NCM Jan/Feb 2024

Inside:

Wedding OUR ANNUAL

SECTION

Central Educational Center

A MODEL FOR MANY

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024 COMPLIMENTARY COPY

y l e u q i Un Coweta

A Few Things That Define Us

Serious Injuries • Local Attorneys • Unmatched Results

Coweta County’s Premier Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Law Firm For over 28 years, the attorneys at Kam, Ebersbach & Lewis, PC have represented Coweta County citizens who have suffered serious injuries due to car accidents, trucking accidents, dangerous products, dangerous premises, and work-related incidents.

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

Our attorneys handle cases in courts throughout Georgia.

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Our firm has obtained more multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in Coweta County than any other law firm.

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BRINGING MEDICAL

CARE

BACK

THE

TO

SQUARE Newnan is well-known for its role as a hospital town for injured Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War. Many of the large antebellum homes downtown were pressed into service.

In 1925 Newnan Hospital on Jackson Street was created. Originally, it contained two wards — one with four beds for men and one with four beds for women. Over time, many additions were constructed to meet increasing demand. By the mid-1940’s, the hospital had several dozen beds and a children’s ward.

We are bringing high quality medical care back to historical Downtown Newnan. Our building was built in 1900 and has previously been Brothers, C.S. Toggery, as well as other numerous businesses. We have renovated the space down to the studs, it looks beautiful and are eager for the community to see it.

We treat vein disease which includes signs and symptoms such as varicose veins, spider veins, swelling, heavy/ tired legs, restless legs, itching/ burning/ cramping, skin discoloration, ulcers, etc. All procedures and ultrasounds are done in our office and 90% of treatments are covered by insurance.

8 East Court Square Newnan, GA 30263

678-833-1444

A Publication of The Newnan Times-Herald Publishers

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Elizabeth C. Neely

Editor Creative Directors

Sandy Hiser, Sonya Studt

Graphic Designer

Erin Scott

Contributing Writers

Blue Cole

Susan Mayer Davis

Jenny Enderlin

Melissa Jackson

Frances Kidd

Rebecca Leftwich

Jennifer London

Gail McGlothin

Neil Monroe

Photography

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Advertising Manager Multimedia Sales Specialist

Valentine’s Treasures

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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.

770-253-2720 14 North Court Square Newnan, GA

On the web: newnancowetamagazine.com

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

Exceptional Veterinary Care A Team Who Roots for You! 770-400-0146 815 Weldon Road Palmetto, Georgia 30268 sweetwatervet.com Follow us on social media:

Kilo

SweetWater Veterinary Hospital veterinarians are the contracted medical providers for the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). We regularly see the K9 officers for their wellness exams, vaccines, lab work, etc. and the occasional sick visit. On Friday, August 25th though, we received an emergency call that would shock the county. K9 Officer Kilo had been shot on duty while trying to apprehend a suspect. CCSO sped down Highway 29 while his handler applied pressure to the bullet wounds. The officers rushed into the building carrying Kilo and our team immediately began to triage the K9 officer. Since Kilo was in tremendous pain, an IV catheter was placed so pain medication, a mild sedative, and fluids could be given. Once Kilo was calmer, the wounds were better assessed, and two bullet holes could be seen over his right forelimb’s shoulder area. We could not tell if these were two separate shots or an entry and exit wound. Chest x-rays were then taken, and no bullets could be seen! This was great news and meant the bullet went through and through the right forelimb muscle and no bone or internal organs were affected.

Kilo then had surgery to clean and close the wounds.

K9 Officer Kilo handled everything very well and by the end of the day, he was able to go home with his handler for rest and recovery. He was sent home with antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and pain medications as well as instructions for ice packing the bruised area.

Strict rest was also going to be very important to promote healing. Kilo received laser therapy after surgery as well as several times a week for a couple of weeks to help speed up healing and reduce inflammation. Within 6 weeks, Kilo was back to walking normally, had built up his muscle mass in that shoulder area, and was ready to get back to work! On October 20th, CCSO and Sheriff Lynn Wood presented Dr. Powell & the SweetWater team with a plaque to show their appreciation for the care provided to K-9 Kilo.

CONTENTS JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

96

44

our 26

features

| Ode to Coweta’s Old Country Stores

Not that long ago, every community in Coweta had one – a country store stocked with everything its nearby neighbors needed to get by. We start this series to feature the few that remain. By Blue Cole

32

| Coweta’s Murals and their Makers

Multiple towns throughout Georgia are adding outdoor murals to their landscapes.

We bet few have as many as Coweta County.

By Frances Kidd

44

| Uniquely Coweta In Coweta you'll find a beach dedicated to Barbie, a haunted castle, and thriving downtowns with unique attractions and appeal. They’re all in Coweta County!

By Neil Monroe

8 |

76

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56

| Wedding Section

56

Welcome to the wedding of Austin and Olivia Smith, both raised, educated and married in Newnan where local vendors tended to all the fine details of their big celebration.

By Jackie Kennedy

76

| Women-Owned Businesses

We open the doors to a few local businesses owned and operated by entrepreneurial women. By Jennifer London

96

| Central Educational Center

What was chartered in Coweta in 1999 to better prepare students for college and careers has become a model for such schools throughout Georgia and beyond.

By Rebecca Leftwich

THE UNIQUELY COWETA ISSUE

OUR ANKLE & FOOT EXPERTS KEEPING YOU ON YOUR FEET

52 87

in this issue

Our ankle and foot surgeon has completed additional training specifically in the foot and ankle to assess, diagnose, and treat your foot injury or condition individually to your needs.

Painful bunions? There's a new, patented treatment option!

There’s a new, patented treatment for bunion correction – Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction. At Georgia Bone and Joint, Dr. David Heinsch is offering this exciting, new treatment option.

10 | From the Editor 12 | Roll Call 13 | Pet Photo Contest 14 | Getting Frank with Faith 16 | Book Review 18 | Coweta Home 70 | Nonprofit Spotlight 83 | Coweta Health 87 | Coweta Cooks 83 | Coweta Sports 102 | Coweta Prose & Poetry 104 | Blacktop 106 | The Wrap-Up

NEWNAN 1755 Highway 34 E Ste. 2200 Newnan, GA 30265

FAYETTEVILLE 125 Grand Oak Drive Fayetteville, GA 30214

STOCKBRIDGE 145 Medical Boulevard Stockbridge, GA 30281

COVINGTON 6232 Turner Lake Road NW Covington, GA 30014

Appointments call (770) 502-2175 or book online at www.GeorgiaBoneandJoint.org ➤ Cover Photo by Sandy Hiser, see

Central Educational Center by Rebecca Leftwich, page 96.

Follow us on:

ALL UNDER ONE ROOF Orthopedic Specialist • MRI • Spine Center • Orthobiologics JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 9 Physical & Occupational Therapy • Surgery Center

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

What’s cool about Coweta!

H

ardly a week goes by when we at Newnan-Coweta Magazine and The Newnan TimesHerald don’t hear kudos about Coweta County, all it has to offer and the great people who live here.

Whether it’s folks raving about the professional quality of Newnan Theatre Company’s recent production of “Little Shop of Horrors” or someone expressing gratitude for the ample shopping destinations in our county’s downtowns, people are eager to share their praise for the benefits of being in Coweta.

It got us thinking about not only all the cool things here – but also about the truly unique attributes of Coweta County. Where can you find a beach dedicated to Barbie, more than a dozen murals painted by as many artists, and the state’s premier college and career educational center?

They’re all in Coweta County!

In “Uniquely Coweta,” see page 44, we visit the obvious – Barbie Beach, Alan Jackson and Lewis Grizzard – while spotlighting a few more things unique to Coweta, including Georgia’s oldest Carnegie Library, a state-of-the-art pickleball complex, and a handsome-but-supposedly-haunted castle.

Starting on page 96, we explore the Central Educational Center, which started in Newnan almost 25 years ago to better prepare students for college and careers – and has turned into a model for similar schools across the state and nation.

While many towns in Georgia have jumped on the mural bandwagon in recent years by hiring artists to adorn a wall or two, Coweta is chock full of outdoor murals – and was among the first to prominently feature the larger-than-life artistic enhancements. See the story on page 32.

We give a shoutout to women whose local businesses break boundaries, on page 76, and we revisit old country stores of a bygone era, see page 26.

Also, we feature our annual Wedding Section by highlighting the Newnan nuptials of Austin and Olivia Smith whose wedding depended on local vendors to work matrimonial magic on their Big Day, see page 56.

We’re quite certain that, after reading about the Coweta-centric things we’ve shared, you’ll think of your own. Shoot us an email or give us a call, and we’ll try to mention them in an upcoming issue.

In the meantime, send cute pictures of your cat, dog or other beloved animal to compete in our Pet Photo Contest, see page 13 for details. We’ll feature the best photos in our MarchApril issue, and winning photographers can claim not only bragging rights but prize bags packed with pet products from our contest sponsors.

Hope your winter is warm and cozy – even while considering cool things about Coweta,

Jackie Kennedy, Editor magazine@newnan.com

10 |

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Newnan Utilities Foundation

Customers Supporting Local Charities

$100 THOUSAND

67,000

RESIDENTS

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF NEWNAN UTILITIES CUSTOMERS, WE HAVE DONATED OVER $100,000 TO NONPROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY!

IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN HELPED BY NONPROFITS THAT HAVE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING.

SEPT

2018

100% OF FUNDS

34

5

YEARS

THE CARING CUSTOMERS PROGRAM WAS CREATED AS PART OF THE NEWNAN UTILITIES FOUNDATION, A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION, IN SEPTEMBER 2018.

NONPROFITS WE HAVE SUPPORTED 34 NONPROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HELP THEIR CLIENTS WITH EVERYTHING FROM BASIC NEEDS TO LITERACY, ART, DISABILITIES, VETERANS, AND SO MUCH MORE!

COME FROM NEWNAN UTILITIES CUSTOMERS AND 100% OF THOSE DONATIONS STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY!

Support Caring Customers Now! NewnanUtilitiesGA

NewnanUtilities

NewnanUtilities

Newnan Utilities Foundation | 70 Sewell Road | Newnan, GA 30263 | 770-683-5516

NewnanUtilities

Roll Call

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

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

Neil Monroe is a retired corporate communicator who worked with Southern Company, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola Enterprises. He and his wife, Rayleen, live in Sharpsburg where they enjoy tennis, golf and grandchildren.

Jenny Enderlin graduated cum laude from Florida State University with an English degree.

She enjoys volunteering with the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Coweta County Democrat Party, One Roof and Backstreet Community Arts.

Rebecca Leftwich, a staff writer for The Newnan Times-Herald, grew up with a cemetery in her backyard and a family ghost called Mr. Barron.

She is afraid of the dark.

Melissa Jackson teaches writing and literature at the University of West Georgia in Newnan. Her poetry collections include “Cameo,” “Sweet Aegis” and “Paper Birds.”

Have a story idea?

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

12 |

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

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

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

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

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

Sara Moore’s warm and welcoming nature influences her photography by putting her subjects at ease. She enjoys living the quiet country life while residing in Newnan with her husband, horses, dogs, chickens and ducks.

Make your pet a local celebrity:

Enter our Pet Photo Contest DEADLINE EXTENDED!

D

oes your mutt mug for the camera? Is your cat a diva? Maybe you have a pet squirrel that’s nuts for you.

Pet owners are invited to share pictures of their devoted pals in Newnan-Coweta Magazine’s Pet Photo Contest. Categories include: • Most Boopable Nose • Best Ears • Goofiest Pet • Most Unique Pet • Best Dressed Pet To enter, simply email your high-resolution, original pet photograph to magazine@newnan.com. Be sure to state which category you’re entering, your name and contact information, and your pet’s name, breed and any other pertinent details.

We’ve extended our deadline for entry and will accept photos through January 15, 2024.

Send us your best pet mugs for a chance to win our 2024 Pet Photo Contest. Winners will be announced in our March-April 2024 issue, and each first place winner will receive a goodie bag stuffed with pet paraphernalia and prizes from our local business sponsors.

So, dress Fifi in her favorite tutu, brush your Bassett’s ears, or put your parrot on a pedestal – and get to snapping. Then send us your best shot! NCM

t Goofiest Pe

Most Boo pable No se

Our Readers Write: Readers still loving our Alan Jackson issue

Coweta Prose & Poetry

Your September-October 2023 edition is Fabulous! The Alan Jackson Birthday tribute: Excellent! Kudos to him turning 65!

Thanks so much for putting “The Spark” in the November-December edition! I’m having people ask for signed copies… Wow! Many thanks.

– Verna Funk

Let Us Hear From You...

– Karl McMichael

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

Carriage House

Show someLove!

Country Antiques, Gifts, Collectibles

NEW! RECYCLED! VINTAGE JEWELRY AND LINENS

770-599-6321

carriagehousesenoia.com

Fri. & Sat.: 10 am-5pm; Sun.: 1-5 pm 7412 E. Hwy 16 • Senoia

(1 mile west of GA 85)

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 13

GETTING FRANK WITH FAITH/FAITH FARRELL

Art, Arms and Alleyways

T

his Minnesotan gal just had her first “y’all” slip out as easy as a fried pie from the fryer. Coweta crept on in and cooked my core to cornbread.

Upon first moving here, I was an Alice in a humid version of Wonderland.

Pecan, fig and even a few palm trees made me wonder if I was on vacation. Able to harvest tomatoes in late October and pluck lettuce in March? Surely no Minnesotan could conceive this.

What snuck up on me though – the deal that hunkered my heart – was this community.

Newnan is constantly celebrating; there is no shortage of festivals, events, markets or parades. Any given weekend, you can walk the square under the twinkle lit trees and see folks strolling around. Actually strolling with families mulling about, couples holding hands as they sip adult beverages and visit local shops where owners know their names. It’s enough to convince newcomers they might be extras in a Hallmark Channel movie shoot (a testament to why so many movies are filmed here).

Until I moved here, I thought this type of community was the stuff only read about in books.

There is so much that makes Coweta unique, the aforementioned Newnan Square for one. Did you realize that the Courthouse Square has two secret alleyways that you can hang out in? Wadsworth Alley is a hidden surprise where paintings of chickens dot the walls. There are chairs and tables that enable you to enjoy a snack and relax from the hustle. There’s even a giant Connect Four game.

The Carnegie Library is currently transforming their alley. The lights have been strung and there is a call for artists to submit their art which will result in what I’m sure will be yet another magical space to enhance our square.

Cowetans love their art. Twice a year, there are Art Walks on the square in Newnan featuring artists of all mediums. One can purchase art at many of the local shops and galleries. To be frank, I could solely list every venue for art, music, dance and theater in our county and it would fulfill my word count for this column. Along with Wadsworth Auditorium and the Nixon Centre, there’s the Newnan Theatre Company, which puts on first class shows while offering many classes for children and adults.

Nestled near the square, Backstreet Arts welcomes adults to participate in free art sessions in oil painting, jewelry making, leather, writing, textile arts and even ukulele lessons. It's a true gem and unique space. I guarantee no place similar exists outside our county.

Craving the unusual? Check out Barbie Beach where scantily clad Barbies hang out in a giant diorama that changes as the seasons do.

Also on the unusual list? Oak Hill Cemetery is home to a single arm buried and cherished. Evidently, a gentleman bemoaning the loss of Minnesota made yet his arm from a sawmill accident chose to honor it with a burial. The Newnan Strong, Faith marker has no name, but it’s obvious what rests beneath. Cemented Farrell is involved in stone, a stoic arm waves its goodbye for all to honor. with Newnan Theatre This is a county oozing with history and charm, a hallowed haven Company and that nudges you silent as you stroll along, oblivious to the fact that Backstreet Arts. Her while movie cameras aren’t rolling, it is you who has been cast in the artwork can be viewed at faithfarrellart.com. leading role – for you are one of the stars in why Coweta shines. NCM

14 |

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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 Jodi Falaney today to schedule your personal tour.

770-251-6639

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Senior Communities Centered Around Family

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BOOK REVIEW

‘The Paris Daughter’ & ‘The Girl from the Red Rose Motel’ Reviewed by GLENDA HARRIS

K

ristin Harmel’s latest historical fiction novel stands out as her most compelling yet and is not to be missed.

This latest novel, “The Paris Daughter,” by the bestselling author is her sixth in the historical fiction genre and 15th book in all.

From the first page to the last, readers will be completely absorbed in this emotional story. Set in Paris and New York before the outbreak of World War II, the story revolves around two young pregnant women, Elise and Juliette, who meet in a park and become the best of friends. Interestingly, both soon deliver a daughter in the same month, and the little girls ultimately become best friends as well.

As the horror and chaos of the War approaches and eventually envelops Paris, the Nazis are rounding up not only Jews but people like Elise’s husband, a wellknown artist and communist sympathizer. Elise learns she is in great danger and must leave Paris immediately. The ensuing years of the War and beyond are like nothing anyone could imagine, and the decisions made by Elise and Juliette reverberate throughout their lives.

This emotional story of motherhood, friendship and memories set against the background of a world war will resonate, so keep some tissues close at hand when reading this hopeful, heartwarming and completely absorbing novel.

“The Paris Daughter” was published by Gallery Books in June 2023; 363 pages. ★★★★★

T

he second novel by Susan Beckham Zurenda, “The Girl from the Red Rose Motel” comes out three years after Zurenda’s touching debut, “Bells for Eli,” published in 2020.

Readers will love the central characters of the new book, which include high school students Hazel “Zell” Smalls and Sterling Lovell as well as their cool and compassionate English teacher, Ms. Wilmore.

When Zell and Sterling meet in high school, Sterling thinks Zell is the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. Zell is an ROTC student who makes good grades and mostly keeps to herself. She and Sterling live in opposite worlds as his wealthy family is able to afford the best of everything. Zell, on the other hand, lives in a small motel room with her mom, dad and little sister and desperately tries to keep her home life hidden from Sterling.

The teenage boy learns of his friend’s living situation when he accompanies his father (who owns the motel) on a maintenance call. He is surprised and shocked but feels even more love and compassion for Zell.

Ms. Wilmore gradually becomes invested in these two teens, whose relationship encounters obstacles and disapproval, mostly from Sterling’s parents and Courtney, Sterling’s old girlfriend, who also makes things difficult.

The most satisfying element of this book is Zell’s journey as she matures from an insecure teenager to a remarkable young woman.

Author Susan Beckham Zurenda was a high school and college-level English teacher for many years, imbuing this story with from-the-heart authenticity. Readers will be immersed from start to finish.

“The Girl from the Red Rose Motel” was published by Mercer University Press in September 2023; 288 pages. ★★★★★ 16 |

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FOR RESERVATIONS

(678) 723-7255

WE CATER

Photo by Kimberwick Visuals

COWETA HOME

Newnan: The City That’s Home ABOVE Jenny and Chuck Enderlin, with their daughters Bethany, left, and Lainey, prepare to welcome members of the Fisher and Farmer families visiting the 1907 house family members called home.

18 |

N

Written by JENNY ENDERLIN

ewnan is known as “The City of Homes” because its houses were not burned in the Civil War like those in many Georgia towns.

But I like to think of Newnan as “The City That’s Home.”

Whether you’re an original Newnanite or a transplant like me, living here feels like walking inside a Norman Rockwell painting.

My husband Chuck and I discovered Newnan 10 years ago when we were looking to settle permanently after his Marine Corps service. We were intrigued by Newnan’s perfect blend of modern conveniences and small-town atmosphere.

The first day of our exploration downtown, I grabbed my husband’s arm and said, “You get a job at Delta, we’ll buy one of these old houses, and we’ll live here forever!”

WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

COWETA HOME

Photos courtesy of Photo

by Kimberwick Visuals.

They came from Florida, Washington, New York, various cities in Georgia and the neighborhood just around the corner.

The Farmer-Fisher family came together in their ancestral home last year to share stories and strengthen family ties.

He looked at me in shock. I never make sudden decisions, but Newnan has the quaint charm of a Hallmark movie. How could we say no to its allure?

We looked at a dozen historic houses, admiring the exceptional craftsmanship of each. When we walked through the doors of a certain two-story Edwardian house on Greenville Street, however, we knew we’d found our forever home.

The sunlight flitting through the wavy glass windows made the dark wood gleam. Miraculously left unpainted

after all these years, the house sported gorgeous millwork on the built-in cabinetry, sliding doors and unusual three-landing staircase jutting into the foyer.

The spacious rooms flowed into one another beautifully, ideal for our habit of frequent entertaining.

The pockmarked plaster walls and aged wood floors gave the home a rich patina which was fine by us. We didn’t want a pristine showhouse. We wanted a family home that exudes warmth.

We selected antiques at estate sales and marked our JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 19

Photo by Kimberwick Visuals

COWETA HOME

RIGHT Descendants of the Farmer-Fisher family gathered at the Newnan home of Chuck and Jenny Enderlin last fall.

Surrounding Tom Farmer, seated, are, from left, Frank Farmer, Mary Anne Farmer, Renee Fisher, Jenny Cummins, Louise Parham, Vere Fisher, Jay Fisher and Hugh Farmer III. 20 |

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Photo by Kimberwick Visuals.

ABOVE At center, Tom Farmer shares stories with members of the Farmer and Fisher families during a recent reunion at his ancestral home in Newnan.

COWETA HOME

BELOW Tom Farmer’s mother Zoe shares a moment with family members on her wedding day in the parlor of their Greenville Street home.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Cummins.

growing children’s heights on the kitchen door frame. I learned to sew custom curtains for the otherwise impossibleto-accommodate ceiling heights, and my husband became proficient at woodworking. The more we made the house our own, though, the more we found ourselves wanting to unravel its origins.

According to McRitchie-Hollis Museum Director Larisa Scott, most of Newnan’s older homes feature bargeboard, doorknobs, window sashes and other hardware created by the local R.D. Cole Manufacturing Company, which closed in 1968.

The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society keeps records of many historic addresses, and we learned our house was built in 1907 by the Fisher-Farmer family who lived in the home into the 1950s.

Still, what was life like here during different eras, and whose hands wore the stair rail smooth over the past century?

Our only clues were a black and white photograph and a book entitled “Dear Mama” left to us by the previous owner. The former depicted the original couple who built the home, Tom and Corille Fisher, along with their two oldest children. The latter was a compilation of letters from the couple’s son George to his mother during World War II; he obviously longed for home. After he died, his daughter Jenny Cummins discovered the letters and assembled the book.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Cummins.

RIGHT In this historic photo, Tom and Corille Fisher are shown with their daughters Zoe, (sitting on the floor, the mother of Tom Farmer) and Louise. The couple went on to have four more children, though two died in early childhood.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 21

COWETA HOME

“It meant so much not only to be with the family that I love and cherish, but also to be in the very house where I spent many happy days during my childhood.”

– Louise Parham

A young Louise Parham enjoys a quiet Christmas moment in the sitting room at the family’s Greenville Street home in Newnan.

22 |

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Upon reading it, I felt compelled to write to her in Seattle.

Cummins recently explained: “Reading all those letters gave me a whole new sense of love for the house – and also for Newnan. Transcribing them recreated Newnan of the 1940s through his eyes, and that got me interested in going back to the house. I could see how much that house meant to my father’s family.”

My husband and I connected with two of Cummins’s relatives who grew up in the home, Hugh Farmer and his uncle Tom Farmer, the 90-year-old grandson of the original owners.

After my husband and I completed tornado repairs and a five-month rewire of the house to purge it of its fire hazardous firstgeneration knob-and-tube, we invited them and a few dozen of their closest relatives for a homecoming.

They came from Florida, Washington, New York, various cities in Georgia and the neighborhood just around the corner.

It was surreal meeting the descendants of those who once lived here, especially since a number of them carry their ancestors’ names.

For several, it was the first time seeing the family home.

“What I appreciated was just the support we had from the younger generation,” says Hugh.

“My goodness! To see them drive from all over to come be a part of it. Some of the cousins had only met once or twice in their lives. It meant a lot to me to see them come and experience that.”

“It meant so much not only to be with the family that I love and cherish, but also to be in the very house where I spent many happy days during my childhood,” says Louise Parham.

It was a day of mutual Southern hospitality.

We opened our doors and, in turn, the Fisher-Farmer family generously shared their recollections and presented us with two priceless gifts: Jenny Cummins put together a new book with pictures revealing what the family and house looked like over the years, and Tom graciously gifted us a former kerosene lamp, a wedding gift to his grandparents.

Tom said to put it anywhere, but somehow it just belongs in the same window where it resided 100 years ago. We agreed wholeheartedly that the lamp is to stay with the house in perpetuity.

When you live in an older home, the phrase

“if walls could talk,” often comes to mind, but on that Sunday afternoon in September, they did.

Hugh, now in his 70s, noted the three-door wardrobe he hid in as a child and reminisced about the family’s evenings on the front porch.

Jenny and her cousin Louise recollected playing with a spinning wheel on the staircase landing as if it were the prow of a ship, and Jenny remembered watching Queen Elizabeth’s coronation on her grandmother’s sitting room TV, which was the size of a steamer trunk.

Tom pointed out the mysterious closet beneath the stairs as the place where liquor was kept hidden during Prohibition. He told of how President Roosevelt frequently rode past the house from the Newnan Train Depot on his way to Warm Springs. He shared memories of his grandmother Corille’s Christmas tradition of waking early to start the fire in the sitting room before the family’s breakfast.

“Everyone was happy and it was just good times,” says Tom. Thinking back to his grandmother who went by the moniker Big Mama, he recalls, “She was just remarkable in many ways. People addressed her as Big, not referring to her size, but to her heart.”

Tom likes what subsequent owners have done with the house over the years. But foremost in mind when he thinks of this house is “the closeness, living on the porch, people coming to visit, and the more relaxed time when I was young.”

As my husband and I sit on the swing watching our own children play, I like to think that our two daughters will one day recall with equal fondness the house, family, and community in which they’ve grown up.

There certainly is something unique about Newnan, and we’re grateful to be here. NCM

BELOW At the same location where the Fisher-Farmer family kept their kerosene lamp a century ago, Jenny and Chuck Enderlin have placed the lamp (since then, converted to electric) in a permanent spot after Tom Farmer gifted them with the family heirloom. The fox lamp was a wedding gift to Tom and Corille Farmer and was passed down to their grandson Tom Farmer who presented it to the Enderlins to remain with the home in perpetuity. It shares space with a book of photos depicting members of the Fisher-Farmer family at their ancestral home through the years.

Photo by Jenny Enderlin

RIGHT On the front steps of the ancestral home on Greenville Street in Newnan are, from left, Hugh Farmer III, Louise Cole Parham, Zoe Farmer holding Frank Farmer, George Fisher Jr. and Jenny Fisher Cummins.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Cummins

COWETA HOME

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FIRST IN A SERIES

Long live the old country store

I

Written by BLUE COLE Photos courtesy of BLUE COLE

n an era with near-instant download speeds, next-day delivery, and most daily items within a five-minute drive, the retail atmosphere in Coweta County has kept pace with the times.

During the settling of the Coweta County area in the 1820s, most communities developed around a common location, usually near a road or a waterway. These early villages usually had the necessities of daily life: a blacksmith, doctor and a general mercantile, later known as a general store, and later called a country store.

Coweta’s early communities – Handy, East Newnan and Cannongate – all included a retail establishment. These “country stores,” as we think of them today, were more than just places to buy goods. They served many purposes, standing in as local meeting places, post offices and even banks.

Many early postmasters owned the general store where the post office resided. Thus, a trip LEFT The mid-1900s is captured in time in this photo taken inside Bridges & Cole general store, a central spot in Sharpsburg around which community life revolved. Warming his hands at the fireplace is Clay Cole, while Marvin Cole mans the cash register. Feature writer Blue Cole is the son of Clay and grandson of Marvin. Drinking a Coke at far right is Blue’s greatgrandfather, Inis Cole, while Eva North shops at the counter.

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UNIQUELY COWETA

ABOVE The Sharpsburg Town Council often met around a card table at Bridges & Cole store during the 1950s. Meeting are, from left, Cuss Haines, Marvin Cole, Inis Cole, Bo Spradlin, Edward Bridges, Otis Bridges and Howard Lawson.

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to town could fulfill many needs with one stop. The arrangement was beneficial not only to the store owner; it helped the government provide parcel and letter delivery services. These early communication networks were important pieces of the young nation’s growth; as families expanded and moved westward, they could trade news with those back east.

As the town grew, it would move the post office into a stand-alone building, but the general store remained a place the community revolved around.

Before banks were established in agricultural communities, credit could be offered on purchases, including everything from seed to farming implements to household goods.

Reviewing these accounts today offers an interesting glimpse into the daily needs of early settlers.

One Coweta ledger book, from a general store in the 1940s, contains names and items, often with dates. The costs were totaled and paid at a later date – after a harvest or on other payment terms. Larger amounts in the ledger were secured with promissory notes or property deeds.

Often, the community store was used as a meeting place – not just for informal, run-into-the-neighbor meetings, but official government business. Before open meetings were a requirement, town councils met around the shopkeeper’s counter or on the front porch.

By the early 1900s, the general store had given way to industry-specific retailers.

Tailors, pharmacies and grocers established their own locations, especially in the larger towns. In rural areas, Sears & Roebuck brought the store to the people – and had items delivered to them.

Midcentury America and its accompanying suburban sprawl pushed general stores into a more competitive market. Along with the growth of the shipping networks, the development of manufacturing and production made items easier to source and purchase.

In the 1990s, the emergence of discount retailers became the standard model and remains so today. While centralization and efficiency certainly helped the individual consumer, the newer model canceled out the middlemen – the store owners – directly impacting the role in a modernizing society.

Bridges & Cole in Sharpsburg

In downtown Sharpsburg, Bridges & Cole was the country general store for a time. The brick building was a cornerstone of the local community from the early 1900s until the mid1980s. It served as a supply house, meeting place, drinking hub, and a spot to watch the seasonal arrival of the purple martins to the gourds suspended above Main Street.

My grandfather and great uncle owned and operated the store following World War II, stocking it and providing essential services. Their fathers had managed to stay afloat during the Great Depression and the boll weevil. When agriculture flourished, the town bloomed.

When it didn’t, people found work in other places, and the daily commerce in downtowns dwindled.

When my grandfather retired in 1984, the store closed. I recall workers cleaning it out – taking out the long, rusted chrome coolers and removing dusty stock. Even though I was barely old enough to remember, specific details are there if I concentrate: the sense of the

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UNIQUELY COWETA

creaky wooden floors, the mixed smell of feed and tobacco, the towering ladders reaching to the ceiling.

The handrail leading down into the basement was glass-smooth, waxed by five or six decades of work-roughened hands. Bottles were saved for the deposit, and fishing bait – red wigglers or catawbas, based on the season – were sold fifty for a quarter.

Sharing stories was the entertainment of the day; the Newnan or Atlanta paper might show up, or might not. Of course, the best stories have escaped the written word, only told verbally.

Building back local retail

When corporate discounters arrived, many family-run small businesses stumbled.

Communities across the nation may have saved a few dollars, but it cost much more as we nearly lost our downtowns.

The arrival of big box stores presented competition to independent retailers. Small retailers – such as hardware, grocery or clothing merchants – were suddenly struggling and closing down. Such small businesses had been active in their community, sponsoring ball teams, employing locals and supporting other enterprises.

A void was recognized, and eventually, across the nation, a rebound of local commerce morphed into “Main Street” and “Better Hometown” programs, which worked to revitalize community downtowns. The recent shift to locally grown, organic industries also seeks to recapture the craft of homemade and home-sold.

Coweta’s general stores remind us of when a community grew, sourced and sold whatever its residents needed, from cotton for fabric to vegetables and meat for the table.

Our few remaining country stores – including Woody’s in East Newnan and Rooks in Madras – show us the history and importance of these disappearing places. NCM

ABOVE Bridges & Cole general store was an iconic part of the Sharpsburg landscape for most of the 20th century.

Editor’s Note This appears as the first in a series of stories written by Blue Cole about the country stores that remain in Coweta County.

Look for more country stores featured in 2024 issues of Newnan-Coweta Magazine.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 29

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COWETA ARTS

Wall Art MUSING ON COWETA’S MURALS

A

Written by FRANCES KIDD | Photos courtesy of THE NEWNAN TIMES-HERALD

ccording to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a mural is a work of art “applied to and made integral with a wall or ceiling surface.”

Humans have been drawing, writing and painting on walls since the beginning of time, from cave walls, to the Roman Empire, to Renaissance Italy.

Remains of early petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) can be found throughout the United States. However, art was not the primary purpose of these works; they were early forms of communication.

In modern history, artists Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, among others, created murals in Western Europe and the United Kingdom.

During the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Federal Art Project as part of his New Deal. According to “The American Experience” on PBS, the project supported thousands of artists by funding the creation of 2,566 murals and 17,744 pieces of sculpture to decorate public buildings across the country. These federal arts programs brought more art to more Americans than ever before. Artists were drawn to create murals as individual and experimental modes of expression as well as the interpretation of social and political problems.

In recent decades, a renewed interest in murals has been taking place beyond urban landscapes into smaller towns and rural communities. In many cases, the wall art has been a catalyst for positive change and revitalized local pride.

Murals can reflect local history, culture and identity by depicting landmarks and historical events. They promote local culture and help ensure that future generations stay connected to their roots. They can contribute to a community’s recreational life and enhance tourism. Or they can simply be something to discover and enjoy.

The South’s old brick buildings have long made the perfect canvas for artists.

In Coweta, murals provide a great way to learn more about the community’s history and culture.

LEFT In 2017, Cory Barksdale’s mural celebrating diversity is painted on a wall of the Wesley Street gymnasium.

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COWETA ARTS

» Newnan’s Faces and Places

One of Newnan’s oldest murals is “Faces and Places,” located on LaGrange Street on the side of Vinylyte Records and Skate shop (for many years Scott’s Bookstore). Painted in 1998 by artist Ans Steenmeijer, the now-fading artwork was commissioned by the City of Newnan and funded by a combination of public and private contributions.

It’s hard to miss due to its size: 16 feet high and 76 feet wide. Earlene Scott, owner of the old bookstore, was there when Steenmeijer worked on the piece and got to know her. Born and educated in Amsterdam, Steenmeijer resisted the urging of her father, a muralist, to join him in his work.

She opted for fashion art, but eye problems necessitated a shift to murals as her art form, and she soon realized she preferred them.

Her fondness for the South shows in this piece, which explores Newnan history through images including churches, the Patchwork Barn at Dunaway Gardens, the county jail and antebellum homes. Some of Coweta’s preeminent citizens are portrayed: Georgia governors Ellis Arnall and William Atkinson; author and humorist

COWETA ARTS

Lewis Grizzard; Newnan’s first Black doctor, John Henry Gordon; and “Sam” Soucy as a true Southern Belle.

“The mural was well-received in the community,” recalls Scott. “As long as I was at the bookstore, tourists would come in and ask questions about it – who was on it and its history. Often they bought books, too, usually ‘A Taste of Georgia’ and ‘Murder in Coweta County.’”

» Chickens and chamber music

Charles Wadsworth is an acclaimed pianist and chamber music giant. Many know he grew up in Newnan, but not everyone knows he had a job butchering chickens for a small family grocery on Jefferson Street. The alley behind the store has been christened Wadsworth Alley, and the NewnanCoweta Art Association did murals there to celebrate Wadsworth’s chicken story. The alley is currently undergoing improvements, but the chicken art can be viewed from the entrance on Madison Street.

Photos by Jackie Kennedy

Photo by Jackie Kennedy

ABOVE and LEFT One of Coweta’s oldest and best loved murals is “Faces and Places,” on the wall of Vinylyte Records and across from the Carnegie Library.

Painted in 1998, the large mural features some of the area’s most renowned citizens including (above) author and humorist Lewis Grizzard and (at left) Newnan’s first Black doctor, John Henry Gordon.

In Wadsworth Alley, off Madison Street and across from The Newnan Times-Herald/Newnan-Coweta Magazine offices, chickens are depicted humorously as homage to Charles Wadsworth who butchered the fowl when working at a local grocery store in his younger years.

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COWETA ARTS

RIGHT Molly Rose Freeman’s mural on the Alamo wall faces West Washington Street in downtown Newnan.

BELOW Alan Jackson looms larger than life on the side of Newnan’s Redneck Gourmet where mural artist and Newnan ArtRez resident Tim Davis captured his superstar personality.

Cory Barksdale’s vibrant mural at the corner of Spring and Perry streets features jazz musicians making music.

» ArtRez murals

Four murals in Coweta were created by artists in residence at Newnan ArtRez. In 2016, Molly Rose Freeman was commissioned by ArtRez and the University of West Georgia to create a mural on the Alamo wall facing West Washington Street. The inspiration Freeman got from the local landscape is reflected in the organic patterns and colors of her work.

Photo by Jodie Astin

Another artist in residence, Cory Barksdale, worked in Newnan in the fall of 2016.

His lively and colorful mural of jazz musicians is at the corner of Spring and Perry streets.

Barksdale returned to Newnan in early 2017 to paint a mural celebrating diversity on the side of the Wesley Street gymnasium. Barksdale’s work is enhanced by the use of vibrant colors and the masterful strokes that breathe life into his creations.

In 2018, artist-in-residence Tim Davis painted the mural celebrating Alan Jackson, Newnan’s favorite country music son, on the side of Redneck Gourmet on Jefferson Street. Davis was recommended by Jackson’s office and had previous experience with country music figures, having painted “Legends,” a mural in Nashville that features a group of renowned country artists from different eras – all sitting at the same table.

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COWETA ARTS

Photo courtesy of Blue Cole

COWETA ARTS

East Coweta High School students painted a mural on an old storage container to beautify the grounds at the Sharpsburg Community Center in the fall of 2020.

» Destination art in Sharpsburg

In the fall of 2020, former Sharpsburg Mayor Blue Cole wanted to do something for students at East Coweta High School that would also beautify an old container at the Sharpsburg Community Center. Local artist Margo Merrifield, then-president of the Newnan-Coweta Art Association, designed the mural and worked with a group to create it. Four dream catchers were painted, each one to represent a graduating class from 2021 to 2024.

“Our goal was to give the seniors a memorable senior picture and a place to make a memory,” says Cole. “We used to have Coca-Cola murals on a building in downtown Sharpsburg, and I wanted to bring a mural back for this generation of kids to remember. Choosing something ECHS-related was easy. The school and students are a huge part of our community. The other positives that came out of it – the pandemic pictures and making an ugly green storage container into a destination – were just a bonus.”

» Vintage wall art in Senoia

Baggarly Way is a narrow one-way street running parallel to Senoia’s Main Street. The folks at Pearl & Pine Brewery commissioned a mural on one side of their beer garden on Main Street, and Georgia artist Shannon Lake created a stunning replica of a vintage postcard.

“We wanted something everyone could be proud of and also help drive tourism, storytelling and ‘Instagrammable’ moments,” says brewery owner Jason Pace. “We wanted it to speak to both Senoia’s proud history and showcase the brewery business. Each letter in Senoia visually communicates fun facts about the city.”

LEFT and RIGHT

These “before” and “after” photos of a wall in Senoia shout what art can do for the bare wall of a city building.

Located at Pearl & Pine Brewery in Senoia, the new mural captures the brewery owners’ desire to create art their small town can take pride in while driving tourism, storytelling and instagrammable moments.

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COWETA ARTS

Coming home to paint Artists who come into Newnan and create a mural leave behind a wonderful gift for the community. It’s extra nice when the artist is local or a former local comes back to visit their work.

“I decided a few years ago that I wanted to make larger art that was happy and uplifting,” local muralist Amber Stidham told The Newnan Times-Herald in 2018.

She achieved that in the mural on the side wall of the Atlanta Trek store at 9 West Broad Street. The scene is a girl joyfully blowing five bubbles, each containing a scene from around Newnan. Jim Thomasson, the building owner, commissioned the mural. Stidham also created a mural in Lynch Park.

Photos courtesy of The Newnan Times-Herald

»

ABOVE and RIGHT Muralist Amber Stidham met her goal to create “happy and uplifting” art when she painted her “Bubble Girl” mural, located at 9 West Broad Street, depicting typical scenes around Newnan.

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COWETA ARTS

Todd Das Fuerst was a student at Newnan High School when he approached the familyrun Abraham’s Pawn Shop on Temple Avenue and asked if he could use the bare wall on the west side of their store as a canvas. Fuerst and a friend started painting and, while the friend followed another career path, Fuerst became the artist he’d hoped to be.

After a stint in the military and art school in New York City, Fuerst now is based in Atlanta where he works as a graffiti writer and street artist. He comes back to Newnan to visit family and his art – and to occasionally try out new ideas on “his” wall.

“I feel comfortable in Newnan; it’s why I keep coming back here,” says Fuerst.

RIGHT and BELOW Todd Das Fuerst was a student at Newnan High School when he started painting this mural of portraits on the west side wall of Abraham’s Pawn Shop on Temple Avenue.

COWETA ARTS

» Teens paint tunnel murals

In 2018 the City of Newnan commissioned artist John Christian of Go Georgia Arts to work with a group of Newnan High School students to paint murals in two tunnels along the LINC trail. The students’ team had created the winning design, and Christian worked with them to bring their vision to life.

The LINC murals are listed on The Georgia Mural Trail, which was created by Christian, who died in December 2022. Initially, the trail started as a five-year commitment to paint 50 murals in 50 cities, focusing on smaller cities and towns under 10,000 people. The program later grew to include larger cities with a population under 50,000.

Artist John Christian works with Newnan High School students in 2018 to paint murals in tunnels along the LINC trail.

Wall art that’s “left behind” Film and television production companies that have worked in Coweta have left behind gifts of murals, including two in Grantville. One is a wall from “The Walking Dead.” The other is a replica of a vintage Coke sign.

The Walking Dead Wall is on Church Street, just past its intersection with Lone Oak Street. Continue on Church Street toward the railroad tracks past Beyond Mountains Coffee, and there’s the CocaCola sign on a wall on Moreland Street. It may look vintage, but it’s a gift from the filming of the 2023 production of “The Color Purple.”

On an exterior wall of the old Grantville theater on Main Street, a veterans memorial in the form of a mural was installed by local veterans about 20 years ago, according to resident Selma Coty. NCM

Photo by Jackie Kennedy

»

Grantville’s “Away with You” mural, on Church Street, reminds visitors of the town’s link to “The Walking Dead” TV series.

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COWETA FEATURE

y l e u q i Un Coweta

A FEW THINGS THAT PUT COWETA COUNTY ON THE MAP

Written by NEIL MONROE | Photos courtesy of THE NEWNAN TIMES-HERALD

F

or an institution that is nearly 200 years old, Coweta County wears its age well.

One of the fastest growing counties in Georgia, Coweta is chock full of unique attributes that build on its centuries-old heritage and make our county a fascinating, evolving locale.

From the quaint tourist-lined streets of Senoia, to the natural beauty of Chattahoochee Bend State Park, to the quirkiness of Barbie Beach, Coweta embodies a host of wonderful qualities that make it a special place to call home.

In no particular order, here’s a collection of examples of those qualities and some of the background behind them.

LEFT Newnan’s Carnegie Library, the oldest existing Carnegie Library in Georgia, is 120 years old.

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The Donald W. Nixon Centre for the Visual and Performing Arts is among Coweta’s crown jewels.

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COWETA FEATURE

Entertainment Although we’re close to the bright lights of Atlanta, Coweta County holds its own in entertainment with a variety of theater and live music opportunities.

Perhaps the crown jewel is the Nixon Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts, a magnificent facility that hosts concerts of all kinds, school productions and theatrical performances. Constructed with a combination of special local sales taxes and funding from the Coweta school system, the center offers Cowetans a regular schedule of live entertainment.

Coweta also boasts its own active local theater organization, the Newnan Theatre Company.

Founded more than 40 years ago, the company stages a regular annual schedule of locally produced plays at its dedicated theater in downtown Newnan.

Importantly, Coweta also has an active live music scene, anchored by The Alamo on the square in downtown Newnan. The Alamo, housed in a theater built in 1890, occasionally offers live music. Artists range from local singers to nationally known acts.

Growth There’s one absolute fact about Coweta County: It’s growing, and growing fast.

Most residents have noticed an increase in traffic, new subdivisions being developed, new houses under construction, and new businesses popping up. This reflects the continuation of population growth that saw Coweta County’s population increase more than 20% between 2010 and 2022 to more than 152,000 people.

What does the future hold? A study commissioned by the City of Newnan in 2019 gives a strong indication. The study predicts the city will add an additional 1,200 residents a year through the year 2040, creating ongoing pressure to construct roads and housing to meet increasing demand.

The Newnan Theatre Company offers routine performances by local actors.

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COWETA FEATURE

Parks for everyone Regardless of what your recreational passion may be, there’s a park or facility in Coweta County that offers it. From softball to pickleball, hiking to trail bikes, basketball to football, the county and Newnan city recreation departments offer abundant, well-maintained facilities and recreation opportunities.

Just one example is Browns Mill Battlefield. It offers more than four miles of hiking paths in addition to six miles of mountain bike trails. These bike trails opened in 2019 and continue to host local riders and regional competitions.

In Newnan, the city and the Newnan Pickleball Association manage The House of Pickleball, affectionately called The HOP. It’s a state-of-the-art facility with 30 courts and supporting facilities. The HOP offers numerous programs, free play and coaching.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park, one of Georgia’s newest state parks, encompasses more than 3,000 acres adjacent to the Chattahoochee River and offers amazing opportunities for hiking, boating and camping.

And there’s the LINC, Newnan’s multi-use path system. The 12-foot-wide paved path serves as a linear park that facilitates recreation, connectivity and economic development. It’s both bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly and operates as an appealing alternative transportation venue that serves recreation needs.

Barbie Beach Coweta can be a bit quirky and unexpected as well, as typified by Barbie Beach in Turin. In 2006, Turin residents Steve and Lynda Quick created their first sandy scene in celebration of the 2006 Winter Olympics, which just so happened to take place in Turin, Italy. Ever since, naked Barbie and Ken dolls have been lounging around in a 6-foot by 4-foot stretch of sand.

The Quicks arrange the dolls in evolving displays that reflect the seasons or current events.

The House of Pickleball boasts 30 courts for play and exercise.

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COWETA FEATURE

Located near the intersections of highways 54 and 16, Barbie Beach presents the iconic dolls throughout the year in various scenes to fit the seasons.

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COWETA FEATURE

The Beautiful Town of Senoia Just 25 years ago, Senoia was a somewhat sleepy little burg just outside burgeoning Peachtree City.

Today, bolstered by its role as the home of “The Walking Dead” TV series, Senoia is a charming, growing, dynamic town with one of the most quaint, interesting downtown areas anywhere in the state.

The TV series has ended its run and the sets are gone, but the impact of the series remains. Housing in the city is at a premium, both with new construction and renovations of older homes. And downtown’s growth and success are strengthening even as the number of Walking Dead tourists begins to wane.

Downtown Senoia has undergone extensive renovation in recent years, partly due to the popularity of “The Walking Dead” TV series.

For 55 years, Senoia Raceway has provided speed and high octane entertainment for locals and countless visitors.

Senoia Raceway Dirt track car racing has been an important part of Southern culture for decades. And Senoia is home to one of the most popular and successful tracks in the Southeast.

Between spring and late fall, Senoia Raceway hosts a collection of cars, drivers and fans who gather to compete wheel to wheel.

Since its opening in 1969, the track has been a nesting ground for racing in the South. Typically, the track runs races in six to seven divisions each night, from larger, faster limited late model cars to bombers, which are small, agile, and fast.

In addition to local racing, the track hosts visits from several large national dirt track series.

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COWETA FEATURE

Cowetans take care of those in need One of Coweta’s most important intangible attributes is the community dedication to taking care of those in need.

Coweta citizens actively step in to help the less fortunate through several highly active, organized and dedicated local groups that provide a range of help – including provision of food, clothing, counseling, and short-term housing.

These nonprofit organizations include Bridging the Gap, the One Roof Alliance Ecumenical Center and the Real Life Center. Each of these agencies is a faithbased initiative of local people who, through their churches, work diligently to help those Bridging the Gap volunteers load food for clients in need. in need.

In addition, the Coweta Samaritan Clinic coordinates with local medical facilities to provide essential health care services to those in need.

They each are unique organizations, yet they share a single, purpose-driven goal: strengthening the community by serving and helping those who are in need.

Coweta and Newnan history Coweta County’s heritage dates back nearly 200 years. By 1860, Coweta County had more than 15,000 residents who began to establish the foundation of beautiful homes and businesses that remain important to our community. Today, the city of Newnan boasts six districts on the National Register of Historic Places, and much of the town of Senoia also comprises a historic district on the national register.

Coweta’s history is shared at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum in Newnan. Created in 2013, the museum is operated by the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society through an endowment from the estate of Edgar B. Hollis Jr. The museum, housed in what’s known as the Peniston-Arnall-Thomasson home, offers exhibits that tell stories of Newnan and Coweta’s past. Guided tours are available.

Just a few blocks north of downtown Newnan, Oak Hill Cemetery, founded in 1833, is the final resting place for some of the county’s most prominent citizens, including two Georgia governors, several congressmen and 270 Confederate soldiers. Self-guided walking tours are available.

Downtown Newnan/The City of Homes Perhaps Coweta County’s crown jewel is downtown Newnan, a thriving, exciting hub of entertainment, government, restaurants and history.

While many small-town squares in Georgia are struggling to adapt to demographic and economic change, downtown Newnan continues to be a successful commercial area. A key example: At 120 years old, Newnan’s Carnegie Library is the oldest existing Carnegie Library in Georgia, and it still functions as a library today.

While Newnan served as home to wartime hospitals during the Civil War, its homes were spared from fire and destruction while many cities in Georgia had no such luck. Because of this, Newnan – known today as “The City of Homes” – has one of Georgia’s most extensive and attractive historic districts.

In 1900, Census records show almost 3,000 residents of Newnan. As its population grew, so did the number of stunning homes built around the city center. Those homes today are the foundation of the city – and a strong component of Newnan’s heritage and appeal.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 51

Arnall, Ellis

A haunting in Grantville

Known among ghost hunters as one of the most haunted houses in Georgia, Bonnie Castle looms large in downtown Grantville where its ancient iron fence is testament to its longevity. Once operated as a bed-and-breakfast, Bonnie Castle today is a private residence. If only that fence could talk?

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COWETA FEATURE

Ellis Arnall

Virginia and Erskine Caldwell

Margaret Anne Barnes

Alan Jackson

Lewis Grizzard

Mary Lyndon

Coweta produces talented, successful folks From governors to country music legends, from authors to hip hop stars, Newnan and Coweta County have given rise to many citizens who share their talent with the world.

Alan Jackson is a world-renowned Hall of Fame country music star whose local roots are well-known.

Newnan native Deantoni Parks is a successful experimental jazz musician, and Big Maceo Merriweather was a highly successful blues pianist whose techniques influenced the entire genre in the 1940s and 1950s.

Ellis Arnall served as governor of Georgia from 1943 to 1947, and after his tenure, became a successful local attorney. William Yates Atkinson, Georgia’s governor from 1894-1898, was born in nearby Meriwether County but resided and practiced law in Newnan before and after his governorship.

Mary Lyndon was the first female to receive a degree from the University of Georgia, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1914, four full years before women were allowed into the university as regular students.

In the literary field, three names stand out. Born and raised in Moreland, Lewis Grizzard, a columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, became one of the most beloved writers of his generation through his columns and books.

Margaret Anne Barnes began her career as a reporter for The Newnan Times-Herald, but it was her 1975 bestselling book “Murder in Coweta County” that propelled her into national recognition.

And Erskine Caldwell, the author of “Tobacco Road” and “God’s Little Acre,” also was born in Moreland. NCM

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 53

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To purchase...

Recipes

25

$

Stop by The Newnan Times-Herald office at 16 Jefferson Street in downtown Newnan OR

call the office at 770-253-1576. en Greek Chick Marinade

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Includes Over 300 Recipes submitted by Coweta Cooks Features a selection of historic recipes from “Coweta’s Favorite Recipes,” published in 1967

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Coweta County Kitchens”rest for dippiin 1967 , Newnan Reserve the publishedChip Reed

Baked Squash

3

2 1 4 1 ¼

large head cauliflower tablespoons butter, softened tablespoons flour Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste cups Coweta Dairies All-Jersey milk cup sharp cheddar cheese tablespoons parsley tablespoon chopped sweet onion COO KS teaspoon monosodium glutamate s | COW ETA Main & ts 104 Mea Corn flakes Paprika

Scott’s Tusca

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Southern Fried Corn

pounds yellow squash, coarsely 4 slices of bacon chopped 10 to 12 ears white, yellow 2 to 3 tablespoons butter or bi-color |coM KS ¾ on the cob,COW ETA COO cup onion, finely chopped shucked, cleaned en ¾ and scraped off the cob with Greek Chick cup red pepper, finely chopped 1 the juices, called milk. (If corn teaspoon salt i ½ out of season or you are short teaspoon black pepper o 1 buy a large bag of frozen Shoep tablespoon granulated sugar 2 or Silver Queen corn in the eggs, well beaten groc ¼ store.) cup butter, melted ½ ½ tablespoon granulated sugar cup dried breadcrumbs (from 1 slice 4 tablespoons butter bread) ½ cup heavy cream (or half and Sharp cheddar or Swiss cheese, half it’s what you have – cooks must grated, optional be flexible!)

Cook squash in skillet by sautéing in about 1 Salt, to taste tablespoon of butter; drain well.

Depending on size Pepper, to taste of skillet, you may need to cook 2 batches.

Saute onion and pepper in 1 tablespoon In a large skillet, chop bacon and cook until of butter.

To cooked squash, add onion, Remove and set aside on a paper red pepper, salt, black towel, reser pepper, sugar and eggs. Stir the drippings in the skillet. ingredients to mix.

Pour squash mixture into 9x13-inch While that is cooking, clean the baking corn and cut dish. Pour melted butter over the tops of the corn kernels. Using top. Sprinkle with the blunt sid breadcrumbs and, if desired, the knife, scrape the remaining grated cheese. Bake at pulp and milk fro 375 degrees for 45 minutes to the cob (or thaw your frozen 1 hour. corn in the microw Sprinkle the corn with the sugar – Catherine Latimore Walldorf, and set it aside Newnan native In the same skillet that you fried your bacon i Lookout Mountain, Tenn. add the butter to the bacon drippings and melt medium heat. Add the corn and the cream. Red heat to very low and cook about 30 minutes unt tender. Add salt and pepper and prepare to be wowed and to impress your family.

1 (15-ounce) can creamed corn – Barb Wetherington, New 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon granulated sugar “I’m old-fashioned enough to believe that fo is how we show someone that 2 eggs, beaten we love them. I a gift from the heart.” ¼ cup milk 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided Put all ingredients except for 1/2 cup cheese in a mixing bowl and mix well. Pour into a greased 8x8-inch baking dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

–

Cauliflower Au Gratin

1 6 3

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sliced thick es red peppers, 2 cut into 8 wedg red onion, e 1 w s garlic, whol 8 to 10 clove baby mixed red or yello pound 1 , quartered toes pota olives Kalamata cup less ¼ sts, bone chicken brea 4 se cup feta chee ¼ in half lemons, cut all mar 2 es. Combine to 400 degre Preheat oven l bowl. in smal pan. Place ingredients large sheet veggies on s.

Place sliced d the vegetable rub onto t aroun chicken in and veggies and ade all over sprinkle fe and ly, Pour marin even d sh ge mixture chicken. Arran Nestle sliced lemons aroun or tes cheese all over. and roast for 30-35 minu en reache Place in oven n and chick slightly brow veggies are degrees.

– Glenda Ha

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Break cauliflower into flowerettes; soak in cold water for 1 hour. Cook in salted boiling water about 10 minutes. Drain.

Blend together butter and flour; add salt and pepper, to taste. Add cold milk.

Cook and stir to a smooth sauce. Add cheese, parsley, onion and monosodium glutamate.

Pour a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a medium-size casserole dish, then a layer of cauliflower. Continue alternating layers. Crumble a small amount of cornflakes and sprinkle on top.

Shake paprika over all. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

Tip: For our updated version of this recipe, we ditched the MSG and used whole milk from the local grocery store.

Corn Au Gratin

– Pat Craven, Newnan

“One of my favorite recipes in the 1967 Newnan Times-Herald recipe book is the Cauliflower Au Gratin on page 43. Rather than cornflakes, I crushed cheese crackers in a little melted butter.”

– Cindy Schnable, Sharpsburg

“This is an easy and delicious dish and when taking food to someone. for potlucks I’ve been asked for this recipe many times.”

media

Southern Fried Co

128 Veggies & Sides | COWETA

Cauliflower Au Gratin

COOKS Baked Squash

COWETA COOKS | Veggies

Published by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc.

& Sides 12

WEDDING SECTION

a t e w o C

Wedding

COWETA COUPLE, COWETA VENUE, COWETA VENDORS Written by JACKIE KENNEDY | Photographed by KAYLA DUFFEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Olivia Zirkle knew her future groom’s parents, Newnan residents Barry and Tracy Smith, before she met their son, Austin. Now, they are her in-laws.

“I had worked as a nanny for a family whose daughter cheered with Austin’s little sister,” Olivia recalls. “We came across each other on social media, started messaging, and had our first date at a Braves game a week later, in May 2021. We hit it off and have been inseparable ever since.”

Olivia and Austin Smith, both from Newnan, were married Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 at Lillian Gardens. Austin is a 2016 graduate of Northgate, and Olivia graduated from East Coweta in 2017. Her parents are Amber and Marc Zirkle, also residents of Newnan.

Olivia works as a medical assistant for Piedmont Urgent Care, and Austin is a sheriff’s deputy in Fayette County. The couple resides in Shenandoah.

Following their dream wedding, the Smiths honeymooned at Disney World where they visited all the parks.

“It all was so fun and romantic,” says Olivia.

In the pages that follow, the new bride shares a little about the local vendors who helped pull off her perfect wedding.

RIGHT Olivia and Austin Smith married in October 2023 in Newnan.

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WEDDING SECTION

Venue

Lillian Gardens

- Newnan

“

We chose Lillian Gardens because of the Savannah/New Orleans vibes it has, and it’s super romantic there. We were very much inspired by the romantic, old-timey vibes you get at Lillian Gardens. We had the ceremony outside, in their garden, which is stunning, and the reception was inside and outside. They have a vintage outdoor furniture package you can add on to your wedding.

Lillian Gardens also catered the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception, which featured a grazing table with hors d'oeuvres and charcuterie boards along with a pasta bar.”

RIGHT Austin and Olivia celebrate their wedding at Lillian Gardens.

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WEDDING SECTION

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WEDDING SECTION

Gown

Sure Bride - Newnan

“

Sure Bride was the first bridal shop I went to and I ended up purchasing the dress I tried on. They had such a variety, and I could have gotten a dress at the lowest price point in my budget or the highest.

There was no dress that seemed cheap, and the quality of all of them was amazing. Cheyenne was my appointment person. She was honest with me, which is what I needed. She pulled dresses I thought would look good on me and dresses she thought would look good on me. She was just so much fun to work with, and the whole staff was so nice. They did my alterations as well.”

Rings

“ Olivia wanted a Marquee cut diamond like the one her mother had, and Austin made that dream come true.

Morgan Jewelers

at White Oak Center - Newnan

“

I wanted the Marquee cut diamond.

My mom had one, and it was super important for me to have one. I saw this ring and absolutely fell in love with it. It looks like little leaves coming out of the center stone. The wedding band complements it well. It’s simple but elegant, and I love it. Also, it matches some of the lace details on my dress, and that’s one of the reasons I chose my dress.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 61

Floral

Marigold “ and Moss - Fayetteville

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I could have cried, my flowers were so beautiful. I wanted to continue the romance, whimsical feeling in my wedding, so I explained to Britt, the owner, the colors I wanted and she hit the nail on the head. We added in peacock feathers, teals and blues.”

WEDDING SECTION

“

Floral

Britt recommended lanterns instead of bouquets, so the bridesmaids actually carried lanterns with absolutely gorgeous arrangements spilling out of them. They incorporated greenery, berries and rich colors into the tablescape, and my bouquet was phenomenal. Britt pulled out all the ideas I had in my head, organized them, and turned them into a cohesive floral design for everything I wanted.”

Hair & Makeup

The Opal Room

“

- Newnan

The Opal Room did our hair and makeup. I highly recommend working with Chelsey Freeman and Shannon Ward. They listened to what I wanted and were able to make my vision come true for me. They were fun to work with and made me feel like a true bride. I felt absolutely beautiful, and I know my bridesmaids did as well.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 63

WEDDING SECTION

Cakes

Cakes by Debbie - Newnan

“

I could have gone into a coma, the cakes were so good. We did a funfetti cake with traditional buttercream frosting for our wedding cake.

Debbie Barronton worked with me on getting the different colors of icing we wanted, which matched with colors in our wedding. It ended up being an absolutely beautiful three-tier cake that was delicious. My husband is a gamer, and she made a chocolate and strawberry cake inspired after a cake you can make in the game he plays.

The fondant looked like it came out of the game itself. It all was very impressive.”

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WEDDING SECTION

Photography

Kayla Duffey Photography

“

- Newnan

Kayla Duffey is one of the preferred vendors at Lillian Gardens. A family member had used her, and I enjoyed the way she captured special moments. I was in awe of the way she takes pictures, and I love her editing style. She values your opinions and recommends her ideas, too, which is very helpful. She’s good at guiding without being bossy.

She was on it, making sure everybody paid attention and smiled for the pictures.”

Olivia and Austin seal their love with a kiss.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 65

WEDDING SECTION

Photography

RIGHT Bride Olivia Smith poses with her bridesmaids, from left: Kelsey Smith, Jada Wade, maid of honor Shelley Hood, matron of honor Jacqueline Dalton, Adrienna Martain, Chelsea Bergen and Andrea Robinson.

LEFT With groom Austin, at center, are his groomsmen, from left: John Vitale, Christian Knobloch, best man Chase Smith, Jared Halus and Brandon Petrie.

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“

My mom, Amber, is my rock, my best friend. I was very sick in the last couple weeks before my wedding, so my mom went into full momma-bear mode and ended up doing a lot of last-minute things, like my jewelry. This is a necklace she chose for me that complements the vines in the lace on my wedding dress. She told me she knew I had to have it.”

“

“

My dad Marc is my wingman and has been my best friend forever. We danced to ‘It Won’t Be Like This For Long’ by Darius Rucker. I have had this song picked out since I was about 12. We were in the car, it played on the radio, and I told my dad that was the song we would dance to if I ever got married.”

We had a sparkler send-off. It was a beautiful and fun way to end the night.

It was honestly so perfect walking through them together with Austin. We both were just so enamored by them and giggling the entire time.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 67

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

A home for hope HOPE GLOBAL INITIATIVE IN NEWNAN

A

Written by SUSAN MAYER DAVIS

lmost every American city has one – the neighborhood that’s tucked away, forgotten by a majority of the town’s residents who never pass that way, avoided by others who know it for its high crime rate.

In Newnan, that neighborhood is Chalk Level, a proud but problemed community about a mile from the town square and only a few blocks from the stately mansions that line East Broad and Lower Fayetteville Road.

A historic neighborhood since the 1880s, Chalk Level was once home to many of Newnan’s prominent Black professionals and working class families. In fact, in 1959, A.D. King became the minister of Mount Vernon First Baptist Church on Pinson Street. The following year, his brother, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was a guest preacher at the local church.

While proud moments such as this dot the neighborhood’s past, it fell into decline in recent decades and is reported to have the highest crime level of any area in Coweta County, according to Luke Ayers, co-founder and director of Hope Global Initiative in Newnan.

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Luke Ayers, back left, and his father Lee Ayers, back right, hang out with kids at Hope Global.

RIGHT Arts and crafts is a favorite activity at Hope Global.

“We want the kids to know that they can choose to start over.”

– Luke Ayers

LEFT Kids are encouraged to be themselves and have fun, even if that means wearing funny wigs!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 71

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

“Families look different in Chalk Level,” says Ayers. “I meet one father for every 50 children. The boys see this as an expected reality. Men are expected to not be present for their families.”

From murders, to sex trafficking, to home break-ins, and drive-by shootings, the residents of Chalk Level are exposed to it all, according to Ayers.

A sad but common example is of residents being arrested for crimes that they committed to benefit themselves or their family members. For example, what if a single mother is faced with the decision to drive to the store without a license to get formula for her 1-yearold child or to let the baby cry for hours in hunger? If she chooses to drive to the store and is pulled over by police, it’s likely she’ll be charged with a crime.

And what if a 15-year-old boy is ordered by an older man, “You will steal this from that store, you will break into that car, you will sell these drugs for me, or you will have sex with that person – or your sister or mother will pay the price.”

The teenage boy may prostitute himself so his 12-yearold sister doesn’t have to, according to Ayers, who adds, “If he gets caught, this young boy will be charged with

a crime and probably get jail time unless he has a strong advocate.”

This is the reality that hit Luke Ayers and his father, Lee Ayers, a few years ago when they looked for a place in this world that needed their help. They knew the world won’t change if no one does something about it.

In Chalk Level, the father and son duo recognized there was not a safe and inviting place open seven days a week for free. So in 2016, Lee Ayers founded Hope Global Newnan and Luke became co-founder/director.

The nonprofit’s official mission is to: “Restore people’s hope so that the future they dream of can actually become a reality.”

Practically speaking, they help students become positive agents of change.

“I’m just a broken person who comes from a broken family and we just want to help broken people,” says Luke Ayers. “I think the world would be a better place and people would have more peace of mind if they recognized that we are all broken in some way. That’s something my father instilled in me from a young age – that no one is perfect and we need to stop expecting others to be perfect.”

Luke Ayers, center in both photos, serves as director of Hope Global Initiative where his passion is connecting with kids who, in turn, appreciate the connection.

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At Hope Global, the goal, according to Luke, is “to inspire people first, and after you inspire people, you can then equip the families to find solutions. Each person needs to find solutions for themselves for problems they face. And then, once they have a toolbox of options, they will have what they need to succeed in life. Once they are inspired, equipped and have the tools they need, they are unstoppable.”

The Ayerses initially thought they would start by reaching out to mothers, grandmothers, and then teens.

But then they saw the need for preventative work, according to Luke, who says they determined that helping people at a young age was the key to preventing trauma like so many had gone through by preventing a turn toward crime fueled by their environment.

“If we can intercede and prevent crime from happening, that is how we can impact people,” says Luke. “We want to see kids and students become positive instruments of change as individuals. We try to get kids to enjoy every minute of every day – to enjoy their childhood. We want the kids to know that they can choose to start over.”

The program is having a positive impact noticed by those closest to the issues that affect children and teens navigating rough and tumble neighborhoods, including Coweta Judicial Circuit Judge Joseph A. Wyant Jr. “Hope Global has been a constant presence in the juvenile court system, providing mentorship and enrichment activities for our kids,” says Wyant.

“Without Hope Global, our juvenile justice system would not be the same. The organization provides essential services not provided elsewhere – like instilling a sense of community. Weekends are filled with projects around the neighborhood, helping to mow a lawn or fix a broken set of stairs. Kids will go out as a crew to help those in need. By letting others know that they care, they come to understand they are cared for.”

Investing time and/or financial resources into the younger generation positively affects future generations and improves the community, adds Luke Ayers.

“That’s a hard thing for me to quantify,” he says.

“But we encourage youth to graduate high school, go to college, and come back here after four years to start a business, shop at local markets, join a church, and to participate in community events. That helps our community.”

Luke means it when he says “our community.” He bought a home in Chalk Level, so the people he helps are his neighbors and friends now. In order to help turn around the trajectory of these neighborhood youth, he obtained a seat on the local juvenile court. Since Hope

Joy is evident in the smiling faces of the kids served by Hope Global.

Global was established here, many youth have been given a second chance to change their life once they agree to attend programs offered free of charge through Hope Global.

Without ongoing government funding, Hope Global operates from donations with a group of dedicated volunteers who share the mission. With a waiting list of 38 boys and girls who need and want a mentor, there’s an urgent need for volunteer mentors and business sponsors.

Through programs and connections developed at the Youth Center, young people at Chalk Level are making a difference as they return from college, set up businesses and set a new example for the younger ones behind them, according to Luke Ayers.

“It’s like throwing a rock in a pond and the ripples flow out in all directions,” he says. NCM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 73

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COWETA UPCLOSE

Lady entrepreneurs curate their own paths THREE UNIQUELY COWETA WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES Written by JENNIFER LONDON | Photographed by SARA MOORE

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COWETA UPCLOSE

Kenya Brantley: APPRECIATING A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

K

enya Brantley launched Greenhouse Mercantile in downtown Newnan in 2016 and opened a second location in Senoia last year. She lives in Newnan with her husband Robert and three children, Issachar, 21; Alyssia, 17; and Leona, 5; and the family dog, Charlie.

“I feel like since we got here, Newnan has welcomed us with open arms,” says Kenya. “I always tell people our Newnan location and the Senoia location are the same but different.”

Kenya has always had an appreciation for older things and recalls visiting antique stores and estate sales with her parents as a child. In blending the new with the old, her stores have something for everyone. Along with the items it carries, Greenhouse Mercantile provides space for pop-up shops to sell products without the high price of overhead.

“My parents come from an educator community, so going to their friends’ houses and seeing all of their beautiful pieces, I will say it was definitely like cultural awareness for me of where I come from with beautiful African statues, beautiful art and sculptures,” says Kenya.

The business owner travels for her collections, gathering primitive, mid-century modern and antique pieces. She also enjoys local picking, thrifting and estate sales.

“We definitely jump on those opportunities to put a new life to old things,” she says.

Kenya offers interior design for customers, with knowledge she gained from her travels and studying different cultures. She says her secret to success comes down to her strong circle that includes her husband, her team members, her friends, and Owner Kenya Brantley travels far and wide to source the items she offers at self-care. She loves getting massages Greenhouse Mercantile. and pedicures – and also pausing and paying attention to the details, noting, “It’s these small moments that add up to a beautiful life.”

Kenya credits team member Emmanuel Brooks with helping her business flourish. With his help in the stores, she says, she’s allowed the time to serve on several boards and be increasingly active in the community.

LEFT Kenya Brantley owns and operates Greenhouse Mercantile with locations in both Newnan and Senoia.

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COWETA UPCLOSE

Alicia Amey: PROVING HOW IT’S DONE, SO NATURALLY!

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licia Amey and her family moved to Newnan in 2019, the same year she started Blossomed Posies. Last January, she opened her studio in Summergrove Market Square where she offers lash extensions, basic facials, brow services, lash lifts and men’s skincare

services.

Amey promotes natural healthy skincare solutions without chemicals. She says the lash industry contains a lot of practices that are not healthy and can cause damage which is not always reversible, so she emphasizes to clients that there is a way to achieve a look but in a healthier way that promotes a more natural look.

“Let’s just love on ourselves, our skin, our hair, our bodies inside and out,” she says. “I want to be different, I want to set myself apart, and that’s how I feel like I’m going to be able to do it.”

Amey’s passion for what she does comes from knowing how important it is to see someone successfully juggling life as a mother and wife with multiple jobs and career and life goals. Her busy schedule includes working a full-time job for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

She and husband Zechariah, 13-year-old daughter Lydia and 4-year-old son Zack are welcoming a new baby girl to the family this spring.

“I’m not saying that it’s easy, but if you Alicia Amey, owner of Blossomed Posies, works with a client, Sydney have a partner who believes in what you’re Howard, who is also a student in Amey’s Lash Certification Class. doing, believes in your vision and who wants to see you succeed, you have to trust that to make it work,” she says. “Get out here, do what you want to do, strap those babies on your back, and become these powerful women that you want to be. It’s millions of us out here and we need a million more. So follow your dreams and make it work.”

Amey attended school in Scottsdale, Arizona, where emphasis was on lash care and the science behind it. This helped her to draw in the clients that wanted exactly what she offered, she says, adding that now 95% of her clients are business professionals.

“Get out here, do what you want to do, strap those babies on your back, and become these powerful women that you want to be.”

– Alicia Amey LEFT Alicia Amey encourages clients (and women and minorities with dreams of entrepreneurship) to blossom.

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COWETA UPCLOSE

Kiaira Ferguson:

K

LEADING THE WAY IN HER MOBILE CAFE

iaira Ferguson moved to Newnan in 2022 and started her own business, Kiki’s Koffee Stop, with a focus on coffee roasting and adding natural flavors like roasted nuts and dried fruits to avoid using chemical and artificial flavoring.

“I make everything naturally, and I do it myself,” she says.

Ferguson sources her berries from a Costa Rican supplier and runs the operation while parenting her toddler daughter, E’lyven. Her mom Tedra is also there to support her behind the scenes.

The entrepreneur prefers using pure, natural cane sugar or agave in her coffee drinks. Her coffees have their own natural flavor whether served black, iced or hot, according to Ferguson. She says she didn’t see a lot of representation in the coffee business, which motivated her to get into the field and educate herself on every aspect of the industry.

“A lot of people from all backgrounds have been very open with me, bringing me in,” she says.

Ferguson has expanded from selling in a booth at Newnan’s Market Day to owning her first coffee truck in 2023. She serves ‘musical coffees’ all named for songs, and her natural lemonade line named for her daughter. The mobile cafe is available for events and catering delivery, and her coffee is available at Treasures Lost and Found in Sharpsburg.

Ferguson says Coweta County has been extremely supportive of her.

“I don’t think I would have had as much success as I have been having if I would have been in Atlanta city limits like I grew up in,” she says. “I think that me being out here, everybody’s more family oriented and supports one another.”

She celebrates being her own boss.

“I completely love it,” she says. NCM

“I make everything naturally, and I do it myself.”

– Kiaira Ferguson

LEFT Kiaira Ferguson serves up her unique brew at Kiki’s Koffee Stop, a portable coffee bar she owns and operates.

Kiki’s Koffee Stop’s fun-loving logo features a super cute hip hop coffee bean, on the move thanks to Kiaira Ferguson’s local luxury coffee.

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COWETA HEALTH

Time Restricted Eating, Intermittent Fasting, and Living Well in the Age of Obesity

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Written by MELISSA JACKSON

edical researcher Megan Ramos was 27 years old when her doctor diagnosed her with type two diabetes, a condition she was remarkably familiar with as a medical researcher employed at a kidney dialysis clinic. In fact, she had mourned the deaths of several patients at the Canadian clinic where she interned with Dr. Jason Fung, a kidney specialist. Ramos did not want to spend her life suffering with and treating T2 Diabetes. She was willing to try anything.

At the time Ramos was diagnosed, Dr. Fung was exploring a theory that fasting and a low-carb diet might stave off or reverse type two diabetes. Ramos was willing to take a chance and test that theory. She became Fung’s patient zero. Within weeks, Ramos had reversed her diabetes. In less than a year, she lost 80 pounds and cured her polycystic ovarian syndrome by transforming the hormonal climate of her body through her food choices and meal timing.

Since then, Ramos and Fung have helped tens of thousands of people with time restricted eating (TRE), intermittent fasting, extended fasting, and low carb, whole food diets.

In the decade since Ramos experimented with Fung’s fasting theory, intermittent fasting and low carbohydrate diets have become popular options JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 83

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for patients struggling to reclaim control of their cravings, their bodies and their lives.

Understanding the role of insulin and glucose is one key to adopting and complying with the protocol. Insulin performs a fat storage role in the body by trapping and storing glucose in fat cells, organs and muscles. This is why type two diabetics gain weight when prescribed insulin. The added insulin simply stores the glucose; it doesn’t get rid of it. It simply moves it out of the blood stream and into fat storage.

Ramos and Fung compare this phenomenon to food storage in a kitchen cabinet versus food storage in a basement pantry. Glucose in the bloodstream is like the easily accessible food in the kitchen, while food stored in the basement is like the supplies in deep storage. When the deep storage overflows, excess glucose appears in the bloodstream and on an annual wellness blood test. The answer isn’t to buy a compressor and shove more (insulin) in; the answer is to start using up the food (glucose) in long-term storage, according to Fung.

Fasting and low-carb diets assist the body in burning off the excess stored glucose.

Avoiding sugary, starchy and processed foods also helps the body reduce the frequent insulin spikes that result in fat storage. This is in direct conflict with the Standard American Diet and the Federal Food Pyramid, which recommends foods that result in excess glucose, insulin spikes and, ultimately, obesity, according to Fung.

Understanding this relationship makes it disturbingly obvious why the Food Research and Action Center reports that, “The latest data indicate that 39.6% of U.S. adults are obese. (Another 31.6% are overweight and 7.7% are severely obese.)”

Do the math: Nearly 80% of Americans are overweight or obese. This trend began with the introduction of highly palatable “low-fat” foods in the 1980s.

Locally, at least one doctor advocates for a recalibration of the standard protocol. Dr. Samer Blackmon, a Piedmont internist who also works with the Go!Diabetes program, recommends time restricted eating, whole food choices, and fasting for her patients struggling with metabolic diseases such 84 |

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Diving into diet programs Here are a few diets currently trending: Keto

The Keto diet works by restricting consumption of processed foods and high carbohydrates which turn into glucose in the bloodstream and get stored as fat. While there is a spectrum of approaches to Keto, the most successful practitioners generally consume fewer than 20 carbohydrates per day for consistent weight loss and wellness. While those carbohydrates can come from a number of sources, most Keto advocates recommend dark leafy vegetables, berries such as raspberries and blackberries, and colorful vegetables such as red peppers, while avoiding root vegetables and starches.

Dirty Keto

Many Keto advocates practice Dirty Keto. In this case, they do not strictly count the carbohydrates but adhere to a food selection that will keep them generally low carb, between 20 and 100 grams per day. This can help with inflammation and many metabolic issues resulting in initial weight loss and improved wellbeing. The Paleo diet is a great fit with Dirty Keto plans as is intermittent fasting.

Paleo

Paleo practitioners avoid all processed, industrial foods.

The diet does not require attention to carbohydrate consumption or calorie counting. Instead, it focuses on reducing the body’s exposure to toxic preservatives and additives required for mass production and storage of food. Paleo eaters enjoy some tubers, nuts and seeds, but they avoid all dairy and grains. Paleo can work nicely with a low carbohydrate plan as well as an intermittent and extended fasting plan.

Carnivore

Carnivore practitioners prioritize the consumption of proteins such as beef, chicken, seafood and eggs. They enjoy an abundance of fats from animal sources. In its strictest form, the carnivore diet limits food intake to these sources exclusively resulting in an extremely low carbohydrate intake. However, some self-described carnivores will add dark leafy greens cooked in animal fat and the occasional dairy product such as butter.

Time Restricted Eating (TRE)

Time restricted eating advocates eat during a restricted eating window each day and abstain from any food product that will induce insulin release for the remainder of the day. Most TRE practitioners may skip breakfast and enjoy lunch and dinner between noon and 7 p.m., or they may enjoy breakfast and lunch and skip dinner. In some cases, they may have all three meals but only eat between a specified period of time. The TRE choice also

COWETA HEALTH involves limiting food intake to meal plates, no snacks or late night cocktails. Some advocates eat only once a day during a one hour window, while others may select a longer window, say 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This plan is flexible and can be increased with the individual’s tolerance.

Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting focuses on when a practitioner eats as opposed to what they eat. However, certain foods dramatically improve compliance to the plan.

Individuals who have already developed metabolic flexibility and can operate on ketones as well as glucose as fuel are better equipped to endure longer fasts. For this reason, keto, paleo and carnivore practitioners do especially well on this plan, while those who eat the Standard American Diet will struggle and marvel at the possibility of extended fasting. Many intermittent fasters will practice mixed fasting throughout the month. They may eat every other day, or they may have monthly three to five day fasts while eating one or two meals on other days.

Varying the strategy can be beneficial and help avoid a decrease in the basal metabolic rate (the number of calories one burns daily as a result of essential bodily function). Successful practitioners pay attention to meal plating and consumption during the eating window. They do not feast, binge or gorge simply because they are fasting otherwise. They focus on nutritionally dense food choices that satisfy and fuel the body.

Fat Fast

A fat fast refers to a limited selection of foods that help those who aspire to extended fasting but are not metabolically adapted to fueling their bodies on fat intake and the fat stores of the body. To induce healthy ketosis (fueling on ketones generated by fat intake or body fat), fat fasters can consume foods that help avoid insulin spikes such as bacon, avocado, eggs, olives and salmon. By doing a multi-day fat fast, practitioners reduce hunger and cravings and are quickly able to shift into 24-hour or longer fasts without suffering.

Calorie Restriction Diets

The standard protocol for decades, calorie restriction diets require practitioners to limit the daily intake of calories but do not focus on what is consumed or when. Unfortunately, many who succeed in weight loss using calorie restriction often lower their basal metabolic rate and gain weight back quickly, often adding more pounds. The “America’s Biggest Loser” phenomenon illustrates this. Nearly all of the contestants gained back much of the weight lost during the show. Many of them gained more despite increased physical activity and attention to diet.

as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity and obesity-induced heart failure.

Blackmon practices time restricted eating herself and chooses whole foods including those with healthy fats, protein and fiber for her meal windows. Typically, Blackmon eats one or two meals a day. However, with patients struggling with more severe disease, she recommends and monitors extended fasting with amazing results.

Regarding her own results, Blackmon cites weight loss as one outcome. But now that she’s at a healthy weight, she marvels over the other advantages: “Initially, I was so amazed at how much clearer I thought, and then the energy component. I’m not tired at the end of the day.”

She describes herself now as someone who’s “dialed in” and ready to “complete projects.”

Blackmon has witnessed patients reverse or drastically improve T2 diabetes, heart failure, motility, hypertension, cholesterol, depression, anxiety and self-esteem. While fasting and time-restricted eating are key, it’s also critical to “fuel the vehicle well with whole, nonprocessed foods,” she says, noting that the human body demands quality products to run the system.

To learn more about intermittent fasting and low carb protocols recommended by Dr. Blackmon, Dr. Fung, and Megan Ramos, see Dr. Fung’s books, “The Obesity Code,” “The Diabetes Code,” and “The Complete Guide to Fasting,” or the Fung and Ramos collaboration, “Life in the Fasting Lane.”

In 2023, Ramos published “The Essential Guide to Intermittent Fasting for Women,” a book that addresses the unique hormonal needs of women in all stages of life and discusses how fasting and TRE can fit into any woman’s lifestyle.

Unlike many weight loss and health reform programs, the fasting method requires no purchases. On the contrary, it keeps you out of the grocery store and, like Megan Ramos, out of the dialysis clinic.

As always, check with your doctor before starting a new wellness program. Diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid and other medications may need to be adjusted as metabolic changes occur. Those with metabolic disease will need to collaborate with a supportive and attentive physician. NCM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 85

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Beans and broccoli round out a meal of Possum Braised Pork and Taft Sweet Potatoes.

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A President, A Poet, and O’Possum A TASTE OF COWETA FOOD HISTORY Written by GAIL MCGLOTHIN Photographed by APRIL MCGLOTHIN-ELLER

L

ike most locales throughout the South, Coweta County has its own unique historic relationship with foods and local fare.

Coweta’s history involves possums.

In 1890, Williams Yates Atkinson, an attorney in Newnan, started planning to run for governor of Georgia. To draw attention, he and his campaign staff hosted possum dinners. Atkinson was elected, served as governor from 1894 to 1898, and sometimes was called “the possum governor.”

Playing off Atkinson’s success with possum dinners, William H. Taft added possum suppers to his campaign ventures when he ran against Theodore Roosevelt for president of the United States in 1909. On a campaign visit through Georgia, Taft requested a “possum-ntaters” meal at a fundraising dinner for 600 men. While the marsupials were consumed in Atlanta, the possums came from Coweta County, known as the state’s home of the campaign possum meal.

On average, adult possums weigh about eight pounds, so each serves about four people. For 600 potential voters, that meant 125 possums. Taft, of course, went on to win the election, and he identified the humble possum as his signature mascot, dubbed “Billy Possum.”

The campaign possum suppers evoked tongue-incheek humor as the main dish – viewed by Yankees as

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food for yokels – was served with elegance and style.

The local possum supper grew in fame and continued in various forms in Coweta County for decades. The most recent local possum supper, held in 2017, was hosted by the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. With a presidential election coming up this year, it might be time for another possum supper, complete with sweet potatoes.

In recent years, Burns Weekend has become a uniquely Coweta event, which celebrates Robert Burns, the poet of Scotland. It all started when Ayr, Scotland, was selected as Newnan’s sister city. Educational exchanges led to cultural

exchanges and now, for the seventh year, locals in Coweta County will put on the plaid and celebrate the birthday of the “Laird of Ayr,” who was born January 25, 1759. His most well-known work is “Auld Lang Syne,” the classic New Year’s Eve tune.

While some Scottish cuisine has taken hold in the United States, other Scottish favorites have not. Haggis and black pudding will probably never be popular here, but scones and shortbread are already in recipe boxes and on menus. A review of popular Scottish soups, ideal for the cold, damp climate, looks like comfort food to me.

Possum Braised Pork

“I could not get my hands on a possum, so a large pork butt was a delicious substitute. You can use this recipe with any possum you find.”

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Possum Braised Pork 4 2 1 ½ ½ 1 2 3 3 2

pounds pork butt roast Salt and pepper tablespoons vegetable oil cup chopped onion cup chopped carrots cup chopped celery tablespoon minced garlic tablespoons tomato paste tablespoons flour cups chicken broth bay leaves

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rinse pork and dry.

Cut into large, serving size chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Heat vegetable oil to medium high. In a large Dutch oven, brown each chunk on all sides, putting browned pieces on a platter. Pour onion, carrots and celery into the medium hot pan. Saute until soft, then add garlic, sauteing for one more minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and cook for at least one minute. Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add pork chunks back into the Dutch oven, ensuring all the meat at least touches some broth.

Bring back to a boil, then cover and remove from heat. Slide into the oven and braise 2 to 3 hours or until meat is tender. Place the meat on a platter and keep warm. Turn the heat up and boil the gravy down until thickened. Serve over the pork. Serves 12 generously.

“For perhaps a more authentic possum recipe, try this one, published in The Newnan Times-Herald’s new book, ‘Coweta Cooks: Sharing a Legacy of our Favorite Recipes.’ The recipe from Ozella Duncan originally appeared in ‘A Taste of Georgia.’”

Possum and Taters 1 4

2 ⅛ 1 1

possum, cut into serving pieces baking size sweet potatoes, pared and quartered Water to cover teaspoons salt teaspoon pepper cup granulated sugar stick margarine, chopped

Taft Sweet Potatoes

Taft Sweet Potatoes 3

large sweet potatoes, of similar size Butter Brown sugar

Clean, then boil, sweet potatoes until tender. Remove from water, cool and peel. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Slice potatoes into ¾- to 1-inch slices. Spray an 8x8-inch dish with cooking spray. Layer sweet potatoes, butter and a heavy sprinkle of brown sugar until the sweet potatoes have been used. Finish with a layer of butter and another heavy sprinkle of brown sugar. Bake in oven until potatoes are hot, the brown sugar crust is crispy, and the syrup is bubbling.

“These were named for the president who served them with possum at campaign dinners.”

Skin and dress possum. Put in Dutch oven and cover with taters, then water. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat until very tender. Place possum pieces in center of large baking pan and arrange sweet potatoes around them. Sprinkle sugar and margarine over potatoes. Pour 2 cups of broth from cooked possum over all. Place in preheated 375-degree oven and bake until potatoes are fork tender, lightly browned and broth has evaporated.

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Carne Asada Nacho Fries

Cock-A-Leekie Soup

1 1 ½ ½

2 2 8

package frozen fried potatoes pound skirt steak teaspoon garlic powder teaspoon cumin Lime juice Olive oil Shredded Mexican-blend cheese Shredded lettuce Chopped tomatoes Green onion tops, sliced Jarred jalapeno slices

Coat one side of skirt steak with olive oil. Repeat with lime juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, garlic powder and cumin, to taste. Rub into the steak. Turn steak over and repeat on the other side. Let rest 30 minutes.

Fire up grill. Cook steak 4 to 5 minutes on each side for medium rare to medium. Remove from grill and let rest.

Cook fries in oven until brown and crunchy. Slice steak against the grain, then cut into bite-size pieces. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Divide fries onto 4 oven proof plates.

Top with steak. Cover with shredded cheese and place in oven to melt. When done, remove from oven and top with lettuce and tomatoes. Garnish with green onion and jalapenos.

2 3 ¼ 1

leeks quarts chicken broth ounces cooked chicken breast, cut into ½-inch pieces stalks celery, cut into ½-inch slices cups potatoes, cut in ½-inch cubes cup chopped fresh parsley teaspoon fresh thyme

Trim off root end of the leeks, and cut off tops at the green; then cut leeks in half lengthwise and slice in ½-inch slices. Place in colander and rinse well, separating the rings of the leeks.

Bring chicken broth to a boil. Add chicken breast, celery, potatoes and leeks. Bring back to a boil. Add parsley and thyme. Simmer for 30 minutes.

“Now that winter is truly upon us, try this soup for a quick meal. The amount of leeks adds only a mild onion flavor.

Barley is the traditional starch in the soup, but my family prefers potatoes.”

“Fries topped with various assortments of gooey goodness have become a favorite side dish [or main dish] at local restaurants throughout Coweta.”

Carne Asada Nacho Fries

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COWETA COOKS

Cock-A-Leekie Soup

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Beet Salad

Beet Salad ¾ ¼ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 2

cup juice from beets cup water cup white vinegar cup sugar small package lemon gelatin 14-ounce can diced beets cup finely chopped onions cup celery, finely chopped tablespoons mustard seed

Drain beets to make ¾ cup juice; add about ¼ cup water to make 1 cup liquid. To this, add vinegar and sugar; bring to a boil. Add gelatin, stir to dissolve, and let sit until cool. Add beets, onions, celery and mustard seed. Refrigerate until firm.

“Jell-O may not be confined to Coweta, but since the 1950s, fancy desserts and salads made from colorful gelatin have been staples in local kitchens and at church potluck dinners where local cooks claim their dishes to be utterly unique!”

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COWETA COOKS

AT THE FIRESTONE

Scottish Shortbread

Scottish Shortbread 2¼ ¼ ½ 8

cups flour cup cornstarch cup granulated sugar ounces butter

The perfect host for • REHEARSAL DINNERS • BRIDAL SHOWERS • BRIDESMAID’S LUCHEONS

Place all ingredients in large mixing bowl.

Using your hands or a food processor, mix well. When dough clings together, place in a gallon zip-locking bag. Push dough to the bottom, filling the corners. Seal bag, leaving a small opening. With a rolling pin, roll to ¼- to ½-inch thickness, as evenly as possible. Place in refrigerator to chill for 60 minutes.

Remove dough from fridge and from bag and place on a parchment sheet placed on a cookie sheet. Cut into 1x3-inch rectangles and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet at least 1 inch apart. Prick with a fork for a traditional look. Put cookies back in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove dough from refrigerator and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle cookies with sugar and cool on racks. NCM

“The first time I had homemade Scottish shortbread was at Kingsland United Methodist Church in south Georgia. My friend Margaret, from Scotland, laid a plate on the Family Night Supper table and I was hooked.

She made me a box of shortbread for Christmas every year after and gave me the recipe when I moved.”

Celebrate your Special Event at

The

BURKLEY SOCIAL For Reservations 770-683-6328 Follow us on Facebook for daily information

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COWETA SPORTS

If you build it...

Senoia National Golf Club Written and Photographed by NEIL MONROE

F

or 32 years, Senoia’s Tim Rada and 11 friends have gathered each August for the ritual of the NFL fantasy football draft, each hosting the event every 12 years.

Last year was Rada’s turn to host, a role that includes entertaining the group for a weekend – and a role Rada embraced with remarkable creativity, planning and execution.

Beer? Sure. Poker? Absolutely. Good food? Of course.

Golf?

Rada wanted to, but green fees for 12 are expensive and hard to come by with a shortage of local public courses.

So, he decided to build his own course, smack dab in Senoia.

What? Isn’t that a multi-million-dollar project?

Not quite. Not if you use your own yard to create a 300-yard, nine-hole, par-three track, complete with unique tee markers, a picturesque scoreboard, a beer cart and puttable greens.

And so, last summer, the Senoia National Golf Club was born, with its first tournament staged at the Rada home in Senoia’s Morningside subdivision.

Starting in early June, Rada identified the routing, had a friend rotary cut each of the nine greens for two months to create a smooth putting surface, then set about developing an identity for Senoia National. A

It’s not on the PGA circuit, but the Senoia National Golf Club is already a legend in the minds of its players!

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beautiful logo, scoreboard, tee markers and pin flags gave the course the real feel of a unique golf experience.

Sounds like work? Not for Tim Rada.

“Ever since we moved here, I’ve had the idea of establishing a short course in the yard,” he says.

“Hosting the football group gave me a real reason to do it. And so many people shared my excitement and helped. It was a group effort.”

Senoia resident Tim Rada (front row, second from right) is one of a group of members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at Lock Haven University who have played fantasy football together since 1992. Each member hosts draft weekend on a rotating basis.

To create a unique experience for the group, Rada turned his yard into the par 31 Senoia National Golf Club. From left, front: Ray Polaski, Mike DeCinti, Rada and Chris Hartmann. Back: Doug Webb, Chris Schell, Andy Pepper, Sal Picataggi and Bobby Muir.

Will Senoia National live on?

“Absolutely,” says Rada. “We can activate the course pretty quickly if the need arises. We had a great time putting this together, and we’d love to share it again.”

The group’s first golf competition was a success. There was an ace by ultimate champion Bobby Muir. There were birdies and bogies. And Rada, despite his intimate course knowledge, finished fourth.

Muir won in a playoff with Chris Hartman to become the first Mitt Leatherman tournament champion.

“It added so much to our fantasy football weekend,” says Rada. “Hopefully it’s the start of a legend that lives on.” NCM

Mike Decenti shows off the Masters-replica scoreboard, which was constructed and donated by local contractor Jayson Hart.

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Blake Smelcer works in the machine tool lab at CEC, where the first German-style apprenticeship program in the U.S. was piloted.

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S VO-TECH

Coweta’s Central Educational Center: The birthplace of innovative career education in Georgia Written by REBECCA LEFTWICH Photographed by CEC interns: JONAH BUTLER, LUIS VARGAS AND JAY CANSLER

F

ifty-three college and career academies in Georgia alone are modeled on it. The state has spent $160 million to replicate it. National educational programs have originated from it.

It’s the Central Educational Center (CEC), and it started in Coweta County almost 25 years ago with a vision, a unique partnership and a school building that was sitting empty, ready for the dawn of a new millennium.

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UNIQUELY COWETA

Typical Coweta County high school graduates in the 1990s were unprepared for a workplace increasingly shaped by global business, downsizing and automation, and local business representatives approached the Coweta County School System with their concerns.

It was the start of a beautiful friendship.

Aimed at “seamless education,” the CEC was developed

by Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce leaders, the Coweta County School System and West Georgia Technical College. It was developed from two years’ worth of work by a steering committee headed by the late Dr. Joe Harless, a behavioral psychologist whose ideas for educational change included educating students in an environment that simulated the real-life workplace as closely as possible.

Because no educational model existed for the program, then-Superintendent Richard Brooks engaged Harless to apply his principles with specific input from local business industry and local schools.

Mark Whitlock, who has served as the CEO of the Central Educational Center since its inception, became involved with the school system in the mid-1990s, investigating chartering laws and helping grow a local Montessori school.

“It was disappointing that education was not more focused on careers,” Whitlock says. “There were a lot of good companies here, and it was a time period where everything pointed toward Coweta, and Coweta was booming. They said, ‘Let’s develop something unique in Coweta.’”

COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMIES All of Georgia’s college and career academies are modeled on CEC, allowing high schools throughout

Students Virgle Garrett, left, and Jonah Butler, right, are exploring careers in aviation at CEC.

Virgle Garrett is among students in the CEC’s aviation program who hone their skills in the school’s full-motion flight simulator.

the state to offer an ever-widening range of accelerated, dual-enrollment opportunities in technical education. Its beefed-up, work-based learning strategy and alignment with West Georgia Technical College paved the way for local implementation of the first German-style apprenticeship program in the country.

These and other accomplishments have brought it wide acclaim as a high school reform model.

More than 500 groups from Georgia and across the U.S. – as well as groups from 16 other nations – have visited CEC to study its model, and Whitlock regularly travels to other communities to help them with replication efforts.

The 2013 Georgia College and Career Academy of the Year, CEC in 2018 was designated by the International Center for Leadership in Education as one of the nation’s 30 replicable high school reform model programs.

Dr. Anthony Chow conducted research on CEC for his book, “Systems Thinking and 21st Century Education: A Case Study of an American Model for High School Educational Reform.”

The CEC serves as a shining example of the partnership between businesses, school systems and technical colleges in an intentional effort to systematically impact economic development by ensuring competitive talent for current and future careers, according to Whitlock. And that talent JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | 97

UNIQUELY COWETA

LEFT Dental Assisting is one of several programs at CEC that allows Coweta County high school students to earn credit toward an associate degree from West Georgia Technical College, technical certificates and their high school diploma at the same time.

BELOW West Georgia Technical College instructor Kimberly Nolan works with students McKenzie Barber, left, and Smruti Maisurin in the Dental Assisting Lab at CEC.

is emerging and being identified in younger and younger students as learning opportunities continue to blossom and programs are added and expanded, he adds.

First chartered in 1999, CEC recently was granted another five-year charter amidst enthusiastic recommendations from the Georgia Department of Education, the Technical College System of Georgia and the Coweta County Board of Education. It didn’t hurt that CEC also completed the requirements for Dr. Joe Harless College and Career Academy certification – something CEC’s creation, purpose and evolution has helped define.

Years before laws officially established them, says 98 |

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Whitlock, “college and career academies originated here.”

Interested in the success of the program, state department of education officials asked the CEC leadership team to look at developing replications, resulting in the establishment of four future Georgia college and career academies between 2003-2005.

In 2006, a 210-page manual called “Strengthening Education to Drive Economic Development: A Manual for Replicating The CEC Experience in Your Community” was published and distributed, shortly before Georgia law officially brought college and career academies into existence.

UNIQUELY COWETA

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY-LED EDUCATION In 2007, then-Lt. Governor Casey Cagle established Georgia’s College and Career Academy Network. The state sets aside funds in its budget each year to help school systems build college and career academies. The accountability structure may seem familiar.

“The law set up college and career academies to report to an Office of College and Career Academies, housed within the Technical College System (of Georgia)” says Whitlock.

“Because college and career academies were so focused on technical education, it was done this way. And, of course, that all came out of the way this community structured CEC.” From the beginning, business and industry has guided CEC’s work, engaging with education and the community to encourage career success in students nearly a decade sooner than the average worker. Students now have the opportunity to graduate from high school having earned technical certification, workforce experience and college credit.

Focusing on workforce development at a younger and younger age doesn’t just benefit companies. It’s important for entire communities, Whitlock says, and for hard-toreach students who can become interested enough in a course of study to not only graduate but pursue further education.

“We just can’t afford to lose kids, because we’ve got to have skilled young people to drive our economy,” he adds.

It’s why CEC keeps its finger on the pulse of the shifting business and industry standards, constantly taking stock of new and changing trends and expanding opportunities for the students who are – or soon will be – looking to join the workforce.

Business- and industry-led education includes teaching how to pilot drones, which are frequently used for tasks like surveying, measuring, aerial photos and videos, geolocation and mapmaking.

Aviation students at CEC use drones to film buildings under construction at Newnan High School.

ACCELERATED CAREER PROGRAMS Many can now do so through accelerated career programs, which are a way to earn a high school diploma by doing “a little bit of high school and a whole lot of technical college” – something that followed in the wake of CEC piloting in 2016 the first German-style apprenticeship program in the U.S. The CEC currently has 132 of the approximately 550 students statewide in the apprenticeship program, which has doubled from just three years ago and split into two specialized parts: industrial mechanics and machine tools.

Dental assisting and nurse aide are other programs that have been added to the accelerated career program.

“That’s because the state said, ‘Let’s look at more of the high-demand careers, and let’s make sure we approve those to be part of the accelerated career program,’” Whitlock says. “It’s a function of people understanding how to listen to business and industry and to respond with policy. And that’s great for students and great for employers.”

Innovation starts with intention, according to Whitlock, who says, “When you start with intentionality, like this community did in creating something like CEC, it’s like Joe Harless used to tell us: ‘You’ll be amazed over time at the kinds of synergies that develop.’”

As always, CEC is looking toward the future. Senate Bill 86, passed last year, will allow students to access HOPE and career grant funds as early as 10th grade, saving dual-enrollment money for core academic college classes in 11th and 12th grades and allowing students to get even closer to completing associate degrees by the time they graduate from high school.

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UNIQUELY COWETA

Currently, CEC serves about 1,100 students in grades 8-12 daily and another approximately 200 who are either adult students or students from outside the Coweta County School System. That can include home-schooled students and students from private schools, because the law permits those students to take classes at a college and career academy provided there is space available.

Today’s college and career academies have redefined “vo-tech” education, and students’ post-graduate success has removed much of the stigma.

“Kids who graduate from accelerated career programs are making an average of $40,000 when they leave high school,” Whitlock says, adding that CEC is all about options for students as they look toward their own futures.

‘CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT’ Programming is based on the direction of the economy, so students have more options that they can take advantage of, and those options follow the direction of

the economy. That’s how CEC started, and that’s how it continues to change and grow.

“We’re now at a point where about one out of every two high school graduates in Coweta County is a part of CEC at some time before they graduate,” Whitlock says. “That begins to fit what the economy is saying – that up to 70 percent of jobs are going to require something beyond traditional high school. And that might be a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or a certificate, or an internship.”

While much of CEC’s ahead-of-the-curve work is widely regarded as “educational reform,” supporters of industrydriven instruction prefer a more open-ended, businessoriented concept: continuous improvement.

“Continuous improvement is a lot of new and different things, and that’s why it’s exciting,” Whitlock says. “You’re always working in a direction, never finished, so there’s always something to do. You’re always reanalyzing needs, redesigning what you need to do in the next iteration. It’s the intersection of education and business, and CEC is designed to be that.” NCM

Harry Casas, Gavin Grant and David Gomez inspect equipment in the machine tool lab at CEC.

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COWETA PROSE & POETRY

Splitting Wood for My Dad Written by MARK BAXTER

I think I started splitting wood when I was 12 years old. My father loved burning wood in his fireplace. On the fireplace, he had a Heatalator, which is a metal box with four air vents on it, two on each side, one high and one low. It also had a screen and andirons that you laid the logs on. Some years later, he upgraded to a brasstrimmed glass door with cast iron grates to help burn a longer fire. He also had a set of fireplace tools that he used a lot.

As I’m thinking back, he really did love burning wood. The second extension he built on the house had a wooden door from the outside so he could store wood between the two closets in a little room. This way he wouldn’t have to go outside to add wood to the fire – something he’d had to do a lot before that. He also built a garage, the third extension. It had a room off the back with a lower roof where he stored split wood to dry. He also built a bin there to store kindling.

He really had a great setup for burning wood. It was a priority. He kept the brasstrimmed door shining and the glass clean. He would tell me many times about the ashes building up under the grate. If the ash got too high, it would disfigure the cast iron as it built up to the bottom of the grate. He maintained his grate the whole time he used the fireplace. I’ve seen grates in other homes melted and distorted – but never my dad’s.

He also said that you had to have hot fires to keep creosote from building up ark Douglas Baxter was born in Amityville, on the chimney liner. He said to never use wet wood. From time to time, you New York, and spent most would hear of a chimney fire in town that the fire department was called out on. of his life in the New York I remember at times, Dad had it so hot in the living room, you couldn’t sit in there area providing plumbing with him. I thought he was going to catch the living room on fire. services to homeowners and I can’t remember the first stack of wood I split, or how many piles I’ve stacked, developers. He retired and but it was quite a lot, and I got good at it. I was pretty fast. My dad had an ax, a moved to Georgia where he enjoys hunting for fishing spots couple of wedges, and a three-pound lump hammer to bang wedges into the and recording his memories wood. I remember one of the new tools that came around was a splitting maul. We of childhood adventures and finally got one when I was around 14. I would split the wood on the garage apron. favorite fishing holes.

There are still chips in the apron.

I learned a lot about different types of wood – which ones split the easiest, which ones were the hardest. Wild cherry was the toughest. I’d have two wedges and two axes all the way in, and then I’d try to pull it apart with my hands and feet. I think this wood splitting made me a better wrestler in high school in the late 1960s. There were times when I complained, but it was my job, and my father really enjoyed burning firewood.

Later in life, after many seasons and many homes, I understood that you can’t get warm in the deep of winter unless you have that hot heat from a wood fire. It warms you to the bone. As I grew and got my own house, set up my own wood stoves, and eventually built my own home with two fireplaces and a potbelly wood stove, I realized that it all started with splitting wood for my dad, even when I didn’t want to.

M

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March 02 - Market Day, 10am-2pm March 22 - Spring Art Walk, 5-9pm April 06 - Market Day, 10am-2pm April 14-20 - Downtown Newnan Restaurant Week April 20 - Bike Coweta’s Rock & Road Festival May 04 - Market Day, 10am-2pm SUMMER

June 01 - Market Day, 10am-2pm June 13 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm June 21 - Summer Wined-Up, 5-9pm July 04 - July 4th Parade, 9am July 06 - Market Day, 10am-2pm July 11 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm Aug 03 - Market Day, 10am-2pm Aug 08 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm Aug 30-Sept 2 - Labor Day Sidewalk Sale Aug 31 - Sunrise on the Square 5K AUTUMN

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Sept 07 - Market Day, 10am-2pm Sept 20 - Fall Art Walk, 5-9pm Oct 04 - Oktoberfest, 5-10pm Oct 05 - Market Day, 10am-2pm Oct 19 - Spirits & Spice Festival, 2-7pm Oct 31 - Munchkin Masquerade, 10am-12pm WINTER

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THE WRAP-UP/TOBY NIX

Some roots run deeper than others

‘U

niquely Coweta’ is the theme they gave me.

I grew up in Union City and had the greatest childhood ever. Then I lived in College Park for a little while before moving to the west side of Coweta when the kids were young. We have since moved on to a neighboring county, but seeing as how we both still work, shop and eat in Coweta County, I feel like I can speak on the topic with a little authority.

I think about what makes Coweta unique and figure there must be something special about the place because everyone keeps coming.

I like to tell people I was part of one of the first waves of transplants. I’m not an original Cowetan (Is that a word?) and I still pronounce “Senoia” incorrectly, but I moved to Coweta long enough ago to complain about the growth. At least all the growth that came after me.

One thing that stands out to me about Coweta County is something I’ve found myself jealous of when I think about my friends who grew up here: Roots.

Coweta County has roots.

My friends who grew up here still go to the same places their parents or grandparents took them to when they were kids. They’ve watched it all grow up, but they know where the first Walmart was. They know which parking lot they used to spend weekend nights hanging in because those may be the same parking lots they spend weekend mornings shopping in.

I don’t have that, although I do remember when East Highway 34 was two lanes. It’s hard to imagine that a stretch of highway I now avoid at all costs was two lanes when I first met Coweta County.

When my kids were growing up here, I couldn’t take them to downtown Newnan and tell stories of how it used to be when I was a kid. I couldn’t authentically speak of the shops on the courthouse square where the people my age bought cheap candy while their parents shopped.

I’m jealous of the people who grew up here. While I’m very much on record as loving every bit of my childhood, a dilapidated shopping mall and a tiny house with a tiny yard isn’t much of a stroll down memory lane, especially when you have to drive an hour to get to it.

My friends here, the ones who grew up in Coweta, don’t have to do that – unless they’re trying to get from Academy to Thomas Crossroads; that might take an hour depending on the time of day. But I digress.

My friends who grew up here are still friends with the people they grew up with. Everyone knows everyone, and the older ones watched the younger ones grow up. There’s something to be said for that.

I actually know the Orren who inspired Orrens Pond Road. The pond she played at as a kid is now on a street with her name on it. How cool is that?

The next time someone’s naming a road with a pond on it, I’d like to throw my name in the hat.

I’d actually prefer a creek, I think, because then I could pronounce it “crick” and that just seems more me.

Coweta County is unique in many ways. The people who were here long before me – the ones who grew up here – may not always see how nice it is here.

The people who came after me? Whatever they say, I’ll probably just roll my eyes anyway. NCM

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

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