Life + Culture

Gratitude Grows Here in Smyrna–Vinings

Neighbors and businesses alike celebrate community and connection. Article by Stacey Scott In every season, but especially in autumn, gratitude has a way of drawing us closer to the places and people we hold dear. The air turns crisp, the colors deepen, and the pace of life seems to nudge us into reflection. Here in Smyrna–Vinings, thankfulness isn’t a once-a-year sentiment—it’s stitched into daily rhythms. You can feel it in the wave between neighbors on an evening walk, the chatter at a...

Food + Beverage

A Season to Savor

Discover charcuterie tips, holiday pairings, and thoughtful ways to show thankfulness around the table. Article and Photography by Reagan Zottnick For me, charcuterie is more than food—it’s a way of bringing people together. Every board I create is about balance: sweet and savory, familiar and adventurous, comforting and celebratory. Most of all, it’s about gratitude.   In the fall, I always lean into figs. Fresh, dried, or spooned into a jam, they pair beautifully with salami, prosciutto...

Arts + Culture

Creating With Purpose, Connecting Through Art

Artist, author and philanthropist Kim Chesney shares a life shaped by thankfulness. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Cason Ogletree For Kim P. Chesney, gratitude is more than a feeling — it’s a way of life. It fuels her creativity, her beliefs, and her deep desire to give back. Whether she’s layering encaustic wax onto a canvas, writing a children’s story, or volunteering her time, thankfulness runs through every part of her journey. That journey began decades ago, in a second-grade...

Life + Culture

The Legacy of Hermi’s Bridge

A Steel Truss Saved by Community Devotion: How One Woman’s Fight for Social Justice Became an Enduring Memorial on the Chattahoochee River. Article and Photography by Ashley Putnam Beneath the Georgia sky, where the Chattahoochee River echoes tales of old, stands Hermi’s Bridge, a structure not just of steel, but of enduring love and community spirit. Originally forged in 1904, this historic bridge once connected Buckhead and Vinings, a vital artery for early travelers. Yet, time, as it often...

Professional Services

Gratitude Looks Good on You

Through her family, her practice, and her community, Dr. Harriott shows how gratitude creates confidence and inspires brighter smiles. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Atta Junior & Ashley Putnam In this season of gratitude, few stories embody thankfulness more beautifully than that of Dr. Kerisa Harriott. With her growing family, a new home in a vibrant Smyrna neighborhood, and the exciting launch of RenewAll Orthodontics, she is savoring the joy of fresh beginnings—and pausing to...

Local Services

Service Above Self, Smyrna Style

Since 1963, Smyrna Rotarians have turned gratitude into action, building a legacy of fellowship, service, and community that still thrives today. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Provided by Lauren Blankenship For more than sixty years, the Smyrna Rotary Club has been living out Rotary International’s timeless motto: Service Above Self. Since its founding in 1963, the chapter has been a steady presence in the community, drawing together neighbors who share a simple but profound...

Home + Design

Praise Pumpkins

A faith-filled tradition turning porches into beacons of gratitude and joy. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Sheilah Tritt & Ashley Putnam For most people, pumpkins are simply a sign of fall. They line porches, accent doorsteps, and signal the change of seasons. But for Sheilah Tritt, pumpkins tell a much bigger story. They are symbols of gratitude, abundance, and faith—and the foundation of a movement she calls Praise Pumpkins . The idea came to Sheilah in a Sunday church service...

Home Services

75 Years of Smyrna Tradition

From small fixes to big milestones, Vickery Hardware has kept Smyrna building for generations. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Chris Lawery & Ashley Putnam On a late September Saturday, former and current employees stepped inside Vickery Hardware, turning the store into a reunion hall of memories and milestones. They lingered in the aisles swapping stories, and the air buzzed with laughter and gratitude as the team gathered to celebrate 75 years of a beloved community landmark. For...

Life + Culture

A-MAZE-ing Adventure

Smyrna celebrates fall with pumpkins, play, and plenty of joy. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Ashley Putnam If you’ve ever driven past Spring Emissions on Spring Rd. and wondered what’s going on behind it, you’ve probably stumbled upon one of Smyrna’s favorite fall traditions: the Smyrna Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch. What began as Jeff Carter’s clever way of avoiding mowing grass on an empty lot has grown into Metro Atlanta’s largest corn maze—planted and built right here in Smyrna. ...

Food + Beverage

Cooking with Purpose

Leaf & Loaf turns everyday dining into healing, nourishing experiences. Article by Stacey Scott | Photography by Leaf & Loaf, llc For Sue Snape, food has never been just about feeding people—it’s about healing them. After 16 years in medical illustration and animation, Sue felt the pull of the kitchen. At 40, with two young kids at home, she enrolled in culinary school. It was a bold shift that changed everything. “It’s never too late to start something new,” she says. Sue spent five years as...