’s family was the Mobley family out of Douglasville and had at one time owned large

areas of farm land. We wanted to raise the boys in something similar and to ground them in agriculture and the

environment. Mrs. Helen Selman’s former home came up for sale in 2002 and we fell in love with her home and the

community.

What are your full time professions?

Laura and I both work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 4) out of Atlanta. Her mother was one of

the 50 founding members of EPA. Laura does Enterprise Architecture and a whole host of other technical, GIS, web and

spacial applications. I am a Federal On-Scene Coordinator in the Emergency Response and Removal Program and in that

arena I am responsible for responding to oil spills, hazardous substances, train derailments, hurricanes, and a multitude

of other environmental catastrophes both natural and man-made.

At what point in your life did you become interested in starting a destination venue?

Laura and I began building our farm in 2003 and then in 2009 we began construction of a second barn to house

equipment. As part of that, we were also trying to create a space for our sons and as a gathering place for friends and

family.

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 12

At the same time we were lucky enough to make contact with some entities and families who were in the process of

tearing down numerous old turn of the century textile mills throughout the SE so we began to access and extract

historical elements out of them. As the process unfolded, and as we were getting sort of carried away with putting so

much effort into the project, Laura, during one of the many days of labor, turned to me and said, “If we are going to sink

this much time, energy and MONEY into this place, why don't we rent it? Why don't we build if for everyone to enjoy?”

I still remember that moment like it was yesterday. And so we went at it full steam. It’s taken us four years of crawling

through old textile mills, buildings, houses and barns to construct what now stands out here today.

What gave you the idea for using reclaimed structures?

The rapid loss of our industrial past through decay and in tearing down

what remains of our textile mills sent us into overdrive to try and save

elements from many of the Southern and even northern textile mills.

We had to stay one step in front of the bulldozers and scrappers. We

have brick from one of the first Eli Whitney Cotton Gin factories, a huge

boiler door from the steam plant boiler building in the former Arnco Mill

in Newnan, many architectural elements from the Fairfax, Lannette,

Opelika, Avondale, Selma, Griffin and Sargeant Mills placed through the

venue. It’s a place where families who grew up working the mills can

come to look, see, touch a part of our history that is quickly being taken

away. And we wanted to reuse materials as they really “speak” to

people. We wanted to show that you can reuse what we already have

on this planet that was created so long ago and make it into something

wonderful. We aren't much different really than those who chase a dream, work hard, then stand back in disbelief when

it's done. We still can't believe it. We stop and stare at “her” every time we pull onto Jones Ferry Road. She has really

taken on a life of her own. She's a testament to our commitment to this community, to the history of this place and to

our past.

How did you come to use the old farmhouse on Campbellton Redwine Rd?

We have been in constant motion over the last four years searching

for and finding historical artifacts and in doing so we came across the

old Campbell House that sat back in the trees on highway 70 barely

visible from the road. We found out who owned it and low and behold

it was Carl Bouchart. He was kind enough to bequeath it to us as he

understood its historical and nostalgic value to us and the community.

And given the condition of the old homestead, time was of essence

that we move quickly to get “her” moved from her previous location

to our farm. We hired a house mover and began preparing the house

for her new address. Complications with the house mover delayed the

project but eventually we were able to move her here and placed

upon her present foundation. And then the real work began to restore

and salvage what we could.

While we could have probably built three houses in the time it took us to restore the Campbell House, it would have

meant so much to the community and to those who will come here. If the materials that make up our venue could talk,

they would have a grand story to tell. There is immense history in every fiber of this place.

The Campbell House in "her" original location.

Cherry Hollow Farm in all "her" glory

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 13

When did your business officially open?

We actually haven't officially opened yet but will be in full operation this spring. We've held a few weddings and charity

events and have worked with Serenbe from time to time collaboratively to co-host events out here. We really wanted to

complete the entire project before we flung open the doors for spring. We're really excited about the possibilities of our

place and the events and productions that will take place here.

What’s it like running a local business in Chatt Hills?

It is really remarkable how much interest we are getting from

every spectrum of our community and from all over the

country. Everything from magazines, to film production,

musical events, charity and such have taken an interest in

what we have created. Everything so far has just been word of

mouth as we don't even have a web site yet as we are waiting

to complete the venue this winter before going live. Up to now

most of our events have come from the Southern Crescent

and locally but we anticipate that we will have a vast array of

interest from all over. We're excited about the possibilities.

We didn't set out to build something as a business really. We

weren't in it for the money. We just had to build it. It just felt

right. Something kept telling us that we had to create it. So we

did. Build it and they will come I guess. And boy they are coming.

And we love that people really appreciate the architecture and the love

that went into it. Hats off to our sons, and the love and support from our

family especially our mother Veronica Williamson and Matt Malek,

architects Steve Dray and Cecelia Winston, Lorraine Cunnanon, Tom

Reed, Don Lee, John Hendrix, Andy McCallister, Matt Eskew, Steve

Helton, Humberto Barrios, Bill Walker, Robert Whitaker, Jerry Masters

and a whole host of other folks here and abroad who helped us make

this a reality. The list is endless of the good people that helped us along

the way. We have forged so many friendships in the construction of our

venue. And I am thankful every day to the undying fortitude and

strength of my wife Laura for standing right there alongside me day after

day to make this dream come true. We made a good team. Pretty cool

to create something out of nothing while holding the hand of your wife and best friend.

What do you like best about living in Chatt Hills?

We love the diversity of personalities out here and the tranquility of an unspoiled place so close to Atlanta. We enjoy the

thrill of being in a community where anything is possible if we all keep pulling together. We love the rich diversity of the

Chatt Hills community whether you are salt of the earth generational families who helped tame this land or the artistic,

thoughtful and creative cadre of families and friends in Serenbe. We embrace the entirety of this place. To us, it is one

community. We've had growing pains out here and those will continue but Laura and I are in it for the long run. We are

hopeful that Chatt Hills will eventually become the type of place where everyone is accepted for who they are and that

we move ahead towards a bright future together.

An event at Cherry Hollow Farm

Carter and his Crew

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 14

Local Culture

Upcoming Events

Feb 06, 2016 | 8:00 PM |Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2475766

EDWARD DAVID ANDERSON & SETH WALKER TOGETHER AT SERENBE PRESENTED BY CHATT HILLS MUSIC

The Bosch Experience Center at Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills, GA

Edward David Anderson is one of music's modern makers, a rock and roll veteran from

the cornfields of Illinois, who went into the woods of coastal Alabama and found

musical serendipity, emerging with Lower Alabama: The Loxley Sessions, a timeless,

unvarnished beauty of an album.

Seth Walker's music is consistently in the top 20 Americana charts and he has a

reputation of being one of the most acclaimed modern roots artists in the country in

the last decade.

Feb 14, 2016 | 8:00pm - 11:00pm | Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2485451

SHANA TUCKER-A ROMANTIC JAZZY VALENTINE'S CONCERT

House Concert at 9016 Selborne Lane, Serenbe

Shana Tucker is a singer-songwriter and cellist who credits her

genre-bending ChamberSoul journey to the influences of her jazz and classical

roots.

Her boundary breaking debut album “Shine” evokes memories of Dianne

Reeves, Joni Mitchell and Diana Krall.

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 15

Announcements

From Cochran Mill Nature Center Homeschool Registration Opens February 1st!

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 16

Announcements

Coweta County Extension

255 Pine Road • Newnan, Georgia 30263

www.ugaextension.com/coweta

uge2077@uga.edu • 770-254-2620 Phone • 770-254-2625 Fax

FOR THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR

What: February Coweta County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) Backyard Association Meeting –

“Heirloom Plants for Garden Fragrance”

Who: Guest speaker Jo Phillips, the horticulture manager at Hills & Dales Estate, the historic home of the Fuller E.

Callaway Family in LaGrange

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016

Where: UGA Extension – Coweta County, 255 Pine Road, Newnan

Details: Learn about tried and true fragrance plants that have graced generations of Southern gardens. The

presentation goes through each of the four seasons with photos, cultural information and personal stories of the

featured plants.

Admission: Free. You need not register in advance to attend.

Contact: Call 770-254-2620 or email uge2077@uga.edu to register for door prizes.

Registration is not required but is preferred.

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 17

Announcements

http://www.stgplays.com/pages/plays/2015-2016/Dining.html

Opens Next Week!

"The Dining Room"

February 4th - 21st

Thursday,

Fridays,

Saturdays

8pm

Sundays - 2:30pm

In this portrait of family life, we are taken on a journey over many generations of this

well-to-do family. We gather together in their dining room for meals, specials

occasions, conversations and other situations-some funny, some touching, some

hard to take. Through vignettes, six (or more) actors portray all of the characters in

this family, as they come and go. It is at once touching and humorous. The Dining

Room is a phenomenal play that should not be missed.

Performance Dates:

February 4, 5, 6, 7

February 12, 13, 14

February 19, 20, 21

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 18

Announcements

http://www.serenbeplayhouse.com/shows-events/current-season/season-tickets

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 19

Community Events

For more community events, check out these other Chattahoochee Hills Websites:

City of Chatt Hills: www.chatthillsga.us

The Children’s House (Montessori School): www.thechildrenshouseatserenbe.com

Chatt Hills Charter School: http://www.chatthillscharter.org/calendar

Community Brickworks: www.communitybrickworks.org

Serenbe Community: www.serenbe.com

Cochran Mill Nature Center: www.cochranmillnaturecenter.org

Date Event

Mon, Feb 1 Homeschool Registration Opens February 1st

Cochran Mill Nature Center. See announcement

Tue, Feb 2

6:30 pm

City Council Meeting

City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

Thu, Feb 4

6:00 pm

Tree Board Meeting

City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

Sat, Feb 6

8pm

Edward David Anderson & Seth Walker Together At Serenbe Presented By Chatt Hills Music

See Local Culture

Tue, Feb 9

7:00 pm

Parks Commission Meeting

City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 302688

Tue, Feb 9

7:00 pm

Coweta County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) Backyard Association

Meeting – “Heirloom Plants for Garden Fragrance”

UGA Extension – Coweta County, 255 Pine Road, Newnan. See Announcements

Thu, Feb 11

6:00 pm

Planning Commission Meeting

City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

Sun, Feb 14

8:00 pm

Shana Tucker-A Romantic Jazzy Valentine's Concert

See Local Culture

Sun, Feb 14

11:30 am – 2:00 pm

Cost $8.00

Lunch at Capitol View Masonic Lodge

(Rico Rd. and Campbellton Redwine)

Everyone is welcome, come early before it all gets gone!

Sun, Feb 21

7:00 pm

Joe’s History Club presents, South Fulton Historical Trail – The Chattahoochee Corridor – Old Campbell County. A film produced about 20 years ago gives a great history of the area … we will have a short discussion about some of the details after the film. (Film last @ 45 minutes). Meet at Serenbe Community Center. Contact Joe for information heiberj@comcast.net

Thu, Feb 25

5:00 pm

Council Work Session Meeting (tentative pending approval by resolution)

City Hall - 6505 Rico Road, Chatt Hills, GA 30268

Thu, Feb 25

7:00 pm

The Being Mortal meeting.

The speaker is Walter Coffey, Pres. of LeadingAge Georgia, a not-for-profit association that

represents not-for-profit and other mission driven community based housing and service

providers for older Georgians. He will discuss various community options in our area.

Serenbe Community Center (upstairs behind The Hil Restaurant)

Chatt About – Feb 2016 | www.chatthillscommunity.com 20

Communication is Key Not every neighbor in Chatt Hills has Internet Service.

Help keep your neighbors informed by

printing & delivering this newsletter. If you have a story or suggestions

for future articles we’d like to hear

from you.

Email: chatthillscommunity@gmail.com

Or Call Laurie Searle: 770-463-5169