NCM May/June 2024

For over 28 years, the attorneys at Kam, Ebersbach & Lewis, PC have represented Coweta County citizens who have su ered serious injuries due to car accidents, trucking accidents, dangerous products, dangerous premises, and work-related incidents.

Every year, our law firm collects millions on behalf of our injured clients throughout Georgia and the Southeastern United States. Our approach against insurance companies is simple and proven: treat every client like a neighbor and prepare every case for trial. We hope you never need to hire a personal injury or wrongful death attorney, but if you do, we hope that you will contact your local experts. Our attorneys handle cases in courts throughout Georgia.

City of Hope is one of the nation’s leading cancer care and research networks. By combining groundbreaking research with precision medicine technologies, we strive to provide you the comprehensive, personalized care you deserve. 855-939-HOPE

Exceptional Veterinary Care

770-400-0146

815 Weldon Road

Palmetto, Georgia 30268

sweetwatervet.com

Follow us on social media:

Lucas is a 12.5-year-old male neutered Labrador Retriever who first came to SweetWater Veterinary Hospital in September 2023 for weakness in the hind end. Lucas had an extremely stiff gait and was diagnosed with severe arthritis in the hips and knees. He was initially taking carprofen (an NSAID), tramadol, and gabapentin daily for pain control as well as a daily joint supplement. We were excited to try the new injectable arthritis medication called Librela with Lucas to see if we could provide better pain control.

A Team Who Roots for You! Lucas

arthritis can be missed in some dogs because the signs may be subtle or overlooked as normal changes related to aging.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of arthritis that happens when protective tissue in the joints is worn down, causing bones to rub against one another. Dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds can have OA pain—it’s not just a condition seen in older dogs. Diagnosis of arthritis can be missed in some dogs because the signs may be subtle or overlooked as normal changes related to aging. Some signs of arthritis pain in dogs include limping after exercise, slow to rise, feeling stiff, lagging on walks, and having difficulty jumping or with stairs.

Although we can’t cure OA, we can control the pain it active move side

We have been so excited to see great success with Lucas as well as many other dogs over the

of all oral pain medications help

Although we can’t cure OA, we can control the pain it causes, which can help your dog be more active and improve their overall quality of life. Librela offers longlasting pain relief with a once-a-month injection administered by your veterinarian. The injection is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets a key driver of OA pain. It works to reduce pain signals, making it easier for your dog to move and play. Because this is a pain receptor blocker and not a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), opioid, or steroid medication, there are very few to no side effects. We have been so excited to see great success with Lucas as well as many other dogs over the last several months since starting Librela! Lucas is off of all oral pain medications and his mobility is fantastic with the help of monthly Librela injections.

Find relief from:

Varicose Veins

Spider Veins

Leg Swelling

Find relief from:

Tired, Achy Legs

Varicose Veins

Spider Veins

Heaviness or Fatigue

Leg Swelling

Restless Legs at Night

Tired, Achy Legs

Heaviness or Fatigue

Itching, burning legs

Restless Legs at Night

Skin Discoloration

Itching, burning legs

Skin Discoloration Don't

678-833-1444 trufflesveinspecialists.com

678-833-1444 trufflesveinspecialists.com

Tour 11 brand-new, designer-decorated model homes now open at Cresswind at Spring Haven. With hundreds of structural and personalized design options to choose from, Cresswind offers new homes and an active adult lifestyle built around you.

• 2- up to 5-Bedroom, one-story homes with options for 2nd Floor Bonus Rooms and Daylight Basements

• Minutes from downtown Newnan and easy access to the airport

• Gated community with two lakes for fishing and light boating

• Award-winning 55+ lifestyle and resort-style amenities

18 | LitFest 2024

Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation holds its third LitFest in June. By Lauren Jones

24 | Moving On and Out

As the kids move out to attend college or join the workforce, parents adapt to a new normal. By Jennifer London

30 | Moving Up

Active adult communities for ages 55 and up put the emphasis on “active.”

By

Jennifer London

36 | Moving Outside

Enjoying adult beverages and dining outdoors is all the rage across Coweta. By Susan Mayer Davis and Caroline Nicholson

42 | Moving in a New Direction

Turin becomes a foodie destination as its new food trailer park winds up its first year.

By Frances Kidd

46 | Moving Fast

What do Senoia Raceway, Newnan-Coweta

Airport and Coweta’s booming bicycling scene have in common? They move fast!

By Caroline Nicholson

52 | Remembering the Fallen

Cowetans remember their loved ones who died in service to our country. Compiled by Stacie Williams 30

➤ Cover Photo by Emily Barrera. The 75 Jackson Rock & Road Criterium bicycle race debuted in 2023 with James Jetton, center, among the competitors. Cover story on page 46.

On the Move

Working for a magazine, it seems we’re always on the move. Deadlines for summer issues are set in spring, winter deadlines roll around in early fall, and before we take down our Christmas trees, we’re scheduling photoshoots for Easter. Sometimes it’s hard to remember exactly what season it is – or which direction we’re headed in – but move ahead, we do.

This issue of Newnan-Coweta Magazine features Coweta on the Move. Like life in a magazine office, our community refuses to remain stagnant and instead embraces constant movement toward a future goal. There’s proof of that in almost every direction you look, and we’ve tried to capture a bit of that in this issue’s stories.

As children grow up and move out, empty-nester parents move on with their lives. While still connected to the kids, of course, they reconnect with each other and new opportunities as retirement approaches, see page 24. For those already or soon-to-be retired, moving up sometimes means downsizing to a smaller home in a community with fellow retirees adamant about staying active and on-the-go, see page 30.

No matter your age or season of life, getting outside is always a good thing, even if it’s just for lunch or dinner. In Coweta County, restaurants and breweries offer lots of options for dining outdoors, see page 36.

Whether you’re moving on, up or out, moving in a new direction is sometimes the best thing. Christina and Casey Allen did just that when they opened their Fabulous Food Trailer Park last year.

Christina made a monumental move from a quarter-century in healthcare management to opening a general store and operating a food truck park in Turin. Read about their endeavor, starting on page 42.

An issue devoted to movement wouldn’t be complete without a focus on moving fast, and Coweta’s got plenty devoted to that, including a busy airport, Senoia's popular dirt racetrack and up-and-coming regional bike race, see page 46.

Finally, you’ll likely be moved when you see our annual Remembering the Fallen section, beginning on page 52, where we observe Memorial Day by helping family members share memories of their loved ones killed during active duty and service to our country. We can't say “Thank you” loud or long enough.

No matter the season or direction you’re headed, we hope you’re moving on a solid path and at a steady pace toward peace and joy.

Happy summer,

Jackie Kennedy, Editor magazine@newnan.com

Roll Call

Blue Cole is a writer and ne’erdo-well who lives in Sharpsburg with his wife, children and other wee creatures.

Caroline Nicholson loves disappearing behind a book and falling into fictional worlds. She’s working toward her Master of Arts in English at the University of West Georgia and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in creative writing to become a college English and creative writing professor and publish her own young adult novel.

Susan Mayer Davis lives with husband Larry and rescue dog, Ginger. Now retired, she spends her time playing with her grandkids, baking bread, reading and occasionally writing pieces for Newnan-Coweta Magazine.

Jennifer London lives in Newnan with her daughter. The two use their travels as inspiration for stories they create with Jennifer writing and her daughter illustrating. Jennifer believes that everyone has a story to tell, and she loves being a freelance writer and meeting new people.

Have a story idea?

Gail McGlothin is a nonprofit consultant and grant writer. When she’s not searching for starfish on the Oregon coast, kayaking, reading or playing board games with her grandchildren, she helps voters get government-issued picture IDs.

The Rev. April McGlothinEller is the director of Church and Community Engagement at Wellroot Family Services, a ministry of the United Methodist Church. In her free time, she fancies herself a musician, artist and photographer.

Sara Moore’s warm and welcoming nature influences her photography. She lives the quiet country life in Newnan with her husband, horses, dogs, chickens and ducks.

Frances Kidd is a Newnan native who spent most of her adult years working as a nonprofit and marketing consultant. Although she’s an avid traveler, she never lost her Southern accent. If she’s not in Georgia, you can find her out in the country in Italy.

Share your ideas with us by writing to magazine@newnan.com.

Our Readers Write:

Still requesting AJ covers!

Please let me know how I can secure a copy of your (September-October 2023) issue featuring my all-time favorite Alan Jackson. I’m so excited to hopefully get a copy since I am in New Jersey and can’t pick one up in person. It’s a great write-up, and I so enjoyed it. Your magazine is great. How do I subscribe? Anxiously awaiting your response.

– Joyce Ross, New Jersey

Dear Joyce, we enjoyed the Music Issue featuring Alan Jackson as our cover feature as much as you did! How to subscribe to Newnan-Coweta Magazine? Those who subscribe to The Newnan Times-Herald, our local newspaper, get the magazine free with their subscription and it's delivered with their paper six times a year. Along with that, we distribute the magazine to pick up points throughout Coweta County. Also, we will mail single copies of the magazine when readers pay for postage!

Thank you for inquiring.

– NCM Editor

Pet Photo Contest winner says 'Thanks'

Thank you for Luna’s prize! I can't wait to take her to Texas Roadhouse! She’s my sweet girl. Love her so much! I work at City of Hope and grabbed a copy of the magazine with my Luna girl in it. Love it!!! Thanks again,

– Becky Hancock (Becky was introduced as a winner in our Best Pet Photo Contest, March-April 2024.)

Lots of love for Oliver, the Therapy Dog

As if Oliver needed anymore notoriety! But he got it with his cover story in our March-April 2024 issue. Curious about where and how their beloved doggie's debut magazine made it to publication, his pet parents, David and Pam Thomas, took Oliver with them to visit Monroebased Walton Press, which prints Newnan-Coweta Magazine.

Oliver and his handlers had a “paw-some” day visiting Walton Press. Thank you Stuart, Wayne and Kenyatta for taking the time to meet with us and educate us about your printing business. It was wonderful to tour your facility and get to know your Walton family. We appreciate the foam core print of Oliver‘s NewnanCoweta Magazine. It is beautiful! We posted pictures to Oliver‘s Facebook and Instagram pages. Oliver’s updated photo on the forklift is now OSHA compliant!

– David, Pam and Oliver Thomas

Best story ever (“Dog About Town: Oliver, the Therapy Dog, Brings Comfort to Cowetans,” March-April 2024). Awesome therapy asset to patients. You are so fortunate to be his family. Love him. Way to show your love and care to others. Great job, Oliver. Blessings.

– Pat Hull

Oliver dons a hard hat to get a feel for what driving a forklift is like.

Oliver Golden Therapy Dog, far left, recently visited Walton Press in Monroe, where the company that prints NewnanCoweta Magazine hosted the pup and his pet parents on a tour of their facility and gave him a foam board print of his cover shot from the March-April issue. Walton employees enjoying the visit are, from left, kneeling: Natalie Hickes, estimator, and Kenyatta Taliaferro, sales representative.

Standing: Alexis Johnson, account manager; Anna Frey, sales representative; Sterling Beck, sales representative; Mike Peters, director of digital and wide format printing; Bethany Bradley, graphic designer; and Wayne Henderson, vice president of business development.

Photos by David and Pam Thomas

‘My Magnolia Summer’

Reviewed by GLENDA HARRIS

“

My Magnolia Summer” by Victoria Benton

Frank is a fresh and delightful debut novel that fans of women’s contemporary fiction will be drawn to from start to finish.

Maggie (Magnolia) is a 30-something young woman born and raised in the Lowcountry, specifically Sullivan’s Island, with the lifelong dream of becoming a chef. After culinary school, she heads to New York City to work with the best. Her mind, however, continually drifts off to Sullivan’s Island as she misses her home in the Lowcountry.

Upon getting the news that her grandmother (Gran) and her mother have been in an auto accident in Charleston, Maggie and roommate/best friend Jim fly to Charleston where, before she gets to the hospital, she rear ends a pickup truck.

It’s not all bad though because, lo and behold, the driver is gorgeous. Maggie explains her family emergency and promises to pay for the damage; she doesn’t have a business card, so he offers his arm and

Read a good book lately?

she writes out her phone number. You’ll have to read the book to see where that leads.

After Maggie visits Gran and her mom, she retires to Gran’s home to sort things out. Little does she know that Gran and her mom are just the start of a growing list of issues she faces, including trying to save the family restaurant from financial trouble.

This story is filled with likable characters and just enough family drama, romance and humor to keep it fun. The more she learns and digs into things, Maggie comes to realize she has a very important decision to make – and soon.

With a style similar to her late mother, Dorothea Benton Frank, beloved writer of women’s fiction for many years, Victoria is picking up where her mother left off by delivering smart and sassy fiction novels set in the Lowcountry.

“My Magnolia Summer” was published by William Morrow in June 2023; 313 pages; ★★★★★

Share your favorite new read with Newnan-Coweta Magazine by writing a book review for possible publication in an upcoming issue. Keep your review at 200-300 words and please include the author’s name, page count and date of publication.

Send your review with your contact

or mail to Newnan-Coweta

Gifts,andPlants,Hanging Baskets

just in time for Planting Season & Mother’s Day!

morgansmarket.com

Sky High Sighs

I’m typing this in the dark (on my phone) on a red eye from Phoenix, Ariz., to Atlanta and I cannot stop with the sighing. I’m above the planet and my sleeve is damp with spilled airplane coffee that tastes like the smell of bandaids. The plane is full and I have to pee, but I’m by the window and the two people next to me are sleeping. The “Minnesotan Nice mixed with Southern Hospitality” in me dare not wake them up. No sighs of relief seem in sight.

This sighing phase crept up in my 20s with the passionate type of sigh that settles in after a particularly perfect meal. In my 30s? It was slipping out of my work boots. The 40s introduced me to the “take off my bra and free the boobs” sigh, concluding in my 50s when I discovered the extra audible and embarrassing sigh while urinating.

Mid-flight there will be a time zone change, which means I will time travel, skip an hour and celebrate my birthday while cinched in a seat belt. I mention this to the flight attendant in hopes of scoring a free birthday drink, but she still asks for my method of payment, thus inducing my last sigh of my past year.

Despite my full bladder, the flight is smooth and my anxiety is low, and I’m oddly comforted by the neon glow of my phone. There is an unspoken pact of trust when you board a metallic tube with wings speeding above the earth. And though you may not actually talk with your seatmates, there’s a bond, a sort of emotional handshake that seals the deal of respecting their (albeit) small space of privacy.

The older I get, the less chatty I am on a flight though a thousand questions swirl in my brain. “Why are they going where they’re going? Is it for vacation, work, a wedding or to say goodbye? And will someone they love be waiting for them when they land? Why did someone bring an egg salad sandwich to smell up the joint?”

Questions abound, scores of stories, secrets and potential movie scripts locked up inside every passenger, but do I dare to ask? I do know I dare to wonder about who I’m missing out on meeting.

To be frank, I wonder if someone is wondering about my backstory, but I doubt it as most of my fellow strangers are sleeping and I’m not that compelling of a character. I don’t have a complex pie chart on a computer nor am I donned in a colorful mumu or fancy suit.

Strangers lumber the aisles, silently (yet forgivingly) brushing against an arm or leg, so many sorrys uttered, yet so little connections made. These cramped quarters invite chaos, crumbs on armrests and spilled drinks on laps, commanding a Cirque Du Soleil contortion to retrieve a dropped phone. Considering it’s a sky high lottery of strangers hurtling above earth, we tend to behave. For the most part, we forgive more easily in the air.

Officially, it’s now my birthday, and as we make our descent, I hear a baby crying in the background. This newborn’s battle call charges my core. Cruising through the clouds and flying towards home, I exhale the first sigh of my birthday – knowing that on landing, someone I love will be waiting for me. And that I can finally pee. NCM

Minnesota made yet Newnan Strong, Faith Farrell is involved with Newnan Theatre Company and Backstreet Arts. Her artwork can be viewed at faithfarrellart.com.

UNPLUGGED

Third edition of Southern LitFest set for June

Written by LAUREN JONES

If summer reading is one of your favorite pastimes, you're sure to find a basketful of new books at this year's LitFest.

Newnan’s Southern LitFest returns June 7-8 with a weekend of hobnobbing with local and nationally acclaimed authors.

Presented by the Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation (NCLF), the third iteration of LitFest focuses on literature, nature and art with the theme: Unplugged. Previous literary festivals were held in 2020 and 2022.

“Literature, nature and art intersect as we unplug and discover the joys and challenges of living off the grid,” says NCLF President Andrew Whitlock of this year’s LitFest theme.

Sharing their literary and/or artistic tributes to nature will be Sally Bethea, founding director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper; CC Lockwood, Ansel Adams award-winning outdoor photographer; Louisiana Public Broadcasting star Gwen Roland of “Atchafalaya Houseboat” fame; and Coweta County’s own Newnan Theater Company.

Back by popular demand is syndicated columnist and humorist Sean Dietrich, who headlined the 2022

LitFest. Southern LitFest kicks off Friday evening with an Alfresco on the Square event with local authors sharing their works aimed at various ages and interests.

If summer reading is one of your favorite pastimes, you’re sure to find a basketful of new books at this year’s LitFest.

For more info or tickets, visit southernlitfest.com or call the Carnegie Library at 770.683.1347. While daytime events on Saturday are free, registration is required on Eventbrite due to limited seating. The Saturday evening appearance of Sean Dietrich costs $35 with tickets available on Eventbrite.

“Unplug, unwind and don’t miss out on the fun,” says Whitlock.

LitFest 2024: Unplugged –Schedule of Events

HOMETOWN NOVEL NIGHT

Downtown Newnan

Friday, June 7, 6-9 p.m.

Hometown Novel Night kicks off the weekend with up to 40 regional authors on the Courthouse Square accompanied by the sounds of DJ Alan Ray. The pedestrian-only promenade of booths will extend from West Broad Street to Brown Street adjacent to the Carnegie. This free event is co-hosted by Hometown Novel Writers Association and the Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation.

AESOP ’S FABLES

Newnan Theatre Company, 24 1st Avenue, Newnan

Saturday, June 8, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Once upon a time, Southern LitFest “Unplugged” 2024 brought the famous Aesop Fables to life for Newnan children. Written, designed and produced by Newnan Theatre Company’s Children’s Academy Kids as a musical variety show, these timeless tales showcase their hard work and talent.

SALLY BETHEA

Carnegie Auditorium, 1 LaGrange Street, Newnan Saturday, June 8, 11 a.m. - noon

Georgian Sally Bethea was one of the first women in America to become a riverkeeper, a vocal defender of a specific waterway who holds polluters accountable. In “Keeping the Chattahoochee,” she tells stories that range from joyous and funny to frustrating – even alarming – to illustrate what it takes to save an endangered river. According to Bethea, “My hope is that the book guides and inspires young people, people of all ages really, to help safeguard the natural resources that are so critical to our communities, to our personal, physical and mental wellbeing, and how I and the organization we created over 20 years went about that.”

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for a coffee meet-and-greet with book signing to follow.

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's Sally Bethea talks about her work on the river on Saturday, June 8, in Newnan.

Newnan Theatre Company presents “Aesop’s Fables” to kick off Saturday morning of LitFest.

Photo by Bard Wrisley

Photo courtesy of Newnan Theatre Company

GWEN ROLAND AND CC LOCKWOOD

Carnegie Auditorium

1 LaGrange Street, Newnan

Saturday, June 8, 2-4 p.m.

Author Gwen Roland and wildlife photographer

CC Lockwood combine forces to illustrate, through personal experience in captivating words and photographs, the experience of living as one with nature.

In the 1970s, Roland abandoned her doctorate and decided to live off the land – and water –in South-central Louisiana’s scenic and remote Atchafalaya River Basin Swamp. With a box of crayons and the book, “How to Build Your Home in the Woods,” Roland and her then-partner Calvin Voisin built a houseboat on a barge where they lived for eight years with no electricity or running water. Her book, “Atchafalaya Houseboat: My Years in the Louisiana Swamp,” has been the focus of numerous documentaries and the inspiration for many who choose to live off the grid. The book’s evocative photographs by CC Lockwood were showcased in National Geographic's September 1979 issue, bringing Gwen, Calvin and Lockwood unexpected fame. The story was revisited in National Geographic’s “Best 100,” renewing interest with a new generation.

Acclaimed wildlife photographer CC Lockwood has lived and worked in fragile ecosystems that shape his artistry. Through words and images, he captures the unique sense of space in wild places as diverse as the Louisiana swampland to the rugged backcountry of the American West. Recipient of the prestigious Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography, Lockwood has won international acclaim as an environmental artist. He has been recognized as a Louisiana Legend, served on many conservation boards, authored award winning books, has been featured in Smithsonian and National Geographic among others, and has produced a film on the Atchafalaya. In 2011, his iconic image, “Flat Lake Sunset,” was chosen by the United States Postal Service as Louisiana’s official bicentennial stamp.

Doors open at 1:45 p.m. with book signing to follow.

SEAN DIETRICH

Wadsworth Auditorium, 25 Jefferson Street, Newnan Saturday, June 8, 7 p.m.

Columnist, novelist, stand-up storyteller and humorist Sean Dietrich is one of Newnan’s favorite guests. Known for his often poignant, tinged with humor, commentaries on life in the American South, his work has appeared in Southern Living and Garden and Gun magazines, among others. His column is nationally syndicated in newspapers across the U.S. and appears locally in The Newnan Times-Herald.

Dietrich has written 15 books, is the creator of the Sean of the South podcast, and makes frequent appearances at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.

His newest release, “Kinfolk,” will be available for purchase as well as other works, including “You are my Sunshine.”

Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $35 each and may be purchased through Eventbrite. This program is presented by the Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation and the Newnan Cultural Arts Commission. All proceeds benefit future programming of the Arts Commission and the Carnegie. NCM

Gwen Roland shares her adventures in a Louisiana swamp with visitors to LitFest 2024.

Photo by Brenda Fayard

CC Lockwood talks nature photography at LitFest on June 8.

Photo courtesy of CC Lockwood

Beloved columnist and storyteller Sean Dietrich headlines LitFest 2024.

Photo courtesy of Sean Dietrich

Summer 2024

SECOND IN A SERIES

Woodieʼs of East Newnan

JUNE 10 - JUNE 21 & JUNE 24 - JULY 3

academic boost

this summer at Squirrel Hollow Camp, while also

IWritten by BLUE COLE

n 1952, Woodie Thomas Wood returned from the Army, where he was wounded in Korea and earned a Purple Heart. He took over operations of a wooden store by the railroad tracks in East Newnan.

In a red building, Wood ran the East Newnan area’s general store, with a barber shop on one end. From this location, he served the working class mill families in the area, which was a fast-growing part of Coweta County.

A working adult of any social class could come into the store for ready-made items. For a previously agrarian society, shelf-bought foodstuffs were a major improvement.

The original Woodie’s was near the depot serving the Central of Georgia rail line connecting Newnan to Sharpsburg, Turin and Senoia with the train The Nancy Hanks. The passenger depot was located where the crossing arms are now on East Newnan Road. The line ran as far south as Macon.

Woodie Sr. served the area from the depot until March 1968 when the store moved to its present site in the curve of Turkey Creek Road. A one-story block building, it was probably constructed from cement blocks from Turin Block Company. It fronted the curve on Turkey Creek Road, forming a triangle to what would become Wood Drive. It led over the railroad tracks and across the fishing pond into the mill villages of Newnan Cotton Mill and, later, West Point Pepperell.

For Children With Learning Differences

gaining self-esteem, con dence and social skills. Students receive academic tutoring in small groups in the areas of math, reading and written expression to improve on academic performance. Multisensory techniques are individualized for each student’s needs. Campers will explore the wooded, 45-acre campus of The Bedford School, and participate in recreational activities on the Challenge Course, the soccer eld, the gym and the outdoor pool. Two-to-four-week sessions for kindergartners to eighth-graders. For details and to register, visit thebedfordschool.org or call Dr. Betsy Box, 770-774-8001.

45-acre campus in Fairburn • Grades 1-9

Ability grouping • Small classes Challenge courses

The Turkey Creek location was expanded three times, growing based on community demand. It added a walk-in cooler for packed meat and aging venison. Gas, tires, mowers and shoes were also sold. Pure Joy flour was shipped in 10- and 25-pound bags, and Woodie Sr. stocked the bags in decorative print, so that when the bags were emptied, mothers could make pillowcases or clothing for their children.

The store served generations of city dwellers and country folks. Credit could be run between paychecks – or between crops. The candy counter supplied years of candy bars and

It’s the “stuff” that’s not packaged and sold –but traded across the counters and from the benches under porch roofs. It’s the things we refer to fondly now – but can’t accurately share.

Yoohoos or Cokes and peanuts. Grandfathers carried grandchildren there, buying childhood treats and memories. It became a community watering hole over the years, but eventually super markets and then supercenters filled their shelves with lower priced goods, and lower prices became more important than the time it took to shop.

“Daddy respected all of his customers and, if someone came to the door at closing, he’d keep it open or open it back up,” says Wood’s daughter, Nora Ann Wood, of Newnan. “He did everything he did and kept that store open for his family – our mother, my brother Woodie, my sister Vicki Wood Barron, and me.”

Woodie Sr. didn’t just “run the store.” Over his lifetime, he spent time as a Colonial Bread representative and a deputy sheriff for Lamar Potts, and he farmed. His wife, Catherine (Millians), son Woodie and daughter Nora Ann worked in the store, which carried staples plus fresh meat, hoop cheese, fish and dry goods, canning supplies and a huge wooden barrel stocked with salted fish.

“I’d work there after school, toting boxes to customers,” says Woodie Jr. “We put up groceries or whatever had to be done.”

Locals also worked with the family. Millard White opened the store in the morning; Joe Spivey would come in during the afternoons and close the store in the evenings. It wasn’t unusual for individuals to work multiple jobs. Perhaps not every day, but the rhythm of the seasons would often require them to shift from farming to other occupations.

The store operated well into the 21st century as one of the last of Coweta’s country stores. The last gas pumps were removed around 2010, and the store closed in 2014.

“It was always a community gathering spot,” says Woodie Jr. “It was where you caught up on all the stuff.”

It’s the “stuff” that’s not packaged and sold – but traded across the counters and from the benches under porch roofs. It’s the things we refer to fondly now – but can’t accurately share.

What other memories are there?

If you have memories, share them, and trade them once more. NCM

This appears as the second in a series of stories written by Blue Cole about the country stores that remain in Coweta County. Look for more country stores featured in 2024 issues of Newnan-Coweta Magazine. Editor’s Note

Catherine and Woodie Wood Sr. operated their family’s country store for decades, with a little help from Lucy, a dog that took up with Woodie and became his shadow at the store.

Photo courtesy of Nora Ann Wood

& Moving On Moving Out

HOW TO EMPTY THE NEST… AND TIPS FOR DOWNSIZING ALONG THE WAY

Written by JENNIFER LONDON | Photos by SARA MOORE

As children transition from high school to college, and then from college to the working world, local parents are faced with a new situation: an empty nest that calls for moving on as their children are moving out. It can be daunting to some.

One thing local parents suggest is filling the gap with new pastimes. We look at a pair of Coweta couples who have faced their new household arrangements head on.

The Reeveses, new empty nesters living life offroad

Married since 1996, Newnan residents Bill and Melanie Reeves raised three children. The youngest heads off to college this year, so they become brand new empty nesters.

“It’s been a fun journey to figure out what that looks like for Bill and me,” says Melanie. “We both still work full-time. He works at the Heritage School, and I’m director of Riverlife, the nonprofit here. Our life has, I wouldn’t say ‘slowed down,’ but our time at home looks a lot different. We make jokes, looking at each other like, ‘What are we gonna do tonight?’ ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do tonight?’”

It’s been an interesting transition for the couple; however, being involved in their church and group activities keeps them busy. The couple routinely plays pickleball and added to their family a new four-wheeled companion.

“I think the most fun decision that we made was to buy a Jeep, which has been a dream of mine for many years,” says Melanie. “I had to convince Bill to consider it, but once we did we started finding out what the Jeep culture is all about with clubs and meetings and the world of off-roading. This vehicle is gonna help us do something fun together and try to reconnect as a couple without daily life with our kids.”

“We just feel like we have so much to look forward to in the next season so we’re excited. It’s been a definite transition but we love it.”

– Melanie Reeves

LEFT AND ABOVE

Since becoming empty nesters, Bill and Melanie Reeves celebrate their “new” life together with outdoor drives in their new jeep.

Another thing the couple enjoys together is camping. Their kids grew up camping with them, and now that the kids have gone, says Melanie, “That’s another thing we try to do just the two of us, in this new world we find ourselves.”

The family downsized some in 2015 as they settled into running a nonprofit.

“That was just part of our journey of living a midlife career change. We still live in that house,” says Melanie. “We were grateful to be able to downsize. I think as a culture we tend to accumulate way too much stuff, so downsizing is helpful at any point in our life, I believe. We wanted to keep our home as a place to host our family gatherings, and so we still have enough room for that.”

Melanie’s advice for others in this next chapter of life is to find something that both people enjoy doing together and make the time to do that.

“There’s a little bit of grief to life as we’ve known it,” she says. “Our life has circled around our kids and their activities. When that’s gone, it’s a big piece of our life and we’re not seeing our kids every day. There’s a component of grief to that so we support each other. Finding that new activity that we can do together pulls us together intentionally and naturally creates that supportive environment for us.”

Both Melanie and Bill have lost parents.

“It’s a lot for children to have to go through their parents’ things and decide what’s necessary and have to filter through the rest,” says Melanie. “With the work that I do in our nonprofit, we have also come across some older adults who are trying to figure out what they need and what they should get rid of in the season of their life as older adults.”

As far as collections of gadgets and electronics, the family tries to recycle and pass on, gifting as many of those things as they can so that their children won’t be overwhelmed when their time comes to go through their parents’ belongings.

“We don’t want to leave them with a mess,” says Reeves, adding, “I have a friend who always says, ‘The best is yet to come,’ and I feel like that’s where we are.”

She says she and her husband enjoy discovering their relationship as a couple as they are also watching their children succeed and launch into adulthood.

“We feel like we have so much to look forward to in the next season, so we’re excited,” she says. “It’s been a definite transition, but we love it. We’ve found some joy in this new season that we’re in.”

The Eversolls, Fledgling Empty Nesters One Down and One to Go

Newnan residents Brandy Eversoll and husband Nick have been married for 20 years and have been busy raising two children. Their daughter is now in the military and their son graduates from high school this year.

When their daughter was home, she was involved in multiple activities that kept her busy and the family on the go. Brandy says now that bootcamp is over, she talks with her daughter every day via text; but when she first left, it was a difficult adjustment.

Brandy explains they were so used to pouring into the kids that they didn’t always put enough into themselves individually or as a couple.

“We’re trying to just get back to us,” she says. “I think a lot of people don’t talk about that – like how much of a struggle it is. I don’t want to say ‘reconnecting’ because we never disconnected, but we never got to spend a lot of time as just us because of the kids.”

Brandy and Nick Eversoll enjoy shooting hoops together.

“It’s trying to just get back to us. I think a lot of people don’t talk about that. . . ”

– Brandy Eversoll

Now, she says, the focus is completely different as their children have become adults.

The Eversolls have talked about selling their house eventually and getting a smaller house with more land, but they are just figuring out those next steps. Says Nick, “It feels like you’re doing yard work and straightening up the yard, but there’s nobody playing in it anymore. There’s no kids out there, so why do we have this big yard when nobody’s enjoying it?”

ABOVE

Brandy and Nick Eversoll agree they have to be more intentional when considering life beyond the empty next. For them, part of that involves traveling together to new destinations.

Making a move is a big decision, and as wife Brandy says, “We’re still both working at Delta, so it depends on the commute. It depends on how much time we want to spend outside of the house… We definitely want to stay in Coweta because we love downtown Newnan and spend almost every other weekend there.”

Cooking and mealtime looks very different for their family now as the Eversolls adjust to making smaller portions and taking the time to enjoy a meal together. Usually before, it was grab and go and take off.

To stay busy, Brandy says her husband works on his GTO. They began making more time for fun, too.

“Nick and I also play basketball together,” she says. “He just got me a new basketball hoop for Valentine’s Day. We’re trying to get back to where it’s us doing stuff together.”

The pair plan on making travel a large part of their newly found free time. On their list of travel destinations are Peru, Spain and the Dominican Republic. The family is budget conscious, using their credit card points for free hotel stays and flight perks with Delta.

“Nick and I both grew up pretty poor, so we’ve always been very frugal and made sure our finances were pretty tight,” says Brandy, encouraging her fellow empty nesters to search out travel deals.

“There are all kinds of cruises, especially during the wintertime and the beginning of the school year. Wintertime is the best time to visit overseas, since it will be slower and less expensive.”

Brandy stresses that couples with empty nests work to figure out the “balance” they’ll need to navigate their new normal.

“Make sure you’re still taking care of each other because after the kids have gone, you’re only going to have each other,” she says. “I believe we have to be more mindful once the kids leave.” NCM

Tips for downsizing

Local Realtor Allison Ziegler has some helpful tips for those in the process of downsizing, cleaning out a large home and packing for a move:

✔ Start the process sooner than you think you need to. It always creeps up, and it’s on you before you know it. Start early and pack a few boxes a day to keep the task from becoming overwhelming.

✔ If you can afford it, hire a mover, but pack everything in boxes yourself. As you get older, friends don’t want to move the heavy stuff, but they’ll help you pack.

✔ Have a keep, a donate and a sell pile.

✔ Get rid of any multiples.

✔ Be specific when you label your boxes. Write what’s in it and what room it goes to.

✔ Don’t get large packing boxes. They get too heavy to move once filled.

✔ Big wardrobe boxes are fantastic for moving your clothes from closet to closet. You don’t have to take anything off a hanger.

✔ Sell items on Craigslist, Marketplace or other avenues.

✔ Donate gently used items to local nonprofit organizations.

✔ Some say yard sales are a great way to sell your stuff, but I’ve had no luck with them. It’s a lot of work with very little profit, and then you still have a bunch of stuff to deal with after.

RIGHT

Allison Ziegler advises empty nesters who are downsizing to pack a little each day so that the task doesn't become overwhelming.

“ YIKES!, I’ve got to get a job ”

In 2023, Newnan resident Matt Ostrofsky published “Yikes, I’ve Got To Get a Job,” a six-step process for managing an efficient job search.

Ostrofsky is passionate about career counseling and sees it as his avocation ministry.

“This is what I think the big guy has kept me around for – to help other people – and this is kind of my niche and my way to serve others,” says the author. “So, that’s where the book ultimately goes.”

As so many people get depressed and feel lonely during the exhausting process of job searching, and just need to vent, Ostrofsky says he hears them out and gives them coaching and tough love, as required.

At 64, Ostrofsky says, “My peer group is aging, so I get referrals from people in their 50s, 40s, and I see these senior executive types in their 50s and 60s, and some of their resumes are just so inappropriate and poorly structured and worded. It’s just a sign that they don’t know the job search process. If the resume is bad, it’s only going to be a really brutal learning curve for them going forward.”

He views “Yikes” as a workbook with practical takeaways. His biggest tips for those in the search for a new job are to network, research, and get critical.

“Don’t go it alone,” says the author. “One of the number one things I reinforced in the book is to network. Talk to anybody and everybody who knows you and knows what you can do, especially if you have a bit of a career started.”

Next, he says, “Do research. You’re much better off researching companies and networking than blindly applying online, which gives you a false sense of progress.”

Finally, he pushes people to examine themselves.

“The third thing is being very critical,” says Ostrofsky. “Are you truly qualified for what you’re applying for? Don’t kid yourself.”

He counsels using Linkedin to connect with people and post resumes.

“The resume in your Linkedin profile gets a phone call, the phone call gets an interview, the interview gets the offer, and everything’s negotiable,” he explains.

Landing a good job is incredibly difficult and time consuming, according to Ostrofsky, who adds that especially for white collar job searchers at mid-career, it’s going to be a long haul.

“The interview is as much of the company interviewing the candidate as it’s the candidate interviewing the company, the culture that you’re getting into,” he says. “You want to connect with the hiring people and convince them you’re the best candidate to address their needs as expressed in the job description.” NCM

– Jennifer London

Moving Up

Retirees on the move to active adult communities

Written by JENNIFER LONDON

Photographed by SARA MOORE

For soon-to-be retirees and those already enjoying retirement, living independently and looking for what feels like home, 55-plus communities are growing in popularity.

Made with age in mind to accommodate current and future needs, these communities can be a great option for retirees and soon-to-be retirees searching for the space to play and have fun, making the most of their golden years.

There are several communities in Coweta County that offer varied lifestyle options for buyers looking to make the move up.

“We have a good number of 55-plus communities and there’s a wide range of what it entails,” says Jessica Mottola of the Cottages at Lake Redwine. “The houses are a downsize without being a downgrade.”

According to Mottola, many new and recent retirees are leaving large family homes in which they raised their children and moving into smaller but high quality homes that allow the ability to host large family events.

Along with Cottages at Lake Redwine, Timberbrook and the Gardens at Arbor Springs are local retirement communities that feature ample amenities with safe and comfortable living spaces where aging in place is a priority. “The Cottages are a nice stepping stone if someone is interested in resort style but not ready to commit to that quite yet,” says Mottola. “It’s an easy living lifestyle there.”

Part of that ease is reflected in main floor living that negates the need for upstairs, a real plus as aging makes climbing steps and stairs more challenging.

Mottola sees many 55-plus community homeowners who travel a lot but want a nice home to land in when they're not on the road or in the sky.

“They want to be able to untether themselves from a house,” says Mottola, adding that people from all over the country relocate to Coweta retirement communities for the amenities they offer – and for Georgia’s mild winters.

“Our community is a great next step in the downsizing era of life,” says Mottola. “You’re downsizing, but you have the ability to still have a lot of space and start embracing the things that retirement brings, which is more time to enjoy each other, to enjoy your life, to do the things that you want to do.”

Scott and Sally Wilson have lived in the Cottages at Lake Redwine since June 2023. They raised their kids for 30 years in Fayette County and then downsized, moving around to different parts of Atlanta until landing in Newnan last summer.

“The area is a little more rural than urban, which is fine,” says Scott. “With the lake and amenities, those were all very attractive to us. The upkeep on the outside was already taken care of. There's no upkeep at this point, which is super.”

That meant a lot to the Wilsons, who’d come from a home on five acres that required routine maintenance.

“This is a new place that we didn’t have to fix up,” says Scott. “I’ve been there, done that. We wanted something that doesn’t require a ton of our time and effort.”

LEFT

Scott and Sally Wilson remain as active as ever after moving to the Cottages at Lake Redwine last summer.

The Wilsons enjoy travel, visiting their new grandchild in Boston, and riding bikes. They also paddleboard and enjoy the pool. Scott says they're already having gatherings with neighbors and getting to know each other.

“There’s the gambit,” he says. “There’s people who are downsizing, or there are significant changes in life, like losing a spouse or trying to simplify things or moving closer to family.”

A resort-style active adult community, Cresswind at Spring Haven is Coweta’s newest 55-plus community with couples signing on now to join the neighborhood.

Chuck and Mae Jones, both 77, were the first to sign contracts as residents of Cresswind and were able to take part in the design of their new home, which they expect to close on this summer.

“It was exciting to be the first,” says Chuck. “We hadn't planned on that.”

Having lived in an active adult community in Arizona, Chuck says he and Mae knew they

Scott Wilson finds that growing older doesn't always mean going slower.

RIGHT

Chuck and Mae Jones were the first to sign on as new residents of Cresswind Spring Haven.

Photo courtesy Chuck Jones

wanted something similar when they moved to Georgia to be near family. They are eager to experience their new neighborhood’s fitness center, swimming pools, pickleball courts, concerts, lakes and walking paths – all in a quiet, gated community void of speeding cars.

“What really solidified it for us was the great location, close to Newnan, close to hospitals,” says Chuck. “It’s

going to be a new community where everybody comes together. You couldn’t ask for a better place for people in our age bracket. It’s a perfect match for us.”

For active adults, pickleball courts, social clubs – even art studios – are a strong pull.

No matter the amenities, the Wilsons and Joneses believe their new community will emerge as more people move in. NCM

“It’s a perfect match for us.”

- Chuck Jones

Mae Jones shows off the "sold" sign at the location of her home-to-be.

Photo courtesy Chuck Jones

Dining Out(doors)!

FOR FUN AND FOR HEALTH, SIP AND DINE OUTSIDE

Written by SUSAN MAYER DAVIS and CAROLINE NICHOLSON

Probably dating back to our early ancestors, the arrival of spring has cheered the soul. Just as our forebears anticipated venturing out of their caves to enjoy the sunshine, so do we look forward to springtime, when we're no longer forced by nature to stay in our virtual caves.

Surely our ancestors knew they felt better when spending time outside preparing meat for meals after a successful buffalo hunt, even if they didn’t know why.

Outdoor feasts aren’t new. Mankind has been enjoying picnics in various forms for generations. In the 17th century, a French word “pique-nique” appeared to describe events when some high society people gathered outdoors for a fashionable potluck social event. The fad moved to London and inspired lavish indoor events, possibly due to London’s noticeably bad weather.

In the 1800s, pique-niques were adopted and adapted by the hardier middle classes and taken outside again. In the late 1800s, the first picnic tables came on the scene. By the early 20th century, with the advancement of transportation, the whole population was able to travel easily into the countryside for a taste of outdoor meals shared with family and friends.

There are no hard-and-fast rules regarding American picnics, but the most popular foods tend to include sandwiches, fried chicken, hamburgers, salads, fruits or sweets for desserts, and lemonade or tea to quench the thirst. All you need to have an outdoor meal of your own is a table or a blanket on the ground, some friends or family, lots of shareable food and a sunny day.

Benefits of dining outdoors

Science has proven there are excellent health benefits of being – and eating – outdoors. WebMD reports that being outside for any reason increases serotonin levels, which

2.

1. The Bays at The Cellar restaurant offers live music with their outdoor dining option. (Photo courtesy of The Bays at The Cellar)

2. Conversation abounds on the patio at RPM in downtown Newnan. (Photo courtesy of RPM)

3. Customers gather outside with their families and pets at Abide Brewing Company. (Photo courtesy of Abide Brewing Company)

4. Customers listen to live music on the patio at Senoia Beer Company. (Photo courtesy of Senoia Beer Company)

“We head outdoors as a family as often as we can. With our camper, we are able to take the whole family, including Lucky, our rescue dog, on outdoor adventures all year long. . .”

improves focus and boosts your mood. Getting sunlight in your eyes is known to better regulate sleep patterns, and getting Vitamin D from the sun is good for your bones, blood cells and immune system.

A blog from The Fell Store reports that “Eating outside, especially with friends and family, instantly impacts our cortisol levels, reducing them quite dramatically, leading to reduced inflammation and increased support of our immune system.”

Dr. Kathryn Allen, local chiropractor and integrative health coach, agrees with this assessment of benefits from doing anything outside, particularly eating in the open with family and friends.

“We head outdoors as a family as often as we can,” says Allen. “With our camper, we are able to take the whole family, including Lucky, our rescue dog, on outdoor adventures all year long, and we enjoy the physical, emotional and social benefits of doing so.”

Aside from picnics, folks also like to cook outside and bring it inside to eat. There’s just something about the taste of charcoal and flame-cooked food that makes our mouths water. And sitting on the deck chatting while the home chef flips burgers and bastes the ribs allows us to feel a part of the experience.

Al fresco in Coweta

That brings us to eating outdoors at restaurants. There is no shortage of dining establishments in Coweta County, but not many include dedicated patios. One of Senoia’s newest outdoor eating spaces is at Il Porto di Venezia, an Italian restaurant which recently added a patio with hopes to “transport diners to an experience resembling the patios in Italy,” according to co-owner Maria Addison.

“People love to eat outside in order to enjoy the sun and the peaceful ambiance,” she adds.

It’s said that eating with the sun on you actually improves digestion and your overall health. Our bodies seem to know this intrinsically and draw us outside for meals when the weather cooperates.

– Dr. Kathryn Allen

Another outdoor patio that’s lively with guests as soon as the spring winds and rains subside is RPM Full Service Patio in Newnan. This former gas station/scooter and bike shop has been transformed into one of the most popular dining spots in Coweta. Along with their ample patio, they also offer indoor seating.

Co-manager Annie Patterson says RPM’s location was chosen for its patio area because the dream was to have an open space in downtown Newnan where diners could see, hear and feel the heartbeat of the city and sense connection to the community. Oscar Prado and his family, who live out in the country, say they miss the feel and sound of a city, so they frequent the patio at RPM mostly to feel the vibe of city life.

Nearby, The Cellar and The Bays restaurants also offer outdoor dining, plus live music throughout the week. On weekend evenings in the spring and summer, outdoor tables are rarely empty.

Outdoors at local breweries

After enjoying a delicious meal and some time outside, soaking up the warm Georgia sun, continue the fun by visiting one of Coweta County’s outstanding breweries. Whether in Senoia or Newnan, local breweries have quickly become staples in the community promising good times and lively events.

The first brewery in Newnan, Abide Brewing Company had to jump through a lot of hoops in order to bring the fun of breweries to Coweta County. The company was established in July 2013, but its doors didn’t open until February 2015, thanks to the legal grunt work that had to take place behind the scenes.

After recognizing a need in Newnan for the energy and togetherness that breweries bring to communities, local residents Philip Leonard, Matthew Kapusta and Evan Scanlan say they opened Abide to “create a cool, unique space for people in the community to hang out.”

With an open outdoor area complete with picnic tables, cornhole and food trucks on a rotating schedule,

Abide is a huge supporter of local musicians and charities, often hosting live music or fundraising events. They also host car shows, bike events and cook-offs.

Long-time customer and Newnan resident Alex Schwarz says, “Abide is an amazing place, whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends or a more relaxed atmosphere with your family.”

What Leonard describes as “the definition of a small, self-funded, and self-operated brewery” has shaped the community and paved the way for other breweries.

Established in 2018, Line Creek Brewing Company has been a staple in neighboring Fayette County for more than five years and opened its Newnan location last June.

A poplar downtown Newnan destination, Redneck Gourmet offers dining outdoors. (Photo courtesy of Redneck Gourmet)

General Manager Chris Lane describes the Newnan location as the most similar to a beer garden with ample indoor and outdoor seating and decorated with warm, festoon lighting. No matter the day of the week, The Reserve brims with fun, from visiting food trucks to local live music or open mic nights to special events like sip-n-paints and trivia. Thanks to its proximity to downtown Newnan, it’s a great place to continue the fun of a night out on the square.

Brews in Senoia

Three firefighters walk into a brewery. No, that isn’t the start of a great joke but rather the origin story of Senoia Beer Company.

Andrew Koehn, Brent Cater and Chris McDaniel met almost 15 years ago when they all worked with Henry County Fire Department. The trio started brewing beer in their homes before deciding this was a venture they wanted to pursue on a larger scale.

In October 2022, Senoia Beer Company opened in downtown Senoia, occupying what was formerly Senoia Coffee and Cafe. Aside from its plethora of indoor seating and large TVs mounted on the walls, Senoia Beer Company also offers patio seating in front of and behind the building. When the weather is nice, patrons can enjoy tap beers on the back patio while listening to live local music.

Senoia Beer Company hosts various events ranging from pilates to open mic nights and even craft nights like blanket-making workshops in partnership with other groups.

Koehn stresses the importance of family to their company. Not only do the owners all have children; they welcome families with snacks and games for the kids and some R&R for their parents. This family focus creates the unique atmosphere of Senoia Beer Company, which Koehn describes as “a place that’s comfortable and easy to come hang out at. You know that you are going to see someone you know or meet somebody new.”

As spring and summer bring warm winds to Coweta, be sure to pack a picnic, visit a local restaurant or brewery with an outdoor patio, or set up the grill and bring your family outside to enjoy a meal. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you.

NCM

TOP LEFT

Outdoor dining space is abundant at Line Creek Brewery's The Reserve in Newnan. (Photo courtesy of George Bennett Photography)

LEFT

Senoia Beer Company invites families to hang outdoors while listening to live music. (Photo courtesy of Senoia Beer Company)

A good turn in Turin

Named for Turin, a city in Italy, Coweta’s Turin had a growth spurt after the Civil War when construction began on a rail line running from Griffin to Carrollton. The 60-mile railroad connected Coweta and Carroll counties with the railroad’s main line in Griffin, serving as an important feeder line between communities.

However, like so many Southern towns of that era, good times did not continue for Turin. The bank closed in 1927. Then came the Depression and the boll weevil. Some agriculture continued, but the area was challenged by the economics of the times.

If you’re not paying attention, you might pass right by Turin, located along State Highway 16

Moving in a new direction with a fabulous food park

Written by FRANCES KIDD | Photographed by SARA MOORE

between Newnan and Senoia. The train tracks are still there. The old post office was replaced by a new building in 1986, and a small Main Street, a few shops and homes – many of them historical structures – make up the rest of the town.

Until recently, Turin may have best been known for Barbie Beach, a roadside attraction created by residents Linda and Steve Quick to celebrate the 2006 Turin (Italy) Olympics.

As of Memorial Day 2023, it’s harder to miss Turin, especially in the evening. That was the day Christina and Casey Allen opened their Fabulous Food Trailer Park.

Americans have always liked eating from food trucks and Coweta is no different. From

Christina and Casey Allen opened their food trailer park in May 2023.

the chuck wagons of old out West to the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, food on the move has captured our imagination for decades.

The new gathering spot in Turin originated with Christina's vision of a place to draw local residents and visitors to congregate in Turin. Aided and abetted by her husband and their children, she opened the space with not only food trucks and entertainment but also a bar and Billy Mac’s General Store, another lingering dream Christina brought to reality.

Heart behind the park

No doubt about it, Christina Allen is the brains and heart – especially the heart – behind the Fabulous Food Trailer Park.

After 25 years in health care management, Christina was ready for something new. At first, she planned weddings and special events, but she had bigger ideas. She also wanted to open a store where people could shop for gifts, run in to pick up something special for dinner, or just sit around and visit.

On March 4, 2023, she opened Bobby Mac’s General Store, named in honor of her late father who shared her dreams of owning a business. The only thing lacking from the old days of general stores is the pot-bellied stove.

Christina recalls the first time she saw the property while driving around Coweta with husband Casey: “He told me I’d lost my mind.”

But she had the vision to see what could be.

“It’s been difficult yet rewarding,” says Christina, who worked closely with the town of Turin and the county and state health departments to ensure that all was done correctly as directed by regulations.

Alan Starr, Turin’s mayor for about 14 years, first met Christina when she came to a town council meeting to pitch her idea.

“This has been a relatively quiet town for decades and most people like it that way,” says Starr. “Occasionally, a food truck would lease space but they didn’t last. Christina’s concept was different,

and I loved it immediately. We have a good attorney and experience enough to get the contract and ordinance right to where most citizens are still happy with it all. I get the occasional call about noise when there’s live music some nights, but overall, all seem to enjoy the new flavor in Turin.”

Small town vibe

The Allens are respectful of the community that has welcomed them. They hold their vendors to high standards and interview each one who applies. They

Bobby Mac’s General Store brings a burst of color to the landscape in Turin.

Christina Allen fulfilled a life dream by opening a general store dedicated to her father.

also take good care of the folks who are in their trucks cooking.

“We don’t have two of the same types of food unless it's a great new thing and the usuals agree, or there’s a big event,” says Christina.

Though it’s open year-round, the park is calmer during the winter months. They have shorter hours because lots of the trucks take time off then. That slower time gives the Allens time to think of new things and make upgrades for the park. Changes to the bar and creation of a private event space are among recent new plans.

Christina says it’s important to her to keep the small-town feel.

“People meet and plan to come back together,” she says. “It’s like having a barbecue in your own backyard, but you don't have to clean your house.”

Along with getting families out together, the park helps small businesses grow their clientele, Christina adds.

The food park is a great place for families and groups who can’t come to a consensus on what to eat since everyone can pick their own food and sit together to enjoy it at one of the picnic tables or on the patio. And unless someone is taking a photo, mobile phones are rarely pulled out.

It’s also a spot where folks can play cornhole, Bingo and other games. Live music and special theme nights are also on the menu.

Plus, trains still sometimes pass through Turin. Since the park is literally on the other side of the tracks, Christina says that if the park is open, the trains will sometimes stop while the workers cross the road to grab lunch from the food trucks.

A new direction

Mayor Starr says the neighborhood teenagers definitely love the vibe and food and appreciate the music and people the new park brings to Turin.

“I believe it brings a certain youthfulness to a town that has been notoriously quiet,” says Starr. “I like that. And I like what it has enhanced in our area since a stand-alone restaurant is not plausible at the moment.”

Starr is proud that it’s not just a good place to eat and have a beer with families and kids; it’s also a safe place, and he insists it stays that way.

“Christina is first class, and I’m glad she took a chance in Turin,” the mayor adds.

Taking cues from Christina

Christina inspired the launch of one of her park’s most popular food trucks.

Nick and Katy Economou, formerly of Senoia, found their perfect home in Turin – in a subdivision behind what eventually became home to the Fabulous

Local products are among the items available at Bobby Mac’s.

With their children, from left, Tommy and Laynie, Katy and Nick Economou operate Big Daddy's food truck, a common sight at the Fabulous Food Trailer Park in Turin.

Food Trailer Park. Nick has a culinary degree, and the couple had talked about buying a restaurant, although their initial plans didn’t work out.

After the couple visited and dined at the new park, they decided they were meant to have a food truck instead. Nick says the idea grew organically from that first visit to the food park.

Big Daddy’s opened last fall. While the Economous each kept their day jobs, they now enjoy dishing out grass-fed beef burgers and hand-cut fries along with other items on the Big Daddy's menu.

Theirs is a true family affair. Their two children, ages 11 and 14, work in the truck alongside their parents, helping run the cash register and put orders together.

“The town has welcomed us,” says Nick. “And the community has been very supportive. Christina’s a great lady, and we will be doing business for a very long time.”

Here comes Hollywood?

It’s possible the spotlight on Turin may shine even brighter. Early this year, producers from the Hallmark Channel came to Turin as they were putting together a pilot for a series on small towns. If all goes well, Coweta could be seeing Christina Allen and Turin on the screen.

During her conversation with the producers, Christina was asked, “Why a small town?”

She answered: “I will tell you that I’m very thankful for this small town because they are what has helped us grow. This small town is what keeps us alive.” NCM

Tommy Economou gets real-life work experience manning the grill at his parents’ food truck.

Laynie Economou rings up a customer at Big Daddy’s.

The cheeseburger at Big Daddy’s is a sight to behold.

Park

Moving Fast

Written by CAROLINE NICHOLSON

People say that life moves slower in the South, and while we do like to kick back on the porch with an ice-cold glass of sweet tea from time to time, we also know a thing or two about moving fast.

In fact, there are many ways to get a taste of the fast life from the comfort of our own county. Whether it be planes, cars or bikes (Oh my!), Coweta County is always moving –and often moving fast!

With multiple options and opportunities, don’t let the age-old mentality of slow living stop you from seeking fast-moving fun in Coweta County.

A ridiculously fast car speeds around a curve while racing for first place at Senoia Raceway.

Photo by Dave Williams

“It’s been a family affair for us, and the raceway holds a lot of sentimental value.”

- Andrea Pollard

Fast cars

Tucked just off Senoia’s busiest highway, State Route 16, sits Coweta County’s own speedway. Established in 1969, the Senoia Raceway has been an exhilarating staple in the community for more than half a century.

The ⅜-mile track was built by contractor David Bishop and Hence Pollard after Pollard visited the Coweta Raceway and decided he wanted to open his own racetrack. The Senoia Raceway remained under the ownership of the Pollard family until Hence Pollard’s sudden death in 1981; afterward, the raceway was sold to Charlie Edwards.

For forty years, the speedway remained under Edwards's care.

In 2021, Edwards sold the facility to Sonny Pollard, son of founder Hence Pollard. Sonny’s daughter, Andrea

Pollard, says the family was thrilled to regain ownership of the speedway.

“It’s been a family affair for us, and the raceway holds a lot of sentimental value,” she says.

In 2023, Hence Pollard was inducted into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame as a tribute to his contributions to racing in Coweta County and the state as a whole.

Senoia Raceway offers the community various glimpses into the world of dirt track racing. More than 16 races are scheduled for the second half of 2024, ranging from memorial events to national races and events catered toward specific car models. With ticket prices not exceeding $15 for most events – and free admission for children 12 and under – Senoia Raceway is an economical, familyfriendly way to enjoy the fast life from the comfort of a small town.

Sonny Pollard, left, and his father, Hence Pollard, talk fast cars in the early days of Senoia Raceway, which the Pollard family started and now operates again.

Photo courtesy of Senoia Raceway BELOW

The stands were full at Senoia Raceway, circa 1970, not long after it opened.

Photo courtesy of Senoia Raceway

A bird's eye view depicts the community's love for fast cars at Senoia Raceway.

Photo courtesy of Senoia Raceway

It's a plane!

Five miles outside of downtown Newnan, off Interstate 85, is the bustling Newnan-Coweta County Airport. With approximately 70,000 take-offs and touchdowns per year, the airport has been a hub for visitors and Cowetans alike since it opened in 1966.

Unlike its closest neighbor, HartsfieldJackson International Airport, the NewnanCoweta Airport handles only private flights, not commercial flights.

Assistant Airport Manager Nate Schattner says there are some misconceptions about the type of flights coming in and out of the airport.

“A lot of people just think of corporate, private jets, and while we do get those, we also have a lot of other flights as well like Angel Flights, air ambulance flights, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office flights, aerial surveying and aerial firefighting.”

When the EF-4 tornado hit Newnan in March 2021, numerous helicopters from various law enforcement agencies used the NewnanCoweta Airport as a base of operations. As that event illustrated, the airport plays a huge role not only in the day-to-day functions of the community but also in keeping the citizens of Coweta County safe.

Beyond this wide array of aviation coming in and out of the airport, Newnan Flight Training is based out of the Newnan-Coweta Airport. The training school, founded in 2020 by corporate pilot Mike Fitzpatrick, provides instruction to a broad range of clientele whose goals vary from

Angel Flights utilizes the plane shown here to provide no-cost transportation to patients needing to travel for medical services.

Photo by Nate Schattner

This aerial view showcases the runway at Newnan-Coweta County Airport.

Planes routinely fly in to the Newnan-Coweta Airport.

Photo by FlyT Aviation NTH file photo

becoming private pilots to operating large commercial flights. With a staff consisting of Gold Seal local flight instructors, Newnan Flight Training provides Coweta County and surrounding areas with detailed instruction catered to fit the needs of their students.

In all of its efforts, between the flight school and the numerous flights in and out, the Newnan-Coweta Airport serves our community speedily in the sky.

Watching bikes buzz by

For those with a preference for personal fitness or connecting with nature, bike riding can be an ideal way to spend more time outside while getting a dose of controlled speed.

There's a large bike-riding community in Coweta County, something Carter Schmeck, the owner of

Senoia Bicycle, attests to. In fact, this flourishing community is what drew him and his wife, Taylor, to the area.

With an impressive and extensive 35-year career in high-level competitive cycling, Schmeck has a plethora of firsthand experience with the adrenaline and thrill that accompanies bike riding.

In 2023, Schmeck competed in the inaugural Rock & Road Criterium alongside hundreds of other cyclists. Criterium races consist of several laps in a closed circuit with cyclists traveling at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. The Criterium, which takes place in downtown Newnan, is part of the Rock and Road Festival that returned to Coweta County in April 2024. The festival is a weekend affair that offers various opportunities for the community to get involved in adrenaline-pumping fun, from bike

Erica Carney raises her hands in victory after completing the final lap of the Women’s Pro race.

Photo by Emily Barrera

races and tours to a 5K fundraiser, car show and grand prix.

One of the festival highlights is the Tour of Coweta, sponsored by the Newnan Rotary Club as an event that offers cyclists four routes, ranging from 28 to 100 miles in length, to bike through scenic Coweta County.

The Rock and Road Criterium

transforms downtown Newnan's normally calm streets into an electrifying racecourse. Spectators watch as professional cyclists display their unique abilities by executing sharp turns and racing for the coveted first-, second-, and third-place titles.

The Criterium embodies what a lot of bike riders, including Carter Schmeck, love about the sport: competitiveness. About this facet of cycling, Schmeck says, “The competition aspect of bike riding is really fun for me. It keeps me motivated to train regularly and helps me stay fit, too.” NCM

Racers navigate a tricky curve coming downhill from Jefferson onto Posey Place. Crit racers take their position at the start of the last race of the evening.

Photo by Emily Barrera

Photo by Chris Doane

PHOTOS

BY EMMANUEL ELKINS

WORLD WAR I

APR. 6, 1917 –

NOV. 11, 1918

Samuel Charlton

Willie Couch

Benn Elliott

Jesse C. Fincher

Homer Gentry

Carey J. Hardaway

Alvin H. Harris

Buddy Leach

Charles N. McGee

Tom Nealy

Isiah Pullen

Millard T. Trouten

John Whattley

KOREAN WAR

JUN. 25, 1950 –

JUL. 27, 1953

Edward W. Beadle

Robert E. Beers

Forest L. Bennett

Clarence J. Blair

Joseph R. Brown, Jr.

Charles J. Burson

Lawrence F. Camp

Joseph M. Cassell, Jr.

Roger Y. Chesnut

James W. Cook

Robert F. Crain

J. W. Craven

Hubert L. Crook

William W. Eason

Ralph C. Glanton

Cyril C. Gordon

Paul A. Gregory, Jr.

Terry Allen, Jr.

Johnny C. Calhoun

Jessie C. Cofield

William F. Crawford

Connie Goosby

Robert L. Shavers

Timothy Cole, Jr.

Robert E. Couch

Grady L. Elder

global war on terrorism

SEPT. 11, 2001

Charlie L. Hall

E. W. Hammond

George W. Hammond, Jr.

L.B. Harrington, Jr.

Dennis H. Harris

Henry S. Hayes

Henry C. Haynes

Joseph B. Helms

Cli ord P. Herring

Ray W. Hines

Curtis Hu

Alvin B. Jackson

James B. Jackson

Milton L. Jackson

Alvan F. Kidd

Jim A. Lambert

Joseph B. Land

WORLD WAR II

DEC. 7, 1941 – SEPT. 2, 1945

NOV. 1, 1955

Bobby Freeman

Arthur Hines

Thomas P. Huddleston

James C. Kerr

Warner P. Hughie

John T. Dozier

Je ery Blanton

Chad D. Coleman

William A. Lands

Luther P. Lewis

Young Lindsey

Jessie F. Long

Homer E. Lott

Harry R. Lowery

Horace Luallen

Charles W. McKoon

Thomas Pope, Jr.

James P. Rainwater

Eldrid H. Reynolds

Albert Scott

John R. Smith

William M. Stancil

George W. Storey

George E. Stubbs, Sr.

Thomas W. McWaters

Thomas Y. Mattox, Jr.

James W. Meriwether

Charlie R. Neese, Jr.

Albert Partridge

Henry T. Payton

William A.H. Phillips

Harvey L. Pike

Hugh Pitts

VIETNAM WAR

–APR. 30, 1975

Daniel Z. Post, Jr.

Donald S. Lowery

Larry G. Pinson

Edgar S. Pittman

Leavy C. Solomon

Jerry L. Smith

C. Joseph Meadows III

Adrian G. Mills

William H. Thomas

Eddie R. Thornton

Harold M. Walton

Amos W. Wilder

John R. Williams

Mell Witcher

William H. Thomas, Jr.

Wayne J. Vessell

Charles E. Walthall

Joseph M. Watson

Joseph

Robert M. Webb

Mike Stokely

Nicholas S. Whitlock

Home of the free, because of the brave. Grateful on Memorial Day and always for our brave heroes.

Larry Gunnell Pinson

Saluted by: Brenda Clark, Linda Rhodes, & Wylene Phillips

Chad D. Coleman

Saluted by: 9/11 Candlelight Vigil Committee

Specialist Adrian Mills Saluted by: 9/11 Candlelight Vigil Committee

Cpl Patrick Nixon Saluted by: 9/11 Candlelight Vigil Committee U.S.MARINES

Spec 4 John Curtis “Curt” Kroeger Saluted by: Walter F. George High School

Jeffrey Blanton

by:

2nd Lt Charles R. Rubado

Saluted by: 9/11 Candlelight Vigil Committee U.S.

Mike St. Clair Saluted by: Alford, Schmidt & Holmes families U.S.

would like to thank all veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice to our great nation. May God bless you and may God bless America!

LCPL

Kyle

Johnny Hodo Jr. Saluted by: Family

Johnny

Douglas

William

Your Invitation

to

The Inspiration Garden

Written by DALE SENKO

For the past three years, Coweta County Master Gardeners have been creating and maintaining a demonstration garden at the Coweta County Fairgrounds in Newnan. As you drive through the main gate to the county fairgrounds and pass the horse arena and Nature Center, look to your right, and there's the demo garden. Recently named the Inspiration Garden, it is one of 15 demo gardens in Georgia that participates in Open Garden Days. While activities are scheduled throughout the year at the Coweta Garden, June marks statewide recognition to showcase the work done by Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) for their communities. The June event also aligns with the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Georgia Master Gardener program.

It’s a place to teach how plants grow and help visitors decide which plants to use in their own gardens.

Photos Courtesy of KATHY OLMSTED and AMY KELLER

LEFT

ABOVE

Garden history

The history of the Inspiration Garden demonstrates how gardens evolve over the years based on site conditions and uses. The space began as a vegetable garden maintained by the county government and Coweta County Master Gardeners. Farm implements in front of the garden memorialize the heritage of growing vegetables around Georgia homesteads.

As tree canopy grew, the garden received less sunlight to accommodate vegetable requirements. Master gardener volunteers pivoted and gave the garden a new mission. Rather than use it for vegetable growing one time a year, the demo garden now has a year-round purpose.

What is a demonstration garden?

The purpose of a demonstration garden is to showcase and encourage the use of sound horticultural practices in home gardens.

Demo gardens come in all shapes and sizes, but the one goal for all is to educate home gardeners. Both beginners and experienced gardeners can learn about plants which thrive in the local plant hardiness zones. It’s a place to teach how plants grow and help visitors decide which plants to use in their own gardens. The Coweta Garden has been created to inspire the home gardener.

Master Gardeners Amy Keller and Kathy Olmsted, who head the garden’s activities, see another important purpose for the garden: It’s a source for new plants. This year they have propagated more than 300 plants from cuttings taken from plants in the garden. These propagated plants are added to the garden or sold at MGEV plant sales. Seeds are harvested from the garden plants each fall and planted in the garden.

Visit the garden

The Inspiration Garden is open to the public during the fairground’s daily open hours. A visit to the garden can take as little as 15 minutes or as much time as you like. Sit and enjoy the garden, take photos and observe insect activity. To test your skill at identifying plants, pick up one of the scavenger hunt sheets located at the pergola as you begin your garden tour.

BELOW

Master Gardener

Volunteer

Before your visit, check to see what’s happening in the garden by viewing the monthly garden journal video of the demo garden on the MGEV Facebook page. Visitors are welcome to drop by when MGEVs are tending the garden on the first and third Tuesday of every month. A master gardener will be on hand to answer questions about the plants and discuss plant options and other gardening practices.

On June 1, Coweta MGEVs celebrate open garden days and the Master Gardener anniversary. Gardening educational sessions will be offered; see details and times on social media or contact the Coweta County Extension office.

In August, the public is invited to count pollinators in the garden for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

A monarch butterfly rests on tithonia, aka Mexican Sunflower.

Gary Brown counts pollinators at the annual census.

Baby Blue Eyes are one among dozens of flowers featured in the Inspiration Garden.

What you'll see when you visit

The Inspiration Garden has a little bit of everything. Master gardener volunteers designed the garden with a mix of flowers, ornamentals and herbs with some vegetables on the sunny side. Featured are plants selected for low maintenance and low watering requirements. No mechanical irrigation is installed, and some watering is done during drought periods. The garden relies on Mother Nature for watering and an MGEV or two for occasional watering.

Volunteers hand pick weeds and use only minimal herbicide when needed. No pesticide is used in the garden.

The pergola, where teaching events are conducted, features a plaque in memory of William Cline for his support of the garden and service to the community.

Near the garden shed, honeybees love visiting the garden so much they found a home in an empty barrel fondly named the Mis-Bee-Haven. They earn their keep by helping pollinate the garden.

The garden has multi-season interest with a mix of perennial, annual, vegetable and herb beds. In winter, ilex berries, red twig dogwood and ornamental grasses are in the beds. Early spring brings out the daffodils and then beds of poppies, larkspur, baby blue eyes, coreopsis, bachelor buttons, coneflowers and other perennial wild flowers.

Summertime brings vegetables and herbs with an assortment of shade

Butterfly weed and echinacea are showcased at Coweta's demonstration garden in Newnan.

A tiny bee dines on what, to it, is a huge cosmos bloom.

A Gulf fritillary butterfly feeds on a zinnia bloom.

plants such as hosta and heuchera and sun tolerant plants such as salvia, cuphea, milkweed, echinacea, agastache, blueberries, climbing rose, dwarf butterfly bush and honeysuckle.

In the fall, mums, pineapple sage, celosia, tithonia, madrensis salvia, Mexican limelight salvia, cuphea, butterfly bush and echinacea burst with color.

Master gardener volunteers have created each of the beds with special goals in mind. To demonstrate inground seeding, two beds are seeded with annuals and perennials which need cold weather stratification and bloom in early spring and summer.

Vegetables are grown in raised beds and demonstrate use of minimal space in a garden. Plants are selected in the various beds to encourage pollinators and birds. Beds and paths have been created to show plants on all sides. A central plant is located in each bed with complimentary plants surrounding it. Labels with plant botanical and common names are placed at the base of each plant.

A bog garden is a new feature at the garden this year. Visitors will see what plants to include and how to create a bog garden in a barrel. NCM

Inspiration Garden, one of 15 demonstration gardens in Georgia, recently opened at Coweta County Fairgrounds in Newnan.

A carpenter bee takes delight in a salvia bloom.

Lauren Chan is a rising junior at the University of Georgia where she majors in English and philosophy. From Peachtree City, she enjoys meandering on golf cart paths, playing in string trios with her sisters and exploring various genres of literature and writing. She says she wrote this poem “to find closure with leaving childhood, reflecting on old memories and the greatest changes of my life so far.”

Share Your Prose

Are you a closet poet?

Or a creator of short fiction?

Share your best work with us and we may publish it in an upcoming issue of Newnan-Coweta Magazine.

Submit your work along with your name, address, email address and daytime phone number to magazine@newnan.com or mail to or drop by our office at Newnan-Coweta Magazine, 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263.

Monkey Bars

Written by LAUREN CHAN

little,

come up to the door frame only halfway clamber on the stepstool

peer into the hypnotizing swirl of creamed eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, take a heavenly sniff

the soft pfff of flour-salt-baking soda into heaven and then transformed, sit in front of the oven and stare laser daggers into the muffin pan are they ready yet? what about now?? beep beep beeeep, the oven timer goes off. clamber up a different structure now all cold metal and footholds, hang onto the first bar swing swing swingggg out to the next one and reach and reach and reach no time to think, just time to move is this what Ramona felt like? swinging across the monkey bars?

i want to be like her bravery and hard calluses a rhythm of my own 1+2+3+4+

i clap my hands dutifully in front of the piano what is “and?” why does it look like a plus? little did i know that soon the percussive keys of piano would be followed by a bow gliding and chopping on silver strings, fingers tapping on the fingerboard, stinging ouch i’m learning a new way of flying still a novice, my fingers metamorphose delicate tan fleshy chrysalides crack open revealing the stronger, harder skin beneath robust butterflies at the ready to make me fly, to make me soar tracing the contours of quarter notes, coasting on the staff, a triumphant cry escapes my throat and a million voices shriek the climax in unison giddy, with trembling wings, we suppress our grins to gently land, somberly, quietly, on the ground.

i stand on stage for the last time hands clenched at my sides. nervous. my thumbs slide across the base of my fingers, feeling where the monkey bars used to be, monarchs flying down to Mexico, a flurry of energetic wings, a cloud of vibrant orange dances across the sky, the calluses of childhood traveled too, across the country, flying from California to Georgia settling in my fingertips where they will stay, i am too big for monkey bars but not too old to migrate home.

to recipes from new cookbook Treat Mom and Dad

Written by GAIL MCGLOTHIN

Photographed by APRIL MCGLOTHIN-ELLER

Stella and Mack, my D.C. grandchildren, had ready answers for why we celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

Stella, 6, said her mama was her best friend and she would love her forever. More pragmatic, Mack, 8, said because his daddy coaches basketball.

For whatever the reason, plan on a special menu for special people with recipes from a special cookbook, “Coweta Cooks: Sharing a Legacy of Our Favorite Recipes,” produced and published by The Newnan TimesHerald in 2023.

The 224-page, hardbound cookbook features more than 300 recipes submitted by readers of The Newnan Times-Herald and NewnanCoweta Magazine and tested (and tasted) by employees and friends of the NTH Media newspaper and magazine.

Mother’s Day dinner starts with Asparagus Twists, page 29, and goes on to Greek Chicken, page 105, and Citrus Salad with Beets and Arugula, page 61. All three recipes are easy enough to accomplish, and the grouping looks pretty on a plate.

A heartier meal for Father’s Day starts with Bob & John’s BBQ Ribs, page 98. If you don't already know how to barbecue ribs, this recipe has a yummy sauce and results in tender ribs. You can throw them on the grill at the end for grill marks if you want.

Try Butter Me Not Biscuits, page 43, and wrap the day up with the One Hundred Dollar Cake, page 162.

In my family, we all love to cook, are good cooks and read cookbooks like novels. It’s not too late to get your own copy of “Coweta Cooks” or copies for your mom and dad for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. There are just so many food choices to help enjoy these special days.

“Coweta Cooks” is available to purchase in person at The Newnan Times-Herald, 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan, GA 30263, or by calling 770.253.1576 or emailing stacie@newnan.com.

Asparagus Twists

Gail McGlothin, Sharpsburg

1 pound fat asparagus

1 (4-ounce) package prosciutto

Shredded/grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Break off tough ends of asparagus. Cut prosciutto in half lengthwise. Wrap asparagus with ½ slice prosciutto, twisting from bottom. Roll each twist in shredded Parmesan cheese. Place twists on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until prosciutto is crisp.

Greek Chicken

Glenda Harris, Senoia

Marinade

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

4 cloves garlic, chopped

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons oregano, dried

Chicken and Veggies

2 red peppers, sliced thick

1 red onion, cut into 8 wedges

8 to 10 cloves garlic, whole

1 pound mixed red or yellow baby potatoes, quartered

¼ cup Kalamata olives

4 chicken breasts, boneless

¼ cup feta cheese

2 lemons, cut in half

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all marinade ingredients in small bowl. Place sliced veggies on large sheet pan. Place chicken in and around the vegetables. Pour marinade all over veggies and rub into the chicken. Arrange mixture evenly, and sprinkle feta cheese all over. Nestle sliced lemons around sheet pan. Place in oven and roast for 30 to 45 minutes or until veggies are slightly brown and chicken reaches 165 degrees.

Citrus Salad with Beets and Arugula

Jermaine Brown, executive sous chef, City of Hope

1 pink grapefruit

1 blood orange

1 lime

1 shallot, sliced thin

¼ cup white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

½ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons chopped chives

1 tablespoon chopped oregano

1 cup red beets, cooked and diced

1 cup gold beets, cooked and diced

2 ounces arugula

Skin both grapefruit and orange, removing as much white pith as possible. Working over a bowl to catch the juices, use the white lines as a guide to cut the segments free from the fruits. After removing the segments, squeeze juice from the lime. Strain juices into a separate bowl and add the shallot; marinate for 30 minutes.

To make the vinaigrette, place 1 cup of the citrus juice from the shallot marinade in a saucepan. Add vinegar and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce by half, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Add honey, then whisk in olive oil. Stir in the chopped herbs and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Toss the fruit segments, beets and shallots together with enough vinaigrette to coat, then arrange on a plate. Toss the arugula with vinaigrette to coat and top the beets and fruit segments. Recipe yields 4 to 5 servings.

Bob and John’s

BBQ Ribs and Sauce

Beth Neely, Newnan

1 teaspoon celery seed

½ cup dark brown sugar

½ cup vinegar

½ cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups ketchup

3 dashes Tabasco

¼ teaspoon Accent

1 teaspoon or 1 clove garlic

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup butter

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1 rack of ribs

Combine all ingredients (except ribs) and cook on medium heat for 1 hour, stirring frequently to avoid sticking or scorching. Makes 1 quart sauce.

Remove membranes from ribs, coat ribs all over with your favorite butt rub. Place coated ribs in a roast pan with 1 inch water, tightly cover with foil, and cook for 2-plus hours at 325 degrees.

Transfer to a foil covered baking sheet, brush both sides with BBQ sauce (bone up side first), flipping and re-coating after a few minutes under the broiler. Try not to let them catch on fire.

Let rest for a few minutes and recoat with BBQ sauce before serving. Ribs are even better the next day.

Butter Me Not Biscuits

Cindy Schnable, Sharpsburg

2 cups baking mix, like Bisquick, or 2 cups Pioneer self-rising flour

1 cup sour cream

½ melted butter

1 cup grated cheddar cheese, optional

Mix all ingredients and drop in a lightly greased 12-muffin or 24-mini-muffin pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly browned on top. These biscuits won't need to be buttered. They can be frozen and reheated.

One Hundred Dollar Cake

Merri Douglas, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

2 cups granulated sugar

½ cup butter or shortening

2 eggs

4 ounces chocolate, melted, or ½ cup cocoa

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons vanilla

Pinch of salt

1½ cups milk

1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Cream sugar and shortening. Add beaten eggs and chocolate/cocoa. Gradually add other dry ingredients and milk. Fold in nuts. Pour in a large greased pan so the layer will be thin. Bake 45 minutes in a 350-degree oven. When done, spread with icing, cool, and cut into squares.

Icing

½ cup butter melted

2 rounded tablespoons cocoa

2 rounded tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup granulated sugar

½ cup water

1 cup chopped nuts

Make a paste of butter, cocoa, flour and vanilla. Boil sugar and water until it forms a hard ball when dropped in cold water. Pour sugar/ water mixture over paste mixture. Add nuts and stir.

Blacktop

“I

Photo by Judy Gresham

am all about the sky and God’s wonder,” says the photographer, Judy Gresham.

Photo by Holli Angelia Sunrise on thewest side of Coweta is stunning.

Photo by Ron Maciejewski

A Georgia sunset glows beyond the trees in Newnan.

Photo by Steve & Dawn Prost

A Coweta couple recently encountered a sundog in the sky while riding bikes on the LINC trail.

Photo by Chris Sims An aerial photo reveals the radiance of a night sky in Coweta.

Newnan resident Shawna Andrews caught the sun rising on Pensacola Beach in Florida.

After a storm, the reflection of sunset sparks a natural and mysterious beauty.

submit your photos

Email us your photos of life in and around Coweta County and we may choose yours for a future edition of Blacktop!

Photos must be original, high-resolution (300 DPI)

digital photos in .jpg format, at least 3x5 inches in size.

Please include your name so that we can give you credit for your photo in the magazine!

Email your photos with the subject “Blacktop” to the address below.

magazine@newnan.com

2 024 CALENDAR OF EVENTS SUMMER SPRING AUTUMN WINTER

March 02 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

March 22 - Spring Art Walk, 5-9pm

April 06 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

April 14-20 - Downtown Newnan Restaurant Week

April 20 - Bike Coweta’s Rock & Road Festival

May 04 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

June 01 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

June 13 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm

June 21 - Summer Wined-Up, 5-9pm

July 04 - July 4th Parade, 9am

July 06 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

July 11 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm

Aug 03 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

Aug 08 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm

Aug 30-Sept 2 - Labor Day Sidewalk Sale

Aug 31 - Sunrise on the Square 5K

Sept 07 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

Sept 20 - Fall Art Walk, 5-9pm

Oct 04 - Oktoberfest, 5-10pm

Oct 05 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

Oct 19 - Spirits & Spice Festival, 2-7pm

Oct 31 - Munchkin Masquerade, 10am-12pm

Nov 02 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

Nov 22 - Holiday Sip & See, 5-9pm

Nov 29 - Plaid Friday

Nov 29 - Santa on the Square, 6-8pm

Nov 30 - Small Business Saturday

Dec 07 - Market Day, 10am-2pm

Photo by Pat Harris

Photo by Shawna Andrews

Empty Nest? No Thanks

Iwasn't born and raised in Coweta County, but if I were, I'd say that Coweta has been on the business end of "move" for several decades.

It's what happens when you have a nice community. Families and businesses move to nice communities. It's what I did.

This issue's theme is "Coweta on the Move" with stories ranging from moving fast on bikes to moving into retirement communities.

One look at my physique is enough to tell you that I don't have enough knowledge or experience to write anything about bike races. Although, one of the most fun days I've had in recent years was last year when they shut Newnan's court square for the bike races. You can bet I was there this year as well.

My bank account, mixed with my family's average lifespan, suggests that I'll never retire, so there's no real point in writing about that.

I'll write about the one theme I can relate to: empty nests.

One of my kids has already flown the coop, with the youngest getting a steady stream of college invitation mail delivered to the old homestead weekly.

I don't know how the birds do it. Maybe they push the little chick out of the nest when they know it can fly. It's probably what's best for the younger bird.

I can tell you that this old bird was perfectly content with his hatchlings staying in the nest for as long as they wanted. It wasn't that I don't think my kids can fly. I think they would both be greatly limiting themselves if they ever set out to be like me.

It's just that I kind of like having them around, and I'm not even talking about the free labor that offspring provide while they're living under your roof. I just like their company. They're funny. They're good people. They're kind of like their dear ol' dad, if you ask me.

My dream was to have at least 20 acres. When the kids were ready to embark on their own things, I'd be able to offer them five each to build their homes. I would love to refer to my little spot on this planet as the ol' compound rather than the ol' homestead. I was unable to fulfill that wish.

I didn't grow up thinking about having a nest. But once I got some baby birds in my nest, I never looked forward to it someday being empty.

I'm sure there are nice things that will come from an empty nest, I just don't know what they are. And as long as I keep throwing away all these college applications before my daughter sees them, maybe I won't have to find out.

Just kidding! I'm actually quite proud of the list of schools expressing interest. They are all colleges who would have taken one look at my transcripts and assumed I was pranking them. NCM

Southern-born and Southern-bred, Toby Nix is a local writer who works in law enforcement.

TINA FURGALA (678) 633-2324

DANIEL KINSER (404) 557-3429

HONOR SOCIETY COE - LIFE

ALEJANDRA GONZALEZ (404) 259-8355

HONOR SOCIETY COE - ACTIVE

JENNIFER SPRALDING (678) 850-6663 COE - LIFE

SHARON DOANE (678) 378-1428

HONOR SOCIETY COE - 1ST YEAR PHOENIX

TWANA SAMUELS (678) 723-5226 COE - LIFE

KIMBERLY TULLOS (470) 215-0176

KERRI THOMPSON (770) 324-7296

HONOR SOCIETY COE - LIFE

PARRISH AND CUNNINGHAM TEAM (770) 846-8004

CHAIRMAN’S PLATINUM FCBOR CIRCLE OF ACHIEVEMENT

ALEX ALLEY (678) 877-1901

LEADING EDGE COE - ACTIVE

DEBBIE O’NEAL (770) 855-2909 COE - LIFE