NCM July/August 2020

MEDICAL RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC

A View from the Top Piedmont Nurse

25

Meet COWETA’S TOP IN

JULY | AUGUST 2020 COMPLIMENTARY COPY

2020

INFLUENCERS

One of the Largest Selections of

FINE WINE in the Peachtree City area!

WORLD OF BEVERAGE Purchase

6 bottles of Wine & Champagne

Receive

10% off Purchase

6 bottles of Liquor (750 ml or larger)

Receive

5% off

My name is Renessa and I am the wine director here at Renessa Kedron World of Beverage in Peachtree City. I started my career in this business in 2004 and have been internationally certified in wine, beer and spirits. In 2008 I decided to focus my energy on my true passion, wine! Since then I’ve been a wine consultant and have held many different jobs in the industry. I’ve worked as the wine director for many different retail stores, been a restaurant representative for over 100 establishments, and have been a part time bartender for over 10 years. My daughter and I moved from Myrtle Beach to Peachtree City last year and since then I’ve been running the wine department here at Kedron World of Beverage.

Huge Selection of

LIQUOR

Bourbon, Tequila, Scotch, & Rum

Wine to me is a passion. It connects the past to the present. History in a bottle.

I hope you stop by so I can share with you all the things I love about wine. Help you find the perfect bottle for a special occasion, a gift or just simply a bottle to go with dinner tonight.

You can find us conveniently located in the Kedron Shopping Village.

Large Selection of

CRAFT BEERS

HOURS OF OPERATION

Mon - Wed: 9am - 9pm Thur: 9am - 9pm Friday- Sat: 9am - 9pm Sunday : 12:00pm - 6pm

1106 N. Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree City, GA (near Outback Steakhouse in PTC) | 678-961-5832 | kendronworldofbeverage@gmail.com

follow us on all social media sites

THERE IS A CALMNESS IN A LIFE LIVED IN GRATITUDE, A GREAT JOY. - Ralph M. Bloom

WELCOME TO SAFE AND SOUND

So many unknowns. So many worries. Everyone is feeling the impact of the pandemic. So, why so many smiles among the residents of Wesley Woods of Newnan? They are thankful for the peace of mind it gives them and their families, for the delicious meals delivered to their doors, for the caring staff, and for knowing their well-being is priority one.

WELCOME HOME. Wesley Woods is the only Life Plan Community in the Newnan area – offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.

2280 North Highway 29 | Newnan, GA 30265 | wesleywoods.org/newnan | 770.683.6859

CONTENTS JULY-AUGUST 2020 ISSUE

33

our features 26 | Staring Down a Pandemic In this issue’s NCM Q&A, Piedmont Hospital’s Jennifer Key recalls how the medical staff met the challenge of COVID-19. By Jackie Kennedy

33 | Best of Coweta Our readers choose their favorite products and services. By Jackie Kennedy 6 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

54 | Minding the Gap What stay-at-home moms can do to ease the transition when its time to return to the jobsite.

By Jill Whitley

61 | 25 in 2020 Meet Coweta’s top 25 influencers in this special

section from The Newnan-Times Herald.

A new family restaurant from Leonard Guillaume,

28

the owner and distinguished chef behind Mama Lucia's in Ashley Park.

Named for Guillaume's grandson, Grayson's is family-owned and operated, with fresh ingredients, chef-driven cuisine, and unmatched service. It's the ideal spot for date nights, business dinners, or a relaxed evening with the best quality food in Newnan.

Con Ann

Shawn, 10

a, 7

Updates on Grayson's ofďŹ cial opening can be found at graysonsnewnan.com.

91 Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd.

Newnan, GA 30263 770.252.2237 graysonsnewnan.com

in this issue

12 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 76 | 78 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 93 | 94 | 96 | 97 | 98 |

From the Editor Roll Call From Our Readers Caption This Behind the Shoot Coweta to Me Ask a Mom Book Review Coweta Kids Care Coweta Cooks Coweta Arts Coweta Prose Coweta Garden Coweta Quotes Blacktop Blacktop Extra Hip Holidays The Wrap-Up Belind

a, 7

da, 9

Jacin

nie,

6

Adjusting to the Lockdown The Covid -19 virus has resulted in a multitude of deaths throughout our nation and until a vaccine is developed we must all be vigilant in adhering to strict hygiene procedures, including social distancing & wearing facemasks. The economy is slowly reopening on a limited basis in advance of a vaccine and we all hope and pray that the virus spread does not escalate.

The media keeps us updated on the spread of the virus and mortality rates nationwide.

Evidence is clear that those with underling health issues and the elderly are most at risk should they contract the virus. Publicity surrounding higher than normal death rates in elderly care facilities has left the impression that these facilities are virus-ridden. This is not always the case.

In fact, elderly care facilities that follow CDC and Dept. of Community Health “lockdown” guidelines prohibiting non-essential workers from entering the communities, social distancing, caregivers wearing facemasks and practicing extraordinary hygiene procedures all are keeping their communities safe.

Another negative consequence of the “lock down” restrictions is that family and friends are unable to visit their loved ones. Many communities utilize social media devices such has Facetime, Skype & Zoom for families to connect remotely.

In addition to these social media devices Monarch House Assisted Living has taken family visits one step further.

We set up a “visitation booth” in front of the building for seniors and family to safely sit up close, face-to-face separated only by plexiglass windows.

Monarch House has had zero incidences of Covid-19 to date. It may be that in addition to all of the new restrictions in place, the fact that Monarch House is a small community of only 41 private suites situated within spacious community spaces has made social distancing among its residents very easy and safe. Monarch House also has a high-tech ventilation system that brings in fresh air from outside and exhausts stale air resulting in a pollutant free environment.

We are all looking forward to the day when life returns to normal. In the meantime we remain vigilant in keeping our seniors safe. For more information and a virtual tour we look forward to hearing from you.

Come see what families with a loved one at Monarch House are talking about!

Call 678.552.9867 for a tour or visit our website at www.monarchhouse.net

299 Bullsboro Dr., Ste. 100 Newnan, GA 30263

Early

VOTING begins

PROMOTING ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

JULY 20

Smart responsible growth for the benefit of the 4th District and entire county.

Balanced spending within current tax revenues.

Assuring financially sound decisions through strategic planning.

Communicating and informing constituents about growth and development plans.

Listening to the voices of citizens and county employees to involve them in responsible growth decisions.

It is the responsibility of community leaders to bring the best they possibly can to the citizens they serve.

“I pledge to the citizens of Coweta and District 4 I will diligently serve to continue to make Coweta one of the very best counties in Georgia. I implore all citizens of Coweta to be involved with their community and county. I will communicate to District 4 citizens but ask that we all be involved to achieve smart, responsible growth, while striving to assure a balanced budget within our county tax revenues.”

FRIENDS OF DISTRICT FOUR AND COWETA JOHN REIDELBACH

18 Greenville Street • Unit 2204 • Newnan, Georgia 30254  404-664-9060  jjr@reidelbach.us www.reidelbach.us

“I hope I can count on your vote on August 11th!” john.reidelbach.908

A Publication of The Newnan Times-Herald

The Boyds are Back!

President

Vice President

Publishers

Editor

Creative Directors

Production Director

Contributing Writers

William W. Thomasson Marianne C. Thomasson C. Clayton Neely and Elizabeth C. Neely Jackie Kennedy Sandy Hiser, Sonya Studt Debby Dye Susan Mayer Davis

Jill Whitley

Photography

Debby Dye

Jackie Kennedy

Chris Martin

Advertising Manager

Bonnie Pratt

Multimedia Sales Specialists

Misha Benson Jill Whitley

Newnan-Coweta Magazine 2020 Advisory Board Julie Brown, Carol Chancey, Blue Cole, John Daviston, Carol Glover, Marc Guy, Rochelle Jabaley, Bernard Knox, Neil Monroe, Brigette Smiley, Casey Smith and Cathy Wright

A one-night-only street exhibit on the sidewalk at Perry and East Washington Streets

Coming Summer 2020 Follow us on social media for more

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION call 770.253.1576 or email advertise@newnan.com Newnan-Coweta Magazine is published bi-monthly by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc., 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan, GA 30263.

Newnan-Coweta Magazine is distributed in home-delivery copies of The Newnan Times-Herald and at businesses and offices throughout Coweta County.

On the Web: newnancowetamagazine.com

photos available on photos.times-herald.com/Newnan-Coweta-Magazine

678.361.8909 www.theboydgallery.com 14 East Washington Street 10 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

www.facebook.com/newnancowetamag

Š 2020 by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

J . J . T h o ma s s o n I V RealtorÂŽ Broker 770-362-9307 770-683-663 jjthomasson @7 ja kson. om

Gain a different perspective on commercial real estate 75JACKSON.COM

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 11

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The Worst of Times, The Best of Coweta

W

hen we entered the new year, we at Newnan-Coweta Magazine thought it was pretty cool to be celebrating the publication’s 25th anniversary in 2020.

Now, we’re wondering: Is there really anything good about the year 2020?

Certainly, it’s been a year like no other. A strange new disease shut down the world in March, and new charges of police misconduct brought protests and rioting to U.S. cities in May. A list of descriptive words for the year so far might include: Disruption. Confusion. Loss. Pain. Fear.

Uncertainty.

Thankfully, due to the nature – and perhaps, the duty – of a community magazine, we focus instead on the positives that also describe recent months: Resilience. Community. Togetherness. Healing. Hope.

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, it’s been the worst of times, and the best of times.

You won’t have to look far to learn about the worst. Just turn on the TV, spend a few minutes on Facebook, or scroll through the national news.

To learn about the best, enjoy this edition of Newnan-Coweta Magazine.

In this Best of Coweta issue, we reveal the top spots for food and drinks, shopping, entertainment and various services as voted by you, our readers. Visiting our winners to deliver good news was especially poignant this year as, for some, it was the best news they’d heard after weeks of declining business due to the pandemic. We congratulate them for their hard work at all times – but especially in these trying times.

See page 33.

Also in this issue, we visit with the editors of “A Taste of Georgia,” the Newnan Junior Service League cookbook that became a phenomenon, see page 78. We bring you another edition of “Ask a Mom @ Newnan.com,” see page 22. And we introduce a new feature, “Behind the Shot,” where we take you on location as we work to capture a great photo, see page 18.

This issue also features a special section from our parent company, The Newnan-Times Herald, naming Coweta County’s 25 top influencers. You’re sure to recognize some of these names, while others may be new to you. All deserve a gigantic pat on the back for their contributions to Coweta, see page 61.

Finally, we visit Jennifer Key, director of Nursing at Piedmont Newnan.

While the early weeks of COVID-19 were filled with unknowns, the hospital leaned on experience and preparation to meet the crisis, according to Key, who commends the community for expressing appreciation for health care workers.

See page 26.

In a future issue, we’ll take a long look at the pandemic and its effects on our community. Right now, our face is too close to the mirror. Time must pass before the past can be viewed clearly. When the right time comes, we hope hindsight is 20/20.

But frankly, we’re looking forward to when 2020 is behind us.

Like many Cowetans, Jackie Kennedy worked from home during In the meantime, even in the worst of times, we know that the best are in our the early stages of the pandemic. midst. And for that, we are grateful.

Jackie Kennedy, Editor magazine@newnan.com

12 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Voted Best Boutique e! r to S l e r a p p A &

Thank You for being our customer!

20% OF

Best que

Bouti

F

Best rel

your favorite item!

AppSatore

Expires August 31, 20 20 Cannot be combined wit h any other offers or sale items

“A fun trendy boutique for all ages!”

12 N. Court Square (next to Redneck Gourmet) Newnan, GA 30263 • 770-683-4316 instagram@kendrasnewnan.com

facebook@kendrasnewnan.com

Mon.-Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5

ROLL CALL

Our Contributors Susan Mayer Davis lives with husband Larry and golden retriever Mariah.

What she enjoys most about writing for NCM is meeting great people when she researches articles and then sharing their stories. “It’s fun,” she says, “but it’s also a privilege.”

Chris Martin has photographed Major League Baseball, NCAA football, bull riding, air shows, space launches and international swim meets featuring Michael Phelps.

He shoots action sports for The Heritage School in Newnan and for The Newnan-Times Herald.

Jill Whitley works in sales and marketing at The Newnan TimesHerald and wants to be a writer when she grows up. She lives in Coweta County with her incredibly patient husband and two kind-hearted, hilarious children.

Debby Dye and her husband Wayne reside in Newnan. Her passion for photography inspired by her father, she enjoys capturing personalities through portrait and family photography and has photographed numerous ceremonies and activities within the Catholic church.

OUR READERS WRITE So happy to see this positive and informative article about a great opportunity for local kids (see May-June 2020 Newnan-Coweta Magazine, “Look Who’s Cooking,” page 18). With busy parents and home-ec no longer in school, this is an important skill. My kids love cookie decorating time with Sharon (Rainwater).

Hope,” page 34). Verona, or Aunt V, was my greatgreat aunt. She loved children and spent all of her life educating children, first as a teacher until opening the youth center later in life.

Great article!

Carla Manning,

via NewnanCowetaMagazine.com

Robin Troxlet,

via NewnanCowetaMagazine.com

Thank you for the inspiring story about the Verona Rosser Youth Hope Center (see May-June 2020 Newnan-Coweta Magazine, “Playing Ball & Pitching

14 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Let Us Hear From You...

Send thoughts, ideas and suggestions to magazine@newnan.com

Best

Locaclian Musi Doug Kees

est Bes B

LLooccaal nd Band Ba Kris

, David Puett d an B s an um Yo

Music Instruction Since 1989

Thank you so much for votin Doug Kees Best Local Musici g Kris Youmans Band Best Locaan and l Band!

48 Spring Street, Newnan 30263

(Just off the Court Square)

770-252-7900 • musicologynewnan.com

The animals of Coweta County need you!

NCHS sav ea

et

N E W N A N ďšş C O W E TA H U M A N E S O C I E T Y

pt ado . . . life

ap

Rescue | Foster | Local Adoptions | Pet Food Pantry | TNR | Community Spay/Neuter Program

Newnan-Coweta Humane Society (NCHS) rescues dogs and cats from our local county shelter, including the medically and emotionally fragile, senior pets and bottle babies.

Please visit www.nchsrescue.org for ways to donate, volunteer, and foster.

Donations may also be mailed to: P.O. Box 785 • Newnan, GA 30264 *Ad Sponsored by Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation

Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest Coming Soon

Newnan-Coweta Magazine will hold its Third Annual

Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest in September with winners and their recipes featured in our November-December 2020 Holiday issue.

Get a jumpstart on the holidays by trying out your favorite cookie recipes – or coming up with recipes of your own – and submitting your best to compete for prizes in contest categories: Traditional Cookies and Decorated Cookies. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners in each category after a panel of independent judges rates cookies on taste and appearance. A Grand Prize winner will be chosen from the top entries.

Contest entrants must submit six to 12 cookies and the recipe in order to qualify for judging. All entries must be delivered to Newnan-Coweta Magazine’s office at The Newnan Times-Herald at 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, or between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18. Judging will take place on the afternoon of Sept. 18 and winners will be announced in the magazine’s November-December issue.

Caption This!

“Mask up partner, this gonna be a long ride.”

In May, we asked our NewnanCoweta Magazine readers and Facebook friends to caption the photo shown here. We received 27 entries in our Caption This contest. By a landslide, the winning caption was one submitted

by Kayla Storey, of Sargent. She will receive an NCM 25th Anniversary T-shirt.

In July, we’ll post another photo for our readers to caption.

Follow Newnan-Coweta Magazine on Facebook for your chance to enter a caption. Be on the lookout for it on our Facebook page.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 17

BEHIND THE SHOT

100% Focused On Women’s Health Care

How our cover came to be

MEDICAL RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC

A View from the Top Piedmont Nurse

25

2020 M eet COWE IN

JULY | AUGUST 2020 COMPLIMENTARY COPY

TA’S TOP INFLUENCERS

Written and Photographed

by JACKIE KENNEDY

E

very good photo begins with an idea.

Our Services: • Comprehensive Obstetrical Care • High Risk OB • Certified Nurse Midwifery • Comprehensive Gynecological Care • In Office Procedures including Mona Lisa Touch® • Minimally Invasive Surgery • Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

Our Doctors: W. Darrell Martin , MD, FACOG Elizabeth W. Killebrew, MD, FACOG Crystal Slade, MD, FACOG Benita Bonser, MD, FACOG Michlene Broadney, MD, FACOG Edwin Bello, MD, FACOG

Deborah Shepard, MD, FACOG Heather S. Turner, MD, FACOG Kristie Dyson, MD, FACOG Tanya Beckford, MD, FACOG Susan Thomas, MD, FACOG Vanessa Antoine, MD

(770) 991-2200 scwhobgyn.com Offices in Fayetteville, Newnan and Stockbridge

NOW ACCEPTING MOST KAISER PLANS

Getting from the idea to a quality photograph fit for publishing can be fraught with obstacles, though, especially when you’re shooting for the cover of a magazine.

This issue’s cover began with a conversation between Publisher Beth Neely and myself. I’d been stewing for days on how to illustrate this year’s Best of Coweta contest. “We have four businesses that won multiple first places,” I told her. “I want to somehow showcase that.”

She thought about it for only a moment before inspiration struck.

“Meat ‘N’ Greet won for Best Cocktail, right?” she said. “Why don’t we get one person from each business and have them at a table there celebrating their wins with a toast?”

Voila!

Meat ‘N’ Greet (MnG) Owner Amy Murphy liked the concept and welcomed us to stage the photo there, even chipping in a bottle of bubbly to congratulate the winners.

Fortunately for us, our go-to professional photographer, Chris Martin, was available. I spent most of one day calling our multiple winners to explain the idea and schedule the shoot.

On the day of the shoot, Martin and his student photographer, Emily Walker, got to the restaurant a few hours early to scope out the lighting and set up their equipment. Martin has mentored Walker for two years and calls her “a natural” at the art of photography.

At the designated hour, NCM Creative

BEHIND THE SHOT

Jefferson St.

770.683.4664

Newnan

From left, photographers Emily Walker and Chris Martin work together to photograph Makayla Phillips, Marcia Wiggers, Kris Ryan and T.J. Struck.

Directors Sandy Hiser and Sonya Studt walked with me across the street to the restaurant where we met up with our first place winners, freelance photographers and MnG General Manager Jessica Connelly who graciously accommodated our vision. From settling us into our own private corner to serving up cocktails for extra color on thecover, she pulled the strings that led to a smooth shoot.

I’m not sure how we could have asked for better photo subjects. Makayla Phillips of Kendra’s, Marcia Wiggers of U Dirty Dog, T.J. Struck of Vapes Gone Wild and MnG’s Kris Ryan were patient and relaxed, enthusiastic and fun. They rolled with the flow, repositioning elbows or switching seats if our creative directors wanted to try a different pose. Their good humor through what must have been an exhausting hour is deeply appreciated.

Long story short, we think Martin, with assistance from Walker’s young but skilled eye, captured a great cover shot.

Sometimes it takes a village to shoot a photo. We’re thankful for our village. NCM Emily Walker, second from right, photobombs this behind-the-scenes shot. Working to capture our cover image are, from left, Chris Martin, Sandy Hiser, Makayla Phillips, Marcia Wiggers, Kris Ryan, T.J. Struck, Walker and Sonya Studt.

Best

ll Ovtearuarant Res

Best er

Burg

Best

il Cockta

Updated Hours of Operation can be found at meatngreetnewnan.com or on either of our social media pages.

+

Bourbons craft burgers & hot dogs craft beer specialty salads

gluten free options weekly specials

COWETA TO ME

A Heart Healed and Overflowing Written by MELISSA ISHERWOOD

I

first came to Coweta County in April of 2009. This rural Maine native was simply stunned by the spring beauty. In Maine, I enjoyed breezy summers, colorful falls, snowy winters and “mud season.” In addition to absorbing nature’s art in full bloom, I was made to feel genuinely welcome in this community that is more than 17 times larger than the one I called home for 32 years.

I had always thought of Georgia as one of the Southern states that Mainers fly over to get to where they really want to go to escape the long winters: Florida.

So what brought me to Newnan?

I believe God ordained it through a matching matrix on a well-known web site: eHarmony.

I was a widow with three young children for two years when I prayerfully subscribed to eHarmony for 30 days. I met my future husband, Darren, during that month when he had taken the exact same risk. A grieving widower, he and I developed a close friendship as we shared stories and memories of our first best friends and processed what life was like without them.

Living approximately 1,500 miles apart, we decided that it only made sense to be email and phone friends who understood the heartbreak, daily pain and challenge of having to create a new future for ourselves and our children. We prayed for each other’s families and worried about our single parenting.

Then a surprising thing happened. My friend decided to travel to Maine to give his children a snowy winter adventure. After spending three days sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and 20 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Darren and Melissa Isherwood

introducing his wonderful family to old-fashioned Yankee cooking, Darren and I realized God was doing something much bigger with our friendship than we imagined.

I traveled to Newnan one month later in April of 2009.

I savored new experiences like fried okra, grits and the puppy dog window at Goldens on the Square.

To my surprise the amazing people at Grace Community Fellowship seemed to be as kind, thoughtful and welcoming as my church back home in Maine. We just had different accents!

Darren and I married in July of 2009 and now, 10-plus years later, Newnan and Coweta County are where I feel most at home.

From the Summit YMCA to the Nixon Centre, Mitchell Powell Library, Art House, Musicology and more, my family has enjoyed a decade of growth and memory-making in Coweta County.

Who knew this small-town, New England woman would find her heart healed and overflowing in The City of Homes? NCM

What is Coweta to You? Whatever your own Coweta County story is, we’d like you to share it with readers of NewnanCoweta Magazine. Keep your word count at 350-450 words, please. Email your “Coweta to Me” story to magazine@newnan.com or mail to 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263. We look forward to hearing from you.

Helping our community during these difficult times.

Helping our community during these difficult times.

We are People serving the Lord, working with families in crisis in Coweta County, offering food, clothing, financial assistance and shelter.

Please visit oneroofoutreach.org to donate or mail donations to: One Roof POOne BoxRoof 916 PO Box 916 • Newnan, GA 30264 Newnan, GA30264

Please visit oneroofoutreach.org to donate or mail donations to:

*Ad Sponsored by Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation

*Ad Sponsored by HMWCF

ASK A MOM @ newnan.com

No matter which side you find yourself on in the Mommy Wars, we can all agree that parenting is the most difficult job on earth. Whether you’re single or married, working or staying at home, there’s no easy path to raising a happy, healthy child.

Take a breath, and grab a cup of tea, because Newnan-Coweta Magazine has you covered with a feature tailored just for parents – Ask a Mom at Newnan.com.

We have partnered with some amazing Coweta-area moms who are experts in fields ranging from pediatrics and obstetrics to education and psychology, to first responders and regular, everyday moms. Some are momsmade-superheroes by raising medically fragile children and caring for aging parents as they do.

Send your concerns to askamom@newnan. com. It really does take a village, and we are here to be your village with judgment-free, real-life answers.

This issue's Ask a Mom experts: Dr. Melinda “Kemi” Amosu has been a pediatrician with Piedmont Physicians Pediatrics in Newnan for 14 years.

She earned her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Orlando Regional Healthcare System in Orlando, Fla. She is an active member of the Academy of Pediatrics and the Medical Association of Georgia and has an affiliate status with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Jill Whitley is a former court-appointed child advocate for Coweta CASA and has navigated widowhood, single parenting and blending a family. She lives in Coweta County with her incredibly patient husband and two kind-hearted, hilarious children.

22 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

All Screen Time Not Created Equal Compiled and Edited by JILL WHITLEY

Dear Mom,

I've been working at home, and my two boys, 8 and 13, have been doing online classwork since the middle of March.

It hasn't been terrible, but I feel like the kids are always on some sort of electronic device. They are online for school, texting, video chatting or playing video games almost 24/7.

I'm reluctant to take their devices away because that's been their only connection to friends lately, but it can't be good for them. How do I get them to find other things to fill their time without losing my mind?

Sincerely, A Desperate Mom (who is considering donating the XBOX to charity)

Dr. Melinda Amosu: My advice would be to limit playing video games to no more than two hours a day. I would allow video chatting with friends on a schedule so that you can ensure they have time to go outside and play or do TikTok dances outdoors. That way, at least they are getting sunlight and Vitamin D. Jill Whitley: I feel the guilt and concern over screen time as deeply and painfully as you do. Moms are usually overworked and exhausted, and nothing about family life is normal right now. Our kids are feeling isolation and anxiety, and when you’re little, boring days go on forever.

YouTube, TikTok and video gaming offer an irresistible, entertaining and often addictive escape that passes otherwise excruciatingly long hours for them – and buys us a little time to work or breathe.

I won’t lie. I’ve used YouTube as a babysitter more than I care to admit in the past few weeks. Babysitters are hard to come by these days, and the one thing I learned from this pandemic is that I can’t be everything to everyone. I cannot cook wholesome meals, plan Pinterest-worthy science projects, be the rockstar employee I want to be, and soothe my kids' fears all at once. Something has to give, and sometimes that means

ASK A MOM

allowing just one more episode of Daniel Tiger while I take a moment to hide with a handful of Oreos and text a friend.

Initially, I agreed with Dr. Amosu as I know that my children are spending entirely too much time lost to me, bathing in the LED glow of their own electronic devices while I’m typing away on mine. I’ve thrown art supplies, puzzles, board games and Barbies their way, and nothing I’ve tried can stop the eternal refrain of “Just one more game, Mom!” I was alarmingly close to disabling the WiFi and throwing my tiny zombies outside to the wolves the other day when I realized that, in my 12-year-old son’s online XBOX chat, I was hearing something I hadn’t heard from his room in weeks: music.

In the middle of a game, my son and his friends had finally gotten tired of fighting each other, left the audio channel open, and picked up their band instruments. While their online characters idled, they counted off and played almost all the songs they would have rocked out to at the seventh grade spring concert they didn't get to have. The impromptu performance revived his interest in his guitar, which he hadn’t picked up since his music education had been put on hold, and he’s now teaching himself new songs and techniques via YouTube.

In the end, while Dr. Amosu makes some excellent points about making sure your kids get enough sunlight and exercise, I’m going to ask that you use her time limits as

an approximate guide and give both your children and yourself some grace and flexibility here. Rather than simply monitoring the time your family spends online, consider judging the health of their digital habits by the content they are taking in. If they are spending mindless hours watching another Fortnite video, encourage them to spend some time playing outside, reading a book or creating a work of art.

However, if you catch them actively using the internet to meet a need by chatting with a friend, collaborating with a classmate, or using YouTube to actively learn a skill, consider giving yourself a break and letting them stay online just a little bit longer. NCM

Thank You for making us

1 Day Spa!

#

35 Jackson Street | Newnan, GA 30263 | 770-262-6233 www.emilysskincarespa.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 23

BOOK REVIEW

Low Country Life and Loggerhead Turtle A review of ‘On Ocean Boulevard’ Written by SHANNON JOHNSON

A

s youth, we have lofty thoughts and dreams of life. We leave home wideeyed and eager to fulfill not only our own expectations but often those of our parents, too. For so many, failure, frustration or the realities of life send us back home all too quickly.

“On Ocean Boulevard” is the sixth installment in Mary Alice Monroe’s “Beach House” series.

Beautifully set in the Low Country along the barrier islands of South Carolina, just in time for the nesting season of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle, the book opens with the palpable disappointment of Linnea Rutledge.

One of the story’s two protagonists, 25-year-old Linnea has returned from following her postcollege dreams – and a boy – across the country to San Francisco. Back in South Carolina with no job or boyfriend, she is less than excited to hear her parents’ versions of “I told you so.”

Rather than head straight home from the airport, Linnea directs her Uber to the home of her Aunt Cara, the second leading character, 24 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

whose headstrong independence long ago led her to leave home and travel to Chicago against her own parents’ wishes.

She scraped her way into a business career that earned no accolades from her family but did leave them wondering if she would settle down with a family of her own. Some 16 years ago, the Low Country called Cara home. Now at 55, she is planning a lavish wedding to her second chance, a wonderfully generous man who loves her adopted daughter like his own.

Linnea soon learns that she’s not the only one in her family experiencing hard times. Her parents have narrowly escaped bankruptcy by selling their home and property in Charleston and are hinging their future on her father’s new construction on Ocean Boulevard. Her mother, Julia, is coming to terms with the upheaval of her lavish lifestyle. While her parents pick up the pieces of their lives, Linnea and Julia forge a new mother-daughter relationship.

As the summer heats up and excitement grows for the new house and wedding, illness strikes. The family must draw close to one another and reevaluate what is important.

Control must be released, naïveté must be cast aside, and the family’s love must prevail.

Just like the loggerhead turtle that swims a current throughout this novel, these ladies return to the place and people of their birth for reflection and rejuvenation.

The characters’ emotional depth will make you feel as though you’ve just caught up with old friends, but if this is your first read of one of Monroe’s the “Beach House” series, the extended family connections may be somewhat confusing.

Monroe’s novel is expertly described and paints a gorgeous picture of the sandy barrier islands, allowing her reader to be fully immersed in the natural world of the coast. This, coupled with the environmental themes she entwines into her novels, will leave you wanting to reduce your plastic use.

This quick read is just the novel to throw into your beach bag this summer.

Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 books, including the “Beach House” series. “On Ocean Boulevard” was released in May 2020 by Gallery Books, New York; 367 pages. ★★★★

Read a good book lately?

Executive director of the Troup County Historical Society, Shannon Johnson earned her history degree from Samford University and a master’s in library science from the University of Alabama.

Read a good book lately?

Send your review with your contact information to magazine@newnan.com or mail to Newnan-Coweta Magazine, 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan, Ga. 30263.

YOUR POWERFUL DOLLAR For most of us, a charitable donation of $100 per month won’t impact our budget.

But can this small gift really help?

It helps tremendously when combined with the dollars of your neighbors. The combined power of our single dollars is what Caring Customers is all about.

• 100% of your donation benefits charities right here in Coweta County • Choose a monthly donation on your Newnan Utilities statement or visit our website to enroll

Let’s put that dollar to work.

NewnanUtilities.org/caring 70 Sewell Road • Newnan, GA 30263 • 770-683-5516 • NewnanUtilities.org

NewnanUtilitiesGA

NU coweta mag june2020.indd 1

@NewnanUtilities

NewnanUtilities

6/16/20 2:37 PM

THE NCM Q&A

Jennifer Key:

Piedmont’s Top Nurse

Staring Down a Pandemic Written by JACKIE KENNEDY Photographs courtesy of Piedmont Newnan Hospital

A

Jennifer Key

s chief nursing officer at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, Jennifer

Willis Key has experienced the Coronavirus pandemic in a way few have – up close and personal with medical professionals, patients and their families.

In nursing for 22 years, Key joined the staff at Piedmont Newnan in 2014 as

director of Women’s Services and was named chief nursing officer in 2018. A native of LaGrange, the University of West Georgia graduate worked for West Georgia Health in LaGrange before beginning her career with Piedmont.

26 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

THE NCM Q&A

“There was a lot of fear at the beginning for all of us, and we wanted the staff to have confidence in how to care for COVID patients.”

— Jennifer Key NCM: What did the hospital do to prepare for the expected influx of patients?

Key: We started preparing with conversations back in January. We were having drills, mock emergencies, practicing what we would do by walking someone from the front door through the emergency room as if they were a COVID patient – to be sure we had the right supplies and that our team was properly educated. When you’re walking it and practicing it you really see what areas need improvement and what areas are good to go.

We started meeting with our infection protection team to discuss space planning. We wanted to be sure we had enough ICU beds. We reached out to our medical experts locally and across the system to get our best prediction of how many patients might need care at Piedmont Newnan.

At that time, we were dedicating our focus on the front door, which is our ER department, by educating them and leading them through what to expect.

NCM: When did Piedmont see its first Coronavirus case, and at what point did you realize this was not business as usual?

Key: We had been screening prior to March 12, but that was the date when we had our first patient in need of COVID care, Trevor Conkey, of Grantville, who ultimately got through it. He was first to screen in through our emergency department. It gradually grew from there, just like the models you’ve seen on TV. Mr. Conkey sort of became a celebrity. We got him a “Patient One” T-shirt. He was here for 35 days, and The Newnan Times-Herald did a story about him.

NCM: What were your major objectives as the crisis unfolded?

Key: My focus as chief nursing officer was to ensure our staff had proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and any tools they needed to properly care for patients. I wanted our nurses to not only have the proper PPE but know how to use it and feel comfortable and knowledgeable doing that.

I had a great team. We would stay late, we had nursing town halls, we pulled the team together so we could

demonstrate to them how to use the PPE. There was a lot of fear at the beginning for all of us, and we wanted the staff to have confidence in how to care for COVID patients.

NCM: How did the crisis evolve and what did Piedmont do to stay on top of things?

Key: We started gradually trending up in the number of patients needing COVID care. We made sure we could care for intensive care needs, had enough ICU beds and ventilators, and that the nursing staff was qualified to take care of an increased number of patients, whether it was COVID-related or not. The goal was to stay ahead so we always had space for them, ventilators for them and doctors and nurses to care for them. We always had enough in supply. We doubled our ICU capacity and made dedicated spaces to ensure that ventilators could fit in the room. We had to have the proper ventilation system for COVID patients, so we added an additional 33 negative pressure rooms, tripling our capacity for that type of room, which helps decrease the exchange of air when isolating infectious patients.

When we saw increased needs to care for COVID patients, we opened our incident command center here at Newnan. Our experts helped ensure that all 11 Piedmont hospitals were on the same page, getting the same communication as things were changing rapidly, in order to ensure we had supplies and resources that were needed.

Since visitors were not allowed, our nurses helped patients use Facetime with family members so they could see and talk with their loved ones. Nurses helped facilitate phone calls and helped patients celebrate birthdays and special occasions.

NCM: What new protocols were put in place and why?

Key: We screen all patients at the front door as the CDC has instructed: identify, isolate and inform. They are asked about symptoms and we take temperatures, and we do health screening for employees as well. Also, it’s been “no visitors” since March, but there are special exceptions, including mothers in labor who could have one support person with them, and that person would be screened just like an employee is screened.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 27

THE NCM Q&A

NCM: When might restrictions on visitors be lifted?

Key: We don’t see that changing any time soon. We want to have the right balance. We want to be safe and conserve the PPE use, and we also want our patients to have their support person, if we can, but it’s a balancing act. It’s a balance for the health and safety of our patients and also our workforce.

NCM: What other procedures were put into place during the early days of the pandemic?

Key: Along with the social distancing, limiting visitors and screening at the door, our clinics did a lot of telemedicine.

As a system, we’re doing 1,000 telehealth visits per day now; as of June 5, Piedmont hospitals had done 71,000.

I definitely think that’s a win/win for both patient and doctor. I think telemedicine is definitely something that’s in our future, and COVID just escalated the use of it in a good way.

NCM: Was there ever a time when you felt like it was more than you could handle?

Key: No. I could not be more proud. Even at the

beginning, every two hours my house supervisor would look at the bed space, look at the volumes coming in through the emergency department to balance how many nurses we had coming in day and night, so we really stayed ahead of the need. That was the goal: to stay one step ahead of the COVID, and we did. We flexed up with the volume and are now flexing down. We mimicked the curve that the national data shows. We were always a room ahead and a ventilator ahead of what might come through our doors.

I’d like to give a shout out to Coweta County residents for really following the social distancing and taking good care of our community.

NCM: What did the community support mean to the nurses and staff?

Key: The churches coming out, the light show, the music – I think that first gathering was just at the perfect time, right? We were in the thick of caring for increased volume, learning something new every day, and to walk outside that night and see the whole campus lit up, it was just beautiful.

It really made everyone cry, but in a good way, to feel the community support.

“ . . . to walk outside that night and see the whole campus lit up, it was just beautiful. It really made everyone cry, but in a good way, to feel the community support.”

— Jennifer Key 28 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

THE NCM Q&A The restaurants, the food, the snacks. One of my favorites was a cartoon drawing from one of the kids. We have an employee walkway dedicated to employees, people have done sidewalk chalk, motivational rocks. It really has been so nice to feel loved and appreciated.

NCM: How has the pandemic better prepared Piedmont for future health scares?

Key: It really was stressful. Every day was changing. It was nice to see the team settle in, to gain confidence in caring for the COVID patients. It’s nice to know we have that competency and those skills in Coweta County and specifically at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. It’s just been fantastic to see the growth, knowledge, confidence and teamwork of everyone. It’s good to know that some of the skills we used in preparation for this can be applied in future events, whether a pandemic or natural disaster.

LEFT Jennifer Key, center, leads her staff through protocol changes at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCM: Do you feel the public still has misconceptions about Coronavirus/COVID-19? If so, what would you say to clear those up?

Key: As our cities open back up, I think now we’re at a place of fear over what happens if we are going to the beauty parlor. I believe that once we get out and about and are protecting ourselves with social distancing, hand washing, covering your coughs and sneezes, staying at home if you don’t feel well, checking your temperature – the things we are doing here – I think they will become commonplace in our businesses as we open up. And if we do those things, we can move forward. And you can move forward knowing your hospitals have the protective equipment, the beds to put you in, the skills and the confidence to take care of you.

NCM: Some people have avoided the hospital when they needed care. What would you say to them?

Key: We initially shut down operating rooms for elective cases in order to limit exposure and reduce supply needs, but we are up and running again. The hospital is here to care

Call to tour our beautiful community...

Insignia Assisted Living of Newnan is nestled on a beautiful setting, offering gracious hospitality in a comfortable and elegant atmosphere.

Please call us today to schedule your personal tour.

Brenda Mitchell, Executive Director • 24-hour access to trained friendly associates • Delicious home-cooked meals • Laundry and housekeeping services • Fun and meaningful activities • Scheduled transportation

• Day Service and Respite available • Beautiful courtyards and spacious porches • Assistance with medication and personalized resident service plans • Specialized services for those with Alzheimer’s disease or related memory impairment

Senior Communities Centered Around Family

27 Belt Road | Newnan, GA 30263 | 770.251.6639 | www.InsigniaSeniorLiving.com/Newnan JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 29

The Newnan Centre and You...

The Perfect Union.

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CEREMONY OPTIONS • BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED BALLROOM ACCOMMODATES UP TO 350 GUESTS • ON-SITE BRIDE AND GROOM SUITES

(678) 673-5486 www.newnancentre.com 1515 Lower Fayetteville Road, Newnan, Georgia 30265 PHOTOS BY LEIGH WOLFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Mama Lucia’s Restaurant Fine Italian Cuisine

Open for Dine-In: Sunday-Thursday: 11am - 9 pm Saturday: 11am-10pm Reservations welcome but not necessary.

236 Newnan Crossing Bypass • Newnan, GA 30263 770-253-2501 • mama-lucias.net

Thank you...

Representative Lynn R. Smith lynnsmithforhouse @facebook.com

Thank you to all our frontline workers, healthcare providers, and essential personnel. I am honored to join others in saluting our local first responders who are keeping Coweta County safe and healthy during this time.

30 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

THE NCM Q&A for you. We know how to provide care if you have the COVID virus, and we know how to care for what we consider normal visits. If you feel a need to come to the hospital, come.

NCM: How have the past few months affected your nurses?

Key: Our team has been energized and empowered.

As for the nurse-patient relationship, since there aren’t visitors, it’s sort of made it simple – the nurse caring for the patient. That’s really what nurses got into the business to do, to care for people and save lives, and this really just brought us back to that.

NCM: Moving forward, what commonsense procedures should families take to safeguard their loved ones against getting the virus?

Key: Wash hands 20 seconds, cover coughs and sneezes, social distancing – simple changes that make everyone safe. Wearing the masks in public, I think that’s something that we may continue until there is a vaccine, but I don’t work for the CDC so I’m not the expert to say that. To me, the big three are social distancing, staying home if you’re sick, and wearing the mask in public. The mask is to protect others from you; it’s a sign of community love. It’s not protecting me, but it’s protecting you from me. So now even my dad says he’s going to wear his mask like he ought to.

NCM: How would you summarize how the hospital staff rose to the occasion?

Key: Overall, it’s grown us for the better. I am just so proud of the team and am happy to have walked this journey with them, to have grown as a leader and grown as a nurse, and I feel prepared for whatever comes next.

With our nurses, doctors, dietary staff, command center and administration, I feel ready for whatever challenge might come our way. I love to know that we can meet the needs of the team, our patients and the community.

I know that sounds cheesy, but I really love when everything comes together in the right way.

NCM: How would you summarize the impact of the pandemic on your career?

Key: It has been busy, but it’s definitely been the highlight of my career being able to be a part of something so large to make a difference with people on my team, our patients and the life of the community.

NCM

D E S I G N

S T U D I O

BLUE FERN DESIGN STUDIO, your all in one storefront for Design and Decor. We offer everything from Interior Design and Renovation services, fabric, wallpaper, new and vintage rugs, worldly, eclectic and one of a kind decor, lighting, tiles, reupholstery and so much more!

Call us or email us for details 678.633.0080 | lori@bluefernmerchant.com 5 GREENVILLE STREET, NEWNAN, GA 30263

PREMIER PREMIERRETIREMENT RETIREMENTLIVING LIVING 461 GAGA 30265 461Newnan NewnanLakes LakesBlvd.

Blvd.••Newnan, Newnan, 30265 PREMIER RETIREMENT LIVING PREMIER RETIREMENT LIVING sdsatat GA 30265 461 Newnan Lakes Blvd.

• dNewnan, nn rireie F w e N 461 Newnan Lakes Blvd.

• Newnan, GA 30265 t ome meeet New F C kes L n a C o me me n eawt wnan aLakes tnN a s e d rn e e o ri ib N F a eib e eC rne at s at t lN Th laew eeC woFriend he s C o me Tm N t e m e nan Lake m Co at Newnan La kes e rn o ib w la orne at Ne The C The C laib

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNIT Y INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNIT ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE Y INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNIT Y ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNIT Y Please call Amy West at 678.590.8321 to schedule a tour!

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE Please call Amy West at 678.590.8321 to schedule a tour!

Please call Amy West at 678.590.8321 to schedule a tour!

Please call Amy West at 678.590.8321 to schedule a tour!

RPMNewnan.com

TAKE-OUT • DINE-IN

89 TEMPLE AVENUE NEWNAN 770-683-4814

THANK YOU FOR MAKING US #1 IN AUTO REPAIR!

Visit our shop for

"OVER THE TOP" service on all your automotive needs

770-683-TIRE (8473) MON - FRI 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM SAT 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM

160 TEMPLE AVE. NEWNAN, GA 30263

NO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY - FIRST COME FIRST SERVE

50 First Place

Honors Bestowed on Best Local Businesses Written and Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

D

espite the onset of pandemic shutdowns in March, Newnan-Coweta Magazine's 2020 Best of Coweta Readers' Choice Contest drew even more participation than last year's inaugural competition with more than 1,200 readers casting votes for the best products and services in Coweta County. Readers cast ballots online or by filling out forms in Newnan-Coweta Magazine or The Newnan Times-Herald.

Categories include Food & Drink, Health & Beauty, Shopping, Entertainment and Services with a total of 46 sub-categories. A four-way tie for first place in Landscaping/Lawn Service and a two-way tie in the top spot for Pet Boarding brought the number of first place honors to 50.

Four businesses received multiple first place wins, including Meat 'N' Greet, which repeated its 2019 capture of the top spots for Best Burger, Cocktail and Restaurant. Other multiple winners were Kendra's with top honors for Apparel Store and Boutique, U Dirty Dog with first place for Pet Groomer and Pet Boarding, and Vapes Gone Wild, which won for both Vape Shop and CBD Store. Representatives from each multiple first place winner are Raise a glass to Best of featured here and on our cover.

Coweta winners, from Newnan-Coweta Magazine heartily thanks our Best of Coweta sponsor, left, T.J. Struck of Vapes Gone Wild, Marcia Wiggers Coweta-Fayette EMC, and we congratulate local businesses featured in of U Dirty Dog, Makayla the following pages.

Phillips of Kendra's, and Kris Ryan of Meat 'N' Greet.

(Photo by Chris Martin)

FOOD & DRINK Best Breakfast / Brunch

Christy’s Cafe

27 Jackson Street, Newnan 770.683.7512 • facebook.com/christy.baucom27 Christy’s Cafe proves to be a fan favorite for the second year in a row after winning first place for breakfast and brunch in our 2019 Best of Coweta contest. Since 2010, Christy’s has served breakfast, brunch and lunch with specialties including skillet breakfast meals, biscuits and gravy, eggs benedict, country fried steak and burgers.

Dine inside or on the spacious front porch. for ier pours coffee er Christy Cros joys getting his days wn O fe Ca ’s ty Chris , who en er Lenny Rutman routine custom ted with breakfast at Christy’s. star

Second Place Redneck Gourmet, Newnan Third Place Heirloom Bakeshop, Sharpsburg

Best Local Coffee

Leaf & Bean

22 West Court Square, Suite A, Newnan 770.639.7603 • leafandbeannewnan.com Owner Cher McWilliams opened Leaf & Bean six years ago and has watched her shop become a downtown go-to spot. The cafe and coffee shop specializes in hand-crafted coffee drinks, specialty lattes, loose leaf teas, breakfast, lunch and a variety of sweet treats. “We work with a sustainable farm where we get all our coffee, which is organically grown, and all of our eggs are organically farmed as well,” says McWilliams.

Second Place Senoia Coffee & Cafe, Senoia Third Place Heirloom Bakeshop, Sharpsburg

Owner Cher McWillia ms welco for the area’s favorite cof mes guests to Leaf & Bean fee and tea specialties.

Best Cocktail

Meat ‘N’ Greet 11 Jefferson Street, Newnan 770.683.4664 • meatngreetnewnan.com

ngman serves up ixologist Kyle Di eat ‘N’ Greet.

M d an er ag an M Bar M d and a mojito at an old-fashione

Meat ‘N’ Greet’s full service bar specializes in local drafts and small-batch, all-American spirits, including more than 50 bourbons. Also voted Coweta’s favorite restaurant, the hometown eatery utilizes these specialty spirits to craft its cocktails. From classics like an old-fashioned, Manhattan, brown derby and mint julep to signature creations like their Bootlegger Moonshine Margarita and Cucumber Martini, Meat ‘N’ Greet’s carefully crafted cocktails are crowd pleasers.

Second Place 714 Bar, Newnan Third Place The Cellar, Newnan

Owners Cindy Hendrick s and her son, ice cream flavors at Ro Grayson, serve up unique ck Salt Milk Bar.

Best Dessert

Thank you Coweta for making us youer! #1 Jewelry stor

Rock Salt Milk Bar 8 East Washington Street, Newnan 770.683.3578 • rocksaltmilkbar.com Owners Cindy Hendricks and her son, Grayson, opened Rock Salt Milk Bar in May 2019 and offer a variety of flavors they’ve concocted themselves, including White Chocolate Ghost Pepper, Mexi-Cocoa, and Blackberry Earl Gray. Since the coronavirus pandemic hit in the spring, sales of ice cream pints have taken off, according to Cindy. Their homemade cookies are baked by the location’s former tenant, Sarah Barr.

Second Place Cakes by Debbie, Newnan Third Place Bolton’s Bakery, Newnan

Historic Downtown Newnan 14 N. COURT SQUARE NEWNAN, GA 30263 770-253-2720

Thank you to all of OUR valued special customers!!

(Voted Best Southern Food in Coweta!!)

ens on the Square with Marilyn Brown, left, manages Gold ’s daughter, Marceil Ousley.

Wise and er, Owner Maridee Wise, cent

Best Southern Food

n Southoedr Fo Best

Goldens on the Square 9 East Court Square, Newnan 770.251.4300 • goldensonthesquare.com A favorite spot for enjoying old-fashioned Southern food cooked right, Goldens specializes in fried chicken, cornbread dressing, catfish, green beans, sweet potato souffle, banana pudding and much more. Goldens caters for events and holidays, and items can be ordered online as well. “We thank all our valued customers who have been like family to us for so many years,” says Maridee Wise, owner since 1996.

WE CATER ANY SIZE EVENT! Open 7 days per week • 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

9 East Court Square • Newnan, GA Phone: 770-251-4300 | Mobile: 770-231-7058

Second Place Mother’s Kitchen, Newnan Third Place Shirley’s Country Kitchen, Newnan JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 35

FOOD & DRINK Best Pizza

Fabiano’s 19 West Court Square, Newnan 770.683.2683 • thealamonewnan.com Since 2007, Fabiano’s has served as Newnan’s hometown pizza parlor. “Everybody loves pie,” says Owner Amy Murphy, who opened the restaurant with Jeff Merback.

Fabiano’s specializes in New York-style pizza and a welcoming, “come as you are” atmosphere. A new favorite at Fab’s is their Knucklehead Pizza, named for the Knuckleheads, a local Atlanta United fan club that gathers at Fabiano’s and neighboring Alamo to watch the games. er Sean Assistant Manag

up Stewart serves at Fabiano’s.

a Knucklehead

Pizza

Second Place Partner’s II Pizza at Summergrove, Newnan Third Place Positano Pizza Napoletana, Newnan

Best Burger

Meat ‘N’ Greet 11 Jefferson Street, Newnan 770.683.4664 • meetngreetnewnan.com For the second year in a row, Meat ’N’ Greet has been named home of Coweta’s best burger. The hand-pattied burgers here are crafted from a blend of chuck, brisket and short rib and built on a brioche bun with each burger given a playful name like The Double Double, One Eyed Willie, High West and Gaucho.

Burgers are crafted with fresh ingredients and the restaurant’s signature sauces, jams and spreads.

Second Place Nic & Norman’s, Senoia • Redneck Gourmet, Newnan • RPM Full Service, Newnan Third Place Sprayberry’s, Newnan

The Double Double is a favori Meat ‘N’ Greet in downtote of customers at wn Newnan.

Best BBQ

The Oink Joint 9 East Washington Street, Newnan 770.755.7999 • theoinkjointnewnan.com

available s ribs and fixings aw ford display t. in Jo Owner Matt Cr k in at The O

Matt and Kelsey Crawford opened The Oink Joint in April 2016. Consistency and providing a good product with great customer service at affordable prices is what people are drawn to at their restaurant, says Matt.

“People in this community really like to show their support for family businesses, and I think that’s a lot of what’s led to our success,” says Matt. Top menu items at The Oink Joint include pork brisket and ribs.

Second Place Dunc’s BBQ, Newnan Third Place Sprayberry’s, Newnan

FOOD & DRINK Best Mexican Food

Los Abuelos Mexican Grill

125 Newnan Crossing Bypass, Newnan 770.683.1334 • losabuelosmexgrill.com

nt: e, from left, fro Los Abuelos ar to Gonzalez. to rs ne di g in d Ti Welcom dolla, , Patti Bedolla an Miguel Bedolla raham Eswdero, Michaelle Be Ab , llo al.

Be re lla Vi is Lu Back: Obed se d Jo Efrain Blanco an

Coweta County’s favorite spot for Mexican food opened in March 2019. Specialties include huarache, a Mexican tortilla with mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, steak and terizzel, a Mexican sausage. Other popular items include Hawaiian chicken fajitas; served on a bed of bell peppers and onions, the grilled chicken is covered with melted mozzarella cheese and topped with fresh slices of pineapple.

Second Place La Fiesta Restaurant, Newnan Third Place The Mad Mexican, Newnan

Best Asian Food

Garlic Thai

16 North Court Square, Newnan • 770.683.7515 facebook.com/Garlic-Thai-and-Sushi-Bar-Newnan Located on the square in downtown Newnan, Garlic Thai serves up classic Thai dishes and sushi in a relaxed setting.

Known for prompt and courteous service, the restaurant specializes in traditional Thai cuisine and sports a nice selection of imported beers as well. Their signature items include lamb chops, whole red snapper and Thai BBQ chicken. Garlic Thai is one of only a few restaurants in the area that serves Halal food.

Second Place Dynasty, Newnan Third Place Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, Newnan

Owner Malatee “Tee” Ma ethalong invites Thai and sushi dishes at guests to enjoy authentic Garlic Thai.

Best Local Bakery

Cakes by Debbie 12 Greenville Street, Newnan 678.673.6707 • cakesbydebbiega.com

tit fours at her ton serves up pe Debbie Barron wn Newnan bakery. downto

Owner Debbie Barronton originally opened her bakery in Newnan in 1988 and operated it here for 20 years before moving to LaGrange in 2008. In July, she celebrates the one-year anniversary of her business’s return to Newnan. Along with cakes made to order, donuts and other goodies, Cakes by Debbie specializes in casseroles with favorites including poppy seed chicken and baked ziti. “We’re thankful that everybody welcomed us back and appreciate every customer that comes in,” says Barronton Second Place Bolton’s Bakery, Newnan Third Place Heirloom Bakeshop, Sharpsburg

FOOD & DRINK / SHOPPING Best Date Night Spot

The Cellar

20 Jefferson Street, Newnan 770.683.6328 • thecellarnewnan.com Since opening in 2014, The Cellar continues to offer the best of both worlds in that it includes fine dining inside and casual open-air dining in The Bays, a former mechanic’s shop/tire store. Both are equipped with a fine bar serving some of the area’s greatest libations.

The quiet and upscale ambiance attracts couples to The Cellar’s main dining room where fresh seafood, wild game and pasta dishes are favorites. te night at Th Diners enjoy da

e Cellar or in Th

. e Bays next door

Second Place Knife & Stone, Newnan Third Place Meat ‘N’ Greet, Newnan

Best Overall Restaurant

Meat ‘N’ Greet

11 Jefferson Street, Newnan 770.683.4664 • meetngreetnewnan.com Voted Coweta’s best restaurant for the second year in a row, Meat ‘N’ Greet specializes in craft burgers and features a menu chock full of their own concoctions, including salads crafted from fresh ingredients and topped with housemade dressings; specialty sandwiches, including their turkey patties, homemade black bean patty and the Impossible Burger; Jumbo Cut Wings; and K-9s, their take on hot dogs, which are crafted with Angus beef dogs and topped a variety of ways. Add a local draft beer, wine or award-winning cocktail for the perfect meal.

Second Place Knife & Stone, Newnan Third Place The Cellar, Newnan

General Manager Jessica Stacey Delissio keep ope Connelly, left, and Manager rations running smoot Meat ‘N’ Greet, voted Coweta’s Best Restauran hly at t in 2020.

Best Antique Shop

Rockin’ B Antiques 2025 Highway 154, Newnan • 770.253.8730 In business for more than two decades, Rockin‘ B Antiques features a huge variety of antiques with something for every shopper. More than 50 seasoned dealers fill the 10,500-square-foot space. “Rockin‘ B is proud to be business strong for 21 years, and we continue to be blessed with amazing customers,” says Owner Lorraine Bachman.

res at alers sell their wa More than 50 de ‘ B Antiques.

Rockin

Second Place Treasures Old & New, Newnan Third Place Blue Fern Merchant, Newnan

Dr. Horsley

Dr. Collins

The staff at Morgan Jew elers Owner Jef f Morgan, Ma includes, from left, Hillary Collins, ri Pulido and Grayson Ca mpbell.

Best Jewelry Store

Morgan Jewelers 14 North Court Square, Newnan 770.253.2720 • morganjewelersnewnan.com Family-owned Morgan Jewelers offers a friendly and customized shopping experience, thanks to its knowledgeable staff. Jeff Morgan continues his family’s legacy and has an active part in the family store as a master jeweler. “We are here for every special occasion in your life, from engagements to baby gifts,” says Morgan.

Second Place Hubbell Jewelry Design, Newnan Third Place The Queen’s Jewels, Senoia

ny Duke From left, Sales Associates Jessica Grote, Betha rous nume and Allie Oliver invite customers to shop the apparel racks at Kendra’s.

Dr. Johnson

Dr. Stephenson

Thank you, Coweta

for Voting Us #1 Vet in Coweta County!

We specialize in complete diagnostic care for all your pets! Exotics & Small Farm animals too!

24 Hospital Rd. • Newnan www.dogwoodvet.com

770-253-3416

Thank You

Best Apparel Store

Kendra’s

12 North Court Square, Newnan 770.683.4316 • facebook.com/kendrasnewnan Ken Phillips and his family opened Kendra’s in 2013; his daughter, Makayla, serves as vice-president of store operations. Kendra’s offers styles and selection for all shapes, ages and backgrounds with options for sizes small to 3X. “We do our research to bring in trendy styles and we’re known as a spot to find something for an occasion or for everyday wear,” according to Makayla.

Second Place Blue Moon Boutique, Newnan Third Place Finley’s Boutique, Newnan

for voting us

BEST HOME STORE

in coweta county

11 Greenville Street • Newnan 678.633.5933 • newnanmercantile.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 39

SHOPPING Best Boutique

Kendra’s

12 North Court Square, Newnan 770.683.4316 • facebook.com/kendrasnewnan

tures ique, Kendra’s fea ction unty’s Best Bout Voted Coweta Co gest hair bow collections and a se from lar are, op sh e th f of one of the state’s ing $10 racks. Show anager with their popular ager Ashley Griffin and Store M an M t tan sis As t, lef Bailey Mosley.

In a nutshell, Kendra’s is “a fun boutique for women of all ages,” according to Makayla Phillips, vice president of store operations. Along with clothing, Kendra’s carries shoes of various styles and colors to pair up with their outfits, a jewelry wall stocked with bling, and one of the largest selections of hair bows in the Southeast, with typically more than 10,000 to choose from. Depending on the season, there are scarves or beach hats, belts and bags.

Second Place Gillyweeds, Newnan Third Place Blue Moon Boutique, Newnan

Best Home Store

Newnan Mercantile 11 Greenville Street, Newnan 678.633.5933 • newnanmercantile.com Owner Rachel Kuehl says her business’s mission is to give back to the community in order to make a local impact. “Our goal is to have a store that is welcoming for all and to give back to and be active in the community,” says Kuehl. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Newnan Mercantile did a food and snack drive for Piedmont Hospital. At the Mercantile, you’ll find home accents and decor, furniture, a complete baby section, gift items, jewelry, locally crafted goods and plenty of items featuring Newnan, Coweta County and Georgia.

Second Place Knox Furniture, Newnan Third Place Gillyweeds, Newnan

Owner Rachel Kuehl sto cks Newnan Mercantil e wit variety of home decor, furniture and gift item h a s.

Best Plant Nursery / Garden Supply

Southern Roots Nursery 726 Highway 29 North, Newnan 770-683-7224 • southernrootsnursery.com

Nick Lott, a certified landscape designer, purchased the family business from his parents, Bob and Sherry Lott, in 2019 and celebrates by winning Best of Coweta. Along with a unique selection of plants, Southern Roots supplies straw, sod, fertilizer, soil amendments, potting soil, birdseed, honey and flower pots with affordable prices and superior service. Most weekends, there are food trucks onsite to turn garden shopping into a pleasurable event. n Graham and dy Barnes, Susa From left, Wen prepared to answer your Nick Lott are questions. garden-related

Second Place Coweta Greenhouses, Newnan Third Place Arnall Grocery Co., Newnan

SHOPPING Best Thrift Store

reNew Thrift Store 1741 Turkey Creek Road, Newnan 770.755.7082 • crossroadsonline.org/renew

iate Amy Britt apprec Weaver, left, and rift Store help fund nie ela M s er ag Man w Th ted items at reNe how sales of dona while community projects. worth

A ministry of Crossroads Church in Newnan, reNew Thrift Store uses proceeds from the store to fund new playgrounds at elementary schools, pay off school lunch debts, and help families in need. “What we love most about the way this thrift store operates is that everything we get is donated from church members and people or businesses in the community, and then every bit of profit we make goes toward community impact,” says Manager Melanie Weaver. Shop the store to find clothing, home goods, furniture and appliances.

Second Place One Roof Thrift Store, Newnan Third Place Opal Ann's Attic, Newnan

Best Vape Shop

Vapes Gone Wild 244 Bullsboro Drive, Newnan 770.683.7700 • vapesgonewild.com Owner T.J. Struck opened his vape shop in April 2013 and now serves customers who drive from out of state for their vape fix. “Our customer’s success is our success,” says Struck. “That’s why we’ve been able to go two years running as Best Vape Shop.” The shop manufactures dozens of their own e-liquid flavors and offers about 50 more flavors from other companies. Their vape bar is a favorite spot to try new flavors.

Second Place Atlanta Vapor Newnan, Newnan Third Place Heather’s Heavenly Vapes, Newnan • Vapor Fog, Newnan

Owner T.J. Struck takes pr at affordable price ide in of fering quality products s in a relaxing atm osphere.

Best CBD Store

Vapes Gone Wild 244 Bullsboro Drive, Newnan 770.683.7700 • vapesgonewild.com

rton, left, and anager Bella No Social Media M Hunter Harper are available ager Operating Man ur questions about CBD. to answer yo

The CBD products at Vapes Gone Wild range from lotions to bath balms to vape products, gummies and tinctures, which you put under your tongue and swish around your mouth to ease anxiety, pain or sleep deprivation, according to Owner T.J. Struck. “We focus on the health benefits of CBD,” he says. “If a customer is interested in CBD, we ask what’s ailing them and not just give them a blanket product.” They even have dog treats for your furry friends.

Second Place Happy Life Merchants, Newnan Third Place Newnan Pharmacy, Newnan

ENTERTAINMENT Best Kids' Entertainment

Junction Lanes

Family Entertainment Center 141 Newnan Station Drive, Newnan 770.683.2695 • junctionlanes.com Junction Lanes opened in June 1998. “We strive to be a great family entertainment center,” says General Manager Candi Ciminnissi.

Bowling league play happens Monday through Thursday and weekends are for open play, birthday parties and family fun. The center also features 3-D blacklight glow golf, bumper cars, a large arcade and six rock climbing walls. Junction Lanes works with local schools to host Special Olympics events and spirit nights, and their Junction Junior program offers college scholarships.

mes you in for tion Lanes welco er The gang at Junc t are Gracie Brockway, Zand lef d an om Fr on n. ps fu Sim ily m les fa Ciminnissi, Pebb Whoric, Candi Melanie Reed.

Second Place Bubbles & Brushes, Newnan Third Place ChildrenConnect Museum, Newnan

Best Local Band

Kris Youmans Band Newnan • 678-773-8027 • krisyoumansband.com Performing together for six years, the Kris Youmans Band includes Youmans as lead singer and guitarist, Patrick Thompson on bass and harmony vocals, David Puett on lead guitar, Warren “Slim” Hall on pedal steel guitar and Jerry Lee on drums. The band covers western swing, traditional country and Americana and performs their original songs as well. Youmans hosts Newnan Unplugged, a songwriters show staged at Vinylyte Record Store and aired on Nulink Cable Channel 10.

Second Place Sweetbay, Newnan Third Place Doug Kees, Newnan • Leonard Washington Band, Newnan

The Kris Youman s Band perform the state. (Photo by s locally and throughout Susan Gardner)

Best Local Musician

Doug Kees

Newnan • 770.252.7900 • musicologynewnan.com

ge , guitarist and sin e local musician teaching and rit vo fa ’s ta we Co es his living by Doug Kees mak rming music. perfo

r

Musicology owner and musician Doug Kees wins Best Local Musician for the second year in a row. Kees performs here and throughout Georgia and the Southeast in between teaching music. He released his first album last year and plans to follow that up with a record featuring songs he’s written during downtime caused by the pandemic. “I have surprisingly had a flood of music come out,” says Kees. “I have never been this prolific.” As his music students return to the studio for lessons, Kees continues to offer lessons online as well.

Second Place Alan Jackson, Newnan Third Place Corbette Jackson, Newnan

The Alamo is Coweta’s

favorite spot for live mu sic.

Best Live Music Venue

The Alamo

SALON AND LIFESTYLE BOUTIQUE

19 West Court Square, Newnan 770.683.2526 • thealamonewnan.com The Alamo is Newnan and Coweta County’s go-to spot for good music. The Alamo stage has hosted local, regional and national acts including Chubby Checker, Sugarland and local favorite Doug Kees. Karaoke nights are routinely held as well as Atlanta United watch parties where soccer fans gather to cheer on their favorite team.

Second Place The Cellar, Newnan Third Place Brickhouse Grill & Tavern, Newnan

of his recent wo showcases one Newnan.

David Boyd Jr. in ry lle Ga yd Bo The

rks at

Say Hello to Your Good Hair Day.

Best Art Gallery

The Boyd Gallery 14 East Washington Street, Newnan 678.361.8909 • theboydgallery.com David Boyd Jr. opened The Boyd Gallery in 2017 to bring new art to Coweta. Since then, highly collectible and awarded art has been featured in shows at the gallery.

Boyd’s own work is exhibited along with that of his father, David Boyd Sr. Typically open by appointment, the gallery features an open studio with live demonstrations, art classes and group shows. Boyd Jr. also teaches classes online and offers paintings for sale on his website.

Second Place Corner Arts Gallery, Newnan Third Place Fine Lines Art & Framing, Newnan

14 JEFFERSON STREET • NEWNAN, GA 30263

DOWNTOWN NEWNAN

770.301.8797

JAMESMALONE.COM JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 43

ENTERTAINMENT Best Special Event / Wedding Venue

Historic Train Depot 60 East Broad Street, Newnan • 770.251.0207 newnancowetahistoricalsociety.com

ar a recent New Ye pot was host to ans) De ain Tr ic or The Hist (Photo by Matt Ev

’s Eve bash.

Throughout the mid-1800s and early 1900s, the local train depot served as a passenger and freight depot, enabling Newnan to become one of the country’s manufacturing centers. Owned and operated by the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, today the Historic Train Depot is popularly used as a venue for weddings, parties, fundraisers, and community events.

Second Place Lillian Gardens, Newnan Third Place The Venue at Murphy Lane, Newnan

Best Bar / Pub

RPM Full Service 15 Jackson Street, Newnan 770.683.1414 • rpmnewnan.com Joe Rizzo opened RPM Full Service Patio Pub & Grill in October 2015 as a seafood bar and gastropub. “It’s a friendly bar and patio pub where we try to have a little bit of everything for everybody,” says Rizzo. The patio at RPM is pet-friendly and attracts music lovers, craft beer fans and karaoke competitors. Favorite foods include the Reuben and a wide variety of salads and burgers. “We’re a locally owned pub and your landmark neighborhood chill zone,” says Rizzo.

Second Place The Alamo, Newnan Third Place Meat ‘N’ Greet, Newnan

Owner Joe Rizzo, center , pos Peters, Maddi Teribury, es with RPM servers, from left, Ally Scarlet Towe and Annie Patterson.

Best Local Event

Taste of Newnan Downtown Newnan • 770.253.8283 • mainstreetnewnan.com

ges food and bevera the vast array of each spring. y jo en es ag all an Visitors of g Taste of Newn es-Herald) served up durin The Newnan Tim of (Photo cour tesy

Main Street Newnan swept the Best Local Event category with their annual Taste of Newnan taking first place. The Taste of Newnan has been a downtown tradition for more than 25 years and continues to be Main Street Newnan’s largest event. “For some, it’s the one time of year they visit downtown Newnan,” says Abigail Strickland, special events coordinator for Main Street Newnan. “Watching our community support each other gives you the warm and fuzzies, and that’s what our events are about.”

Second Place Market Day, Newnan Third Place Art Walks, Newnan

ENTERTAINMENT / SERVICES Best Outdoor Recreation

LINC Trail

Newnan • 770.826.6707 • friendsoflinc.org The LINC attracts people for recreation, fitness, socializing, connectivity and alternative transportation. “It is an exciting venue that has already proved to be extremely popular,” says Kim Learnard, director of Friends of LINC, Inc. “The LINC can be a place for solitude, for family time or for community engagement.

It is a quiet walk in the woods, a place to run with your dog or a venue to gather with friends.” Phase One of the LINC offers 1.4 miles of trail while Phase Two will connect the current trail to downtown Newnan while adding another 3.4 miles. their cling or walking ng, running, bicy n and relaxation. lki wa ’re ey th creatio Whether the LINC find re e LINC) dog, visitors to tesy of Th

Second Place Chattahoochee Bend State Park, Coweta County Third Place Carl Miller Park, Newnan

(Photo cour

Best Home Remodeling /Renovation

Southern Restorations Home LLC Sharpsburg • 770.265.6348 justin@sr-ptc.com • Facebook

Since 2014, Owner Justin Gibson has run Southern Restorations Home in Sharpsburg, specializing in remodels, home flips, decks and covered patios, and specialty projects. “We’re a small company that likes working on big, wow-factor transformations,” says the former firefighter who started his remodeling business as a part-time job and watched it become a full-time business. “I hire our local firefighter subcontractors as much as possible to keep it in the firefighting family.”

Second Place Lichty Brother Homes, Newnan Third Place Tim Brown Construction, Newnan

Justin Gibson, left, and Marice Edwards specia lize in giving old things a new look.

Best Interior Design Service

Blue Fern Merchant 5 Greenville Street, Newnan • 678.633.0080 bluefernmerchant.com

r Wall , left, and Heathe rs Lori Duncan Interior Designe create unique living spaces. work to ) y of Lori Duncan (Photo cour tes

“Blue Fern is your all-in-one storefront for design and decor,” says Lori Duncan, owner of Blue Fern Merchant and Blue Fern Design Studio. The specialty shop and service offers interior design and renovations services, fabric, wallpaper, new and vintage rugs,eclectic and one-ofa-kind decor, lighting, tiles, reupholstery and much more.

Second Place Panoply, Newnan Third Place Cranford Interiors, Newnan

SERVICES Best Landscaping / Lawn Service

Adamson Lawns & Landscaping 26 North Hunter Street, Senoia • 770.599.1131

on him vites you to call Jim Adamson in pe and mulch needs. ca for your lands

In business since 1987, Jim Adamson has been doing landscaping and grounds maintenance since he graduated from the University of Georgia with an agriculture degree in 1979. Located in Turin, Adamson Lawn & Landscaping includes a mulch yard where mulch, pine straw, gravel and more are sold. Adamson and his employees specialize in landscape installation, maintenance and irrigation with emphasis on commercial and large residential jobs.

Coweta Landscaping & Design 428 Doc Perry Road, Newnan • 770.899.1173 cowetalandscapingdesign.com Since 1999, Coweta Landscaping & Design has been providing outstanding customized services to clients. “This has earned us the reputation of one of the area’s premier residential and commercial landscape companies,” says Owner Michael Bloodworth. “As a full-service landscape company, we provide a onestop shop for all of your landscaping needs.” Their services include sodding yards, building retaining walls, doing Bobcat work and grading, installing concrete pavers, putting in outdoor water features, and more.

Coweta Landscaping & one-stop shop for your Design offers a landscaping needs.

Earthscape Designs Inc. (EDI) 2236 Highway 34 East, Newnan • 770.463.0608 • earthscape-designs.com

e specializes in th . signs Inc. (EDI) Earthscape De ation of outdoor living spaces all design and inst

Opened in 1997, Earthscape Designs Inc. (EDI) has been at its current location for four years. The company does lawn management and ongoing maintenance service and designs and installs for both commercial and residential customers. “We design and build outdoor living spaces including patios, decks, fire pits, fireplaces and kitchens,” says Owner Brent Robertson. “Our attention to detail starts at the top and works through everything here.”

Mathis Outdoors Newnan • 770.301.5643 • mathisoutdoors.com Mathis Outdoors specializes in lawn treatments and landscape management, according to Owner Cory Mathis, who started the business in 2004. “We do business throughout Coweta and Fayette counties and specialize in high-end landscape management and turf treatments for residential and commercial properties,” says Mathis. Good service and attention to detail are mainstays at Mathis. “We make a commitment and we stand by it,” says the owner.

The staff at Mathis Ou Clemente Velazques, An tdoors includes, from left, front: Cory Mathis. Back: Ste drew Barnhart, Roman Martinez and phen Thompson, Brian King, Kevin Buck, Nick Hunt, Anthony Esp osito, Zach East and Ho llis Lee. (Photo courtesy of Cor y Mathis)

Second Place Ameriscape Landscaping, Senoia • By the Book Lawn Care, Newnan Third Place A Farr Better Landscaping Company, Newnan • A&S Lawn Care, Newnan Mulch & More, Newnan • Prestige Lawns, Senoia

SERVICES Best Florist

Arthur Murphey Florist 6 LaGrange Street, Newnan 770.253.5424 • arthurmurpheyflorist.com

m ist includes, fro ith, ur Murphey Flor l Sm The staff at Arthurphey, Annie Wolfe, Drakke Jane y M left, front: Sam tain and Scott Neill. Back: Marey, Mac ph ur M h tc Dennis Chas Hu , III h Murphey Murphey, Hutc phey and Scott Walker.

Mur

Arthur “Doodle” Murphey opened the family florist business in 1946 and today his son Hutch, along with Hutch’s wife Mary Jane and their sons Hutch III and Mac, continue to serve the floral needs of Coweta County. Murphey Florist excels in on-time delivery and looks forward to meeting your floral arrangement needs.

Second Place Flowers by Freddie, Newnan Third Place Bedazzled, Sharpsburg

Best Auto Repair

Buck’s Tire

160 Temple Avenue, Newnan • 770.683.8473 In business since July 2009, Buck’s New and Used Tires specializes not only in tires but also in automotive repair including routine maintenance, alignment, front-end suspension work, brakes and A/C repair. They also install lift kits on trucks. “I think our customer service sets us apart because we try to go over the top to take care of the customer,” says Owner Buck Floyd. “I think that’s a lost art, but at the end of the day, it’s still a people business, no matter what kind of business you’re in.”

Second Place Don’s Automotive, Newnan Third Place Duncan Automotive, Newnan

The staff at Buck’s includ es, from left, Jason Cra wford, David McElwaney, Buck Floyd, Robie Crenshaw and Matt Byess.

Best Assisted Living Facility

Wesley Woods of Newnan 2280 North Highway 29, Newnan 770.683.6833 • wesleywoods.org/newnan

t and Woods residen its with Wesley Val Cranford vis e friend Charlsie Farmer. longtim Wesley Woods) of (Photo cour tesy

When folks reach retirement age, they want a life that is active, happy and fulfilling – the kind of life residents of Wesley Woods of Newnan enjoy. “The setting is beautiful, the amenities are impressive, the choice of residences is varied, the wellness program is outstanding and the friendships are close,” says Beth Tripp, director of Sales and Marketing. “Wesley Woods is Newnan’s only Life Plan Community, offering independent retirement living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing services.”

Second Place Benton House, Newnan Third Place Insignia of Newnan, Newnan • Monarch House, Newnan

SERVICES Best Pet Groomer

U Dirty Dog

77C Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd., Ste. 103, Newnan 678.423.4014 • animalgroomingnewnan.com Since 2005, owners Carl and Marcia Wiggers have offered a multi-service business specializing in grooming with about 7,000 dogs groomed by staff each year, plus 2,000 more bathed by staff, and another 4,000 bathed by pet owners in self-service baths. You’ll also find pet food for your pup, and boarding and training services are available. och named with a sweet po Dirty Dog pose gel LeMay, Carol Cochran U at s er m oo Gr An t: Lucia Beltre, ch.

Sandy, from lef and Kristin Cree

Second Place Doggy Style Grooming, Newnan Third Place The Dog House Pet Resort, Newnan • Happy Tails Pet Salons, Sharpsburg • Pet’s Paradise Grooming Salon & Spa, Newnan • Zoom Groom Zoom, Newnan

Best Pet Boarding

The Dog House Pet Resort 22 Jefferson Place, Newnan 770.253.7234 • doghousekennel.com Since June 1990, The Dog House Pet Resort has offered boarding of various types, including standard, deluxe and suite stays. “A dog is a family member, and when our clients leave their pets, they don’t want to feel like they’re abandoning them,” says Owner Grace Woodford. Doggy daycare, day boarding, grooming and bathing are also available.

The Dog House Pet Res ort em left, and Cora Ford enj ployees Shari McCallister, oy playtime with Dexte r the Golden Retriever.

U Dirty Dog 77C Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd., Ste. 103, Newnan 678.423.4014 • animalgroomingnewnan.com

German ke Phoebe the r prepares to ta at U Dirty Dog. ne ag W e lin aq n Br r some fu Shepherd out fo

“We treat and care for your dogs as if they were part of our family,” say Carl and Marcia Wiggers, owners of U Dirty Dog. All sizes of dogs are welcome, from Yorkies to great Danes, and you can pick up your pet even on Sundays and holidays.

A complimentary bath is given after a three-night stay. “One thing that sets us apart is that we rotate our dogs throughout the day,” says Marcia. “They get a lot of stimulation, and we follow special instructions from the owners.”

Second Place Dogwood Veterinary Hospital, Newnan Third Place Family Friend Animal Hospital & Pet Lodge, Newnan

SERVICES / HEALTH & BEAUTY Best Veterinary Hospital

Dogwood Veterinary Hospital

24 Hospital Road, Newnan • 770.253.3416 • dogwoodvet.com Operating in Newnan since 1990, Dogwood is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, a designation earned by only 17 percent of animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Along with internal medicine, skin care and other veterinary care, Dogwood provides health care for exotic and small animals like goats and pigs.

Dogwood serves as veterinarian for Coweta County police dogs and the local Department of Agriculture, and they partner with area humane societies to improve adoption rates.

the toy poodle ent with Pippin Sharing a mom ager Shelby Tidwell, Surger y an are, from left, M on Bigler and Veterinarian Technician Asht ela Johnson.

Pam

Second Place Crossroads Animal Hospital, Newnan Third Place Moreland Animal Hospital, Moreland

Best Fitness Center

Piedmont Newnan Fitness Center 26 W. Court Square, Newnan • 770.254.3550 piedmont.org/locations/fitness-centers/newnan-fitness Colleen Alrutz has worked 15 years as manager of Piedmont Newnan Fitness Center, which has served Coweta County for more than 25 years. The fitness center features cardio and strength-building equipment, a dedicated weight room with free weights, two large studios for group fitness workouts, free motion equipment and two new Peloton bikes. “Our senior members are a little more comfortable here because we’re medically based,” says Alrutz. “Our goal is to keep Coweta healthy.”

Manager Colleen Alrutz oversees operations at Piedmont Newnan Fitness Center.

Second Place Burn Boot Camp, Newnan Third Place BodyPlex Fitness, Newnan

Thank You Coweta for Voting Us #1!

We Treat Your Pet Like Family • Grooming & Boarding Services • The Best Rated Pet Foods & Treats • Self-Service Dog Wash 77C Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd., #103 Newnan, Georgia 30263

(678) 423-4014

www.UDirtyDog UDirtyDog.com

3 Night Bonus!

Free Bath $20 Off Grooming or

Pick up on Sundays & Holidays JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 49

HEALTH & BEAUTY Best Day Spa

Emily’s Skin Care & Spa 35 Jackson Street, Newnan 770.262.6233 • emilysskincarespa.com Emily’s Skin Care & Spa recently moved to 35 Jackson Street where they offer extra space for relaxing spa rooms and treatments. “We specialize in customized facials that focus on anti-aging and acne,” says Owner Emily Mitchell. Their topnotch offerings include a full array of services specific to the skincare and beauty industry. ’s te opening Emily Mitchell celebra town Newnan. ily Em d an o nt in down Liz Ditara st of f the square new location ju

Second Place Plumyumi Day Spa, Senoia Third Place W. Daly Salon Spa, Newnan

Best Hair Salon

Headlines Hair & Nail Salon 770 Greison Trail, Newnan • 770.253.5758 headlinesnewnan.com In Newnan for 37 years, Headlines has been at its current location since 2006. “We have a great staff and loyal customers,” says Shelby Miller who owns Headlines with Jenny Yarbrough. “We are honored to receive this award for the second year in a row and we plan to continue to meet the expectations of our clients.” Along with hair services, Headlines provide manicures, pedicures and facial waxing, and their small boutique features beauty products, purses and jewelry.

Second Place Ricochet Studios, Newnan Third Place James Malone Beauty, Newnan • Red Dahlia Salon, Senoia • W. Daly Salon Spa, Newnan

The staff at Headlines includ Jill Helton, Jenny Yarbro es, from left, front: Abbigail Jones. Back: Cin ugh, Anna Haack and dy Babb, Whitney Toth and Shelby Miller.

Best Nail Salon

Glamorous Nails & Spa 1690 Highway 34 East, Suite L, Newnan 770.755.6407 • glamorousnailsnewnan.com

ers return say their custom Jay and Lynn Vo do business with salons that e to s because they lik community, which Glamorou e th to ck . ba e ely giv routin Nails & Spa does

Owners Jay and Lynn Vo opened Glamorous Nails & Spa in September 2017 and offer a full array of services, including nails, pedicures, eyebrow waxing and spa. “We’re the only salon in Newnan that has disposable jets, making it safer and more sanitary for our clients,” says Lynn. Gel, gel powder and acrylics manicures are available. Along with exceptional customer service, Glamorous strives to give back to the community, which it did last spring by donating hand sanitizer and gloves to hospitals and nursing homes during the early weeks of the Coronavirus.

Second Place Waterscape Nails & Spa, Newnan Third Place Cozy Nails & Spa, Newnan

HEALTH & BEAUTY First Place

Barbers on the Boulevard 10 The Boulevard, Suite 107, Newnan 678.673.6810 • barbersontheboulevard.com

m ard includes, fro s on the Boulev bbie Thurmond, er rb Ba at f af st De The , Nickie Brown, r. left, Chrissy Kidd Kris Faver and Priscilla Porte , ra La r be Am

Owners Debbie Thurmond and her daughter, Chrissy Kidd, opened Barbers on the Boulevard in November of 2017. A fullservice barber shop, they specialize in gentlemen’s cuts, facials, shaves and beard services. “We use straight razors and hot lather for our shaves and have all kinds of styles and cuts that we do for long hair and short,” says Kidd. The shop offers discounts for military and law enforcement officers, firefighters and seniors, and they are involved with the VFW and Coweta Boys & Girls Club.

Second Place The Barber Shop of Newnan, Newnan Third Place The Barber’s House of Handsome, Newnan • Tony’s Barber Shop, Sharpsburg

Best Tattoo / Piercing Parlor

Cornerstone Tattoo Gallery 48 Main Street LL1, Senoia • 770.599.6782 • cornerstonetattoos.com In business since October 2012, Cornerstone employs artists who take pride in their work, according to Owner/Artist Cody Whitfield, who has owned the parlor since 2017. “We provide a comfortable atmosphere and experience for everyone,” he says. Cornerstone specializes in custom tattoos that come from the creative imagination of their artists. “Custom design work is our bread and butter,” says Whitfield. “We want everything we do to be individual to each person so that nobody gets the same tattoo. I think that’s what sets us apart — that, and the caliber of our artists’ work.”

Second Place 3rd Eye Tattoo, Sharpsburg Third Place The Other Half Tattoos, Newnan

Welcoming clients to Co rne from left, Owner and Art rstone Tattoo Galler y are, Chelsea Heilman and Art ist Cody Whitfield, Manager ists Chris House and Jak e Lyon.

Thank You, Coweta!

Bestert s s e D 2020 Please check our Facebook page for current hours.

8 East Washington St. • Newnan, GA 30263 • 770-683-3578 JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 51

DRAWING WINNERS

Your Vote Counts!

Lucky Readers Win Best of Coweta Gift Cards!

Sponsored by SmartChoice Home Energy Efficient. Connected. Sustainable. Renewable.

Home Energy Management Solutions www.utility.org/

T

en Newnan-Coweta Magazine readers who cast votes in our 2020 Best of Coweta Readers’ Choice Contest were awarded gift cards after their names were randomly drawn from more than 1,200 who voted. Winners of $25 gift cards included, from left, front: Anson Bridgman of Senoia and Tasya Bolton of Newnan. Middle: Kitty Robertson of Palmetto and Brent Snodgrass of Newnan. Back: Donna Duff and Nick Lott, both of Newnan. Winners not photographed are Jordan Aletraris of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Marlee Moody of Senoia, and Debbie O’Neal and Christopher Tondee, both of Newnan.

Newnan-Coweta Magazine expresses gratitude to our Best of Coweta Contest sponsor, Coweta-Fayette EMC, who helps make our annual shoutout to local businesses possible. NCM

!

OU Y K N THA for voting us

BEST VAPE SHOP and

BEST CBD SHOP

in Coweta County!

244 Bullsboro Dr., Ste. B • Newnan, GA 30263 • 770-683-7700

www.vapesgonewild.com

“For stay-at-home parents, much of the popular advice about job hunting ranges from ‘not great’ to ‘absolutely cringeworthy.’”

— Mari McCoy

— Mary McCoy

Formerly a stay-at-home mom, Lynn Gibson started working at Newnan Mercantile in January in order to have more adult interaction.

54 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Minding the Gap: Planning Your Career Comeback after Life in the Motherhood Written by JILL WHITLEY • Photographed by DEBBY DYE

L

et’s face it, ladies. Life in the ’hood – the Motherhood, that is – ain’t easy.

Whether your new arrival was carefully planned, or you found yourself staring in shock at two pink lines on a pregnancy test you took in a drugstore bathroom, don’t despair.

Your life is about to change in a million ways, but you’ll likely most remember the good times.

So buckle up, Buttercup, because the next 18 years will become the very best, most agonizing days of your life.

The unquestionable joy of motherhood is often accompanied by paralyzing, near-constant pangs of guilt and anxiety that few women publicly acknowledge. From the moment of conception, every decision is a new opportunity to question yourself.

And no pressure, Mom, but one of the first choices you have to make is also the one with the farthest-reaching effects on your child’s development, your family’s financial future and your personal happiness and well-being: Will you leave your job?

If you do choose to become a stay-at-home mom, what happens when you’re ready to go back to work? How do you explain the gap in your resume?

More importantly, in a world where working mothers feel torn between the demands of their jobs and their children, and where stay-at-home moms face potential professional repercussions for mommy-tracking themselves, can you really have it all? Is it possible JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 55

to take time off to care for your family and still come back to the workforce stronger than ever?

To help you have your cake – and bring home the bacon, too – Newnan-Coweta Magazine sat down with a local corporate recruiter, as well as two Coweta moms who were able to return to work on their own terms.

Meet: Mari McCoy During her 30-year management tenure with Delta Air Lines, Peachtree City resident and former Coweta CASA board member Mari McCoy estimates she has hired nearly 600 people and had “multiple thousands” of resumes cross her desk.

In fact, McCoy helped build two departments for Delta in the early 2000s.

“For one department alone, I hired 18 coordinators and 38 representatives,” she says. “When we began the 1-800-MY-DELTA initiative, we got close to 50,000 resumes and had to narrow it down to — Sherri Rainwater just 600 interviews.”

For stay-at-home parents, McCoy says, much of the popular advice about job hunting ranges from “not great” to “absolutely cringeworthy.”

“In the early to-mid 2000s, you had experts recommending that moms returning to the workforce label themselves as ‘domestic engineers’ and list their child-rearing and household management tasks as transferable career skills,” says McCoy. “I think the trend has modernized itself a bit with some moms listing themselves as ‘household CEOs’ on their social media.”

While the labor involved in being a stay-at-home parent is certainly “valuable, important, hard work,” McCoy adds, “unfortunately, unless you’re seeking a career in childcare, those skills and tasks shouldn’t be included in your resume.”

Instead, McCoy recommends keeping your skill set current by taking classes or keeping up any certifications you might have had before leaving the workforce.

“There are so many free or inexpensive resources

“I hadn’t worked in 20 years. Who on earth was going to hire me?”

56 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

for parents to keep current in their fields, or even to get some experience in a new one, while also being available to their kids,” says McCoy. “I’ve seen moms use their children’s nap times to learn to code or to relearn processes they once knew that are outdated.

Even teaching yourself social media proficiency via Facebook Business; that’s a marketable skill.”

McCoy also suggests volunteering as a gateway to employment.

“As a stay-at-home parent, you have the opportunity to volunteer on a school or church committee or with local charities, and those experiences can be listed on a resume,” she says. “In addition, it’s excellent networking. You’ll gain references, and it’s entirely possible that the right volunteer position could lead to a career.”

Meet: Sherri Rainwater Sherri Rainwater didn’t need to harness her volunteer experience to find a job for financial reasons, but that doesn’t mean her search for work wasn’t desperate.

“After my daughter graduated from high school and went away to college, I ended up in a really dark place, and I don’t know that I would have come out of it without this job,” she says.

Rainwater left her job at Bonnell Aluminum Plant soon after marrying Kevin, a correctional officer with the Coweta County Sheriff's Department. She stayed home to care for her daughter, Jenna, until she graduated from East Coweta High School and left home to attend Jacksonville State University. Jenna is now 21 and soon to graduate with her nursing degree.

Sherri didn’t expect her daughter moving out to affect her like it did.

“It hit me so hard,” she says. “I truly grieved. I was used to her not being around as much once she was in high school, but this was different. I would catch myself listening for her car in the driveway after school, and there was just silence. I’d find myself going to collect her laundry, and I’d sit in her room and cry because even her dirty clothes were 100 miles away.”

Desperate to shake her loneliness, Sherri threw herself into the hobbies she and Jenna had enjoyed together like photography and volunteering with a friend’s home-based preschool program, but nothing worked.

RIGHT Sherri Rainwater, left, and her daughter Jenna pal around at a 5K race.

girls for their uniforms and baked cookies for fundraisers.

I did anything I could.”

That availability and enthusiasm soon landed her an interview with Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, in LaGrange, where she was hired on the spot as a supply coordinator.

“I mainly handle stocking, cleaning and delivering all the hospital’s equipment,” she says, adding she sometimes answers the phone or simply serves as a friendly face or supportive presence for a patient or family member.

Her daughter believes that Sherri’s new role has allowed her not only to adjust to her empty nest but to thrive in it.

Photo submitted by Sherri Rainwater

“I was just so sad being here. I had to get out, and running away and following Jenna to another state wasn’t a healthy option,” Sherri recalls. “So one morning I got up and started filling out job applications.”

The decision to rejoin the workforce initially caused Sherri even more distress: “I hadn’t worked in 20 years.

Who on earth was going to hire me?”

She might have had a long gap in her resume, but what she did have in her favor, according to recruiters, was a wealth of volunteer experience.

“I was Jenna’s cheer coach with the recreation center for years,” she says. “I chaperoned chorus events, measured the

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 57

“Really, she’s taking care of a whole new set of people the way she took care of me,” says Jenna. “It’s hard sometimes when I come home for summer break and I want to spend time with my mom, and then I realize she has to work. I’m used to having her all to myself, but her patients need her now, too.”

Her mom reluctantly agrees.

“When Jenna is home, I feel the clock ticking,” she says. “I want every second of the time she’s home, and I sometimes am resentful when I’m stuck at work and know she’s home waiting on me. But then I’ll need to deliver a cart to the ABOVE Lynn Gibson, right, points out a home decor item to customer Jennifer Hanna.

58 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

NICU or find someone who just got terrible news and needs a hug, and I know I’m where I need to be.”

It’s hard to be a mother and a good employee at the same time, according to Sherri.

“My advice would be, no matter how much time you have with your children each day, savor every moment,” she says.

“I thought, ‘Oh, I’m home with her, we have all this time.’ I blinked, and she was grown.”

Sherri says that if she had worked while Jenna was growing up, the family might have taken nicer vacations or had more stuff, but that wasn’t important to them.

“What mattered to us was time together decorating and making cookies for Christmas, having sleepovers in the living room, walking around the courthouse square with Jenna and talking to each other in crazy accents,” says Sherri.

Her parting advice for Coweta moms is based on experience: “Whether you work or not, whether your children are tiny or grown, figure out what makes you and your family happy, and do more of that and less of what other people think you should do.”

Meet: Lynn Gibson Lynn Gibson had not planned on leaving her job.

But in 2016, the demands of three children, the death of her mother, and her father’s sudden terminal illness all conspired to pull her away from her 20-year career as a certified pharmacy technician.

Gibson is part of an ever-growing generation of women trying to meet the demands of young children and ailing or aging parents, neither of whom can take care of themselves without help. For three years, Gibson provided round-the-clock care for five people, not counting herself. Often, when women care for both parents and children, their own needs are left out of the equation.

The first few months as a full-time caregiver were okay, Gibson recalls.

“I had been working so much that I needed the break, and my kids were grieving their grandmother and were genuinely happy to have me home more,” she says.

It didn’t take long, however, for constant caretaking to take its toll.

“I completely lost myself,” says Gibson. “I was terrified my kids weren’t getting enough of me. My dad became completely helpless, but he was still a proud man. Making sure he got the care he needed in a way that preserved his dignity took everything I had.”

Gibson suspected that her transition from practitioner to caretaker would mean the end of her medical career.

“I don’t regret being there for my parents and I’m thankful that I had enough medical training to make competent decisions in their final moments, but I knew early on that I wouldn’t be able to go back to the pharmaceutical field later,” she says. “I’ve had enough of hospitals and medications to last my entire life, and being the one to make end-of-life medical decisions, it changes you. I knew I needed to find something new.”

She credits her dad with helping her find her second career.

“I created my dream home online and one day my dad said, ‘Drive me out to the neighborhood where

you’d like to build it,’” she recalls. “So I did, and it kind of became a plan, that this is what I would do, how I would cope after he was gone.”

After her father died in 2018, Gibson realized her passion for home decor had the potential to become her new career.

“We were building the new house and selling or throwing away most of our furniture and possessions,” she says. “I was knee deep in grief and nervous energy.”

Needing an outlet, she decided to paint the few pieces of furniture that were left. Her innovative pieces impressed her friends and family so much that they began asking her to create pieces for them, and soon people were paying her to refresh their own home decor. Now she runs a small design and furniture business, Follow the Yellow Door Decor, out of her ‘Girl’s Garage’ in her new home. But not even that filled the void for the once-ambitious rising pharmaceutical star. Missing adult interaction, she applied for a job at Newnan Mercantile in January.

“I had been out of the workforce for nearly four years, and I was scared I wouldn’t get the job,” she says.

While Gibson did have a gap in her resume, she had a lot going for her in a competitive job market: a substantial work history, a beautiful portfolio of home decor projects, and a compelling cover letter that demonstrated research and familiarity with her potential employer. She was immediately contacted for an interview.

For moms debating whether or not to return to work, Gibson understands how hard it can be to make the decision.

“I learned when my kids were little that I couldn’t win. I was lazy if I didn’t work, and I was a terrible mom if I did,” she says. “It took years of reassurance from people who really cared about my kids and me to undo that damage, and a lot of mothers don’t have that. In fact, other moms can be our biggest source of judgment instead of support. Parenting shouldn’t feel like a competition.”

Her advice is this: “If you can swing it financially, do what works for you. If that’s working, that’s wonderful. If that’s staying at home, great. Just be sure you keep that creative outlet. Don’t lose what makes you you.” NCM JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 59

WE KNOW NEWNAN. WE KNOW NEWNAN. WE KNOW NEWNAN.

WE KNOW NEWNAN. Lacy Loyd LoydOwens Kelly Owens Lacy Loyd LacyKelly Kelly Owens

(770) 254–5777 (770) 254–5777 lbloyd@unitedbank.netlbloyd@unitedbank.net NMLS #1714907

(770) 254–5777 (770) 254–3822(770) 254–3822 (770) 254–3822

lbloyd@unitedbank.net kowens@unitedbank.net kowens@unitedbank.net kowens@unitedbank.net LacyLacy LoydLoyd Owens Lacy Loyd Kelly Owens NMLS #1714907 NMLSKelly #1545719 Kelly NMLS #1545719 Owens NMLS #1714907 NMLS #1545719

(770) 254–5777 (770) 254–5777 (770) 254–5777 lbloyd@unitedbank.net lbloyd@unitedbank.net lbloyd@unitedbank.net NMLS #1714907 NMLS #1714907 NMLS #1714907

(770) 254–3822 (770) 254–3822 (770) 254–3822 kowens@unitedbank.net kowens@unitedbank.net kowens@unitedbank.net NMLS #1545719 NMLS #1545719 NMLS #1545719

• Conventional & Jumbo Loans • Conventional & Jumbo Loans YOUR YOUR • Conventional & Jumbo Loans YOUR • FHA, VA, and USDA Loans • FHA, VA, and USDA Loans LOCAL LOCAL • FHA, VA, and USDA Loans • Conventional & Jumbo Loans • Other Loan Options • Other Loan Options • Conventional & Jumbo Loans LOCAL YOUR YOUR • Conventional & Jumbo Loans YOUR MORTGAGE MORTGAGE • Other Loan Options Lacy Loyd Kelly Owens • FHA, VA, and USDA Loans • Local Service • Local Service • FHA, VA, and USDA Loans • FHA, VA, and USDA Loans LOCAL LOCAL MORTGAGE LOCAL (770)• 254–5777 (770) 254–3822 PARTNER PARTNER • Local Service • Other Loan Options • First-time Home Buyer Progams First-time Home Buyer Progams • Other Loan Options • Other Loan Options lbloyd@unitedbank.net kowens@unitedbank.net MORTGAGE MORTGAGE • Local Service PARTNER • Local Service • First-time Home Buyer Progams • Local Service NMLS #1714907 NMLS MORTGAGE #1545719 PARTNER • First-time Home Buyer Progams PARTNER • First-time Home Buyer Progams www.accessunited.com/mortgage PARTNER • First-time Home Buyer Progams www.accessunited.com/mortgage www.accessunited.com/mortgage

www.accessunited.com/mortgage www.accessunited.com/mortgage • Conventional & Jumbo Loans www.accessunited.com/mortgage YOUR

• FHA, VA, and USDA Loans • Other Loan Options • Local Service • First-time Home Buyer Progams

LOCAL MORTGAGE PARTNER

We support The Newnan Times-Herald www.accessunited.com/mortgage

• Thoughtful feature articles • Thorough local government coverage • Timely community news and events • Daily COVID updates • Open discussion forums • Print • Electronic • Social media 60 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

www.rosenzweig.law

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Meet

TOP INFLUENCERS COWETA’S

Compiled by The Newnan Times-Herald

25 IN

2020

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

25 IN

2020

Meet

COWETA’S TOP INFLUENCERS

A

s Newnan-Coweta Magazine celebrates its 25th year and recognizes the winners of its 2020 Best of Coweta Contest, The Newnan Times-Herald created a list of Coweta’s top influencers, showcasing individuals who continue to work tirelessly to make our community what we know and enjoy today.

Assembling this list wasn’t an easy task, but after much deliberation, we can safely say these individuals have clearly shown their dedication to Coweta County and are still using their influence to keep us moving forward.

Ken Adams

Pastor of Crossroads Church, Newnan

Ken Adams set out to be a teacher and a coach. After seminary, said Adams, God told him to “Go home and plant a church.”

Now, 30 years later, Newnan’s Crossroads Church is going strong.

According to Adams, the church is founded on the principle of true discipleship, and he calls his congregation to build relationships with people versus simply settling for casual interaction.

“True discipleship is a deliberate act of going into their world, being a part of their lives and connecting them to Christ’s word,” said the pastor.

His passion is contagious as he talks about Impact Discipleship Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to training disciples, church leaders and pastors. He quotes an anonymous source: “Jesus started the Church the way He wanted it and now He wants it the way He started it.”

Adams says he’s all about doing things Christ’s way.

“Making disciples changes the world,” he said. “People become better people, better parents, better citizens – just better all around.” NTH

COWETA’S TOP INFLUENCERS published by

25 IN

2020

© 2020 NTH Media. All rights reserved.

62 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Retired Superintendent, Coweta County School System

Steve Barker was Georgia’s 2018 Superintendent of the Year and has spent 30 years in the Coweta County School System as a teacher, coach, administrator and superintendent.

“I had the opportunity to do 30 years of education in one school system, and that’s very meaningful to me,” said Barker. “I found the longer I served in the district, the greater the responsibility I felt to do my part to help the district continue to succeed.” Known for his consistent leadership style, Barker credits his success to the team of people he has assembled.

“Bringing together the right mix of personalities and talents to do the job is crucial,” he said, expressing pride in the system’s employees and its longstanding tradition of being a place of innovation and community-mindedness.

“Even though we’ve been progressive in our approach, we’ve managed to keep that small-town feel.”

Barker, who retired at the end of the 2019-20 school year, will stay involved in an advisory/consultant type role.

He will be remembered as the man who led Coweta’s school system through the initial impact of COVID-19.

“We’re finding more and more of a need for social and emotional support for students,” he said during the pandemic. “Not just with this situation, but in a general way, they’re going through more and more difficulties, and we’ve been very intentional in finding ways to assist them, including partnerships with mental health facilities.”

Barker says he is confident that the new superintendent, Evan Horton, along with the system’s employees and board of education, “will meet the needs of students to continue the school system’s tradition of excellence.” NTH

Cynthia Bennett

Board President, Meals on Wheels of Coweta

As a leader with the local Meals on Wheels, Cynthia Bennett oversees the delivery of nearly 30,000 meals to Coweta County residents each year. She also serves as vice president of the Coweta Democratic Party and works with the local chamber of commerce.

“My resume is a quilt,” said Bennett. “The job titles don’t seem to match each other; they’re all blended together to form this giant voyage of discovery.”

Of all her titles, she said she’s most proud of her work with Meals on Wheels, which began as an opportunity to help a family member.

“My mother was a part of the organization and as she grew older, she couldn’t keep up with all of the work, so I stepped in to help,” said Bennett, recalling she thought it would be a temporary arrangement. Even while working a full-time job, she delivered meals, sometimes using her lunch hour to get them out to the many seniors on her route.

As she grew more engaged, she realized there was more to the organization than elderly people and food.

“There was this part of society I never knew existed, and it really got ahold of me,” she said, noting that she soon knew she wanted to honor her mother’s commitment by following in her footsteps. “I didn’t know anything about how nonprofits work. I had to learn how a board operates, how to write grants, budgeting, insurance. It was a lot.”

Operating funds come from donations and grants and, as with most nonprofits, there’s always a need for more. Luckily for Meals on Wheels, hearing the word “no” when she’s requesting funds does not stop Bennett.

IN “It just means I listen to what the person is telling me, and then I go off and find a way to get them to tell me ‘yes,’” she said.

Her strategy seems to be working. NTH

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Steve Barker

25

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 63

2020

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Keith Brady Mayor, City of Newnan

Newnan Mayor Keith Brady is always on the lookout for the next best thing – for Newnan, that is.

“We’re never done,” he said of his work as mayor since first elected in 1993. “There’s always more we can do to improve our quality of life here in the city.”

One of those “next best things” involved a campaign promise Brady made in 1998 to provide a solution for children coming home to empty houses after school. Troubled by the lack of meaningful activities for kids, the mayor made his case for change and, with the help of the City and a community development block grant, raised the money to open a Boys & Girls Club on Wesley Street. He remembers an event held to promote awareness.

“We wanted to have a cookout at one of the local elementary schools and went out to buy enough to feed 50, and more than 150 showed up,” he recalled. “I’d say it was a very successful day.”

Some kids served in the club have gone on to attend West Point and the Air Force Academy, according to Brady.

“These are generational accomplishments,” he said of the lives touched as a result of the club.

He’s proud to include the City’s involvement in the new University of West Georgia campus on his list of achievements, noting the impact the project has had on the community.

“These are accomplishments that will leave a lasting impression,” he said. “And it’s all been a collective effort by the citizens here in this great city, but there’s still more to do.” NTH

“These are accomplishments that will leave a lasting impression.

And it’s all been a collective effort by the citizens here in this great city, but there’s still more to do.”

— Keith Brady

Renae Carl

Influencer, Chatty Newnan Women Renae Carl started her Facebook group page in 2011. In the nine years since, she’s watched the ranks swell to almost 19,000 members.

Love her or hate her, the feisty Carl and her tribe are a force to be reckoned with. Word on the street is, “If you didn’t see it on ‘Chatty,’ it ain’t real.”

Carl arrived in Newnan in 2006 and soon found herself in need of professional services: a good lawyer and a good plumber. The proud wife of First Sgt. Scott Carl had relied heavily on her friends before and was now in a new community.

“Back in our Army days, I was used to reaching out to other wives for help, and here I was, in a new town without my support system,” she recalled. “I didn’t know who to call, so I just put it out there on Facebook.”

That support system has grown exponentially, evolving into Chatty Newnan Women, which Renae says is more than just a good source of information; for many, it’s been a lifeline, especially during the recent pandemic.

Renae credits the women themselves, saying, “The best part about this page is when times of crisis hit, it’s really refreshing to see so many women come together for good. We’ve gone above and beyond for each other. We’ve made each other mad, but we’ve kept it local and made it work for good, too.” NTH 64 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Retired Executive Vice President, Delta Bob Coggin spent 42 years with Delta Airlines, beginning as a ramp service agent in Atlanta and eventually becoming the executive vice president of marketing. He was one of four senior officers appointed to Delta’s newly created Executive Council, which ran all phases of the airline.

Coggins retired in 1998 and formed Alpine Consulting. A past Newnan City Council member, his civic and community involvement includes serving at Newnan Presbyterian Church, Newnan-Coweta Boys and Girls Club, Newnan campus of the University of West Georgia, Coweta Samaritan Clinic and Flint River Council of Boy Scouts of America.

The Sargent native served as governmental affairs liaison for the Newnan-Coweta Chamber and was named its 2016 Citizen of the Year.

This year, his leadership in raising $100,000 to honor Joe H. Harless culminated with the dedication of the Joe H. Harless Simulation Lab at the University of West Georgia at Newnan.

On the executive committee of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl for most of the past three decades, Coggins has been instrumental in helping decide what organizations benefit from the Peach Bowl, which donates more money to charity than any other bowl.

Since the early 1990s, the Peach Bowl has donated $53.8 million to various charities, according to Coggins. In 2019, the Bowl donated $20 million to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

While serving with the Peach Bowl, Coggin set a record for an individual selling tickets when he sold more than 3,300. He was named to the Bowl’s Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2014. NTH

Herb Cranford Jr.

District Attorney, Coweta County Judicial Circuit

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Bob Coggin

Herb Cranford Jr. is the youngest district attorney in Georgia. A product of Newnan, he is an example of how being ready for new challenges is important.

“It was a matter of timing,” he said of his appointment in 2018. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

A go-getter, Cranford wasted no time in establishing his priority list.

At the top is the victim advocate program and an increased dedication of resources.

“We seek victim input in all cases and give great weight to how victims want their case handled,” he said.

“We want to make sure we’re communicating our concern and commitment to these individuals.”

Another focus is on gang prosecution.

“We’ve brought in an investigator specifically to help us with the growing issue of gang violence and we’re seeing some real progress in that area,” he said.

As a third-generation prosecutor in Coweta, Cranford said he’s proud to serve in the community where he grew up and appreciates the opportunity to effect real change for the good of his hometown. NTH

“We seek victim input in all cases and give great weight to how victims want their case handled. We want to make sure we’re communicating our concern and commitment to these individuals.”

25 IN

— Herb Cranford Jr.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 65

2020

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

John Daviston

Owner/President, McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory Growing up in Newnan, John Daviston made it a point to be a friend to everyone in the community and has continued that practice to this day as the owner and president of McKoon Funeral Home.

“Understanding the importance of cultivating a team of caring, compassionate individuals at McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory, we have built a team that always puts the needs of grieving families first,” said Daviston. “Each McKoon team member is dedicated to loving families through the grieving process. One of my greatest blessings is that I have been able to work side by side with my father while serving the families in our community.”

The funeral home has been a fixture in Newnan since 1918. In 1986, it was purchased by Terry Daviston, who sold it to his son John in 2005.

John believes one of the family business’s greatest accomplishments has been achieving a company culture that continuously seeks new and innovative ways to serve families.

“They trust us with the most important things in their life – their loved ones,” said John, expressing pride in how McKoon team members rose to the challenge to serve families during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had to quickly change and adapt how we serve families and conduct funerals,” he said, “but we never changed in our commitment.” NTH

Michael Fouts Administrator, Coweta County

Michael Fouts is taking the phrase “slow-moving” out of the government sector vocabulary and replacing it with “front-door service.”

“There’s a stigma associated with public service,” said the Coweta County administrator. “We’re interested in serving citizens and customers more effectively, regardless of jurisdictional boundaries and personal agendas.”

Coming from a technology career in the higher education sector, Fouts provides a fresh perspective to the office by adding another level of expertise – the technology component.

“Through our website, social media and our Citizens Academy, we’ve been able to educate the public on what we do and how to access our services,” he said.

Navigating the system during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges in the County government’s 35 departments, according to Fouts. The Tag Office, for example, adjusted operations to offer appointments while the facility was closed to the public during the pandemic. Fouts has worked with the tax commissioner to implement a virtual queuing service, which will allow residents to schedule appointments online and get in line virtually before they arrive in order to avoid waiting.

Last year, Fouts used his problem-solving skills to launch a combined department titled Community Development, streamlining the building permit, business license, development review, planning, zoning and fire marshal divisions into one.

“Before, customers had to go to multiple, physically separated departments,” he said. “Now, it’s a single centralized service center.”

Fouts says transparency in county government means a lot to him.

“Providing citizens with the information behind the services is important to us,” said Fouts. “We want to be able to point to the data that supports what we are saying and tie it back to the budget.” NTH 66 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Founder and Board Chairman, Newnan ArtRez Robert Hancock is fairly soft-spoken, but don’t let that fool you. He has opinions.

An unabashed supporter of the Arts, Hancock had the vision to introduce a local artist-in-residence program, Newnan ArtRez, which kicked off in 2015. Since then, the active program has brought to town dozens of world-renowned artists who have left the community richer in their wake.

Along with area artists and art patrons, others affected by Hancock’s community involvement include local restaurateurs. Thanks to his outspoken initiative, for which he received death threats, liquor by the drink was made legal in Newnan in April 1996.

Hancock said he was “tired of having to drive to Old National Highway to get a decent meal with a drink.” So he led a charge to change the rules.

“I believe it opened the doors for many restaurants to come to the community,” he said of the measure.

Hancock currently practices real estate law at Glover and Davis in downtown Newnan and has been a key player in bringing businesses into the county, including Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

“I was honored to be a part of that success,” he said. NTH

Debra Harris

Pastor, Kingdom Connected Ministries The founder of Kingdom Connected Ministries International in Newnan, Debra Harris is a woman on fire. The retired Coweta County educator is also the founder and leader of Ignite the Fire Movement, a group dedicated to prayer, love and unity through the Spirit of Christ.

“I believe He [Christ] has allowed us to be instrumental in bringing churches, organizations and races together for one cause, the cause of unity,” she said.

Harris and her prayer group were instrumental in efforts to lead Newnan through one of its most tumultuous days in recent history when a National Socialist Movement rally in downtown Newnan attracted Antifa protesters.

“On April 21, 2018, we showed the world that we will love instead of hate,” she said, stating her motto as: “Love conquers all.”

Striving for unity in the fight for racial reconciliation, Harris was honored to initiate the first step by participating in a Black History Celebration service in 2018 at First Baptist Church in Newnan. Kingdom Connected Ministries continues to be a prayer source and connection for the police department and sheriff’s office, hosting annual prayer rallies for officers during National Police Week.

Leading her organization by providing community outreach, food, clothing and household items, she gives back to those around her.

“Our efforts are more about building relationships over material blessings,” she said. “Newnan has become a better place to live because we have caring people who understand the need to love and care for each other regardless of race, culture or religion. We still have work to do, but we’ve put our hand to the plow.” NTH

“Newnan has become a better place to live because we have caring people who understand the need to love and care for each other regardless of race, culture or religion.”

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Robert Hancock

25 IN

— Debra Harris JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 67

2020

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Suzanne Helfman

Former Member, Senoia Downtown Development Authority Suzanne Helfman won’t take all the credit for the renaissance of Senoia, but she said she’ll humbly grab a “little piece of it.”

Originally from Los Angeles, Helfman and her husband Sam moved to Senoia in 2002 to open The Culpepper House Bed and Breakfast on Broad Street. It was one of five businesses in town at the time. It wasn’t long before Senoia’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) came calling. Made up of the four other business owners, the DDA asked if she would join them in getting their little city going.

Suzanne, a lover of history and all things old, couldn’t resist the challenge. With her fellow business owners, she began the arduous task of building the city she now affectionately refers to as her “sweet little town.”

The push turned to tourism, and they used their standing with the National Registry of Historic Places as a selling point to bring people in. After a state official told her that the DDA would have to set design guidelines in keeping with the preservation of historic buildings, she enlisted the help of architects Jim and Todd Strickland of Historical Concepts. Soon the empty lots and gaps in the streetscape started to disappear.

The DDA eventually decided it was time to take the town to the next level. Based on advice received from county and state officials, they started a Heritage Traveler tourism push, opening a welcome center stocked with T-shirts and coffee mugs to lure people in from all over the country. Suzanne fondly remembers the Florida couple who came to visit and was so enthralled they went home, sold their house and moved back to the city. So appealing was Senoia’s charm that Southern Living magazine constructed two of their Idea Houses there – one in 2010 and another in 2012. NTH

Cynthia Jenkins Member, Newnan City Council

Cynthia Jenkins grew up in the Rocky Hill neighborhood of Newnan, graduated from East Coweta High School and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and now heads up the Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity as CEO. The 16-year Newnan City Council member was instrumental in bringing to life Newnan’s Pastors and Leaders Luncheon, introduced in 2018 to promote local unity after white supremacists and Antifa members descended upon downtown Newnan. The luncheon is hosted monthly with local church and business leaders gathering to discuss current events and connect people.

“The luncheon was started as an idea, brought to the table by Herb Cranford, that got traction through our efforts to pull together a unity service,” said Jenkins. “My hope is that it is part of a growing effort of inclusion and community unity.”

Jenkins said she is “most proud” of the Howard Warner Community Center project that created a second location for the Newnan-Coweta Boys & Girls Club, which provides after school and summer activities for children and supplies community space for gatherings and sports activities. The Newnan Youth Council is another of her favorite projects. For a decade, the program has developed leadership skills for students in grades 10-12.

“They are the official youth voice in the City of Newnan,” said Jenkins. “We have had a great diverse group of students come through our program. We have come full circle with three former youth council members who moved back to Coweta and are now paying it forward as youth activities commissioners supervising the Newnan Youth Council. It’s been a blessing to see the students grow and mature into leaders who go on to college, graduate, get jobs, get married and move back home equipped to lead us into the future.” NTH

68 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

General Manager, Newnan Utilities

Dennis McEntire started bringing folks together a long time ago.

In the 1990s, when the county was experiencing tremendous growth, communications between city officials and business leaders had become strained as stakeholders struggled to deal with challenges of a newly emerging economy. It was then that Coweta’s own master of the “meet and greet” – McEntire – and his friend, the late Cliff Adams, hatched a plan to bring the community together in a unique way.

“We were working separately instead of as a team, and we wanted everyone to come together with no agendas and share ideas,” McEntire recounted. “Cliff and I figured if we could cook supper and get everyone together, we could solve some problems.”

The Adams Supper, named after McEntire’s partner in promoting communications, is now held twice a year. While it started with about 25 attending, the event now draws 250 people, proving that good food and fellowship go a long way to work through a problem, according to McEntire. NTH

“We were working separately instead of as a team, and we wanted everyone to come together with no agendas and share ideas. Cliff and I figured if we could cook supper and get everyone together, we could solve some problems.”

— Dennis McEntire

Carl McKnight Retired Director, Parks and Recreation

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Dennis McEntire

Local farmer Carl McKnight has played an integral part in Coweta’s history, bringing it from the fields of yesteryear to the busy city it is today.

As the Parks and Rec Director, McKnight spent his days driving an old county pickup truck through countless Coweta roadways, checking in on parks, ballfields and senior centers around the county. “From Grantville to Arnco, Senoia and Andrew Bailey,” he recalled. “I put some miles on that truck.”

“I had to replace those seats three times,” McKnight said when recounting his experience of driving the truck until it was 27 years old, making it a prime example of his conservative budgeting skills. Never one to waste resources, McKnight says he learned to manage what he was given and “make it stretch out.”

Among his accomplishments: Whitlock Park, Coweta Fairgrounds and the Coweta Soccer Fields.

In his role as director, McKnight had a keen eye to pinpoint where the growth was happening and provide the infrastructure needed. During his tenure, the youth recreation program went from 40 to more than 600 kids participating, according to McKnight, who said one thing he loved most about his job was working with children and seeing them grow into productive citizens.

Catching kids at “teachable moments” was and still is important to McKnight, he says: “They are our future.” NTH

Catching kids at “teachable moments” was and still is important. “They are our future.”

25 IN

— Carl McKnight JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 69

2020

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Emory Palmer Judge, Coweta County Superior Court

Emory Palmer was one of the youngest superior court judges in the State of Georgia when he took the judgeship in 2013. Seven years later, his youthful enthusiasm hasn’t waned one bit.

Palmer is especially interested in cases involving the family, so much so that a few years ago, he lobbied for a grant to add a family violence advocate in the courthouse to assist citizens with issues involving protection.

“It was a chaotic process before,” he recalled. “Victims had to travel to the shelter in Carroll County for assistance, services were limited and, as a result, victims who really needed help couldn’t get it.”

Earlier in his term, Palmer helped design a new management system employing two judges on every court calendar to whittle down a growing caseload.

“We still have case assignments, but we don’t employ it so rigidly that it slows things down,” he said.

Working more efficiently is especially crucial now with the COVID-19 pandemic, and Palmer feels the weight of his position.

“We are responsible for keeping the docket moving, even during a pandemic, and the only way we can do that and resolve people’s cases is by having court, which is a definite challenge under these circumstances,” he said.

The former U.S. Marine remembers what it was like being an attorney and appreciates extending grace to those on the other side of the bench.

“All members of the justice system must work together and it’s important that I create an atmosphere where those members can work together,” he said. “I’m not interested in being a dictator.” NTH

Cleatus Phillips Manager, City of Newnan

Cleatus Phillips is at the head of the pack when it comes to our next generation of local leaders. The reason why: He knows how to think forward.

“We’ve had many terrific operational accomplishments over the last few years,” said Phillips, citing the accreditation of the Newnan Police Department, along with the improvement of the Fire Department’s ISO Rating from Class 4 to Class 2.

The City has invested a whopping $200 million into the community, including contributing to the construction of the public safety complex and to the conversion of Newnan Hospital to the University of West Georgia.

Phillips reported that, to date, the city is completely debt-free, an achievement he credits to his staff’s commitment to efficiency.

“They keep us in a very strong financial position and I’m very proud of our operations and how we conduct ourselves in a professional and respectful manner,” he said. “This starts with leadership at the council level and goes all the way through our organization. We value our employees, their commitment and their input.” NTH

The City has invested a whopping $200 million into the community, including contributing to the construction of the public safety complex and to the conversion of Newnan Hospital to the University of West Georgia.

70 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

CEO, Piedmont Newnan Hospital

Since Piedmont Newnan opened its doors in 2012, Mike Robertson has overseen a period of tremendous growth at the hospital.

“When I moved to Newnan, people were still traveling to Fayetteville for care, and I didn’t understand it at first,” he recalled. “Newnan has a long history of health care.”

Robertson has focused on growing the services provided by the hospital, including the cardiac, stroke and prenatal programs.

“We want there to be a clear understanding that this is a safe and quality health care option in your own backyard,” he said.

In his time as CEO, Robertson has helped expand what the hospital has to offer by adding new beds, services and physicians – and winning 11 LeapFrog awards along the way. The designation recognizes Piedmont Newnan’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

With the recent opening of Exit 44 on Poplar Road, Piedmont Newnan serves even more as an access point for Coweta and surrounding areas.

With the onset of COVID-19, Robertson said the hospital is looking to determine what the “new normal” will be and, in response, to maintain a safe, high-quality environment for patients.

“I’ve been amazed by the support our staff has received from the community,” he said. “They’ve rallied behind our team. To know your community supports you, that’s a big deal.” NTH

Lynn Smith

State Representative, Georgia District 70 A recognized leader in the community and the state of Georgia, State Representative Lynn Smith is known for her ability to listen, learn and lead.

Smith was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1996 and currently serves as chairman for the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Her journey into politics was the end result of working behind the scenes to help make her community a better place, something that was instilled in her at an early age by her parents, she said.

“That’s how I was raised,” she recalled. “You get a lot done by not caring who gets the credit but by solving the problem.”

Smith’s involvement in solving problems started when she moved to Coweta County in the late 1960s.

Coweta’s school system was undergoing desegregation and, as a teacher at Newnan High, Smith was assigned to a school system strategizing committee.

“The best thing about our desegregation was that it wasn’t big news,” she recalled. “We successfully did it, and I was grateful to have a role.”

Over the years, Smith continued her involvement in her community through her leadership in a number of local organizations and by spearheading the development of Chattahoochee Bend State Park. She also secured state funding for the development of the Central Educational Center, new construction for West Georgia Technical College’s Coweta County campus, and grant funding to assist IN Coweta County in the purchase of the Brown’s Mill Battlefield land. NTH Smith recently worked, along with others, to bring the University of West Georgia satellite campus to downtown Newnan. NTH

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Mike Robertson

25

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 71

2020

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Chris Stephens CEO, Coweta-Fayette EMC

Chris Stephens loves technology.

As an electrical engineer and CEO of Coweta Fayette EMC, one of the state’s 41 electric membership corporations (EMCs), he enjoys designing things, too.

In 2006, Stephens developed one of the country’s first Fault Location Isolation and Restoration (FLISR) systems, designed to detect power line interference and re-feed electricity to unaffected areas, reducing outage time for electric consumers.

In addition to serving with Coweta-Fayette EMC since 1996, Stephens spends time raising money for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International, an organization created to provide electrification programs in developing countries. It’s an institution dear to his heart and one for which he’s helped raise more than $300,000 to sponsor 90 linemen to set up power systems in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Bolivia.

“We’ve run more than 20 miles of power lines and assisted more than 550 families in those countries,” Stephens said of his work with the organization. NTH

Steve & Marie Swope Local Volunteers/Philanthropists

Steve and Marie Swope love Newnan, and it’s obvious by the way they spend their time.

Together, the couple serves and supports numerous local causes and charities.

One day a week, every week during the school year, you can find them volunteering at Ruth Hill Elementary in Newnan through Elevate Coweta’s Students, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring students of all grades. The Swopes read to children and listen to them as they share their lives, hopes and dreams.

Steve recounted his mentoring experience with a child he met there: “I didn’t so much teach him anything but just sat with him, talking with him about books, and encouraging him to keep reading. Now, the little boy is grabbing all the books he can get his hands on. That’s the kind of stuff that motivates us.”

Both raised in families where values of generosity and respect were ingrained, the Swopes find that community is extremely important.

“We believe in staying involved,” said Marie. “We’re able to cross paths with these kids and get to know them and better understand the challenges they face. It’s been a real blessing.”

When he and Marie aren’t helping to mold the next generation, Steve is busy serving the church and community in other ways. A devout Roman Catholic deacon, he has befriended many local pastors in what he calls “an organic ecumenical movement; nothing formal, but it’s a way to reach out to serve people from a faith standpoint. It’s helped to facilitate an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding among the denominations.”

Steve points to a good example being the annual Lenten Luncheons leading up to Easter each spring with people of all faiths gathering to share a meal and fellowship.

Unity is the key, according to Steve.

“As Christians, we agree on 98% of doctrine and can achieve greater unity by focusing on what we have in common,” he concluded. NTH 72 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

President, 75 Jackson Properties

As a lifelong Cowetan, Jim Thomasson has invested heavily in real estate in downtown Newnan and throughout Coweta County, bringing much-needed attention to several corners of the county.

As the founder of 75 Jackson, a real estate investment and management firm, Thomasson said the guiding principle behind his approach to real estate and development is going above and beyond to make the community a better place for everyone.

“We want to do more than is expected from the city and county ordinances regarding design and landscaping,” Thomasson said. “Growing up here, I want to see Newnan be the best it can be.”

He is also dedicated to increasing opportunities for fitness in Coweta County and believes that growing a healthy and active community is the best way to attract new businesses and residents to the area. Thomasson spearheaded the creation of the LINC trail system, which aims to provide connectivity between local neighborhoods, schools and shopping districts for a safe way for people to ride a bike or walk.

“What we’re going through right now with COVID-19, things like walking, running and bike riding have made the LINC even more valuable to our community,” Thomasson said. “Our goal with anything we do is giving it as much as we possibly can as a way of giving back and planning for the future.” NTH

“What we’re going through right now with COVID-19, things like walking, running and bike riding have made the LINC even more valuable to our community. Our goal with anything we do is giving it as much as we possibly can as a way of giving back and planning for the future.”

— Jim Thomasson

CO W E TA CO U N T Y ’ S TO P I N FLU E N C E R S

Jim Thomasson

Lynn Westmoreland Member, Georgia Department of Transportation Board

Lynn Westmoreland represented Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District from 2005 to 2017 and previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003. He now sits on the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) board and was instrumental in several large projects in Coweta, including the new Poplar Road exit off Interstate 85 and bringing Cancer Treatment Centers of America to Newnan.

“If anything I could have participated in really benefited all Cowetans, it was the Poplar Road project, which ensured everyone had easy access to health care, especially in an emergency situation,” he said.

“And helping bring CTCA here has proven to be a tremendous economic growth for Coweta County and Newnan.”

Last summer, Westmoreland was named chairman of an advisory board for Conservatives for Clean IN Energy Georgia.

He maintains ties to Washington D.C. where he travels monthly to serve on the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics, and he also serves as chair of Fair Lines America, a national redistricting group to ensure fair lines are drawn after the 2020 census of congressional districts. NTH

25

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 73

2020

CO W E TACOUNTY’S CO U N T Y ’ 25 S TOTOP P I NINFLUENCERS FLU E N C E R S COWETA

Mark Whitlock

Founding CEO, Central Educational Center Mark Whitlock is a “we” person.

“There’s no I-team; there’s only a we-team,” he said.

Although he’s accomplished much in the community during his long and distinguished career with Coweta schools, he’s probably best known for his role in the development of the Central Educational Center (CEC) in Newnan.

Whitlock’s approach to teamwork is unpretentious.

“I know I’ve got to have great people and great organizations fully engaged to get things done,” he said. “And that’s about all I’m accountable to do and can take credit for.”

The CEC – recognized for its groundbreaking partnership with the Coweta County School System, West Georgia Technical College and the business community – provides a skilled workforce for Coweta’s manufacturing industry by using the German Apprenticeship model, what Whitlock calls “the gold standard of models.”

The model allows the CEC to focus efforts into areas where the highest skill is required and greatest shortage of skill is present, according to Whitlock who, in 2015, took the model to a new level when he worked closely with then-Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Senator Lindsey Tippins and others to draft Senate Bill Two, legislation designed to allow high school students to substitute high school work for significant technical college credentials. In effect, the law enables students to graduate from high school and technical college simultaneously.

“It’s a systematic approach that is used across much of the state, and Coweta seems to be leading the way in its success,” said Whitlock. “We’re attracting attention and changing the way business and education meet.” NTH

Lenn Wood Sheriff, Coweta County

Lenn Wood has been a fixture in the community for decades and knows a multitude of Cowetans on a first-name basis.

“Personal contact is important,” he said of his office. “I want to be the type of person who listens to people, not just tells them what I think.”

He listens so much, in fact, that his wife once asked him if 911 had closed down: “People don’t call 911,” she said. “They call you.”

Wood has a passion for the younger residents of Coweta County.

Early in his career as a school resource officer, he saw firsthand the challenges facing kids. Motivated by what he observed, in 2000, he took over the Students Are For Education (SAFE) program, which is modeled after the Drug Awareness and Resistance Education (DARE) program in the public school system.

“We teach kids basic skills and make our own booklets crafted specifically to the needs of Coweta,” he said.

“We get feedback from the local board of education, parents and even the students themselves.”

As a bonus, the sheriff’s office saves the County money by printing the booklets and distributing them. The program is so popular that the Georgia Sheriffs Association models their own program, Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety (C.H.A.M.P.S.), after SAFE. “Officer training is important as well,” Wood said of the County’s three-day intensive Mantracker training program. “We teach vehicle stops, burglary calls and containment procedures, among other things. I’d put our training program up against anyone in the state.”

The annual event attracts around 700 participants from Georgia and surrounding states. NTH

“I’d put our training program up against anyone in the state.”

— Lenn Wood 74 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

FOR THOSE YOU

Get a Quote at GFBInsurance.com

The Coweta Cities & County EFCU would like to thank Captain Travis Hall, his fellow City & County Firefighters, all our First Responders, 911 Operators, and especially our Healthcare Workers as they work tirelessly to serve and protect the residents of Newnan and Coweta County.

Coweta County Farm Bureau

We would also like to thank Capt. Hall for volunteering to serve on the Board of Directors since 2015. It’s volunteers like Travis dedicated to our community that make the difference at Coweta Cities & County Employees Federal Credit Union.

770.253.3649 | 19 Bullsboro Dr.

Membership may be easier than you think!

Newnan, Ga 30263 | Home • Auto • Life • Bank

43 Jefferson Parkway • P.O. Box 71063 • Newnan, GA 30271-1063

COWETA CITIES & COUNTY

EMPLOYEES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Morris & Spradlin Insurance Group

770.253.2273

WWW.CCCEFCU.ORG

Caring, Teaching, Reaching

Enjoy the eedom, summer is finally here!

Call now for low rates on boats, RVs, motorcycles and recreational vehicles!

Give our team a call today or visit our website for a

FREE QUOTE

770-683-6793 www.msinsurance.org 184-A Jefferson Pkwy. • Newnan, GA 30263

NOW G! ENROLLIN

Experienced childcare professionals committed to providing quality care to the children in our community.

Newnan Crossing Bailey Station

243 Summerlin Blvd. • Newnan, GA 30265

770-253-8104

106 Bailey Station Circle • Sharpsburg, GA 30277

770-304-8857

children age 6 weeks - 12 years

COWETA KIDS CARE

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.”

— Prov. 31:8-9 NLT

Hope Youth Center interns, from left, Jake Johnson and Madi Punchard deliver meals from the back of a truck to children in the Chalk Level neighborhood while school was out during the pandemic last spring.

76 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

COWETA KIDS CARE

Madi Punchard Shares Her Voice Written by SUSAN MAYER DAVIS

T

Photo by Luke Ayers

hey say the measure of a man or woman is in how (s)he treats others.

The Bible even exhorts us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” (Prov. 31:8-9 NLT) That sentiment is what Madison “Madi” Punchard is all about.

“When I was a student, I witnessed how students of color were treated differently in all grades and I became frustrated with that because there was no one speaking out for them,” says the 2020 graduate of East Coweta High School. “Once I was introduced to this particular community, I felt God’s nudge for me to become part of the solution right here.”

Punchard now works as a full-time paid intern at the Verona Rosser Hope Youth Center, which is managed by The Hope Global Initiative. Working with teenagers from the Chalk Level community, she helps instill a vision of hope and teaches them concrete ways to reach their dreams.

Hope Youth Center President Luke Ayers appreciates having Punchard working on behalf of youngsters at the Center.

“This girl is all about loving the kids and bringing people alongside her to change lives,” he says.

Hope Youth Center CEO Lee Ayers adds: “Madi is dedicated to her work and loves serving people, and they love her back.”

The staff and students at the Youth Center serve as an extended family for the teenager whose mother, Liz Punchard, recently died from heart problems. Punchard says she came to understand that God will not desert her.

“My mom showed me where to place my hope, and that is in the Lord,” she says, concluding that she gets satisfaction from helping improve the lives of other kids and speaking on behalf of those without a voice. NCM

Know A Kid Who Cares?

Help Newnan-Coweta Magazine give a shout-out to children and teens in Coweta County who demonstrate their care for others through volunteer work or charitable giving. Nominate a child age 5 to 18 who has put forth time and effort to help someone outside his or her own family. Send a 50-100 word nomination to magazine@newnan.com and be sure to include the child’s name, age, parents’ name(s) and contact information as well as your own phone number and/or email address. We look forward to hearing about the impact caring kids have in our communities.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 77

COWETA COOKS

A Taste of Georgia: The Mother of All Cookbooks Written and Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

W

hen Newnan Junior Service League (JSL) published “A Taste of Georgia” in October 1977, they had high hopes their selfpublished collection of recipes would bring in funds to support the group’s projects. There was no way they could have imagined the wild success their community cookbook would have not only in Coweta County but throughout the state and beyond.

Now in its 20th printing with more than 300,000 copies sold, the cookbook has won many awards since debuting almost 43 years ago. The most prestigious include induction into the Southern Living Hall of Fame and the Walter S. McIlhenny Tabasco Community Cookbook Award Hall of Fame.

“The widespread success of ‘A Taste of Georgia’ has brought many good things back to Newnan and Coweta County,” says Martha White, editor of the popular cookbook. “I think one reason for this success was the original goal and determination of the Junior Service League to publish a cookbook a step above the ordinary in both content and style.”

To reach that end, a critical decision was made at the developmental stage: recipes in the cookbook had to be trusted. To accomplish this goal, all recipes submitted would be tested – and tasted – at least three times before being included in the book.

“We gave members a recipe with no name attached and encouraged them to have family and friends taste and rate it on a scale of 1 to 4,” says Pam Lee who, along with Linda Arnall, served as associate editor of the cookbook.

“Only those rating 4 went in the book.”

White recalls that each of the League’s 50 members participated in some way in the development of the cookbook.

“We had a wonderful, enthusiastic group always willing to go the extra mile to make our cookbook special,” she says.

Along with hundreds of triple-tested recipes, extra features were included to add to the appeal and value of the cookbook, according to White. Cooking hints were added throughout the book and a “Kitchen Charts” section in the back features guides including kitchen pan sizes and a table of substitutions. A “Special Features” section includes tips on everything from table settings to cake decorating.

78 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

COWETA COOKS

Curried Chicken Salad

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 79

From left, Linda Arnall, Martha White and Pam Lee reminisce about developing the Newnan Junior Service League’s “A Taste of Georgia” cookbook 43 years ago. Memorabilia spread before them includes the first of many articles The Newnan Times-Herald penned about the book.

Martha White stands by the original handcarved wood artwork her husband, John, created for the cover of “A Taste of Georgia.”

80 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Pam Lee’s original 1977 copy of “A Taste of Georgia” is testimony to its popularity. Its tattered pages must be bound with a rubber band to keep loose leaves from falling out. The cookbook is in its 12th printing and has sold more than a quarter million copies.

COWETA COOKS “Most community-style cookbooks at that time did not product paid off. Sales of “A Taste of Georgia” and two include this type of extra information for the cook,” says complimentary cookbooks that followed have raised more White. than $1 million for the Junior Service League, according to “And we hired an artist to help with layout and graphics,” Lee, who continues to sell the book at Lee-King Pharmacy adds Arnall, noting that drawings of antique kitchen items in Newnan. are featured throughout the book.

“People take it as a memento of Georgia when they’re Along with what’s inside, the cookbook’s cover was visiting from other parts of the country, and we sell a lot well-planned also. Rather than use “Newnan” or “Coweta of them as wedding gifts for brides and to people whose County” in the title, the League chose “Georgia” in order to original copy of the cookbook has worn out,” says Lee. The expand their reach at a time when the U.S. president, Jimmy fact that the pharmacy still restocks “A Taste of Georgia” Carter, was from Georgia. four decades after its first “We felt it would increase publication proves the book’s the recognition, visibility staying power, she adds. and sales of the cookbook,” In fact, the cookbook is says White, noting that so respected that several the cover illustration is of a publishers through the years wood carving her husband, have approached the League John, created especially for about buying rights to the the cookbook. book.

From start to finish, it “The League always took the League just over a declined to do so because year to wrap up the project, when you do that, you according to White. surrender your control,” says “But completing the Lee. “We want it to remain cookbook was only the first true and authentic without step,” she recalls. “Selling it another publisher adding or was the second.” dropping anything.”

Junior Service League Katie Brady, wife of members worked together Newnan Mayor Keith to distribute the cookbooks From left, Martha White and Linda Arnall share advice Brady, was in her first year with each member charged with Pam Lee on arranging Curried Chicken Salad in a in the Junior Service League with selling 20-25 copies. pineapple bowl. when she was recruited The group reached out to to type recipes for the local and regional media, cookbook project.

In 1977, that meant no computers and no and their cookbook was featured on TV and radio and in autocorrect.

Brady recalls White as the project’s inspired newspapers and magazines. leader.

“There was terrific publicity after the book came out,” says “It was her idea to publish the cookbook and she was White, noting that she and her husband visited the White the brains behind its success,” says Katie. “Martha was so House in Washington D.C. to hand-deliver a copy to First instrumental in thinking everything through, and it is to Lady Rosalyn Carter, who had submitted a recipe for the her credit that it has been as successful as it has. It is my cookbook. favorite cookbook by far, and I’m proud to have been a very Arnall recalls that League members carried promotional small part of it.” flyers with them when they went on vacation to leave at Along with newspaper clippings, awards, and decades-old businesses where shoppers might be interested in purchasing copies of the cookbook, White cherishes the memories of the cookbook. the project that brought the book to fruition.

“We were trying to cover every angle,” says White. “We “At the time, I felt great joy in working on the cookbook, were proud of the cookbook’s quality, the art and the extra and today, great pride in its endurance and the memory of information it contained, and we wanted others to see and enjoy it.”

50 young women working together to accomplish a dream,” Their painstaking efforts to produce and market a quality she concludes.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 81

COWETA COOKS

Carrot Rings Sarah Robertson, Eddy Williams and Ruby White 2

pounds carrots, sliced into rounds (or canned carrots)

1

large onion, diced

1

green pepper, diced

1

(10¾-ounce) can tomato soup

1/2

cup salad oil

1

cup sugar

3/4

cup vinegar

1

teaspoon mustard

Curried Chicken Salad

1

teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Jeane Yancey

Salt and pepper, to taste

4

chicken breasts, split

1

medium onion, sliced

1

stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

2½

teaspoons salt

6

whole black peppers

1

bay leaf

1

cup mayonnaise

1/2

cup heavy cream

1/4

cup chutney

1

tablespoon curry

1

cup celery, chopped

1

small pineapple or 2 cups canned pineapple, drained

Boil chicken, onion, celery, salt, peppers and bay leaf in 4 cups water until tender. Cool chicken in broth for 1 hour.

Remove from bone and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or overnight.

Mix mayonnaise, cream, chutney, curry and celery, and add cubed chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Add pineapple. Arrange chicken salad in avocado halves and top with chutney, salted peanuts, coconut and egg, if desired.

82 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Cook carrots until tender. Make layers of carrots, onion and pepper in large bowl. Mix all other ingredients well with mixer. Pour over vegetables.

Refrigerate 2 days for flavor. Serve chilled.

Share Your Cookbook Has your church, school or civic group produced a cookbook as a fundraiser? If so, we’d love to share your recipes with our readers.

Send information about your group and cookbook to magazine@newnan.com, call 770.253.1576, or drop by our office at 16 Jefferson Street in Newnan. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your recipes.

COWETA COOKS

Lemon Parfait Pie Ann Jones 1/4

cup butter or margarine

1

cup sugar

2

tablespoons cornstarch

1/4

teaspoon salt

1

tablespoon grated lemon peel

1/4

cup lemon juice

3

egg yolks

2

pints vanilla ice cream

1

(9-inch) graham cracker crumb pie crust

3

egg whites

1/4

teaspoon cream of tartar

1/3 cup sugar

Melt butter in top of double boiler; stir in sugar, cornstarch and salt. Blend thoroughly. Add lemon peel and lemon juice. Add egg yolks; stir until smooth.

Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture is thick. Cool. Soften 1 pint ice cream to room temperature; smooth into pie shell; freeze until firm. Spread half the lemon sauce over frozen ice cream. Return to freezer until firm. Repeat with remaining ice cream and sauce. Freeze until firm.

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Beat in â…“ cup sugar gradually; continue beating until sugar is dissolved and meringue is stiff. Cover pie with this. Place pie on board and bake at 450 degrees for 3 minutes or until meringue is browned. Return to freezer. Before serving, let pie stand at room temperature several minutes. NCM

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 83

COWETA ARTS

Paper Art Conjures Summer Blooms Written by SUSAN MAYER DAVIS

L

ocal artist Rae Duncan seldom comes across a paper item she can’t envision in a work of art.

That creativity was on full display at the Coweta Public Library-Central Branch this past spring with her “Vivid Blooms” paper flower exhibition.

Duncan’s garden of paper blossoms evokes springtime with more than 450 hand-cut, handcrafted flowers in a rainbow of colors and variety of shapes and sizes.

A director of the Newnan-Coweta Art Association, Duncan primarily works with paper in all its formats – archival, recycled, specialty and cardboard, among others.

She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Arts from California State University in Los Angeles.

Professionally, she has more than 35 years of artistic experience in the corporate arena, starting as an illustrator and graphic designer and advancing to director of product development.

After retiring from the corporate world in 2009, Duncan reinvented herself into the floral artist she is today.

“I truly enjoy the experience of creating something beautiful from nothing more than a few pieces of paper and my imagination,” she says. “I constantly draw upon nature for inspiration.”

Duncan makes home décor wreaths from recycled books.

Each book-page wreath has its own unique beauty resulting from how the pages were cut, dyed, deconstructed, and then reconstructed.

The artist shares her love for paper art by presenting workshops to groups at libraries, schools, senior centers, churches and children’s birthday parties. NCM RAE DUNCAN

84 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Photos by Page Duncan

COWETA ARTS

Rae Duncan's paper flowers are works of art that carry springtime over into summer and beyond.

For more information, contact Duncan at rae2crafty@gmail.com.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 85

Coweta Prose & Poetry

Drowning in a River on a Lazy Afternoon Drowning in a river on a lazy afternoon tends to shift your perspective on life’s priorities pretty quickly especially when you begin to realize that even with all the struggle & angst you will still sink.

Of all the places i never thought i would die much less drown is a river.

Poetry from a Book Reviewer

What a shocker as I sank to see the river smiling winking at me especially odd I mulled that while smiling & winking she was burying me beneath her otherwise placid surface.

D

avid Fox has written poetry since he was a young boy. He and his wife, Frankie, moved to Senoia after living 13 years in Anchorage, Alaska, where he was marketing executive and book reviewer for the Anchorage Press. He routinely writes book reviews for Newnan-Coweta Magazine.

Photo by Beth Neely

Before I knew it I am not in the river i am of the water & it does not matter i cannot see her banks feel her bottom sense width or the current’s tug none of it matters within her grip.

David Fox

86 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Giggling out loud now (is that possible under so much water) at what’s the cosmic take on the difference between buying it in a great lake huge ocean or streaming river.

Stretching out far as i can i am overwhelmed by the sheer hilarity of drowning in a river on such a sweet day drifting silently in her undertow.

COWETA PROSE

Fish

Universe

My friend says he lives by a river flowing deep & clean, in a rustic mountain cabin away from the morning rush & noonday smog & as I wake this afternoon on the 14th floor gazing thru a window from my hospital bed to the freeway flowing beneath I wonder if his river is stocked with fish.

Star gazing a lot these days universe up there seems closer not quite the same from days past looks so vast & grand not quite certain if my eyes are lying or the sky deceiving whatever could be a gift ya know why argue I’ll just enjoy the show.

Without You Without you who am I flutters the iridescent Monarch to her kaleidoscope Without you who am i hums the honeybee to her colony Without you who am I vibrates the Queen Ant to her count Without you who am i I whisper to you sleeping by my side No more than a shadow our bedroom responds no more no less.

Gold Fish Except for weeds, scum & mosquitoes our front yard pond was devoid of any living creatures a situation screaming for a solution so off I ventured to the pet shop where for fifty cents apiece I purchased a dozen goldfish which I promptly deposited into the pond where they lived happily ever after till winter when they froze to death.

Share Your Prose Are you a closet poet?

Or a creator of short fiction?

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

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

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 87

COWETA GARDEN

Pat Farmer caught a colorful image of this eastern tiger swallowtail.

88 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

How to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden

Lyn Matthews’ photograph features a birdbath, which attracts a variety of winged creatures to her backyard.

Written by PAT FARMER, Coweta County MGEV Photos Courtesy of Coweta County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers

O

ne of the unintended consequences of the recent shelter in place order is that we have been spending more time at home and have more time to enjoy the beauty of the nature around us. But have you wondered why butterflies and birds are visiting your neighbor’s yard and not yours? Perhaps it’s time to evaluate your little piece of heaven and see what you can do to make it a wildlife habitat – no matter how big or small.

What does wildlife need and how can we provide it? Once you have

To encourage birds to visit your yard and garden:

• Plant with layers in mind—canopy, understory, shrubs, vines or ground cover.

• Avoid all pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

• Keep cats indoors.

• Keep feeders clean, and provide water and nesting boxes.

• Leave some brush piles, rock piles or walls, and standing dead trees.

• Plant trees and shrubs that attract birds, including American beautyberry, beech, black cherry, black gum, blueberry, dogwood, elderberry, hawthorn, holly, Japanese yew, magnolia, oak, pine, pyracantha, red cedar, red maple, river birch, sumac, sweetgum, viburnum, wax myrtle or yaupon holly.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 89

COWETA GARDEN answered that question, you will be well on your way to implementing your own wildlife sanctuary. The fun you and your family will have watching birds and butterflies, not to mention bees and frogs, cannot be overstated.

Every bird, butterfly, salamander and human needs the same basic things: food, water and shelter. When you provide these three things, your backyard, deck, porch or balcony will become a habitat for wildlife. So, where do we start?

First, make a plan. Evaluate your current outdoor assets. Include the LEFT A visiting squirrel seems to pose for this picture by Jenny Adcock.

kids in planning the habitat. Make a sketch of your yard and draw in the areas where you might add shelter, food or water. Do any of your current plantings provide shelter or food? Is there a water source nearby?

FOOD Providing a sustainable habitat for wildlife begins with the kind of food options you provide. Birds, butterflies, insects and critters need different things. Even though it may appear that birds only eat seeds, all birds eat insects. In fact, insects are the main protein birds feed to their young. So please stop using insecticides outside.

Let the birds do their job.

By planting flowers and other plants that attract insects, you

will also attract birds. Plants and wildflowers such as coneflowers, sunflowers, foxglove, snapdragons, black-eyed Susans, poppies and honeysuckle do a great job of attracting butterflies, bees and other insects.

A variety of plants is important to satisfy all needs. The most powerful tree to attract butterflies is the mighty oak. Butterflies lay their eggs on the bottom of the leaves, and when the caterpillars emerge, birds are there to feast.

WATER Wildlife always needs water – and not just for drinking, but for washing and cooling off as well. Not much is more fun than watching birds play in

TAKE BACK YOUR WEEKENDS.

JACK PEEK’S SALES 576 Main St. | Palmetto | 770-463-3156 www.jackpeekssales.com

JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 91

COWETA GARDEN

July-August Gardening Tips From Coweta MGEVs’ 2020 Calendar JULY • Observe your garden in the morning and at dusk. Keep an eye out for pests and diseases.

Least harmful, early intervention is best.

• Cut back herbs like basil, mint, and oregano by half to prevent them from producing seeds and to promote more fragrant leaves

• Take time to do a tick check after working in the yard.

• Continue to plant annual seeds such as marigolds, cosmos and sunflowers.

• Support tall flower stems prone to fall over after a rain.

AUGUST

Gordon Kilgore’s photo blends the yellows of a pearl crescent butterfly with a black-eyed Susan.

a birdbath. The bath can be any size, but it is important to either keep the water moving with a small fountain or change the water regularly. Place your water near nests and food sources to create small mini-habitats.

SHELTER AND NESTING Animals, like humans, need shelter. They need to feel safe. That is why it is important to provide a variety of plantings at different heights. All three levels of plants – tall trees like oaks and pines, understory trees like dogwoods and beech, and bushes at the ground level – are needed to provide safety and nesting areas.

Again, variety is important. Evergreen trees provide year-round shelter and encourage birds to set up permanent housekeeping. Birds tend to build nests in the branches of trees or bushes, but they also like birdhouses, which can be homemade or store-bought. Bluebirds, in particular, require specific sized houses. NCM

Make Us Your Next Day Trip Destination This Summer!

Carriage House

• Scout vegetables for pest problems.

Country Antiques, Gifts, Collectibles

• Prepare your garden for cool season vegetables and flowering annuals.

NEW! RECYCLE D VINTA !

JEWELRYGE AND LINENS.

• Collect seeds from desired plants to save for planting next year.

• Start seeding indoors for

7412 E. Hwy. 16 • Senoia (1 mile west of GA 85) Open: Friday & Saturday: 10 am-5pm; Sun: 1-5 pm

transplant of cool season vegetables.

• Water the garden.

770-599-6321

carriagehousesenoia.com

COWETA QUOTES

Excellence is being able to perform at a high level over and over again. You can hit a half-court shot once. That’s just the luck of the draw. If you consistently

do it...that’s excellence.

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.

Excellence is not an exception;

it is a prevailing attitude.

COLIN POWELL

JAY-Z

65th U.S. Secretary of State

American rapper

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.

Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.

MICHAEL J. FOX

actor, author and film producer

There is no real excellence in all of this world which can be separated from right living.

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.

DAVID STARR JORDAN

STEVE JOBS

educator and founding president of Stanford University

Celebrating 51 Years of Racing Leon Sells wins the first late-model Race held here in 1969.

Family-oriented Fun Since 1969

171 Brown Road • Senoia Senoia,, GA 30276 • 770 770--599 599--6161

co-founder of Apple Computer

auto lockouts

• flat bed towing • winchouts

770-253-8767

229-C Greenville St. Newnan, GA 30263 Credit Cards Accepted NEWNAN, GA

www.charlieswrecker.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 93

ALL ROADS LEAD TO COWETA

Blacktop

Photo by Rick Gross

Hooray for the re

Photo by Jod ie Astin

d, white and b lue of the Ame rican flag!

nature, Rick Gross Although he was astonished last spring to see this inand in photographs video on catch maintained his composure in order to ne.

Redwi Lake at ill roadk on dining eagle a bald

Photo by Sally Ray

k. t from her dock at daybrea says. this gorgeous sunrise sho ed she tur m,” cap the y Ra see ly to Sal wn nt do ide w d slo Newnan res y if we just open our eyes an “God gives us gifts every da

Submit your

photos

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

Photo by Sydney May Newnan resident Sydney May captured the vivid colors of Puerto Rico during a 2019 visit.

94 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Photos must be original, high-resolution (300 DPI) digital photos in .jpg format, at least 3”x 5” size. Please include your name so that we can give you credit for your photo in the magazine! Email your photos with the subject “Blacktop” to magazine@newnan.com

Photo by Jess Barron

The view from Jess Barron’s driv eway at Woodland Place Subdiv in Newnan resulted in this bre athtak sunset scene the ision photographer titled “Eveniing ng Burn.”

Photo by Jodi

an is n w e wn N o t n Dow

N E OP

S! S E N SI U B FOR

Astin

ateur ies,” says ampa bb ho te ri vo fa y e I ssed uses is one ofwmas awe-struck the first tim’ th days, “Looking at ho e frenzy esee.”

Astin. “I e us di ho Jo m ar er ‘f ph is ra ne hom photog Newnan. Everyo y future dream by this house inhad to get a picture of it, m and I just

A visit to

the Gulf Photo b of Me y Mirela for greaxtico provides am Jenkins ple oppo photogra rtunity phy.

Check out our website for a list of businesses! www.mainstreetnewnan.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 95

ALL ROADS LEAD TO COWETA

Blacktop Extra

N

ewnan resident Kimberly Minor photographed the images featured in this extra edition of Blacktop.

A University of Georgia graduate with a degree in English and concentration in pre-law, Minor is in the process of launching a photography business. The mother of a special needs daughter, she also is stepmom to three teenage boys.

In the spring, Minor was struck by the emptiness of Coweta streets and schoolyards during the first weeks of shutdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic. She caught the void – and hope – in her photographs.

“I was driving home one day and started seeing all these signs and thought about how long the schools and churches have been empty,” Minor said in May. “Kacey Musgraves’ song, ‘Rainbow,’ came on and I just broke down crying.”

Minor says she never imagined she would be raising her daughter during such a strange time.

“Something pulled me to turn my truck around and capture these small blurbs of hope,” says the photographer. “I assume they were put there for that reason – to help us feel God’s hope in what seems a hopeless time.”

HIPHOLIDAYS

1

July 2020 5

6

12

13

2

3

4

10

11

World UFO Day Pull out the telescopes and look for Unidentified Flying Objects.

7

8

9

On this day dedicated to the rejection of manipulation and lying, it’s time to come clean with the truth.

Video Games Day

14

15

Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day

16

17

23

24

World Emoji Day

Cheer Up the Lonely Day

18

Gummi Worm Day

19

Stick Your Tongue Out Day Ice Cream Day

26

20

21

22

25

Space Exploration Day

The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the first manned mission to the moon in 1969.

27

Cousins Day

Junk Food Day

28

29

30

31

National Cheesecake Day

Aunt & Uncle Day

1

August 2020 3

2

4

5

6

7

8

Work Like A Dog Day National Sisters Day

National Watermelon Day

10

9

17

Tell A Joke Day

A horse walks into a bar...

23

11

18

14

15

19 World Photo 20

21

22

Day

Celebrate by sending your best photos to NCM for Blacktop, see page --.

25

Kiss and Make Up Day

30

13

Thrift Shop Day

24

This holiday celebrates the birthday of "Frankenstein" author Mary Shelley who was born in 1797.

12

Son and Daughter Day

Book Lovers Day

16

Lighthouse Day International Beer Day

Put in extra hours at work and, who knows, you may be able to get in your boss’s good book.

26 Dog Appreciation Day

Be An Angel Day

27

28

29

Bow Tie Day

31

Frankenstein Day JULY/AUGUST 2020 | 97

THE WRAP-UP/TOBY NIX

Love in the Shape of a Bobblehead Gunslinger

M

y family got to head to the lake not long ago for a mini-vacation. It was our first time going down to Lake Sinclair, near Milledgeville. It’s a beautiful lake and peaceful, just what we needed.

While we were down there, my son ran up to the Walmart one evening to get some card games and whatnot. When he came back to our condo, he had a Doc Holliday figure in the bag. He said he had gotten it for me.

It looks like a bobblehead doll that doesn’t bobble. That’s the best way I can describe it. I’m sure it has a name, but I don’t know.

It’s the Doc Holliday from the movie “Tombstone.” A few years ago, we were having a movie weekend at the house. I told my son he had to watch “Tombstone” with me, as it is the greatest movie ever (even better if you fast forward through all the love stories).

He was a bit cynical at the beginning, the movie being a few decades old and him being a 16-year-old. But he humored me, and we rented it. A few hours later, he agreed it was the greatest movie ever. He also agreed that it would probably be better if you fast forward through the love story scenes.

My son bringing me that Doc Holliday figure meant more to me than he could’ve ever imagined. It probably only cost him $10 but, like the old credit card commercial, to me it was priceless.

That $10 figurine showed me that we’ve raised a thoughtful kid. He was out and saw something someone else would like, and he bought it to give.

The fact that it’s perfect for my sense of taste means he knows me well. I love kitschy things like that. If/when I ever have a man cave, it’s going to be the coolest man cave ever because of the eclectic decor I’ve collected over the years.

This Doc Holliday figurine will always have a prominent place on a prominent shelf. Right now, it’s sitting on the nightstand beside my bed.

It reminds me of my son’s thoughtfulness. It reminds me of the man his mother and I raised. It reminds me of the weekend we bonded over an old movie. It reminds me of him seeing something I loved and loving it himself, even if it’s just a silly old western with a bunch of unnecessary love scenes.

It made me think of my late parents’ house and how cluttered everything is up there. We have quite the task ahead of us, cleaning out their house to get it ready to sell. They had four sons, seven grandchildren and countless other people who saw them as either bonus parents or grandparents. All of these people came with their own version of a Doc Holliday bobblehead.

How can you get rid of something someone gave you?

Something thoughtful?

They couldn’t do it. And neither can I. I really hope I never land in a retirement home. But if I do, I’m pretty sure there will be a small Doc Holliday figurine somewhere in that room – serving to remind me of a random trip to a random lake way back in 2020. And how much I love my family.

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

98 | WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

SmartChoice Solar SmartChoice Solar WE ARE MAKING THE CHOICE SIMPLE. CHOOSE GREEN TODAY!

WE ARE MAKING THE CHOICE SIMPLE. CHOOSE GREEN TODAY! YOUR YOURPANEL PANEL

1 EMISSION FREE Smart Choice Solar offers CFEMC members a zero emission, affordable, renewable energy solution for their home and business. By grouping solar Smart Choice Solarcosts offers members zero emission, panels together, canCFEMC be shared, poweraoutput maximizedaffordable, and the renewable energy solution for their home and business.

By grouping hassle of rooftop installations can be avoided. Smart Choice Solar solar panels together, costs shared, power output ormaximized and the generates energy in acan waybe that creates no pollution carbon emissions. hassle of rooftop installations can be avoided.

Smart Choice Solar To purchase your clean renewable energy source or receive more generates energy in athe way that creates no pollution or carbon emissions. information, fill out form below.

To purchase your clean renewable energy source or receive more information, fill out the form below.

Contact us today at 770-502-0226 to sign up SmartChoice Solar!

Contact usfor today at 770-502-0226

to sign up for oSmartChoice Solar! ffered by offered by

clean energy from zero carbon 1 Enjoy EMISSION FREE solar panels.

Enjoy clean energy from zero carbon solar panels.

2 AFFORDABLE

can purchase a portion of 2 Members theAFFORDABLE energy output from our local solar

can purchase portion farmMembers for a monthly charge of a$7.00 per of thepanel. energy output our local solar solar Each panelfrom will generate farm forofa 55 monthly charge $7.00 per an average kiloWatt hoursofper month. solar panel. Each panel will generate

3 SIMPLE

an average of 55 kiloWatt hours per month.

3 SIMPLE

Your monthly bill will show the portion of energy produced by your solar panels the amount youshow paidthe for itportion Yourand monthly bill will at the solar rate.

4 EASY

of energy produced by your solar panels and the amount you paid for it at the solar rate.

4 EASY

Just call 770-502-0226 and say “Sign me up!.”

Just call 770-502-0226 and say “Sign me up!.”

The Hunt Team The Hunt Team

A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ® A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ®

404-933-4347 Chris.Hunt@bhhsgeorgia.com 404-933-4347 TheHuntTeam.net Chris.Hunt@bhhsgeorgia.com TheHuntTeam.net

The Hunt Team

ASSOCIATE BROKER | REALTOR®

404-933-4347 Clarissa Uhl Chris.Hunt@bhhsgeorgia.com A S S O CClarissa I AT E B R O K E R Uhl | R E A LT O R ® A S S O C ITheHuntTeam.net AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ® 732-261-9021 Clarissa.Uhl@bhhsgeorgia.com 732-261-9021 ClarissaUhl.bhhsgeorgia.com Clarissa.Uhl@bhhsgeorgia.com ClarissaUhl.bhhsgeorgia.com

Jacqueline Hill Jacqueline Hill

A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ® A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ®

770-369-0665 Jacque.Hill@bhhsgeorgia.com 770-369-0665 JacqueHill.bhhsgeorgia.com Jacque.Hill@bhhsgeorgia.com JacqueHill.bhhsgeorgia.com

Jacqueline Hill

Speaks Speaks French French Licensed in AL and GA Licensed Licensed in AL in AL andand GA GA andand Creole Creole Million Dollar Club Million Million Dollar Dollar Club Club

Your Local Real Estate Experts Honor Honor Society Society Leading Edge, Retired Marine Leading Leading Edge, Edge, Retired Retired Marine Marine Million Million Dollar Dollar Club Club Mllion Dollar Club Mllion Mllion Dollar Dollar Club Club

SRS, SRS, MRP, MRP, and Chairman’s and ePRO ePRO Circle Gold - Top Chairman’s Chairman’s Producer Circle Circle Gold Gold - Top - Top Producer Producer Active Active Active Phoenix Club Phoenix - Million - Million Dollar Dollar Club Club Speaks Speaks Tagalog Tagalog Phoenix - Million Dollar

Your Your Local Local Real Real Estate Estate Experts Experts

Stacy Brooks Stacy Brooks

A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ® A S S O C I AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ®

678-790-3320 Stacy.Brooks@bhhsgeorgia.com 678-790-3320 StacyBrooks.bhhsgeorgia.com Stacy.Brooks@bhhsgeorgia.com StacyBrooks.bhhsgeorgia.com

Stacy Brooks

ASSOCIATE BROKER | REALTOR®

ASSOCIATE BROKER | REALTOR®

770-369-0665 Tina Furgala Jacque.Hill@bhhsgeorgia.com ASSOC I AT E B RFurgala O K E R | R E A LT O R ® Tina JacqueHill.bhhsgeorgia.com AS S O C I AT E B R O K E R | R E A LT O R ® 678-633-2324

678-790-3320 Idelette Remy Stacy.Brooks@bhhsgeorgia.com R E A LT ORemy R® Idelette StacyBrooks.bhhsgeorgia.com R E A LT O R ® 404-226-4808

Tina.Furgala@bhhsgeorgia.com 678-633-2324 TinaFurgala.bhhsgeorgia.com Tina.Furgala@bhhsgeorgia.com TinaFurgala.bhhsgeorgia.com

Idelette.Remy@bhhsgeorgia.com 404-226-4808 IdeletteRemy.bhhsgeorgia.com Idelette.Remy@bhhsgeorgia.com IdeletteRemy.bhhsgeorgia.com

nor Society n Dollar Club

FOREVER FORWARD FOREVER FORWARD eaks French nd Creole

RP, and ePRO aks Tagalog

N E W N A N /C OW E TA O F F I C E | 7 7 0 - 2 5 4 - 8 3 3 3

| 07,7N0e-w 2n 5 a4n-,8G 3A 3 33 0 2 6 5 1 2 0 1 LN oE wW e r NFA a yNe/C t t eOW v i l l eE TA R o aO d FSFuIi C t eE 1 0 1 2 0 1 L o w e r FLaiynedtat eHvui lfl fe |RSoV a P, d SMuai tnea g1 0 N reowknear n , G A 3 0 2 6 5 i n0g, B L i n d a H u f f | S V P, M a n a g i n g B r o k e r

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES GEORGIA PROPERTIES | COWETA.BHHSGEORGIA.COM ©2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServicesGEORGIA of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway’ BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES PROPERTIES | and COWETA.BHHSGEORGIA.COM HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. ©2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway’ HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.