The Weekly December 21, 2022

What’s Inside

Angela McRae shares a wonderful recipe just in time for the holidays – Chocolate Chip Pie. •••

Columnist Kathy Bohannon writes that Thanksgiving is always extra special at her house. •••

Senior Living expert Beth Dow explains that the holiday season can be difficult without our loved ones. •••

The traditional story of eight-yearold Virginia O’Hanlon who wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun in 1897 leading to: “Yes, Virginia; there is a Santa Claus.” •••

Our December Jackson Street Notes column features the story of the Birth of Jesus.

•••

County Agent Stephanie Butcher spells out the reasons to clean out birdfeeders this time of year. •••

Men have a tendency to neglect their health and put off various screenings. Columnist LaTina Emerson interviews Dr. Matthew Roberts to get his opinion on the importance for men to prioritize health. •••

Kiwanis distributes record $210,000 in proceeds from Coweta County Fair

On Giving Tuesday, The Kiwanis Club of Newnan hosted its members and community partners at the Newnan Utilities cabin to distribute grants from the record $210,000 in proceeds from the Coweta County Fair. While enjoying the food and fellowship, Newnan Kiwanis handed out checks to fifty different community organizations. Of these fifty organizations, twenty received a grant from Newnan Kiwanis for the first time.

In addition to providing grants for community partners, proceeds from the Coweta County Fair go towards supporting Newnan Kiwanis’ school-based youth clubs, scholarships, and an abundance of Newnan Kiwanis community service projects.

The 2022 Coweta County Fair was a significant success with record attendance over its 11-day run. “It’s great to see our success with the Coweta County Fair translate into this record amount of proceeds to share with the community,” Scott Cortner, Chairman of the Newnan Kiwanis Fair Committee said. “We made a big commitment to enhance the 2022 Fair, with new rides and new entertainment, and it’s gratifying to see our efforts so richly rewarded.”

Mike Barber, Chairman of the Newnan Kiwanis Finance Committee, was on hand Tuesday night to announce each of the grant recipients. Mike said “We are excited about the number of different community organizations which applied for a grant, including so many who will receive a grant for the first time. We have a vigorous vetting process for each applicant, and we are confident our awards go to support our mission of serving the children of our community.”

Hanson Powell, President of Newnan Kiwanis, was there to personally greet each award recipient and asked the recipients to address the audience, describing how the grant funds will be used. Hanson remarked that “I know how hard our members and our committees work in putting on the Coweta County Fair, then vetting all the grant applications and arranging this awards event. I am proud to be the President of such a hardworking and productive group of people in the Kiwanis Club of Newnan.”

The Newnan Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday at noon at the Newnan Country Club. Guests are always welcome. Please don’t wait for an invitation to join.

Pictured above are recipients from 50 local organizations that were awarded grants from the Kiwanis Club of Newnan.

PROFESSIONALS NEEDED

salaried positions are on our website. Engineers, Analysts, Buyers, Operations Leaders and Supervisors who understand the manufacturing process are urged to apply. On the website, choose “Direct Hire” to review job information.

“Considering a career with Yamaha has been one of the best decisions that I’ve made. It’s given me a whole lot of experience, it’s grown me a lot, not only as an engineer but as a person. And so it’s been really cool experience to get to grow up with the company, and I think that’s very valuable.”

Notes from Jackson Street

The birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-20 NLT

2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.

9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

The Weekly Staff

John A. Winters, Publisher, Editor john@wintersmedia.net

Corby Carlin Winters, Marketing/Public Relations corby@wintersmedia.net

Joey Howard, Digital Editor/Business Development 404.698.0734 • joey@wintersmedia.net

Levi Winters, Social & Visual Media levi@wintersmedia.net

Seth Winters, Ad Design sethswinters@gmail.com

Ruth Harris Doyal, Pagination 770.254.1421 • info@wintersmedia.net

The Weekly is published by Winters Media & Publishing, Inc., P. O. Box 757, Newnan, GA 30264

John A. Winters, President Corby Carlin Winters, Vice President

The Weekly is our new publication, which replaces The Shopper. From 1989, the Shopper successfully served the area. The Weekly will not only continue that tradition but expand its focus on consumer-related articles for our readers and our commitment to help promote local businesses and nonprofits.

Our office is located at 18 Jackson St., Newnan, GA 30263

Mailing address is: P. O. Box 757, Newnan, GA 30264

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The Weekly reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising as we feel is in the best interest of our publication.

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16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Thanksgiving is always extra special at my house.

Our daughter and her family (henceforward named “The Crew”) were planning to come for all of the festivities. The idea was for them to come Wednesday night. But a tire that wasn’t holding air kept them home until Thursday morning.

Thursday came and The Crew loaded up their truck for the four-hour trek to grandma’s house. The Crew consists of daughter and her husband, two kids and three, yes THREE, dogs. Let’s talk about those dogs.

One is a German Shepherd. He’s just what one would expect him to be. He corrals his people and is well trained. Other than flinging hair everywhere and “tap tap tapping” his puppy paws on the floors, he’s a perfect gentleman.

Another is an American Bulldog, also known as a house hippo. Imagine a little hippopotamus with a huge face full of happiness to share and chunky feet that support that hippo body. I can’t write about him without saying how absolutely adorable he is. I also can’t express enough of how clumsy his little 18-month old self is.

We tease about the third pup, which is really the first one who came along long before the others. He is 15 years old, or maybe 25. The joke is that he is trying to go on to pup heaven but his people keep saving him. He is blind and deaf and has maybe three teeth left. He is an Italian Greyhound and has an overbite that rivals Scrat from the Ice Age movie.

So The Crew loaded up and headed our way. They didn’t have “just” a flat tire, they had a tire to literally explode about an hour and a half from our house on the side of I-16. Our son jumped in his dad’s truck and went to rescue them. The Crew Boss (son-in-law) has AAA, and since they didn’t have a spare, they were able to get the truck towed to the nearest tire place. (The spare would have been huge, as the tires are oversized).

Once they all arrived, we enjoyed Thanksgiving together and then retired to the back porch. We have an inground, 8-foot-deep pool at our new house. It’s cold outside, so no one intended to go swimming,

including the house hippo, who walked alongside the pool without incident.

Until there was an incident.

I had barely finished commenting how careful he was being when I saw him belly flop into the water. The Crew Boss jumped up (thankfully his phone landed on the porch) and the pup, being the hippo that he is, was sinking fast. I attribute the fact that he’s never been in deep water before as to why he didn’t dog paddle right away. But before we could blink, son in law had jumped in grabbed him and pulled him out of the water. That water has probably never been colder than at that moment.

Several crazy things happened, as it does with our family, but the crowning touch was the elderly pup mistaking that pool for the yard. Yes, he also fell in, despite the fact that we had a portable fence up. The Crew Boss was able to scoop him up and save him, much to the pup’s dismay. This happened just minutes before Ninja Man was driving them back to get their truck.

It was several days of crazy, but the good kind. Like all of our gatherings, it was the kind we are thankful everyone survived.

Kathy Bohannon is a Christian humorist and inspirational speaker. She can be reached a kathybohan@yahoo.com n

December Daily Menu

SUNDAY:

TUESDAY:

Missing loved ones during the holidays

This is not how my December/Christmas column began, but I truly feel that if something is weighing heavily on my heart there is a good chance that someone else is feeling the same weight.

So, this holiday season – to everyone who is going through this Christmas without someone they love – I understand.   I know how hard it is.

I, too, see all the Facebook pictures of the joyous families celebrating.  The families with multiple generations, extended families – big, wonderful families.

And, I too, know what it feels like to have holiday pictures without parents and siblings.    I have friends whose holiday pictures are missing children and grandchildren.

When you have lost a loved one, everyday is hard.  But the business of life can push you through it.  During the holidays the loss seems to hang.  There seems to be more situations that prick the memory of times lost.

Loss comes in many shapes and sizes.  But the volume, the weight of the loss, can only truly be felt by the person carrying it.  Please do not try to place a value to that loss.

A person who has lost a pet can feel the same depth of loss as someone who has lost a parent.  A person who has a loved one – though still alive but riddled with Dementia or Alzheimer’s – can feel the pain of loss just as someone who has lost a loved one to death.  A person who is experiencing the loss of a relationship – a relationship that represented hope and a future that is now no more – is experiencing a loss that is even more unbearable. Because of the holidays and the start of a new year, that will once again begin with them being alone.

As I write today, I want you to know that if you are experiencing loss you are not alone.  There are many of us who understand, who are feeling it, and we

Senior Living Advice

with BETH DOW, Geriatric Care Manager

see you.

To those who thankfully are not struggling with the strong feelings of loss this season, please understand that there are a lot of us who are struggling out here.  So if we are not as “festive” as you think we should be, please don’t ask us to “snap out it”.  Please don’t say “it was only a pet”, “at least she is still alive”, or “there will be other relationships.”

If we call or text, please answer.  In many cases we need to be around people.  We don’t always want or need to “talk about it.”  We just need to be with people.  It helps.  It can also be hard to be around people. If you are struggling, you may need to force yourself. We were not born to live in solitude.  Being with others helps.  Studies prove that those who are actively social are healthier – physically, mentally and emotionally.

This holiday season in the mist of all the hustle and bustle, make time to be with others.  Christmas can be joyous and hard, but if you can do it with people around it can be brighter.  I wish for everyone a very Merry Christmas and holiday season.

Beth Dow is a Dementia and Alzheimer’s Educator, CAEd and Geriatric Care Manager. She is also the owner of Home Helpers of GA & AL in Newnan. Readers can contact her by email at  beth@ solutionsbybeth.com.

Weekly Kitchen

with Angela

Just in Time for the Holidays: Chocolate Chip Pie

Earlier this year, Instacart shared some insights about which pies sold the most in each state. I am very sorry to have to report to you that Georgia’s favorite, based on Instacart sales, was sweet potato pie. Now I like sweet potatoes, and I have nothing against sweet potato pie, but let’s be real: it’s a one-hit wonder that you want about once each fall and that’s it. Why couldn’t we have been like Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina, where key lime pie is the favorite? Or maybe like the Midwest, where cherry pie is tops. In Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, the winner was the classic pecan pie. I could also live with the choice of Virginia, Vermont, and Arkansas—chocolate pie.

If the Instacart reporting is accurate, I must say I’m disappointed in Georgia. We can do better. And along that line, it occurred to me that I’ve never shared with you readers the recipe for my favorite pie, the one requested at family gatherings, which is Chocolate Chip Pie. Think of it as the love child of a chocolate chip cookie and pecan pie. It’s got a wonderfully gooey filling like a pecan pie, yet it has chocolate chips to give it extra richness. And don’t tell the coconut haters, but it also contains just enough coconut to give the pie a nice chewy texture without the overt coconut taste that some folks dislike. I’ve been making this pie for decades, and I knew it had passed into family legend when my niece Cari requested that I make some of them for her wedding reception earlier this year. I was delighted to!

I’ve said it here before, but I am not good at making homemade piecrusts, so I recommend Pet-Ritz or, for an especially pretty and flaky crust, Marie Callender’s. (Last month, though, I had a little difficulty finding any deep-dish piecrusts at the grocery store, so perhaps I need to look up some Martha Stewart videos and learn to make my own. A goal for 2023, perhaps?)

I like to serve this pie cold, but I’ve also warmed up slices in the microwave and served it with whipped cream.

So if you need an easy and delicious new pie this Christmas, to share or to enjoy, give this one a try. (And since this recipe is so easily doubled, I almost always make two.)

Recipe

Chocolate Chip Pie

o 3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons butter, softened

o 1 cup sugar

o 1 teaspoon vanilla

o 2 eggs

o 1/2 cup plain flour

o 1 (6-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

o 1 cup pecans

o 3/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut

o 1 (9-inch) deep-dish pie shell, unbaked

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla well. Add eggs and combine. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, pecans and coconut. Pour into pie shell and bake for 35-40 minutes, until just beginning to turn a golden brown on top. Let cool, then refrigerate to help the pie set.

Angela McRae is a freelance writer and editor from Newnan, and you can find out more about her work at angelamcrae.com. Email questions and comments to her at angelamcrae@charter.net

Men Need to

We’ve all heard the popular saying “health is wealth,” which means that good health is the most valuable asset that a person can have. However, many men neglect their health for various reasons and put off important screenings for later.

As the end of the year quickly approaches, it’s a great time for men to prioritize their health and make plans to improve their physical and mental health in the new year.

Dr. Matthew Roberts, a board-certified family practice physician at Piedmont Physicians at White Oak in Newnan, offers some tips to help men get their health on the right track.

A: A yearly physical allows you and your physician to meet to establish a health care baseline, so we can watch for changes or trends over time and get to know you when you’re not sick. It also gives your physician the opportunity to address preventative measures that may not come

up at a regular office visit.

Health, Important Screenings

relationship with a primary care office could mean the difference between a one-week wait for a quick office visit appointment or a several-month wait for a new patient appointment.

Q: What are five health screenings or tests men 45-plus need to get each year? Are there health screenings for other ages?

Think of it like maintenance on your vehicle: if you want your truck to last a few hundred thousand miles, you’d be wise to take it in to your mechanic for scheduled tune ups, and not just always wait until something breaks on it. A physical also allows you to establish yourself as a patient with a medical office, even if you do not have any health issues.

Our area is growing, and there are proportionally less and less primary care physicians each week. This is unfortunate, but unavoidably causing longer wait times for new patient appointments. You may find yourself in need of a PCP for many reasons: a pre-op clearance visit, a letter for work, disability paperwork, travel clearance forms, etc. Having an established

A: At age 45-plus, I’d recommend a blood count and complete metabolic panel, a cholesterol panel, thyroid check and a prostate antigen check. Although these may seem like simple labs, some serious diseases may be caught early by them. Colon cancer, for example, can cause low iron, and that shows up on a blood count as anemia. If a 45-year-old man’s blood count looks suspicious for low iron, that’s a big red flag.

If you’re a smoker, at age 55, you may need to start yearly chest CT scans for lung cancer. That’s a great tool we have to check for lung cancer and hopefully catch it early. Colon cancer screening starts at age 45 now, also. That was updated from 50 years old just recently.

Q: What are some ways that men specifically can live healthier lifestyles?

A: A very good friend of mine from Tasmania

said that the difference between Americans and Australians is that “Australians work to live, but Americans live to work.” These last two years have shown me just how little time men take for themselves. Even men who work from home have a horrible work-life balance. We have to learn to schedule time for ourselves a few days each week. Turn off the TV, put down the phone, and go focus on yourself: a walk down the street, fishing, a hike in a park, grill something, etc.

Q: Are there specific health risks that men are more prone to and need to be aware of? Why are men more at risk?

A: Men have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes), diabetes, depression and suicide, and skin cancer. The “why” is complicated, and several factors play a role: a man’s job, his diet, his work hours, his family medical history, his daily stress level. All of these are some of the variables that play into a man’s health risks.

Q: Are there other important things for men to know about their health?

A: There is nothing masculine about not catching a preventable disease early.

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Q: Why is it important to have a yearly physical with your primary care physician?

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Arnall Grocery Company

32 East Washington Street • Newnan GA 30263 770-253-4556 • www.arnallgrocery.com

Hours: M-F, 8-5:30; Sat, 8-2 Locally owned & operated since 1869

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College Football Playoff

Sat., Dec. 31 – Fiesta Bowl, 4 pm – ESPN Michigan (13-0) vs. TCU (12-1)

Sat., Dec. 31 – Peach Bowl, 8 pm – ESPN Georgia (13-0) vs. Ohio State (11-1)

Other New Year’s Six Bowls

Fri., Dec. 30 – Orange Bowl, 8 pm – ESPN Tennessee (10-2) vs. Clemson (11-2)

Sat., Dec. 31 – Sugar Bowl, Noon – ESPN Alabama (10-2) vs. Kansas State (10-3)

Mon., Jan. 2 – Cotton Bowl, 1 pm – ESPN Southern Cal (11-2) vs. Tulane (11-2)

Mon., Jan. 2 – Rose Bowl, 5 pm – ESPN Utah (10-3) vs. Penn State (10-2)

PRO SPORTS

NBA – Atlanta Hawks (15-15)

Dec. 14 – at Orlando Magic ... L, 124-135

Dec. 16 – at Charlotte Hornets ... W, 125-106

Mon., Dec. 19 – Orlando Magic, 7:30 pm – BSSE

Wed., Dec. 21 – Chicago Bulls, 7:30 – BSSE

Fri., Dec. 23 – Detroit Pistons, 7:30 pm – BSSE

Dec. 27 – at Indiana Pacers, 7:30 pm – BSSE

Dec. 28 – Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 pm – BSSE

Dec. 30 – Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 pm – BSSE / NBATV

NFL – Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

Dec. 4 – Pittsburgh Steelers ... L, 16-19

Dec. 11 – Bye

Dec. 18 – at New Orleans Saints ... L, 18-21

Sat., Dec. 24 – at Baltimore Ravens, 1 pm – FOX

Jan. 1 – Arizona Cardinals, 1 pm – FOX

Jan. 8 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TBD – TBD

HUNTING SEASON DATES – COWETA

Aug. 15 – Feb. 28 ... Squirrel, Opossum, Raccoon

Aug. 15 – March 15 ... Falconry (Squirrel)

Sept. 10 – Jan. 8 ... Deer (Archery)

Oct. 1 – March 15 ... Falconry (Rabbit, Quail, Grouse)

Oct. 15 – Jan. 8 ... Deer (Primitive Weapons, Youth-Firearms)

Oct. 15 – Feb. 28 ... Grouse

Oct. 22 – Jan. 8 ... Deer (Firearms)

Nov. 5 – Feb. 28 ... Crows

Nov. 8 – Dec. 26 ... Sora & Virginia Rails / King & Clapper Rails

Nov. 12 – Feb. 28 ... Quail / Rabbit

Nov. 15 – Feb. 28 ... Snipe

Dec. 1 – Feb. 28 ... Fox, Bobcat

Dec. 10 – Jan. 23 ... Woodcock

Dec. 10 – Jan. 29 ... Canada Goose, Coots, Ducks, Falconry, Gallinules, Mergansers, Sea Ducks, Snow & White Fronted Geese

Dec. 19 – Jan. 31 ... Mourning Dove

Hunting & Fishing License Info: Call 1-800-366-2661

Visit https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes

LAKE LEVELS

Jackson Lake – Dec. 19 ... 529.18 ft. (Full 528 ft.)

Lake Allatoona – Dec. 19 ... 829.93 ft (Full 840 ft.)

Lake Harding – Dec. 19 ... 520.51 ft. (Full 520 ft.)

Lake Lanier – Dec. 19 ... 1,068.68 ft (Full 1,071 ft.)

Lake Martin, Ala. – Dec. 19 ... 483.76 ft. (Full 491 ft.)

Lake Wedowee, Ala. – Dec. 19 ... 784.93 ft. (Full 793.0 ft.)

West Point Lake – Dec. 19 ... 629.90 ft. (Full 635 ft.)

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Wednesday, Dec. 21 – Rise 7:39 am; Set 5:35 pm

Thursday, Dec. 22 – Rise 7:39 am; Set 5:36 pm

Friday, Dec. 23 – Rise 7:40 am; Set 5:36 pm

Saturday, Dec. 24 – Rise 7:40 am; Set 5:37 pm

Sunday, Dec. 25 – Rise 7:40 am; Set 5:37 pm

Monday, Dec. 26 – Rise 7:41 am; Set 5:38 pm

Tuesday, Dec. 27 – Rise 7:41 am; Set 5:39 pm

Zen Monkey’s News and Musings …

Notes from here, there and the Internet …

[ [ [

Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s annual philanthropic event – the Piedmont Newnan Soiree - raised more than $160,000. The money goes toward benefitting oncology services at Piedmont Newnan. That includes direct patient care programs, capital needs associated with our oncology programs, and program support for

The Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness Center.

[ [ [

The Butterball hotline answers roughly 100,000 calls every year on its turkey question hotline.

[ [ [

Dragonflies are one of the most efficient killers in nature, capturing their prey more than 95% of the time.

[ [ [

100 Women Who Care awarded its fourth quarter grant to Community Action for Improvement. The $6,500 grant will be used for CAFI’s new playground. Since 2018, the grassroots organization 100 Women Who Care Coweta County, which was launched under the auspices of the Coweta Community Foundation in 2016, has awarded some $115,500 in grants to local nonprofits.

[ [ [

The National Turkey Federation says around 45 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving, which equates to about 720 million pounds of turkey being consumed (with the average turkey size being 16 pounds).

[ [ [

In 2022, Yamaha provided $25,000 in scholarship money to help fund college education. There have been 166 awards totalling $399,000 over the 20-year history of the program.

[ [ [

In 1923, a jockey named Frank Hayes suffered a fatal heart attack and died mid-race. His body remained on the horse and crossed the finish line in first place. He had never won a race before in his life.

[ [ [

Piedmont Newnan Hospital received an ‘A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for fall 2022, a national designation recognizing Piedmont Newnan’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. This is the 16th consecutive grading period Piedmont Newnan has earned an ‘A’ grade, giving the hospital the longest streak of consistent A grades in the state of Georgia.

[ [ [

Coweta-Fayette EMC awarded $29,926.33 in Bright Ideas Grants to 24 deserving teachers across Coweta County Schools, Fayette County Schools, and Heard County Schools. Earlier this year, several local teachers submitted Bright Idea Grant applications to assist with innovative classroom projects, and 24 were selected as grant recipients. Grants were approved by the Coweta-Fayette Trust Board.

[ [ [

In 1859, English settler Thomas Austin released only 24 rabbits onto his property in Australia, stating “The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting.” By the 1920’s the population of rabbits in Australia reached 10 billion.

[ [ [

FREYR Battery, a developer of clean, next-generation battery cell production capacity, announced plans to build its planned Giga America battery plant, in Coweta County. The company plans to create 723 new jobs and invest more than $2.57 billion in Coweta County through 2029. The new flagship manufacturing plant will be located at the Bridgeport Industrial Park near Moreland.

[ [ [

This year, One Roof Outreach started distributing Thanksgiving meals and turkeys on November 4 and over the next few weeks distributed close to 500 turkeys with all the fixings. The annual give-away was first started with help from Lieutenant Colonel Bob Yeager of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office and Colonel Tom Guzzo, a retired US Army Veteran.

[ [ [

The 1982 movie Poltergeist used real skeletons as props because they were cheaper than plastic skeletons.

[ [ [

Listen to your iHeart radio stations … 98.1, 720AM, AM1400, online or with the iHeart app and win! Monday through Friday … 12 times per day … starting at 7 a.m. Listen for keyword to text in to win! For

R. Butcher County Coordinator Agricultural & Natural Resources Agent UGA Extension – Coweta County

A. Yes, you should clean your birdfeeders, and this is a great time to clean them and make sure they are full. It is very simple and easy to do and can help prevent diseases that can spread when birds visit neglected feeders.

Several common diseases that are seen in backyard birds include: salmonellosis, conjunctivitis, aspergillosis. 

Salmonellosis is a bacterial disease than is transmitted orally and through accumulated fecal matter beneath feeders. Birds infected with the salmonella bacteria are often lethargic and easily approached.  Birds with conjunctivitis have crusty-looking eyes, may lose their sight and may remain perched on feeders even when approached. 

Aspergillosis is a fungal infection that can cause respiratory distress in birds and can result from a buildup of wet and moldy seed hulls beneath feeders.

These diseases and others can be prevented with routine cleaning in and around birdfeeders and birdbaths.  Clean feeders weekly using a 10-percent bleach solution – one part bleach to nine parts water – and rinse them thoroughly. After washing, let the feeders dry completely. (Always wear protective gloves while cleaning feeders, feeding areas and bird baths, and wash carefully afterward.) 

Rake up bird seed, hulls and fecal matter beneath feeders two or more times a week. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling fungal spores stirred up by raking. 

If you have multiple feeders, space them out to help limit gatherings of birds.  Move feeders regularly. A move as few as 20 feet away lowers the risk of disease transmission.

Stephanie

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24+/- ACRES ON POPLAR ROAD AT YEAGER ROAD INTERSECTION. Already zoned C-6 with water and sewer. Ideal for multiuse development. $7,000,000 for all or will consider subdividing front 5 acres for $500,000 per acre and back 19+/- acres for $250,000 per acre Frank/ Chip, Lindseys, Inc. Realtors, 770.253.6990

SERVICES

HOME TOWN HANDYMAN 770.715.5964 - No job TOO big, or TOO small. 12.21

10% OFF ANY TREE SERVICE for senior citizens and veterans from Arbor Tech Tree Service when you mention this ad. Experts in tree removal, trimming/pruning, and stump grinding. Emergency service. Free Estimates. Certified ISA Arborist on staff. Call 678.633.2986

HOME IMPROVEMENT We proudly do painting, remodeling, decks, doors, basements, gutters, windows, roofing, columns, flooring, plumbing, kitchens, wood repair, electrical. ALL types of handyman jobs. NO job too small. Successfully over 30 years in business. 770.252.5458 Very reasonable rates.

SERVICES

TREE REMOVAL – 24/7 Emergency Service, Tree-Shrub Pruning and Trimming, Commercial and Residential, Licensed/Insured. Want It Your Way, Call Us Right Away. Misael’s Tree Service & Stump Grinding. Call 678.301.0153

NOW HIRING

CARROLLTON, GA – Parts department help needed – drivers, counter help and stock help. Must be over 21 with valid driver’s license and insurance. Great pay and benefits for right candidate. Apply at Scott Evans Nissan or Scott Evans Dodge to Rob or Tony. 770.834.5050 or 770.832.8222

NOW HIRING

WE NEED HELP! Knowledgeable technicians with own tools. Pay based on experience up to $35flat rate. Monday thru Friday 8-5. Contact us at Jamie’s Automotive, LaGrange. 706.242.4927

BELL RINGERS NEEDED – It is Bell Ringing Season! The Salvation Army of Newnan is seeking volunteers to ring the bell at our Red Kettle stands this holiday season. Shifts available at 10 locations. Some paid positions available. Call 770.251.8181 or email sabellringers@yahoo.com to sign up!

NOW HIRING – LKQ PICK YOUR PART in Fayetteville, GA is seeking to fill various positions. To apply, visit lkqpickyourpart.com and select ‘Careers.’

WE ARE HIRING – HEADLEY CONSTRUCTION is now hiring Superintendents and Skilled Laborers. Great pay, 401K, paid holidays & PTO, plus home every night. Previous experience in new construction or renovation is required. If you take pride in your work, we want to interview you today. Apply in-person at 44 East Washington Street, Newnan or email resume to cgilliam@headleyconstruction.com.

SMALLCAKES IS HIRING – Want to work someplace fun with flexible scheduling? Smallcakes Cupcakery Newnan is hiring for part-time closing cashiers! Shifts are 2-4 days per week, with opening weekend shifts also available. Apply in the store today!! 113 Newnan Crossing Bypass, Newnan 30265. For info, call 770.252.1400.

BENEFITS – Progressive Heating Air & Plumbing now hiring HVAC Techs, Installers, Apprentices & Plumbers. Benefits include Ongoing Training, Medical-Dental-Vision Insurance, 401K Retirement, Paid Holidays & Vacation. Send resume to news@progressiveac.com or apply at progressiveac.com

CAREGIVERS – Home Helpers of GA & AL seeking qualified Caregivers. Available shifts – days, evenings, overnight and/or weekends. Competitive wages, extensive training, supportive work environment and paid time off. Apply online at ApplyToBeACNA.com or call 678.876.5118

PETS

NEWNAN COWETA HUMANE SOCIETY Check website for list of animals at local animal control facility and foster care animals. Call 770.253.4694 www.nchsrescue.org

Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897.

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’

Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O’HANLON. 115 WEST NINETYFIFTH STREET.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how

dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

A few photos from Santa’s recent visit on the Square

Events

Coweta County Schools

Winter

December 25,

Break

SUNDAY

Dec. 19 - Jan. 2

Christmas

December 27,

TUESDAY

n Coweta Public Library info/register cowetapubliclibrary.org Christmas Escape Room @ Powell Branch 11 a.m. Registration is required. Visit website for more info.

n Teen Holiday Pizza Party at The Carnegie at 2 pm for pizza and treats! Tunes and games! Celebrate the end of the year at the Carnegie! Register for your free tickets on Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/472670669697

1 LaGrange St., 770.683.1347, newnancarngie.com

n Red Cross Blood Drive at Newnan Church of Christ 2675 Hwy 34 East, Newnan, GA 30265, 2 to 7 p.m. redcrossblood.org

December 28, WEDNESDAY

n Coweta Public Library info/register cowetapubliclibrary.org Christmas Escape Room @ Powell Branch 12 p.m. Registration is required. Visit website for more info.

December 29, TUESDAY

n Carnegie Cinema: The Bad Guys at The Carnegie The Carnegie Library will be showing a family friendly movie from 10 a.m. to noon featuring your favorite animal criminals turned heroes from Aaron Blaley’s bestselling children’s chapter book series. Refreshments will be provided. Registration is required and can be made through Eventbrite.com

1 LaGrange St., 770.683.1347, newnancarngie.com

n Red Cross Blood Drive at Unity Baptist Church 311 Smokey Road, Newnan, GA 30263, 2 to 7 p.m. redcrossblood.org

December 31, SATURDAY

n Countdown to the New Year at PTC’s The Avenue Kick off the new year with Noon Year’s Eve—a family-friendly celebration and countdown to noon on New Year’s Eve … from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Central Park green space. Parents and their kiddos will celebrate the new year with a confetti cannon countdown to noon. And

• A dance party with awesome jams spun by a DJ

• A 360 photo booth to capture memories

• Face painting and party hat coloring stations

Craft cotton candy and popcorn. A local hot chocolate and cider vendor will be on-site collecting donations on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club. The event is free and open to the public. Info https://www.avenuepeachtreecity.com

January 1, SUNDAY

New Years Day

n 1st Day Hike - Preview of New Paved Trail at Chattahoochee Bend

Come out and get a special preview of the new paved multiuse trail before it is officially opened. This is the first trail in this section of the park. Bring the kids and pets. The first mile of this trail is ADA friendly. Bring a water bottle and good walking shoes. $5 parking. Please call for time and ask about reservations. 770.254.7271. 425 Bob White Way, Newnan

January 2, MONDAY

…

Teacher Work Day

January 3, TUESDAY … First Day of Second Semester

n Red Cross Blood Drive at Central Library 85 Literary Lane, Newnan, GA 30265, 1 to 6 p.m. redcrossblood.org

January 5, THURSDAY …

n Red Cross Blood Drive at Hendrick Honda of Newnan 33 Greenville St., Newnan, GA 30263, 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. redcrossblood.org

January 5, THURSDAY

n Red Cross Blood Drive at Newnan FUMC 391 Newnan Crossing Bypass, Newnan, GA 30265, 11 a.m. to 4p.m. redcrossblood.org

January 6, FRISDAY …

n Full Moon Hike at Chattahoochee Bend

A hike on the Flat Rock trail to enjoy the first full moon of 2023. Hike to the flat rock open area to watch the moon rise and experience the sights and sounds of the night. Feel free to bring hot chocolate or water, good walking shoes and a flashlight. Meet at Trailhead 1 parking lot. Must pre-register by 5pm Thurs, Jan. 5, 2023. $5 plus $5 parking. 770.254.7271. 425 Bob White Way, Newnan, GA 30263-5228.

January 10, 11 Sold Out, 18 Sold Out, & 25

n Beautifully Baked by Bonne Workshop at Nixon Centre

A workshop series with Newnan’s very own Beautifully Baked by Bonne! This series of workshops begins with a lecture and demonstration from Bonne, then moves through three additional workshops at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, covering everything from baking and decorating basics continued on page 19

Keep Newnan Beautiful 2023 Events

January

February

For more information visit their website www.keepnewnanbeautiful.org

Heritage Hawks raise $26,000 for Can-A-Thon

Every year, The Heritage School raises funds for the Newnan Junior Service League’s (NJSL) annual CanA-Thon. This year, Heritage Hawks raised over $26,000 — a record-breaking amount for the school’s yearly fundraiser.

The effort, led by Key Club Sponsor and Heritage faculty Gina Watkiss and the Key Club members, make significant contributions to the Can-AThon every year. To further increase involvement and raise even more funds for the campaign, the Heritage School ran a one-week King-A-Thon for Can-A-Thon to determine their 2022 Homecoming King.

Senior boys were nominated for Homecoming King through an initial donation. After securing their nomination, students, friends, and family “voted” for their favorite senior to win the crown. Every dollar donated to the campaign equaled one vote. During the one week campaign, the Heritage School had 148 unique donors give $26,153. LJ Estrada raised the most amount of funds for the campaign and was crowned Homecoming King during the school’s 2022 Powderpuff Game. Jack Butler, as the senior who had the most unique donors, was crowned the Homecoming Prince. Estrada and Butler presented the check to The Heritage School Key Club President Henry Wilgus and Vice President Mack Mikko during the Homecoming Half-Time Ceremony.

The Heritage Students were then on hand during the Can-A-Thon event on November 29 to present the check to NJSL. Wilgus was honored to be the school’s representative chosen to deliver the check. He said of the honor, “Can-a-thon is such a fun way to get our school involved in the community. The amount of money we raised this year was amazing and getting to hand the check to the food pantry representatives made me proud to be representing our school.” Mikko was also present at the Can-A-Thon and has been a contributing member of the fundraiser throughout his time at Heritage. He said of the event, “Being a part of Heritage for a long

time, I have been able to help donate cans and see others donate them to the food pantry. It’s encouraging knowing how easy it is to make others happy with such a simple task, and I think the Can-AThon is a great way to get Heritage involved with the community. I am thankful for all of the families who gave and how much money we were able to raise!”

In addition to Wilgus and Mikko, over 40 other students volunteered to help sort and prepare donations to be distributed to Coweta families. Miss Gina Watkiss, who has been helping organize the Heritage School’s Key Club involvement for over 30 years, says, “It's wonderful seeing Newnan come together to help their neighbors in need!”

A portion of the raised funds went to purchasing turkeys and hams. All Heritage Students will further contribute to the campaign during their “Drop Everything and Serve” Day on December 16 by bringing in shelf-stable foods and creating food packages to further donate to the campaign.

The Heritage School is a co-educational, independent day school in Newnan, Georgia, serving Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School students and families from diverse communities. Inspired by some of the very best teachers in Georgia, children find balance at The Heritage School – balance that empowers them to think creatively, act independently, and feel compassionately.

Members of The Heritage School Key Club present a check to the Newnan Junior Service League. Pictured from Left to Right are Amelia Thornton, Laci Johnson, Cole Wilgus, Adam Richards, Henry Wilgus, Mack Mikko, Sam Knight, and Noah Conner.

C hristmas P arade

Events

continued from page 18

to cake sculpting. Each session requires its own ticket. For information and tickets, visit: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/ thenixoncentre/5497 770.254.ARTS, 1523 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan

January 12, THURSDAY …

n CCSS Spelling Bee at The Nixon Centre, 1525 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan nixoncentre.net

January 14, SATURDAY …

n Keep Newnan Beautiful Paper Shredding look for ad in this issue keepnewnanbeautiful.org

January 19, THURSDAY

n CCSS High School Band Festival at The Nixon Centre, 1525 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan nixoncentre.net

n Hometown Novel Nights: New Year, New Novels Join the Newnan Carnegie Library and Hometown Novel Writers Association from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. as they discuss “New Year, New Novels”, starting the brand new year off with some great reads by local Georgian authors. Registration is with Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/483232239637

1 LaGrange St., 770.683.1347, newnancarngie.com

Look for more events in future issues!

Send your event details to Ruth at info@wintersmedia.net

Coweta schools adopt both 2023-24, 2024-25 calendars

From Coweta County Schools Press Release

Following public input, the Coweta County Board of Education approved new academic-year calendars for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years at its November 8th meeting.

Two calendar options for each school year are to the right or at https://www.cowetaschools.net/

The school board adopted the Option 1 calendar that was proposed to the public in September. That calendar option was modified, based on survey input, to move a Monday teacher workday in October to staff pre-planning days in August, and continue holding that Monday as a student and employee Fall Break holiday.

The adopted 2023-24 calendar closely follow the calendar used by the school system in recent years and include:

• School starts Wednesday, August 2, in 2023

• An October Fall Break weekend October 6-9

• A full week Thanksgiving Break November 20-24

• A two-week Christmas December 18-29

• A New Year’s Break Jan. 1 and 2

• A one-week Winter Break February 19-23

• Spring Break April 1-5.

The calendars maintain 180 days of student instruction, divided into two 90-day semesters (or 89/91 days or 88/92 days). The first semester concludes before the start of holidays in December to allow for high school course completion and final exams prior to the Christmas and New Year’s break.

The calendars were adopted by the board following two months of public input through an online survey.

Just over 72 percent of respondents preferred the proposed Option 1 calendar, out of 1,560 people who took the survey. The Option 2 calendar shortened the Christmas and New Year’s break and started the school year slightly later in August.

The survey also asked participants to rate how important it is to maintain the traditional Coweta school-year holidays in the upcoming school-year calendars.

77 percent of respondents said that the two-day fall break (four-day weekend, three-day employee weekend) was important to them. 82 percent said the full-week Thanksgiving Break was important to maintain, 81 percent said the full two-week Christmas and New Year’s Break was important to maintain, and 70 percent of respondents said the full-week February (Winter) break was important to maintain in school calendars going forward.

The results of the survey and respondents’ comments and suggestions were provided to the school board to inform their decision.

Coweta County School System 2023-2024 School Calendar

Coweta County School System 2024-2025 School Calendar