West Georgia Woman Magazine October 2018

Woman

Complimentary

October 2018

West Georgia

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Joyce Kiker

The Fight of Her Life

Trick or Treat!

The History of Halloween

The Shed at Westover Farms Sharing Memories of a Lifetime

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What’s inside...

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The Fight Of Her Life

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The Space In Between

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No One To Bring Home

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Celebrate Her Success

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Trick or Treat!

In Every Issue:

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Daily Fare

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Local Happenings

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Womentality

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Fabulous Fall

It's hard to believe it's already fall. Of course, here in the South it's still around 90 degrees! It's exciting to think about the upcoming cooler weather though, and if you're like we are in our household, you are really enjoying football season.

The holidays will be here before you know it, and, speaking of holidays, we are so excited to let you know that we will be publishing our very first holiday guide this month. We were working harder than Santa's elves in the summer to bring you this wonderful new issue for the 2018 holiday season.

Look for the West Georgia Woman magazine holiday guide online Oct. 15, and in print on Nov. 1, available free in retail and medical locations all over West Georgia and East Alabama.

For those of you who follow the magazine, you're aware that we usually dedicate a page in the magazine to my beloved nephew, Tristan, who passed away three years ago. Although we will still be dedicating the magazine to him every month, he will now hold a place of honor on page 9. After three years, we have used and re-used many of his photos in the magazine and we have very few larger images left.

By placing his photo on page 9 we will be able to share with you several other smaller photos we have of him. It was a difficult decision for me, but, after much thought and consideration, I believe it is time.

In This Issue Our cover feature this month is Bremen, Ga., resident, Mrs. Joyce Kiker. When Joyce was diagnosed with stage IV cervical cancer, she literally followed doctor's orders after her son, Chris Kiker, M.D., told her he needed her to live to see him graduate from medical school.

Joyce has found herself at the brink of death three times, has defied the odds and lived to tell her story of faith, hope and determination. Read about Joyce and how she is living her life to the fullest beginning on page 10.

Losing a child is the most difficult challenge any parent will face. Cheryl Francis tells you how to make it through the loss of an infant through stillbirth or how to help someone you know who may be dealing with this devasting loss on page 24.

Do you ever feel as if something is missing in your life? Are you constantly searching for happiness but find it eludes you at every turn? What does it mean to be "happy" anyway? On page 36, Lisa King explores the space in between happiness and unhappiness and finding peace and contentment through neutrality by simply changing your thought process.

Virginia Pollard, co-owner of The Shed at Westover Farms in Bremen, is a beautiful, caring woman and a dear friend to many in West Georgia. Learn how she made her late father's dream of opening their home and their hearts to help feed the souls of others through their beautiful event venue beginning on page 40.

Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine. Please do business with our valuable advertisers included in this publication, and please be sure to tell them you saw their advertisements in West Georgia Woman magazine! Don't forget to check out our first holiday guide available online Oct. 15 at www.westgeorgiawoman.com.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

See you next month!

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Publisher

Photo by Keith May

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

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West Georgia Woman is a monthly pubpositions or strategies of Angel Media, LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine lication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of or any employee thereof. Angel Media, this issue are copyright 2018. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our LLC. makes no representations as to voice. Knowing our value. Making a differaccuracy, completeness, correctness, ence.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. suitability, or validity of any informaAll rights reserved. Reproduction without tion in this publication and will not permission is strictly prohibited.

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Volume 3 • Issue 12 October 2018

Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Editorial Contributor

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Photographer for cover Mark Steffey

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Zachary@westgeorgiawoman.com Angela Brooks Dailey, owner and publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine, 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, Ga., and is a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey.

Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch Sydney play soccer.

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The Fight of Her Life Bremen Resident Joyce Kiker Faces Death Three Times and Lives to Tell Her Story

By Janet Flanigan

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Photos by Mark Steffey

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H

aving an optimistic outlook is probably not so hard to do when life is humming merrily along. But how about when, in a flash, everything changes? What then?

Joyce Kiker of Bremen has always had a can-do, enthusiastic view on life. She was born Joyce Sims, and basked in the love of her extended family, particularly her mother’s sister, her Aunt Sara. Joyce was named for her Aunt Sara as her given name is Sara Joyce, creating an extra-special kinship between the two.

When Joyce was 10 years old, her parents bought a farm in the small community of Felton in Haralson County. “That’s not easy for a young child to make such a big move,” Joyce remembers. “I was worried leaving behind my friends and my brand-new school in Smyrna.” She recalls stepping into Buchanan Elementary School and noticing the old hardwood floors and well-used classrooms. “I really wondered about this new school after leaving my fancy new one in Smyrna!” she exclaims.

Joyce and Roger still have the family farm in Felton and visit regularly to walk the grounds and reminisce about happy times with family there.

Her naturally sunny personality soon earned Joyce some lifelong friends. She is still very close with Myra Lefevre, a childhood friend she had in Smyrna from when they were just toddlers. “For Myra’s birthday recently, I took a photo of the two of us at age 6 and

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had it blown up," she shares. "She called it one of best presents she ever had and has it in her living room.” Lifelong friendships such as the one with Myra would eventually help sustain Joyce through some of the most difficult times.

A Close Call The first time Joyce had a brush with death was when she was only 18 years old, and her family home on the farm caught fire in the middle of the night. “I somehow woke up and got my parents out of the house," she relates. "A firefighter told me another two or three minutes in the house and we would not have made it.”

Seeing how her parents coped after that fire helped set the tone for how Joyce handled future adversities in her life. “They lost everything, and it was devastating,” she explains. “But they got on with things to rebuild our lives, and I believe that after going through that experience, I really began to realize I am a strong person.”

Facing Adversity Active and very independent, Joyce was a twosport athlete in high school. She played softball and tennis, and upon entering college she continued to play tennis for the West Georgia College (now the

Left to right: Joyce, with her son, Chris Kiker, M.D. and her husband, Roger Kiker.

Photo courtesy of Joyce Kiker.

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When entering her senior year as a physical education and elementary education major, Joyce encountered a bad break, literally, when she stumbled on a curb while running and broke her ankle.

She was still on the tennis team and was worried about the rehab, but she had time before the season began in the spring. Then, just six weeks later, after the first cast came off, misfortune struck again when she broke her other ankle sliding into second base.

Some student athletes might have just retired from tennis for that final year, but giving up just wasn't in Joyce's DNA. She powered through the recovery and rehabilitation for both ankles and her determination paid off: she and her doubles partner clinched second place in the state for West Georgia College.

Love At Work Upon graduation from West Georgia College, Joyce accepted a position at Stoffel Seals Corporation, a manufacturer of decorative seals, medallions, name badges and more. While working in the paper department, she happened to meet

L i fe . Star ts . He re . a nice young man who worked in the printing department, named Roger Kiker.

The young pair grew their friendship, and that friendship eventually turned to love. They kept their relationship to themselves, believing in keeping their work situation separate from their private lives.

But, eventually, they had to go “public” when they married.

Roger, who is still with the corporation, has happily been with the company for 45 years. Joyce worked at Stoffel Seals for 25 happy years, and she continued to work while welcoming and raising their son, Chris.

When Chris – now a medical doctor – was just a little boy in kindergarten, he told his teacher, Miss Regina Burrell, that he wanted to be a doctor.

His goal for becoming a physician never wavered, and Joyce jokes that she gets at least part of the credit for his attendance at medical school because she helped her son study to make the grades and maintain the focus to make his dream a reality.

Disturbing Symptoms In 2005, Joyce had been noticing that she was really feeling slow and tired, and was having trouble

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breathing. Normally active and busy, one morning causes an increased risk for blood clots, including it took every bit of her strength just to get ready Deep Vein Thrombosis. She spent two weeks in the for work. Roger encouraged her to stay home, but hospital and was placed on blood thinners, which she was dedicated to her job and decided to go in she must take for the rest of her life. anyway. However, when she arrived at Stoffel, she found she could not even mount the stairs outside A Necessary Change the building and had to crawl up the final few steps, gasping for air.

After her release from the hospital, Joyce and She called Roger, and he arrived immediately and Roger decided she needed to retire from Stoffel took her to see a doctor in Bremen. “I thought it was Seals. “The Hughes Syndrome did affect my heart a my heart," she explains. "Both of my parents died bit so I decided not to return to work, but it wasn’t from heart disease, and I thought that had to be it.” an easy choice," she relates. "Being at home, you The doctors ran a gamut of tests, showing she had don’t see everybody like you are used to. The very low blood oxygen levels. isolation is difficult."

When Joyce had a CT scan and x-ray, the That same year, Chris graduated from Bremen technician excused himself and suddenly the doctor High School in Bremen, Ga., and received a came in the room – he had come down from his scholarship to Mercer University. Besides the appeal office to speak to her right away. “I thought he of excellent academic offerings and a beautiful would tell me it was a heart attack, but it turned campus, Chris also selected Mercer because it has a out I had five blood clots in my lungs," she shares. medical school.

"When I said I needed to go out to the waiting room and tell Roger, the doctor told me I could not take even one more step.”

He was worried she may release one of the blood clots, which could kill her instantly.

Joyce was immediately admitted to intensive care, and Dr. Bradley Larson diagnosed her with Hughes Syndrome.

This autoimmune Joyce, with her son, Chris, at a medical awards ceremony for his class. At the end of the ceremony, he surprised Joyce with the "Miracle Mom" award. When she was diagnosed with stage IV cervical cancer, Chris told her she had to see him disorder graduate from the Mercer School of Medicine, and she fought valiantly to make that happen.

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After receiving his undergraduate degrees in health and economics, Chris still had to undergo the rigors of getting accepted into medical school. “It’s like an act of Congress to get into medical school these days,” she laughs.

But it was no laughing matter that during Chris’ second year of medical school, Joyce went to the doctor for what she thought was an ordinary urinary tract infection. She had no idea she was about to to face death down for a third time.

A Shocking Diagnosis “I had no pain at all; my only symptom was I was having some difficulty urinating,” Joyce explains.

The doctors initially assumed she was experiencing a urinary tract infection, sent her home with antibiotics and an assurance that she should notice some improvement after a few days.

After the third day with no signs of improvement, she called the doctor’s office. “Of course, it was a Friday and they could not fit me in," she says.

"I then decided that even if I could not get an appointment, I would just show up and wait on Monday.”

The doctor did see her on Monday and performed

more advanced testing, including a CT scan and a pelvic exam. What the doctors discovered not only shocked Joyce, it shocked the doctors as well. “The doctor came into the exam room and said, ‘Joyce, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m so sorry,” she says.

“He didn’t even tell me what was wrong with me and I was in such shock I didn’t know what to ask.”

But it was obvious to her that it wasn’t good news.

When Joyce and Roger called Chris to tell him what was going on, he came home immediately and insisted on going with Joyce to get a second opinion with Dr. Larson. Dr. Larson is an oncologist who specializes in blood disorders and cancers, so it seemed to be the natural next step for Joyce to see him.

That second opinion with Dr. Larson gave a name to her diagnosis: Joyce had stage IV cervical cancer.

In addition to a mass in her cervix, she had, as cited in her pathology report, too many nodules to number in both lungs as well as spots on her hip and shoulder.

Joyce was brought to the reality of the seriousness of her illness when she made an offhand comment to Dr. Larson: “You aren’t going to let me die are you?”

He soberly answered her with, “I am not going to promise anything.”

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But Joyce wasn't going down without a fight. She knew immediately she would fight with everything she had when Chris said to her, “Mama, you’ve got to see me graduate from medical school!” She then told him, “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be all right,” and she believed it.

When she received her diagnosis, Joyce naturally felt a true cold wave of fear.

She’d already been through a lot in her life: narrowly escaping from her family’s burning home; breaking both ankles while an NCAA college athlete; the Hughes Syndrome diagnosis and now a diagnosis of stage IV cervical cancer.

But, Joyce’s naturally optimistic outlook soon took over as she remembered first and foremost how blessed she has been in her life. As a Christian with a strong faith, Joyce says she put her life in the hands of the Great Physician, her Lord and Savior.

She also put her trust and life in the hands of her earthly medical practitioners, her doctors.

Joyce says crucial to her many recoveries has been the belief in a theory she has practiced all of her life; “I really feel that you carry forward the strength and experiences of the past, and that helps you get through the next challenge,” she shares.

After Joyce's mother passed away, her Aunt Sara stepped in to serve a parental role for Joyce. “My aunt never married nor had children of her own, so I was like a daughter to her in many ways,” she relates. “After my diagnosis, I didn’t cry for myself, but I was so worried about telling loved ones about

Bottom left: Joyce, suffering the effects of chemotherapy through the loss of her hair. Joyce jokes that she looked like Uncle Fester from the Addams Family during treatments, and she still likes to pull out the Clemson hat she wore to tease her daughter-in-law, Charlotte, a S.C. Gamecocks fan. Above: Joyce's new hair, after the cancer treatments. Photos courtesy of Joyce Kiker.

the cancer – especially my Aunt Sara." The two would usually speak by phone every day, but Joyce knew she had to tell her aunt in person. “I had so much going on getting ready to start treatment," she says. "But Roger drove me up to Maysville, Ga., so I could tell her face-to-face and assure her I would be all right.”

Sadly, while Joyce was fighting her own

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battle with cancer, her Aunt Sara also received a devastating diagnosis of lung cancer. She had beaten breast cancer at age 50, and fought again after her later diagnosis, but, as a woman in her 80s, it was too uphill a climb. Joyce's beloved Aunt Sara passed away in November 2015 at the age of 83.

The Rigors Of Cancer Treatment Before her diagnosis of cervical cancer, Joyce had not suffered any symptoms other than what she had assumed was a routine urinary tract infection. But, the day after her official diagnosis, Joyce noticed she had had a little bit of spotting of blood in her underwear – one of the only visible symptoms of cervical cancer.

But, she already had her treatment plan in place and was getting ready to begin her first round of chemotherapy. The doctors prescribed a course of eight rounds of heavy chemotherapy, that she would receive intravenously.

During her treatment, she would be given some 12 to 15 bags of fluid medications, pain relievers and anti-nausea preps, and each treatment would take around six and a half hours to complete.

Her first treatment took place on June 1, 2015.

The course of treatment would run six months in all, with each infusion coming every three weeks.

“I had heard chemotherapy would be rough, but I had no idea just how bad it is,” she relates.

As with many chemotherapy protocols and after the infusion of medications, a patient’s reaction to the medicine usually kicks in about the third or fourth day. Joyce says she could barely move during those days.

She suffered vomiting, diarrhea, sweats, chills, deep aches and more. “I got so run down from the treatments, I eventually had two blood transfusions to help me cope," she explains. "The infusions made me feel much better. During each round, I would probably have six or seven days where I felt good, and then it was time for another round."

Then came the side effect that so many cancer patients dread: the loss of hair. “My hair started to come out really fast, like in about seven days,” she says. Joyce did not shave her head because she already wore her hair short, and it quickly came out in handfuls. “If I ever had to go through that again, I’d probably go ahead and get a buzz cut before starting treatment so there won’t be much to fall out!” she exclaims.

As part of her positive nature, Joyce can also laugh at herself and jokes that after her hair fell

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out she looked like Uncle Fester from the Addams Family. She decided not to try to wear wigs, but she did wear some of her favorite baseball caps. “I am a Clemson fan, so I wore my Clemson hat as well as a favorite Chevrolet hat,” she says.

She doesn’t wear the Chevy hat too much nowadays, but will still pull out the Clemson hat to tease her daughter-in-law, who is a South Carolina Gamecocks fan. All joking aside, she remembers it was a great feeling when her hair grew back in, lush and full as ever.

She found it difficult to accept help during her treatment because she is so independent, but Joyce is very appreciative of every bit of help she recieved and acknowledges she needed some assistance.

Several of her lifelong friends volunteered to go with her for the treatments. “My friend, Jo Hackery, took me to my first few appointments and my friend, Debbie Brewton, would pick me up when I was finished." she says. “Roger always wanted to make sure I was taken care of, and I was."

Another “cancer buddy” included Ricky Shirley, Pastor at West Georgia Worship Center in Bremen.

“He was always wanting to do anything I needed,” Joyce recalls fondly. “One time he called me while I was getting a treatment and asked if I needed anything. I told him a nice cold chocolate milk sounded like it would taste good. When I got home, he had left a bottle of chocolate milk on ice in my carport.”

Why Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is an elusive form of cancer because it has so few symptoms until it has significantly progressed. Joyce had no family history of cervical cancer, and heart disease was always the illness on her medical radar.

“My biggest mistake was thinking that after I was past child-rearing age, I didn’t need my female doctor (gynecologist)," she cautions. “It had been eight years since I had a Pap smear; I thought after I was over age 50, there was no need … but there was.

This is the most important thing I tell people: you must continue to see your doctor and get your regular Pap smear and breast health exams.”

With no pain or symptoms, such as in Joyce's case, a Pap smear would most likely have indicated a problem much earlier.

The medical community cites several possible causes of cervical cancer. People with autoimmune diseases are thought to be susceptible, as weakened

immune systems can open the door to cancer.

Making Good On Her Promise Hughes Syndrome is an autoimmune disease, that As she promised her son, Joyce and Roger means for Joyce, the two illnesses could potentially were proudly in attendance at Chris' medical be linked. But, when a woman develops cervical school graduation. Chris had worked hard at the cancer or pre-cancerous changes, it might not be Mercer University School of Medicine, and he was possible to say what particular risk factor was the recognized for his efforts by being named class cause. president.

Other possible causes of cervical cancer include He was also honored to receive one of the first risk factors such as smoking, long-term use of birth Nathan Deal Scholarships for family practice from control pills or an intrauterine device (IUD), having Mercer University. This scholarship, first offered three or more full-term pregnancies, being younger than 17 when you had your first full-term pregnancy, being overweight and a link with certain sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV (Human Papillomavirus), according to the American Cancer Society.

Although HPV is thought to be the most important risk factor for cervical cancer, it doesn't always lead to cervical cancer.

HPV is often without symptoms, although some strains can cause genital warts.

Regular Pap smears will also alert women to any possibility of Human Papilloma Last month, Joyce received new CT scan results, and she continues to be free of cancer.

Virus.

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in 2017, offers top Mercer medical students a scholarship covering 85 to 100 percent of their medical school tuition.

In return, upon completion of their residency, those who accept the scholarship commit to at least four continuous years of full-time medical practice in a medically underserved, rural Georgia county. Furthermore, the medical practice must accept Medicaid patients, according to the Mercer University School of Medicine.

Chris is currently in his residency with Seneca Lakes Family Medicine Residency Program in Seneca, South Carolina. While living in Seneca, Chris met and fell in love with his wife, Charlotte

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In addition to her happiness with her son’s life successes, in Jan. 2015 Joyce received her own good news. After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, her oncologist declared Joyce’s cancer in remission.

"Even though I am in remission, I decided to complete the originally prescribed course of eight rounds of chemotherapy," she explains. “If the drugs knocked out the cancer after six treatments, I thought maybe the two extra treatments would knock it even further down. It was easier to do those last two, knowing the treatments had worked.

"Dr. Larson was careful to explain I am not 'cured,’ but I am in remission. He said my cancer will come back some day, but that day may be a long way in the future.”

Following her selfprescribed plan to live Joyce, with her beautiful grandson Adam Lee Kiker. Photo courtesy of Joyce Kiker. as positively as possible,

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Joyce says she truly lives every day as if it is her last. “I try to appreciate my family and friends, all they do for us and what they mean to me," she shares. "I also really try to notice daily details, whether it is the beauty in nature or a stranger who may be down on their luck."

Her actions may be as simple as sharing a kind word or taking time to sit with someone at the doctor’s office or chemotherapy station. “I know how much those kindnesses mean to me and I want to pass that along,” she explains.

Bundle Of Joy Joyce says her greatest happiness arrived this summer in the form of her new grandson, Adam Lee Kiker. Her face beams when she talks about him as she proudly shares photos of the darling little boy.

“We don’t get to see him, Chris or Charlotte as often as we’d like because it just takes a long time to get there – even though it is just over the state line into South Carolina,” she laments.

Construction and traffic delays Joyce's son, Chris, right, with his wife, Charlotte, holding Joyce's new grandson, Adam Lee recently made the three hour Kiker. Photo courtesy of Joyce Kiker. trip a nightmarish nine hour long slog. “I’m busy researching to work after only one week – she’s amazing!” alternative routes that don’t involve interstate While her friend Pam is indeed amazing, most travel!” she exclaims. would definitely say that adjective is a perfect When Joyce and Roger aren’t planning a trip description for Joyce. Not only has she triumphed north to see the baby, the happily married couple make sure to spend quality time together. “We have over death three times, she has done so with a powerful optimism, a humble heart and a warrior’s been blessed to have enjoyed 45 years of marriage spirit. so far,” she says. “I have been very lucky.”

“I’m not scared of death and, if, or when, my She is also careful to nurture her friendships, cancer returns and I don’t make it, that is fine," she keeping in touch with her friends who were so relates. "I am ready to accept it and I’ve had a good good to her during her treatments. She also enjoys life. Seeing Chris reach his goal to become a doctor meeting up with some friends at the local Valero was my goal for treatment. Now I have been blessed station for a coffee and chat. with a daughter-in-law whom I love, and a beautiful “I enjoy meeting with Mary Dozier there, and we grandson. It really doesn’t take a lot to make a chat with Dominick, who owns the Valero and Pam, who works there. Pam just had twins, and came back person happy. I am happy.” WGW

23

No One To Bring Home 24

Dealing with the Pain of Infant Loss

By Cheryl Francis

L

osing a child is one of the most devastating and personally unique experiences any individual can go through. Pregnancy and infant loss is an extremely overwhelming period in a woman’s life. This tragedy is felt most deeply at a time when the anticipation of new life, planned expectations and exciting events are occurring.

The emotional pain of pregnancy and infant loss is immensely more difficult than the physical discomfort of childbirth. At the end of childbirth is the pleasure of another human being to love, mold and treasure. A stillbirth takes away that pleasure.

At the end of a stillbirth is a course of grief. Grief is something you now have to live with. It may come in waves and hit you unexpectedly. Or, time will move on, and you will find yourself still experiencing the pain of the loss.

Significant milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries or graduation may create a more difficult grieving process. Do not be afraid to take time out during these situations.

Unwelcome News If you have been told your child has died in the womb, it is likely you will have difficulty processing anything you are told. This is because of the overwhelming shock of being told your baby, whom you felt days and even hours ago, is no longer alive. It may be helpful to ask another person to be with you while you talk with your doctor about the next steps.

As the mother, you have the options of choosing how you would like the infant to be delivered. You may possibly want to wait for labor to happen naturally or be induced. You may decide to go home and prepare for the delivery.

You may elect a vaginal delivery or a Caesarean (C-section). If your baby is delivered by C-section, you will stay in the hospital for several days and may need support at home afterwards. Your medical staff will offer support on post-natal exercises to help you recover. Do not cancel your post-natal appointments. These are crucial in many ways, including providing resources to help you as you grieve.

Coping With The Loss Coping after the loss of an infant is difficult, but achievable. It is important to recognize that symptoms of anxiety – including panic attacks – and depressed mood are common.

Some of these symptoms may include: • Feelings of sadness and low mood • Heart palpitations

25

want to cry, do so. This is a healthy expression and release.

• Journal or keep a diary.

Writing down your feelings about what happened and how you feel in the moment is helpful.

• If you are the creative type, draw, sculpt or paint.

Some people find it helpful to create a memory box or scrapbook and when needed, revisit, reopen and sit with the emotions which follow.

• Seek out others in your situation. Take advantage of the web to share and compare stories with others who may have experienced the loss of a child.

• Ask others for support. If you have had a previous mental health challenge, you are more likely to suffer from postnatal depression. Be vulnerable and ask for help.

Although fathers grieve differently than mothers, they experience the grief as much as the mother, and they need your support.

• Nausea • Loss of interest in life and not enjoying things that used to be pleasurable • Persistent lethargy and exhaustion • Disturbed sleep • Difficulty with concentration and decision making • Low self-confidence • Poor appetite or “emotional eating” • Feelings of guilt and self-blame • Thinking about suicide and self-harming Use the time during and after the loss to pamper yourself, rest and eat well. Your body and mental health have experienced trauma on multiple levels due to the loss of your baby.

Take Care Of Yourself • Avoid isolating yourself. Surround yourself with people who love and care for you.

• Excercise. It will do your mind and body good.

• Share your feelings. Talk to friends and if you

26

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How To Help A Grieving Parent Recognize that what is right for one person isn’t necessarily right for another. The couple may not be managing the loss together as a unit, or they may not know what they need after the loss of their baby.

Let the parents know you are available, that you care and give concrete suggestions to offer support.

• Provide home cooked meals for the family.

• Ask if you can be responsible for responding to messages of condolences.

• Offer to do the family's shopping, laundry and lawn care.

• Check in regularly and ask how the family is functioning. Be mindful to do so weeks and months after the loss.

• Acknowledging the baby is important. Do not ignore the absence of the baby. Most parents want people to acknowledge their baby’s existence. Ask questions such as the name, reason for the name and the baby’s features – including who the baby resembled.

If you think it is appropriate, you may want to ask to see a photo if any were taken.

• Be careful with your words. Telling parents they will have another baby one day is dismissive. Nothing will ever replace the child they have lost.

• Ask the family if they are comfortable sharing details about the loss. This helps the

family feel supported and allows them to feel like their child’s life is important to you. This response tells the family you are considerate of what is important to them.

• Make yourself available to just listen. Know that those who have lost an infant usually want to talk about it.

• It is okay to say "I’m sorry," or "There are no words." It is not about what you do not say, it is what you choose to do.

• Know that the family’s grief may evoke uncomfortable memories of your own if you have experienced any type of loss. Take care of yourself first.

Make yourself available to just listen. Let the parents know you are here for them, that you care and give concrete suggestions to offer support.

27

KICK START YOURSTART CAREER KICK YOUR CAREER

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As set forth in its student catalog, West Georgia Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Equity (Title IX) coordinator is V.P. of Student Affairs. ADA (Section 504) coordinator is V.P. of Administrative Services. Both are located at 401 Adamson Square, Carrollton, GA 30117. 678.664.0400

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855.887.9482 | admissions@westgatech.edu

Supporting Fathers And Siblings It is imperative that siblings be given permission to be sad. Do your best to try not to neglect the other children in the home. If the parents are busy dealing with their grief, take the siblings out to a park or complete an activity with them as an outlet.

Although fathers grieve differently than mothers, they experience the grief as much as the mother, and they need your support. Some men are taught to “man up," meaning, they must hold in their emotions, and they can be overlooked. Often, men who exhibit these traits are viewed as uninvolved or being indifferent to the loss. This may not necessarily be so.

Men may grieve by engaging in busy work, sports, work or a new project. Reach out. Sit down with them and just listen if they feel like talking. Don’t avoid them – be there for them.

Intense Emotions After giving birth, women experience physical changes with their bodies. Breast milk continues to be produced and sometimes the breasts will become engorged. Stomach cramps are common, and these may feel like contractions. There will be heavy bleeding and other physical symptoms which affect the body. This is all very emotional for the mother as these symptoms are reminders that the pregnancy happened, but there is no baby to bring home.

The emotions associated with grief after losing a child during pregnancy can sometimes be worse than the physical effects.

You may feel you have failed as a mother. You may even feel responsible for what happened because you did not deliver a healthy baby. You may become overly preoccupied with your family’s health, or preoccupied with what it means to be a human being and the meaning of life.

Emotions become even more tangled as grief is combined with the natural mood changes caused by changes in hormone levels after the baby. You may feel: • Depressed • Numb or disconnected • Jealous of other pregnant women who are doing well or new mothers who have healthy babies • Guilt, shame or self-blame • Heartbroken that you weren't allowed to

• • • • •

get to know your child Anger with yourself, your spouse, other relatives, the hospital or your medical treatment team Forgetful and suffer short-term memory loss Like a failure Shock Anxious at the thought of having to explain to others what happened

These emotions are all normal, and they do not mean you are a bad or evil person. Over time, you will recognize the importance of feeling all of these emotions and knowing you are okay. Time is your best advocate – it helps you learn to cope.

Practical help can be invaluable, particularly in the early days when you’re recovering from the birth. If you have trusted friends or family and can manage having them around during this time, be honest and open about your needs.

It is not necessary to justify your needs, even if you or your family and friends feel they may seem unusual. Close friends and family will understand and be honest about their ability to fulfill those needs.

People normally want to help, but sometimes they do not know how. By expressing what you need, you are giving them permission to offer support. Know that the more you talk about the loss, the more you gain support.

If you find yourself still experiencing the symptoms of grief after six months, consider contacting a licensed mental health provider. A professional may be able to help you navigate the loss of your child and can provide needed support during this difficult time in your life. Losing someone you love should never have to be lonely. 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 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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Daily Fare With

e s o R f e Ch

Chef photos by Keith May.

Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn. She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts.

After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro.

30Recipe photos by Mark Steffey.

"

Apples lend a sweet note to this festive fall soup.

Butternut Squash Soup with Cider Cream Ingredients 5 tablespoons butter 2 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion 1/2 cup chopped peeled carrot 1/2 cup chopped celery 2 small Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped 1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried sage leaves 5 cups chicken, vegetable broth or stock, low sodium 1 1/2 cups apple cider, divided 2/3 cup sour cream 1/2 cup whipping cream

Preparation

"

"

Soup and cider cream can be made a day in advance and reheated as needed. .

Melt butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat.

Add squash, onions, carrots and celery. Sauté until slightly softened – about 10 minutes.

Mix in apples, thyme, sage, stock and 1 cup of cider and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until squash and apples are tender – about 30 minutes.

While soup is cooking, prepare the cider cream by boiling the remaining 1/2 cup of apple cider in a small saucepan until reduced by half – about 5 minutes. Allow to cool.

Place sour cream in a small bowl and whisk in reduced cider.

Puree soup in blender or food processor, working in batches or using an immersion blender.

Return soup to saucepan and bring to a simmer. Mix in whipping cream and ladle into bowls.

Drizzle with cider cream and serve.

Serves 4 to 6.

"

31

Sausage Aborigine with Penne and Goat Cheese

Ingredients

1 small to medium eggplant, peeled and cubed into 3/4 inch pieces 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons salt, preferably a coarse grind or kosher 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage, spicy or sweet 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 pound box of penne noodles cooked al dente 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce or use recipe provided 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese Marinara recipe 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, small dice 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 1/4 cup red wine 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 32

Marinara preparation Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat.

Add onions and stir frequently until onions become translucent.

Add garlic and Italian seasoning, stirring continuously for about 30 seconds or until herbs become aromatic – being careful to not burn the garlic and herbs.

Add red wine and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the wine comes to a boil.

Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and parmesan cheese.

Stir well and reduce heat to low.

Cover and cook 45 minutes, stirring periodically.

Eggplant and sausage preparation Spread peeled and cubed pieces on a paper towel and sprinkle evenly with salt.

Allow to sit for about 5 minutes to expel moisture from the eggplant, then dry with a paper towel.

Heat olive oil in a deep skillet on medium-high heat and cook sausage until well-browned.

Add eggplant and minced garlic.

Cook for about 10 minutes or until the eggplant is tender.

Add marinara sauce to eggplant and sausage mixture until heated through.

Serve on top of penne and sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese.

Serves 4.

WGW

� This is a nice hearty dinner

for those cooler October evenings.�

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The History of Halloween

T

rick-or-treating has been a Halloween tradition in the U.S. for over 100 years, but traditional Halloween celebrations didn't always look like they do today.

Pagan rituals, sacrificial bonfires, wearing costumes with animal heads and skins, warding off demons and practicing witchcraft were just some of the ways of celebrating Hallowe'en – which literally means "holy evening."

Halloween is believed to have orginated 2,000 years ago with the Celtic festival, Samhain, or "summer's end." The Celts believed Oct. 31 was the night ghosts of the dead came back to earth.

By the 9th century, the pagan Celtic festival of the dead was all but replaced with the Catholic church sanctioned celebration, All Saints Day – a day to honor saints and martyrs – on Nov. 1, and All Souls Day – a day to honor the dead – on Nov. 2, making Halloween more of a religious holiday.

Halloween In America Due to the extremely rigid beliefs of the Protestant colonists in the 1800s, Halloween was rarely celebrated in colonial New England. But, it was celebrated in the southern colonies and Maryland.

The first Halloween celebrations in the colonies 34began with what were called "play parties." These

were community events celebrating the harvest. During these parties, friends and neighbors would sing, dance, share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, make mischief and tell ghost stories.

By the mid-1800s, autumn harvest celebrations were the norm in the colonies, but Halloween was still not celebrated all over the country. However, by the second half of the 19th century, there was a large shift: the country was flooded with millions of immigrants, and Halloween began to be celebrated on a national level.

Borrowing from English and Irish customs, the early Americans began to dress up and go from door to door asking for money or food. This practice evolved into the "trick-or-treat' tradition that we Americans celebrate today.

By the late 1800s and early 1900s, Halloween was becoming less about a religious holiday and more secular and community focused.

Parents were encouraged through the media and community leaders to remove anything scary or repulsive out of Halloween and to remove the focus from mischief, witchcraft and ghosts.

During the turn of the century, Halloween had lost most of its superstitious and religious origins, and instead became a day for parties for both adults and children focusing on seasonal foods, colorful costumes and games.

More "Tricks" Than "Treats" By the 1920s and the 1930s, Halloween had become a community focused event, with citywide parties and parades. But, the country also began to be afflicted with vandalism in spite of community and school efforts to prevent this.

Undisciplined and rowdy young people were the perpetrators of these Halloween pranks, and to city officials and townspeople, that was no laughing matter: in large metropolitan areas, the damages could be as much as $100,000 a year.

The Great Depression made this problem even worse with pranks evolving into acts of violence and physical assaults. One theory suggests these uncontrolled pranks were what led to the country wide adoption of a community focused and organized day of trick-or-treating. These activities were quickly restricted, however, when nationwide sugar rationing went into effect due to World War II.

Trick-Or-Treating Trick-or-treating began to gain momentum again in the early 1950s when the activity was portrayed by some of the gang in the popular Peanuts cartoon strip in 1951, and in an animated cartoon produced by Walt Disney in 1952 called "Trick or Treat," spotlighting Donald Duck and his nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie.

Don’t Let Pelvic Issues Keep You From Moments Like These.

Sorry guys, trick-or-treating is reserved for little humans.

By this time, community leaders had successfully curtailed the issues of vandalism that plagued the holiday, and Halloween eventually evolved into a day that was specifically designed for young children.

During the postwar baby boom, trick-ortreating became a standard practice on Halloween throughout the nation. With sugar rationing becoming a distant memory, candy companies capitalized on this tradition by launching national advertising campaigns focused specifically on Halloween.

Today, Americans spend over $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the secondlargest commercial holiday in the country, next to Christmas. WGW

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35

The Space in Between 36

How Developing Neutral Thinking Can Bring Us More Contentment

By Lisa King

W

hen we are not “happy,” most often we think something must be wrong. Our minds will race and wander, churning up thoughts that ultimately push us toward thinking negatively.

Alas, this mentality leaves little room for what lies in the middle. The space between happiness and sorrow, joy and pain. This is our neutral space.

Feeling neutral, okay or just fine is undervalued in our society.

Remaining neutral or turning a negative thought into one that is neutral seems foreign to many. “Think happy thoughts,” we are told. “Be more positive,” they say. However, this approach is inauthentic because it is not very realistic. Going from negative to positive is a big leap, but going from negative to neutral is more attainable. If we can turn our mindset to the space in between, we are much more likely to find contentment, peace and perhaps even positivity.

I frequently remind clients that every occurrence is neutral, until we put meaning and emotion to the situation. Our life experience, spiritual perspective, temperament and health will inevitably shape our emotions. Even the weather, current season or time of day can determine the meaning we obtain. A tornado can be terrifying to someone in its path, exhilarating to a storm chaser or simply a “weather event” to a meteorologist.

Our Thoughts Really Do Help Create Our Reality Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health struggles in the United States, affecting 18 percent or approximately 40 million adults, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Although anxiety disorders are very treatable, only 36 percent of those diagnosed actually get treatment.

Many who struggle with anxiety disorder also battle depression. Given enough time to ourselves, we are more likely to think ourselves into a funk or

a high-speed worst-case scenario thought train.

Consciously bringing our thoughts back to center can help maintain a more even keeled mindset, and we are then less likely to become anxious or depressed. Neutral thoughts can effectively help us manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Pay Attention To Your Thoughts We have a running dialogue in our mind all day long. While we cannot always control the thoughts that come up, we can control what we do with those thoughts.

“Are your thoughts mostly negative?”

Many would say yes. Intentionally tracking your thoughts, and then turning those negative thoughts to something more neutral is the goal. For example, if the thought that arises is, “I

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always make dumb decisions,” the neutral thought might be, “I didn’t think this through very well” or, “I made a mistake this time, but I can learn from it.”

Our inner dialogue and negative thinking are habits. To change a habit, we must be intentional about making small changes that we can consistently adhere to. From this neutral space you will find it much easier to maintain what the Buddhists call equanimity and have the ability to work from a space of possibility instead of limitations.

When we limit ourselves to only happy or some form of not happy, we close off the opportunity to flow through a state of balance, compassion and peace.

Paths To The Space In Between How do I cultivate a more neutral mindset? As mentioned earlier, tracking your thoughts and consciously making an effort to reframe those thoughts into something more neutral is an effective way to find this middle space. Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation can assist with an array of conditions both physical and mental, and research also indicates that the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation prayer can be highly

38

beneficial in creating a calmer, more centered mindset.

Research done with functional MRI’s show that the brain actually changes its activity in the amygdala, where our fight or flight instincts stem from, when subjects regularly used mindfulness meditation.

Before and after MRI scans of the research subjects showed a significant reduction in activity in this area of the brain after eight weeks of mindfulness meditation training.

Mindfulness Meditation To begin to practice mindfulness meditation, start by sitting quietly and focusing on your body. Pay attention to the feelings that arise and be curious about those feelings without attaching to them.

Next, allow your thoughts to come up, but again, don’t attach to them. Allow them to be what they are. Some people find it helpful to incorporate a visualization of their thoughts such as clouds passing by, waves in the ocean or bubbles popping.

All of this sounds much easier than it is for most of us. Practice and consistency are the key. There is also a variety of mobile apps and bluetooth wellness devices available to assist with learning and

When we limit ourselves to only happy or some form of not happy, we close off the opportunity to flow through a state of balance, compassion and peace. practicing mindfulness meditation, as well as some that also help track heart rate, deep breathing, focus and relaxation.

Neutral Is Not Apathy, It Is Openness Not attaching to an emotion, thought, situation, outcome or mood, and maintaining some sense of neutral will allow us the space to reflect and respond more appropriately. It is normal to think and feel when things happen. It is what you do with those thoughts and feelings that matter.

Don’t try to put a happy face on a sad day. When we resist things, we wind up making them bigger.

Detachment or non-attachment is simply letting go of our outcomes and expectations. By being selective about using emotion energy, we are better able to make choices that will bring us a greater sense of inner peace.

Some things we cannot control. Accepting what we cannot control and paying attention to what we can will make a big difference in finding a more neutral attitude. Letting go does not mean we don’t

care, it is simply realizing that we only have control over so much. Remembering that everything is temporary, including emotions, will help free us from the prison of whimsical thoughts and feelings.

Thoughts, feelings and emotions are like passing clouds or cars on the highway. Deciding to find a place in the middle will help us find more joy and feel less pressure to “be happy.” WGW Lisa King, Ed.S., LPC, CPCS, CCTP is a Licensed Psychotherapist in private practice in Carrollton, GA. She is a graduate of the University of West Georgia’s Psychology and Counselor Education programs. Her specialties include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, life transitions, trauma and self-harm. Lisa is a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She has been on the Board of Directors for the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of GA (LPCA-GA) since 2012. She is the current President of LPCA-GA for the 2018-19 term. Visit www.csosolutions.net to find out more about Lisa and her work.

39

Celebrate

40 by Brittany Rivera Photos

HER SUCCESS

V

irginia Pollard has spent her life trying new things and reaching for new opportunities.

She believes every job and every person she's worked with in the past has prepared her for her current position as co-owner of The Shed at Westover Farms, a premier event venue in Bremen, Ga. "I know that God sent each of these people to prepare me do His work where I am now," she shares. Thanks to these influencers, Virginia now spends her days helping others celebrate some of the most important events in their lives.

Early Life Virginia, daughter of Pat and Angela Awalt, was raised in Bremen. During high school she was a lifeguard and taught swim lessons at the Lakeshore Pool with the Carrollton Parks and Recreation Department. She also worked as a waitress at Lazy River BBQ in Bremen.

Virginia graduated from Bremen High School in 2004 and began attending the University of West Georgia (UWG) with dreams of becoming an elementary school teacher. She graduated from UWG in May 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. A month after receiving her degree, she married Billy Pollard, who is a teacher and coach at Bremen High School. That August, she began her career in education teaching kindergarten at Mirror Lake Elementary School.

Two years later, she landed a position teaching fifth grade at Bremen Academy. She taught at the academy for five years, then transferred to Jones Elementary (part of the Bremen City Schools system) and taught third grade for one year. During her eight years as a teacher, Virginia received her gifted endorsement and earned a master’s degree in school library media from UWG.

That summer, she was excited to begin this new chapter in her life and had plans to start the new position in August. Sadly, two weeks before Virginia was to officially begin working with him, Pat passed away.

"In July of 2016, my father died by suicide,"

An Unexpected Loss In 2016, Virginia had plans to leave teaching to begin working with her dad, Pat, at Chickmate, a manufacturing business in Buchanan, Ga., founded by Pat in 1985.

Virginia (right), with her mom, Angela.

41

she shares. "He was one of the funniest, smartest, kindest and most creative people I’ve ever known.

And I’m not just saying that because he was my dad.

He really was. He loved life – traveling, hunting, fishing, cooking and working outdoors. He had this laugh that made everyone in the room light up.

But he struggled for years with alcohol abuse and depression."

Understandably, Virginia was overcome with grief, and says her entire world was turned upside down.

"I never knew grief until then," she relates. "I remember crying one night with my husband and telling him that the pain of losing my dad literally hurt my heart. It’s awful. But, you just have to keep waking up and moving forward. Because of his death, I am more compassionate and empathic. I know more about addiction and mental illness. It’s really hard to talk about, but I’ve began to open up and talk more about my dad’s death. I hope that somehow, someway, these hard times I’ve survived have given me the tools to help someone else one day."

Virginia says she and her father always enjoyed hospitality, making other people happy and seeing people have a great time. They loved their family farm, and had often talked about their dream of

one day opening up his shed to other families for reunions and parties.

“The Shed” was originally built in the early 90s as the family's tool shed. It was redesigned by Pat and remodeled in 2010 to be more of a "man cave" and guest area for visiting family and friends.

A couple of months after Pat passed away, the family knew it was time to begin the process of going through some of his things. As they began working on the storage room at the shed, the idea of creating the venue Virginia and Pat had dreamed of sharing with other families resurfaced.

"My mom, Billy and I teamed up and ran with it," she says. "We knew that dad would love seeing his shed filled with people laughing and enjoying life.

Looking back, I know that our business has and will continue to be part of the healing process for me."

New Beginnings The Shed at Westover Farms has three co-owners: Virginia's mother, Angela Awalt, Virginia's husband Billy Pollard and Virginia. Virginia's primary role in the business is venue manager. She schedules all of the events, tours and meetings, does all of the bookkeeping and manages the social media

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My dad used to say 'You just have to C .A.R.E.,' and I think that is th e reason we h ave seen the succe ss we have. W e genuinely care about peo ple – every vendor, every client an d every guest th at comes throu gh our door. Also , in business and in our pe rsonal lives, o ur intention and goal is to hono r God in all we do.

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accounts for the business. They opened The Shed in Oct. 2017 and hosted an open house for family and friends. "I remember how excited I was when the first guests arrived," she exclaims. "I couldn’t believe people really came!"

Virginia says when they opened the business they really weren't sure what they were doing and didn't know in what direction they wanted to go. They knew they wanted to host small events, but the idea of hosting weddings was something they had never considered and they felt they weren't equipped for taking on something as large as a wedding; however, Virginia says the brides came quickly.

"With a lot of help from a lot of people, we hosted our first wedding in May and considered ourselves baptised into the wedding industry," she relates. "This year we will host a total of seven weddings and I couldn’t be any happier! Never in a million years would I have thought we could pull off events of this scale in our first year of business. We have definitely experienced some setbacks and growing pains, but those times have taught me the most."

Virginia is always seeking out new educational opportunities for herself so she can offer an even more stellar experience to her clients. A new service The Shed at Westover has begun offering their brides is wedding planning and day-of wedding coordination. In August, Virginia attended a wedding certification conference and is now a

certified wedding planner. She also receives monthly continuing education and business support through this program.

More Than Weddings

In addition to being a premier wedding venue, The Shed at Westover Farms has a variety of packages available for many different types of events: Birthday and Christmas parties, baby and bridal showers as well as corporate retreats. All of their packages include the use of the venue along with the tables, chairs and table linens. The Shed does all of the setup and breakdown for the events, and the only thing their clients have to do is bring their decorations.

"I work with clients to coordinate with any vendors they hire and I make sure the event runs smoothly," she says.

"When you don’t do this all the time, it can be really stressful and confusing. I help clients plan out their

43

entire day so It Takes A they understand Village the timing and details.

Virginia has Ultimately, I many people want to create she looks to the best possible for advice, experience for including every single friends, family client from the and others who beginning of the own an event planning process venue. She to the end." credits Jared Going above and Amy Muse, and beyond owners of Muse for their guests Farm in Bremen, is The Shed's Ga., for playing A wedding party poses for photos after a lovely outdoor ceremony at The Shed. ultimate goal, a large role in and they The Shed's story. Jared is their landscape designer believe in delivering an outstanding and exceptional and was one of the first people they shared their customer experience to everyone involved. ideas with. He helped design the space so it was "Because the three of us enjoying making people both functional and beautiful. "He and Amy are the feel comfortable, I think our level of service in this kind of mentors that every new business needs," she business has set us apart," she shares. relates.

"Not only do we want to help on the planning "They have unselfishly shared their time and their side of the event, but also want to make sure every knowledge of this business to help get us off the guest that comes here has a great experience as ground." well.

She also seeks advice regularly from her friend, Dr. We try to be visible throughout the event and Jennifer Carter. Virginia says she can always bounce make sure we take care of the needs of every ideas off of her, and they both share the same guest." goals for their clients although their businesses are completely different. "Jennifer pushes me to think outside the box, explore new opportunities and be a better leader and person," she says.

Virginia is also thankful for the support of Cathy Nugent, a certified wedding planner and owner of A Hosting Home. Virginia met her through a mutual "My mom is strong and friend and she coordinated the first wedding at gentle, wise and kind.

The Shed. "Cathy has been another person who She has the gift of has come to my rescue," she says. "She has seen it making people feel at all when it comes to planning weddings and is the ease and always knows person I know I can call on when it comes to those the right thing to say. wedding day details.

She is patient and "I would tell any woman who wants to start a thoughtful in making business like this – or any business – to surround big decisions and yourself with people who will support, encourage has years of business and help you. Find someone you trust who is experience under her experienced in the industry to be your mentor. belt. She also has this Bounce your ideas off them so you can get realistic way of sliding all kinds advice about how it would actually work out." of good life advice Virginia also realizes the importance of into any business maintaining a connection with her close friends. conversation."

Being a small business owner can be challenging

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because when it comes right down to it, you are the one responsible.

"Owning your own business can be isolating," she relates. "I don’t mean that I feel like I have no one to talk to or nowhere to turn when I need help, but owning your business is just that ... you’re the owner and you’re responsible for everything. Some days you feel like you’re on top of the world, and other days you can’t get anything right. It’s a roller coaster."

Virginia stays connected with a very close group of girlfriends from high school who still get together often for each woman's birthday and they go on a girls' weekend trip every summer.

She says they have a group text message that has been going strong for 10 years.

"They are another group that I can toss ideas at and get really honest feedback … sometimes too honest," she laughs. "They keep life fun."

Virginia is also extremely grateful to the

community she grew up in and still lives in today: Bremen, Ga. "You know that old saying, 'It takes a village?' Well, Bremen is my village and these are the people I know and love," she smiles. "I’ve always felt cared for and supported by the people in my community both personally and professionally.

fall in love with color

970 Hays Mill Road Carrollton, Georgia 678.664.0610 Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday 1 - 6 PM 45

works for our family."

Virginia says Billy has had the most impact on her personal life. "Billy is the rock that keeps me grounded every single day," she relates. "He is calm, consistent and has the biggest heart of anyone you’ll ever meet. He is really level-headed, so he’s always giving me great advice and a perspective that I would never consider. He keeps my head and my heart in check.

"There’s no way I could be successful without "The person who has impacted me the Billy and mom. They are my true support team. most professionally is my mom ... I don’t There’s a lot of moving parts around here: kids, even know where to start with her. She dogs, tours, practice schedules … there’s no is strong and gentle, wise and kind. She way I can do it all. We have a 'logistics meeting' has the gift of making people feel at ease just about every day to go over the schedule and always knows the right thing to say. for the day and make sure everyone will get She is patient and thoughtful in making picked up, fed and to the right place." big decisions and has years of business They have shown up for me when I have gone experience under her belt. She also has this way of through hard times personally, have been some of sliding all kinds of good life advice into any business our first clients and have helped us spread the word conversation." about our business."

Unwavering Support Although it's obvious Virginia has an extensive support system of friends, clients, colleagues and extended family, she relies on the steadfast and loving support of her mom, Angela, and her husband, Billy, on a daily basis.

"There’s no way I could be successful without Billy and mom," she shares. "They are my true support team. There’s a lot of moving parts around here: kids, dogs, tours, practice schedules … there’s no way I can do it all. We have a 'logistics meeting' just about every day to go over the schedule for the day and make sure everyone will get picked up, fed and to the right place."

Things are definitely busy in the Pollard household; Virginia and Billy have two boys: Carter, 9, and Cooper, 4; one dog, Lucy; and one cat, Bobbie Sue. What seems to keeps them busy the most – outside of the business, of course – is the Pollard boys' involvement in athletic activities.

"All of my boys love sports, so naturally our family time is spent at the ball fields, in the gym or in the yard playing ball," she explains. "Billy is the girls' basketball coach at BHS, so, during basketball season we all spend a lot of time at the gym so we can see him. We do homework there, the kids play during his practice and we take our dinner there every now and then … some people think we’re crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It just

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The Challenges

Every small business has its own unique challenges, and Virginia's business is no different.

In hindsight, one of the things she regrets was not addressing the parking situation – their biggest obstacle – sooner.

"See, our home is on the same property as The Shed," she explains. "When my father passed away in 2016 and the idea of opening The Shed was reborn, we were so consumed with making things look the way we wanted, that we didn’t consider the amount of cars that were about to be coming to our home. People were parked and blocked in everywhere! It was a nightmare. Early this year, a parking area was cleared and graded. We can fit about 50 cars in our parking area now."

She says her greatest challenge by far is finding balance in her life. She is often pulled in different directions every day in her roles as a business owner, wife, mother and friend – and it can be quite overwhelming. She also struggles daily with what she calls "mom-guilt," because she is not as available for her family as much as she used to be.

"With this business has come a new schedule for my family," she relates. "I work a lot in the evening and on weekends now. But we are learning to adapt.

I am learning to manage my time and ask for help when I need it. One of the best parts of owning this business for me is that it has given me more freedom. I am able to work and lineup appointments

and events so it works with my family’s schedule."

In spite of the challenges, Virginia is highly motivated, and believes in working hard for every one of her clients who choose The Shed to host their special events. She loves that she is able to help people and learn new things every day.

Her advice to other women who are interested in owning a business similar to The Shed is straightforward, but inspiring: "I would encourage them to learn as much as they can, but not to wait until the perfect time to get started," she says.

"There’s no such thing. If you know what you want to do, just jump in and learn as you go."

The Rewards When you own an event venue, especially when it's a part of your own home, it seems there are certain things that happen that can touch your heart when you welcome so many people – often strangers – into your personal space. Virginia loves seeing families come together to plan their special events, and feels fortunate to be given the unique perspective of being on the outside, looking in during some very memorable moments.

One of her most heartwarming memories of an event at The Shed was for a couple's wedding vow renewal for their 50th anniversary. "The two daughters who planned the ceremony stayed here late the night before setting out pictures together – laughing a lot, telling lots of old stories," she shares. "On the day of the ceremony, family and friends came from all over to celebrate. They had the sweetest ceremony and danced to their favorite

song right on our back porch."

She says her clients and guests feel so at home at The Shed that some funny things happen as well – especially with the golf cart they use to shuttle guests back and forth to the parking lot. "I’ve had a couple of teenagers – OK, and some adults, too – take off on the golf cart for a little joyride," she laughs. "I guess they just feel right at home here, which is great, but for liabilities sake we’ve had to start keeping the key in our pocket."

Caring For Women The majority of The Shed's clients are women, and they are usually the ones who contact them, take care of the planning of the events and make the majority of the decisions. Virginia wants them to know that whether it’s a wedding, special birthday party or business event, they strive to be good listeners and help make their clients feel at ease during the process.

"We truly want to do everything we can to make the day what the client wants it to be," she says.

"My dad used to say “You just have to C.A.R.E.,” and I think that is the reason we have seen the success we have.

"We genuinely care about people – every vendor, every client and every guest that comes through our door. Also, in business and in our personal lives, our intention and goal is to honor God in all we do.

Prayer is a huge part of our business strategy and I give all the glory to God for getting us to where we are today. His hand has been in this business every step of the way and He has opened doors for us – all we’ve had to do is have the courage to walk through them – which is easier said than done."

Something interesting about The Shed that may surprise a woman who walks in the door is the abundant collection of wildlife found inside their beautiful venue. Virginia's dad was an avid hunter and fisherman, and they have deer, fish, ducks, a coyote and even a bear.

Looking Ahead In the future, Virginia says she wants to continue growing and improving on their wedding

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experience, including ideas for new ceremony spaces, and she dreams of enclosing and remodeling their barn.

Another goal she has is to work with corporate groups to host off-site retreats, but not your average offsite retreat. "We have the scenery and space here perfectly suited for companies to connect, collaborate and learn, all while enjoying the beautiful outdoors," she relates. "I would like to add more recreational areas and equipment: think paddle boards, a long dock and an outdoor amphitheatre. My long term goal is to add cottages for overnight retreats and wedding guests."

The Shed has some big things planned for 2019, beginning with a project that has been on their hearts since they opened last year: They want to give back to the community by hosting events that are free to the public.

These events will be primarily faith-based – a time for fellowship, praise and worship, speakers for men and women, family time and education. They are also tweaking some ideas that include date nights, handmade markets and holiday festivals.

During her down time, Virginia really enjoys going to the gym to set the tone for her day – she says she feels more productive, confident and has a better attitude on the days she gets a good sweat in – and one of her favorite hobbies is reading, although she doesn't have much time. "I keep books stuck in the places I sit down the most – in my car and on my nightstand," she says. "Right now, I’m in the middle of reading Girl, Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson and Harry Potter, Book 5."

She's also curious and loves learning new things about how and why things work the way they do.

"Whether it’s learning how to plan a wedding, to be a better leader or how to install a car battery, I love learning about all of it," she smiles. "But, no matter what I’m doing, I most always have a cup of coffee

close by – and that’s my very favorite hobby!"

A typical week for Virginia consists of working at the computer typing emails, posting about The Shed on social media, bookkeeping, cleaning and meeting with potential clients for tours or existing clients for event planning. Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for event setup and hosting the events. Her office hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"There’s something different about our place that’s really hard to explain," she shares. "I don’t know if it’s the fact that our home is here, if it's the scenery, or what, but we keep hearing how peaceful and at ease people feel here, almost like they feel at home. I think it’s the biggest compliment we could receive.

"There’s so much love and ownership that comes with every event we host, and getting to open my home and my heart to our clients has been one of the best parts. It’s nice to hear that our home and business feeds their souls, just like it does ours."

WGW

To learn more about Virginia Pollard and The Shed at Westover Farms, visit them on Facebook and Instagram @theshed.westoverfarms, call 770.856.8942 or email

vpollard@theshedatwestoverfarms.com 49

Womentality

Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without it we can't practice any other virtue with consistency.”

– Maya Angelou “The only way to overcome fear is to have courage.

Because you're not going to get rid of fear. It's not going to go away.

But it can overtake you. Or you can overtake it.”

– Colette Butler

“We must be willing to fall flat on our faces.

Fearlessly putting ourselves out there is simply a required part of the process. At the very least, it results in the gift of humility and, at best, the triumph of our human spirit.”

– Jill Badonsky

“Fear never scaled one mountain, never stepped up on a stage, never accepted a challenge, never tilled new ground, never walked in a race; he never even dared to dream. Fear failed to slay a single dragon.

Remember this before you choose to keep his company.”

– Richelle E. Goodrich

“The greatest act of courage is to be and to own all of who you are – without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth of who you are.”

– Debbie Ford 50

Local Happenings

Healers and Helpers Wellness Group

This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840.

Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton.

These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer.

Learn more at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org, email execdirector@hopeforthejourneywestga.org or call 770.214.1491.

Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program

Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the lives of young girls and women. This group meets the third Saturday of each month at WellStar Douglas Hospital, 8954 Hospital Dr. in Douglasville, in the Sycamore Room from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

This program is open to all girls ages 10 to 17.

For more information call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org.

Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton.

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These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free weight checks for your baby will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us.

Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.

Gertrude's House Breast Cancer Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Lithia Springs Family Chiropractic at 1758 Lee Rd in Lithia Springs.

This group is open to all survivors, caregivers, supporters, friends, family and those fighting breast cancer.

Visit their Facebook page @GertrudesHouse or email them at GertrudesHouse@yahoo.com.

GriefShare at Tabernacle Baptist Church Utilizing a video seminar, support group and workbook, each of the 13 weekly GriefShare meetings center around a topic important to the grief recovery process.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the meetings run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each evening.

Meetings are held at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Room 256, Carrollton, Ga. Classes are free. Participation workbooks are $15.

DivorceCare at Tabernacle Baptist Church Utilizing a video seminar, support group, and workbook, each of the 13 weekly DivorceCare meetings center around a topic important to your recovery process.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the meetings run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each evening.

Meetings are held at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Room 260, Carrollton, Ga. Classes are free. Participation workbooks are $15.

For more information on GriefShare or DivorceCare, call or text John Pearson at 404.368.2746.

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Carroll EMC Offices Closed for Annual Meeting All Carroll EMC offices will close early on Thursday, Oct. 4 for our Annual Meeting. The Carrollton office will close at 3:30 p.m. and the district offices will close at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4.

During the closing, make payments at the kiosks, automated phone payment system (770-832-3552), online at carrollemc.com or via the free Carroll EMC mobile app.

To report a power outage, call 1-877-9-OUTAGE (1-877-968-8243) or report it online or via the mobile app.

Local Organizations Awarded Impact Grants from Carroll EMC The Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative Foundation awarded 73 local organizations with Impact Grants which totaled over $165,437 for projects that will benefit our communities. The grants were distributed during an afternoon reception at City Station in Carrollton on Thursday, August 16th.

Impact Grants provide assistance to area organizations and projects whose primary purpose is to improve the quality of life for residents in communities within Carroll EMC's service area. The grants are funded through Operation Round Up, which is a voluntary program that allows Carroll EMC Members to have their electric bills rounded up to the next highest whole dollar.

Included in this year’s funding were: Action Ministries American Red Cross Carroll County Emergency Shelter Carroll County Family Connection Carroll County Ferst Foundation Community Action Team Carroll County Foster Parent Association Carroll County Extension West GA Lamb Show Carroll County Genealogical Society Carroll County Humane Society Carroll County Mental Health Advocates Program

Carroll County Outdoor Camp Carroll County Sheriffs Camp Carroll County Training Center Carroll County Young Farmers Carrollton Empty Stocking Fund Carrollton Kiwanis Carrollton Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department Carrollton Senior Center City of Bowdon Circles of West Georgia Communities in Schools Fraternal Order of Police #35 Georgia SPOT Society Hope for the Journey Impact West Georgia Ingram Penelope Melson Society Inside Ministries Make A Wish Georgia Math Counts - GSPE McDaniel-Curtis Camp #165 Sons of Confederate Veterans McKenna Farm Therapy Services Mentoring Village Positive Response Rapha Clinic of West Georgia Rolling Hills RC&D Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum Temple Police Dept Temple Senior Center THS Emergency Shelter Villa Rica Police Dept West GA Chapter Native Plant Society West GA Water and Soil Conservation West GA Mounted Search and Rescue West Georgia Council on Aging West GYSTC Whitesburg Area Christian Ministries “I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of Operation Round Up and for taking time to apply,” said Taylor Key, Carroll EMC Foundation Administrator. “When I read the grants each year, I am inspired to be a kinder, more giving human. It really makes you see the good that is being done in our communities by these organizations.”

Since its inception in 2001, Operation Round Up has granted $3.3 million to nonprofit organizations and community projects in Carroll EMC's service area. Funds collected for Operation Round Up are distributed by the Carroll EMC Foundation Board of Trustees. None of the funds are used for administrative costs and 100 percent of the

proceeds go back into the community.

To sign up for Operation Round Up or to view the complete list of Impact Grant recipients, visit carrollemc.com, choose “MyCommunity” then “Operation Round Up.”

Linell Schultz, of the Carroll EMC Foundation awards Rosie Holley, of Hope for the Journey, with a 2018 Impact Grant. Photo by Carroll EMC.

Carroll EMC Undergoes Renovations at Main Office Carrollton, GA – There are a lot more hardhats milling around the Carrollton office of Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative. The co-op is in the process of renovating the Tisinger Community Center. Construction on the headquarters building began on Monday, July 16.

The original Tisinger Community Center was constructed in the late 1970s and has only experienced minor updates since the original construction. With the new renovation, Members will be able to experience better parking and easier facility access for events as well as improved visibility and appearance of the Carroll EMC headquarters.

“The expanded Tisinger Community Center and visitor parking will allow us to host larger community events,” said Jerome Johnston, Carroll EMC COO. “Also, the larger space and full commercial kitchen will have the capacity to provide efficient meal service to all Carroll EMC and mutual aid employees during major outage events; thus, allowing us to provide a more efficient response to our Members.”

During construction, the impact to Members will be minimal. Members will continue to have access to the lobby and Member Services counter during normal business hours throughout the entire construction process. Signage is posted to help guide visitors around the construction zone.

In addition, perimeter fencing/barriers will be

53

maintained to secure the construction zone and keep visitors safe.

Follow Carroll EMC on social media to find out more information on updates and progress of the renovation process. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2019.

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. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn. Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.

Carroll EMC began renovations to the Tisinger Community Center on July 16.

Photo by Carroll EMC.

Piedmont Newnan Donates $15,000 to WGTC Foundation Representatives from Piedmont Newnan Hospital recently presented a check for $15,000 to the West Georgia Technical College Foundation to support student scholarships and strengthen the partnership between the hospital and college. The gift is annual support as part of a five-year commitment signed in 2017.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital CEO Michael Robertson presented the check in the Community Room at West Georgia Tech’s Coweta Campus during a recent Chamber of Commerce event hosted by the College.

“We are grateful for the support of Piedmont Newnan as we work together to serve our community,” West Georgia Technical College President Dr. Scott Rule said. “In order to provide excellent care, Piedmont Newnan needs highly skilled nurses, radiographers, phlebotomists and other medical staff, and they also need skilled technicians to keep their physical plant running smoothly. Our partnership means our graduates get the opportunity to work in a great organization like Piedmont Newnan, and the hospital has a ready pipeline of trained workers.”

Rule said the college’s partnership with Piedmont Newnan is a “shining example” of how West

54

Georgia Tech can team up with community partners to give students a chance to learn and be ready to enter the workforce from day one.

“As a not-for-profit organization, our success enables us to give back to our community and support local partners like West Georgia Technical College, aligning our healthcare focus with their students’ needs to promote academic success and healthy living at an early age,” Robertson said.

“Support from the communities we serve means everything to us at West Georgia Tech,” Rule said.

“Mutually beneficial partnerships like the one we enjoy with Piedmont Newnan Hospital are critical to our mission of providing a relevant and affordable education for our students.”

For more information about how you can support students at West Georgia Tech, visit www. westgatech.edu/foundation.

West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties offers over 120 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the fourth largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit westgatech.edu.

West Georgia Technical College Foundation accepted $15,000 in annual support from Piedmont Newnan Hospital August 9.

The gift is part of a five-year commitment from the hospital in support of the College.

“Evening of Hope” 2nd Annual Breast Cancer Benefit Fashion Show Saturday, October 20th, 2018 at Uncorked On Main, 129 Main Street, Villa Rica, Ga. Tickets are $25 (includes dinner).

Tickets can be purchased online at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org.

Georgia’s Shot Spot Range Earns NSSF’s Five-Star Rating for Excellence

T

he National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms industry, is pleased to announce that Shot Spot range and retail, located in Carrollton, Georgia, has earned the organization’s highest Five-Star rating for business excellence.

Shot Spot’s 18,000-square-foot facility in Carrollton, founded in 2014, is a little more than 50 miles west of Atlanta not far from the Alabama state line. The pristine indoor range features 19 lanes, including eight at 15 yards for static handgun use, eight at 25 yards for dynamic handgun, rifle and shotgun use and three dedicated 100-yard rifle lanes. All are completely computer controlled and backed by a high-performance ventilation and HVAC system for customer ease and comfort. The range is supported by a robust rental firearms program, a thriving retail center, on-site competition and firearms training class offerings that run the gamut from basic safety instruction to advanced tactical seminars. A variety of membership packages designed to meet everyone’s needs and budgets, gunsmithing services along with an onsite bakery and café all work together to provide an exceptional customer experience for the community’s active targetshooting constituency.

“Shot Spot crosses all the ‘t’s” and dots all the ‘i’s,’” said Zach Snow, NSSF Director, Shooting Range Services. “This is range that has gone the extra mile to make itself a destination for area target shooters and competitors, and the foot traffic it experiences clearly shows those efforts have paid off. We’re more than pleased to welcome the Shot Spot team into the Star-Rating family as a Five-Star Range.”

“Shot Spot is thrilled to be welcomed into the ranks of Five Star ranges,” said John Paulk, Shot Spot’s owner. “We are committed to providing our community a facility that allows target shooting in a welcoming, clean and, above all, safe environment. Our goal is to encourage interest and education in the sport through our highly informed and highly trained staff. Thank you to the NSSF for its recognition of our commitment to quality and safety.”

NSSF’s highly respected Star-Rating Range Program works to encourage ranges of all sizes and locations to excel. Applying for rating requires completing a comprehensive questionnaire and a business owner selfevaluation of the facilities, staff, community outreach and other criteria. Ranges that appear to meet the criteria for Four- or Five-Star rating receive an onsite evaluation by NSSF staff. NSSF Member ranges that meet a Three-Star rating are recognized for being a part of the Star-Rating range family and are provided guidance to improve their facilities and achieve the higher two ratings. For more information, including instructions on how to apply for NSSF’s Star-Rating Range Program, contact Zach Snow at zsnow@ nssf.org.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry.

Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

Photo by Keith May.

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Michael L. Stone Receives the Women’s Choice Award® as Highly Recommended Financial Advisor

by Women for Women Carrollton, GA, August 10, 2018

As the leading advocate for female consumers, WomenCertified Inc. is pleased to announce that Michael L. Stone, CEO & Founder of Milestone Investment Management, LLC, has received the Women’s Choice Award for Financial Advisors and Firms based on rigorous research and 17 objective criteria.

The Women’s Choice Award is the only recognition program for well-qualified advisors who are committed to the women’s market and serving their female clients. At least 1/3 of Michael Stone’s clientele are women, and achieving this award reaffirms the commitment Milestone Investment Management has to extraordinary service in addressing the financial needs of women and their families. “Our team is committed to treating our clients with dignity, respect and care, and this commitment helps our clients feel more confident knowing they have financial guidance they can trust as they go through life’s transitions," said Stone.

WomenCertified, originator of the Women’s Choice Award, was created by Delia Passi, the leading advocate for female consumers and former group publisher of Working Woman and Working Mother magazines. Delia has created the Women’s Choice Award for Financial Advisors in an effort to help women identify those advisors who are committed to providing quality service, and cutting women’s time in half when searching for the right financial advisor to cater to their financial needs. The award allows this elite group of advisors to showcase their commitment to the women’s market, while giving potential clients a starting point for entrusting their finances to an advisor.

Women influence an enormous amount of wealth around the globe. Recent studies indicate the following in regards to women and their finances: • $20 trillion (27 percent) of the world’s total wealth is controlled by women. ** • In the U.S. alone, women exercise decision making control over $11.2 trillion; that is 39 percent of the nation’s estimated $28.6 trillion of investable assets. ** • 75 percent of female wealth creators describe themselves as primary decision makers. ** • U.S. women consumers make the final decision for buying 91 percent of home purchases, 65 percent of the new cars, 80 percent of health care choices and 66 percent of computers. *** As the financial industry wakes up to the fact that a great majority of the female population is seeking advisors they can trust and greatly value financial security, WomenCertified Inc. has created the solution. This powerful, national initiative distinguishes advisors who support female consumers in their quest for financial education.

About Milestone Investment Management, LLC Milestone Investment Management was founded by Michael L. Stone in 2010 as an Independent Wealth Management firm dedicated to helping our clients work toward a bright financial future. Our guidance encourages our clientele to have the confidence to move forward through life’s various milestones while maintaining a long-term outlook. Michael L. Stone has been a licensed financial advisor since 1997. He holds Series 7 and 63 Securities Licenses through LPL Financial and Series 66 through LPL and IFG Advisory, and holds the following certifications: Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Professional Plan Consultant (PPC) and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF). Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advice offered through IFG Advisory, LLC, a registered investment Advisor. IFG Advisory, LLC and Milestone Investment Management, LLC are separate entities from LPL Financial. For a list of states in which we are registered to do business, please visit www.milestoneinvestmentsllc.com.

About Women's Choice Award The Women’s Choice Award Financial Advisor Program is based on 17 objective criteria associated with providing quality service to women clients such as credentials, experience and a favorable regulatory history, among other factors. Financial advisors do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Women’s Choice Award® Financial Advisors, though they may have paid a fee to participate in the Women’s Choice Award Financial Advisor Marketing Program. WomenCertified Inc., home to the Women’s Choice Award, awards businesses, brands and services based on high recommendation ratings by female consumers. The Women’s Choice Award represents the collective voice of women so they can help each other identify businesses that deserve their loyalty and referrals. To learn more, visit www.womenschoiceaward.com. **Source: Harnessing the Power of the Purse, by the Center for Talent Innovation 2014C *** Source: Women Dominate the Global Market Place; here are 5 keys to reaching them.

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Villa Rica 5k & Half Mile Fun Run • 10/27/18 Registration opens at 7 am. Race starts at 8:30 am.

MILL Thrill Downtown Villa Rica At

the

Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 10 am until 2 pm Come out and enjoy carnival games, candy, train rides, vendors, pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, trick or treating and silent auction. Register at www.downtownvillarica.com

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Little

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DELIVERING

Twice the

Cute

Your mom warned you that twins run in the family.

Whether a fortunate fluke or an abundance of blessings, the board-certified team of obstetric and pediatric specialists at Tanner are accustomed to the special challenges that come with multiple births. And with specialized NICU services now available at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton, your baby (or babies) are assured that the specialized care they need is available close to home.

Twenty fingers, 20 toes — one choice for exceptional labor and delivery care.

tanner.org/maternity

Crimson and Scarlett Warner Parents — Eva and Kelley Warner

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Kids Korner

Foam Scarecrow and Frankenstein Craft

By Charlene Brooks Photos by Zachary Dailey

Black marker Glue

H

ave a spooky time with your little ones while making these super easy foam Frankenstein and scarecrow decorations, and make Halloween a little sweeter with these spooktacular and delicious ghost and pumpkin pretzels.

Materials 1 craft stick 4 googly eyes 1 bat decoration Orange feathers 2 glitter foam stickers (we used an alphabet letter cut into two pieces) Foam flower 1 candy corn decoration

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Instructions To decorate the purple Frankenstein sheet, color in the hair with a black marker at the top of the foam sheet. Glue the googly eyes to the foam sheet as pictured. Draw a crooked mouth and add stitches near the eyes. Glue bat decoration to the top of the foam sheet.

To decorate the orange scarecrow sheet, color in the hair with a black marker at the top of the foam sheet. Color a craft stick with the marker and allow to dry. Glue the flower to the craft stick.

Glue the feathers to the back of the craft stick, then glue the decorated stick to the foam sheet at an angle.

Glue the googly eyes and candy corn decoration to the orange foam sheet for the nose.

Draw a dotted mouth and in the corners glue the glitter foam stickers. Add stick-on magnets or glue craft sticks to the backs for display.

Ghastly Ghost and Pumpkin Pretzels Ingredients Mini twist pretzels Candy eyes Food coloring (regular not gel) White candy melts

Instructions Melt the candy melts in the microwave. Leave half of the melted candy white. Color the other half with red and yellow food coloring to make the melted candy an orange color.

Dip the "ghost" pretzels into the melted white candy. Dip the "pumpkin" pretzels into the melted orange candy. Place the candy eyes onto the coated pretzels while the coating is still moist. Allow pretzels to dry.

With the remaining melted white candy, add green food coloring for the stems of the pumpkins.

Place a small amount of green melted candy at the top of each pumpkin for stems. WGW

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Safety Tips For A Happy Halloween

Teach children to look to the left, right and then left again before crossing the street, and to always cross the street at corners using the crosswalks and traffic signals.

Decorate costumes and treat bags with reflective tape and choose lighter colors.

Give your child glow sticks or flashlights before going trick-or-treating.

Avoid masks that may obstruct your child’s view whenever possible. Use face paint or makeup instead.

The child’s costume should fit well to avoid stepping on or tripping over it.

Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by a responsible adult or guardian. If they are mature enough to go by themselves, encourage them to go in groups and stay in familiar and well-lit areas.

Teach children to never run out into the street or cross the street between parked cars.

Popular trick-or-treating hours are between 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert and watch for children during these hours on Halloween night.

Dedicated Healthcare When You Need It Most

770.832.9689

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Happy Halloween Word Search Word Bank

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Haunted House Creepy Pumpkin Candy Spider Tombstone Superstitious Cauldron Scary Carve Skeleton Costume Ghosts Halloween Trick Party Vampire Frightening Broomstick Treat

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Creating Beautiful Smiles For Over 15 years!

M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC

Family Dentistry and Complete Facial Esthetics 105 Dallas Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180 • 770.459.5778 www.drharveysmiles.com

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BUYING A NEW CAR DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SCARY.

WALKER BUICK 1492 N Park St (Hwy 27) Carrollton GA 30117 770.832.9602 www.walkerbuickgmc.com 64