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The
Towne Lake Talkers, the local chapter of Toastmasters, recently inducted
its officers. Left to right: Charles Drake, VP of Membership; Joe Gandolfo,
President; Jennifer Dawson, Toastmasters Area Representative; Ron Fowler,
VP of Education and Gina Carr, VP of Public Relations.
Long
Awaited Road
Project Begins
Cherokee
County recently broke ground on the Eagle Drive Widening Project. The
ground breaking ceremony was held at the corner of Putnam Ford Drive and
Eagle Drive, where the clearing of the land has begun. The project consists
of 1.38 miles of widening for two additional lanes and reconstruction
of Eagle Drive from Parkbrooke Drive to Bells Ferry Road. The project
also will include improvements to the entrance of the school campus which
houses Chapman Intermediate School, E.T. Booth Middle School and Etowah
High School. The project is scheduled to be completed within 18 - 24 months.
Red
Cross Offers Incentive
for Blood Donation
If
your thoughts have been consumed with traveling somewhere warm and tropical,
the Red Cross has an offer for you. Through January 15, all American Red
Cross blood and platelet drive participants will be entered into a raffle
to win two Delta Air Lines first class round-trip tickets and a Holland
America Line Caribbean 7-day cruise for two. Most healthy people age 17
and older and at least 110 pounds can donate blood every 56 days. To find
location and times, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
Student
Wins Bike from Chick Fil-A
Jada
Milton, a first grade student at Kleven Boston Elementary School, was
one of three lucky winners in a Chick Fil-A drawing for three bicycles
and helmets. In support of Cherokee County schools, the Towne Lake, Woodstock
and Canton locations of Chick Fil-A present local students who have demonstrated
excellent attendance records with a free kid's meal coupon. These coupons,
once redeemed, are entered into a drawing for the bicycles and helmets.
Congratulations Jada!
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Sonia
Carruthers
When
Sonia Carruthers was a child, she witnessed her father help a total stranger
without hesitation. Her father's gesture made such an impression on her
that helping others became a way of life for Sonia. She started and currently
runs Cherokee FOCUS, a non-profit organization, which is a system of community
collaboration and support, designed to strengthen families and nurture
and protect children. Sonia was nominated by Papa's Pantry founder Lynne
Saunders. "Sonia is one of the few people that has the mix of vision,
networking abilities, compassion, and follow through, especially when
it comes to children. Not only is she there for her own kids, but she
does so much to better the lives of all children in Cherokee County. She
truly lives what she believes!"
Sonia
was born and reared in Cherokee County. She graduated from Reinhardt College
and later from Georgia State University. She entered the corporate world
and worked for American Express for the next 10 years, until her oldest
child Kyle was born. Her job at American Express required extensive travel,
which didn't coincide with being a new mother. So she quit and went to
work for Ranstad Staffing as a business development manager. She was approached
by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce to help start up the Cherokee
location of Family Connection. She quit her job and spent the next three
months volunteering for Family Connection, trying to get it established.
Eventually, the state pulled the funding for the program. She realized,
however, through the Family Connection experience that an organization
was needed as a network for non-profits. Cherokee FOCUS was born out of
this realization. She took the five goals or result areas from Family
Connection and applied them to Cherokee FOCUS, creating a solid network
of collaborative non-profit organizations.
Cherokee
FOCUS is a broad-based public/private partnership whose goal is to enhance
the lives of Cherokee County citizens. "Cherokee FOCUS is all about partnerships.
One agency simply cannot address or solve all the problems," stated Sonia.
Because Cherokee FOCUS is a collaborative effort, we can effectively deal
with someone's problem because often times, the problem they come in with
is only part of a bigger issue. We have the resources to handle multiple
issues," she continued.
In
addition to her work with Cherokee FOCUS, Sonia volunteers her time with
many other organizations, such as Reinhardt College and Principal for
a Day in conjunction with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, and
she is a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission among many other things.
She is active at her children's school and even served as a Boy Scout
Camp Mom for two years - now that's brave!
Sonia
has volunteered her time to make a difference since she was a teenager,
and her legacy is continuing into the next generation. Her nine year-old
daughter Dakota recently requested that her birthday party participants
bring gifts for the victims of the recent Florida hurricanes instead of
gifts for her. "I am truly blessed to be doing what I do. It's my heart,"
said Sonia.
Thank
you Sonia for all you do to make our community a better place to live!
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