WGL September-October 2014 by Times-Georgian

West Georgia

Li V ing Sept./Oct. 2014

Life . Art . Music . People

Couples!

Staying together, working together, exploring life together

Plus Romantic Recipes Time to Woman-Up Love on the Range ... And much more! $3.95

July/August 2014

Vol. 4/Issue 5

West Georgia Living

WE ALL HAVE A JOB TO DO. When it comes to using energy wisely, no job is too small. But some are pretty high up. Yet when every Co-op member works together, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a job that comes with countless beneďŹ ts. Learn more about the power of your Co-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.

ǡ At Southwire, we believe education is the key to success. Through partnerships with the University of West Georgia (Southwire Sustainable Business Honors Program), West Georgia Technical College (Southwire Center for Manufacturing Excellence), Carroll County Schools (12 for Life) and Carrollton High School (Southwire Engineering Academy), we are helping students build brighter futures. It’s another way we deliver power...responsibly.

From the Editor

West Georgia

Li V ing Volume 4 . Issue 5 September/October 2014 Publisher Marvin Enderle publisher@times-georgian.com

Editor Ken Denney ken@times-georgian.com

Advertising Melissa Wilson melissa@times-georgian.com

Photographer Ricky Stilley ricky@times-georgian.com

Design Richard Swihart rswihart@messenger-inquirer.com

Contributors Robert Covel, Corey Cusick, Colleen Donnelly, Rob Duvé, Joe Garrett, Phyllis King, Amy Lee, Rebecca Leftwich, Josh Sewell

Dear Readers: This issue is all about couples: men and women who have bonded together for life’s journey, or for a few miles down the road. We not only celebrate the achievements of some of our west Georgia couples, but also pause to laugh at some of the gender-specific foibles we all have. We bring you the story of Bob Fischer and Ginny Nickoloff, who travel the world together in search of fun and adventure, and never let their 80-plus years slow them down. Then there’s the tale of Jim and Sharon Wallis, whose romance blossomed on the shooting range. And we take a look at three couples who have taken the brave step of mixing business and marriage by running restaurants in Douglas, Carroll and Haralson counties. Also, we seek expert advice on how to keep relationships going despite all the obstacles in our modern, hectic world. Rob Duvé has some great recipes for cooking a dinner for that special someone in your life. Joe Garrett reminds us that it’s the simple things in life that keep marriages healthy, long after the first rush of excitement. And Phyllis King introduces us to couples who combine their horticultural talents to create some beautiful gardens. And we poke some fun at men and women

who either take their love for sports teams too far – or not far enough. Finally, Josh Sewell takes a look at the romantic-comedy genre in cinema, and why some films have become instant classics and others forgettable duds. And there’s plenty more in this issue. Amy Lee dispels some of the myths and stereotypes about belly dancing. We check in with Paris Luna, one of west Georgia’s most successful bands, now working on their third album. Also, we take time to honor the Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club, which is celebrating its 90th year of making flowers bloom. In short, we’re bringing you our usual collection of inspiration, humor and entertainment. And on behalf of all of us, especially those whose pictures you don’t see on this page, we truly appreciate the way West Georgia Living has been received by our community. Thank you for your support, your story suggestions and feedback. And just wait until you see what we have in store for you in our next edition. Sincerely,

Ken Denney

To advertise in West Georgia Living, call Melissa Wilson at 770-834-6631. West Georgia Living is a bi-monthly publication of the Times-Georgian. Submissions, photography and ideas may be submitted to Ken Denney c/o The Times-Georgian, 901 Hays Mill Rd., Carrollton, GA 30117. Submissions will not be returned unless requested and accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. West Georgia Living reserves the right to edit any submission. Direct mail subscriptions to West Georgia Living are available for $24 a year. Copyright 2014 by the Times-Georgian

West Georgia Living

Marvin Enderle is Publisher of West Georgia Living, the Times-Georgian and the Douglas County Sentinel.

September/October 2014

Melissa Wilson is the Advertising Director for West Georgia Living, the Times-Georgian and the Douglas County Sentinel.

Amy K. Lavender-Buice is Editor Emerita of West Georgia Living, and Editor of The Bremen Gateway-Beacon and Tallapoosa-Journal.

Ricky Stilley is the Photographer for West Georgia Living and IT Director for the TimesGeorgian.

FALL COLOR -

Doing it SOUTHERN STYLE!!

Everyone looks forward to Autumn, cool evenings begin to set in, sitting on the front porch enjoying the night air, the start of football season, and our leaves begin their spectacular fall show of color. Brilliant reds, yellows and oranges dot the landscape in a show of force. Color may be the first thing you see, but when trees and shrubs drop their leaves they can reveal much more. Red berries and exfoliating bark can be the real show underneath all those leaves. The Ginkgo Biloba tree is a stunning example of a bright yellow show of leaves in the fall. These trees can grow to over 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide, and make an excellent shade tree. During the year the tree has fan-shaped green leaves that flutter in the breeze. When the night temperatures begin to cool, the tree transforms into a golden masterpiece. Perhaps you prefer red. From the Autumn Blaze Maple to a Burning bush or Firepower Nandina, you can plant something that people will see from a distance. Whereas the Maple and the Burning Bush lose their leaves, the Nandina has “staying power” and does not drop leaves during the winter so they can continue to show color. The American Beauty Berry, a Georgia native plant, is a beautiful shrub with long stems, distinctive pink flowers that produce brightly colored purple berries for lasting color in your garden. The Blue Muffin Viburnum, gives us year round help starting with snowy white flowers in the spring only then to produce a beautiful brilliant blue berry in the fall. This fruiting ornamental shrub also makes a great compact hedge.

begins slowing down its growth as it moves toward dormancy. As a result, it makes little demand on the roots. Therefore, the energy produced via photosynthesis during the previous season can be directed toward root growth. When spring arrives and a new growing season begins, the plant has a well-established root system ready to provide the necessary water and nutrients for optimum plant growth which is necessary for plants to survive our long, hot summers. Soil preparation and planting are perhaps the most critical of all landscape practices. Proper planting assures rapid plant establishment and healthy growth. Haphazard planting is like sentencing plants to lifelong stress and suffering, making them more susceptible to injury, pests, drought, and cold. If you are unsure about the condition of your soil, take the time to do a soil test. Good results start with good soil. Soil amendments might be necessary if the existing soil is lacking the proper structure, although there is no exact recipe. An ideal soil is one that contains air space for good drainage, yet has good water holding capacity, some mineral matter to provide the soil chemistry necessary for nutrient absorption, and a small amount of organic matter to supply slow-release nutrients. Proper planting involves more than simply digging a hole and sticking a plant in it. It all starts with digging the proper hole for your plant. Pay close attention to the width, give your plant room to put out new surface roots and make sure of the depth, not too deep, and keep the existing root ball at or slightly above the ground line. It may also be a good idea to place a light ground cover over the root ball, but be sure not to smother your plant. So with all that said, seek out healthy plants, grab your shovel, and give your plants their best chance with careful soil preparation and planting. Then sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

It is not too late to get started with your own color landscape. In the professional landscape industry, planting goes on year-round. However, fall is the best time of year to plant in terms of root growth and plant establishment. Unlike the tops of woody ornamental plants that go dormant and cease growth for the winter, roots continue to grow throughout the winter months. During the fall, the above-ground portion of a plant

Now is the time to “Get Growing”! Southern Home & Ranch Garden Center is the place to come for all your plants, shrubs, trees and planting needs, so turn on the COLOR, WE CAN HELP! Please be sure to “Come by and Visit”, hope to see you soon... *Excerpts from Ga. Certified Plant Professional Manual

Southern Home & Ranch Garden Center 1110 NORTH PARK STREET • CARROLLTON, GEORGIA • 770-832-0114 HOURS: MONDAY-SATURDAY 8AM-7PM • SUNDAY 12PM-5PM VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: WWW.SHRCENTER.COM

readers’ choice winner

times-georgian I 2014

Contents

21 Photos and Cover Art by Ricky Stilley. On the Cover: Earl and Irene Cauthen of Tallapoosa, Haralson County, have been married 71 years.

F eatures 38 Ginny and Bob circled the globe in 48 days and

49 Carrollton’s Paris Luna band keeps making a name

46 West Georgia couples keep love in bloom working

41 Couples mix business and relationships in these

plan to continue enjoying life (and traveling). side by side in the garden.

for itself in the music industry west Georgia restaurants

D epartments Cinema

The State of Rom-coms

Food

Garden

Martin Garden Club

Books Surviving “Acts of God”

Take 5

Meet Rick Brower

Events

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

Recipes for Romantic Dinners 17

What’s happening

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8:00 AM - 1:00 PM JON DAY

FOSTER MIKE BARNES SHANNON ROBINSON TIM FORDHAM HALL TIM FORDHAM MIKE CONNER TODD RUPP OLIE SOUPHANH CHEATWOOD MIKESID BARNES SID LEE MARK MARK FOSTERGREG GREGWALKER WALKER ZACH ROBINSON MIKEZACH CONNER TODD RUPPSID LEE

Balance on a long life’s journey together H arvey isn’t very sexy.

For him and his wife Delores, a night on the town usually involves sharing a fried fish basket for dinner at Captain D’s. If Delores doesn’t seem too full afterwards, Harvey will surprise her by pulling their old Buick into the Dairy Queen parking lot, as he does on this warm night in July. Ice cream always makes Delores smile. Harvey is happy, too. While Delores walks ahead of him, he finds a coupon in his pocket for $1 off any ice cream. It’s just two days before the expiration date. For 56 years, Delores and Harvey have spent their Friday nights dining throughout different buffet restaurants, and occasionally finding some good Chinese food. They no longer hold hands. Yet somehow, someway, their marriage continues to thrive. And so it goes. Through life’s ups and downs, they’ve maintained a steadfast love for each other. Their marriage isn’t as interesting as a Kardashian. Besides, they think a Kardashian is a type of plant they once saw at Callaway Gardens. Real relationships are tough. Oh sure, romances start with each person walking through La-La Land, but eventually it wears off.

I’d changed too much. It’s a whole lot of give and take. She probably will tell you I take more than I give, but I give her a new gown every Christmas and splurge on box of Russell Stover turtles at Valentine’s Day.” There are always two sides. Whether it’s deciding which lane to cruise along I-20, or making an important decision, it’s probably best to avoid the extremes. Love one another but make not a bond of love: “Always remember to keep it in the middle of Let it rather be a moving sea between the the road,” advised my friend Jim Albright of shores of your souls. Carrollton, who will turn 92-years old this year. “That way you can always steer left or right if Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. you need to.” Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Call it the yin and yang of life, just like salt and pepper. We know using too much or too little Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let salt can ruin a good recipe. And the same goes each one of you be alone, for pepper. If we can’t find balance, trouble Even as the strings of a lute are alone though may be lurking. they quiver with the same music. “When we got back from our one-night honeymoon from camping at Lake Weiss, I went fishing the next day,” said Harvey. “Delores didn’t seem to mind at first. So I decided to go fishing for the next four days. That’s when she decided to reel me in, just like I do when I hook a big catfish. “Oh sure, I still fish—just not every day,” continued Harvey. “And she still goes to her needlepoint class every week to hang out with her lady friends. Here we are 56 years later, still married. I guess I need to send her some flowers.”

“I remember before we got married, Delores never complained about the way the toilet paper roll was positioned,” said Harvey. “But In his book “The Prophet,” Kahlil Gibran may once we said ‘I do,’ that changed. I turned that have summed up the secret to Harvey and toilet paper around the way Delores liked it. And then she found a thousand other things for Delores’s marriage when he wrote: me to change.” But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between “Did you change all of the other things?” I you. asked. “Heck no,” replied Harvey. “We’d be divorced if 8

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

JOE GARRETT

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow. As Delores and Harvey realize their clocks are ticking, they’re at peace knowing they’ve weathered the ups and downs of a marriage that hasn’t always been perfect. But in the end, Harvey still loves to buy Delores an ice cream on Friday nights. Thank God for coupons. WGL Garrett is a Carrollton resident and businessman. You can read more of his columns at joegarrett1. wordpress.com or contact him at joe_garrett@ bellsouth.net.

The Art of

Belly Dance

Amy Lee, right, dances with her daughter, Meira, as her husband, Stuart, plays the drum.

Exploring the Rhythms of Life

ou see a belly dancer, and what do you soul. It is a dance that rises from our colthink? lective memories of emotion and experience, and revels in the joy of that shared Do you notice the costume, or the moveunderstanding. Because of this, this dance ments, or the music? Do you think of exotic has a power to capture the attention of all nights in perfumed tents? Or does your audiences. mind run to something else – something you heard once, or read, or saw in a movie? Let’s start with the obvious: it isn’t about eroticism. Don’t be fooled by the TV trope of The first thing people usually say when they scantily-clad women dancing for the enterlearn that I am a belly dancer is, “show me!” tainment of men. This dance actually has a And when I oblige, the first thing they usulong history of being practiced in all-female ally say is “I had no idea.” gatherings. Some historians even speculate the dance began in ancient cultures as a way Quite unlike the fantasy most people carry in their heads, the reality is that the dance STORY BY AMY LEE / PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY is less about the body and more about the

for a woman to prepare for childbirth – and it is still part of the birthing ritual in some areas of Morocco. But the true origins of what we in the West have come to call Belly Dance are (*ahem*) veiled in time. The only thing we truly know is that this style of dance has been around for a very, very long time throughout the Middle East, Northern Africa, Southern Europe, and India, where it is a form of folk dance. It is used every day by men (yes, men), women, and children often to celebrate community occasions like weddings or births, or for many different reasons – and, increasingly all over the world, on the dance floor. September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

The individual postures and movements of the dance do not carry literal meanings, like the sinuous movements of the hula, or even the symbolic gestures (called mudras) of Indian temple dancers. Instead, these are the dancers’ spontaneous and individual response to the sounds of the instruments, an expression of the rhythm, and of the joy of life itself. American audiences were introduced to the style at the 1893 Chicago World Fair. At the time, French was a common Western language in the Middle East, and the French term for this style of dance was “danse du ventre” which literally means “stomach dance” and obviously refers to its unique abdominal movements. An events promoter Americanized the French term, and the phrase “belly dance” was coined. Most belly dancers today are not professional artists dedicated to performance. Instead, they are mothers, college professors, scientists and librarians, women of every age and occupation. In a culture that forces women to fret over the shapes of their bodies, Belly Dance requires no sculpted physique or special talent. The most common trait is an open and playful attitude. Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember: ballet, jazz and

tap – and even the drill team. I don’t remember the first time I was entranced by belly dancing, but when I was expecting my first child it seemed to me to be the perfect way to both celebrate and care for my body during that special time. Since no prenatal belly dance classes were available, I sought out private lessons and created a dance to share with my friends and family at my baby shower. It was such an enriching experience that I wanted to share it with other women, so I set about attaining a certification in prenatal exercise. But when I started teaching, I discovered to my surprise that most of the women who signed up were not pregnant. Belly dancing, it seemed, had even more to offer than I had realized. For many women, it is all about the exercise. Belly Dance is particularly good for improving coordination and balance, and toning the core muscles. It is also easy on the joints, making it suitable for individuals in all stages of life. Some women try Belly Dance because they enjoy the intellectual challenge of learning about the music and traditions of another culture, combined with the physical benefits: conditioning the heart and lungs – and burning about 286 calo-

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West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

ries in an hour! Other women find the classes offer benefits that are rarely found in a gym, or on the track. The special bonds formed with the other dancers provide a powerful sense of community, and these bonds can contribute to improved self-esteem and confidence. Yes, some women take the class to attract a partner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but not, as you might think, by learning the exotic movements. Rather, the dance teaches women confidence; even to find the courage they need to leave an abusive or unsatisfying relationship and to strike out on a new path.

ies, and a feeling of well-being that they carry with them long after the workout has ended. Belly Dance is an art form that is more than a stereotype. It is a full expression of our physical and emotional selves; a means of exploring our minds and being attuned to the rhythms and joys of life. It is more than an exotic skill. It is a new way of seeing the world. WGL Amy Lee is a lifelong dancer and the founder of Everywomb Bellydance, Belly Dance classes offered in downtown Carrollton. For more information, visit www.everywombbellydance.weebly.com , or call 678-360-4724.

And some other women first learn the art for a special someone: as an anniversary gift, or a wedding party surprise. But most often, these women discover that the dance has something to offer beyond beautiful entertainment. Many women who practice Belly Dance regularly report increased energy levels and improvements in mood. Along with stress relief, there is an increased appreciation and love of their bodSeptember/October 2014

West Georgia Living

STRONGMAN Wesley Claborn of Austell, GA, lifts 365 pounds.

Nick Stock of Odum, GA lifts a 290 pound Atlas Stone to the top of a 48 inch high platform.

Georgia's Strongest Man 2014 contest promoter and chair Scott Helms signals to a competitor that he has made his time and can drop the weights. 12

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

June 21 was a day for heavyweights in Douglasville: when dozens of competitors got together for the “June Killer” contest, organized by Georgia’s Strongest Man, part of the North American Strongman association. Held at the Fitness Depot, 9365 The Landing Drive, the event drew competitors from around the nation, and annually is the largest of its kind in Georgia. The competitions during the five-hour contest were modeled after the World’s Toughest Man competitions. As opposed to bodybuilding, Strongman contests focus on raw strength and muscular power to determine who can lift the most weight and carry the heaviest objects.

PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

Mark Bevins of Kennesaw, GA, lifts 325 pounds.

Dominic Morais of Austin, TX, lifts 245 pounds.

Chris Woodall, of Athens, GA, takes his last steps carrying 440 pounds a total of 311 feet, 10 inches in the Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Carry. Woodall beat the old record of 241 feet, which had stood since 2010. September/Octobert 2014

West Georgia Living

CINEMA

Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd work magic together in the Rom-Com spoof ”They Came Together.”

Mocking an Easy Target:

the Sad State of Romantic Comedies T

he romantic comedy used to be one of the film industry’s most reliable genres. As long as filmmakers could find two likable stars, construct a breezy script with a memorable “meet-cute” – and keep the budget relatively low – there was always an audience hungry to see yet another couple get their happily-ever-after. Then the inevitable happened: studios got 14

West Georgia Living

greedy and lazy. Instead of looking for interesting stories about people finding love, they figured out they could just keep making the same movie over and over again. These retreads followed the same tired formula with interchangeable actors instead of treating each film as its own unique story. The genre

September/October 2014

JOSH SEWELL

got bad – and boring – really fast. For example, look at the difference in quality between the fun, cheesy “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and the God-awful “Fools Gold,” made just five years apart. They both star Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, but the first film wisely takes a goofy premise and elevates it with engaging performances and lots of chemistry. The

latter, the textbook definition of a paycheck movie, features disengaged actors who seem like they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to get back to their trailers. Â Rom-coms are ripe for parody, but considering they already mock themselves, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tough assignment. Fortunately, David Wain and Michael Showalter (alumni of beloved comedy group The State), have a winner in â&#x20AC;&#x153;They Came Together,â&#x20AC;? a biting, funny movie that works whether you love or loathe the genre. The talented cast, packed with familiar faces, brilliantly plays every scene completely straight. The film makes the point that the standard romcom scenario can only work in real life if the characters are mentally damaged.Â Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler play the titular â&#x20AC;&#x153;They;â&#x20AC;? two walking clichĂŠs who are destined to fall in love once they get past their initial mutual hatred. Molly (Poehler) is the quirky, klutzy owner of a charming little candy store and gives away giant bags of free stuff to kids and all her profits to charity. (If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wondering how her store can stay open, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of the point.) Â Joel (Rudd) is a big shot at a corporation that builds candy superstores that threaten to put shops like Mollyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s out of

business. And, of course, their new location is opening up right across the street from her store. Throw in other romantic complications (like Joelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ex-girlfriend (Cobie Smulders) and Mollyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twisted family) and it seems as if these two crazy kids will never get together. Â But maybe some last-minute, grand romantic gestureâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; like Joel trying to stop Mollyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding to a lame accountant (Ed Helms) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will give them their happily-ever -after. Oh, and did I mention all of this takes place in New York City, which is â&#x20AC;&#x153;like a third character in their love story?â&#x20AC;? If, despite the affectionate shots of city streets and aerial views of skyscrapers at sunset, you forget that fact, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll remember every time Molly and Joel repeatedly tell their bored dinner companions (Bill Hader and Ellie Kemper). Â Wain also directed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wet Hot American Summerâ&#x20AC;? (a similar send-up of the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s teen camp genre), â&#x20AC;&#x153;Role Modelsâ&#x20AC;? and the underrated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wanderlust;â&#x20AC;? thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of oddball humor you can expect from â&#x20AC;&#x153;They Came Together.â&#x20AC;? The styleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not for everyone, but I love its weirdness. Plus, no one could parody a genre this specifically unless he has seen a ton of romantic comedies. Wain and Showalter either re-

searched the heck out of the genre, or they have a genuine affection for it, and would love to see quality love stories again. If I had to guess, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit from Column A and a lot from Column B. Â Their vast rom-com knowledge is evident from the obvious elements like Tom Houghtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lush cinematography, which captures New York as the third player in Molly and Joelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love story (which they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t shut up about), down to the little details like characters constantly stopping each other to express their gratitude before leaving a room. (It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make sense in writing, but I cracked up every single time it happened on screen. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the delivery down pat.) Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;They Came Togetherâ&#x20AC;? is effective in the same way a movie like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Airplane!â&#x20AC;? works: because no oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winking at the camera. It would totally work as a rom-com for anyone only paying half attention to TV one afternoon. All the tropes are there, employed as earnestly as they would be in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;realâ&#x20AC;? version of the movie. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just up to the viewer to spot them and see how ridiculous they are out of context. Â One of the funniest aspects of â&#x20AC;&#x153;They Came Together,â&#x20AC;? if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a movie nerd like me, is

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West Georgia Living

the realization that most of the cast members are veterans of actual rom-coms, skewering roles they’ve previously played for real. Paul Rudd could make a ton of money (and has, come to think of it) sleepwalking through a romantic leading man role. Anyone who has seen Poehler’s range on “Parks and Recreation” knows she could as well. The deadpan supporting performers manage to wring laughs out of every line, especially Smulders (“How I Met Your Mother”), Chris Meloni (the ultra-serious “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”) and Max Greenfield (“The New Girl”). There are also some fun cameos I won’t spoil here, but one recognizable actor uses his intimidating persona to hilarious effect in the last few minutes. He made me laugh so hard that I had to pause the movie. “They Came Together” is definitely made for a specific audience, but anyone who’s seen a romantic comedy before will get what Wain and Showalter are trying to accomplish. Personally, I think they nailed it – it’ll be tough to watch a bland, generic love story again without thinking about Rudd and Poehler telling their ridiculous story to an increasingly freaked out Hader and Kemper. “They Came Together” is rated R for language and sexual content. It’s now available on Blu-ray, DVD and other formats.

tors would eventually follow.

“The Apartment” (1960)

Typically (although erroneously) billed as a romantic comedy, Billy Wilder’s brilliant film is actually razor sharp, heartbreaking satire. Jack Lemmon delivers one of his finest performances and any guy who says he’s not in love with Shirley MacLaine after watching it is a liar.

“Annie Hall” (1977)

Arguably the most famous movie of Woody Allen’s career is still one of his best and most accessible. It strips away the typical clichés found in the genre and isn’t afraid to avoid the usual happy ending.

“Pretty Woman” (1990)

Maybe not the most critically adored romcom, but it remains an audience favorite almost 25 years later, as shown by the fact that it still seems to be on TV a dozen times a week. It made Richard Gere popular again (for a while) and launched Julia Roberts onto the A-list.

“Love Actually” (2003)

Classic Romantic Comedies

For many (myself included), this is a mustsee during the Christmas season. A ton of famous faces, several emotional stories and plenty of great music make this Richard Curtis flick a modern romantic comedy classic.

“It Happened One Night” (1934)

Unconventional Romantic Comedies

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert star in the granddaddy of all rom-coms. It established the blueprint that thousands of imita-

“About Time” (2013)

Domhnall Gleeson plays a lovesick time traveler who learns the fundamentals of romance and family.

“Enough Said” (2013)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini (in a warm, vulnerable final performance) play middle-aged divorcees gingerly stepping back into the dating pool.

“Her” (2013)

Joaquin Phoenix is a lonely writer who falls in love with his computer’s operating system (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) in this futuristic romance from writer-director Spike Jonze. It has a distinct, eccentric voice that fits the subject matter.

“Warm Bodies” (2013)

Calling it “Romeo and Juliet” with zombies sounds ridiculous, but the premise works thanks to a smart, funny script from Jonathan Levine and great chemistry between lead actors Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer.

“Obvious Child” (2014)

One of the most recent entries in the genre is generating controversy due to its subject matter, but Gillian Robespierre’s quick, sweet film is a must-watch thanks to Jenny Slate’s vulnerable performance. WGL

E-mail: joshsewell81@gmail.com Twitter: @IAmJoshSewell Facebook: facebook.com/josh8199

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September/October 2014

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Shrimp and Grits

Simple meals to celebrate life together

ou know that old saying – “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Actually, I’ve learned over the years that the way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach.

was when they first met: another fine meal. And there’s no better place to prepare that meal than in your home.

Whether you are driven to surprise your partner by taking time to prepare that special There are fewer things more meal yourself or, if you prefer intimate than sharing a meal to spend an evening in the with someone. For centukitchen helping each other ries, that’s how neighbors cook something outstanding, Rob Duvé were welcomed, treaties here are a few presentations were signed, and, of course, how that will make a great evening, full of couples got together. After all, most fun and flavor. first dates begin with the question: “Would you like to go to dinner”?

Shrimp and Grits

Alas, time passes and couples tend to eat out less and focus more on the needs of their relationship, household, and family. But whenever they decide to spend an evening focusing on each other instead of the world’s problems, the solution is as easy as it

If ever there was a dish that can be prepared after a long day, or as a special dinner for two, this is it. This Southern, Lowcountry staple also supports numerous variations since every region – and nearly every person – has their own version. This

is one of my favorites: ¼ pound dry cured prosciutto ham, chopped 1 teaspoon bacon drippings 1 shallot, finely diced 1 clove garlic, finely diced 2 tablespoons, all-purpose flour 11⁄2 cups water ½ cup heavy cream 1 cup yellow, stone ground grits ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; reserve 2 tablespoons for the shrimp 10 large gulf shrimp, peeled and deveined Sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and granulated garlic to taste. Chopped green onions as garnish Season the shrimp lightly with salt, pepper, and granulated garlic. Set aside until later. In a large skillet, add the bacon drippings and prosciutto over medium heat and sauté until crispy. Remove from skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add the shallot and sauté over medium

September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

heat until just translucent, then add the garlic and let cook for another three minutes. Whisk flour into the remaining fat and cook until the color turns to a light brown, then quickly whisk in water until a thick gravy forms. Add crispy prosciutto and cream, mixing thoroughly, and let simmer over low heat for about five minutes, stirring constantly. Using either an immersion blender or a stand blender, puree mixture until smooth in consistency. Set aside Next, prepare grits in a medium sauce pan, according to the directions and, just before completely cooked, add Parmesan cheese, granulated garlic, then add sea salt and pepper to taste. As the grits finish cooking, melt butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat and add seasoned shrimp. Cook until lightly browned on each side, flipping once Assemble the dish by pouring one cup of

cooked grits into a wide, shallow bowl. Top with ¼ cup of the prosciutto gravy, and arrange five shrimp on top. Finish by sprinkling a bit of the chopped green onions over the top.

Homemade Pasta with Meatballs and Tomato Sauce I mean, really? We’re talking about couples and relationships - that special meal that brings two loving people together – so, how could I forget that iconic movie moment from our collective childhood, when two lovers (dogs in this case) shared pasta and meatballs? The difference here is that you won’t be eating in a back alley, from the top of a crate, and you can use your opposable thumbs to prepare this meal yourself.

Tomato Sauce 1 large onion, finely diced 8 cloves garlic, finely diced 2 tablespoon olive oil 5-6 pounds fresh Roma or San Marzano tomatoes, blanched, peeled, and chopped 1 small can tomato paste 1 cup dry red wine 1 tablespoon fresh thyme 1 tablespoon fresh oregano 1 tablespoon fresh basil ¼ cup organic cane sugar (optional) In a large, heavy bottomed pot, sweat diced onion in olive oil over medium heat until just browned around the edges, then add garlic and sauté another five minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer over low heat, stirring often, until tomatoes are cooked down to the desired consistency. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender to puree the sauce.

Meatballs with homemade Rustic Pasta

Meatballs ½ cup Italian bread crumbs ½ cup heavy cream 2 large shallots, finely diced 6 cloves garlic, finely diced 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound ground beef 1 pound loose Italian sausage 1 large egg ¼ cup Parmesan cheese Light sea salt and pepper to taste. Mix bread crumbs and heavy cream in a bowl or measuring cup and allow to sit, so that the bread crumbs soak in the cream.

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September/October 2014

In a large skillet, sauté shallots in olive oil over medium heat until just browned around the edges. Add garlic and continue to cook for about five minutes. Turn off and allow to cool. In a large bowl, mix bread crumb/cream mixture, shallots and garlic, and remaining ingredients, and mix well with your hands until thoroughly combined. Using the same skillet, brown the meatballs on each side until dark brown. As the meatballs come out of the skillet, place them in the tomato sauce to finish cooking. When all the meatballs are finished and resting in the sauce, allow to simmer for at least 20 minutes.

A few things to remember: The cream and bread crumb mixture is there to keep the meatballs moist. The cream can be omitted, but the meatballs may dry out very easily. Also, the Italian bread crumbs add more than enough seasoning to the meatballs, so the addition of more oregano, thyme, basil, etc., is optional, but not recommended since it may make the flavor too strong. Finally, go very lightly on the sea salt. The Parmesan cheese is quite salty and the meatballs will also take on some of the flavors of the sauce as they simmer.

Chicken and Rice

Homemade Pasta 1 ¼ cups Semolina flour 2 eggs 1 tablespoon olive oil Place flour in a large bowl, making a bit of a well in the middle. Add eggs and oil to the flour and mix with a fork until well combined and a ball forms. Turn the ball out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 15-20 times, folding and rotating constantly. Place in the refrigerator to rest for about 20 minutes. Again, on a lightly floured surface, roll out pasta into a sheet about 1/8th of an inch thick and cut into one half-inch strips with a knife or pizza cutter. The kneading process can be done using a countertop mixer with a dough hook, or with a food processor. If using a food processor, place the ball inside and pulse 15-20 times. After the pasta is cut, simply boil for about five minutes or until the dough is cooked through, chewy, and al dente. When the pasta is just finished cooking, drain completely and toss in 1 cup of the tomato sauce. The pasta will continue to draw moisture and will pick up the flavors of the sauce. Place a portion of the pasta in a wide, shallow serving bowl and top with 1-2 meatballs and ½ cup of sauce; add shredded Parmesan cheese to taste and garnish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley.

It should be mentioned that this dish should be served very hot

and fresh from the pots ... so rolling a meatball with your nose toward your beloved is not at all recommended and may result in burns to the end of the nose.

Chicken and Rice Let’s take a moment and be realistic. This is a busy, work-aday world and things come up. If you’ve spent all day thinking about a great, complicated meal to knock the socks off of your significant other, only to have them call at the last minute to say “I’m working late/I have to get the kids/etc.,” you need a Plan B. It might then be time to plan something simple and soothing, and chicken and rice is just the ticket. Chicken and rice is a staple that my wife grew up on in New Orleans. It’s warm, good old-fashioned comfort food. 1 ½ pounds chicken thighs, cut into a large dice 1 ½ cups yellow onions, finely diced 1 ½ cups celery, finely diced 6 tablespoons vegetable oil, reserve 4 tablespoons for later 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups chicken stock 2 cups whole milk 1 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce Sea salt, fresh ground pepper, granulated garlic to taste

2 cups cooked Jasmine rice Season chicken well with sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and granulated garlic, then brown in a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Make sure the chicken is very well browned as this is the backbone of the flavor. Remove chicken and set aside. Over high heat, add the chicken stock and deglaze the skillet while making sure to scrape all of the bits from the bottom of the skillet. Remove from heat and set aside. In a medium sauce pan, add remaining oil (4 tablespoons), diced yellow onions, and celery and sauté over medium heat until thoroughly cooked down and lightly browned. Turn the heat up to medium high and add flour. You may need a spot of additional oil to keep the mixture from clumping, so add as needed. Stir continuously until the flour just begins to brown. Whisk in whole milk and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, add the chicken, stir in hot sauce, and simmer over low heat for about 30-40 minutes, stirring often. For a richer flavor, you might add 1-2 tsp of caramel coloring. Serve over steamed Jasmine rice with a semi sweet Muscadine wine, talk about your day with the one you love, and relish your time together.

Enjoy! September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

CARROLLTON ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC, P.C

GENERAL ORTHOPAEDICS • SPINE SURGERY • MRI • SPORTS MEDICINE • JOINT REPLACEMENT

Bremen Orthopaedics

Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic 150 Clinic Ave, Ste 101 Carrollton, GA 30117 770-834-0873

An Affiliate of Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic

204 Allen Memorial Drive, Ste. 102 Bremen, Ga 30110 770-834-0873 Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic Spine & MRI Center

Villa Rica Orthopaedics

An Affiliate with Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic

705 Dallas Highway, Ste. 301 770-834-0873

An Affiliate with Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic

812 South Park St., Ste. 3 Carrollton, Ga 30117 770-834-0873

www.carrolltonortho.com

Ralph E. Fleck M.D.

Jubal R. Watts M.D.

General Orthopaedics

Anthony W. Colpini M.D. General Orthopaedics Arthroscopic Surgery Joint Replacement

Charles N. Hubbard M.D.

General Orthopaedics

E. Franklin Pence M.D. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

General Orthopaedics Joint Replacement

Sports Medicine Shoulder Arthroplasty

P.A. - C

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September/October 2014

P.A. - C

General Orthopaedics

Sports Medicine General Orthopaedics

ANDREA MAXWELL FNP

Spine Disk Replacement

Taylor B. Cates M.D.

Amrish T. Patel M.D. Hand Orthopaedic Surgeon

MICHAEL C. GRAVETT

Brad G. Prybis M.D.

Sports Medicine Joint Replacement

Kevin M. Charron Jeffry A. Dressander M.D. M.D.

Joining The Carrollton Orthopaedic Team September 8, 2014:

DAVID A. SCRUGGS

Gregory S. Slappey M.D.

Dr. Ki Lin M.D. Spine

Shomari A. Ruffin M.D. Sports Medicine

ALISHA SCHUCHMAN FNP

Long-Term

RELATIONSHIPS The secret to staying together is looking forward and outside ourselves

onsider our new version of “American Gothic.” Like the famous painting by Grant Wood, our modern rendering shows a couple who are solidly – if a little grimly – together. Is that what a long term relationship is? Does a lifetime together have to be … dull?

Don’t tell that to Earl and Irene Cauthen of Tallapoosa. In November they will have been married 72 years. That’s more than seven decades; longer, even than Alaska and Hawaii have been states. Yet there’s enough spark in their relationship that we were able to get them to smooch on the cover of a lifestyles magazine. What is the Cauthen’s secret? How has a romance that blossomed in the middle of World War II survived into the age of disposable everything? When the flash and fancy of dating moves onto marriage; when wedded bliss is dulled by the realities of money, kids and too-much-information about spousal personal

grooming habits, what keeps people together?

There is no end to advice on finding this happy secret. Go into any bookstore, and you will There are a lot of people like the Cauthens who find that there is a small industry churning have found the answers to those questions. out book after book on how to find a mate, While Khardashians are flitting from one “true how to keep a mate, how to mate and how to love” to the next, there are couples who stay keep mating with the mate with whom you together through thick and thin, kiddie tanmated. Lots of writers have gotten rich, and a trums and loss of jobs. For richer for poorer, lot of couples have gotten poorer, chasing the for thicker around the waist; even when the chimera of happiness and seeking what seems parts below the waist are no longer interested, to come naturally for other couples. there are many good, solid relationships that keep sparking. These are 10-year relationships Our new “American Gothic” couple might, degoing on 50 – or even longer. spite appearances, find that secret. Sure, their attention is divided by their need to look fashionable and to possess the latest smart device, KEN DENNEY but look at them. They are standing together. September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

They are best buds sharing earbuds. They’re young, but as realistic as the artwork.

“Instant gratification. That’s what we’re growing up in, and have for the last generation. Instant gratification, instant everything. So, if our marriage doesn’t work out – if we don’t get instant gratification from our spouse – well, we just trade in our spouse for a new spouse.”

Charles Allen is a marriage counselor in Carrollton and he knows a thing or two about why couples break up – which only means that, over the years, he’s learned quite a lot about how couples might stay together. He points to the research of Drs. John and Julie Gottman, who for 40 years have been studying relationships in all their permutations – different genders, same genders, interracial and intergenerational. “They realized that couples fall into two major groups, which he termed for a lack of better terminology, the ‘marriage masters’ and the ‘marriage disasters.’” Being a “marriage master” seems self-explanatory. So, it might seem, be the case with “marriage disasters.” Surely those are couples who cheat on one another, or who face financial hardships, right? “Curiously enough, they discovered that both of those groups have essentially the same percentage of infidelity, the same percentage of financial problems, and the same percentage of problems with children – those kinds of things. And so, it became a curiosity to them. If the problems were essentially the same, why does one group make it and then this other group doesn’t.” The solution, Allen says, is simply one of attitude. “What they learned was that those couples just have that determination; that ‘we are going to make it.’ In spite of all this negative stuff going on in both sets of couples, the Gottmans found that the ‘marriage masters’ were doing some things that the ‘marriage disasters’ were not. Boiled down, what long-term couples were doing was simply forgetting about themselves as individuals. Instead, they emphasize the relationship; the “couplehood” as if it was its own, separate entity. When that happens, Allen says, couples begin taking a long term view of the relationship, as something which is going to endure no matter what obstacles come the way. It sounds easy, of course, but it is very difficult thing to actually do, considering the modern culture of America. “Instant gratification,” Allen declares. “That’s what we’re growing up in, and have for the last generation. Instant gratification, instant everything. So, if our marriage doesn’t work out – if we don’t get instant gratification from 22

West Georgia Living

— Charles Allen

marriage counselor in Carrollton our spouse – well, we just trade in our spouse for a new spouse.” It seems difficult to believe, but when most couples commit to a relationship – even to the point of standing up before family and friends in the midst of a way-too-expensive wedding – they don’t really get what they’re doing. They keep using the word “commitment,” but they don’t seem all that sure as to what it means. This is something that Allen runs into a lot as a marriage counselor. “It’s amazing how many couples move in together, and they get married, and even though they have a certificate, and they stood before a preacher, or a justice of the peace, and they have said the ‘I dos,’ and all of that, they have separate bank accounts. They still have all their separate credit cards; they divide the bills out just as if they were roommates. And it’s amazing when I ask them, ‘did you ever think about having a family budget and combining your bank account’ and they acted shocked: ‘I don’t want her, or him, to know what’s in my bank account.’” While it’s perfectly appropriate, even beneficial, to keep separate bank accounts – even to maintaining separate property, like the old family homestead – the failure to even consider blending some of your financial assets reflects some pretty deep things. First of all, a relationship that is more like roommates is one that neither of the mates clearly considers to be long-lasting, or permanent.

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But what this separate-but-equal mentality also does, Allen says, is open the door to secrets between the couples. And although no couple should probably know everything about each other’s’ pasts, the kind of secrets that enable partners to live separate lives with separate bank accounts do not foster a relationship built on trust and mutual security. Allen says that couples who are able to look past their individual needs, and to think outside themselves – to be, in short, considerate of the other person – are couples who are best equipped to survive. As in business, making a long-term investment – such as, for example, saving cash to send the kids to college – inescapably means looking past the present day into the deep, distant future. When a couple begins to think about the future, and, more than that, to visualize that future, then it makes it easier to survive the rough-and-tumble realities that will inevitably crop up over a lifetime. It is admittedly a tough thing to learn: to allow the personality you have spent a lifetime molding to be subsumed into that of another person, so that two people now act as one. But Allen says couples who “turn toward” one another, as opposed to turning away – to focus only on themselves – exhibit the winning behaviors of putting their couplehood ahead of their personhood. Allen uses the example of a man who wants to sit down and read the sports pages while his wife is standing at the window, looking into the yard. She sees a cute kitten romping in the grass and calls her husband to the window, wanting him to share the experience. Now what’s a red-blooded man supposed to do in a situation like that? He could say something soothing to her, like he will check it out later; he could be very rude and ask whether his wife has gone insane – or, Allen says, he could “turn towards” his wife, drag his lazy butt out of that chair and come over and share a moment – create a memory – with his wife. Of course, there are times when you want to do your own thing. But as anyone knows who has ever gone to the store at 3 a.m. to get something his partner needs, true love is setting aside what you want for what they want. It isn’t a sacrifice: it’s like Spock saying the needs of the two outweigh the needs of the one. Getting to that point, of course, is the hard part. Women and men are equally the product of their cultures and upbringing, but Allen says a few traits inculcated into men by male society

Photo By Ricky Stilley

Earl and Irene Cauthen of Tallapoosa were married on November 1, 1943 work against long-term relationships. This inhibits another winning strategy for a long relationship: letting your partner influence you. “Men were raised to be captain of the ship, and head of the household,” says Allen, quickly acknowledging that this old-fashioned attitude grates on modern couples, and especially women. Yet the vestiges of their Neanderthal past are still implanted deep in the mid-brain of 21st Century man, and that becomes a problem when the man shows reluctance to seek the advice and counsel of their partner. “Men have a difficult time being influenced by their wives. They say to me, ‘if I ask my wife’s opinion, then they are going to start running the house.’” In reality, Allen says, women aren’t interested in such sexist melodrama; all they want, he says, is for their husband to

“understand that I have a brain and would like for him to discuss things with me.”

integrated couple can imagine a time in which the other person is not a part.

When couples get together, there are adjustments to make. Perhaps the biggest adjustment is in learning how to live with one another. This does not come overnight, and no partner should expect the other to suddenly brim over with enlightenment. Living together means learning together, and that also means knitting a chain of shared experiences.

And this is especially true with something we have not discussed much here – the physical side of a relationship. Most couples begin in whirlwind of romantic feeling fueled by desire. But this physical ardor does not last, as every couple knows. Instead, it broadens into a sustained feeling of deep commitment.

This private history – of fights and joys, of intense emotions and quiet nights – is what truly builds a long-term relationship. When two people meet, they each have their separate histories; but a couple creates their own history, just as they shape their own future. Two people who become one, with their own past and own destiny, can only look forward. Just as a single person cannot see the future without themselves in it, no truly

Long after the kids are grown, and age has made it so that there are more days behind than in a future together, long-term couples have this inner passion, made of memories, to sustain them. The memories of shared love, shared grief, shared worries, shared victories last long after physical passions and desires cool. “Passion is not sex,” Allen says. “It’s holding hands. It’s catching her eye across a crowded room and sharing a smile.” WGL

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They actually have something in common ...

They own their power company. If you receive a monthly service bill from GreyStone Power, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an owner, too. As a member of this electric cooperative, you elect the Board of Directors, voice your opinions and receive financial returns through Capital Credits.

GreyStone Power. The utility owned by the people it serves.

Romance

on the Gun Range

e lost a client because of her roast beef and she commandeered his birthday gift. They each had to bring guns on their first date.

He married her anyway. The decades-long friendship of widowed Carrollton 60-somethings Jim and Sharon Wallis developed into romance in the unlikeliest of places: a shooting range. The semi-retired attorney and his beautician bride now cultivate a common hobby, spending many weekends traversing the country to compete on the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation circuit. How they came to share an interest in firearms and competitive shooting is not exactly romantic. Sharon simply needed someone to teach her how to fire a gun, and Jim agreed to be that someone.

IN MY

SCOPE

Sharon’s son, Kenny, had become increasingly concerned about her safety because she lived alone on a remote property, so he asked her to either move closer to town or to learn how to handle a firearm for protection. Jim’s daughter, Stacey, volunteered her dad for the job. He was Sharon’s attorney and already a successful GSSF competitor. It seemed a natural fit,

STORY BY REBECCA LEFTWICH PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY Jim and Sharon Wallis, Glock Guy and Glock Girl.

A bullet from Jim Wallis’ Glock, left, richoets off a metal plate as it starts to fall from the impact. The plates are spray-painted between shootings so a hit can be registered even if the target doesn’t fall. September/October 2014

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A plate falls for Jim Wallis. as the families had been friends and attended church together for 30-plus years.

Jim Wallis fires his Glock during competition.

“I took her to the range a few times and she got good, relatively speaking,” said Jim, who was at the time closing in on his goal of reaching GSSF Master Class. “I said, ‘OK, there’s a match in Dawsonville this weekend; let’s see how your training will actually pay off on a real-size target.’” On the night before the match, Stacey and her family were headed for the beach. As they left the house amid a flurry of well-wishes and hugs, Stacey unexpectedly whispered a request in Sharon’s ear: “Take care of my Daddy while I’m gone.”

The wearing of eye protection is mandatory, as evidenced by a spent shell casing about to strike Sharon on the protective glasses.

Jim and Sharon load clips prior to competition. 26

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It seemed more might be going on between Jim and Sharon than just gun safety lessons – and not just because the people at their church seemed determined to marry them off. Jim had already begun wooing Sharon with thoughtful little surprises, like a pink range bag for her gun (he now carries a matching bag). Not long after Sharon mentioned wanting a certain cast-iron skillet, Jim was handing it to her. “I said, ‘Wait, let me pay you for it,’” Sharon said, but that only sparked a playful conversation. “He told me no, it had just followed him home. I said he couldn’t keep buying me gifts, and he said he wasn’t going to miss a meal if he bought me a gift.” They left for Dawsonville in weather that seemed afraid to commit – sun, rain, sun, rain. Jim entertained Sharon with the description of a double rainbow he’d once seen, one that stretched as far as he could see in both directions. Then he made a prediction. “Jim said, ‘We’re gonna find us a rainbow. “I said, ‘Up here?’ and he said, ‘Yeah!’”

September/October 2014

Sharon’s targets. Once she was at her first GSSF competition, she was plenty occupied for the rest of the day. Sharon was immediately hooked on shooting. Jim shot four divisions (competitive classifications) and she shot one, and at the end of the day, Jim said. “Sharon asked, ‘can we come back tomorrow?’ She ended up shooting another division, and I ended up shooting another division. And it turned out that was our first date.” Ultimately, it was not gentle nudging from friends and family, or even a gift from Jim, that settled the marriage issue for Sharon. It was a literal gift from God. On the way home from Dawsonville, after the second day of competition, Jim and Sharon stopped at a Waffle House for dinner. Afterward, in the car and driving away, Sharon caught sight of something “mind-boggling.” “I looked over Jim’s shoulder and there was his rainbow!” Sharon said. “Well, he just pulled off

to the side of the road, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sitting there looking at this rainbow, which was the most vivid, gorgeous color â&#x20AC;Ś Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never seen one like that. Then Jim said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sharon, look to your right â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another rainbow.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And we sat there and watched a double rainbow form, just like the first rainbow he described. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say a word all the way back to the church,â&#x20AC;? Sharon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Spiritual was what it was.â&#x20AC;? She decided to make him an offer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;OK, Jim, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve bought me all this stuff; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken me places. I told Stacey Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d take care of you. The only thing I know how to do is cook. If you feel comfortable, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll cook your supper for you.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told her we had a problem,â&#x20AC;? Jim said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are rules against attorneys seeing clients. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see you if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m your lawyer.â&#x20AC;? Things came to a sudden, screeching halt. When Sharon asked what that meant, Jim told her: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It means you have to fire me.â&#x20AC;? Sharon didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss a beat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;OK, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fired!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Jim said, chuckling. After the roast beef supper Sharon had prepared, as promised, the couple was enjoying a cup of coffee when she noticed his cup was shaking. When she asked â&#x20AC;&#x153;penny for your thoughts,â&#x20AC;? his only reply was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mmm.â&#x20AC;? She waited, then finally asked: â&#x20AC;&#x153;whatcha got on your mind?â&#x20AC;? He told her he was trying to work up the nerve to tell her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I said you can tell me anything,â&#x20AC;? Sharon said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My goodness, you know everything about me - including my finances.â&#x20AC;?

Jim has performed marriage ceremonies for fellow participants, and Sharon often ends up playing counselor, wedding planner and caterer. They have competed in matches with children as young as 5, and with a couple in their 80s who decided to compete after watching them. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, truck drivers, Navy SEALS, a rental company manager and, of course, law enforcement are all represented in GSSF events, and most volunteer.

Finally, Jim told her he had not been interested in dating anyone in the nearly four years since his wife had passed away, but he would like to spend more time with her â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if she thought it was suitable. Now it was Sharonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turn to put on the brakes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I asked him if heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d talked to Stacey about it,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He reminded me that Stacey (and Staceyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter Jenna) already loved me, but I told him he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t in that equation; that there were a few people we needed to get permission from.â&#x20AC;?

The issue of guns can be divisive, but it was guns, after all, that brought the Wallises together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are people out there, probably people we know very well, (who feel) itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very radical for me to say that you need to teach your child to shoot,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not exactly what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m saying. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recommend it for every family, but this is something that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to have a physical ability to do. You can learn this sport, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that can be a very good thing for some families.â&#x20AC;?

Jim jumped up and immediately called his daughter. Stacey gave her enthusiastic blessing, but told her father that 11-year-old Jenna was too busy turning ecstatic cartwheels to come to the phone. With approval from both sets of children, Jim and Sharon headed down the path that eventually led to their exchange of wedding vows on the last Sunday in 2013. Coinciding with their six-month wedding anniversary was another anniversary of sorts: their return to Dawsonville a year after Sharonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first GSSF competition. She now competes using the .45 Jim bought himself for his last birthday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;She asked to shoot it once and I wound up having to buy myself another one,â&#x20AC;? Jim said â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and frequently gets asked how such a tiny woman can fire such a large gun with accuracy. Jim and Sharon have become extremely close with many of the other GSSF competitors, and despite the fierce, but good-natured, competition, they consider the matches they attend to be both social and sporting events.

As for Jim and Sharon, they are already beginning to finish each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sentences, a sure sign of soul-mates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Neither one of us was looking for a mate,â&#x20AC;? Jim said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had thoroughly decided to coast out my years, and this is not what I had plannedâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;ŚBut itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been so easy!â&#x20AC;? Sharon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This man is justâ&#x20AC;Śheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s justâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;possum.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was going to say heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautifulâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Ś but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;possum.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell him heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful and he says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a possum. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hottie!â&#x20AC;? WGL

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Sports 101

for Women

s a former sportswriter, I have to speak the truth in love to my sisters. Frankly, ladies, some of us are ruining sports.

players, but it’s rude to the people who actually bought tickets with their own actual money. You can Of course, plenty of men out bet your boots there’s some there are as obnoxious as all get out where sports are diehard Braves fan up in the nosebleed concerned. But seeing as section, scowling at we’re still struggling to be you through binoculars, taken seriously in so many important areas, equality of coveting your cushy clubobnoxiousness shouldn’t be level seat. the hill on which we’re willHe’s figured out ing to die. you scored the Distractedly choice seats your Just like that playing on your couldn’t overly enthusiasphone is not only boss use this weektic fan – the one disrespectful to end. And it’s not who jostles her like he had to be way to the edge of the players, but Sherlock to figure the crowd, elbows it’s rude to the it out. The Upton the starstruck people who actu- brothers are 10-year-old out of the way so she ally bought tickets signing autographs three can be the first with their own feet away while to get her shirt actual money. you’re busy autographed by deleting the Albert Pujols 10,000 self– you may not even realize you’re breaking ies you just took because you think they make your unwritten rules. nose look too big. We should probably start Also, if you put your with cell phones. Your cell phone away now, the dozen phone, specifically. or so people traumatized by your very loud and graphic Put it away. conversation with your girlfriend about yesterday’s That’s right, all the way visit to the doctor might be down inside the zippered section of your gigantic bag, able to stave off the nightout of easy reach. Although mares. They probably still why you would need a Mary won’t be able to look you in the eye, though. By the way, Poppins’ magic carpet bag I actually Googled what you filled with makeup (and were talking about because what I am praying to God I was curious, and really, is not actually a small dog) at a baseball game, I cannot really wish I hadn’t. Ew. fathom. See, everybody doesn’t need to know you’re bored out of your mind. Distractedly playing on your phone is not only disrespectful to the

REBECCA LEFTWICH September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

And why in the world are you spending the entire seventh inning stretch applying mascara and adjusting your head position for optimal noseslimming lighting? Professional photographers are allowed approximately the first three songs of a band’s entire show to get their money shots. If it takes you more time to do your makeup than most batters take to amble their way to the plate and complete their pre-swing rituals, maybe it’s time for you to embrace your inner beauty and watch what’s left of the game instead. That brings us to a second issue - sporting events as part of a date. Only in a couple of very specific circumstances should a sporting arena substitute for a romantic restaurant: one, if you and your date are both sports fans, and, two, if you want to learn something about sports because you really like your guy.

If neither of those apply, yet you’re still determined to go to a game on a date, don’t dress up. Seriously. There will be beer. That beer will get spilled on your $400 pumps, and it will ruin them. In fact, beer might actually get dumped on you, because real fans know better than to dress up and they will impose vigilante justice. Real fans, in their native habitat, are also vicious pack animals, so your date isn’t likely to intervene on your behalf. If you’ve already learned your lesson about dressing up and are now ready to add team colors, or even a jersey, do some research. If you have enough internet skills to find out whether Solange really slapped Jay-Z again, you can make sure you don’t embarrass yourself, your date or the rest of the sports sisterhood nation. And for God’s sake, stay in your seat. Big games are typi-

Only in a couple of very specific circumstances should a sporting arena substitute for a romantic restaurant. cally packed, and fans really, really, really don’t like having somebody prance past them 20 times an hour. Visit the ladies’ when you get to the coliseum. Buy your drinks and food before you get to your seat, then settle in for the duration. That’s right, I said buy your own food. Your date does not want to share with you. If he acts like you’re cute when you sneak a piece of popcorn or two, he’ll be over it as soon as you reach for those specialty nachos (see fans = pack animals, above.) Never expect him to leave his seat to go fetch you a snack or a drink, either, or you will look like a jerk as well as an idiot. Do not compete with the game for his attention and do not pout. Even those of us in relationships that are miles and years past dating can’t get away with that one.. Truthfully, he probably doesn’t want to listen to you anyway, but he can fake it a lot better when you’re not chattering on about that rhymes-with-witch at work while his team’s choking in the last few minutes of the playoff. If you are clueless but not dateless at a game, three universal laws apply:

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Do not flirt with the kiss cam. You will get your feelings hurt because people will make fun of you. Do not drink more than $16 worth of beer (that’s two, if you’re counting). Otherwise, you will be bored, get sloppy drunk, ruin the game for your date and make us all very, very ashamed to call you sister. Never, ever accept a marriage

proposal at a sporting event. If he’s the guy for you, he’ll understand that you’d want that to be private moment. Every woman who accepts a sporting event marriage proposal is responsible for all the domestic discord between other couples at the game that will occur when the boyfriends do not propose. If you’re both dateless and clueless, you can still come along to the game. Here’s where it’s very important to pay attention, though, because dateless/clueless rules are vital. First, follow all of the above rules whenever possible and/ or applicable. Football is popular with the dateless/ clueless masses, so plan for an outdoor event. If it’s chilly, wear a jacket, not a tank top. Don’t mock the fanatics wearing only the painted colors of their tribes above their waist. They have each other (and usually a lot of alcohol) to keep warm. Now come the Thou Shalt Nots, which must be followed in both spirit and letter: Thou Shalt Not: Announce that the reason you’re cheering for a certain team is because the quarterback has the same color eyes as you, or because he has “ a cute butt,” or has the same name as your fifth-grade crush, or because he shares your height or birthday, or that he would make pretty babies with you. Thou Shalt Not: Cheer when you have no idea what’s happening. “Get some scores!” is an appropriate cheer for no sport, ever. And repeating what other people are yelling is not only a universally terrible idea, it can get you beat up if you can’t distinguish between cheering and trash talking. Study these rules. Dwell upon them day and night. Memorize them, apply them and save the sisterhood! WGL

FAN-DE-MONIUM!

Breaking down the DNA of a die-hard sports fanatic

a·nat·ic: marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense, uncritical devotion.

That’s how the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the adjective from which the term “fan” originates. And when it comes to the athletic arena - from the pinnacle moment of a Super Bowl, to the final out in a local T-ball barnburner – those spectators in the stands, delivering a potpourri of cheers, jeers and everything in between, often become more entertaining than the game itself. Sports nuts come in all shapes and sizes, male and female, old and young. Some are loud and boisterous, while others grit their teeth, clench their fists and keep their emotions bottled up, hoping not to burst like a piñata. The way they display that passion to their beloved ballclub on game day rests deep within the DNA of their sportsavoring souls. You’ve got the face-painter: the man who looks like a maniac on Saturday afternoons, but dresses up in his Sunday best for church the next morning. Then there’s the polar bear; a bleacher-bound Braveheart standing shirtless in sub-freezing temperatures with a chest painted to show his unbridled support for the team. And I’m pretty sure the liquid in that glass ain’t water. There’s the glass-half-full fan who believes his team is never out of it, and his Eeyore-

like twin; the glass-always-empty sulker who badmouths his team repeatedly, yet still can’t turn away. And you’ve got the heckler, the obnoxious know-it-all; the 6 a.m. tailgater; the lonely soul who has an entire section of the stands to himself in the pouring rain as his team’s getting bamboozled – but he just can’t find a reason to get up and go home. And don’t get me started on that grown adult that

COREY CUSICK

cameraman always finds crying when their ball club blows the big game. It’s all for the love of a team. Ladies, you’re not off the hook when it comes to the subject of overly-spirited sports fans, either. You girls can be just as crazy. I’ve witnessed many a middle-aged housewife fire off a flurry of four-letter bombs in the heat of battle that would September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

make a sailor blush. And I’m not talking about cheer moms (that’s another subject in itself); this is the sweet mom or grandma who morphs into Medusa should you dare speak one negative peep about her boys on the field. Speaking of grandma, my own loving grandmother earned quite the reputation for being an official’s worst nightmare back in central Illinois. Whether it was the local high school basketball/football scene, or her Fighting Illini men’s basketball at the University of Illinois, granny vocalized her passion early, and often, throughout the course of a contest. Sometimes she wasn’t there to see the end of a game - due to an outbreak of fanaticism. I was too young to recall all of her “episodes” in which she was warned to “settle down.” But I know she was tossed out of at least one high school gym for offering an official a piece of her mind one evening. This is the same woman, who, some 30 years later, refused to go to the high school graduation of a family friend’s grandson because it was being held on

rival territory. I believe her exact words were: “I’d rather die than step foot in that gymnasium again.” Yep, at 86-yearsyoung, grandma still holds a grudge. Actually, no one is immune from being on the wrong end of a rabid band of boobirds. Even jolly ol’ Saint Nick infamously got showered with a smattering of boos — and snowballs — during a halftime appearance at a Philadelphia Eagles’ game one frosty December afternoon in 1968. Of course, given that this was the notoriously rowdy Philly fans, Santa Claus may have gotten off rather easy. I, too, have been guilty of allowing my favorite sports team to interfere with my quality of life from time to time. For the record, I am a faithful Chicago Cubs fan. I’ve never bought into their lovable-loser identity. I want my Cubbies to win (and hold out hope that, one day in my lifetime, I’ll actually see them end the drought that dates all the way back to 1908). Back in the fall of 2003, I thought my

time had come ... Only to have my heart ripped from my chest (again). It isn’t too much of a stretch to say that I nearly flunked out of college in October of 2003 when my dear Cubbies completely collapsed during the NLCS against the Florida Marlins. I vividly remember standing there, on Oct. 14, 2003, blankly staring up at the TV screen as the Cubs blew a 3-0 lead during the top of the eighth inning at Wrigley Field in what would have been the World Series-clinching Game 6 victory. Their Game 7 loss sent me into a spiraling depression on the couch for a few weeks as I contemplated whether the franchise truly was cursed. My best friend and college roommate, a St. Louis Cardinals fan, offered little help to ease my pain. I’ll never forget those dark, dreary nights, as the sick feeling still resonates in my gut when reflecting back on the pair of liverrotting losses. But, like all sports fanatics, I eventually picked myself up, gathered my emotions and moved on. Hey, there’s always next year, right? WGL

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Come on, Ladies

We Can Do It!

Tackling household tasks with pure woman power

K, ladies. There are times we need a stronger pair of hands to get things done; after all, we weren’t exactly made for lifting 50-pound rocks over our heads. But if our male helpmate isn’t there to help – or if you’re as stubborn as me and just want to show him you can do it yourself – we ladies have to “woman up” and find a way to do the work on our own.

Editor Emerita Amy Lavender-Buice emulates the iconic 1940s “We Can Do It!” poster. Hair by Cassie Crews of Elle Salon. Makeup by Daniele Bentley of Merle Norman Photo Illustration by Ricky Stilley I know there are a lot of things you think you can’t do, but I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. You don’t need to be six feet tall with bulging muscles, to do odd jobs around the house. All you need is a little know-how, ingenuity and the right tools. So here’s how to put those X chromosomes to work on some basic chores.

Chores Outdoors Shoveling Let’s be honest, no one likes this job. It’s difficult no matter which gender is doing

AMY K. LAVENDER-BUICE, EDITOR EMERITA

it. Yes, it may be easier for men to throw a spade full of dirt over their shoulders, but I wouldn’t say it’s just plain easy. So if you’re outside in the middle of July, trying to dig out a Koi pond, the first thing I have to say to you is: rent a backhoe. But if you think that’s overkill, at least get yourself a good shovel made with women like you in mind. Enter the Green Heron Tools’ “Hergonomic” trademark HerShovel. Yes, that’s what I said. It’s a shovel specifically designed for women, or people of short stature. Unlike your standard shovel, which is 47 to 51 inches long, the HerShovel comes in three sizes: small (for those under 5’2”); medium (5’2” to 5’7”); and large (over 5’7”). September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

You don’t need to be six feet tall with bulging muscles to do odd jobs around the house.

The really great thing about the HerShovel is the handle. Rather than gripping what is essentially a stick to shove the blade into the dirt, the HerShovel has a “D” shaped handle that is textured and slightly tilted to maximize leverage. It also only weighs 4 1/2 pounds and comes with a 10-year warranty. When I saw the HerShovel, and then thought of the three shovels we have in the shed – all of which are heavy, unwieldy and bring flashbacks from when I was hanging on to the handle for dear life while I jumped up and down on the spade – I ran straight to my husband and, not very subtly, told him that this was on my Christmas wish list. Green Heron Tools has the right idea with leverage. If you can’t justify buying a new shovel right now, remember to use leverage when using your current shovel. You could also try having a tool smith put a different handle on that old shovel – or at least cut off a few inches to make it easier to use.

Lifting and Carrying Heavy Things All right, time for an ego check. Men have more upper-body strength than women; it’s an unfortunate, scientific fact. That means when you load up a five-gallon bucket with water or tomatoes or chicken feed, etc., you will probably have a harder time carrying it across the yard than a man would. I’m not trying to make anyone feel weak, but unless you work out with heavy weights on a regular basis, you might struggle with this task. And if you do lift weights, then you know as well as I that you can throw out your back by lifting a mere 20 pounds – or a measly 10 pounds if you are trying to lift it over your head. So the goal here is not to demean anyone, but to prevent injury. All those times you’ve heard someone say “lift with your knees not your back,” they weren’t just whistling “Dixie.” What they should say, though, is “Lift with your legs, not your back.” The leg department is where women have an edge. Women have strong legs and a low center of gravity. Use these things to your advantage when you’re doing chores, and you’ll save your arms and back a lot of sore days. Another thing about that ego check: it’s OK if you need to put less in your five-gallon bucket than your brother, or your uncle, or your dad, or your husband. You may have to make more trips because there is less in your bucket, but you’ll still get the job done – and you won’t hurt yourself in the process. Also, wheelbarrows are pretty ingenious inventions; they come in handy when 34

West Georgia Living

moving a lot of heavy things from one place to another. If they’re good enough for Fred Flintstone, they’re good enough for me.

Tackling the Lawn When it comes to cutting grass, I think it’s a given that riding lawn mowers are the way to go. But how much mower do you need? For women (and short men), bigger isn’t always better. You want a lawn mower that fits both your needs and your body. What’s the point in buying the largest mower on the lot if you can’t reach the pedals and can barely steer? Fearless females willing to jump on a mower should look for something with about a 30inch deck. Yes, this means the mower will be smaller, but it should also be easier for you to control and maneuver – not to mention push back across the yard in case you run out of gas, or if it breaks down. Another option is a push mower – but make sure you get one that assists you with propulsion – or you can go electric. Electric mowers are generally lighter and quieter than a traditional mower. They are easier to manage, and you don’t have to mess with gas. True, they usually aren’t as powerful as gas mowers, but as long as you don’t wait until the yard looks like a jungle, you should be OK. Just don’t forget to plug them in. I would also recommend electric weed eaters for us ladies. I’m 5’2”, so my arms simply aren’t long enough to pull the starter cord on a gas weed eater. Electric versions make this a non-issue. Yes, you have to watch out for a cord as you cut the lawn, but if we women can avoid sucking up the vacuum cleaner cord, I think we’ve got this covered.

In The Garden There are some great products on the market for women who garden. Supply companies have long known there are big bucks to be made on this hobby, and they’re finally starting to figure out that women make up more than half of the population. There are several companies that sell ergonomic hand tools, and those are great, but they still have

September/October 2014

a large grip sized for men’s hands. I recommend checking out Patricia Ann Tools made by Wright Tools in Barberton, Ohio. They are gardening tools made for women – by a woman! Sizes range from petite to normalsized hands, and come in the line’s trademark blue color. When it comes to pruning, I’m always gritting my teeth trying to squeeze enough strength out of my hands to cut a small limb or a tough stem with a pair of loppers or pruning shears. Well, Florian Tools has the answer to that problem: ratchet-cut pruning tools. Rather than depending on brute strength to close the two blades, these tools use a ratchet action to gradually cut an item. You squeeze more often, but with much less effort. The tools are all-American made, and the company will repair and sharpen the tools for a reasonable price as they incur wear and tear. Of course, these tools aren’t just for women; they are for anyone with limited strength in their hands due to illness, age, injury, etc.

Not a Man’s Job Put a Lid On It I know its cliché, but I do ask my husband to open jars for me. Even though I know two pretty easy tricks to solve this problem, I usually just get the hubs to do it. But I’ll pass these tricks on to you to use if you’re more proactive than me. If a lid gets stuck, you can usually run it under some hot water and it will loosen up. Another tecnique is to stick one prong of a fork under a screw-top lid and pop the seal. However, this can result in bent fork prongs, so use with caution. What I don’t recommend is banging any part of the jar or lid on the counter top – that’s just plain dangerous. And, I don’t know about you, but who wants to clean up a bunch of glass in the middle of a kitchen floor, plus whatever the jar was holding.

Grilling Out That’s right! The last bastion of male culinary freedom is now at risk because I’m going to tell you how to use the grill. First, maintaining a clean grill is an essential part of grilling out, so you’ll need a wire brush to clean your grate. Don’t use soap! Season your grill every time you use it by rubbing or spraying vegetable or canola oil on the grates. Second, know this: all grills fall into two

categories – gas and charcoal. If you’re using gas, your job is much easier. Simply clean the grill, turn the gas to a high setting, ignite with an extended lighter (or, better yet, push a button), then turn the burner down to the appropriate level and begin cooking. Of course, make sure your gas tank is full, hooked up properly and that the tank valve is open to allow gas to flow through your grill. If you’re using a charcoal grill, the job is tougher, but you’ll get the satisfaction men feel when conjuring fire from basic elements. Take out the grates and make a small pyramid of charcoal in the center of the bottom of the grill (Note: do not lay your briquettes out in a flat layer, otherwise they won’t catch fire.) Now, get some lighter fluid and wet the briquettes. Wait a few seconds to let the fluid soak in, and then wet them again. You could use pre-treated charcoal, but in my opinion it makes your food taste a bit like kerosene, whereas canned lighter fluid burns off. Light your charcoal from the bottom and in several places (at least four) to ensure your fire burns upward and evenly. The fire will probably go out before you think it should, but that’s OK. As long as you have a good bit of smoke, and you start to see the edges of your charcoal turn white, you’re on the right track. Just be patient. If the briquettes stop smoking, you’re going to have to relight. This will take some nerve. Wait a few minutes and squirt on a little bit more lighter fluid (don’t douse it), and let it soak in. It will sizzle, but this is alright. To relight relatively safely, use a piece of rolled up newspaper or an extended lighter to relight the pyramid in several places again. Once your charcoal is white, spread it out. Replace the grates and start cooking!

Using tools Nowadays, there are tools on the market for just about everything under the sun. Tools have not only become very job-specific, but also easier to use and better engineered. There are self-adjusting wrenches and ratcheting screwdrivers at every home improvement store in the nation, so feel free to go shopping. But the biggest tip I can give you is on how to swing a hammer. Yes, I know it seems pretty easy and self-explanatory. However, if you start literally swinging a hammer – as in your whole arm is moving and your hand is coming up over your head when you try to hammer something in – you’re going to wear yourself out pretty quickly. The trick is

The HerShovel is a shovel-spade hybrid designed to help women and people of short stature do the same kind of shoveling work as is done with larger gardening tools. Photo Courtesy of Green Heron Tools

September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

to use your wrist more than your arm. Let the weight of the hammer do the work for you; then all you have to do is aim.

Construction If you’re planning on tackling something like a birdhouse, I say go for it. My advice is measure twice, cut once. For anything more complex, I say hire a contractor. If you’re fairly comfortable with woodwork and you want to expand your skills, that’s one thing. But if you’re a complete novice, and you want to build a deck, or a table – or simply change out a window pane – beware. Those do-it-yourself shows make it look a lot easier than it really is because those guys are professionals. (My attempt to change out a door comes to mind; let’s just say it didn’t go well.) Like all things TV related, just because it’s a reality show doesn’t make it real. So, as long as you know all this when going into your project, you have my blessing. Personally, I prefer YouTube and Pinterest with pictures and instructions. Most of those are posts made by real people, so if they can do it you probably can, too.

Killing Icky Things Don’t be afraid! The biggest thing getting in the way of ridding your home of something yucky is your fear of it. And the old adage is true: whatever that creepy thing is, it’s probably more afraid of you than you are of it. Purchase the following items and use at will: Fly swatter; rolled up magazine; Hot Shot; mouse trap; ant trap. Also, plain old soap and water can do wonders. Put some dish soap and water in a spray bottle and it will kill sugar ants roaming on your counter tops. If beetles are feeding on your garden plants, put some soapy water in a bucket and drop the beetles in; they’re goners. Of 36

West Georgia Living

course, if you have an infestation, leave it to the pros. If you have a nest of hornets, bees, yellow jackets, wasps, etc., just walk away slowly. For the most part, if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. A few hornets flying around pollinating your flowers isn’t really a bad thing, and they’re not worth getting stung over. You can always remove the hive/ nest come winter and they’ll just build somewhere else next spring. Same goes for snakes: just leave them alone – especially if you can’t tell poisonous ones from non-poisonous ones. If you find one in the house, call the professionals or wait for it to go out the way it came in – and then plug the hole. Mice, on the other hand, will set up shop in your home if you don’t take action. So bait some mouse traps with some peanut butter and set them in places you’ve seen mice (or their leavings) but which your pets can’t access. The great thing about modern mouse traps is that you don’t even have to see the mouse once it’s in the trap, much less touch it. All you have to do is check the trap and, if the lever indicates a varmint is inside, throw it away. But again, plug the hole where the mice are coming in, or you’ll be on a constant merry-go-round of mouse catching.

Changing Your Oil Car tinkering isn’t just for boys. And one way to prove that – and assert your independence – is to change your own oil. First, figure out what kind of oil, how much oil and what kind of oil filter your vehicle requires by looking in your owner’s manual. Equipment you’ll need include: a wrench to fit the drain plug (not all of them are the same size), a specially designed wrench for the oil filter, a new oil filter, an oil pan, a funnel, and new oil. Locate your drain plug underneath your engine. Use your wrench to unscrew it. As with all things when it comes to items that you are unscrewing, “lefty loosy,

September/October 2014

righty tighty” (left or counter clockwise.) Tip: don’t lie directly underneath your drain plug as you unscrew it, otherwise you’ll get a face full of oil. Let the oil drain into the pan. While it’s draining, locate your oil filter, which is cylindrical and usually on the front or side of the motor. You’ll need a special wrench that loops around and clamps onto the filter to loosen it, then you can remove it the rest of the way by hand. Take a rag and wipe away any excess oil where the filter fits into the engine. Rub oil around the rubber gasket of your new oil filter when you put it in place. Screw the oil filter cap back on “handtight.” You want it to be snug, so you may want to tighten it slightly with the wrench, but not enough to cause the filter to crack and leak. Screw the oil plug back in, and put the new oil in through the oil cap (on top of the engine) using your funnel. This will prevent oil from spilling all over your engineand causing a plume

of black smoke to rise from under the hood of your car the next time your engine gets hot. Again, the amount of oil your car needs depends on the car; however, most people are safe with four quarts for smaller vehicles. So, put your four quarts in, crank it to make the oil circulate, then switch off and let the oil settle back down. Then, you can check the oil level with the dip stick in the oil cap. The dip stick has etched lines to tell you whether you are low or full. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

** So ladies, I hope this helps you gain a bit of confidence in the “man job” department. No matter what, I hope that in the future you don’t look at things as “woman jobs” or “man jobs” but rather just “jobs that need to be done, so I might as well do them.” Besides, as an old motivational poster from World War II says, “We Can Do It!” I couldn’t agree more. WGL

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Submit your recipes by Sept. 10 to be considered for West Georgia Living’s 2014 special holiday food issue.

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L V  Submit all recipes (and pictures, if available) to Ken Denney at ken@times-georgian.com, or drop them off at the Times-Georgian, 901 Hays Mill Rd., Carrollton.

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Around the World . . . Ginny Nickoloff elicits a smile from Bob Fischer as she recounts some of their adventures.

. . . with Ginny and Bob f it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium. Or Barcelona. Or Thailand. Or Chattanooga.

The question for Ginny Nickoloff and her friend Bob Fischer is not where they’ve been; it’s where they haven’t been. For most of the past decade, this couple has been traveling to some of the most exotic places on the Earth, finding fun and adventure wherever the compass points. And they’re not ready to stop yet. They’ve gone places and done things that other people can only dream of. Phineas Fogg and Michael Palin may have circled the globe in 80 days; Ginny and Bob made the same trip in 48 days. They have cruised around Alaska, crisscrossed the Lower 48, explored India, cruised on the Danube, and dined in Budapest. They have traveled by

STORY BY KEN DENNEY PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY 38

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

Ginny Nickoloff and Bob Fischer.

Smiley stickers show all the places Ginny and Bob have visited all over the world. plane, train and automobile, not to mention gondolas, ships and ferries. And elephants; lots and lots of elephants. They are, Ginny says, her favorite animals. They are neighbors at Fairfield Plantation, near Villa Rica. They are both widowed and live in the homes they shared with their spouses. So, what makes them good traveling companions? “We get along really good,” says Ginny, aged 88. “We don’t argue about anything, do we?” Bob, 86, quickly agrees – well, except for one small detail as to how they met. It was at a Super Bowl party. Her husband had passed away in 1999; his wife had died in 1998. She had accepted an invitation to watch the game at the gated community’s clubhouse. She said she did not much want to go to a party; she’d rather watch the game. But soon after she sat down in front of one of the TV sets, Bob joined her. That’s her story. Bob says she sat down next to him. But no matter what really happened the two discovered that they had a lot more in common than just living near the golf course. Both had moved here from other states. Not that unusual, perhaps – but they both had

ties to California. But not only that, they were both from Los Angeles. And not only that, they were from the very same suburb of Los Angeles, Sierra Madre, California, located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley. They had lived there in the 1950s. Her son and his daughter were in the same fourth grade class. Somehow, by some alchemy of luck, fate, destiny – call it what you will – both Ginny and Bob had traveled in a round-about way, from the 2,100 miles from Los Angeles, via several other locales in between, to wind up in the same place at the same time in Carroll County. “This is weird,” Ginny remembers thinking at the time. But after having travelled in such a circuitous fashion to meet one another, perhaps it was also destiny that they should start traveling together. Their first major trip, in 2002, was an Alaska Cruise. The next year, it was Barcelona and Venice. The next year was a lot of driving across the Midwest. Then, in 2005, they traveled to Buenos Aires and Brazil. Then came several driving trips, and train trips, crisscrossing the country, so that they each could finally say they had visited every state in the union. Then, from March 26 to May 12, 2012, the couple traveled around the world. From

Some of the collectibles Ginny has accumulated on her many travels. Atlanta, they headed first to London, then Paris, then on to Nairobi, Delhi, Guangzhou, Seoul, Bali, Sydney, Los Angeles and then – 48 days later – back home. It took a year to plan that trip, and they used all of their frequent flyer miles to do it. September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

Ginny says that coordinating reservations for a Nile cruise and a train trip across India with available Delta flights was their biggest challenge.

well into her 90s. In fact, there is a world map in her office studded with stickers. The yellow ones mark the places she has been â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sometimes without Bob or with members of her family. The blue stickers are for places she wants to go.

The train trip was aboard an opulent assemblage of coaches called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Palace on Wheels.â&#x20AC;? They like train trips, but both say that even the best accommodations on Amtrak pales in comparison to that rolling palace. Bob had done some traveling before he and Ginny met, but many of those trips were business related. Ginny caught the traveling bug early, and their trips together have been much more tourist-oriented. One place they would like to see again is Africa. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where they were in 2007, hopping by small plane to various small villages, watching the rhinos, and finally winding up at a resort in Nairobi where giraffes wander by to stick their heads through open doors and windows. The resort was an unusual destination. Ginny and Bob prefer to stay at bed and breakfasts, which Ginny locates through meticulous computer research. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are always interesting and often have other interesting people staying there,â&#x20AC;? she

In this post-9/11 world, many Americans would rightfully be concerned about traveling to some places in the world. But Bob and Ginny say they have never had a problem traveling overseas, even if some of their fellow American travelers have made bad impressions on the local people.

Ginny and Bob on safari in Africa. says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get beautiful breakfasts at the Holiday Inn!â&#x20AC;? Ginnyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home is full of mementoes of their many trips. Bob says he has only a few; he has given away most of what he collected on the road to his children. They admit they have slowed down a bit in their travels, a mild concession to their age. But they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t plan on stopping. Ginny says she draws her inspiration from her mother, who inspired her own wanderlust and who continued to travel

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how you act,â&#x20AC;? says Bob. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We see a lot of people who think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re big shots and they try to boss all these people around. But with most of the guides, you treat them with respect and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re your friend.â&#x20AC;? Ginny sums up the reason why she enjoys traveling while telling the story of a time she shared with their hosts in Africa: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we were having dinner there, I was so overwhelmed with the whole experience. Sometimes, in a moment, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re living 100 percent. And I started to cry, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m telling these people, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I feel like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m living 100 percent.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like there.â&#x20AC;? WGL

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Working Together Really K&M Works Three west Georgia couples make happiness their business

elationships already require effort, even without any extra pressure. So, it should be no surprise that most couples balk at the idea of running a business together. Marriage and small business ownership both demand plenty of patience and a kind of commitment that, in a culture built partly on individualism, unnerves those who dream of rootless freedom. Reports of a 50 percent divorce rate, coupled with stories of doomed startup attempts are not encouraging. Yet, family-run businesses pop up all the time. And there are many who make it work. Successful couples start with a sturdy foundation; a bond built on communication and mutual respect. That’s the same formula that helps build a healthy business. When these traits are combined in the right way, the job can actually strengthen the marriage. Potential stressors on a relationship never even come to mind. Indeed, for some, the collaboration remains the easiest, most advantageous part of the business endeavor.

Coffee

Michael and Kellie Smith, owners of K&M Coffee Co. in Tallapoosa. Kellie and Michael Smith Tallapoosa, Haralson County

You can tell that the owners have warm and creative personalities; they’re the perfect kind of people for the coffee business.

&M Coffee stands in the middle of a strip of brick buildings in downtown Tallapoosa. The store faces the railroad tracks that split downtown in half, a view that adds to the store’s rustic, small-town character. The interior is filled with dark wood and low lighting, complemented by a flood of natural light pouring in from the front windows. The walls are lined with various photographs and paintings from wall to wall.

They met in Virginia. Michael was in the Navy and one day walked into the nightclub where Kellie worked. Now they’ve been together for 17 years, and married for nine.

“We’re kind of an artsy family,” Kellie Smith says. The space is the kind of cozy, yet polished and chic atmosphere perfect for anyone looking to sit down with a dark coffee and catching up on work, or to finish a book. “We love it when people walk in and say ‘it’s so comfortable in here’” To the right sits a desk saddled with crafts and notebooks, with an open purse on the chair and a sweater over the back. Kellie keeps her own work area out in the open, right across from the counter. “I’ve got my stuff strewn everywhere, so it’s like my second home.” “We wanted to be more of an old, homey kind of place,” says her husband, Michael.

STORY BY COLLEEN DONNELLY PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

They bought the building on East Alabama Street in 2007 and expected to open K&M soon after the purchase. Not quite. “We didn’t think it was going to be that long, so we popped up a sign that said “coming soon.” People started referring to us as the ‘Coming Soon Café.’” After three years of construction and renovations, the Coming Soon Café evolved into K&M Coffee. Michael had wanted a coffee shop for years. “Going around in the Navy, I always visited coffee shops, and always thought I would want one.” Kellie had her own dream as well, which they included in the business. “She was into a restaurant-type atmosphere, so we kind of combined the two into K&M” They also combine their individual skills to make the business work. Kellie worked as an office manager and understands how to run a store. Michael knows construction, so he takes care of the maintenance. For this couple, co-owning a coffee shop works better for both the relationship and the business.

September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

where you have to worry about stepping on somebody’s toes.” They’re open with each other and respect each other’s input. There’s no question that co-ownership makes sense for them. It’s just another kind of partnership. “It’s easier because we work well together,” she says.

Customer Jerry Mathis enjoys a good book and a cup of coffee.

Kellie is an advocate for spousal teams. “I think the best partner would be a spouse. You can trust the person you’re with. You know they’re not going to change. You know they’re going to be there through thick and thin.”

“I couldn’t imagine trying to run this with someone else,” Michael says. “Then, difficulties or animosities might develop – but not when it’s just us.”

“It’s kind of like taking a road trip with somebody,” she adds. “You get to know them more when you’re doing something together than when you’re leading separate lives.”

In a business partnership, as in marriage, effective communication skills are a must. Kellie thinks it’s beneficial that they “can tell each other exactly how we feel about everything, rather than having an employee

And they appreciate the amount of quality time the partnership allows, especially compared to previous jobs where their schedules conflicted. Kellie now enjoys how they “get to spend more time together.” Her previous job made her work weekends, and Michael

Kellie Smith works on some jewelry she sells at K&M. says his earlier job required him to travel. “It was very odd for us to have more than two days together” While some couples claim that even working at the same office seems an intrusion of well-needed space, Kelly says they’re “one of those weird couples who actually like spending time together.”

Bowdon Coffee Roasters Kathie and Eddie Holz Bowdon, Carroll County

n downtown Bowdon, tucked on a side street off the main strip, Bowdon Coffee Roasters sits snug in a small community of businesses off City Hall Avenue. It was Eddie Holz’s dream to open a coffee shop: “I’ve always liked a good cup of coffee.” The walls display various coffee-themed antiques and art pieces. “I collect a lot of coffee memorabilia” Eddie explains, and it’s clear from his extensive knowledge, the 42

West Georgia Living

Kathie and Eddie Holtz are the owners of Bowdon Coffee Roasters.

September/October 2014

Rose Jabat, left, buys a scone from Eddie. detailed care of his roasts, and the décor throughout the shop, that coffee is more of a passion than a pastime. The cement warehouse floors, coupled with the deep red walls and exposed brick behind the counter, are reminiscent of urban loft designs or chic vintage shops. But the shop combines the bohemian with a rural, small-town feel and an intimate ambiance. All of which perfectly reflects the cerebral and welcoming attitudes of Eddie and Kathie Holz. “This is a successful business, I think, just because of the human touch that the business brings. We just enjoy the people,” Kathie says. Eddie has his desk out in the open, set up at the back of the shop. He used to keep it in a small windowless office in the back, but he hated the isolation. Now his office sits among the tables where customers also mingle and work. For Eddie and Kathie, the shop is a home; simply an extension of themselves or their marriage. They care deeply about their business and their patrons. After returning from a long vacation, Kathie realized how much she missed interacting with their customers. They also take pride in owning a business that adds to the character of their hometown.

Wes and Tammie McEntyre enjoy a cup of coffee.

“People come in from out of town, they’ll say, oh, thank God there’s a coffee shop” Bowdon Coffee Roasters seems to be a kind of second home for locals and regulars, as well as a welcome center for out-oftowners to get to know a more personal side of the city. While the shop remains a strong asset for the city, it is also one of the few artisanal roasters of coffee beans in the entire state; the only such business between Marietta and Birmingham. “When we wanted to do a business I knew it would be difficult to have a coffee shop, so that’s why we went to the roaster; to have a hook, a niche.” Eddie went all the way to Idaho to learn the craft. They both did their research - figuring out how much money they needed to save, what equipment they needed, and speaking to other successful roasters. And if they have any advice for couples wanting to enter into business together, it would be to do exactly as they have done. “Do your homework,” Kathie says. “Do your research. Have an idea of what it’s going to cost you.” They’re adamant that preparation relieves couples from the inevitable tensions caused by financial pressure. “I think we eliminated one big stressor by saving money and

Kathie Holtz bags some freshly roasted Columbian coffee beans for a local customer. September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

having cash,” Eddie says. “Money in any relationship can be a divider.”

always said before that we could never work in the same place.”

“You have to be flexible,” Kathie insists. “But we’ve always been good friends.”

Eddie and Kathie Holz have been married for 38 years. They initially met one fall while attending a graduate course together at the University of West Georgia. It wasn’t until the next spring, when a mutual friend officially introduced them, they really got to know each other.

That attitude changed, however. Now they cherish their time together as co-workers. “I think it’s made us more appreciative of each other,” Kathie says. Eddie feels the same, and it shows in the clear affection he shows for his wife.

“Yes, we like each other,” Eddie adds.

“That’s when I won her heart,” Eddie says. They worked as school teachers in Douglas and Carroll counties until retirement, but never worked in the same school. Kathy confesses that separate work environments felt like the best arrangement at the time. “We’ve never worked together, and we

“Being co-owners of a business is kind of fun. I think it’s strengthened our relationship.” They seem to make their partnership look easy. Eddie believes that couples who remain open to one another and support each other will have better chances of success. What works is “transparency; a sense of common ground and mutuality.”

This kind of friendship extends beyond their relationship into their work. Respect remains vital to any partnership, and this couple shows mutual respect for each other by maintaining a sense of equality at the shop and in the home. “We’ve never had a real strong role-orientation in our marriage. So it’s not, ‘you’re supposed to do this; I’m supposed to do that.’ It’s always been: “we’re a family, we run it together,’” Kathie says. And Eddie agrees. “We’ve always been ‘we.’”

Burke’s Grill Dwight and Peggy Burke Douglasville, Douglas County

he owners of Burke’s Grill in Douglasville take pride in their “familyfirst” philosophy. Dwight and Peggy Burke have been running the business for two years, after Dwight retired from his job as a manager at Red Lobster. “He came home and told me he had quit his job. I was semi-retired. So I said, okay, what are you going to do?” Dwight wanted to open his own restaurant. So they traveled around, looking for the perfect spot, and found one: a cozy nook in a tiny strip mall just 10 minutes off I-20. The suite used to house a Japanese restaurant. They left the sushi bar up, complete with black and white Japanese panels lining the top, but added their own flair . The restaurant isn’t what you would expect from the tiny strip mall on the outskirts of bustling Douglasville. It has a strong feel of home, and not just because of the cozy atmosphere. It’s also due to the welcoming attitude of every employee. “We’ve met so many people that are not just customers, they’re friends and family. Our employees, I feel like they’re our family. I feel like they’re our kids.” 44

West Georgia Living

Dwight and Peggy Burke. Then she’s asked how their romance began. “You really want that story? That’s a long story,” Peggy says. Dwight laughs. Peggy and Dwight were living in the same apartment complex in New Orleans. They both attended a “meet your neighbor” party for the residents and Dwight was the first person Peggy noticed. The two locked eyes and smiled at each other all night, but never spoke. When Peggy went home that night, she called her mother to tell her, “I met this guy, and if I ever meet him again, I’m going to marry him.” Peggy

September/October 2014

admitted she didn’t know anything about him. Her mom asked if she was on drugs. Peggy didn’t see Dwight until a month and a half later – even after driving around the apartment building every night, hoping to run into him. One day, she and her family went to the restaurant where he happened to work. “I saw him come out of the back, so I grabbed my sister-in-law and said ‘That’s him!’” When she introduced herself and mentioned the party, Dwight merely said: “oh, I must’ve been drunk.” But her brother said, “I think he really likes you!” Peggy didn’t give up. She ate at Morrison’s

every week with her brother, just so he could see her. “Basically I stalked him for two months or so.” After two months, she decided to go eat alone. That’s when Dwight finally asked her out. “All that time he thought my brother was my boyfriend, and that I was just trying to show him off.” It’s now 32 years later, and each partner feels as if they’re getting to know each other all over again. Working in such close contact for so many hours allows for more opportunities to see different sides of each other. “When you don’t see each other as much, you see each other through rose-colored glasses. When you suddenly start seeing each other more, the mystery is gone,” Peggy says, “But if you love each other, it really doesn’t matter.” Peggy recalls discovering Dwight’s MacGyver-esque talent for creating complex foods under pressure, whipping up his own ranch dressing and mayonnaise when they ran out with no time to run to the store. “How do you even do that?” she asked, amazed. Dwight has learned new things about Peggy. ”I always thought she was smart,but I found out she was much smarter.” Until opening Burke’s Grill, the two didn’t have as much time with each other. Their schedules conflicted. Peggy worked Monday through Friday, Dwight worked weekends, and they struggled to see enough of each other. “It was kind of a dysfunctional marriage as far as overlapping time,” Dwight says. The restaurant helped relieve that. “Now we get to spend more quality time together” Dwight adds, “I enjoy the closeness. We didn’t have that before.” Dwight had an early passion

Dwight Burke in the kitchen for creating his own food and went to culinary school in the ‘70s. Yet, he worked for various restaurant chains for most of his life, which Peggy says “stifled that creativity, because everything came in cookie-cutter, pre-packaged. He wanted to do something different.”

hugs everybody who comes in here; that’s her big claim to fame.”

Now, Peggy explains, “he loves to make everything from scratch. Our food is the best in town.”

“So I hug everybody.”

While Dwight uses his creativity and resourcefulness, he insists that it is Peggy is who keeps the place afloat with her wits and her warmth.

Peggy once attended a seminar where she heard the theory that humans need the contact of seven hugs a day to stay emotionally healthy.

And this makes the customers happy, too. “I think we have people come here who would rather have the hug than the food,” Dwight says. Their individual skills provide a

Skylar Lance, right, tries to get her baby sister, Anna Belle, to eat some grits at Burke’s Grill. near perfect balance for a business partnership, and the respect they have for each other’s personal strengths reveals how they came to be such a powerful team. WGL

“I do the food part, and I tell everyone she’s the brains of the operation,” Dwight explains. “Her strengths are my deficiencies.” An accountant for most of her life, she handles the finances, the marketing, and most importantly, a personal feel that makes customers feel like they’re walking into a second home. “She’s great with people. She

“Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One” Phone: 770-258-7239 Fax: (770) 258-7230 rainwaterfuneralhome.com September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

GARDENING

Couples who

Garden Together Share the WORK and the BEAUTY

Ralph and Marilyn Van Pelt

im and Richard Littleton have been gardening together for the 29 years of their marriage, and have inspired their now grown children to garden. They even have family competitions to judge who has the best.

beautiful plants that balance the amazing walls, ponds and arbors that Ralph builds. Marilyn mixes annuals with perennials, and shrubs with trees to achieve a harmony with Ralphâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beds. Together, they create hardscapes that are works of art.

Marilyn and Ralph Van Pelt are two parts of another gardening couple. She chooses 46

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

Cherrie and Billy Glover approach gardening as they do their other passions: with lavish attention to detail. Cherrie says that the couple considers not caring for your garden properly to be a form of plant abuse, and chooses the right plant for the right place

STORY BY PHYLLIS KING, MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER / PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

Richard and Kim Littleton while nurturing each to its full potential. There are many other gardening couples across west Georgia; men and women who combine their talents to create beautiful environments. They are a continual source of inspiration to the Master Gardener volunteers who serve as teachers and mentors to both amateur and seasoned horticulturalists. Lynn and Dennis Holt are inspired by trips to nurseries, garden shows, antique shops, and just about anywhere there are outdoor decorations. Lynn says these activities can be as addictive as dreaming and scheming about the perfect garden shed This kind of devotion means that some other activities, like housework, take a lower order of priority. Like many master gardeners, the Holts also

Billy and Cherrie Glover. Contributed photo. take time to put effort into the Demo Garden, located just up the hill from the Carroll County Ag Center on Newnan Road. Lynn cares for her peaceful Charleston style shade garden, and Dennis does a myriad of different building projects. Planning thoroughly is the starting point for Joyce McArthur and David Weiner. Each has learned to respect each other’s strengths. As they are planning, they divide the tasks and set guidelines. David says they simply stay out of the other’s way. Joyce said having two bosses doesn’t work, especially in choosing what to plant. David only likes to plant things he can eat, so he is in charge of vegetables. Joyce loves the color and beauty of ornamentals. Other couples have developed other ways to divide their labor. Cherrie Glover usually chooses the plants, while Billy handles mowing and caring for the lawn, but they share

Perhaps you desire to know what is in – and what is NOT – in the food your family enjoys. Perhaps you just enjoy the benefit that comes from the exercise of doing the work. Maybe it is the surprise of finding a sweet potato plant growing from your compost pile that will furnish sweet potatoes all fall and winter. Or, your drive might be simply sitting in your garden, enjoying a morning cup of coffee, while observing the miracles and changes that Mother Nature made overnight.

September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

the efforts needed on the big jobs – like removing big limbs when it is time to prune. The Littletons contribute to cultivating their 12 acres and caring for their bees and animals. However, Richard has learned that the wise choice is to wait for Kim to tell him where to dig a hole - otherwise, he might have to dig a second one. If you are one part of a couple who also wants to get into gardening, these experienced couples have some good advice, especially when it comes to which tools to use to care for gardens. Most every plan begins with digging. A sharpened shovel, a spading fork, or a Japanese digging knife can be employed in our region’s tough red clay. Power tools can also be used; Dennis Holt attaches an auger to a battery operated drill for putting bulbs in the ground. Hand trowels are common, and Marilyn Van Pelt keeps several in different places in the garden for convenience. Pruners vary in size from a Japanese bonsai toolset to tree pole saws. Both Joyce McArthur and Cherrie Glover recommend the ratchet style for all sizes because it decreases the brute strength needed. Kim and Richard Littleton use both a push plow and a push planter in their large vegetable garden. Lynn Holt even considers her minivan a tool because it hauls both tools and grandkids; it is known as Gammie’s Gardening Mobile. Gardeners need personal protection and comfort. Good gloves are essential, and nitrile is often preferred. Steel-toed boots save toes, and a garden seat of some type saves the back. Unfortunately, however, no one has yet developed a device that helps you stand up after a long time on those seats. But big or small, any tool you

use needs to be sharpened and cleaned because dull, dirty tools do not work well and can harm plants. These couples have discovered one big secret of gardening: knowing which tool is the best tool is a combination of science and art, a definition that fits gardening as a whole. And for them, the best tool isn’t kept in a shed; it’s the pool of knowledge found among their fellow volunteers, along with the experts on the University of Georgia web site. And there are many brochures and publications available by stopping by the Extension office on Newnan Road and speaking to a Master Gardener volunteer at 770-836-8546. But while all this knowledge, planning, tools, and resources are important, the motivation that drives gardeners is the real story. These motives are as different as the couples who live them. Perhaps you desire to know what is in – and what is NOT – in the food your family enjoys. Perhaps you just enjoy the benefit that comes from the exercise of doing the work. Maybe it is the surprise of finding a sweet potato plant growing from your compost pile that will furnish sweet potatoes all fall and winter. Or, your drive might be simply sitting in your garden, enjoying a morning cup of coffee, while observing the miracles and changes that Mother Nature made overnight. The many teams of life partners across west Georgia whose energy and devotion to horticulture are a continual inspiration to Master Gardeners. Their drive fuels our own enthusiasm, and we share what we do out of our desire to inspire and educate others about gardening. It’s not just the plants; it’s the appeal of working together to make our world a little better. WGL

Joyce McArthur and David Weiner.

Come By and Visit Us!

Southern Home & Ranch Garden Center 1110 NORTH PARK STREET • CARROLLTON, GEORGIA • 770-832-0114 HOURS: MONDAY-SATURDAY 8AM-7PM • SUNDAY 12PM-5PM VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: WWW.SHRCENTER.COM

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

readers’ choice winner

times-georgian I 2014

ARTISTS CORNER

The band Paris Luna prior to their performance at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park in July. They are, from left, Dan Barker, Michael Harris, Heather Russell, Kane Russell, Toby Marriot and Jonny Daly.

Carrollton’s own . . .

aris Luna is a five-member, Carrolltonbased band that has been making a name for itself since it was founded in 2004. In 2012, Heather Russell – whose stage name is also the band’s name – was co-winner of the Best Rock Female prize at the first-ever Georgia Music Awards. Their first album, “City Lights,” became a music mainstay for programs on such networks as Lifetime, MTV, and the Discovery Channel and was heard in over 185 countries. Their second album, “Between the Ditches” marked the groups’ evolution into country. A third al-

PARIS LUNA

bum is on its way. In the meantime, the band members (which include her husband, Kane) have become familiar figures in show arenas around the South, playing alongside such stars as Sheryl Crow, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Phillip Phillips and the Marshall Tucker Band. Heather is the lead songwriter and performer for the group and she answered our questions about the band.

STORY BY KEN DENNEY PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

Where does the name “Paris Luna” come from? Our very first big show was opening for another band in Johnson City, Tenn., and at that time, in 2004, we were Heather Russell Band. But the promoter told me I needed to change the name because it was the same as a yodeler in Johnson City, and that I would not get any press from the show. And he gave me like 15 minutes. So, I was sitting at the computer, trying to think of a name, when I called my mom September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

Paris Luna performs at Unplugged In The Park at Park Tavern in Atlanta. For their first number, they were joined on stage by Kate Coleman, right, of the band Kate and Corey.

(in Paulding County) and asked her to help me think of something from my past; something that meant something to me about my music history. And she went into this big story about the first song I ever wrote on the piano … it was called the Moon over Paris. I didn’t think that was a good name, but when I got off the phone, I was chomping down on my Luna Bar when looked at the package. And I’m like, ‘Luna! Moon! Oh my gosh!’ And so I wrote down Paris Luna and the rest is history. Who is in the band? Members of my band are Kane Russell (drums), Michael Harris (guitars), Toby Marriott, (bass) Jonny Daly (pedal steel guitar) and 50

West Georgia Living

myself (songwriter, vocals, guitar, keyboards). How long have you been playing together? We’ve been playing together as Paris Luna since 2004 Do you write all the songs? I do write all of my songs. I then take them to the studio and whichever producer I am using at the time takes a stab at tweaking the finished product Do you write the tune first, and then the lyric? It’s different for every song, but a lot of

September/October 2014

times, a tune comes to me in a whoosh after playing one chord, or riff on guitar and I’ll just go with it. But every song has a different story. Like “Southern Girl” (“Between the Ditches,” 2013), I had to pick up my kids at mom’s and I was jumping in my 1970 Ford truck because it was the only vehicle in my driveway that would crank. And it has the three-on-a-tree and all that kind of stuff. And I was just kind of laughing at my situation, driving this big o’ truck, and I just started thinking of lyrics. And I wrote “Southern Girl,” no music, just the lyrics, in the 30 minutes it took to get to mom’s house in Paulding County. I sang the whole song for her at the kitchen table, she said, ‘wow, that’s a really great song; you better write it down,’ so I took a paper plate from her kitchen and wrote all the lyrics on there.

And then some happen on the guitar. They all have a different story. Who are your influences? I don’t even know where to start. When I was growing up, mom liked the Carly Simons, the Carole Kings, the Joni Mitchells. Then on my dad’s end, that was just more of the Alabama, Dolly Parton, Willie (Nelson), Hank (Williams), Merle (Haggard) – all that kind of stuff. So I got a good mix – and then all of my rock stuff, of course, came from my teenage years. I remember one of my biggest moments of ‘wow, I love this,’ was “Houses of the Holy” (Led Zeppelin, 1973.) I got that album from a friend and sat in my room and listened to the whole thing. And then that just opened the doors to all kinds of stuff, too. And I remember Frank Sinatra was (popular) in college. It comes from everywhere, that’s why I call myself a mutt. I love being a mutt and I want it to come out in my songs Has your music changed? I think I’ve changed, and then I haven’t changed. When music gets put down on recording, it’s just that kind of moment for those certain songs. But “City Lights” definitely was different than “Between the Ditches.” “Between” was a little bit more push towards country, but that was what we were morphing into at the time. And then I think “A Heart Like Mine,” my new single, is definitely my mature, coming of age (song.) I, as a songwriter, think that is one of my best songs, just because it gels everything together, and it’s lyrically sound and all that kind of good stuff. Now it’s the benchmark; everything has to be better than “Heart Like Mine” – so no pressure. No pressure at all. How do you balance family life with life on the road? I really, honestly, pat myself on the back because I think I do a good job of it. I’m not on the road like a lot of other artists; they’re on eight-week tours and

this kind of stuff. We, at this point in our careers, have been kind of choosing the good shows and making it count. But I have a wonderful mom who helps watch the boys, and during the week we just have fun and make music calls and do all the things you have to take care of. And my little ones, if you follow my Facebook (page), they don’t suffer. We definitely take care of them; they have a good time and usually they’re involved in the music writing process. We just make it work, like anything else. What motivates you to write and perform? I don’t know if I know anything else. Everything about it fills my soul, I don’t know how else to put it. It’s what I do and am most comfortable at. I think that, psychologically, it’s a huge release for me to be able to write the way I write. A lot of (the songs) are pictures into my life; they all reflect moments of my life. It’s almost like being able to read my diary out loud. I’m absolutely one of the most motivated people that you’ll ever meet. I never give up. I think that’s one thing I heard in Nashville (during a recent trip). People have to admire you if you’ve spent 10 years keeping at it.

Heather and Kane Russell My whole trip to Nashville (was) trying to work up a new project I can’t really speak of yet. We are at it again, recording more, plus all those placements that will all be coming up in the next few months on different (TV networks), on Discovery and

Lifetime, Showtime and I don’t know what channel the NASCAR stuff is on, but whatever channel that is. And, we’ve got a few big shows coming up, like at Opryland. And hopefully another one I can’t announce yet. But it’s a good one; it’s a doozy. WGL

A Great Place to Live, Learn, Work and Play...

What can your fans expect from you next? We have just recorded a live album at Southern Tracks Studio in Atlanta. We put on a live show there, and that’s actually the first time that had ever been done at Southern Tracks, and had patrons come and sit in like a listening room inside that famous studio, and we recorded an album I’m going to call “Brasstown Ball” – not Bald like the mountain, yet that is the reference. This is going to be a vinyl record. I felt it was a good name, since Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia, and this is one of the biggest things in our career; to do a vinyl. I changed it to “Brasstown Ball,” though, because we’re going to have a ball doing it. So, I’m hoping that will be pressed and out close to Christmas time.

315 Bradley Street • Carrollton, Georgia 30117 770-830-2000 • (fax) 770-830-2026 www.carrollton-ga.gov September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

THE REBECCA MARTIN GARDEN CLUB

Building on a legacy of education and service

ack in 1924, Carroll County was a far different place. The area was dominated by farms; some large, most small. Carrollton was more remote to the farmers who lived out on country roads with only a mule-drawn wagon for transportation. There were no strip malls or giant, air-conditioned grocery stores. Most of what people ate was raised on their farms.

created for this purpose, and it established a network of teachers to go out into rural communities of Georgia to serve as Home Demonstration Agents. In Carroll County, this duty was taken up by Lizzie Alberta “Berta” Fields Whatley (1877-1932), a teacher at what was then called the Bowdon State Normal and Industrial College, an ancestor of today’s University of West Georgia.

This was the same world that had existed since the Civil War. But beyond Georgia, the world was modernizing. Nationally and across the South, efforts were being made to teach new skills to folks who had seldom spoken on a telephone or seen a moving picture. High on the list was new methods of sustainable agriculture and the kind of housekeeping skills we, in our modern day, call home economics.

In May, 1924, Whatley invited a group of 15 women to meet in her home to learn useful and practical skills for the farm. This became a regular home and garden club, and when it came time for the women to think of a name for their group, they chose to name it after their oldest member: Martha Ann Rebecca Shadinger Martin (1855-1936), who was 68 at the time.

The Cooperative Extension Service was 52

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

KEN DENNEY

Members of the garden club with city employees at the cleanup of Smith Park in Carrollton.

Rebecca Martin

This year, the Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club celebrated its 90th year, making it one of the oldest garden clubs in the state, and certainly the oldest with ties to the Cooperative Extension Service. It now has 47 men and women as members, many of whom are descended from the original charter group, and meets monthly, often on the grounds of Stripling Chapel Methodist Church on Highway 27 South. Among their many projects is caring for Smith Park, located at the intersection of City Hall Avenue and College Street in Carrollton. Last October, the club teamed with the city to refurbish the park, repair its fountain, and plant some 300 bulbs and a Japanese Maple tree. The club has a far wider portfolio than it did when it was created, including such activities as sponsoring a Christmas party for exceptional high school students, sending packages to soldiers serving overseas, and working with other civic organizations across the city and county to look after the needs of senior citizens. And it was one of the first donors who helped the founders of what is now Tanner Medical Center build Carrollton’s first modern hospital. The current president of the group is Rebecca Martin Akins, who is the greatgranddaughter of the club’s namesake, a woman who was herself a member of one of the more prolific, if not prominent, families in the county. The original Rebecca Martin was one of nine children born to John and Ellen Shadinger. John was known for building an eight-foot high rock wall (without mortar) near the area of Memory Springs Road, just south of Oak Grove Road on Highway 27, ostensibly to keep herds of cattle out of his crops as they were being driven to the railhead in Carrollton. Each of the Shadinger children received 75 acres of his land when they married, and ever since, his descendants have gone about the business of populating most of the area between Carrollton and Roopville. Rebecca kept careful accounts of money raised by the club as the members sought to build a permanent clubhouse and end their nomadic shuffling from members’ own homes. And although it may have seemed a good idea at the time to keep that money in the bank, the late 1920s was not a good time to do so. Banks in Carrollton began to fail in a local economy depressed by cotton crops ruined by the boll

Officers of the Rebecca Martin Garden Club received a proclamation from Carroll County Commission Chairman Marty Smith setting May 16, 2014 as “Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club Day in Carrollton County,” in observance of the Club’s 90th Anniversary. The club officers, from left, are Elaine Shivers, treasurer; Charlotte Culwell, chaplain; Rebecca Martin Akins, president; Marty Smith; Pam Orange, co-vice-president and program chair; Nancy Black Welder, co-vice president and program chair. weevil and post-World War I inflationary land prices. The club placed its funds in the care of the Citizens Bank, which was handed over to receivers in January 1926, leaving all its uninsured depositors – including the club – penniless. But the club members started all over again, with Rebecca keeping accounts in a small notebook that is now one of the group’s most prized possessions. Eventually, they were able to build their clubhouse on the property of Stripling Chapel church, which opened in 1940. The building is now used by the church as a fellowship hall in exchange for an agreement that the club can continued to meet there, forever, for free. The ties to the Extension Service ended long ago, and the club now operates independently. It still keeps up with its origins by hosting educational programs during its monthly meetings, and the members participate in an annual exchange of vegetables and flowers. In 10 years, the club will be a century old and the membership seems determined to achieve that goal, and to go on setting new ones. It is a club that grew from an idea planted deep in the county’s rural past, and has plans to continue to educate and enhance the lives of Carroll’s future generations. WGL

Part of the original minutes taken when the club was organized on May 16, 1924. The last paragrah (not shown) says, “We are ready to give aid wherever we can and hope to have a part in making “The Best Better.”

September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

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TAKE 5

RICK BROWER BREMEN HIGH SCHOOL • Early in life I learned … That selfishness is the root of all evil, not money. If you think about it, most arguments or conflicts with another person are founded on one person believing that the other person is thinking only about themselves and many times, that is true. Our society has become extremely selfish with its “all about me” mentality. I believe high divorce rates, low job retention, and many other negative factors are directly related to this. As a parent, I’ve tried to teach this to my sons, and as a teacher I try to model unselfishness toward my students and stress my expectation that they exhibit the same behavior toward each other. • When I have 10 minutes to myself ... I catch up with new engineering and technology. You have to be careful as an engineering or technology teacher to not stay in your classroom bubble and miss the constantly advancing technologies. • I’ve always wanted to have dinner with ... I don’t have an answer for you here ... lol! • Most people would never guess that I ... am an online gamer. My sons got me hooked many years ago, and I love it. Counter Strike Source and Bad Company 2 are a couple of my favorites. • My parents instilled in me ... Treat others as you would like to be treated. Put yourself in the other person’s place. Honesty and integrity. I am extremely lucky to have a mother and father that loved me with all their hearts. • Near the top of my bucket list is ... seeing more of the world with my wife. I’ve been to every state in the United States and Japan, but I would like to travel abroad more. • I’m very proud of ... My boys. My wife and I have two sons. They have grown up to be strong and successful young men. Our youngest is married, in the Air Force, and has been to Afghanistan three times now. Our oldest lives in San Francisco and works as a software engineer for a company called Quirky.com. They will hug their mom and tell her they love her in front of anybody. Don’t know where they get that from. J • My idea of a great day is ... A good day at work with my engineering students, followed by the gym and watching TV with my wife. Good stuff. • My favorite quote is ... The things you take for granted, someone else is praying for. • My greatest desire is ... making my darlin’ of 32 years have a wonderful life. I am the luckiest man in the world to have someone who adores me for just being me. There isn’t a selfish bone in her body. I love her very much.

Rick Brower, science teacher at Bremen High School. Photo by Ricky Stilley September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

BOOKS

Finding the Core of Humanity in

“Acts of God” “Acts of God,” by Ellen Gilchrist. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2014.

he expression “Acts of God” generally refers to events – often negative – that people can’t control. In her most recent collection of short stories, prolific and masterful story teller Ellen Gilchrist tells 10 stories about people facing challenges in their lives. Their responses to those trials reveal and develop their character as human beings. Gilchrist, whose collection of stories Victory over Japan won the National Book Award in 1984, creates realistic characters who confront personal trials in interesting and sometimes surprising ways.

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

Ernest Hemingway defined courage as grace under pressure, and the men and women in each of Gilchrist’s stories confront the pressures of their lives with varying degrees of success and grace.

they are thrown together, giving the plot multiple layers.

About the reviewer:

The internal conflict of man versus himself is powerfully evident in the story “The Dissolution of the Myelin Sheath,” the title is taken from a description of multiple sclerosis.

These are the classic conflicts of people versus nature (such as hurricanes, tornados, and other natural phenomena); people versus other people (including social confrontations over barking dogs); and man versus himself (particularly the challenge of a major illness).

The protagonist, Philipa, has been diagnosed with the disease and must cope with the inevitable results of the debilitating ailment, not only as it affects her but also the impact on her husband, Charles, and the rest of her family. Her response to her diagnosis is initially one of anger, but she accepts the challenge, and chooses to take a cruise to Egypt by herself to get away.

Most of the stories include some combination of these conflicts, the causes of which are often indirect, especially when Gilchrist explores such natural disasters as Hurricane Katrina, or a devastating tornado in Adkins, Ark. Gilchrist sometimes explores the idea of the “Butterfly Effect,” (an outgrowth of Chaos Theory); that is, events which occur some distance from us may still impact our lives. A butterfly, beating its wings in the remote wilds of Central America, may seem of little consequence. Yet, that tiny motion might stir up air currents that escalate and build until, eventually, a hurricane or typhoon will appear somewhere in the world. In Gilchrist’s title story, for example, the impact of Hurricane Katrina has a devastating impact on an elderly couple, whose caretaker fails to appear one day because her son is in New Orleans during the storm. While the couple is not affected by the storm directly, the storm is no less a powerful disruptor of lives. In other stories, including “Miracle in Adkins Arkansas,” “Collateral,” and “High Water,” the effects of natural phenomena on characters are more direct. The hurricanes and tornados have complicated impacts, often changing the course of their lives in positive ways. Gilchrist explores the ironies of life when a natural disaster changes the life of one young woman, Marie, after she rescues a baby after a tornado; or which lead another character to realize “a deeper understanding of what is going on in the world and how priceless and marvelous life is and to be cherished and protected in all its forms.” Other stories in the collection reveal the conflicts that result either from social interactions, or from more personal internal issues, such as disease.

She writes in a letter to her husband: “Nothing is of value except to have lived well and to die without pain.” Her stoic courage at the end of the story gives a unique twist to Hemingway’s definition of courage.

Robert C. Covel is a retired university and high school English teacher, and received his doctorate in English from Georgia State University. He has published one book of poetry and has another coming out this year. He is also writing a novel. When not reading and writing, he enjoys playing trivia. He lives in west Georgia with his wife Deloris, and their dog Monet.

Ellen Gilchrist is a master of the short story form. Her use of details and the ways in which her characters react to these events are fascinating, emotionally powerful, and engaging. Though not obviously didactic in their tone, the stories still teach us, by the examples of the characters’ actions, the ways in which people may respond to potentially destructive events.

neighborhood that arise when a new family moves in, bringing with them their barking dogs. The story uses a series of letters – and an undercurrent of humor – to show conflicts among neighbors and the extremes to which people will go in coping with the disruptions of barking animals and their uncaring owners. A more serious social conflict is evident in “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” revolving around the modern issue of terrorism at an international airport. Gilchrist explores the social interactions of strangers thrown together by their accidental encounter in the midst of a terrifying moment in their lives. The characters share their lives as

About the author: Ellen Gilchrist was born in Vicksburg and studied creative writing at Millsaps College under Eudora Welty. She has previously published eight novels and 12 short story collections; as well as two volumes of poetry, a collection of essays and a volume of her journals..

Gilchrist creates realistic characters, with individual foibles and quirks, and their responses to the challenges of these several acts of God are surprising, interesting and profoundly human. Whether these events take place on the external stage of international terrorism and natural disasters, or on the much smaller, personal stage of one person coping with a devastating medical diagnosis, the conflicts in this collection become as real and personal for the characters involved as for the reader, who are left moved and fulfilled by Gilchrist’s engaging and well-written stories. Though not obviously didactic in their tone, the stories still teach us, by the examples of the characters’ actions, the ways in which people may respond to potentially destructive events. The thematic collage of Gilchrist’s collection provides a picture of the human responses to cultural and personal tragedies, the lessons embedded in engaging and well-written plots that leave the reader moved and fulfilled with each story. WGL

“The Dogs” presents the conflicts in a September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

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Walk-in care for minor medical emergencies comes to Carrollton, Villa Rica and Bremen

Tanner Urgent Care Opened in 2013, Tanner Urgent Care/Bremen is in a new medical office facility located near the Ingles on Business 27.

We are . . .

HERE FOR YOU

locations provide treatment for stings, rashes, sprains, cuts, upset stomachs and urinary tract infections.

Whenever an unexpected injury or illness means that you need to see a physician right away or on your schedule; like when a boo-boo needs more than a kiss and a Band-Aid, a sprain might be something more serious, or when a fever is too high to wait for an appointment. The providers at Tanner Urgent Care treat a wide variety of illnesses and injuries, from bronchitis and colds to influenza and earaches. Tanner Urgent Care

“Tanner Urgent Care centers are staffed by physicians and advanced practice providers who have access to all the resources of Tanner Health System,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health System. “That includes the electronic medical records of any patient at a Tanner Medical Group practice. They can quickly review your medical history, see what medications you take, what allergies you have and more, making your visit to Tanner Urgent Care a seamless part of the continuum of care that Tanner

hen would you and your family need the walk-in care for minor medical emergencies available now at Tanner Urgent Care locations in Carrollton, Villa Rica and Bremen?

West Georgia Living

September/October 2014

Health System provides.” Not long ago, a Saturday-afternoon soccer injury or a Sundaymorning sinus infection left you with limited choices: you could go to the hospital emergency department, or wait until Monday to get an appointment with a primary care physician. The opening of Tanner Immediate Care in Villa Rica a few years ago provided a new option. Located in the Tanner at Mirror Lake medical office building near Publix, that urgent care center now handles more than 17,000 visits each year. Since then, Tanner has expanded Tanner Urgent Care to serve not

Tanner Urgent Care/Villa Rica serves patients in the Tanner at Mirror Lake medical office building, located convenient to Interstate 20 and Highway 78. only Villa Rica, but Carrollton, Bremen and Wedowee, Ala., as well.

cal office building at 1030 South Main Street.

“Urgent care is a great option that many of our neighbors in west Georgia and east Alabama want and enjoy using,” said Howard. “It provides an option for care on your schedule. That’s why this kind of accessibility to quality care is so popular.”

Each location offers evening and weekend hours of operation and walk-in care with no appointment necessary.

There are still times when a hospital emergency department is the best option. Major medical emergencies, such as uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, broken bones and more are best served by a 24-hour hospital emergency department. In June 2013, Tanner Urgent Care opened a new location in Carrollton. That location has since moved from its original clinic across Dixie Street from Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton to a new medical facility at 1480 Highway 27 South in Carrollton, beside Steak N’ Shake. And in September 2013, a new Tanner Urgent Care location opened in a new medical facility at 100 Tanner Drive in Bremen, near the Ingles on Business 27. Tanner also provides urgent care services through Tanner Primary Care of Wedowee, located in the Tanner/East Alabama medi-

Tanner Urgent Care locations offer walk-in care for a wide range of minor medical emergencies, with evening and weekend hours so residents can receive care on their schedules.

With the expanded convenience of walk-in care, Tanner Urgent Care not only provides more options for minor medical emergencies, but the ability for people with chronic conditions to avoid the need for more acute care. While Tanner Medical Group continues to grow its Patient-Centered Medical Home model of care to more primary care practices throughout the region, Tanner Urgent Care provides an emergency department alternative for people with asthma, diabetes, hypertension and more. By allowing people to receive care more quickly, Tanner can provide medical interventions that can potentially prevent the need for more acute care, such as hospitalization. For hours and addresses of Tanner Urgent Care locations throughout the region, visit www.TannerUrgentCare. org .

– Paid Advertorial

Jacqueline Dost Executive Director 103 Professional Plaza Carrollton, GA 30117 (678) 321-4816 jacqueline@keepcarrollbeautiful.org

www.keepcarrollbeautiful.org September/October 2014

West Georgia Living

Calendar of Events

September/October September MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Labor Day Parade and Barbecue: Sweetwater Shrine Club-sponsored parade along Church Street in downtown Douglasville begins at 11 a.m., followed by a Masonic Lodge-sponsored barbecue at Hunter Park, 8830 Gurley Road in Douglasville. Information: 770-947-5920.

Free Movie Downtown â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lego Movie: 8 p.m. at the AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 MOMS Club of Villa Rica: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fullerville Baptist Church, 423 Old Town Road in Villa Rica. Serving the Bremen, Carrollton, Temple and Villa Rica areas of west Georgia, the MOMS club plans a monthly calendar for mothers and their children, including park play days, field trips, tours, crafts, book club and a monthly momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s night out. Information: villaricamomsclub@yahoo.com .

West Georgia Living

Villa Rica Gold Rush Festival: A celebration of the prospectors who struck gold in west Georgia will feature a 5K run, parade, music, handcrafted clothing, crafts and art, as well as fresh food prepared on-site in downtown Villa Rica. Race begins at 8:30 a.m. and the parade at 10 a.m., with entertainment from 12:30-10 p.m. at THE MILL Amphitheater, 106 Temple Street in Villa Rica. Information: Kimberly Stovall, 678840-1160 or kstovall@villarica.org . Paulding Meadows Arts and Crafts Festival: Two-day family festival will feature arts and crafts, entertainment and food. Earl Duncan Park at Paulding Meadows, 724 Paulding Mead-

September/October 2014

ows Drive in Dallas, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. $3 for adults, children 12-under free. Free parking. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Paulding Meadows Arts and Crafts Festival: Family festival will feature arts and crafts, entertainment and food. Earl Duncan Park at Paulding Meadows, 724 Paulding Meadows Drive in Dallas, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. $3 for adults, children 12-under free. Free parking. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Community Organizing Resources for Excellence (CORE) Monthly Forum: 9:45 a.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 7167 South Sweetwater Road in Lithia Springs. CORE is a collaborative group of non-profits and government services coming together to coordinate

programs and services. Information: Amanda Bryant, 770-920-7438 or abryant@co.douglas. ga.us . THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Remembrance Ceremony: Pay your respects and stand in unity at the annual ceremony commemorating enemy attacks on our nation in 2001. Local leaders, police and fire personnel will attend. Ceremony begins at 9 a.m. in Liberty Garden at Mt. Tabor Park, 1550 East Paulding Drive in Dallas. Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives: 7:30 p.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Avenue in Bremen. With special guest Sam Lewis. Tickets are $25-35 in advance, $3035 at the door. Information: 770-537-6455. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 The Sockhops: 7:30 p.m. at the Dallas Theater, 208 Main Street in Dallas. From Doo-Wop to Motown; from the sounds of California to the British Invasion, the Sock Hops recreate hits from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 62 and older, children, students, military and groups of 10 or more. Information: 770-445-5180. Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia

Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. Information: 770-459-5624.

features traditional Hungarian food, wine and music. Information: 770-630-8946.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Rivers Alive Volunteer Clean-Up: 9 a.m., McIntosh Reserve Park, 1046 West McIntosh Circle in Whitesburg. Trash bags, gloves, hand sanitizer and lunch provided to volunteers. Limited number of T-shirts available. Individuals, church and school groups, Scouts and other civic organizations welcome. Information: 770-830-5879.

Magic at THE MILL: Aron Houdini will present a free magic show from 8-10 p.m. at THE MILL Amphitheater, 106 Temple Street in Villa Rica. Information: 678-840-1160. Fall Concerts on the Plaza: 7-9 p.m. at O’Neal Plaza, 6695 Church Street in Douglasville. Free and open to the public. Presented by the Cultural Arts Council. Information: 770-949-2787.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Beyond the Front Porch Zoo Atlanta Trip: Join Beyond the Front Porch of Douglasville – an organization providing field trips to local youth – on a tour of Zoo Atlanta, home to the nation’s largest zoological collections of gorillas and orangutans and one of only four zoos in the U.S. currently housing giant pandas. Fee is $25 for activity, transportation and lunch. Register online at www.beyondthefrontporch. org . Information: Kascia Lipford, 404-408-6448. Waco Fall Festival: All-day event features arts and crafts, children’s games, entertainment and food. Information: 770-537-3314. A Night in Hungary: 6 p.m., Sewell Mill Events Center, 126 Hamilton Avenue in Bremen. Event

West GA Shutterbugs: 6:30-8 p.m., Neva Lomason Memorial Library, 710 Rome Street in Carrollton. Information: contact@wgshutterbugs.org . THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Carroll County Tea Party: 7-9 p.m., Stallings Community Center, 118 South White Street in Carrollton. Information: 770-668-4942. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 September Saturdays Festival – Family Day and Special Olympics Car, Truck and Bike Show: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Douglas County Courthouse grounds, 8700 Hospital Drive in Douglasville. Fun, fellowship, camaraderie and

Your home is our home No matter where you live in west Georgia, we’ve got you covered.

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inclusion mark this free festival designed to foster community among all Douglas County residents. The first of two festival dates features a Car, Bike and Truck Show judged by Special Olympians. Entry fees will benefit Douglas County Special Olympics. Space is limited. To register your vehicle, contact Christie Mills at 770-920-7129 or cmills@co.douglas.ga.us . Information: 770-920-7593. Classic Car Cruise-In: 5 p.m., THE MILL, 106 Temple Street in Villa Rica. Free. Features 50/50 drawings, cakewalks and family fun. Cars, motorcycles, rat rods, customs, etc., welcome. All proceeds go to local charities. Information: www.goldencitycruisers.com . Olde Town Hiram Days: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in historic downtown Hiram. Food, fun, entertainment, crafters and more. Information: oldetownhiram@gmail.com . West Georgia 15K and 5K: 8 a.m. at John Tanner Park, 354 Tanners Beach Road in Carrollton. 15K is preparation for fall marathons and halfmarathons, and the 5K is USATF-certified and a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Awards for top finishers. Fees for 15K: $35 through Sept. 5; $40 Sept. 6-17; $45 race day. Fees for 5K: $25 through Sept. 5; $30 Sept. 6-17; $35 race day. Includes chip timing and moisture-wicking technical tees. A portion of proceeds benefits Communities in Schools of Carrollton City and Carroll County, Inc. Information: www.westgeorgia15k5k.com . Fall Concerts on the Plaza: 7-9 p.m., O’Neal Plaza, 6695 Church Street in Douglasville. Free and open to the public. Presented by the Cultural Arts Council. Information: 770-949-2787. Chat With the Chairman: Noon to 6 p.m. at September Saturdays Festival, Douglas County Courthouse grounds, 8700 Hospital Drive in Douglasville. Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Worthan will hold one-on-one conversations with members of the public on the topics of their choice. Information: 770920-7269 or tworthan@co.douglas.ga.us . Sertoma Series – The Mike Watson Band: 7 p.m., Copeland Hall, 103 Barr Avenue in Bowdon. Award-winning blend of blues, Southern rock, country and jazz. Information and tickets: 770-258-8980. Fall Fair on the Square: All-day festival on the square in Buchanan features arts and crafts, food and live entertainment for all ages. Information: 770-646-3369. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Taste of Carrollton: 5:30-8 p.m., Adamson Square. Local restaurants’ culinary creations and specialty items will be available for pur64

West Georgia Living

chase in bite-sized portions. Regular tickets are $1 – cash or credit/debit – and available at several downtown Carrollton locations beginning Sept. 1, along with Food and Brew packages. Information: www.carrolltonmainstreet.com . Michael Martin Murphey Concert: 8-10 p.m. The American singer-songwriter and country artist will perform a free public concert at the AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton. Information: www.carrolltonmainstreet.com . FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. Information: 770-459-5624. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 September Saturdays – Heroes Day and Touch-a-Truck Experience: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Douglas County Courthouse grounds, 8700 Hospital Drive in Douglasville. Fun, fellowship, camaraderie and inclusion mark this free festival designed to foster community among all Douglas County residents. Second of two September Saturdays Festival dates will feature opportunities for the young and the young at heart to climb in, under and over fire engines, military vehicles, law enforcement equipment and vehicles, and much more. Meet and thank your everyday heroes. Information: 770-920-7593. McIntosh Reserve Fall Festival: Two-day event. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at McIntosh Reserve Park, 1046 West McIntosh Circle in Whitesburg. American Indian arts and crafts, food, dance, living history, children’s activities, vendors. $5 parking fee. Road through festival area closes at 10 a.m. Primitive camping available. Information: 770-830-5879. Block Party and Car Cruise: 4-9 p.m. on Main Street in Dallas. Information: georgiaclassicrides.com . Free Movie Downtown – Frozen: 8 p.m. at the AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton. Kruise for Kids: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., parking lot of Bonz Restaurant, 2123 Fairburn Road in Douglasville. Cruise-in cars, bikes, motorcycles and pedal car race. Anything with wheels that rolls is welcome. Kar Korral, $25. Approved vendors, $25. Live entertainment, door prizes, food and children’s activities. Free admission. Donations requested from show vehicle owners. All proceeds benefit A Gift Of Love. Information: Johnny Logan, 404-281-6453. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 McIntosh Reserve Fall Festival: Two-day event. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at McIntosh Reserve

September/October 2014

Park, 1046 West McIntosh Circle in Whitesburg. American Indian arts and crafts, food, dance, living history, children’s activities, vendors. $5 parking fee. Road through festival area closes at 10 a.m. Primitive camping available. Information: 770-830-5879. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Government Contracting Seminar: 9 a.m. to noon at the Burson Center, 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. Introduction to Government Contracting. Free. Advance registration recommended. Information: www.gtpac.org or Jerry Shadinger, 678-890-2342.

October THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 Don Williams in Concert: 7:30 p.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Ave. in Bremen. Tickets are $35-45 in advance, $40-50 at the door. Information: 770-537-6455. MOMS Club of Villa Rica: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fullerville Baptist Church, 423 Old Town Road in Villa Rica. Serving the Bremen, Carrollton, Temple and Villa Rica areas of West Georgia, the MOMS club plans a monthly calendar for mothers and their children, including park play days, field trips, tours, crafts, book club and a monthly mom’s night out. For more information, email villaricamomsclub@yahoo.com . SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 A Taste of Villa Rica: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street in Villa Rica. Features restaurants and caterers of Villa Rica and Carroll County offering samples of their specialties for sale. Also features live entertainment and family fun. Information: 678-840-1160. Coffee and Conversation with District 1 Commissioner Henry Mitchell III: 10 a.m. at Sherry’s Hair Care, 6340-A East Broad Street in Douglasville. Mitchell will speak one-on-one with members of the public on the topics of their choice. Information: 770-920-7266 or hmitchell@co.douglas.ga.us . Mt. Zion Founder’s Day Festival: All-day event at the Mt. Zion Community Center, 4455 Mt. Zion Road, and other sites around the city features food, games, entertainment, arts and crafts. Information: 770-832-1622. Tallapoosa City-Wide Yard Sale: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Follow the signs throughout the town for treasures. Information: 770-574-2482.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7 Carrollton Civic Woman’s Club Salad Luncheon: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Carrollton First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 206 Newnan Street in Carrollton. Tickets are $10 and carryout is available. Silent auction and bake sale to benefit community projects and Choirs for Cancer will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: Susan Smith, 770-838-1016. Showcase Carroll: 4-7 p.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 150 Tabernacle Drive in Carrollton. Sponsorships are available on several levels for the county’s annual business expo. Booth registration is $195. Information: 678-890-2360 or suzymc@carroll-ga.org .

2 p.m. in downtown Bremen and features all-you-can-eat chili with $3 admission fee. Information: 770-537-2331. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 MeccaFest: Two-day fine arts festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Carrollton Cultural Art Center, 251 Alabama Street in Carrollton. The event will feature artists from across the country who have been chosen through a jury process to participate. Free admission. Children’s activities and entertainment are provided. Information: www.meccafest.com . TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

Government Contracting Seminar: 9 a.m. to noon at the Burson Center, 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. Preparing Successful Bid Proposals – Small business guidance in receiving and preparing responses to the government. Free. Advance registration recommended. Information: www.gtpac.org or Jerry Shadinger, 678-890-2342.

Paulding Public Safety Appreciation Day: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Watson Government Complex, 240 Constitution Boulevard in Dallas. Meet some of Paulding County’s finest from the Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department, Hiram Police and Dallas Police, emergency personnel from Clark’s Ambulance, 911 dispatch, Georgia State Patrol and many others. Information: Joseph Gullett, 678-520-5140.

Community Organizing Resources for Excellence (CORE) Monthly Forum: 9:45 a.m., Cornerstone Baptist Church, 7167 South Sweetwater Road in Lithia Springs. CORE is a collaborative group of non-profits and government services coming together to coordinate programs and services. Information: Amanda Bryant, 770-920-7438 or abryant@co.douglas. ga.us .

Paulding Fine Arts Association Fall Fest: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street in historic downtown Dallas. Local artists as well as new emerging artists and craft makers will showcase their work. Festival features local food, live music and a DJ. Information: 770-445-9008 or pfaa@ bellsouth.net .

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. Information: 770-459-5624.

MeccaFest: Two-day fine arts festival is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Carrollton Cultural Art Center, 251 Alabama Street in Carrollton. The event will feature artists from across the country who have been chosen thorough a jury process to participate. Free admission. Children’s activities and entertainment are provided. Information: www.meccafest.com .

Classic Car Cruise-In: 5 p.m., THE MILL, 106 Temple Street in Villa Rica. Free. Features 50/50 drawings, cakewalks and family fun. Cars, motorcycles, rat rods, customs, etc., welcome. All proceeds go to local charities. Information: www.goldencitycruisers.com . Bremen Towne Festival: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Bremen. Parade, crafts, games and food. Information: 770-537-6570. Ag Heritage Days (Public): 9 a.m. to noon at the Carroll County Ag Center, 900 Newnan Road in Carrollton. Learn how people in the 18th and 19th centuries lived and worked. Watch chicks hatch and bees make honey before your eyes. Learn how settlers made quilts, churned butter and lived off the land. Information: 770-836-8546. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20 West GA Shutterbugs: 6:30-8 p.m., Neva wLomason Memorial Library, 710 Rome Street in Carrollton. Information: contact@wgshutterbugs.org . Chat With the Chairman: 6-7 p.m., Fire Station No. 10, West Church Street in downtown Douglasville. Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Worthan will speak one-onone with members of the public on the topics of their choice. Information: 770-920-7269 or tworthan@co.douglas.ga.us .

Drug Awareness Summit: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tabernacle Baptist Church, 150 Tabernacle Drive in Carrollton. Information: www.carrollsubstanceabuse.org .

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24

Carroll County Tea Party: 7-9 p.m., Stallings Community Center, 118 South White Street in Carrollton. Information: 770-668-4942. Veggie Tales Live! Silly Song Sing-A-Long: 10:30 a.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Avenue in Bremen. Tickets are $20-25 in advance, $25-30 at the door. $5 per-ticket discount for groups of 10 or more. Information: 770-537-6455.

Beyond the Front Porch Fernbank Museum Trip: Join Beyond the Front Porch in Douglasville – an organization that provides field trips to local youth – for a hands-on, minds-on adventure as science and the natural world come to life through exhibits and an IMAX film. Activity, transportation and lunch are provided at no cost to students who qualify for free/ reduced lunch. Register at www.beyondthefrontporch.org . Information: Kascia Lipford, 404-408-6448.

BRIDGE Fest: The two-day festival benefitting the fight against drug use in West Georgia kicks off with the West Georgia SingOff at 6 p.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Ave. in Bremen. Entry fee is $25 and spectator admission is $5. Visit milltownmusichall.com for online registration and SingOff entry forms.

Chili Cook Off: Annual event is 10 a.m. to

BRIDGE Fest: The two-day festival benefitting

Bremen Downtown Trick or Treat: 3:30-5 p.m. in downtown Bremen. Free, safe and fun trickor-treating and costume contest. Information: 770-537-2331. Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. Information: 770-459-5624. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

the fight against drug use in West Georgia concludes with a 5K race, which begins at 8 a.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Avenue in Bremen. Entry fee is $25 for adults and $15 for ages 12-under. Visit milltownmusichall.com for online registration.

Haunt the Town: 10 a.m. to noon, Adamson Square in downtown Carrollton. Games, inflatables, music and costume contest with prizes. Information: 770-832-6901. Chili Cook-Off: The Cultural Arts Council’s annual Chili Cook-off will be from 6-9 p.m. at O’Neal Plaza, 6695 Church Street in Douglasville. Information: 770-949-2787. Moonlight Run: Starts and finishes at the

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28 Pumpkin Caper: 5:30-8 p.m. on the square in Buchanan. Features child-decorated pumpkins, food and safe trick-or-treating. Information: 770-646-3369.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 West Georgia Economic Forecast Breakfast: 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the University of West Georgia Campus Ballroom, 1601 Maple Street in Carrollton. Cost is $30 per individual, $200 for a table of eight. Dr. William â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joeyâ&#x20AC;? Smith, Kenneth Heaghney and John Canally will report on the economic outlook for the West Georgia area. Information: 678839-6477. WGL

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 27

Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Avenue in Bremen. Tickets are $55-65 in advance, $60-70 at the door. Information: 770-537-6455.

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Douglasville Conference Center, 6700 Church Street in Douglasville. Sponsored by the Douglas County Rogue Runners, the Moonlight Run is the largest after-dark 5K and one-mile run in the southeast. Tot Trot for ages 5-under begins at 7 p.m.; One-Mile Youth for ages 12-under begins at 7:30; all ages 5K begins at 8 p.m. Information: Johnny Buice, 404-587-9628.

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Home Inspections

Britt Duffey/ Duffey Realty ..................69

Firearms

Shot Spot ............................................. 70

Trading in Your Car

Ellen Wynn McBrayer / Jones Wynn Funeral Home ..................................... 76

Synthetic vs Traditional Oil

Walker Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Inc...... 71

Express Oil Change and Service Center ............................................................. 77

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What every West Georgian should know about... Home Inspections-Questions To Ask Your Home Inspector

What are your credentials?

Unfortunately the State of Georgia does not require Home Inspectors to be licensed. However ask your inspector if they are certified to IRC. The IRC is a uniform code that all homes are to be inspected to and measured against according to the year they were constructed.

REALTOR ÂŽ Duffey Realty

Britt has been a RealtorÂŽ since 2002.As a life-long resident of Carroll County he knows the West Georgia market as well as anyone. Britt has been a recipient of The Top Producers Award for the past 11 years. In addition, he is a recipient of the Phoenix Award from the West Metro Board of Realtors in 2012 in recognition as a Top Producer for 11 consecutive years. Britt is a licensed RealtorÂŽ in Georgia and Alabama.

What is your experience and background? Most home inspectors started out with a construction based background. This is very useful in Home Inspections. Instead of asking how long heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been in businessâ&#x20AC;Śask him how many inspections he has done.

What type of inspection report do you use?

Some inspectors use computer generated onsite reporting, some use a handwritten report while others provide computer generated reporting and send you the home inspection report after theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had time to look it over twice before sending it out. In my opinion the computer generated Home Inspection report is the best option. With this report the inspector has time to be descriptive and look up any items that he may have had a question about.

Is it necessary for me to be at the inspection?

A good Home Inspector will encourage you to be present during the inspection. This allows you the opportunity to see what he sees and to ask questions. This is also the time to find out where key components like shut-off valves and breaker panels are located in case of an emergency, or to get tips on routine maintenance items. To learn more about the importance of a Home Inspection or for other Real Estate related questions please call me at 770.354.0120 or email me at Britt.Duffey@Duffeyrealty.com. LEARN MORE: Britt.duffey@duffeyrealty.com 770.354.0120

Duffey Realty

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Britt Duffey

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What every West Georgian should know about... Firearms

Q A

Jane Sauls Team Member Shot Spot LLC

Qualiﬁcations

Owners John & Tammy Paulk and family are avid and lifetime gun owners who are passionate about hunting and preserving our American Heritage of gun rights. Jane Sauls shares their enthusiasm of shooting and empowering women to become conﬁdent with their ﬁrearms.

? ?

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Q A

What is the best gun for me?

Guns are not a one size ﬁt all item; each gun owner must decide for herself which best suits her needs. For example, if you don’t have strong wrists or struggle with arthritis, a revolver would likely be a better option than a semi-automatic. Also, where you carry your gun is important as some are harder to conceal than others. The best gun for you is the one you are most conﬁdent with and that you will carry. We look forward to educating you along the way and assisting you in making the best choice.

Q A

How can I become more conﬁdent?

The best way to gain confidence in owning, carrying and shooting is education and practice. Also, gaining confidence will lead to being more comfortable with firearms in general. You become confident with understanding the proper techniques to handle the firearm, safety features specific to your firearm and gaining muscle memory from shooting. One of the various classes that we will be hosting will be Introduction to Markmanship Fundamentals for Ladies at Shot Spot this fall.

How can I get my Georgia Weapons Carry License?

Obtaining your Georgia Weapons Carry License is a simple process that can completed at your local probate court in the county in which you reside. We will be offering courses this fall at Shot Spot that will help you understand where you can and cannot carry your ﬁrearm.

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What every West Georgian should know about... Trading in Your Current Car

How is the value of my trade-in calculated?

Does prior damage change the value?

Sid Lee, our used car manager, will walk around your trade looking for interior and exterior damage, condition of the tires, and will drive it to check for any mechanical issues. Once we have that data, we compare NADA, BlackBook, and major auction summaries; based on the miles and condition of your vehicle we will make you an offer that aligns with the pricing provided from those sources. In essence, your offer will be based on the true market at that time.

Yes. A vehicle without visible paintwork or damage can be worth more than a vehicle with damage or poorly done repairs. If your vehicle is ever damaged, it is best to use a reputable body repair facility; there are many locally from which to choose.

Does past service history change the value of my trade-in?

It can. A vehicle that has been serviced regularly by a Technician who has been certified by a manufacturer should be worth more than a vehicle with no service records or from a quickie lube facility.

Mark Foster General Manager Walker Cadillac, Buick, GMC Inc.

Qualifications Mark has a Dual BBA in Automotive Marketing/Automotive Management from Northwood University and Certification in Dealership Successorship through the NADA. Mark has 14 years experience in the automotive industry and is a community visionary who has a passion for exceptional customer service.

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Qualifications

Dr. Long received his DMD degree from the University Of Louisville, and was named Alpha Omega Honor for outstanding scholastic achievement in Dentistry, graduating first in his class. He graduated from Emory University in Orthodontics and Maxillo Facial Orthodontics in 1976. Dr. Long is a fellow in the National Academy of Dental Science, and a Diplomate in the World Federation of Orthodontics. He has practiced on the southside of Atlanta for over 30 years. Dr. Long has offices in Douglasville, Newnan and Peachtree City.

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How do I choose an orthodontist?

How much will treatment cost?

We understand your need to receive treatment in a practice that makes you feel comfortable, safe, and welcome. Please feel free to schedule an appointment, or stop by for a complete tour of our practice. You will get to meet our team, walk through our office and treatment areas, and learn more about the treatments we provide.

The cost of your orthodontic treatment will vary depending on your individual needs and treatment plan. Our staff will discuss with you the cost of your treatment, and each of your available payment plan options, so that you can make the best choice for you, and your smile. We will work with you to create a payment plan that fits your budget, and you will know what to expect before beginning treatment.

I am an adult. What treatment options do I have?

For many adults, the thought of having metal braces is enough to discourage them from receiving treatment. However, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs. Types of braces include: â&#x20AC;˘ Clear braces â&#x20AC;˘ Ceramic braces â&#x20AC;˘ Self-ligating braces â&#x20AC;˘ Lingual (behind the tooth) braces â&#x20AC;˘ Invisible braces â&#x20AC;˘ Traditional metal braces

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What every West Georgian should know about... FALL AND OUTDOOR SPORTS

Q A Taylor Kinna 2010: Graduated from UWG with

a B.S. in Biology. 2011: Employed

at Yellowstone National Park as a wildlife biologist. Now: At Barnes Store where I can share my passion for the outdoors daily.

What is all the hype about fall anyway? Sportsmen love when that first cool morning blows through. The anticipation of watching the world come to life from a deer stand or hearing the whistling woodies screaming through the trees is what we live for.

What all seasons do sportsmen have to look forward to? Well, dove season kicks everything off ! We always have a flurry of customers buying up every shotgun shell we have available for the first Saturday of September. Following shortly after is the opening of bow season. Deer hunters are out in full force putting up deer stands and checking trail cameras. New for this year are the trail cameras

that send pictures to your phone! This has been a great advantage to hunters who don’t have enough time to run and check their cameras continuously, and it keeps disturbances from their hunting areas. We can’t forget about our waterfowl hunters. There is a short resident goose and early teal season that is often overlooked. If you time the migration right, you can have a great time with the fast-flying, little teal.

Q A

How would someone get started in outdoor activities? The best way to get started is to tag along with others on their adventures. Come see us at Barnes Store where we have many knowledgeable outdoorsman that are willing to help in any way possible.

770-832-9013 1332 Bankhead Hwy • Carrollton Ga 30117

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What every west Georgian should know about... Managing Type 2 Diabetes

What resources are available to help people cope with diabetes?

Tanner offers several free programs for people with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention Program is designed for those at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. It focuses on lifestyle changes to reduce your risk by 58 percent. The Living Well With Diabetes workshop teaches key skills for those already diagnosed with diabetes, like symptom management, how to cope with common challenges and how to communicate effectively with caregivers and healthcare providers. Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton also hosts a free diabetes support group at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month from October through May. The group has guest speakers that cover a variety of topics related to diabetes.

Jamie Brandenburg, LPN Certified Diabetes Educator Tanner Health System

Qualifications Jamie Brandenburg, LPN, is the inpatient diabetes educator for Tanner Health System. A licensed practical nurse, she is certified in diabetes education and functional nutrition and as a life coach and master trainer for the Diabetes Prevention Program. She has worked in diabetes education and case management for eight years.

Q A

What are some simple lifestyle changes that can reduce the risks of complications from diabetes?

muscle mass, which helps stabilize glucose levels. Get regular preventative checkups, including annual eye and foot exams and biannual dental visits. Comply with your medications and have your blood work (A1C and cholesterol) checked every three to six months. Keep your blood pressure within a healthy range according to your doctor’s guidance. Eat nutritious foods— especially 100% whole grain products and fresh vegetables and fruits—and reduce your intake of fried and processed foods.

If a family member has diabetes, how can loved ones help them manage their symptoms?

Learn about diabetes so you can provide informed support. Help them to be physically fit by choosing activities you can do together, like walking after dinner. Accompany them on doctor’s visits and write down advice from the doctor or list questions for their next appointment. Choose healthier recipes for family meals. Assist them in setting goals and encourage them to achieve them. Listen to their struggles and ask how you can help, and consider joining a support group for caregivers.

Staying active is essential. Exercise lowers your body fat percentage so you can maintain lean LEARN MORE: www.GetHealthyLiveWell.org | 770.836.9871

Know your Blood Pressure + Cholesterol + Blood Sugar + BMI + Weight Get your healthy on by knowing your 5. These 5 numbers are your key health indicators. They can help you improve your health, even control or prevent diabetes. Talk with your doctor and set goals for your 5, then stay on top of them. It’s as easy as hopping on a scale regularly, checking your blood pressure at the pharmacy and checking your blood sugar daily. Make knowing your 5 the ﬁrst step in getting your healthy on.

Need a physician? Call 770.214.CARE for one near you.

Learn more at GetHealthyLiveWell.org or call 770.214.CARE.

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Helen Albrightson Business Manager Qualifications A native of Wisconsin, Helen joined NG Turf in 2001. Her responsibilities include oversight of internal functions including accounting, sales, marketing and human resources. Helen has been a Certified Turfgrass Professional since 2005.

What every west Georgian should know about... FALL TURF TIPS

How do I take care of my fescue lawn this fall?

Fall is the perfect to get your Tall Fescue lawn back in shape after the hot summer. It is also an ideal time to install fescue sod. Follow the steps below for an established lawn: a) September â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Follow the label rates and resume your fertilization schedule as the temperatures begin to cool. A starter fertilizer will help after the long, hot summer days. Apply a winter preemergent to prevent chickweed and other winter weed seeds from germinating. Fertilize again in October and November with a balanced ratio of N-P-K. (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) b) September/October - Perform core aeration when the turf resumes active growth. Overseed at a rate of 4-5 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Read your weed control label carefully to insure optimum results and avoid disappointment during overseeding. c) November - Do a soil test if it has been 12 months since your last test. Follow the recommendations to apply powered lime to raise pH to the ideal range of 5.5-6.5. d) General - Make certain your turf is getting 1 inch of

water per week if there is no rainfall. The mowing height can be lowered to 2-3 inches in the cooler months.

Q A

How do I take care of my Bermuda, Zoysia , and Centipede lawn this fall? The shorter days and cooler temperatures will slow down the growth of your warm season turf. Here are some actions to take to insure the best results: a) September - Apply a winter preemergent to prevent winter weed seeds from germinating, including poa annua. Also apply a late season fertilizer which displays a low N and high K while the turf is still actively growing. The K is stored as food during the winter dormant months and is vital for the plant when it transitions in the spring. b) General â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Insure the turf gets one inch of water per week whether is it actively growing or dormant. Visit ngturf.com for the UGA lawn calendar for each warm season turf to learn the specific mowing height, pH and more for your home lawn.

LEARN MORE www.NGTurf.com 770-832-8608

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Ellen Wynn McBrayer

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

What every West Georgian should know about... Pre-Planning Funeral

Q A

Jones-Wynn Funeral Home & Crematory and Meadowbrook Memory Gardens As always, we remain “A Family Serving Families®....Since 1950”

Pre-planning is a matter of taking the time to think about – and record – your end-of-life desires. It’s a thoughtful gesture to those you love, and a way to let go of anxieties about the future. Once done, you will have peace, knowing your plans are in the hands of reliable friends or family & so they can be acted upon when the time comes.

What are some advantages to making the commitment of planning ahead? There’s no health questionnaire or physical exam required. Anyone can pre-plan, & there is no waiting for return documents. The plan is completed and put on file in the funeral home’s office. Lets your family clearly know your wishes.

Relieves your family members of making very personal decisions on your behalf at the time of need.

Qualifications

Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory has served our community for over 64 years. We keep our funeral home synonymous with its name & reputation of serving & caring for families. We are three generations carrying on one tradition. We offer the highest quality service with the most affordable options.

Why Should I Plan Ahead?

Your expenses, if you choose, can be covered when you need them to be, through a pre-payment plan.

Q A

Does Pre-planning Require Pre-payment? The simple answer is no. You can pre-plan simply by recording your wishes, and your family pay for your

desired services at the time of your passing. However, you can pre-fund your plan. This ensures your expenses will be covered when you need them. No matter where you reside at the time of your passing, and no matter which funeral home you choose, your plan is transferrable.

What important questions will I need to answer when my loved one does pass away?

Some questions will be: Do I have to have embalming? Do I need to purchase a casket? What about cemetery arrangements? Does the family have to engage the services of a minister? What type of service should we have? To submit a question about Funeral or Cremation Service: email ellen@jones-wynn.net or send a message to Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory Facebook page.

Awarded the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of excellence award for 11 years & in 2007 the of Best of the Best Award, 2010 Georgia Family Business of the Year Award, 2009 Ellen Wynn McBrayer was one of GeorgiaTrend Magazine’s “40 under 40” & has been interviewed on Fox Business about funeral service, 2004 Dana Wynn was top 5 Funeral Service Person of the year.

Ask the Ex ert Q A Chris Brannam

Manager Express Oil Change and Service Center Carrollton

QualiďŹ cations

Chris has been with Express Oil Change and Service Center for 12 years. Chris started as an Oil Bay Hood Tech, later was promoted to Service Manager. He was named Honor Roll Manager of the Year in 2012 for Express Oil Change and Service Center. Chris advanced through the ranks trained by Bro Billy Runels, the stores ďŹ rst manager. My wife Janet and I have been together since 1986 and have two sons Blake and Justin. Blake also works for Express Oil Change. Chris and his wife are members of Holy Ground Baptist Church.

Special Advertising Section

What Every West Georgian needs to know about...... Synthetic vs traditional oil Who are the Most Popular Motor Oil Manufacturers? Motor oil is classified based on the viscosity number and by manufacturer. Some motor oil manufacturers only make certain types of oil (for example 20W-50). However, the most common manufacturers for motor oil used in a typical automobile are: Castrol, Quaker State, Mobil, Exxon, Havoline, Valvoline, Pennzoil, and Shell. All of these manufacturers create and sell oil typically used in automobiles. There are dozens of other manufacturers but these are by far the most popular.

How Many Different Types of Synthetic Oil are there?

There are two main synthetic oil types available for purchase. Synthetic oil made from a base stock and semi-synthetic oil. Synthetics made from a base stock are created from one of three

types of lubricants: polyalphaolefin, synthetic esters or hydrocracked/hydroisomerized bases. Semi-synthetic oils are a blended oil comprised of no more than 30% synthetic base. Synthetic oils typically create less friction and are more stable, often lasting longer than a non-synthetic oil.

Are Synthetic Oil Prices Trending Higher or Lower?

Like crude oil, synthetic oil prices (created from natural esters or other chemicals) are currently trending higher. This is largely due to the notion that crude oil prices affect synthetics. While this is true to some extent, the fact remains that synthetic oils are often devoid of crude oil. However, most people are entirely unaware of this fact, and synthetic oil prices will rise with the price of crude oil, as is the case currently.

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Dr. Lona D. Bibbs Pediatric Dentist

Qualifications

Dr. Bibbs earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Bibbs is a Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Northern District Dental Society, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Georgia Dental Society, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is currently on staff at Piedmont Hospital-Newnan, Georgia. Dr. Bibbs has been in private practice since 2005 and has offices in Newnan and Carrollton, Georgia.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

What every West Georgian should know about... Preventive Care is the importance of Preventive Q Is flossing important? Q What Care? A Decay-causing bacteria can linger Preventive dental care is important, between teeth where toothbrush bristles A especially at a young age. Practicing good oral hygiene at home and scheduling regular checkups (every six months) can help keep your child’s smile bright and healthy during their infant, adolescent and teen years. Plaque and cavities can build up and cause destruction to the teeth, gums and oral cavity.

preventive care techniques would Q What you recommend for my child? Kidz Dentist recommends that parents A My make sure the child brushes their teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. (remember to brush the top surface of tongue to remove extra plaque causing food particles). Use fluoride toothpaste to remove food particles and plaque from the tooth surfaces.

can’t reach. Floss and mouthwash will help remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line. Fresh Breath!

Make sure your child eats a balanced diet, and try to avoid giving her extrasugary treats. Nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or fruit can help keep your child’s smile healthy. A protective plastic coating (dental sealant) can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts, ask Dr. Bibbs at My Kidz Dentist about this procedure.

LEARN MORE: www.mykidzdentistry.com | (770)253-4488

Loving your child's smile, like our very own! www.mykidzdentistry.com

1741 Newnan Crossing Blvd. Newnan, GA 30265 P: 770.253.4488 F: 770.253.4498

Two Locations To Serve You!

1109 South Park 6W Suite 203 2 Carollton, GA 30 P: 770.253.4488 F: 770.253.4498

What every west Georgian should know about...

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Oak Mountain Academy Is summer reading important for students?

A Summer vacation rapidly slips away;

school supplies appear on store shelves, and your child has not begun his or her â&#x20AC;&#x153;summer reading.â&#x20AC;? Is it really that important to complete the list of books sent home with your child after completing a yearlong focus on academics? Indeed, notable research from Johns Hopkins University and experience indicate it is a valuable summer activity for students of all ages. Students who read over the summer gain measureable reading skills, improve academic performance, and avoid the â&#x20AC;&#x153;summer slideâ&#x20AC;? when returning to school in the fall. On the contrary, students who do not participate in summer reading may lose up to two months of what they learned in school.

Paula Gillispie

Head of School Oak Mountain Academy, Carroll Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only independent, collegepreparatory, faith-based, day school

Qualifications

Earning her graduate degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, Paula is a lifetime educator in her fi fth year as Head of School at Oak Mountain Academy.

Q How can your child enjoy effective summer reading?

:$55,256

2$. 02817$,1 $&$'(0<

A Research again indicates that summer

reading without guidance is least effective. Teachers and parents must be involved by helping children choose skillappropriate, high-interest books and by ensuring comprehension, especially with younger readers. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Five-finger Ruleâ&#x20AC;? is an effective way to determine if a book is too difficult. Ask your child to read 100 words from a book, raising a finger each time an unknown word is encountered. If 5 or more fingers are shown, the book is too hard. To ensure comprehension, ask your child questions about the book or have him or her summarize what they read. By making it interactive, reading skills improve as you spend valuable, quality time with your child. Learn more at: www.oakmountain.us 770-834-6651 paulagillispie@oakmountain.us

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GOOD GAME, BAD SPRAIN Tanner Urgent Care is here for you. Your son didn’t break any records this afternoon, but he may have broken his ankle. Fortunately, Tanner Urgent Care offers walk-in care for minor medical emergencies, including: Sprains and strains Cuts and scrapes Burns and rashes

Fevers Cold and ﬂu And more

To learn more, visit www.TannerUrgentCare.org or call 770.836.9445. New location opening 9/2 Tanner Urgent Care/Carrollton 1480 Highway 27 South, Carrollton Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tanner Urgent Care/Bremen 100 Tanner Drive, Bremen Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tanner Urgent Care/Villa Rica 101 Quartz Drive, Suite 101, Villa Rica Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tanner Primary Care of Wedowee 1030 South Main Street, Wedowee Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon 256.357.2188

Most insurance plans accepted.