TOP TEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS, MARTI SCHIMMEL: 1) Marti is referenced in an extremely thorough and terrific cookbook, Taming the Flame, by Elizabeth Karmel. 2) Marti was a flight attendant in Boston after college. 3) She was born and raised in Athens. She moved away for a chapter of her life but has been back in Athens since 1997 and has owned Marti's at Midday in Normaltown ever since. 4) Marti could not live without Kosher salt, dark chocolate and her morning cup of good coffee. 5) She is the eldest of six, 6) Marti has 4 dogs - all rescued: Charlie Brown, Big…

In November, I introduced you to Scott Clack, builder of the MY (Madison Young) Playhouse project. Then in February, I wrote about_Griffin Billings,  a recipient of a one of the playhouses. But the story did not end there. When Scott delivered the playhouse to Griffin, there was a problem. The roof of the playhouse knocked into the roof of the family home in the backyard. He had no choice but to install the playhouse in the front yard. However, with the playhouse in the front yard, mom Mollie and dad Josh couldn't let the kids run freely. The house needed to be moved to the backyard behind …

Kumquat Mae, located on Barnett Shoals Road, is a contemporary American restaurant that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch. While you chow down on pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads or soups, have you ever wondered about the woman behind the eatery? I asked owner Trae Stewart to tell me things I would not know about her by just joining my gal pals for lunch... TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, TRAE STEWART. 1. Trae likes to knit and sew. 2. She also enjoys tinkering with cars. 3. Trae has worked as a vet tech, farm hand, mechanic and a bookkeeper. 4. She loves animals more than …

Recently I introduced you to the winner of the Kid's Choice Award at the 2012 Taste of Oconee. This week I must introduce you to the winner of the People’s Choice Award-- Big Kahuna Catering! I had never tried Big Kahuna Catering until this year's event, but I must say, I was pleasantly surprised! Here are the top 10 things you likely wouldn't know about owner Kerry Pitts from simply sampling his cooking. TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, KERRY PITTS. 1. Kerry watched cooking shows before cooking shows hit the main stream and became “cool.” (They aired on PBS every Saturday morning …

When I called Ricky Steele to compliment him on what a great job his team did at January's "A Taste of Oconee," he wouldn't take the credit; he gave it all to his wife Beth! (She's the one running the show at both Menchie's locations in Athens.) Ricky also shared some fun facts about their life together.  TOP TEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS, RICKY AND BETH STEELE: 1) The Steeles' business is family-owned and operated. Although Menchie's is a franchise, Beth and Ricky own the two Athens stores and run them with their son, Andrew, and daughter, Rebecca. (Their eldest …

Maybe you have hit a few balls at A & F Golf and have had the pleasure of meeting owner Clay Chappell, but I bet you did not know... TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, CLAY CHAPPELL. 1.) Clay is married to Morgan and has two kids Madi (8) and Frederick (6) who are THE most important things in his life! 2.) Clay graduated from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah with a BSEd in Health/Physical Education. 3.) He is the owner of A&F Golf Driving Range TRUE, but he is also a co-founder of Oconee Junior Golf League 4.) Clay is a co-founder of the US Junior Golf Association which…

My son plays trombone for Mr. Jon Cotton, but until I started to work with the band boosters on the upcoming "A Taste Of Oconee" event slated for January 28 at the Oconee County Civic Center, I did not know these things about the new Oconee County Middle School band director. TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, JON COTTON. 1) Prior to this appointment, Jon served as Director of Bands at Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson, GA for six years. 2) He also served as assistant director for Jefferson High School where he assisted full-time with the marching band as well as with the concert …

Kay and I have both changed careers a few times. Together we have laughed about the highs and lows of our jobs, family and friends during as many business lunches as we could squeeze in, but there are still a few tidbits that I did not know about Kay... TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, KAY KELLER. 1) Kay is a member of the Terry Entrepreneur Society. She owns AirTight Insulation of NE Georgia. 2) Kay serves as the associate vice president of the Rabun County Home Builders Association. 3) She has chaired the Oconee County Fall Festival more than once! 4) Kay attended…

Dan Matthews made headlines this year when he ran for political office twice.He has published more than a 1,000 photos on the "Spotted" photoblog for the Athens Banner-Herald and has authored hundreds of freelance articles and columns in various newspapers in the area since 1981 including the "About Oconee" column for Oconee Patch, but did you know this about your Watkinsville neighbor? TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, DAN MATTHEWS. 1) Dan was an extra in the film "Remember the Titans." He stood next to Denzel Washington in a scene that you can see best in the …

Music, medicine, and photography are important to Oconee County resident Bill Zorn. TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, BILL ZORN. 1.) Bill left high school after the 10th grade 2.) However, Bill has achieved degrees in chemistry and medicine...in fact he was the chief of emergency medicine in Brunswick. 3.) Once, in 2001, Bill was detained by Chinese police and interrogated for three days,  but managed to smuggle film from under their noses. 4.) Sometimes, Bill uses a wooden camera. 5.) Bill has fans for his music in 18 countries. 6.) Bill has shown his art on three …

Scott Clack is the builder behind the M.Y. Playhouse project in honor of Madison Young, a member of _New Life Apostolic Church_ in Watkinsville, _who was tragically killed in an ATV accident September 11, 2011_. Each playhouse is custom crafted and then donated by the church to a local child who has struggled with childhood illness. I asked Scott about himself and how he came to be associated with the project. Here is what I learned. TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, SCOTT CLACK AND THE M.Y. PLAYHOUSE PROJECT. 1) Scott has been involved in several different areas of …

Tiffany White has been my best friend since we met at a "Tikes and Tots Music Time" class when our boys were 18-months-old. Her husband, Michael, has graciously allowed me to drag his wife and children off to Calloway Gardens, St. George Island and to the mountains. As we pass in the driveway picking up and dropping off kids from sleep over parties, sporting events and co-parenting emergencies, I've gotten to know Michael.  However, there are some things that make him more interesting than you would guess at first glance. TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, MICHAEL …

I shared an office with John in a career long long ago and we shared quite a few laughs. He was like the Energizer bunny...constantly on the go. I caught up with him recently and asked him what he considers are the top ten things about him folks may not already know. I laughed a lot...a whole lot! Enjoy! TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, JOHN FAIRCHILD. 1) Before owning Fairchild Automotive Solutions in Bishop, John worked for several other entrepreneurs.  He learned that he wanted to be his own boss. 2) John met his wife Rachael at the Georgia Theatre. 3) John works…

I met Tiffany about seven years ago when we were both doing volunteer work for the Athens-Oconee Junior Woman's Club. Since then, our kids have taken up most of our time, but we have that instant re-connection ease when we get to chat... TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, TIFFANY HUDAK. 1) In 2008, Tiffany served as Mrs. Georgia. 2) In order to put this achievement to good use, Tiffany organized the Athens Free to Breathe 5K Run, an annual event that takes place at Sandy Creek Park to raise money and increase awareness for victims of lung cancer. This year's event …

I have known Gary LeFeuvre through work, community events and as our kids have crossed paths at school...or rather as he and I pass in the car rider pick up lines! Recently Gary launched Athens Move Magazine and I had the opportunity to sit down with him and catch up. TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, GARY LEFEUVRE. 1) Gary was born in Atlanta  but was raised in Canada. He maintains dual citizenship. 2) Gary has a degree in vocal music. 3) He has been married to his college sweetheart, Peggy,  for 24 years. She is Canadian. 4) Daughter Allie plays soccer for Berry …

I have enjoyed volunteering at the Oconee County Welcome Center, sharing stories with Peggy Holcomb about her grandson Miles, who is friends with my son Harrison, and just greeting each other at parades and First Friday. But there are many things that I did not know about my neighbor and yours, Oconee County Tourism Director Peggy Holcomb! TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, PEGGY HOLCOMB. 1) Before becoming the director of Oconee County Tourism, Peggy owned a frame shop. 2) Peggy likes to shop in her free time. 3) She spends as much free time as possible with her …

I have eaten at Piccolo's Italian Steak House two or three times for lengthy business meetings. The last time I was in, Tim Piccolo stopped by the table to ask about our satisfaction with the food and to introduce his wife and his beautiful daughter.  Here is what I learned that wasn't "on the menu." TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, TIM PICCOLO. 1. Tim once cooked dinner for Twisted Sister and Billy Joel. 2. Tim loves chicken wings. 3. He spent two weeks in China picking up his baby girl. 4. Tim's favorite past time is golfing. 5. He once caught a shark and a …

TOP 10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, RACHEL O'NEAL. 1) Before cutting her own album (Getaway), Rachel was a PE Paraprofessional at Oconee County Elementary School. 2) Rachel sings with Deja Vu when she is not performing solo. 3) Rachel earned a double major in college in French and Psychology. 4) Rachel's favorite thing to do in her free time is to go swimming (she's in a Master's group). 5) Rachel's favorite foods are lobster and cheesecake (yum!). 6) Rachel is alergic to cats. 7) Rachel has friends in Widespread Panic and attended the Grammy's with John Keane who was …

TOP TEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, MIKE HORSMAN: 1) Mike has been working on classic British sports cars for over 35 years. Today he and his wife, Andrea, own SPEEDWELL Cars where he repairs and restores classic (1978 and older) English cars including the MG, Triumph, Austin Healey, Jaguar, Sunbeam, Rover and Mini. 2) Mike specially prepares about 20 classic cars twice a year for participation in two annual car ralleys that draw participants from as far away as Missouri, Michigan and New York. Mike and Andrea, who is also a sports car enthusiast, participate in the …

I worked with Laura Leiden to put together the Friendship Recreation Fast Shark Swim Team through the Athens Area Association of REALTORS, and I have always admired her art. But there is a lot about her I didn't know...until now. TOP TEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR, LAURA LEIDEN: 1) Laura has her Master's Degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. 2) Laura owned a wholesale calligraphy company. 3) When she lived in California, Laura was a student art teacher. 4) Laura has lived in Watkinsville for 28 years. 5) She was a Fulbright Art Scholar in Belgium and The …