Real Estate

A Different Way to Invest

Looking beyond common assumptions to rethink real estate as a steady, long-term investment. Article by Stacey Scott For many people, investing is something they handle quietly — a retirement account set up years ago, a savings plan they hope is “doing okay,” a vague sense that they should probably be paying more attention, but not quite knowing where to start. Real estate, for most, feels even further away. Too complicated. Too risky. Too hands-on. William Nadal hears those assumptions all...

Finance + Legal Services

The Quiet Strength of Protection

As life grows — homes, businesses, families — coverage should grow too. Granite Risk Advisors focuses on protection that keeps pace with change. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Ashley Putnam There’s a rhythm to building a life. You save for the down payment. You sign the papers. You paint the walls. You plant something in the yard that you hope will still be there in ten years. Maybe you launch a business. Maybe you hire your first employee. Maybe you watch your children grow taller...

Education

Investing in Little Minds

How one local author is building financial confidence through storytelling and imagination. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Ashley Putnam It usually starts somewhere ordinary. The grocery store. The toy aisle. The checkout line. “Why can’t we buy everything?” “Where does money come from?” “Why do we save?” Children ask the most honest questions — not to challenge us, but to understand the world. And according to local author Alex Ryan, those everyday moments are exactly where...

Fitness

A Tradition That Runs Deep

For nearly three decades, the Jonquil City Jog has invested in students, supported neighbors, and strengthened the Smyrna community. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by City of Smyrna & Support Smyrna In 1996 — the same year the Olympic flame passed through Georgia — Smyrna lit one of its own. It wasn’t a global spectacle. It was a local commitment. A group of elected officials, the Campbell High School Educational Foundation, and then-Mayor Max Bacon launched a simple 4:00 p.m. race...

Finance + Legal Services

Invest In Certainty

The right estate plan transforms uncertainty into clarity and gives families the gift of confidence during difficult transitions. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Brandon Carter During one of the hardest periods of a family’s life, the last thing anyone wants to hear is the phrase: You’ll need to go to the courthouse and file a petition. And yet, that’s often exactly what happens. A loved one passes away, and while the family is still arranging flowers and sharing stories, the...

Health + Wellness

The Return You Can’t Measure

Locally owned and personally invested, Shanticleer and Erica Graham create thoughtful in-home support that protects independence and strengthens families. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Ashley Putnam The first thing you notice about Shanticleer Graham is how steady he is. His voice doesn’t rush. His answers don’t wander. When he talks about seniors, he speaks with the kind of calm that makes you feel like things are going to be okay. And for families navigating the shifting seasons...

Professional Services

Where Business Feels Personal

How consistency and connection are quietly strengthening local businesses and community. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Provided If you walked into Smyrna First Baptist Church at 6:55 on a Thursday morning, you might not immediately realize what you’re seeing. There’s no spotlight. No stage. No hard sell. Just coffee cups, early-morning laughter, and a room full of business owners who have chosen — week after week — to show up for one another. Burke Scott, this year’s president of...

Food + Beverage

Finding Our Fire in Smyrna

StillFire’s new Smyrna location blends award-winning craft with intentional community-building and a vision built to last generations. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Seth Akin & Ashley Putnam There’s something powerful about standing on a patch of grass and just knowing. Before the steel beams rose. Before the rooftop fire pits flickered to life. Before the first pint was poured. When the founders of StillFire first stepped onto the lawn that would become its Smyrna home, they...

Home + Design

Designed from the Ground Up

An inside look at how custom rugs and runners bring warmth, cohesion, and confidence to homes designed for real life. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Ashley Putnam & Courtney Peplin For many homeowners, a visit to Moda Design Center begins with an unexpected realization: designing a custom rug offers far more control — and creative freedom — than they ever imagined. Many arrive thinking a rug is simply a finishing touch, chosen at the very end of a project. What they quickly...

Home Services

Thoughtful Changes, Real Living

As families grow and routines change, Dogwood Family Homes helps homeowners make thoughtful renovation decisions without overcomplicating the process. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Provided As families grow and routines change, the homes that once fit perfectly often need to evolve — and navigating that transition can feel overwhelming. Dogwood Family Homes understands that renovation decisions are rarely just about aesthetics; they’re about function, flow, and how a space supports...