Life + Culture

The Last of the Thirteen

From 13th Colony to 4th State, Georgia’s Place in the History of these United States Article by Bruce Baker | Photography by History Cherokee and City Lifestyle The Utopia that General James Oglethorpe envisioned for the Georgia Colony has been a long time in coming, but we're getting closer. Slavery, initially outlawed, crept in quickly and took almost 100 years to eradicate, over the objections of Georgia Governor and Canton resident Joseph Emerson Brown. Alcohol restrictions would take even...

Life + Culture

The Front Porch of North GA

Explore Canton is leading the city's boldest tourism vision yet. Article by Canton City Lifestyle | Photography by Explore Canton Something has been stirring in Canton. It shows up in the packed streets on First Friday. In the kayaks slipping beneath the West Main Street bridge. Families gathering around tables at one of the city's standout restaurants, sharing a meal with relatives making the drive up from Atlanta. And its name: Explore Canton. For anyone who has ever wondered about the...

Life + Culture

Built by Hand and Heart

The volunteer-powered trails putting Cherokee County on the national map. Article by Tony Dodemaide | Photography by SORBA Woodstock Just off Sixes Road, a few miles from I-575, the Georgia forest opens into something that mountain bikers from Florida, North Carolina, and beyond seek out by name. Blankets Creek Mountain Bike Trail System in Cherokee County has quietly earned a reputation as one of the top-rated singletrack destinations in the entire Southeast. More than 150,000 riders roll...

Life + Culture

Stay a While

Support Local: Eat . Drink . Shop . Explore Article by The Kolab Activation Marketing Downtown Canton is full of places worth revisiting, so you'll never run out of reasons to take a walk, try something new, and keep it local. Here are two favorites to try and fly by this July! Canton's Favorite DT Coffee Shop Just Got Bigger What started as a farmers market dream on a folding table is now one of North Georgia's most beloved coffee brands. Bizarre Coffee has quietly been building a latte...

Life + Culture

Roots, Grit, and Purpose: The Men of Cherokee County

Leaders, fathers, and neighbors share the impact of leading in our local community Article and Photography by Josh Bagby   Agency Principal, Providence Insurance & Founder of Cherokee Connect Growing up here, I watched nonprofits, church families, local businesses, and complete strangers step in to help one another for the common good. When I started thinking through Cherokee Connect, I knew how special this place was. One of the goals was to bring that spirit together at scale. Our...

Local Services

Ready to Activate

Inside the real-time intelligence center keeping Cherokee County's families safer every single day. Article by Commander Lindsay Harris | Photography by Cherokee Sheriff's Office There's a room on Chattin Drive in Canton that most Cherokee County residents will never see. From the outside, it looks like any other county building. But step through those doors, and you'll find something that feels less like North Georgia and a lot more like a scene straight out of CSI Miami. Screens line the...

Life + Culture

The Car That Came Home

A locals' favorite's unforgettable quest to find his dream car. Article and Photography by Joe Gransen If you have been lucky enough to catch Canton's Christmas tree lighting celebration in recent years, chances are you heard his voice before you ever saw his face. Joe Gransden, Atlanta's own jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and Big Band leader, has a genuine gift for making any crowd feel like family. He has performed coast to coast, shared stages with Kenny G, and even played live at the White...

Arts + Culture

The Cut You've Earned

Engine Bay brings community, craft, and a firehouse pride to the Mill on Etowah Article by Canton City Lifestyle | Photography by Practically Perfect Salon and Spa There's a reason the best conversations happen in a barber's chair. Something about the rhythm of the clippers, the real talk, and the mirror that asks you to just sit still for a minute strips away the noise and makes space for something genuine. Brittany Merrion knows that feeling well. For years, she's built exactly that kind of...

Beauty

Jewelry as Art

Brenda Smith transforms personal journeys into extraordinary jewelry, empowering women through artistry, meaning, and design Article by Woodstock City Lifestyle There is a certain power in women who create—not just for beauty, but with purpose. In this year’s Women’s Issue, we celebrate those who are shaping community through vision, resilience, and leadership. For Woodstock-based jewelry designer Brenda Smith, that power is expressed through every piece she brings to life. Her designs are...

Finance + Legal Services

Banking with Purpose

How Coosa Valley Credit Union is empowering members, building wealth, and quietly redefining what a financial institution can mean for a community. Article by Sam Payne | Photography by Coosa Valley Credit Union Q: For someone who has always banked with a large institution, what is the single most compelling reason to take a second look at Coosa Valley Credit Union? A: The answer is simple: here, you are not a customer. You are a member. That distinction changes everything. At the big...