FLEXIBILITY IN LIFE INSURANCE

Seeking flexibility in your life insurance coverage and premium payments? Then Alfa’s universal life insurance plan may be the right one for you. This permanent insurance plan offers a cash accumulation feature that earns interest according to our declared current rates. You may also increase or decrease death benefits, vary your premiums, and in some cases, temporarily suspend premium payments.*

At the end of every policy year, you will receive an annual report detailing the activity and status of your universal life policy. This report will summarize:

§                      Premiums you paid

§                      Expenses deducted

§                      Cost of insurance protection

§                      Interest credited to your policy

§                      Current accumulation and surrender values

§                      Adjustments, if any, such as policy loans or withdrawals

§                      Interest rate to be credited for the next 12 months

§                      Current death benefit

Alfa’s universal life policy affords you great control and flexibility for protection throughout your lifetime and is issued for ages 0-75. Ask us for more information today.

Source: http://www.jenniferanglininsurance.com

Healthcare Authorization Sustained

Anyone who does not have it by 2014 will pay a penalty on their 2015 taxes.

In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the healthcare mandate requiring most people to have health insurance by 2014, CBS reports.

The upheld provisions include the individual mandate a provision allowing children to stay on their parents' healthcare until they're 26.

A contributor to the Supreme Court liveblogwrote, "The bottom line: the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government's power to terminate states' Medicaidfunds is narrowly read."

Who voted for what:

Pro: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and swing-vote Chief Justice John Roberts.

Dissent: Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas and Alito.

See this link to read the full opinion.

http://canton-ga.patch.com 

Cherokee County Senior Center Celebrates Grand Opening After Renovation

CANTON — The Cherokee County Senior Center was finally able to celebrate its much-awaited grand opening Tuesday after the completion of its $1.2 million renovation.

The building was scheduled to open earlier this summer, but officials had to push the open house date back to allow work to be completed on the project. 

At Tuesday’s celebration guests were led by staff members in a tour of several areas of the new facility, including the new multi-purpose and conference rooms, which make up the more than 2,000-square-foot addition to the 23-year-old building. 

Director Nathan Brandon described the multi-purpose room, which previously housed administration workers, as a place where seniors can enjoy line dancing, puzzles, cooking and crafts. 

Additionally, the expansion from the original 6,000-square-foot building includes a dining room with a capacity for about 100 and a larger kitchen area to accommodate the seniors as well as operations for the Meals On Wheels program.

“There’s really a new flow and purpose to every part of the building,” Brandon said, addressing the crowd of about 30 people. “Everything now has a function and form to it.”

Brandon said the seniors, who moved over to the new space from their temporary rooms at the Mimms Boys & Girls Club across the street, enjoy their renovation.

“They’ve absolutely loved it,” Brandon said. “They’ve told me they think it’s so nice and updated.”

By the end of next week, Brandon said he anticipates having 50 to 60 daily program members.

Susan Bythrow, the co-chair for the Volunteer Aging Council gala, told everyone in attendance at the grand opening that the VAC raised over $30,000 from the event’s auctions, sponsors, ticket sales and the mayor’s Top Hat race, which was won by the city of Woodstock.

Bythrow said the funds the VAC previously raised went toward purchasing two convection ovens for the newly renovated senior center. 

Also during the presentation, Kristen Lockwood, the community relations director for Emeritus at Woodstock Estates, presented Brandon with a check for $1,429 for the center’s Meals On Wheels program.

Lockwood said the money was raised during the organization’s third annual greenhouse and plant sales event held this spring.

Benny Carter, VAC chairman, said the new space focuses more on the needs of seniors.

“It’s a much more functional space,” Carter said. “It’s outstanding. It’s a great renovation as well as expansion.”

With all of the additional space, the center will now have additional program offerings for the month of September, including chair strength conditioning, abdominal and core strength training, tai chi and scrapbooking classes. All of these programs do not require senior center membership and cost anywhere from $20 to $50 for the month. 

Patricia Kenny, activities coordinator at the senior center, said the organization has partnered with Michael’s so all seniors who enroll in the scrapbooking class get a 10 percent discount on supplies. 

She said the new offerings have already attracted potential members, as she received 10 new applications within the first three days of opening the new facility last week.

“Prior to the renovation, we saw anywhere from 45 to 50 seniors every day,” Kenny said. “If everyone comes back, it will probably be 50 to 60 per day.” 

Cherokee County used $750,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding and funded the rest of the remodel with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds.

Though the seniors have moved back from the Mimms Boys & Girls Club to the new senior center, Brandon said several administration employees are still housed across the street at Cherokee Area Transportation System offices where they will remain. 

Read more: Cherokee Tribune - Renovation rendezvous Senior Center celebrates grand opening  

Cherokee County School District's Class of 2012 Earned the Highest ACT Scores

Leading the pack with an average score of 23.3 was Hickory Flat's Sequoyah High School. 

On average, Cherokee County School District's class of 2012 earned the highest ACT scores in the system's history.

Cherokee's 22.7 surpassed state (20.7) and national (21.1) averages, according to data released Wednesday.

The highest possible score on the ACT, an alternative to the SAT college entrance exam, is a 36.

Calling it "more evidence of the clear trend of rising student achievement and teacher performance," Cherokee Superintendent Frank Petruzielo said Wednesday that the district's average has climbed nearly two points over the last decade.

"Achievement on college entrance and placement examinations is of great importance to CCSD," he said. "We want every student to have as many options as possible for their pursuit of higher education."

During the 2011-12 school year, 1,160 tests were administered in Cherokee, up from 1,053 during the 2010-11 school year.

Of the five Cherokee high schools with senior classes in 2012, Hickory Flat's Sequoyah High was tops with an average score of 23.3. Cherokee High in Canton was No. 5 with an average score of 22.River Ridge High in Woodstock will graduate its first senior class this school year.

"This continued, outstanding progress by our students is further evidence of our students' college and career readiness," Petruzielo said.

School/System	Average score
Sequoyah	23.3
Etowah	23.2
Creekview	23
Woodstock	22.2
Cherokee	22
Cherokee County School District	22.7
Georgia	20.7
Nation	21.7

Source: Canton Patch 

Celebration of Grace in Canton Made Close to 100 Prayer Shawls

Crafters at Celebration of Grace in Canton have been very busy this year crocheting colorful shawls to give people to remind them that they are being covered in prayer.

The hand-woven garments start out as individual granny squares that are skillfully connected into prayer shawls. Once complete, they are brought into the church and to the altar for a prayer offered up by Pastor Ginny Krekling at the beginning of the regular worship service. The group has made close to 100 since the ministry began.

The prayer shawls are available for anyone who asks, and are often given to infants, the elderly home-bound, homeless persons, or those suffering or recovering from illnesses. To receive a prayer shawl, get one for someone you know, or contribute to this ministry, call 770-503-5050.

• • •

SERV offers affordable, personal mission opportunities

SERV International has launched a new website (www.servone.org) that outlines three personal and affordable ways to help folks in need.

“A lot of excitement is being generated,” said president Joe Garcia. “I attribute it to the personal connection that donors feel when they give to one of our programs. We try to do a good job of sharing the results and invite them to physically see the impact of their gift with their own eyes by traveling with us.”

The SERV1Feed1 program offers a way to provide a meal for five cents to people in need in the Dominican Republic. The program has distributed more than five million meals in Kenya and is currently distributing one million meals in the Dominican Republic. The meal is a protein-rich dehydrated food product, and one 8-ounce serving sustains one person for one day. The website has an interactive module that lets donors immediately see what their dollars can do to help others.

In the Safe2SERV Clean Water program, a $65 one-time donation can supply a family of five with clean water for 10 years.

The third project is the House of Hope orphanage, home to 40 children. Many of the orphans are available for sponsorship, which costs $55 a month. Sponsors have easy access to photos of the children, and can participate in mission trips to the orphanage to meet their child.

Each year, three to four mission teams are dispatched to Kenya (next one leaves Oct. 6) and two have gone this year to the Dominican Republic. Future D.R. trips are Sept. 17 and 24. 

Source: http://woodstock.patch.com 

Cherokee County School District has topped 39,000 enrollment

The district anticipated a peak enrollment of 38,925. Wednesday, they got a surprise.

For the first time, student enrollment in the Cherokee County School District has topped 39,000.

On the sixth day of school Wednesday, enrollment reached 39,039. The school system estimated that the number would peak at 38,925 this year.

"Our increasing enrollment is further evidence that more families are learning about the top-notch public school system we have here and making the choice to enroll their children with us," district spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby said in an email.

Jacoby said the Cherokee County Board of Education's decision to use eight furlough days "as opposed to further depleting reserves in order to balance the 2012-13 School Year budget puts the School District in a better position to deal with these and other costs associated with higher-than-anticipated enrollment."

The growth in the district coincides with the launch of Cherokee Academies, an initiative intended to expand school choice options in the county.

Four elementary schools, Ball Ground, Canton, Clark Creek and Holly Springs, opened last Wednesday as science, technology, engineering and mathematics academies. Two schools, Hasty and Oak Grove, opened as fine arts academies.

"As the School District nears enrollment of 40,000," Jacoby said, "it also means we have a large enough student population to offer additional specialized academic programs ... like the Cherokee Academies initiative ... and future phases of it."

By the Numbers

• Day 6 count: 39,039 students
• Number of students who enrolled in the Cherokee County School District on Wednesday: 47
• Number of students who have enrolled since the first day of school: 817
• Projected peak enrollment: 38,925

Source: Woodstock Patch

 

Cherokee's First Day of School Records a High 38K Enrollement

Last year, 410 fewer students enrolled on the first day.


The Cherokee County School District began the 2012-13 School Year on August 1, 2012 and, as in the past, first-day operations were extremely well-planned, smooth and successful.

Enrollment reached 38,222 on Aug. 1 at CCSD’s 42 schools, according to preliminary attendance reports. The School District anticipates enrollment will continue to rise over the course of the school year… with first-day enrollment 410 students higher than last year.

The School District’s 4,500 employees, including more than 2,300 teachers, are now back at work on CCSD campuses and support facilities throughout Cherokee County; and the School District’s fleet of 350 buses began their daily transport of approximately 70 percent of the student population through 1,500 daily bus routes.

Today was also opening day for the School District’s newest campuses, Clark Creek Elementary School and the replacement Ball Ground Elementary School. Clark Creek ES on Hunt Road off Highway 92 in southwest Cherokee County welcomed 873 students for the first day of classes. With 135,000 square feet of space, this facility helped to relieve overcrowding at Boston and Oak Grove Elementary Schools and was designed to eventually accommodate 1,250 students. The new/replacement Ball Ground ES on Valley Street in downtown Ball Ground welcomed 525 students for the first day of classes. With 146,000 square feet of space, this facility replaced the existing campus, which was too small and outdated, and with the capacity for 1,200 students, the school will serve the northwest Cherokee County area as it continues to see population growth. Construction on these two projects was funded using Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenues.

The start of this school year also marked the launch of the first phase of CCSD’s Cherokee Academies initiative, which increases academic choice within the School District. Four schools, Ball Ground ES, Canton ES, Clark Creek ES and Holly Springs ES, opened as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Academies; and two schools, Hasty ES and Oak Grove ES, opened as Fine Arts Academies. Two of the School District’s existing options for academic choice have undergone name changes: CrossRoads MS/HS is now ACE (Alternative Choices in Education) Academy, and Polaris Evening School is now Polaris Evening Program.

Policies related to environmental/temperature concerns are being followed at all campuses, including: limiting the time students spend on school buses, allowing students to bring bottled water on school buses; and following guidelines for rescheduling and cancelling outdoor athletic/band/extra-curricular activities, when necessary, due to high temperatures. 

“Our successful opening day today is evidence of the consistent dedication by CCSD staff to ensure that all of our students experience a positive school year in a safe environment so they can excel academically beginning on day one,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo.

As Clark Creek ES Principal Dr. Jennifer Scrivner observed: “It went fabulously well. Students were very excited and thankful for a new school building, and we heard lots of positive comments from parents, especially about our assembly with falconer Buster Brown bringing a redhawk, our mascot, to the school.” 

Source: Canton Patch