West Georgia Woman Magazine March 2016

Woman

Complimentary

March 2016

West Georgia

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Spring Planting

Paula Layton

What You Should Do Now

Rebuilding Lives in West Georgia and Beyond Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club Female Presidents Making an Impact 1

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of

Tristan Alexander Brooks

May 15, 1993 - September 1 7, 2015

He will remain forever in our hearts...

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Clinical Management of Obesity Lindsey B. Roenigk M.D. Board Certifications in Pulmonary Medicine Critical Care Medicine Internal Medicine

Shawna Berg NP-C Member Obesity Medicine Association and Obesity Action Coalition

100 PROFESSIONAL PARK, STE. 204, CARROLLTON 4

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What’s inside...

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Clothes for a Cause

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Finding a Deal

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Hail to the Chiefs

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The Pain of Endometriosis

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Marching into Spring

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Teens and Depression

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Don’t Let Depression Disrupt Your Pregnancy

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Kidz Korner

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Celebrate Her Success

In Every Issue:

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She’s Got Game

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Daily Fare

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Local Happenings

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Womentality Ever After Resources for Women

Spring is here, and YOU’RE INVITED to come and visit Southern Home & Ranch Garden Center!

The waiting is over, it’s time to get serious about working in the yard and garden, and we can help! When it comes to maintaining, improving, problem solving or creating your idea of a wonderful yard or garden, Southern Home & Ranch is your kind of place. We have a wide and varied assortment of healthy, well-maintained shrubs, trees, perennials, annuals, in-home tropicals, edibles, and of course your favorite garden vegetable plants. The majority of our plants are from nearby local nurseries and growers, acclimated to this growing area – our way of helping make sure your selection has the best possible chance for long-term success.

Whether you are working on your lawn, in your garden, revitalizing your flower or shrubbery beds, putting out fertilizer, or fighting off pests and stubborn diseases, we can help. We carry a complete selection of all the right products to help you keep your lawn and garden in the best possible shape and looking good. Be sure to come by and check our NEW Bonide Analysis Center, bring in a sample of your pest or plant problem, we will give it a close look and hopefully find a solution.

Our friendly and knowledgeable Garden Center staff, including our own local expert, Carl Brack, are ready to help you find the perfect plant or to try to help solve a problem. If we don’t have what you are looking for, let us know and we will do our best to find it for you.

For those of you with even bigger yards, fields or pastures, we are your local SOUTHERN STATES BRAND dealer, carrying feed, seed, fertilizer, animal health products and field and farm products.

At Southern Home & Ranch, you will find our Outdoor Living area has expanded to include even more pottery, plants, fountains, furniture, benches, swings, rockers, statuary, chimes, bird baths, fire pits, our made in America PRIMO ceramic grills and smokers and much more. We are all about outdoor living and entertaining.

Inside Southern Home & Ranch we are full of surprises with something new most every day. We are constantly sourcing new and interesting products to make your home and gift giving fun and the talk of the town. Our selection includes Carhartt and Wrangler clothing and jeans, shoes and boots from Born shoes for men and women, Twisted Boots, Georgia Boots, and Thorogood work boots.

Look over our jewelry case, featuring hand-made one-of-a-kind pieces, fragrant Trapp candles, beautiful White River design Lifetime candles, and our locally produced Clyde Cook honey, Olivia Marie fresh preserves, Georgia Farms olive oil, Kinloch Pecan oil, Cooke’s Tavern soups along with other special delights and treats.

The list can go on, but instead of telling you more, why not just come on by and see for yourself!

Our sales folks are friendly and eager to help you find what you need and help you with your project or problem.

Southern Home & Ranch, your one stop shopping for most anything and everything you might need, locally owned and operated, easy to get to, a fun place to visit, with help from folks you might even know. If you haven’t been here, you really do need to come on by! Hope to see you soon ...

Southern Home & Ranch

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Glorious Spring!

I don’t know about you, but springtime always gives me a sense of euphoria that no other season brings to me. The smells of freshly cut grass, honeysuckle and wildflowers, the trees giving birth to their bountiful leaves again, even the birds seem to be happier with their lovely melodies that greet us as we wake up in the morning. Spring, to me, is a glorious season full of rebirth and new beginnings. I absolutely love every moment of this time of year.

Our feature this month is Paula Layton, a wonderful and caring soul who created a clothing and household item resource inside her Haralson County home for those in need several years ago, which has grown into something that she never imagined would be possible. Please take time to read her amazing story on page 10, which began with her being a victim of domestic violence, and continues with Paula being a mentor to other women who have lost hope.

The month of March is endometriosis awareness month. This is a painful and chronic disorder that affects over 200,000 women in the United States every year. I have also suffered from this disorder beginning in my teenage years. See what you can do to break the cycle of endometrial pain on page 49.

Cathy Alvis tells us exactly what to do in our gardens now to get ready for some serious springtime planting on page 30, and please take a look at seven amazing past, present and future female presidents of the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club on page 18. These ladies are wonderful and are so driven to serve their community.

We receive several emails and phone calls on a daily basis from you, our readers, about how much you love West Georgia Woman magazine. Have those of you who have called and emailed us called our valuable advertisers as well? Without these very important partners, we would not be able to bring you these wonderful stories of amazing West Georgia Women.

Please support our advertisers by doing business with them, and even if you don’t have a business need right now, please call them and tell them you read about them in West Georgia Woman so we can continue providing you this powerful resource every month. We enjoy hearing from you and thank you for letting us know how much you love reading West Georgia Woman!

Happy Spring!

Publisher

Publisher Angela Dailey with her children, Zachary and Sydney

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Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.

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West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives.

This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia Women!

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West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2016. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

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West Georgia

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Volume 1 • Issue 5 March 2016

Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor/Editorial Contributor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for Cover, Pages 2, 3 and 8 Rachel Dobson

Editorial Contributors

Cathy Alvis, Charlene Brooks, Shannon V. Couvreur, DO

Julie Culpepper, Sydney Dailey and Cheryl A. Francis, LPC

Angela Brooks Dailey, Publisher of West Georgia Woman, has lived in West Georgia most of her life and has a deep love and appreciation for the area. She received her B.B.A in management from The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia and is also a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, Georgia and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey. She is engaged to Dan Keever, also a Carrollton resident. Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch her daughter play soccer.

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Photos by Rachel Dobson

Clothes

for a Cause It takes a person of fierce character and faith to step out of the vicious cycle of domestic abuse, but Paula Layton found the strength to do it several years ago. She and her two children,

By Shala Hainer Cody and Lindsey, understand what it’s like to live through a crisis situation – and to make it through to the other side.

Her family is thriving, with Cody and his wife Julia expecting their first child, and Lindsey excelling as a freshman at Haralson County High School.

Paula knows some families aren’t as fortunate. Her experiences helped her discover a way to reach out to other families who are in need. By day, she works as a commercial lines service agent with BB&T Insurance Services, Inc., but after work, she finds purpose working with Christ’s Closet.

Based in Tallapoosa, Ga., Christ’s Closet is a ministry Paula started in 2008 to provide clothing and basic household items to people in crisis situations, such as those whose houses just burnt down or those fleeing domestic violence situations, as well as other community members in need.

“There are so many people in need,” she explains. “We do not question how they got there – we just love them where they are. God provides for them all.”

The Beginning Christ’s Closet started with a simple idea. As Paula was pulling out clothes from her daughter’s closet that didn’t

fit anymore, she knew she wanted to give them to someone who truly needed them. After listening to a sermon at church that emphasized, “if you think you’re doing enough, you’re not,” Paula felt drawn to share not only her daughter’s clothes, but the unused clothes of others, with people who were in need.

The Refuge of West Georgia, where she attends church, agreed to help her with the endeavor, and Paula started accepting clothing donations.

“This ministry operated out of my garage for almost two years,” she says. “Donations came from everywhere. I would come home and my porch would be full of bags of clothes. Most of the time, I did not even know who left them there.”

In June of 2010, another door opened for Paula and Christ’s Closet. Her pastor, Jon Ellis, had a surprise for her: the church helped provide a 2,000-square-foot building for Christ’s Closet.

“We ran out of room very quickly with the 2000-squarefoot building and had to rent the space beside as well,” Paula says.

Located at 30 Steadman Road in Tallapoosa, the facility opens the first and third Mondays of every month from Paula with her daughter Lindsey 6 to 7:30 p.m. for people in need to gather free clothing

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and other necessities. Paula reads to the children during story time, and volunteers help the guests find what they need.

“You see, even the location is a miracle because I don’t drive anywhere that I do not have to,” she says. “I don’t drive in the dark. I don’t drive in the rain. If it’s not church, work, or Wal-Mart, I don’t go unless one of my friends takes me. But this location is less than a mile from my home.”

When Paula started Christ’s Closet, she had no experience with nonprofits or running a ministry.

The Refuge Ministries of West Georgia, Inc., provides financial support of this important project and helps process the monetary donations from others, but they haven’t needed to advertise for donations or to find people in need of the program’s services.

“Christ’s Closet is a place that children can come and shop and fill their bags as full as they want them,” she says. “They have so much fun in the toy department. Some will come up and ask me to help them find presents for their moms, and that is just awesome to me.”

Although Paula has countless stories of how these small acts of kindness can positively affect the lives of people receiving them, some are more touching than the rest. “There was a little boy of about 4 reaching up on the coat rack all

Christ’s Closet provides: • Clothing, household items, books and toys.

• Story time up front with all the children.

• Registered nurses onsite for health screens.

• Santa usually comes in November and December to visit with all the children.

• Coupon classes upon request.

• A partnership with West Georgia Technical College’s WIA Program to help people find a job or get back in school. by himself,” she recalls. “He was not in the toy department getting toys, he was trying to get a coat. I helped this little boy, and then just had to go outside and cry.”

People Serving People As the program began to grow, it needed more help. “Ms. Redgie Clay and Ms. Brittany Pope now manage all the donations and get the store ready,” Paula says. “We are on an approved list of Haralson County Sheriff’s Office and the Tallapoosa Housing Authority for volunteers to help, and it counts for their required community service.”

Redgie and Brittany work with the volunteers during the week to sort donations and keep the facility organized. When Christ’s Closet is open to the public, about 15 volunteers from The Refuge of West Georgia staff the facility to help families find what they need. Volunteers from other churches and elsewhere in the community often come to assist as well.

“I still go by there several times a week to meet with emergency situations, to help bring in the donations and to meet people when they have large donations,” Paula says.

Although Christ’s Closet is open to the public only two days each month, it serves about 300 people over those two days. They deliver at least two large loads of clothes to the Carroll County Women’s Shelter every month, and they provide clothes to other local organizations upon request,

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including dresses for proms and clothes to send on mission trips to other countries. They also send truckloads of clothes to disaster areas, such as communities ravaged by tornadoes.

“We also meet anyone that has an urgent need, usually within one to eight hours, such as house burns, foster parents or domestic violence situations,” she explains. “We will never fully know the magnitude of people that this ministry has helped. God definitely showed up and showed out as only He can do. I am already so very excited at all the new things to come at Christ’s Closet.”

Finding Volunteers Keeping the program running isn’t an easy task, but those involved believe they are truly doing God’s work. They used to be open every Monday night, and Paula would take her daughter, then in elementary school, to the building most nights and Saturdays. Lindsey would do her homework there while Paula sorted clothes. Paula often found herself mowing her lawn by flashlight late at night because Christ’s Closet took so much of her time.

“I had prayed for some volunteers to be in there during the day to get all the donations done and the store ready,” she says. “I wanted to come in every Monday when we are open and to meet people with emergencies or donations when they called in. And that is exactly what happened.”

They changed the schedule to be open two nights a month instead of four to make the program more manageable and partnered with the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office and the Tallapoosa Housing Authority to allow people who must do community service to get their hours at Christ’s Closet.

“So, now I am there on the first and third Monday nights,” Paula explains.

“All the messages still come to my home phone, and I return each call personally. I meet with house burn victims, foster parents and emergency situations, and the store is always ready when I get there, thanks to Redgie, Brittany and the volunteers.”

The new schedule helps Paula

find the balance between work, family and Christ’s Closet. When she has time, she enjoys planting flowers and spending time at the beach. With The Refuge of West Georgia church, she serves as the children’s ministry director, and Sunday school teacher for pre-K through 2nd grade and AWANA Sparks leader for 1st and 2nd grade.

“So now, although I do stay quite busy, I am able to juggle work, Christ’s Closet, church and getting Lindsey to and from her play practices and her praise team practices. I do overlap some with Lindsey’s schedule, and I get help from my family and friends.”

More than 200 people have volunteered with Christ’s Closet since 2008, and Paula says they are sincerely grateful for every minute every volunteer spent helping others.

Getting the Word Out Paula started letting the community know about Christ’s Closet by putting out flyers. She shared them with the Haralson County School Board, the Haralson County Health Department, the Haralson County Sherriff’s Office and area schools. She left flyers in laundry mats, the Tallapoosa Housing Authority and in some mobile home parks. Flyers now go in the with items in the “Pack a Backpack” program through the Refuge Ministries of West Georgia.

They have set up booths at community events, such as the Community Resource Fair at Tallapoosa Primary and the Tallapoosa Housing Authority Annual picnic. They also reach out to other churches and community organizations to seek donations. The program never pays for advertising.

“As far as the donations, all I can say is that God sends clothes from everywhere and tons of them!” she says. “This is His ministry, and He takes very good care of His closet.”

Donations come from the local community as well as people in other states. “We have over 500 families documented that donate, but 90 percent of the donations are left in the donation box and I have no idea who gave them,” she explains. “Several area churches are always bringing in donations as well, and everywhere I go, I usually end up with my trunk full.”

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Taking Control of Her Life Because she understands how hard it is to escape domestic violence, Paula believes helping others in the same situation can make a difference in how well they embrace their new futures.

“God did not create women to be beat on and abused,” Paula says. “He created them as a helpmate to man and for the man to love the woman as Christ loves the church.”

Paula knows the hardest question for people in domestic violence situations is whether to stay or go. Leaving means entering the unknown: they might have nowhere to live, and no money.

“Most victims are made to leave their jobs – he has more control over you if you do not have any income,” she explains. Many domestic violence victims fear their abuser will find them, alone and with no one to help. Some believe they still love their abuser, and are afraid to face life without him. Staying often seems easier, and there’s always the hope the abuser will change.

But it’s rare for a domestic abuser to change without seeking the proper counseling.

“No matter how bad the situation is, you can get out,” Paula says, speaking from experience.

“There are programs designed to help you. Your family will be there for you. You do need to get the law enforcement involved every time your abuser contacts you, even though it is so hard to make that call. You will be able to find help with food and shelter and clothing. And about the kids … it is far worse for your kids to live in

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domestic violence than you realize. You think that since they are not being hit on that they are okay, but when you are out of it and you look back and hear your child’s story that was told to another, and the fear they lived in, you realize that it was far worse on them than whatever you were going through yourself.”

Domestic violence is not just for “certain people.” It affects people from all walks of life.

“Once you decide to leave and have made it through the first year -- and yes, it does take a while -- you will realize that you can be you again. A new better you. A better mother to your children. A happy person. A fun person. To be the one that God intended you to be. To find your purpose in life. When you finally get completely out you will be so relieved. You can have a wonderful life.

“I am who I am today because of all the storms I have faced, and I would not change a thing,” Paula says. “When you are able to look at someone who is hurting so very badly and they feel they have no hope, it is a blessing to be able to say, ‘Hey, I have been in your shoes and look at me now.’

With God’s help, you can get through anything, and when He gets you through it, you will be a stronger person than you were before.” WGW

Advancing Health WITH OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGIC CARE BEYOND MEASURE.

Shannon V. Couvreur, DO, is joining West Georgia Healthcare for Women.

Dr. Couvreur is joining David Helton, MD, Amy Dodson, DO, and Tiffany Stanfill Thomas, MD, at West Georgia Healthcare for Women, a Tanner Medical Group practice.

West Georgia Healthcare for Women 150 Henry Burson Drive, Suite 215 Carrollton, GA 30117

She will continue to serve patients at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton, including providing services in the hospital’s surgical services center and the W. Steve Worthy Maternity Center.

Dr. Couvreur earned her medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, Mich., and completed her internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology with Mercy Health Partners in Muskegon, Mich. She has been a member of Tanner Health System’s medical staff, providing obstetric and gynecology services to the Carrollton community, since 2011.

MEDICINE BEYOND MEASURE

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Learn more at WGHFW.org or call 770.214.2121.

Left to right: Amy Dodson, DO, Shannon Couvreur, DO, Tiffany Stanfill Thomas, MD, and David Helton, MD.

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Christ’s Closet Touches Lives In and Out of Their Community Christ’s Closet has: • Served over 1500 families in their building located in Tallapoosa, GA since June 10, 2010 and many have been served more than once.

Hundreds of families were served prior to moving into the current building.

• Documented families from the following cities: • GEORGIA: Tallapoosa, Cedartown, Waco, Bremen, Carrollton, Buchanan, Bowdon, Douglasville, Temple, Villa Rica, Felton, Rockmart, McDonough, LaGrange, Kennesaw, Hawkinsville, Franklin, Whitesburg, Dallas, Mt. Zion, Smyrna, Hogansville, Roopville, Kingsland, Cartersville • ALABAMA: Muscadine, Heflin, Fruithurst, Woodland, Ranburne, Edwardsville, Graham, Eufaula, Tuscaloosa • NORTH CAROLINA: Rougemont • KENTUCKY: Oneida • OTHER– Honduras, Haiti, Mexico • Served about 15 house burn victims a year from all areas – most recently from Cartersville, Ga. • Delivered two loads to the Carroll County Women’s Shelter every month since 2009 • Sent a tractor-trailer load to the Cleburne County Baptist Association to start their own clothing ministry.

• Sent a 35-foot boxed trailer load to Tuscaloosa, Ala., after the tornadoes. They shut down their donation center because the need had been met.

• Sent more than 100 bags of clothing to home for girls in Eufaula, Ala. • Sent a 35-foot boxed trailer load to a children’s home in Oneida, Ky. • Sent more than 50 coats, gloves and toboggans to a Head Start program in Carrollton, Ga. • Assisted many women who had to leave abusive relationships and were in hiding.

• Assisted foster parents.

• Set up in Carrollton, Ga. when the floods came • Sent clothes and blankets to Feed The Sheep Ministries and Kansas Baptist Church when they had outreaches.

• Sent more than 100 coats to Mexico.

• Set up at Beaver Run for outreaches.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Set up at Helton Howland Park for an outreach.

Set up at Tallapoosa Christian Academy for Christmas.

Registered children for toys for tots.

Sent almost 2 truckloads to Honduras with Waco First Baptist on their mission trip.

Given Mt. Moriah in Delta, Ala., clothes (two box trucks full) to start their own clothing ministry.

Sent coats with Brittany Pope for outreach of 25 people going to Douglasville and Atlanta.

Provided items local schools needed for the children while in the schools’ care. This is an ongoing outreach with each of the schools.

Started coupon class in February 2014.

Sent a load of flip flops and women’s purses and bags to Waco First Baptist for an outreach in Honduras.

Provided dresses and shoes to the Haralson County Board of Education for prom.

Set up at the Community Resource Fair at Tallapoosa Primary school.

Set up at the Tallapoosa Housing Authority annual picnic and did face painting for kids.

Given Kansas Church clothing and 25 bags of coats for their outreach program.

Sent dress clothes and shoes to the Carroll County Public Defender’s Office for people required to attend court.

Sent Easter baskets to local schools.

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How Can You Help?

• Volunteer on the first and third Monday Night from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. This involves helping people take out their bags, helping them find the clothes they need, providing a shoulder to cry on, praying, talking and loving on people – loving them right where they are.

• Volunteer to help sort and get the store ready. Work days are normally Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Give a financial donation to help with rent, power bill, water bills, and supplies.

Mail monetary donations to The Refuge Ministries of West Ga, Inc., P.O. Box 466, Tallapoosa, GA 30176.

• Give white garbage bags. Christ’s Closet uses thousands each year.

• Donate toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, combs and brushes.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Paula D. Layton by email at pauladlayton@gmail.com or call and leave a message at 770.574.9770.

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Hail to the Chiefs

Carrollton Dawnbreakers

A Spotlight on Past, Present and Future Female Presidents

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Since forming the organization in 1905, Rotary International has made a huge impact on millions of lives. Made up of 1.2 million people throughout the world, Rotary is one of the largest civic organizations worldwide.

With the Rotary International club’s large network of partners and resources, they in turn help clubs in local communities focus their service efforts on the unique needs of that club’s community. According to rotary.org, promoting peace, making sure all have access to clean water, protecting and serving children and mothers, promoting education, disease prevention and helping stimulate the growth of local economies are all important goals in which they encourage each local club to participate.

On Feb. 23, 1905, an attorney from Chicago, Mr. Paul Harris, formed the first Rotary club to bring professionals from different backgrounds together and form relationships with one another while exchanging ideas.

The Rotary name came from the first club’s practice of rotating their meetings amongst the offices of their members. Rotary prides itself on being a truly international club. Within only 16 years of Paul Harris founding the first club, Rotary was already prevalent on six different continents.

One of the most famous service projects Rotary is known for is their fight against polio, a severe and crippling disease. Since beginning a service project in 1979 to provide polio immunizations to 6 million Philippine children, Rotary has made a huge impact on the lives of millions of children worldwide by reducing the amount of polio-endemic countries from 125 countries in 1988, to only three countries in 2012.

Rotary does much more than immunizing millions of children. They also make an impact on young people’s lives in another way, through scholarships and their Peace Fellowships. Every year, Rotary selects over 100 people from all over the world to attend an all-expenses-paid academic fellowship at

one of Rotary’s peace centers. In a just a little over 10 years, Rotary has had more than 900 people train for a peace-building career in their program. Rotary offers two different peace fellowships, a master’s degree fellowship at certain premier universities, and a professional development certificate for seasoned professionals working in peace-building careers who want to enhance their abilities and skills in their field of work.

In December of 1996, the Rotary Club of Carrollton sponsored a group of members who wanted to form the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club. The Carrollton Rotary conducts their meetings at noon, and there were members who thought an early morning meeting time would work better with their schedules, so the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club was born. The club meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 am at Sunset Hills Country Club. The Dawnbreakers originally started with 25 members, and has since grown to having an average of 38; 21 are charter members.

The Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary is a 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow Club, which means all members are Paul Harris Fellows and $1,000 is donated for each new Rotarian per year. The club is composed of professional and business leaders from our communities and has numerous service projects every year that directly benefit the communities they serve. Just a few examples of the Dawnbreakers’ community and abroad service projects are listed below: • Book donations to the Jail Literacy Program • Children’s book donations to Tanner ReadER • Warm clothing donations for Share the Warmth project • Monetary donations to the Carroll County Soup Kitchen • Project One Haiti • Fight to end polio

We specialize in Colon Cancer Screening and in the diagnosis and treatment of: Reflux and Heartburn Stomach and Digestive Disorders Crohn’s Disease and Colitis Hemorrhoids Hepatitis Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder Disease

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Since it’s inception in 1996, six women have served as president for the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club and one more female is in line as president-elect to serve as president next year.

After 10 years of having all male presidents, the club’s first female president was inducted into office in 2006. Once that barrier was broken, several other professional women in our communities have followed in her footsteps and assisted the club in making an impact in Carroll County.

Being the president of a civic club is by far one of the most difficult jobs that a leader answering the call of service will do during their professional career. With the Rotary credo “Service Above Self” to serve as their guide, these very strong and capable women are sowing the seeds of service throughout the Carrollton community every day.

Sheila J. Butler

Photo by Tim McClain

1st Female President 2006-2007

Although Sheila Butler jokes that her only accomplishment as the 1st female Dawnbreakers president was she was able to eat breakfast every Wednesday while in office, Sheila did much more than just eat. She not only paved the way for other female presidents, but also added 11 new Rotary Dawnbreaker members during her term in office.

Several of those new members have also become

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president of the club over the years, which Sheila finds very rewarding.

Sheila shares that she was honored but overwhelmed at the same time when she was chosen to be president. “On the day I was asked to be president, I realized just where we were as a club. Allow me to explain, everything looked easy from the eyes of a member that just came to eat and socialize; that would be me … until this day.

We were a small club of about 26 members. The club was inching on their 10-year anniversary and everyone’s plate was full. I first felt honored to even be asked … then the reality set in. I realized that I had never done anything in Rotary. Oh Boy, we are in TROUBLE. On this day, I accepted the responsibility and began asking for help from members and past presidents. We were an awesome team!”

Sheila has served on the board of the Dawnbreakers club since becoming a member, “I can’t seem to get fired,” she laughs. Sheila stays quite busy in her personal and professional life.

She has two children, Blake, 31, and Sydney, 19, daughter-in-law Rhonda and two grandchildren, Van, 9, and Reed, 6, along with a Siberian Husky named Pepper and a Rag Doll cat named Chloe. Sheila is the owner of Sheila J. Butler and Company, an insurance company specializing in three areas of insurance. Sheila also sits on the board of directors for Community in Schools.

Sheila’s favorite time of year is at Christmas when she has her famous “Pie Day,” a three-day blitz of 100 cookie cakes personally delivered by her to clients during the month of December. “I have built my business through relationships with business owners one “cookie pie” at a time and that makes for an awesome business model!” she relates.

There are 1.2 million Rotarians in 35,000 clubs doing good all over the world in over 200 countries and geographical areas, according to Rotary International.

Renee Keener 2007-2008

Renee Keener is founder and president of American Document Securities, Inc. in Carrollton, Ga. She achieved a goal to become a Certified Woman Owned Business in 2004 with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. American Document Securities, Inc. is also a proud AAA Certified member of NAID, the National Association for Information Destruction. Renee also served two terms to the Board of Directors for NAID, in 2009 and 2012. In addition to running the company, she has served on several local levels including New Hope Boys home and her local Chamber of Commerce, where she was the recipient of their first Carroll County Entrepreneur of the Year award in November 2006. She is active in Rotary serving as past president and secretary and also becoming a Paul Harris Fellow; and has served as co-chairman of the local chapter of the Women’s Business Alliance with the Chamber. She’s an active member of Midway Macedonia Church in Villa Rica and enjoys biking, kayaking and horses as her leisure.

Alicia Michael Photo by Todd Middlebrooks

2008-2009

Alicia Michael joined the Carrollton Dawnbreakers in March 2005. Alicia has been recognized by the club by being named Dawnbreakers Rotarian of the Year, she has been awarded the Dawnbreakers Leadership Award, John T. Lewis Mentor Award and the Dawnbreakers Excellence Award. Alicia also went one step further and served District 6900 as an assistant governor from 2010-2013.

She is a sustaining member, benefactor, a Paul Harris Fellow Society Member and in 2014 became a Rotary Foundation Bequest Society Member.

Most recently Alicia served as the Rotary District Governor in 2014-2015, working with 69 Rotary clubs and over 4,400 Rotarians throughout the state of Georgia.

During Alicia’s term as president, the club was able to complete over 15 projects that served hundreds of citizens in the community. During her term the club supported CASA, Inc., the Carroll County Soup Kitchen, the Carroll County Rape Crisis Center, and many other local programs.

Alicia showed her immense dedication to the club and the community during her tenure and was honored to receive the District 6900 Sheffield Award in 2008-2009 for President of the Year in Category II clubs. She currently serves as president-elect of Rotarians for Family Health and AIDS Prevention, Inc. She has been the owner of Carrollton Collision Center since 2000, is married to Matt Metts and has two children, Joshua Michael and Mikayla Metts. She has been deeply involved in numerous capacities in the community including serving on the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2010-2013, the Carroll County Women’s Business Alliance Board of Directors in 2009 and 2010 and executive director of Carroll County’s Certified Literate Community Program, LIFT (Literacy Is for Today and Tomorrow, Inc.) from 2012-2016. Alicia also served on the Advisory Board for the 2014 100 Black Men of Atlanta Football Classic and on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Tipoff Club where she was the presenter of the NCAA Naismith Trophy.

Alicia has no plans to stop giving back to the citizens of Carrollton. “I’ve spent two decades in the automotive collision repair industry,” she shares, “I now look forward to the next chapter in life where I will be in the business of making a difference.”

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April Harris 2011-2012

Technical College Business Advisory Board, served as Treasurer of the UWG Alpha Gamma Delta House Association, UWG A-Day chair and cochair, has been a Women’s Business Alliance board member, and currently serves the Carroll County Development Authority for District 4. April was also honored to be named the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year in 2014.

Robin Custard 2012-2013

April Harris with Daniel Jackson, President & CEO of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

Along with serving as president of the Dawnbreakers Rotary, April Harris was honored to receive the award of Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and is also a Paul Harris Fellow in the club. She has been a Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotarian since September of 2005 and served as vice president in 2010-2011.

April shares what being president of the Dawnbreakers means to her. “My year as president was full of many wonderful service projects, such as planting trees in our community and working with our local Soup Kitchen, and some very successful fundraisers like our annual Casino Night,” she relates. “My biggest accomplishment, however, was learning how to be a better leader and learning what it means to be a humanitarian and work for the greater good. Rotary gave this opportunity to me, and I will forever be grateful!

You truly ‘Get out of it, what you put in to it!’ If you put in the time to be the best Rotarian possible, the payback is immeasurable.”

April is the owner of The Squire Shop, is the founder and owner of Brewer’s Lantern and is married to Rick Harris. In addition to her work with the Dawnbreakers, April is very involved in the community. She has received numerous awards and has served on several boards. She has been a Carrollton Mainstreet board member and president, UWG Alumni board member, served on the Carroll Country Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, currently serves on the West Georgia

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Robin has been a member of the Dawnbreakers Rotary since 2007 and has served in several capacities within the club, including serving as an officer since 2008. Robin is credited for bringing to life the Dawnbreakers’ ‘Casino Night,’ which is now in its ninth year. She was named Rotarian of the Year in 2008, received the John T. Lewis Mentor award in 2010, is a Paul Harris Society member and foundation benefactor, and has served as the treasurer for District 6900 since 2014.

Robin shares what it meant to her to be president of the Dawnbreakers. “As a result of the 15 years (and presidents) before me, our club flourished during my year. We finally had money in the bank and were able to do a number of service projects that just weren’t possible prior to then.

Along with the community projects and nonprofit organizations that our club had sponsored for years, we hosted the first Rotarians Against Distracted Driving fair, that included creating our own radio advertisement, and sponsoring

12 young drivers in advanced driving lessons,” she says. “When Tanner opened the new ER in Carrollton that year, we donated over 1,500 books to the Tanner ReadER program formed

by Dr. Tom Fitzgerald to get it off the ground, and have doubled that donation every year after.

We purchased GEDs for 25 students through Literacy is for Today and Tomorrow, and attended their graduation. Finally, we partnered with RKR Construction to build a covered arena for Rachel’s Wish Foundation so they could perform events and equestrian therapy year round for the community.”

By far, Robin’s most treasured memory as president was when the club brought home the highly coveted ‘Club of the Year Award.’

Robin is a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant. She currently serves as the controller for Systems and Methods, Inc. She has been with the company for 10 years. She is married to Don Custard and has two boys: Bryan, 31, is married to Jessica, and Kevin, 29, is married to Tiffany. Robin has three grandchildren: Makenzie, 7, Damon, 7, and Jordan, 3.

Robin was born and raised in Texas, and at the age of 20, was attending the University of Texas when Don proposed to her, saying, “My job is transferring to Georgia, will you marry me?” She laughs as she shares the memory. “Dumbfounded, I looked at him and said, ‘Where’s Georgia?’ It is true, when you are from Texas, that really is all you know!” she relates. “After my geography lesson, I did say ‘YES,’ and after 32 years, and now that my children and grandchildren were born here, this is now home.”

She is a Southern Hills Christian Church member involved with the children’s ministry since 2013, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1999, a GA Society of CPA member since 1999 and a WGA Society of CPA Member, since 2006 where she held the title of officer in 2008 through 2010.

Rotary International and Gender Equality

Before a 1987 Supreme Court Ruling, Rotary International was a club for men which strictly prohibited women from joining at any level, according to Rotary International.

(That ruling occurred just 29 years ago.)

Susan Hewitt Incoming President 2016-2017

Susan was a founding charter member of the Carrollton Rotary Dawnbreakers in 1997 and has served on the board in the past and present. Her favorite part of being involved in the Dawnbreakers club is the work that the club does with the local Special Olympics.

Her goal as president will be to always put family first. “As Rotarians, we must always be mindful of the importance of family cohesion,” she explains.

“By focusing on this cohesion, we can move forward in helping the community. I intend to be a leader by example; to this end, I will concentrate on bringing our Rotary family into the future.”

Susan is also very involved in the Carrollton community by being a Carroll County Chamber of Commerce member, where she attended the Leadership Academy. She is also a mentor for high school students, she has served on the board of the Home Builders Association of Georgia for 17 years and her business is a collection site for apparel donations for “Wrapped in Angel’s Wings,” which is an organization that uses the donations to make burial gowns for stillborn and premature births that result in death.

She is past president of the Young Professional Agents of Georgia for Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia, has received numerous awards for membership, including Associate Member of

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the Year, for the Home Builders Association of Georgia, has served on the Agents’ Advisory Board for a major national insurance company, and in 2013, was one of the top 10 production leaders for another major national insurance company.

Susan is the founder and president of Southland Insurance Company, which she opened in 1985.

She had previously been an agent for eight years with a large insurance company before exploring the independent insurance field. One of her former pets, a cat named Alex, was an office cat, Susan laughs as she recalls the memory. “He loved to steal back any and all papers I gave to my clients!

He would jump off the desk, grab the papers and run!”

She is married to Gary Hewitt, and she has two daughters, Stacie Bullock and Tiffany Elliott, and five grandchildren, Maggie Roberts, Cameron Bullock, Courtney Bullock, Addie Elliott and Garan Elliott. She has a cat named Sebastian, a dog named Harley and as a proud grandmother and pet owner, she will gladly provide photos of her grandchildren or pets - all you have to do is ask!

Susan loves to travel with Gary, and she feels fortunate to have been able to visit many places all over the world. She is always interested in an adventure and hopes to experience many other parts of the world. She is passionate about gardening, meeting new people from all walks of life and her family, which includes her pets.

Paula Gillispie

Future President 2017-2018

Paula is looking forward to serving as future president of the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club in 2017. Her goal as president of the club is to increase membership and also increase member participation. She is also a Paul Harris Fellow with the Dawnbreakers.

She is very involved with the community and has served as a board member of the Carrollton Kiwanis Club, is a current board member of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Education Committee, currently serves on the Executive Committee of the CarrolltonCarroll County Community Centered Education Collaborative, is a board member of Carroll County CASA and the Georgia Independent School Association, and currently serves as accreditation team chair of the Southern Association of Independent Schools. Paula was also awarded the Women’s Business Alliance Woman of the Year in 2015.

Paula is the Head of School with Oak Mountain Academy and has been involved in teaching and administration for 43 years. She was awarded Fayette County Teacher of the Year during her teaching career.

She is married to Dan and they have one son, Shane, who is married to Nicki. She also has two beautiful grandchildren, Gavin and Averi Grace, and two yellow labs, Harley and Rocky. Paula and Dan love to fish for red fish off the coast of Louisiana near Grand Isle and she participates in a Women’s Breast Cancer Tournament there each year. They enjoy riding Harley Davidson motorcyles, and she will be the first to tell anyone that Elvis Presley is her first love.

Paula graduated from high school in Bremerhaven, Germany. While living in Germany, she traveled to East Berlin when the Berlin Wall was still standing. “Passing through ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ into East Berlin is an experience I will never forget,” she shares. WGW

For more information on the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club visit their website at: www.dawnbreakersrotary.com

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Paula Gillispie during a Board of Trustees “meet and greet” with guest speaker Ben Carson at the 2014 Georgia Independent School Association Annual Conference, prior to Mr. Carson’s announcement as a Presidential candidate.

SHE’S GOT GAME If understanding sports is part of what makes someone a good coach, it’s no surprise Coach Lisa Phillips excels as head softball coach at Carrollton High School. She’s not only played sports, but she’s earned countless accolades for her athletic skills.

While attending Temple High School, Lisa was a three-sport athlete: softball, basketball and track.

She received 11 offers to continue her basketball career at the collegiate level, but she chose to stay close to home at the State University of West Georgia.

In college, she was a four-year starter for the basketball team and played softball. During her sophomore season, she was the first studentathlete at UWG to be named to the All Gulf South Conference teams in two sports in the same season.

When she was a college junior, the NCAA

PHOTO BY GLENN HOLMES

implemented the three-point line for women’s college basketball. That year, Lisa hit 89 threepoint goals to lead the NCAA. As a senior, she made 139 three-point goals to lead the NCAA again, including one game in which she scored 11 three-point goals. That accomplishment stood as a NCAA national record until just a few years ago.

The university retired her number 10 basketball jersey at the conclusion of her playing career.

She is also a member of the UWG Athletic Hall of Fame.

Lisa graduated from UWG in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in finance, then earned her master’s degree in business education from UWG and a specialist degree in administration from Jacksonville State University.

Her first coaching position was with Villa Rica High School, where she served as a varsity head

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softball. She is currently the starting shortstop for the UWG Wolves softball team.

Ryan Jay (18) – a senior at Bremen High School. Ryan is a middle defender for the BHS soccer team. Last season, he was named the Hardest Working Blue Devil. He is involved in many school activities and will graduate in May. He plans to attend Kennesaw State University in the fall to pursue a degree in accounting.

Anthony (8) – He is a second grader at Carrollton Elementary. “He loves that to be at the softball field with my team and considers them all big sisters,” Lisa relates.

West Georgia Woman: Tell us about Photo by Glenn Holmes your practice regimen.

Lisa Phillips: We practice after school daily for basketball coach and assistant softball coach. In about two hours throughout the season.

1994, she became the head softball and basketball WGW: How far in advance do you begin to coach at Bremen High School. Her softball team prepare for a softball season? won three regional championships and, in 1996, LP: August 1 is our first official date of practice, the team went undefeated (30-0) to win the but in June, we practice two to three times per Georgia High School Association State Softball week before playing eight to 10 summer league Championship. games in July. I love for my players to have Lisa then spent three years as an assistant time to enjoy their summer and do things with principal at Villa Rica High School, before returning their families because once we officially start on to Bremen as the head softball coach, then coming August 1, we stay busy with practice, games and to Carrollton in 2006. During the 2014 season, Lisa tournaments through the end of October. won her 400th softball game while leading CHS to WGW: How do you lead your students by its first ever Elite 8 appearance, where they placed example? third. She is married to CHS Trojan Hall of Famer LP: I love Jesus, so I try hard to exemplify the Terry Jay Phillips. They have 4 wonderful children: essence of who He is in my life. I want them to see Eric Jay (25) was a three-sport my relationship with Him, and I want athlete at Carrollton High School. them to see the relationship I have He continued his baseball at with my husband and my children Georgia Southern University, as one that is based on love, leaving his mark on GSU baseball selflessness and serving others. as the all-time career hits leader During our season, we have a Fight with 339 hits. Eric Jay was drafted Like a Girl Day to honor those in the 6th round by the Toronto who have beaten, those who are Blue Jays in 2012. fighting, and those who have lost Randi (21) – Lisa counts it an their battle to breast cancer. The extraordinary privilege to coach softball players also donate money her daughter as a Trojan softball to help sponsor a child’s Christmas player. “I had coached so many each year. I want to model giving other players through the years, back and honoring others while also and it was such an honor to coach being a hard worker, passionate and my daughter,” Lisa says. During competitive. I want them to see that Randi’s junior year, CHS won its Lisa’s family from left: Ryan Jay, I strive to be excellent in all that I first ever region championship in Terry Jay, Lisa, Anthony, Eric Jay do. and Randi

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WGW: What made you decide to become a softball coach?

LP: Sports have always been a huge part of who I am. I have been very blessed to play for some great coaches throughout my career. These three stand out the most: Jane Williamson, my basketball coach at UWG, convinced me that I should coach. It was her belief that I was the coach on the floor during my playing days at UWG. The confidence she inspired in me fueled my desire to teach and coach. After playing for her, it became apparent I wanted to share the skills and lessons I had learned with kids.

Donald Stitcher, my high school basketball coach, taught me toughness and how to overcome obstacles. He taught me how to rely on teammates and that I had to work hard on my skills to become a better player. He also taught me the foundation to success begins with God first, family second, then career.

My softball coach at Temple High School was Teresa Billingsly-Perkins. She was one of the most competitive people I have ever known. The fire she had in her resonated with something in me, and she never let me settle for not giving it my best every time out. She challenged me to be excellent and always expected me to give her and the team my very best on every play.

WGW: Who do you look up to in your professional life?

LP: Professionally, all of my former coaches have inspired me. I also love to read books on leadership. Some of my favorites were written by Kevin Elko, Jon Gordon and Todd Gongwer.

WGW: Who do you look up to in your personal life?

LP: When I was growing up, my mom and dad made many sacrifices to take me to games and practices. They worked hard to provide things I needed including their time and resources into my desire to play ball. During that same time, my maternal grandparents also provided a strong foundation of love, faith, and support. Now, I look up to the Godly women and men that God has placed in my life. I see the devotion they have to the Lord, their families, and the desire they have to serve and help others. They inspire me to be more in Him, to be a better wife, mother, teacher, coach and friend.

WGW: Tell me about your biggest fan.

LP: Growing up, without a doubt, my granddaddy was my biggest fan. From an early age, I just loved being with him, and he loved watching me play at every level. He and I were

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Photo by Glenn Holmes

buddies. Now, without a doubt, my biggest fan is my husband, Terry Jay Phillips. We were married 28 years ago during my junior year at UWG. He rebounded 1000s of shots those two years and rarely missed games or practices. More than anyone else, he has always supported my dreams to teach and coach. He has always been the one I could count on for support, encouragement, guidance and most of all, unconditional love.

He has never wavered in my choice to pursue coaching. He loves the Lord, he has been an excellent husband and father, and he has been my assistant coach on the field and court for the last 20 seasons. I have an awesome family, but without a doubt, my husband is ALWAYS my biggest fan.

WGW: Being a coach requires a lot of hours and sacrifice. What keeps you motivated?

LP: I coach for the relationships that develop with my assistant coaches, my players and their families. Don’t get me wrong, I love to win, but at the end of their career, it’s not the wins and losses they will remember the most, it is the relationships they formed by being part of a team. It is the bus rides, the practices, the time coach dressed up as Batman for practice, the trip we took to Colorado, the water slide at practice, the lock ins … those are the things that will truly be the memories they talk about more than the championships.

WGW: How do you balance your work as an academics teacher and a coach?

LP: Obviously, my job is first to be a classroom teacher, so through years I have learned to manage my time and get work done so I am prepared for my students as well as prepared to coach. Coaching is very demanding when in season, but it has always been a family atmosphere for us. With my husband as my assistant coach, our kids were always at the gym or fields with us during practices and games. Our parents have always been so willing to help us with our kids, plus we have always had our player’s parents willing to help while we worked with their player.

WGW: What subjects do you teach in school?

LP: Business and physical education classes WGW: How many hours are required of you to coach?

LP: In season, in addition to my classroom teaching schedule, I spend 20 to 27 hours per week coaching.

WGW: What advice would you give a young woman who is interested in coaching at the high school level?

LP: One, you have to be passionate about making a difference in young people and be passionate about the sport. You have to know your sport to teach those skills and strategies, but I have come to realize that it really takes having a heart for young ladies and a desire to see them grow into young women that will be awesome wives and mothers that have a heart to serve others. Softball for most of them only lasts four years, so I want them to be good softball players at CHS, but I also want them to be successful in life. Softball is the vehicle I try to use to create an environment to grow and nurture the player and young woman.

WGW: Do you still play softball?

LP: No, the last time I played was about 10 years

Pink Out Game for Breast Cancer

ago in the men’s church league. I played shortstop for my church’s team.

WGW: What type of support do you receive from family and friends?

LP: The support we get from our family is tremendous. I couldn’t do it without them. My mom has been awesome to help me with kids through the years in addition to keeping my laundry under control during the season. She also cooks meals for us.

WGW: If you could meet any professional athlete, who would you meet, and why?

LP: Larry Bird was always the player that I loved to watch play, but I think it would have been fascinating to talk to Coach John Wooden as well.

He loved the Lord and his family, and he always got the best out of his players.

WGW: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you?

LP: I am a spirit-filled saved-by-the-blood-ofJesus woman who happens to also be a teacher and a coach. I want to show who He is in me first.

I was very successful in winning several region championships and even won an undefeated 30-0 GHSA state championship. However, 13 years ago, I was saved and began a relationship with the Lord that transformed me into a more caring and loving coach. Now I am more concerned about them as people and we are still successful. That’s a win-win!

In 2014, I took my 23 member team to Ft. Collins, Colo., to play in a tournament. We played softball on Friday and Saturday, but on Sunday, I took them to the contemporary church service at the United States Air Force Academy. Afterward, we rode the cog railway up to Pike’s Peak. It was the first time over half my team had ever flown. It was the most unique experience I had ever been part of in my coaching career.

I have been blessed to work for great principals and teach along side many wonderful people in my 26-year career in the school building.

However, I would be remiss if I didn’t say a special thank you to all my assistant coaches through the years. Without them, none of my success would have happened. I would also like to thank the parents of the players for allowing me to be a small part of their lives and to thank them for their selfless sacrifice to support their daughters.

Most important, I would also like to say the most heartfelt thank you to all of the players. The hard work, dedication and sacrifices you made challenged me to be a better person and coach throughout the years. WGW

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Marching into Spring Getting Your Garden Ready for Warmer Temperatures

By Cathy Alvis

A

s you thaw out from this latest winter season, you start to turn your attention outside. Fresh air, warmer temperatures and the landscape start to come alive after the deep freeze.

But what in the world should you do first?

Cleaning up leaves and sticks is simple, but trimming, fertilizing and spraying for insects in the right time frame can be confusing. Taking it one step at a time helps you conquer your landscaping dilemma.

time once again. The rule of thumb is 40 pounds per 1,000 square feet. You also need to start thinking about your garden. Apply lime on that area as well as a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer. Till or turn over the area so the lime can start working in the soil.

It will be time to plant in the next couple of weeks. If you want to start vegetables and flowers indoors from seed, start now. You need at least six weeks to grow strong transplants.

Week One

In the second week of March, prune the boxwoods, but not with shears. Use a hand pruner to make foliage “holes” in the greenery so light can penetrate to the trunk. Spray a fungicide such as Captan on apple and peach trees while the blooms are on the tree.

Now is also the time to prune giant holly shrubs back to a manageable size. Don’t be shy; you can cut them to 18 inches tall and they will come back. Plant roses in soil that contains plenty of organic matter and has been thoroughly tilled.

In the first week of March, start with fertilizing pansies.

Since the soil is warming, use any water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. You still have about six to eight weeks left to enjoy these flowers.

Cut most of the green foliage off of tattered liriope.

A mower, set to its highest setting, is the best tool for large areas. You will start to see new foliage come soon.

If you haven’t spread lime on your lawn in a year, it’s

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Week Two

Week Three In the third week, plant beets, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, turnips or other cold-crop items in your garden. You have time for the crop to produce and harvest before the summer veggies go in.

If you’re planting fescue grass, you can overseed your yard, but you can’t use a preemergent weed preventer for six weeks after seeding, so make your game plan accordingly.

Divide overgrown clumps of hosta when you can see the leaves unfurling aboveground.

Fertilize pecan trees with 1 pound of 10-10-10 with 2-percent zinc for every inch of trunk thickness.

Repot houseplants you plan to move outdoors in fresh potting soil. Their roots will need more room as they grow rapidly in the sun. WGW

Week Four You’re almost there! In the fourth week, examine the backside of euonymus and camellia leaves for scale insects. Thoroughly spray with horticultural oil if the pests are found.

Remove spent camellia blooms from the bush and from the ground, and re-mulch the area. This helps prevent camellia petal blight.

This is your last chance to prune bush roses to approximately one half their current size. The roses will flush back out with nice new burgundy and green foliage and buds.

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Depression

Don’t Let Disrupt Your Pregnancy

By Shannon Couvreur, DO

“How are you feeling?”

T

hat’s a question women often encounter while pregnant. Typically, the answers might include “nauseated,” “hungry,” or “my back hurts,” but research increasingly shows us that it should cover more than how you feel physically.

The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force both recommend screening women for depression while they are pregnant and after they deliver.

Depression is the most common behavioral health problem experienced in the general population, and women tend to experience it at twice the rate of men. And the initial onset of depression often peaks during a woman’s childbearing years. The impact of depression, too, can be devastating. More new mothers die from maternal suicide than from hemorrhage or hypertensive disorders.

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Determining if you’re experiencing depression is often difficult, however, because of all the other changes that often occur during pregnancy such as changes in libido, sleep, appetite and more.

Know Your Risk Knowing your risk for experiencing depression during and after pregnancy can help you look out for the symptoms.

Risk factors for depression during pregnancy include: • • • • • • • •

Maternal anxiety Life stress History of depression Lack of social support Unintended pregnancy Medicaid insurance Domestic violence Lower income

• • • •

Lower education Smoking Single status Poor relationship quality

(Source: ACOG)

Risk factors for postpartum depression can include: • Depression during pregnancy • Anxiety during pregnancy • Experiencing stressful life events during pregnancy or during the early postpartum period • Traumatic birth experience • Preterm birth/infant admission to neonatal intensive care (NICU)

• Little social support • Previous history of depression • Breastfeeding problems (Source: ACOG) While these risk factors can increase the chances that you might experience depression during or after your pregnancy, they do not guarantee you’ll face depression, nor does it mean that you will not experience depression if you don’t have any of these risk factors.

Essential Screening Since the risk factors can increase the likelihood of depression during or following pregnancy, but not guarantee it, it’s essential that your prenatal care provider provides a screening for depression.

Most screenings are relatively fast, taking no more than 10 minutes.

Standardized screening tools help your medical provider gauge whether or not you’re experiencing depression.

Treatment for depression is available during and following pregnancy. Make sure you speak with your provider about a screening for depression, and if you experience anxiety, intrusive or dangerous thoughts or other symptoms of depression, don’t ignore them. Speak with your medical provider about what you’re feeling and what options are available for you.

WGW

Dr. Couvreur is an obstetrics and gynecology specialist with West Georgia Healthcare for Women, part of Tanner Medical Group. More information is available at www.wghfw.org or by calling 770.214.2121.

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Finding a deal Are foreclosures still a steal?

The housing crisis wasn’t a terrible thing for everyone – some investors made piles of money buying foreclosures for often less than half of their previous market value, then either flipping or renting them. Foreclosures also provided regular homebuyers a way to get into a new house at a bargain price, provided they were willing to invest a little sweat equity fixing up the homes.

As the market continues to recover, foreclosures are becoming harder to find, at least in our area.

Nationally, the number of people who own more on their homes than the houses are worth – known as being underwater – sank to 4.3 million at the end of 2015, reports CoreLogic. At the height of the housing crisis, that number was 11.6 million.

So while it’s good news for the economy that there are fewer foreclosures, it can be bad news for homebuyers in search of a great deal. With only a handful of foreclosures on the books, banks aren’t in a hurry to get the homes listed for sale, in many cases. When they finally list the homes, chances are the prices are closer to market value than the foreclosures of the past.

The Deals Many homebuyers are starting their searches

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By Shala Hainer

expecting to score a cheap foreclosure they can fix up, then they quickly become disappointed in the number of homes available and the prices. While foreclosures might not fit the bill, a few other options still help homebuyers find deals.

Short sales, while not as prevalent as during the housing crisis, still provide a way to get a good deal on a home – sometimes a better deal than if the house goes into foreclosure. A short sale happens when a homeowner can no longer make the payments on the home, and the bank agrees to sell the home for less than the homeowner owes.

Fluctuating oil prices have led to layoffs in certain areas, including Texas, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Foreclosures continue to rise there, according to CNN. North Dakota, for example, saw foreclosures climb by 387 percent in 2015.

Because short sales must be approved by the lender, they often take longer than a standard sale, but new federal regulations keep the process moving forward much faster than in the past.

Many short sale deals can close as quickly as 60 days.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, lists some houses they have reclaimed through FHA loans that went into foreclosure. These can sometimes provide better deals than other foreclosures because many are open to owner-occupants, or homeowners who plan to live in the property, before they are available to investors. This reduces the competition. Many of these homes need a significant amount of work, but HUD offers programs that might help you get into homes for as little as $100 down.

HUD also offers the Good Neighbor Next Door program, where homes in select areas can be purchased at half price – that’s right, a 50 percent discount – by law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and teachers. Although this program isn’t open to everyone, it can give the eligible buyers a fantastic deal on a home.

Although it’s harder to find a deal on homes listed for standard sale, a couple of options typically offer the best prices. When elderly parents die and their children inherit the home, they often sell the house as part of the estate. These houses are typically paid off, or only have tiny mortgages, and the beneficiaries might prefer a quick sale over the hassle of maintaining the home. They sometimes list the home for slightly below market value to ensure it moves fast.

Rental homes also provide a possible source of a deal. When investors decide to sell off their rental properties, they often do so for rock-bottom prices. There can be a downside, though – the lower prices often reflect the amount of work the homes need.

Bankrate reports that 1 in every 1,083 houses in Georgia filed for foreclosure as of November 2015. ending up with multiple offers.

Make your offer as attractive as possible by asking for the fewest number of contingencies possible – a buyer that doesn’t need to sell a house before buying another one, for example, presents a stronger offer than someone who must wait for their current house to sell.

Taking your time but being ready to move when the opportunity presents itself helps ensure you enjoy your house hunt and end up with a home you love. WGW

Take Your Time The best advice when you start shopping for a great deal on a home is to be patient.

When you find a home that looks like it’s at the price you want, jump on it immediately.

In this market, homes that list below market value get snatched up right away, often

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Daily Fare ”Adapt these recipes to your tastes and your lifestyle. That’s what I want you to feel the freedom to do with my recipes. You are more talented and creative than you give yourself credit for!”

Julie Culpepper Julie Culpepper is a Georgia native living in Carrollton for the past 26 years with her husband Alan and their adult children. She became a personal chef after graduating culinary school in 2012 and loves working with two companies that she incorporates into her style of cooking- Branch and Vine in Newnan and Doterra, an online source for essential oils located in Utah. For further information about contacting Julie or these companies, please feel free to contact her at : jculpep4@gmail.com or culpepperoilsolutions@mydoterra.org

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or go online to: branchandvineonline.org

One Rotisserie Chicken Two Delicious Meals

These recipes are a very easy and healthy way to provide dinner for your family by using only one rotisserie chicken.

This weekday chicken salad recipe is different from the traditional mayobased recipes but definitely worth the new experience. Feel free to use the spices or condiments of your choice.

My mother-in-law, Sue Culpepper, created the chicken pie below. She was well known for serving scores of people homemade meals made with love for many years.

I am listing the recipe as she made it, and, for some reason, it was just awesome with her homemade pickles.

A really crunchy sweet or spicy pickle is the best. It may become a weekend favorite for your family as well.

Photos by Michelle Horsley

Gremolata Chicken Salad Ingredients For Vinaigrette: 1/3- 1/2 cup Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil or any good quality extra virgin olive oil 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 Tablespoon garlic paste 2 Tablespoons Creole Cognac mustard or any spicy Dijon or brown mustard Salt and pepper to taste Chopped breast meat from one large rotisserie chicken or about 3 cups chopped chicken 1 cup chopped yellow sunburst tomatoes 1 cup chopped celery ½ cup diced apples (I used Fugi) or the fruit of your choice.

4 cups or 1 Bag premium salad greens mixture (romaine, spinach, radicchio, arugula, kale, etc.)

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Instructions

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss together chicken, tomatoes, celery, and apples. In a small bowl mix the vinaigrette until smooth. Pour over the chicken mixture until evenly blended. Scoop over salad bowls generously filled with your salad mixture.

Serve immediately. Leftovers make fabulous sandwiches for lunches!

In a deep 9-by-13-inch baking dish, place the chopped chicken into the dish. Scatter the vegetables evenly over the chicken. In a large bowl, mix the broth and the soup until smooth. Pour this mixture over the vegetables, and it should just cover the vegetables. Add more broth if necessary. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, butter, buttermilk, salt and pepper. Mix until smooth and it should look like the consistency of pancake batter. Carefully pour the batter over the broth from a short distance so that it will not sink into to broth but remain layered on the top until covering the dish entirely. Place in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 50 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Serve immediately.

Serves 4

Sue’s

Chicken Pie Ingredients chopped chicken meat from the remaining rotisserie chicken or about 3 cups Chopped chicken 1 (16-24 ounce) bag frozen diced vegetable blend (carrots, peas, corn, green beans, onion, etc.)

About 4 to 6 cups chicken broth 1 can cream of chicken soup 2 cups all-purpose flour 1½ stick melted butter ½ teaspoon each, salt and pepper 2 – 3 cups buttermilk

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Serves 4-6

Have a recipe you’d like to share with West Georgia Woman readers?

Send it to: features@westgeorgiawoman.com

Tips from Julie: Saving money and time is as simple as using your freezer to its full capacity. Your freezer can be a huge asset and help if you follow a few guidelines.

• Try to use the items in your freezer within six months, and no longer than a year • Keep your freezer clean, organized and in good running order. Clean the coils underneath every few months so the motor doesn’t overheat.

• Cube leftover breads and freeze in a big bag. Use it for all sorts of things, such as making croutons, panzanella salads and bread crumbs to use binders, like in meatloaf. Birds also appreciate bread crumbs in the winter.

• Buy your meats in bulk when on sale, and portion them into freezer bags for later use.

• Always label the foods in your freezer with a permanent marker, giving the ingredients and date. It’s amazing how different your food will look in that bag later!

• Make large portions at one time, such as soups, then freeze in smaller portions. It saves on time and expense.

Plus, it is wonderful to easily meet a need in a pinch, such as sicknesses and births. People really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

• Always save stock from meats you roast or bake. Homemade stock is better than store-bought stock and usually contains less sodium. It makes a tasty starter for homemade soups.

• Freeze liquids in an upright position and save room for expansion. I cannot tell you how many bottles of pomegranate juice have overflowed in my freezer, causing a terrible mess!

• Juice the liquids from fruits, freeze it, and when you’re ready, spend a cozy spring afternoon enjoying the “fruits” of your labor.

“A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.”

— Madeleine L’Engle

Celebrating 5 YEARS!

Visit us online or follow us on Facebook for more information about our week-long celebration in late March.

UNDERGROUND BOOKS

UndergroundBooks.Net Located just off Adamson Square Open M-Sat 11-7, Sunday 12-5 Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Underground_Bks

“Carrollton’s Prescription Headquarters”

821 Dixie Street Carrollton, GA 30117

770.832.7076 Drive Thru Service • Gifts • Free Delivery

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Local Happenings

Healers and Helpers Wellness Group This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville. Save the date for the annual healers and helpers D.R.E.A.M (Discover, Rejuvenate, and be Empowered to Achieve More ) in March 2016. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

The Barn at Sierra Springs Spring Open House

March of Dimes March for Babies Kickoff Breakfast

Join The Barn at Sierra Springs for an open house on Sunday, March 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at 1075 Old Four Notch Road in Whitesburg, Ga. Vendors welcome. To reserve your spot, email Angie Crews at thebarnatsierrasprings@gmail.com.

January 26th 2016 Mark Foster - March of Dimes committee member and emcee for March for Babies kickoff event.

Nicole Ceballos, mother of 2016 West Central Ambassadors Wyatt and Easton Ceballos.

Photos by Carla Starling

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Amy Brown, 2016 West Central March for Babies Chairperson presents Josh Brooks with the 1st place plaque for Georgia Power Plant Wansley’s 2015 fundraising efforts.

Lindsey Long, mother of the 2015 Ambassador family, speaks on premature birth.

Carroll EMC Foundation Awards Bright Ideas Grants to Local Teachers Carroll EMC recently awarded grants to local educators to fund creative and innovative educational projects for students in their classrooms. Grants of up to $1,000 were awarded to public school teachers, teaching grades Pre-K to 12, for projects in any subject.

Bright Ideas grants are funded through the donations of Carroll EMC members who participate in Operation Round Up®, a program where members elect to “roundup” their electric bills to the nearest dollar. The program is overseen by Carroll EMC Foundation trustees and funds a variety of community service projects including Bright Ideas, students scholarships, and many health and human services programs.

For 2015, 70 grants were awarded, totaling $61,492. These grants will help 71 teachers in 28 schools and will affect hundreds of children in our communities.

Included in this funding cycle were: Bowdon Middle School Kelly A. Ogles Bowdon High School Ryan Ayers Lisa Eidson Heather Mitchell Stephanie Norton Bremen Academy Sherry Brown Melody Hurston Lisa Maxwell Alison Tanner

Teacher Stephanie Norton from Bowdon High School won the 2015 Bright Ideas grant for her pottery class.

Photos: Carroll EMC 41

Bremen Middle School Patricia Thrower Bremen High School Dan Gurley Kristina Richardson Amanda Wilson

Carrollton Middle School Dea Chandler Cathy Fontenot Mary Miller

Central High School Elizabeth Beverly Kimberly Cowart Erin Smith Laura Williford

Carrollton High School Kasey Austin Noah Brewer

Glanton-Hindsman Elementary Carla Tullis Haralson County Middle School Renee Hendrix Debbie Huckeba Laura Murphy Misti Pike Pam Stack Tammy Thompson Krissy Westmoreland Nancy Willis

Teacher Annette Perkins from Carrollton Elementary won the 2015 Bright Ideas grant for WeDo Lego Robotics in STEM Lab.

Carrollton Elementary Devonne Cooper & Cheryl Miller Lisa Hines Scott Hobson Annette Perkins Kimi Redford Debbie Tucker Denice Walther

Central Elementary Kevin Bradley Shea Hall

Haralson County High School Jeff Abney Janie Barkley Craig Caldwell

Carrollton Junior High Stephanie Bone Lashenda Wood Luke Young

Teacher Jeff Abney from Haralson County High School won the 2015 Bright Ideas grant for Sgraffito Earthenware: Graphic Expressions on Clay.

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Ithica Elementary Beth Brewer Courtney Chastain Marcella Correa Teri Donaldson Jennifer Wilkie

Sandhill Elementary Kimberly Thomas

Jones Elementary Andri Pilgrim

Temple Elementary Josh Strickland Daphine Wynne

Mt Zion Elementary Joy Brown Melissa Trippe Cheryl Watkins Mt Zion High School Linda Ledbetter Barry Rollins Providence Elementary Adam Scurr

Sharp Creek Elementary Cherri Simmons

Temple High School Kyrie Adkins Monica Chason Sabrina Thompson Villa Rica Elementary Geoffrey Harden Villa Rica Middle Denise Alvarez

Applications for 2016 will be accepted beginning July 1 and can only be submitted via the Cooperative’s website, carrollemc.com.

Carroll EMC is a member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 50,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk and Troup counties. For more information, visit the Cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Proud Supporter and Printer of 925 Pacific Avenue Bremen, Ga. 30110 770.537.4329 www.gatewayprint.com

Woman Magazine West Georgia

TM

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Celebrate HER SUCCESS

Virtually Inspiring Local doctor creates personal trainer app to change lives at home and abroad.

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Full-time radiation oncologist by day, business owner by night, Dr. Anna Harris has the world at her fingertips – virtually, that is. Anna is the creator and owner of a virtual personal training app called TeleSlim that can be downloaded on Android and iTunes.

Anna attended Mercer Medical School for four years where she met her husband, Dr. Brent Harris, now the owner of US Med Clinic in Carrollton, Ga. During their residencies, Anna and Brent also published a weight-loss book called The Fiji Vacation Diet (Fiji is an acronym for Fit Isn’t Just Image), to address medical problems they observed in patients that were directly related to the patients’ diets.

They both completed their six-year residencies in Savannah, Ga., and San Antonio, Texas, then moved back to Georgia to be closer to their families in Kennesaw and Tyrone, Ga. They live in Carrollton and have a 20-month old son named Tybee.

In their free time, they love sailing, deep-sea fishing and anything to do with being outdoors. Physical activity is a large part of their lives, and they often participate in charity runs to help raise money for different organizations.

The App Begins During her medical residencies and up until her son Tybee was born in 2014, Anna would often run for exercise and semi-competitively in 5Ks and 10Ks. She was interested in learning more about weight training but found it difficult to do with her busy schedule. Not only did she not know where to start, but she had no idea how she would find the time to go to a gym and meet with a personal trainer several times a week.

At the time, she and her husband were both completing their medical residencies and were

concerned about the cost of a personal trainer, which can be anywhere from $40 to $100 per 30-minute session for one-on-one personal training.

Anna and Brent have always been forward thinkers, so creating a virtual personal trainer seemed like an ideal solution to the lack of time to train and the financial resources to receive quality personal training. They began brainstorming ideas in 2008, and the idea of TeleSlim was born.

Anna had always been a runner, but in 2009 she suffered an injury to her ankle that limited her competitive running. She was restless and wanted to do anything she could to stay physically fit, so in addition to swimming for her cardiovascular health, she began the weight training she had always wanted to do. “The gym membership was already expensive, and the training sessions were nearly $50 for 30 minutes,” she explains. “The personal trainer would give me assignments to do in between the next personal training session that I could afford. This is when the TeleSlim thought became rekindled.

However, we did not have the money to do the app, so we wrote all of our ideas down and dreamt that one day we would have the financial means to put our dream to fruition.”

A Dream Made a Reality During the fall of 2014, version 1.0 of the TeleSlim app on Android and iTunes became a reality for Anna, but that first launch didn’t come without challenges. The initial computer coders she hired did not have the capabilities and expertise to create the app as she envisioned, and this was a huge set back that took a year and a half to overcome.

“I think it would have helped to do our research and make sure the first coders we hired were able

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to do a project such as ours,” she relates. “It is worth going with a credible company and people that have done complicated start-up apps. Doing your research with who you hire is important.”

They have now completed version 2.0 of the TeleSlim app, which fixed issues with minor bugs and launched in January 2016.

Coding hasn’t been the only challenge for Anna.

Being patient has been the greatest challenge for her as a business owner.

“You get excited about a product and start sharing it with close friends who also get excited and pumped up,” she shares. “Then, they wonder what’s taking so long ... so not only is there the pressure that you put on yourself, but also from the close friends and family you told. You want to get your product or service out there quickly, but at the same time, you want it to be a quality product or service. You have to keep fixing things and taking longer than you want so that the final product or service can be something that you are proud of.”

It’s a Big Virtual World Out There To other women who want to enter the virtual world, Anna says there are so many things to consider because creating a virtual app is a totally different animal than creating a “brick and mortar” business. The first thoughts or ideas about the product aren’t always feasible for the virtual world.

“You must think about everything from when the person signs in to an iPhone application, what they see, to what they can do, and what happens when they select a certain option (something as simple as save log in information or to change a password),” she says. “Then there were other processes to think of such as: ‘What if they forget their password?,’ ‘What if the assignment that the trainer gives them is not what the client can do at this time, such as if they are out of town?,’ and ‘What do they swipe or push on the phone to communicate back to the trainer?’ It is nice to have a general outline of what you want the product or service to do, but then you have to get into the nitty-gritty details of everything that can go wrong and all the different choices.”

She laughs as she recalls the planning stages of TeleSlim. “The flow charts

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of the programming were spread on our dining room table and looked like a giant circuit board of pencil, eraser marks, and ink lines!”

Being the owner of the TeleSlim app is not always serious business. Anna recalls funny stories about the business, including photo shoots and filming of the exercise videos with the personal trainers. “We had a lot of fun filming our exercise videos and doing photo shoots. It was also pretty funny having our healthy trainers eating doughnuts and juice during the sessions. We took silly pictures of them lifting weights with doughnuts in their mouth,” she laughs.

Anna stays motivated with the knowledge that she is helping her clients reach their fitness goals without the restrictions of the past and is helping her personal trainers reach people all over the world. Knowing that she envisioned and then created a tangible and functional app that took an immense amount of time and effort is quite an accomplishment, and she finds that deeply fulfilling.

“Being part of TeleSlim is exciting because exercise and health is something I personally enjoy,” she relates. “It helps to have a passion in what you invent and produce. I love being a part of improving people’s lives, be it in medicine or through a personal training app. It’s also satisfying to be able to provide people jobs in your company. I am a super enthusiastic person and put a lot into my work and play. I hope that TeleSlim reflects that when people use it.”

TeleSlim’s Personal Trainers

Behind the App TeleSlim is the equivalent of having a personal fitness trainer with you 24/7 – all at the touch of a button on your smart phone. Clients can train anywhere they like, whenever they like. At a cost of only $150 per month with unlimited training sessions, it is much less expensive than paying for sessions in a gym with a one-on-one personal trainer.

Once a workout is completed, the client enters her feedback into her smartphone. Based on this feedback, the client’s exercise plan can be modified by real personal trainers through the program, depending on the client’s personal workout needs.

Anna believes the simplicity of the TeleSlim app is one of its best features. “Once you finish an assignment, you provide feedback at the end. Based on your results and feedback, your upcoming assignments will be modified,” she explains. “The next assignment in the queue will be waiting for you to do as soon as the next calendar day. The process leaves little room for excuses not to workout. The trainer does not have to be online or on the phone during the workout.

Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week and musclestrengthening activities on 2 or more days a week, according to the CDC. There is an in-app messaging system so the client and trainer can communicate without using personal cell phone numbers.”

Behind the Scenes Anna says the support of her husband and her parents has made all of the difference behind TeleSlim’s success. She is constantly bouncing ideas off Brent, who she considers her greatest mentor and partner, and her parents have always

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been very supportive of her and her ideas.

“My husband has always been a partner and big supporter in all of my endeavors including my current career as a radiation oncologist. He encouraged me to pursue radiation oncology, although I was intimidated by how competitive and hard it was to get into.”

Anna equates the business owner experience with a birth of sorts. “It’s like being a mom, but in a different way. The TeleSlim program has definitely taken longer than nine months to become a tangible service; it continues to need nurturing and matures with the clients’ and trainers’ needs. It has its moments where you feel proud that you created a service that can impact people’s lives. It will also probably have its moments when I may have a dissatisfied client that it just may not be a good fit for. Overall, I am proud of the service and am happy to see it touch people’s lives.”

Looking Ahead Anna is happy to be living and working in Carrollton where the small-town, welcoming feel is appealing to her. She also likes being only 45 minutes away from both of their families so they

can always keep in touch with those who matter most. The short drive to Newnan and Atlanta is a plus for her.

Anna can barely contain her excitement about the future of TeleSlim. “Wow, in the last five years, so much has changed from TeleSlim being on paper to an app available on Android and iTunes,” she says excitedly. “I look forward to seeing where TeleSlim reaches out – we may be international in other countries by then!”

Anna and Brent have other big things in store in the future. It’s hard to believe it when you look at Anna, but she is 36 weeks pregnant with their second child. She and Brent have decided to wait and be surprised about the baby’s gender, and they are looking forward to meeting the new addition to their family this month.

She credits her slim shape to not having a single moment to sit down because of their busy lives, and with baby number two on the way, things probably won’t slow down much for her in the future. However, she’s very happy, and that’s virtually all one can hope for in life. WGW For more information or to sign up for the TeleSlim app go to www.teleslim.com.

West Georgia Ambulance Encourages all WOMEN to INVEST IN YOURSELVES! For the greatest return on your time and money, invest in yourself.

• • • • • • •

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Check your blood pressure at the local drugstore.

Scan the paper for free health screenings in your area.

Get your yearly check up and mammogram.

Add drinking water to your daily routine.

Park farther out from the store and walk.

Incorporate a meatless Monday and eat your veggies!

No one is worth more than you. When you are at your best, then you can be better for those around you.

Dedicated Healthcare When You Need It Most

770.832.9689

The Pain of Endometriosis:

A Never-Ending Cycle Endometriosis is a very painful disorder that occurs during a woman’s normal menstrual cycle.

In women without this disorder, the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, called the endometrium, thickens then breaks down and exits a woman’s body as menstrual blood.

When a woman has endometriosis, the endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus and usually attaches to other organs in the body such as the bowel, the tissue that lines the pelvis and the ovaries. This displaced tissue does what it normally would if it were lining the uterus. It breaks down and bleeds during the menstrual cycle, but because it has nowhere to exit the body, it stays trapped and can cause very severe pain, especially during a woman’s menstrual cycle, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If the endometrial Symptoms Include: tissue becomes • Heavy periods attached to a woman’s • Painful intercourse ovaries, then cysts, • Fatigue or endometriomas, • Nausea may form, which • Lower back pain then causes the • Abdominal pain surrounding tissues • Bloating to become inflamed and eventually leads • Infertility to forming scar tissue • Pain during urination and adhesions which • Painful bowel movemay bind organs ments

together. In rare cases, Risk Factors Include: endometriosis can be • Previous pelvic infections found in areas outside • Abnormalities in the uterus of the pelvic region.

• Never going through childCertain risk factors birth may determine a • Family members with the woman’s likelihood disorder (mother, sister, for developing aunt) endometriosis. If a • Certain medical conditions relative such as a mother, sister or aunt was diagnosed with the disorder, then a woman is at risk for developing endometriosis as well. Other risk factors include never giving birth, prior pelvic infections, certain abnormalities in the uterus and certain medical conditions that prevent normal menstrual cycles.

If you suspect you may be suffering from endometriosis, make an appointment with your gynecologist so she can check for any abnormalities in your pelvic area. Your gynecologist should ask you questions about your symptoms and where and at what times the pain occurs.

There are tests available that can help diagnose endometriosis such as pelvic exams, ultrasound and laparoscopy. Laparoscopy can give your doctor information about the extent of the endometriosis in your pelvic region and can help your doctor determine what medical options may be available to you. WGW

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Womentality

Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.”

- Lorraine Hansbury

“Anyone who’s a great kisser I’m always interested in.”

- Cher

“There is no scientific answer for success ... you can’t define it.

You’ve simply got to live it and do it!”

- Anita Roddick

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

- Mother Theresa

“Make good use of bad rubbish.”

- Elizabeth Beresford 50

“Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try.”

- Mary Kay Ash

Ever After “Marriage is the golden ring in a chain

whose beginning is a glance and whose ending is Eternity.�

Kahlil Gibran

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KATELYN AND MICHAEL GEISLER

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West Georgia Woman will feature your bridal photo at no charge in “Ever After.” The bride or groom must be from West Georgia. Please submit one photo (at least 300 dpi), the bride and groom’s names, address, wedding date, venue, photographer’s name and copyright release to: photos@westgeorgiawoman.com.

Photos will be included as space becomes available.

PHOTOS BY LIFE IN FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY

KATELYN MARIE WILLIAMS AND MICHAEL RICHARD GEISLER Were married December 31, 2015 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Carrollton with a reception following at The Centre in Douglasville, GA.

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Depressed Mood

Teenage Angst or a sign of something more serious?

By Cheryl A. Francis

O

n any given day, a teenager might walk into my school office, taking advantage of my open-door policy to ask for a few minutes to talk. The story from either gender would start out with, “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I am not myself lately.”

Girls are more likely to stop by, and I often start my “few minutes” with, “You are very courageous!” Courageous because it took guts to stop in and ask for help. Courageous because there are many like you out there who are feeling the same way and either brushed it off or suffer in silence.

When the teens present the “I am not myself lately” symptoms, they usually closely resemble a depressed mood. After ruling out trauma, ADHD symptoms and asking about medical challenges, I ask what they know about depressed mood and provide a brief education on mood, recommending they engage parents so we can talk more.

Most teenagers with a depressed mood seem irritable and angry. One mother told me she has to walk on eggshells around her daughter due to her child’s irritability.

Other symptoms include withdrawal and

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isolation from friends and things the teen once enjoyed. If a girl is usually outgoing and regularly spends time with friends, then decides some of her friends are no longer “cool” without a valid explanation, this is a red flag.

A girl may not eliminate all her friends, but she may spend less time with the ones she keeps.

When a child who has always loved to play an instrument or other activity decides she no longer wants to continue and withdraws from family and friends, listen to her to determine possible causes.

Persistent sadness often manifests as tearfulness or crying without explanation. Many girls who are experiencing severe depression may complain of aches and pain such as headaches, stomachache and even joint pain. If she has been medically cleared, consider the possibility of depressed mood.

To make things even more complicated, some girls with depressed mood do not appear sad, nor do they always withdraw from others. Other symptoms of depressed mood may include: • feelings of worthlessness and guilt • lack of enthusiasm and motivation • constant fatigue • difficulty concentrating

• difficulty remembering information or making decisions • periods of sadness or hopelessness • frequent crying • angry or frustrated even at minor things • changes in eating and sleeping habits • a constant pattern of negative thoughts • thoughts of death or suicide.

Any of the symptoms listed above must be experienced for two weeks or more. While this is by no means a comprehensive list of all causes of depression in girls, these situations are common factors to depressed mood. Always have a trained professional assess for depressed mood if you notice any of these symptoms.

How Depression Develops Several factors can lead to depression. It can be hereditary or genetic, triggered by a family history. Environmental changes such as a major life transition or increased stressors may also be a trigger. A family member in the home who is managing a severe illness can also lead to depressed mood.

Depressed mood is a brain illness. Changes in the brain’s chemicals – neurotransmitters – affect thoughts and moods and contribute to depression.

Certain medication and uncontrolled substances may trigger it as well.

What to Do Parents should talk about what they are observing in their child’s behavior with their teen. Sometimes the behavior seems like normal teenage behavior, but it may actually be symptoms of feelings the child can’t express.

If the child is evaluated and isn’t experiencing depression, the therapist might recommend other techniques to manage the troubling behavior. The sooner intervention is in place, the sooner the child can begin to feel and behave better.

Sometimes, a child may not be able to give a good reason for the behavior; she may just know something is different. Respond to that nudge, and seek out a trained professional to assess the behavior.

Every behavior is purposeful. If the teen can’t explain troubling behavior, seek out a professional to offer support and ask the right questions to get an informed answer. Offering gentle and persistent support is invaluable to a girl who is experiencing depressed mood. Let her know you noticed changes in the behaviors and you are wondering what may be going on. You may not get a response right away, but take great care in just listening.

They do want to tell, but it is sometimes difficult to do so. WGW Cheryl A. Francis, Licensed Professional Counselor, is the owner of The Heart Matters Wellness Services LLC, a full-service counseling agency. She is certified as a Mental Health First Aid Adult trainer and regularly provides seminars and trainings to the community on various mental health issues.

She currently works as a school-based mental health counselor, and has partnered with the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy to train individuals in the prevention of childhood sexual abuse. Visit heartmatterswellness.com for more information about Cheryl and her work.

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Resources for Women

Police Departments Call 911 in an emergency.

Bremen Police: 770.537.4441

Dallas Police: 770.443.8100

Buchanan Police: 770.646.5246

Douglasville Police: 770.920.3010

Carrollton Police: 770.834.4451

Douglas County Sheriff: 770.942.2121

Carroll County Sheriff: 770.830.5888 Cedartown Police: 770.748.4123 Coweta County Sheriff: 770.253.1502

Floyd County Sheriff: 706.291.4111

GSPIN

Suicide prevention, intervention, and aftercare information. www.GSPIN.org

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Heard County Sheriff: 706.675.0444 Hiram Police: 770.943.3087 Newnan Police: 770.254.2355

Franklin Police: 706.675.6624

Paulding County Sheriff: 770.443.3010

Grantville Police: 770.583.2266

Polk County Sheriff: 770.749.2900

Suicide Prevention Services National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.TALK (8255)

Haralson County Sheriff: 770.646.2011

Know the Suicide Warning Signs!* If you or someone you know: • Threatens or talks about hurting themselves • Feels hopeless or like a burden • Increases alcohol or drug use

• Feels rage or uncontrolled anger • Feels trapped, like there is no way out • Engages in reckless behaviors • Withdraws from friends and family

Senoia Police: 770.599.3256 Tallapoosa Police: 770.574.7211 Temple Police: 770.562.3151 University of West Georgia Police: 678.839.6000 Villa Rica Police: 678.785.1100 West Georgia Technical College Police: 855.579.4357 Whitesburg Police: 770.832.1184 • Feels anxious, agitated or unable to sleep • Encounters dramatic mood changes • Sees no reason for living *Warning signs provided by Georgia Suicide Prevention Information Network

Healthcare Resources The following list of contacts assists people with no health insurance or those who can’t afford their medications, based on income or age.

Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging, Georgia Cares Program: (Disabled. 60 years of age and older.)

800.669.8387 dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS/ RX Outreach: 800.769.3880 www.rxoutreach.com

Partnership for Prescription Assistance: 888.477.2669 (toll free) www.pparx.org/ Pfizer Helpful Answers: 866.706.2400 (toll free) www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com Lilly Answers: 877.RX.Lilly (1-877-795-4559) (toll free) www.lillymedicareanswers.com Merck Prescription Discount Program: 800.727.5400 www.merck.com Georgia Parent Support Network: (Addictive Disease, Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health Issues.)

404.758.4500 www.gpsn.org

Additional Resources: www.rxhope.com www.rxaminer.com www.medicare.gov www.phrma.org www.rxassist.org www.needymeds.com www.themedicineprogram.com PeachCare for Kids: Provides free or low-cost health insurance for qualifying children in Georgia.

To apply, visit www.peachcare.org or call 877.427.3224 (toll free).

Pregnancy Resource Center: Carroll, Haralson & Heard Counties: Provides free confidential pregnancy tests and counseling.

770.832.0256 www.pregnancyrc.com

Services Georgia Legal Services: 404.206.5175 TDD 800.255.0056

Coweta County Solicitor’s Victim Assistance: 770.254.2701

Exchange Club Family Resource Center, Floyd County: 706.290.0764

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.7233 TTY 800.787.3224

Douglas Task Force on Family Violence: 678.715.1196

Hospitality House for Women, Floyd County: 706.235.4673

Douglas Judicial Victim Assistance: 770.920.7292

Victim Assistance, Haralson County: 770.646.2016

Douglas County Homeless Shelter: 770.949.4911

Heard County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit: 706.675.3329

S.H.A.R.E. House Family Violence Crisis Center, Douglas County: 770.489.7513

Paulding County District Attorney Victim Assistance: 770.443.7561

Carroll Co. Emergency Shelter: 770.834.1141 Carroll County Mental Health: 770.836.6678 Carroll County Solicitor Victim Assistance: 770.214.3110 Carroll Rape Crisis Center: 770.834.7273 Community Welcome House, Newnan: 770.304.0966 Coweta Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance: 706.845.4270

Highland Rivers Center, Floyd County: 706.233.9023 Floyd County District Attorney Victim Assistance: 706.291.5210

Shepherds Rest Ministries, Paulding County: 770.443.5213 Polk County Women’s Shelter: 770.748.2300

UWG Health Services: 678.839.6452 (free sexual assault exams completed by sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE)) UWG Patient Advocates: 678.839.0641 (Jill Hendricks) or 678.839.5338 (Corey Hindman) Georgia Crisis & Access Line Help is available 24/7 for problems with mental health, drugs, or alcohol.

800.715.4225 mygcal.com

HomeSafe Georgia: 877.519.4443 www.homesafegeorgia.com HomeSafe Georgia helps by providing “bridge” mortgage assistance to many Georgians who are unemployed or have seen a dramatic decrease in their income due to national economic conditions.

West Georgia Woman magazine makes every effort to make sure the information made available is complete, correct, accurate and up to date. Despite these efforts, inaccuracies can occur. Angel Media, LLC and West Georgia Woman magazine cannot be held liable for direct or indirect damage originating from use of the information on this page. Should you observe inaccuracies in the information made available, please email us at features@westgeorgiawoman.com.

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KAYA SURVIVED! Born 4 months early and spent more than 5 months in the hospital.

© 2015 March of Dimes Foundation

Sign up at marchforbabies.org Saturday, April 16, 2016 John Tanner Park Registration & Team Photos: 8:00 a.m.

Walk Starts: 9:30 a.m.

For more information, please call 706.845.0708

Premature birth is the #1 killer of babies.

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Luck O’ the Irish Chocolate Peanut Butter Hats With Dirty Shamrock Shakes

Kidz Korner

By Charlene Brooks and Sydney Dailey 1 box toothpicks 2 sheets of parchment paper Instructions

St. Patrick’s Day will be here on March 17th.

Get your little ones seeing green with these super quick Dirty Shamrock Shakes and these delicious Luck O’ the Irish cookies. Once they take a bite of these delicious cookies and a sip of this tasty shake, they’ll be thanking their Lucky stars!

Luck O’ the Irish Chocolate Peanut Butter Hats Ingredients 1 bag regular size marshmallows 1 package fudge covered peanut butter filled cookies 1 bag milk chocolate flavored melting chocolate 1 package green sugar crystals 1 package green taffy

Melt chocolate according to package directions.

Take one cookie and place flat side down on parchment paper.

Take one toothpick and insert completely into the marshmallow.

Dip the marshmallow in the melted chocolate then place on parchment paper. Allow to dry.

Take a small amount of chocolate and make a rim around the bottom of the marshmallow.

Take the marshmallow while the chocolate is still wet and hold over a bowl.

Sprinkle the green sugar crystals over the chocolate rim.

Take a dab of chocolate and place on the bottom of the marshmallow then place the marshmallow on top of the cookie. Allow to dry.

Remove the toothpick and place a small dab of chocolate over the hole left behind.

Take the taffy and form the shape of a shamrock.

Put a small amount of chocolate on the back side of the taffy then attach the shamrock to the rim of the marshmallow. Let stand one hour before serving.

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Pot O’ Gold Rainbow Necklace

This necklace is so easy to make and even more fun to eat! Your little ones will love stringing up the cereal to make their own tasty little Irish treat.

Even very small children can join in on the fun.

Materials 18-inch long piece of string or dental floss Assorted pieces of rainbow flavored frosted cereal Random adorable Irish baby

Dirty Shamrock Shakes Ingredients 2 cups mint chocolate chip ice cream 1 1/4 cups whole milk 5 drops green food coloring Instructions Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth. Serve in a frosty glass and enjoy!

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Instructions Place enough frosted cereal on the string to make a necklace. Tie string and place around neck. Eat it while you wear it!

Consider it ...

!

D

L O

S

Shala Hainer, Realtor Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers Office: 404.843.2500 Direct: 678.320.4529 www.metrobrokers.com

Better Homes and Gardens速 is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Opportunity Company.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Better Homes and Gardens速 Real Estate Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.

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Happy Easter Word Search Word Bank Easter Spring Flowers Jesus Easter Eggs Easter Bunny Cross Lent Good Friday Peeps Easter Grass Easter Basket Jelly Beans Sunday

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Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC Family Dentistry and Complete Facial Esthetics

Don't you look at your smile and your face as one complete picture?

Well, so do we. Ask us today about our treatment options using injectables for wrinkle reduction, "gummy smiles," and lip and line fillers to enhance that beautiful smile.

Who better than your dentist to enhance your facial features to compliment your smile? Your dentist is an expert on the facial muscles and is also among the most experienced with injection techniques.

Do you suffer from TMJ, headaches, and/or migraines?

Did you know that 80-90% of the time, these problems are muscle related? See how we can use trigger point injections to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. Often these injections not only relieve your pain, but also enhance your facial features for the better.

We are your total facial esthetics and facial pain treatment dental office.

Give us a call!

105 Dallas Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180 • 770-459-5778 www.drharveysmiles.com

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EXPERIENCE THE NEW BUICK

WALKER BUICK

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1492 N Park St (Hwy 27) Carrollton GA 30117 770.832.9602 www.walkergmauto.com