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MAGAZINE A Publication of The Times-Herald
Celebrating
BLACK BLACK HISTORY HISTORY MONTH MONTH
Also in this issue: • Coweta’s great romances • Valentine’s Day chocolates • A visit with author Jan Karon
January/February 2008 | $3.95
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contents F January/February 2008
eatures
14 NEWNAN’S LIVING LEGEND 20 BEHIND THE SMILE Octavia Jenkins Mahone followed her family into the funeral home business in Newnan. Already well-known for her business and civic work in the community, Mahone was recently honored with a national award from the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service.
13 CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY
24 COME TO THE TABLE For two years now, Cowetans have been coming together monthly to talk openly about racial matters thanks to the group Come to the Table. Find out how you can become involved.
Willie Pritchett aims to be a good example to young men who don’t have a father figure in their lives. Whether he’s serving as chairman of the local housing authority or volunteering with at-risk youth, Pritchett believes it’s important to stay active in the community.
28 BUILDING FAMILIES Children from China and Guatemala now call Coweta County home thanks to some local couples who added to their family through international adoption.
33 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
34 VALENTINE’S SWEETS Didn’t get your fill of sweets over the Christmas holidays? Two of Coweta’s resident chocolate experts share tips to help with your Valentine’s Day candymaking.
46 SENTIMENTAL
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JEWELRY New jewelry is always a welcome gift, but local jewelers are finding
38 COWETA’S GREAT ROMANCES Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story? Hear how some of Coweta’s great romances began along with their advice for keeping your own relationship a happy one.
today’s customers also like to repurpose an old piece of jewelry or turn a family memento into something they can wear today.
54 FROM HOBBY TO HOLLYWOOD You may not know Tony Chaney’s name, but you’ve seen his work. Whether it’s his Martin Luther King sculpture at an Atlanta museum or props used in Hollywood movies, Chaney is motivated by the thrill of the challenge and a desire for perfection.
76 A CONVERSATION WITH JAN KARON Come into the Newnan-Coweta Magazine Book Nook for a conversation with Jan Karon, author of the Mitford books and the first of the Father Tim novels, Home to Holly Springs. Also, find out how to win an autographed copy of Karon’s new book!
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Departments 60 MEET A READER Her favorite author is Doris Kearns Goodwin and her celebrity crush is actor George Clooney. Meet Joanie Anderson of Newnan.
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62 COWETA COOKS For the Schroeder and Endicott families of Newnan, January means the return of an annual family-and-friends competition: The Soup-Off!
66 FAMILY FUN If the kids have you climbing the walls this winter, let them climb some walls at Reality Climbing in Tyrone.
70 SADDLE UP At Marsha Reese’s Horse Heaven, a therapeutic riding program is a place of love and acceptance for physically handicapped children and women overcoming addictions.
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In every issue 10 EDITOR’S LETTER 79 THE BOOKSHELF 81 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 82 10 THINGS
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> FROM THE EDITOR’S PEN
The joy of meeting Jan
S
ome news report that I was is just too the calm one, for good to once in my life.) keep quiet, Those of us in so as soon the newspaper as I got the and magazine word, I rang up my business are friend Liz Barnett. devoted readers, “Whatever and I especially you’re doing on enjoy knowing Nov. 5, clear your that Jan’s first calendar. We’re Mitford book gonna interview began as a serialJan Karon!” ized feature in the I got off the Blowing Rocket phone and was newspaper in doing the happy Blowing Rock, dance, causing my N.C. Angela, Jan, Liz curious co-workHer new book, Home to Holly ers to inquire Springs, takes us back to the Mississippi roots of about the source of my sudden happiness. her beloved main character, Father Tim. We’re So much for having a low-key, professional definitely not in Mitford anymore, and I appreciapproach to our magazine landing an interview ate the fact that the new book discusses racial with one of America’s favorite authors. A better themes and other weightier issues we wouldn’t woman would have acted like she gets to do this have seen in Mitford. (Warning to readers: Our sort of thing all the time, I know, but hey … WE interview on page 76 does give away some pretty GOT TO INTERVIEW JAN KARON! significant plot details, so if you haven’t read the You can thank Liz for the fact that an internew book yet, you may want to tuck this article view with Jan appears in this issue. The moderaaway for future reading. Better yet, I’d suggest tor of our Newnan-Coweta Magazine Book Nook, you hurry up and read Home to Holly Springs!) a new online book discussion group, Liz is perAppropriately enough, it’s also in this issue haps one of the world’s greatest Jan Karon fans. we proudly announce the kickoff of our Second She’s read the entire series of Mitford books (nine novels) repeatedly. She has all the books on Annual Newnan-Coweta Magazine Writing Contest (see page 6). I so enjoyed reading the CD. She has all the gift books, the cookbook, the entries as they arrived for last year’s contest. bedside reader, the Radio Theatre CD set. As Could the next Jan Karon be in our midst? someone who has read all of Jan’s works only I’d love to think so! once each, I feel like a bit of a latecomer to the party. Through some fortunate correspondence with Jan’s helpful publicist (bless you, Ann Day!), Warmly, we learned we could spend some time with Jan at her hotel the morning before she spoke at the Carter Center in Atlanta. (To read Liz’s account of Angela McRae, Editor first meeting Jan, visit Newnan-Coweta Magazine ncmagbooknook.blogspot.com. I’m happy to
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elcome to Fox Hall, a neighborhood designed for family fun! We’ve created a grand community which will be filled with elegant homes on gorgeous large homesites. Sidewalks will provide a way for neighbors to connect, and beautifully landscaped common areas, equestrian-style fences, avenue lamp posts, and custom mailboxes will create a distinctive appeal to this wonderful neighborhood. Fox Hall is also conveniently located between I-75 and I-85 in Historic Senoia. But best of all, we’ve created an outstanding amenities package filled with activities that are sure to appeal to kids of all ages!
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Celebrating Coweta’s
Black History
Collage photos courtesy of African American Heritage Museum and Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home
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Octavia Jenkins Mahone:
By LaTina Emerson | Photos by Bob Fraley and courtesy of Octavia Jenkins Mahone
O
ctavia Jenkins Mahone of Newnan wears many hats in Coweta County: she’s a mother and grandmother, successful businesswoman, faithful church member, and active member of several organizations. Her friends and family call her “a pillar of the community,” “caring and compassionate,” a woman of “strength and character,” “a wonderful boss” and “a virtuous woman.” Most recently, she’s been named a Female Living Legend by the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service for her outstanding achievements in the mortuary business. She was honored at the 70th convention of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa., which recognized women across the country.
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The president and co-owner of Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home was hailed as a licensed funeral director in the state of Georgia and a third generation funeral director. “It makes me feel special to be honored while I am living,” says Mahone. For more than 15 years Mahone has led the family-owned business, which continues to flourish, recently expanding to a new location on Millard Farmer Industrial Boulevard. In January 2007, Mahone, her daughter, Jacquelyn Mahone Flowers and friend Linette C. Ward became co-owners of Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home, Inc. The business moved from East Broad Street, where it had been a staple in downtown Newnan for 70 years, beginning a new chapter in Coweta County’s history.
was located on Robinson Street. In 1911, Jenkins’ son, Roscoe Conklin Jenkins, took over the funeral home and changed the name to Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home. He married Octavia Smith in 1917, and together they operated the business. Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home relocated to Perry Street in 1933, and then to East Broad Street in 1937. Mahone remembers playing outside Roscoe and Octavia Jenkins the building in downtown Newnan, and though some around her experienced racial discord, Mahone said her parents didn’t face Childhood — The Making of those types of issues. “I don’t recall a Businesswoman them having obstacles. They were respected and treated well,” she said. Octavia Jenkins Mahone was The Jenkins born July 15, 1941. Raised an only family lived child, Mahone was treasured by her on late parents, Roscoe and Octavia Calhoun Jenkins, and they worked to give Street her the best that life could in offer. They groomed their daughter to one day follow in their footsteps. Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home, established in 1911, was the first funeral home for African-Americans in Coweta County, says Mahone. The funeral home was founded in the early 1900s by Fannie Jenkins. The establishment was named the Coweta Burial Association and Octavia Jenkins Mahone in 1950
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Inspiring success • Building relationships • Creating opportunities • Helping Georgia JANUARY/FEBRUARY
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Roscoe Jenkins is in the white hat, above, and at right with Octavia in front of the funeral home when she was a girl.
Newnan. Mahone reminisces that her father was protective and wise.
He loved to whistle and smoke cigars. She fondly recalls that her mother was loving and enjoyed baking and sewing. “She used to make gowns,” said Mahone. Mahone was raised in the church and attended Newnan Chapel United Methodist Church, where she remains a member today. She attended elementary school on Pinson Street at the Verona Rosser building through the seventh grade. For eighth grade, she attended Howard Warner High School. In 1955, she entered Central
High School, a black high school, on McIntosh Street, now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. “We were the first ninth graders to attend the school for four years,” she said. She recalls that Central High had a stage in the lunchroom, but didn’t have a gym. All physical education classes were held outside, and the school’s football team played its games at Pickett Field on Wesley Street. “When I was in high school, I started coming in [to Roscoe Jenkins] and doing secretarial work,” she said. Mahone completed her studies at Central High in 1959. Following graduation, she worked as a secretary at Howard Warner for three years and then at Fairmount for one year. Mahone attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta for one year. She married and gave birth to a daughter,
Giving Back — A Friend to Many “Octavia is a person that has been a pillar for this community. I can remember the times when the funeral home would help people in need, paying a gas bill, buying groceries or trying to provide some type of shelter. They’ve been there for the community for a while.” — Margaret Thompson, Mahone’s best friend, friends since 1960 “She’s a very kind-hearted person. She doesn’t mind helping anybody. Anybody that she can help, she will help. She’s been good to me over the years that I have worked for her. You couldn’t work for a better person than her — she’s a wonderful boss.” — Jason Thompson, godson, employee at Roscoe Jenkins from 1995 to present “She’s such a caring person, and that’s the main thing that people always say about her. She’s all business, but she’s very caring about people and their needs. I think that’s one of the reasons she has been successful. I consider her to be one of my good friends.” — Alice Malcolm, lifelong friend “My mother is a kind, caring and compassionate person. Her strength and character is profound in her personal and professional life. She is a force in my inspiration because she is the essence of a virtuous woman.” — Jacquelyn Flowers, daughter 18
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Jacquelyn, on June 1, 1961. Her father, Roscoe Jenkins, died on July 8, 1964, and Mahone began working full-time at the business in 1965. Mahone was licensed as a funeral director in 1975, and completed her apprenticeship under her mother’s guidance. She worked alongside her mother to provide funeral services to Coweta residents. On May 17, 1992, Mahone’s mother, Octavia Jenkins, passed away at age 94, leaving Mahone as the sole proprietor and third generation to lead the funeral home.
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Owners Pictured (L-R) Linette C. Ward, Octavia J. Mahone and Jacquelyn M. Flowers
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The Wisdom Behind the Smile:
Willie Pritchett By Janet Flanigan | Photos by Bob Fraley
T
he great hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote “Kind words
toward those you daily meet, Kind words and action right, Will make this life of ours most sweet, Turn darkness into light.” Watts might have had Newnan’s Willie Pritchett in mind when he wrote this. However, Watts has been gone over 250 years and Pritchett is still actively involved in Coweta County after 30 years of doing what he loves best — turning darkness into light.
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“I was lucky,” he says. “I came from a family that had both a momma and a daddy, but lots of kids didn’t have their father and many in the black community still don’t have fathers.
‘Willie Pritchett is racist’ because I only have black boys on my teams,” he explained softly. “That isn’t it at all. It’s just that, I am trying to be a good example to these boys who don’t have a father or man in their
even insisted we see the Navy Band,” he says, eyes rolling a bit, but with a sly smile. “We go to the Civil Rights Museum,” he said, and to the University of Alabama where a friend’s 102-year-old mother “tells the
“When I got out of high school, I saw there were lots of single parent kids from the ‘rough areas’ that needed someone to look up to, so I started coaching PONY league baseball and little league football.” Pritchett still carries the vestiges of his three-sport letterman’s body from his days at Newnan High School, but his big athlete’s body contains a compassionate spirit. He reminisced about Coach Harry Mullins, “Coach played me when others wouldn’t play a black quarterback in those days. I was also a catcher on the baseball team because I was so big and I wasn’t afraid.” Pritchett was used to not showing fear — he and his brother had been the very first black kids to play in the Newnan PONY League. That’s just one of the reasons why it’s been so important for him to coach young men in sports today. “I have heard some parents say
lives. My son, Antoine Martin, coaches and I might be the only man they interact with. Or sometimes it brings their daddies out to their games and you ought to see those kids try when their fathers show up. It’d make you cry.” He believes in the tough love approach with “his” kids when they are on the team. If their report cards are not up to his standards, the kids have to run banks (hills). Parents have even called Coach Willie for disciplinary advice, he chuckled. The greatest moments, though, are when his former teammates bring their sons to be on his team. He says that is true success because those fathers are involved in their son’s lives. Sports is just the beginning of his involvement with his kids. He and his family try to expose the children to opportunities they might not ordinarily see. “We carry them on trips, to sporting events, and my wife
kids what it was really like to be a black person back when there were signs saying ‘colored’ and ‘white’ on the drinking fountains. You should see their eyes bug out!” He chuckles, but in a sad way. Pritchett is taking a couple years break from coaching to focus on his work at Milliken in LaGrange and planning for his eventual work retirement, but he has no plans to give up coaching. His son has taken over coaching reins, and Pritchett continues to help with the young people on Saturdays and with special outings. Several years back, Pritchett discovered the Coweta County Recreation Department was planning to move the football field out on Highway 16 (now known as Mutt Hunter Park) and he became concerned for “his” local kids. Where would they practice? How would they get out there? Pritchett knew
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that children from lower income neighborhoods had a difficult enough time catching a ride to the fields in town, but getting out to Highway 16 on the eastern side of the county would be virtually impossible. Pritchett was also bothered about a couple of other things that he felt were affecting his community, so he decided the only way to really voice his concerns was to run for County Commissioner. “It was a wonderful experience, and the great thing was my voice was heard. I didn’t win but every single thing that I wanted to have happen, happened. Those new football fields on Temple Avenue are there for everyone’s kids to play on. It was a very positive experience for me,” Pritchett says. It must have been positive, because he has remained politically active. Currently, Pritchett serves as chairman of the Newnan Housing Authority, another cause near and dear to his heart. “Our motto is In, Up and Out, which means get a person who has never owned a home and maybe never believed they could own a home, we get them in the housing system, up on their feet and out in a house of their own.” He’s seen the Newnan Housing Authority help three or four families into homes, and HUD has helped with financing on a couple of homes. Pritchett also volunteers with atrisk kids at United We Stand, is active in Come to the Table, and helps at the annual “neighborhood” cookout on Boone Drive that feeds about 2,000 people. It seems Pritchett is everywhere and knows everyone. He has a smile on his face, and there is great wisdom behind the smile, and maybe a little sadness. “Too many parents want to be their kid’s friends. You’ll be disrespected in the end.” Kindness flows from Willie Pritchett, who has indeed turned darkness to light for so many. NCM
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It’s time to
Come To The Table By W. Winston Skinner | Photos courtesy of The Times-Herald
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Come To The Table asks the question, “Can we all get along — really get along?” Coweta County is known for its southern hospitality and its emphasis on good manners. A couple of years ago, local residents concerned about the social divide between people of different races formed Come To The Table. The organization has addressed topics that can make people squirm — white privilege, the role of race in local politics and why 11 a.m. Sunday is the week’s most segregated hour. In April, CTTT held a forum on the Sam Hose lynching, an 1899 event that brought approbation from around the world when it occurred but which was unknown to many lifelong Cowetans. Dr. Suzanne Minarcine, current CTTT president, and Sandy Heard, the group’s secretary — along with founding member Don Chapman — recently shared insights about Come To The Table. NCM: When, how and why did you get involved in Come To The Table? Minarcine: I became involved in Come To The Table in its infancy. … I was blessed to have parents who believed all men – and women – were created equal. … I later faced significant discrimination as a result of my gender. … Why should I be denied an opportunity because I was female? And why should anyone be denied an opportunity because of their skin color? When I came to the first meeting, I recognized the value to the community and decided this was an organization whose ideas I could support.
Admiring the winning Come To The Table logo are, from left, Natalie Hynson, Marge Zettler, artist Amira Pippins and Sandy Heard.
Dr. Suzanne Minarcine, president of Come To The Table, speaks to the group about its direction at a recent meeting.
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Heard: I was intrigued with the concept of people coming together to speak of their diversities in culture, opportunities and prejudices; to be able to do all of this while sharing a meal together. I was especially intrigued because this was taking place in the Deep South.
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Dr. Said Sewell of the University of West Georgia encouraged Come To The Table participants to focus on a particular group of local youth for one year.
Chapman: I started CTTT because it was my observation that once a conversation started across the racial lines, within just a minute or two, race was no longer an issue. But unfortunately, very few conversations were started across the racial lines. CTTT was an attempt to not only start conversations but to empower the people to see beyond the immediate and form lasting friendships. NCM: Why is an organization like Come To The Table important to our community? Chapman: It is extremely important to bridge the gaps that are presently separating our citizens. Working together as a team will make us much stronger than if we are pulling in different directions. Heard: CTTT can help to create an awareness of our differences and the things we have in common. It can also help to bridge those differences by creating a better understanding through dialog. â&#x20AC;ŚAll of us no matter what our ethnicity carried baggage from our past. It is very difficult to be honest with ourselves, let alone to share our thoughts and past with others.
Minarcine: Come To The Table is unique in Coweta County in that we discuss diversity issues and promote an understanding. We have had some very heated discussions, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve concluded as friends. NCM: Did the Sam Hose discussion result in something positive or negative? Heard: This particular discussion resulted in some positive and negative. I think that the black community appreciated it being mentioned in the newspapers even though their participation â&#x20AC;Ś was sparse. â&#x20AC;Ś Unfortunately I think that both the white and black community felt uncomfortable because Sam Hose became an open issue. I think that a lot of people didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how they should react. â&#x20AC;Ś There should not have been the feelings of guilt or anger from anyone. Chapman: Of course, lynchings were terrible and should never have happened, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Sam Hose was a good â&#x20AC;&#x153;poster childâ&#x20AC;? for an antilynching campaign. I feel that issue hurt CTTT in the community as many people objected to bringing up such an â&#x20AC;&#x153;old
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case” and one in which the facts were so disputed. … My motto is “Remember the past, but focus on the future.” Minarcine: There is a disconnect between the history as taught and the history as it actually occurred. … The purpose was not to place blame on anyone. If we wanted to approach this in biblical terms, I think our goal was simply an acknowledgement of what happened, that it was a tragedy for all sides, and a recognition of the humanity of Mr. Hose and (the alleged victims of his crimes). The next step would then be forgiveness and repentance, in stating that we are all terribly sorry that the events ever occurred, and we will do everything possible to make sure this does not happen again.
Heard: We are wasting our children’s future. We need to invest in our underprivileged … children. … We have to broaden their horizons. … We at Come To The Table are hopeful that by exposing our young people to different experiences it will help them to think outside of their comfort zone and realize that they can be a part of the “big picture,” the future. NCM
Come to the Table meets monthly at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newnan. For the latest schedule, call Dr. Suzanne Minarcine at 678-423-1989.
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NCM: What is the biggest challenge facing our community in the next few years? Is this something with which Come To The Table can help? Minarcine: We have a huge problem with education here in Coweta County. Our high school drop-out rate is embarrassing. Our teen pregnancy rate is much too high, and we are perpetuating a cycle of failure. By focusing our efforts on education and leadership development, we can make a difference. Chapman: The biggest problem facing our community is the lack of cooperation among the various races. Our community is divided along racial lines. … Working to heal past grievances while focusing on making our future a better place for all our citizens is a worthy goal … one in which CTTT can play an important role.
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‘He has my heart’ By Leigh Knight | Photos by Bob Fraley
Local residents build families through international adoption
N
o matter a family’s reason, the decision to adopt is very much a personal journey. For those choosing international adoption, the journey literally covers thousands of miles. U.S. citizens started adopting
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children from other countries in substantial numbers after WWII, many of them European and Japanese orphans. However, war and its aftermath are not the only factors leading countries to allow their children to be adopted abroad.
Desperate poverty and social upheaval over the last 20 years lead to the rise in adoptions in Latin America, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In China, government population control policies contributed to the
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Karen and Steve Barker with children Cade and Lily Glen
abandonment of infant girls and overcrowded orphanages, a factor in their governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to allow international adoptions, according to the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. Today, there are approximately 50
countries that offer adoption services with the majority of the children coming to the U.S. from China, Russia, Guatemala, Ukraine and South Korea. The average wait time for a child is 12-18 months. Most adoptions are finalized in the
country of origin, so parents come home with the child being legally theirs. The recent U.S. ratification of the Hague Treaty on Inter-Country Adoptions hopes to ensure ethical adoption practices, which means that adopting parents can be sure the JANUARY/FEBRUARY
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rights of everyone involved are considered. After 12 years of marriage, Karen and Steve Barker decided they were ready to see their family grow. Karen is the principal at Arnco-Sargent Elementary School, and Steve is the director of Administrative Services for the Coweta County School System. “We knew we wanted to adopt internationally. It’s the way we wanted to go; the way God wanted us to go,” says Karen. “We wanted to highlight another culture in our family. It’s where we felt lead. It’s where our hearts were.” After researching different countries and programs, the Barkers selected Gladney’s Center for Adoption and the country of Guatemala. The couple received constant support from their friends and family as they went through the extensive background check that is required. “We had to provide numerous reference letters from family, friends, co-workers, letters of recommendation from employers, proof of financial status to provide for the child, even crazy things like septic tank inspections,” recalls Karen. The couple’s patience was rewarded with a referral for a baby boy, Cade, now 6. They received their son’s photo three days after he was born. He remained in foster care in Guatemala, and the couple received monthly updates including information on doctor visits until the Barkers brought him home when he was eight months old. “The program allows parents to go to visit before the paperwork was done, but I didn’t think I could do it — put my hands on him and then walk away,” says Karen. A little sister, Lily Glen, born in Guatemala, recently joined big brother Cade. “It’s been a huge blessing for us. A long hard waiting process but worth the wait, no doubt,” says Karen, who compares the extensive
Alex and Anna Grace Richard
process and roadblocks along the way to labor pains. “But like those childbirth pains, you forget the ‘waiting pains’ once you feel the sweet and remarkable pleasure and delight of your baby in your arms.” The Barkers make sure the children know their heritage, teaching them at an early age about Guatemalan holidays and traditions. “We have a strong commitment to it. We are thrilled to say where they are from when people ask,” says Karen. “Steve and I are so proud of our children and feel that God has blessed us richly by
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Abby and Katie Richard
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creating them for us. Our adoption agency had a picture and a quote on it website that I love. It said, ‘He may not have my eyes or my hair color, but he definitely has my heart.’” ***** “We had the older two [Katie, 16, and Alex, 13], and then my husband, Dave, got this wild idea to start over again,” recalls Kristin Richard. “I wasn’t up for being pregnant again, so we looked at adopting.” The couple decided on international adoption because it’s more favorable to families with older children, and there’s no chance of the birth mother contesting the adoption as is sometimes the case in the U.S., according to Kristin. “We keyed into China from the beginning. A friend gave us some information, and my Kristin and Dave Richard with daughters Anna Grace, left, and Abby
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husband does a lot of work in China and Asia, and a lot of his friends are Asian. It was the best thing for us,” says Kristin. The couple adopted Anna Grace, now 4, when she was 11 months old, and Abby, now 3, when she was 20 months, which worked out well with Kristin since she preferred having toddlers to newborns. Kristin describes Anna Grace and Abby as typical American girls, who love telling the story of how they were born in China, and mommy got on an airplane to come get them. “We let them know we are interested in their birth culture, but we don’t want to go overboard,” says Kristin. “We plan to let them take the lead as they get older, and blend the two cultures together — that’s what works for us.” Although the current wait time is two and a half years from when the paperwork lands in China, according to Kristin, many countries, including China, have programs where special needs children are available significantly faster. “Special needs, speaking for the China system, are typically minor, correctable needs such as skin conditions, cleft lip/cleft palate, heart
conditions, extra digits, missing limbs, albinism, Hepatitis B, etc., or by being a healthy but older child,” explains Kristin. “Parents can let their agencies know if they are interested in this program and identify the special needs that fit their families. Anna Grace came to us via the traditional program, but Abby came via the special needs (also called the waiting child) program due to a possible skin condition, which she does not have. She was misdiagnosed in China.” Kristin recommends prospective parents check out the agency to make sure it is reputable, know how the process works, visit Internet groups for prospective parents, and be aware of what kind of attachment or health issues the child may have. Both sets of grandparents have been extremely supportive and dote on the girls, according to Kristin, as do the Richards’ older children. “They adore the girls and loved making trips to China…they have said it would be pretty boring without them. They’ve asked to go back and get a brother — but that’s not happening,” laughs Kristin. “The girls have added so much to our family. I can’t imagine them not being here.” NCM
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A Valentine’s Day Delight By LaTina Emerson | Photos by Bob Fraley
Chocolates by Contemporary Catering
A
lmost 2,000 years ago, the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America made a priceless discovery in their rainforests, the cacao tree. The natives soon learned the tree had
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seeds that could be processed into chocolate — making a frothy chocolate drink that became a delicacy among their people — and they set the course of history. Today, chocolate is a favorite
treat among many across the globe, and Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love, is the perfect time to indulge in chocolate cravings. Two Newnan chocolate experts have some helpful hints on making
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chocolate candy and other items for loved ones this Valentine’s season. Deena Iannarino, owner of Simply Sweet Supplies, says that Valentine’s Day is a busy time for her supply shop on Highway 34 East. Among her merchandise, she sells supplies for candy making, including chocolate candy molds. Molds come in almost any shape imaginable, from hearts and cupids to teddy bears and interlocking hearts. There are also molds for chocolate jewelry boxes, dessert cups, and tropical shapes such as sea shells and palm trees. “A lot of the candies such as the bonbons and truffles are easier to do in a mold,” said Iannarino. “Petits fours are also really popular at Valentine’s Day,” she said. Petits fours are bite-sized cakes inside of a chocolate shell. The tiny cakes can also be covered in icing. Truffles are probably the most recognizable of the seasonal candies. The chocolate squares are sold in assorted boxes and can have a dense, creamy or filled center. Pre-made filling is now available for truffles. The chocolate lover has been making homemade fudge since high school. She prefers chocolate that does not have to be tempered, such as the Merckens brand of chocolate, and uses all types of chocolate from dark to white to milk chocolate. “You can melt it in several ways. The easiest way for a beginner is with a double boiler because it helps maintain the temperature,” she said. Chocolate can be melted in the microwave, stove top, crock pot or a fondue pot. After melting the chocolate, simply pour it into a mold and stick it in the freezer. “You pop it out of the mold and it’s done. Five minutes tops,” she said. “I can probably make
Deena Iannarino shows some of the treats she offers at Simply Sweet Supplies in Newnan.
three dozen petits fours in an hour.” Iannarino recommends working in stages and having several molds on hand for faster chocolate making. To prevent cracking in petits fours, she advises adding Crisco or Paramount Crystals to soften the chocolate. However, if too much is added, the chocolate won’t harden. To make the gift extra special, candies can be placed on a platter, candy foil wrappers or even candy boxes. White chocolate candies can also be painted, and chocolate now comes in all colors of the rainbow. The 3-D molds and pattern transfers with various designs are also becoming increasingly popular. “You can also flavor your chocolate. You can put oils in it, such as peppermint oil or cinnamon oil,” she said. For more information on making chocolate candy, Iannarino recommends the book All About Candy Making by Autumn Carpenter. Jennifer Hanna, co-owner of Contemporary Catering on Herring Road, also has some chocolate candy favorites. She has worked at the fullservice catering business with her brother, John, for 15 years.
“The chocolate and white chocolate dipped strawberries are always a hit. They just completely lend themselves to romanticism. People just love them,” says Hanna. Making chocolate dipped strawberries is easy, said Hanna. Any type of chocolate can be used, from bittersweet to semi-sweet. “It’s simply a matter of tempering the chocolate
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on your stovetop and melting it to a good creamy consistency,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You want to dip the strawberry straight in,â&#x20AC;? said Hanna. Also, each strawberry should be allowed to drip. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you see a berry that has a big clump of chocolate at the bottom, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called a foot. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want the foot on it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you want it to have a smooth look,â&#x20AC;? she said. Lastly, she recommends laying the strawberry on a piece of wax paper and placing it in the freezer for several minutes. Another of Hannaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal favorites is the coconut chocolate truffle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I created this because of my love for Mounds bars,â&#x20AC;? she said. They are made of coconut, butter, powdered sugar and chocolate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great for the coconut lover.â&#x20AC;? Contemporary Catering makes several other chocolate desserts such as bar candy filled with nuts, brownies, chocolate chip cookies and the Oreo brownie English trifle. Hanna also has some ideas for those trying to do something unique this Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. Over the years, many men have come to her to order an intimate dinner for their wives, which adds a â&#x20AC;&#x153;personal touchâ&#x20AC;? and is more private than dining at a restaurant. She also recommends Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day gift baskets, which her business
delivers. The baskets can be filled with different confections, appetizers such as miniature brie or pâtĂŠ, a bottle of wine or a teddy bear. Following are some candy recipes courtesy of Simply Sweet Supplies. PEANUT BUTTER MELT-A-WAYS 1 pound peanut butter wafers (can be found at specialty candy shops) 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 tablespoon coconut oil Melt peanut butter wafers and oil. Add peanut butter and blend well. Fill small molds, then freeze. When firm, remove from mold and dip. CREAM CHEESE MINTS 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon butter, softened 3 cups confectionersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sugar 2 drops peppermint oil Any color food coloring paste (optional) In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter and confectionersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sugar. Mix in peppermint oil. Color as desired with food coloring paste, or leave white. Roll mixture in small balls and place on waxed paper. Flatten with a fork dipped in
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confectioners’ sugar. Let dry for about 2 hours on waxed paper, then freeze or refrigerate.
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Coweta’s
GREAT
Romances By Megan Almon, Photos by Jennifer Riggs
Coweta is home to many a couple that’s getting it right when it comes to marriage. These four pairs of lovebirds tell how their “great romances” came to be and share some secrets to their success.
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Calvin and Lavonia Richards MET: Summer, 1942 — a whirlwind summer romance ended when Calvin took a job in Savannah, Ga., and sailed away with the Merchant Marines. Reunited: Years later — 63 to be exact. Calvin, who lost his wife some time ago, learned of Lavonia’s whereabouts from a cousin. When he found out she’d been twice widowed, he picked up the phone to call her. That conversation was the first of many “hour(s) of charm” for Lavonia on the telephone. Calvin drove up to Newnan’s courthouse square and, like something out of a storybook, Lavonia walked right into his arms and never looked back. THE WEDDING: Sept. 24, 2005. ADVICE: • “We enjoy each other,” Lavonia said. “We tease each other about trying to change, but it doesn’t work on either side.” “If he was something different, I wouldn’t have wanted him,” she added. • With 81 and 82 years behind them, Lavonia and Calvin have learned one of life’s most valuable lessons. “Every day is a bonus day at our age,” he said. Whether they’re visiting with family or friends, cooking a meal, working in the yard, watching “Reba” reruns or taking a spin in their convertible, the pair makes a point of cherishing their time together.
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Curtis and Mabel Ivey
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MET: Late 1930s, a school performance. For him â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a fiddle player â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and her â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a chorus girl â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mutual love at first sight. He wanted to get her attention so badly, he exaggerated the sweeps of the fiddle bow so that it waved in Mabelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He got my attention,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like it.â&#x20AC;? FIRST DATE: He coerced her, promising a coveted trip to â&#x20AC;&#x153;the new theaterâ&#x20AC;? in Barnesville, Ga. They stopped at his brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house along the way and had such fun they stayed all evening, the theater forgotten. THE WEDDING: Sept. 25, 1943, during a one-week furlough Curtis was granted before he was shipped overseas to fight. The couple corresponded by letter until 1945. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been inseparable ever since. ADVICE: â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just enjoy each other so much,â&#x20AC;? Mabel said. Curtis rises at 5 a.m. to start breakfast. Mabel joins him for coffee. After 65 years, they still have plenty to talk about. The morning is their â&#x20AC;&#x153;special time.â&#x20AC;? The pair enjoys socializing, and their garden is a pastime that entertains them both. Curtis enjoys growing the vegetables, and Mabel is equally fulfilled by preparing them, filling freezers for the winter. â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was my determination that I wanted to stay in my marriage,â&#x20AC;? Mabel said. To say that two individuals are â&#x20AC;&#x153;not compatibleâ&#x20AC;? is an â&#x20AC;&#x153;easy way outâ&#x20AC;? of commitment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No two people are alike,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different. Everybody has their own little things. Sometimes you have to accept or overlook them because you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change them.â&#x20AC;?
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MET: At the office, Alta Loma, Calif. Eddie’s attempt at small talk was thwarted by a very busy Sandy, who “dismissed” him and continued on her way. Eddie had no idea he’d just “met and been rejected by the woman” who would become the love of his life.
you’re with her, you want to be with her. When you’re away from her, you want to be with her.”
THE PURSUIT: Intrigued, he made it his mission to get to know Sandy. Months of persistence came to fruition when she accepted an invitation to lunch.
Eddie, a retired engineer, taught Sandy the art of setting a difficult decision aside and approaching it from a different angle.
THE WEDDING: July 20, 1989, after nearly six years of dating.
Each feels their love helps them make decisions with the other’s best interest at heart.
ADVICE: • The Heards tread carefully when it came to lifetime commitment. Each was looking for “true love.” Sandy knew she didn’t want an overbearing personality, and Eddie was looking for a woman with a certain amount of independence. “You’re putting your best foot forward when you date,” she said. “You must be comfortable with that person through the good and the bad.” Suffice it to say, the pair took their time letting their romance blossom. After a while, Eddie knew it was true love. “You don’t have any control over that feeling,” he said. “When
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• “Eddie and I are partners. We make decisions together,” Sandy said.
• The Heards begin each day with a hug before settling down to breakfast. At dinnertime, they come together again and “talk things over.” “Always communicate,” Eddie said. “And don’t be afraid to apologize.” “Stay away from the negatives,” he added. “Don’t focus on weaknesses, but strengths.” “Don’t get into a relationship where you think you can change somebody,” Sandy added. “You cannot. Appreciate them for what they are.”
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Katie and Joey Agee with daughter Harper Ellis
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MET: First Baptist Church of Newnan’s 2002 Vacation Bible School.
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Cowetans enjoy jewelry makeovers By Leigh Knight | Photos by Jeffrey Leo
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T
Dad’s Delta tie tacks were turned into treasured family pieces, repurposed into new necklaces courtesy of Jeff Morgan at Morgan Jewelers in Newnan. With their new pieces are, from left, Morgan Bliemeister, Melanie Beaty, Margaret Jones, Lauren Beaty and Mary Norton.
his Valentine’s Day, give your loved one (or yourself ) a makeover – not a home, hair or fashion makeover but a jewelry makeover. If you have pieces that were inherited from family members that you’re not quite sure
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Personally and professionally, Tammy Northcutt of Artisan Jewelry in Sharpsburg is a fan of jewelry makeovers. Here, she wears a memory necklace made from bracelet charms. Below are a pendant made from an engagement ring, and the bangle bracelet features stones from rings Tammy herself wore as a girl.
what to do with, childhood rings that you’ve outgrown, gold chains and nugget necklaces leftover from the ’70s, or even flea market finds, you are a perfect candidate. More and more Cowetans are reviving and recycling their jewelry and, in the process, creating unique heirlooms that they can pass down to loved ones for generations. Here are a
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few locals who did just that. Mary Jones Norton of Newnan always shared a special connection with her father, Charles Wesley Jones Jr. Norton remembers him as a loving father to her and her sister, Melanie, and devoted husband to Norton’s mom, Margaret Jones. In addition, he was a dedicated employee of Delta Airlines, retiring after 35 years of service.
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“Every five years, Delta would give Dad a tie tack with Delta wings for years of service,” recalls Norton. “Right after he retired in 1992, he took the whole family to Hawaii. I remember seeing him dressed up wearing that tie tack. It was so much fun. Dad really let loose in Hawaii…. Right before he got sick, he took the whole family, including the kids, on a cruise. It was the most awesome trip ever. I remember him wearing the tie tack that I have on formal night.” A shadow box held the tie tacks until Jones succumbed to lung cancer in May 2001. “We had talked about doing something with the tie tacks while he was sick,” says Norton, “but after he passed away, we knew we wanted to make some kind of jewelry.” Norton and her family took the pins to Jeff Morgan at Morgan Jewelers in downtown Newnan and asked, “What can we do with these?” Morgan fashioned the tie tacks into circular pendants, each engraved with “Dad” on the front and the years of service on the back. The tie tacks, which are gold except for the first anniversary pin, which is silver, also contain precious stones. Norton’s sister Melanie Beaty’s necklace contains a ruby and a diamond. Margaret Jones wears the 30-year pin, which features an emerald and diamond. Beaty’s daughters, Morgan Bliemeister and Lauren Beaty, both received their pendants on their 18th birthdays, as will Norton’s daughters, Hailey and Wesley Anne, who is named for her grandfather. Norton’s necklace, which she wears faithfully every day, was fashioned from the pin given to her father by Delta on his 15th anniversary of service.
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A customer combined several old pieces of jewelry to have Artisan Jewelry in Sharpsburg craft this new tanzanite and diamond necklace. Below, Jeff Northcutt works on a piece for a customer.
“I have worn it every day since I got it. I feel like he is with me. If I get stressed, then I start rubbing it. I know that sounds weird,” says Norton, “but he’s my guardian angel.” Jewelry makeovers are also a specialty with Tammy and Jeff Northcutt, who own Artisan Jewelry Company in Sharpsburg, and Tammy’s own personal collection is inspiring. “We like to take what you have and create pieces of jewelry that are functional,” says Tammy. One of Tammy’s favorite pieces is a bangle bracelet created from birthstone rings she received as a little girl. Customers can bring in their own gold or silver to be used as well, making the cost very affordable. Tammy also loves her memory necklace. When she decided to upgrade her wedding band, her husband and jeweler, Jeff, created the necklace using her original band to hold charms. Tammy decided to go with a religious 50
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theme, so her ring now holds a cross she was given on her sixteenth birthday and other religious charms that have special meaning to her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We like to make people excited about wearing their jewelry,â&#x20AC;? says Jeff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done a good job when someone gives me a hug for something Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made or recreated for them.â&#x20AC;? The couple have fulfilled requests from many Cowetans, including reshaping a wedding band into a heart pendant using the original diamond in the center, replicating old wedding rings that were lost, and helping future grooms. Tammy suggests buying the diamond and proposing to the bride-to-be with the diamond in its case and then allowing the bride-to-be to design a custom ring. (Hint to husbands: This works for any stone!) Ray DuBose, owner of R.S. Mann Jr. Jewelers in downtown Newnan, recalls several memorable makeovers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One family diamond worn by (a) mother was being passed on to a son, here in Coweta, who was a hardworking rising musician,â&#x20AC;? says DuBose. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The young man taught music lessons by day and played the Atlanta club scene at night. I met with him to create just the perfect simple design to safely hold the family heirloom diamond. The musicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schedule was so tight that I had to deliver the ring to Buckhead in the cover of the night, where the proposal was made between musical gigs.â&#x20AC;? Another Coweta resident left her diamond wedding band to be used to create new pieces for her granddaughters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All five,â&#x20AC;? says DuBose, â&#x20AC;&#x153;with their own unique style.â&#x20AC;?
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Artisan Jewelry Company Custom Jewelry and Repairs
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Ray DuBose of R.S. Mann Jewelers in Newnan works on a customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ring. DuBose is among the local jewelers seeing the trend of customers wanting to have new jewelry created from old family pieces.
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Dubose discussed with the family the many different options and after thinking of several possibilities from rings to earrings to necklaces, it was decided he would design a ring for each granddaughter. “Each would be the same smart design of all diamonds in a straight row,” says DuBose. “A lasting memory of grandmother, diamonds once worn by their beloved grandmother now suitable for today’s and future generations. Oh, and another surprise [for the granddaughters], each was engraved on the inside of the ring with their pet name for grandmother.” NCM Now Available at
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Tony Chaneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sculptures can be found around the world By Elizabeth Richardson | Photos by Bob Fraley
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Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably seen his work in any number of places around the world, but most people have never heard of 62-year-old Tony Chaney of Newnan. Chaney became a freelance sculptor and prop builder just over a decade ago. He has screen credit for his work in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Lawnmower Man and Into the Sun. His work has been on display at Six Flags Over Georgia and other theme parks, at malls around the country, at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and even in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.
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Tony Chaneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s model of the Bates Motel
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know I could do it,â&#x20AC;? admits a still-shocked Chaney. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I could have discovered that I
could do this much earlier in my life,â&#x20AC;? he jokes. Chaney has lived all over the
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United States and held a variety of jobs. He was born in Indiana, raised in Ohio and spent a number of years
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incorporated into films,” Chaney During that time Chaney built in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until later said. models and props that were used in in life that he moved to Coweta His success, he says, is a County and made his life-long hobby the three major motion pictures. He combination of natural talent, the also got a degree in film. of building models into a successful thrill of a challenge and a drive career. for perfection. Chaney came to While people assume the visit Coweta for the Hollywood life is one of first time in 1980 and glamour, Chaney recalls the found the county to work was stressful because be “ideal.” It wasn’t moviemakers set unrealistic until 1985, however, expectations. that he first came to Also while living in live in Georgia, California, Chaney built relocating to Atlanta architectural miniatures for where he spent a few Landmark Entertainment — years selling the largest international computers. Tony Chaney made this bust of Martin Luther King Jr. for production company — which Chaney moved to the National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta. were then used to construct Los Angeles, Calif. in theme parks in Japan. “I had built plastic models 1989 to stay with his son, who had “I spent my free time walking throughout my life and I was always gone there the year before on a around through the various studios interested to see how that was scholarship to work on set design.
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Local sculptor Tony Chaney derives much pleasure from creating models. Here, he’s in the workshop at his home. Above, his recreation of the chase scene from “Return of the Jedi.”
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where projects were in progress. Several [studios] had sculptors working on figures, or trees or architectural elements. That was like working in Santa’s workshop,” said Chaney, who much prefers working tabletop on miniatures than climbing ladders to create the larger-than-life models. Following the riots sparked by the Rodney King police brutality incident in 1992, Chaney decided to return to Georgia. Right away he realized he made the best decision for his career, which started in 1996. “This is a smaller market,” he said. “Here, I get to be a big fish in a small pond.” Chaney’s first attempt at sculpting was the beast from Beauty and the Beast. The feat took him 80 hours to complete and was for Disneyland’s Paris stage show. Now, Chaney prefers sculpting human figures, specifically busts, and says that local sculptor Carol Harless is his mentor. His first regular job in his new career was building models for Six Flags Over Georgia. Over the years, he’s contributed Looney Tunes, ghoulish models for their Fright Fest in 1999, and even a threedimensional Greco-Roman frieze inspired by Savannah architecture that greets guests at the entrance. Prior to 2000, Chaney received regular freelance work from 12 companies in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Since then, the economy has taken a turn that Chaney describes as “kind of scary,” and now only three companies provide him business on a regular basis. Most recently, Chaney created props for the Opryland Hotel’s Whoville holiday display, which is elaborately displayed in ice. For the 1996 Olympics, he crafted oversized Coke bottles that
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marked the mist areas where people could go to cool down. Anyone who has visited the National Museum of Patriotism, which is in the process of reopening in a new location in downtown Atlanta, has seen many of Chaney’s pieces. Over the years he’s contributed busts of Jimmy Carter — his first sculpture in clay — Martin Luther King Jr. and Benjamin Franklin. He’s also sculpted Mt. Rushmore and a recreation of the famous photo “Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima.” Chaney’s work is somewhat seasonal. He typically has more work from August to October than from January until April. Even though it is now his livelihood, building models for pleasure remains a priority — particularly models of robots and anything relating to the science fiction genre. Chaney displays his life-sized model of a robot named Maria from a 1927 silent film titled “Metropolis.” Director George Lucas admittedly modeled Star Wars’ C3PO after Maria. “I’m like a little kid, and probably an embarrassment for my children,” says Chaney, with a laugh. Regardless, he doesn’t plan to grow up anytime soon. For more information, visit www.tonychaney.com. NCM
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Law Office of Steven E. Fanning DUI Defense Divorce Family Law Criminal Defense Juvenile Law
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email: stevefanning@numail.org
44 Perry Street Newnan, GA
PHONE
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770-253-8484
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Free Telephone Consultation
Life takes stressful turns. You can turn to us for help. Tanner Behavioral Health is now offering free, confidential assessment services in the Newnan area. If you or a loved one experience emotional, behavioral or substance abuse problems, Tanner Behavioral Health offers free, confidential mental health assessments for all ages to discover the cause of these problems and help develop a plan for recovery. Anyone is qualified for an assessment, and Tanner Behavioral Health works with clients to help them find the treatment program that best meets their needs. Tanner Behavioral Health also has an assessment team trained in crisis intervention. This team collaborates with area emergency departments, including Piedmont Newnan Hospital. To schedule a free, confidential assessment, call 770.836.9551 JANUARY/FEBRUARY
2008
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Meet a Newnan-Coweta Magazine READER ... JOANIE ANDERSON Photo by Elizabeth Richardson
Describe yourself in one sentence.
I enjoy life and I try to laugh as much as possible ... when my father passed away suddenly, it made me appreciate life more and to enjoy each day.
on the arts and education. I think it would have been wonderful! What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People who are unkind and rude to one another.
What’s your biggest fear?
Most “scary” rides at Six Flags!
Beaches or mountains as a vacation spot?
Who’s your favorite author?
Beaches, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin
If this was your last day on earth, what would you do?
Have a picnic with my friends and family: good food, good music (Irish and ’80s dance music) and lots of “fun times.” Who’s your biggest celebrity crush?
What are you currently reading?
“Personal History” by Katharine Graham. I also love all the magazines we get at Hastings: Taste of the South (cooking magazine), Victoria, Southern Lady, Y’all and Country Living. The Times-Herald’s NewnanCoweta Magazine is a must-read.
George Clooney
Vanilla or chocolate?
Chocolate — any kind — especially dark chocolate!
If you could have been a witness to any event in history, what would it have been and why?
The Grecian Age and the building of the great temples ... there was a focus
What is your favorite thing about the South?
I like the way families are close to one another and how traditions are followed. I like all the seasonal festivals and special events, like Taste of Newnan on the Square … any event at The Centre for Performing Arts ... and of course, sweet tea! NCM
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MORE ABOUT ANDERSON:
Joanie Anderson is the Books and Magazine Associate at Hastings, where sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been employed since May 2003. She was born in Miami, Fla. to a large Irish-Catholic family. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Miami on a scholarship from The Miami Herald. She spent eight years with the Missouri Army National Guard as a public affairs specialist where she got to work on assignments at the Pentagon. She received a Joint Service Achievement Medal for work on the presidential inauguration of 1993. Joanieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband, Keith, is a regional training manager for IKON Office Solutions. They moved to Newnan in 1999 and have one son, Nicholas, 13, who attends Madras Middle School.
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> COWETA COOKS
at family’s 15th annual cold-weather feast Cheddar Chicken Corn Chowder
By Ruth Schroeder | Photos by Bob Fraley and courtesy of Ruth Schroeder
he 15th annual EndicottSchroeder Soup-Off is an event that warms tummies and brings laughter to all who attend. The soup is always hot and the weather, we hope, will be cool. How did this event come about and what makes it so great? On one cold Saturday in March of 1993, the Endicotts and Schroeders were having a yard sale. This particular day was very cold and windy. 62
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As we stood there feeling very cold, I mentioned how nice it would be to have a hot bowl of soup that would surely warm our insides. We started to reminisce about all the different kinds of soup we used to enjoy as children. How nice it would be to have a “soup night” once a year, hopefully on the coldest night, with everyone bringing a different soup and all the condiments. Everyone agreed, and that was the beginning of
the Soup-Off. We began with just our families and two friends, for a total of six couples. The friends have come and gone for various reasons, but the families are always here. After the Christmas holidays, we were looking for something different to fill the gap until Spring, and this was it. With such a large group we decided to make a few ground rules. It is recommended the event be
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adult-only, although if you want to include children that would be fine.
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MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED NO CHECKS ACCEPTED
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That first Soup-Off brought many different kinds of soup. We have kept all the recipes from past years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 90 of them to date â&#x20AC;&#x201C; except for one that Ken and Kasey Schroeder made. He called it Pola-Cuba Bean Soup. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not sure of the mixture, and it looked pretty bad, but it was delicious â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of the best! Some of the soups are really good, and some are an acquired taste. We try to vote for the best one, but they are all winners. We even have a dessert soup at the end. We have never duplicated a single soup, so one day we hope to have a great Soup-Off Cookbook. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soup-Off will be the last weekend of January at â&#x20AC;Ś oh, no, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you. That would give away the secret of where all the aroma and laughter is coming from. This time is spent with family and great friends. One couple even comes up from Florida for the Soup-Off. We all love soup, we all love cold weather, and we all have family and/or friends. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get together and raise our soup bowls mixed with laughter and wonderful blessings. Reminiscing and friendship is the best combination for a great soup.
Chin Chin N E W N A N
I-8
â&#x20AC;˘ Pick a time around January or February for your Soup-Off. Each year a different couple will host the event in their home. â&#x20AC;˘ Limit the couples to six or eight, for you can only eat so much soup! â&#x20AC;˘ If the event is in your home, you may invite a guest. â&#x20AC;˘ It is a must that copies of each soup recipe are in hand to share. â&#x20AC;˘ If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come, you must be polite and let your host know. â&#x20AC;˘ If anyone in the group wants to start their own Soup-Off, they may.
Newnan Promenade
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At a recent Soup-Off are, at front, Mary Ann and Ken Endicott, and other couples (front to back, from left) Lana and Miles Moody, Mary Lou and Bill Bassett, Jane and Skip Petsch, Ruth and Art Schroeder, Kasey and Ken Schroeder, and Ruthi and Steven Endicott. MEXICAN POTATO SOUP By Skip and Jane Petsch 3 slices bacon, diced 3 large potatoes, washed and cubed 5 cups water 1 cup tomato sauce 1/4 cup onions, chopped 1-1/2 teaspoons salt 1 (10-ounce) can green chilies, chopped 1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated Brown bacon in large skillet. Add potatoes and stir to coat. Add water, tomato sauce, onions and salt. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 1 hour. Divide chilies and cheese among bowls. Spoon hot soup over chilies and cheese. Serves 6.
ITALIAN TRIPLE THREAT By Steven and Ruthi Endicott 1/2 pound Italian sausage 1/2 pound ground beef 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 (14-1/2-ounce) cans beef broth 2 (14-1/2-once) cans diced tomatoes, undrained 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 1 cup dry red wine 64
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2 carrots, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning 2 small zucchini, sliced 1 (9-ounce) package cheese-filled tortellini 1 Parmesan cheese rind 1/2 pound pancetta, browned and crumbled 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Discard sausage casings. Cook sausage, beef, onion and garlic over medium heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain and return to pan. Stir in broth and next six ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes. Skim off fat. Stir in zucchini, tortellini and rind. Simmer 10 minutes. Remove rind, sprinkle each serving with cheese and pancetta. Serving suggestion: Serve with Mozzarella Crustini. Cube bread and mozzarella and skewer. Place skewers hanging over casserole dish and baste with melted butter and fresh rosemary. Bake at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes.
CHEDDAR CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER By Ken and Mary Ann Endicott 3 bacon slices 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup diced red bell pepper 2 garlic cloves, minced 4-1/2 cups fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth 1-3/4 cups diced, peeled potatoes 1-1/4 cups frozen corn (Ken and Mary Ann use half cream-style and half whole-kernel) 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups low-fat milk 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste Cook bacon in Dutch oven over medium high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and set aside. Add the chicken, onion, bell pepper and garlic to drippings in pan and sautĂŠ 5 minutes. Add broth and potato and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes until potato is tender. Add corn and stir well. Place flour in a bowl, gradually add milk and whisk until blended. Add to the soup. Bring to a boil over
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medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Stir in the cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. Top with crumbled bacon
Reducing heat to medium, add flour all at once and beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat.
CHEDDAR CHEESE BLOPS By Art and Ruth Schroeder
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil two baking sheets.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. (Mixture will separate at first but will come back together as you beat it.) Stir in the cheese. Drop the dough by tablespoons about 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Bake in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, switching positions halfway through the baking. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until puffed, golden and crisp.
In medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine water, butter, salt and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Note: Cheese Blops can be baked 1 week ahead and frozen. Reheat the unthawed blops in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes.
1 cup water 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into pieces 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup flour 4 large eggs 1-1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
Enjoying soup are Skip Petsch and Mary Lou Bassett.
Soup-Off enthusiasts include, from top, Ruth Schroeder, Mary Ann Endicott and Bill Bassett.
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> FAMILY FUN
By Leigh Knight | Photos by Bob Fraley
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igher, Will, you’re almost to the top,” shouts Newnan mom and realtor Paige Sport as she watches her seven-year-old son nimbly scale the 30 foot indoor rock wall, carefully placing his foot in the hold that represents his skill level. “He’s been climbing since birth, so this gives him a more organized, safe way to do it,” says Sport. Will is the youngest member of Team Pursuit, a recreational rock climbing team at Reality Climbing, a full service, indoor rock climbing facility, located on the border of Peachtree City and Tyrone. The climbers are coached by experienced climber and owner Nicole Colvin. “My daughter Mary Paige’s Montessori class did P.E. here for several sessions. I took Will to climb, and he loved it. Then I found out about the team. He is very excited about competing [which is optional],” says Sport. The bright, airy facility features 2,100 square feet of textured climbing terrain, reaching heights up to 30 feet, along with a 20 foot rappel tower, rental gear, up top viewing area, and party room. Expansion is currently underway that will more than double the size of the facility, thanks to the design and handiwork of Colvin as well as the sweat equity of the members. Colvin used recycled wood donated from construction sites to create an area known as the Kave, a 20 x 20 bouldering area. The floors are lined with 10-inch-thick padding as well as moveable mats. The Kave will be open to younger kids to “hang out on the ceilings,” according
to Colvin. “Bouldering is an immensely popular sport that does not require a belay or rope,” says Colvin. “When we are finished with our expansion, we will have the largest bouldering area on the Southside, more than 3,000 square feet.” In addition to the Kave, Reality Climbing will have 2,200 square feet of what is known as top out bouldering for ages 14 and up as well as 3,000 square feet of top rope and lead climbing area that will be geared primarily for birthday parties and groups. “Safety is our priority,” says Colvin. “It’s not something we take lightly. I am extremely strict on safety. Outside, there are 100 foot climbs, which give a whole new perspective. I always keep in mind that one of my team members may go outside to try what they are learning in here.” Sport said she appreciates the fact that parents can take the
belaying class. Belayers provide safety to the climbers through the use of belay equipment, rope and harness. A belayer secures the free end of the rope for the climber, holds them if they fall, and lowers
them safely to the ground. “It’s really easy and fun and gives you a lot of interaction with the kids,” says Sport. “About half of the team is girls. It’s neat seeing the dads out belaying. It’s the greatest thing to see those fathers and daughters.
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With ballet or piano, there is not an opportunity to be involved like that.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rock climbing is great for kids and parents,â&#x20AC;? says Sport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s indoors and burns a lot of energy.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just fun to climb,â&#x20AC;? says Will. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a challenge on the hard routes. Every time I master something, they make it harder. I like climbing outside, also trees, and someday, a mountain, maybe even Mt. Everest when I grow up.â&#x20AC;? NCM
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> SADDLE UP
Horse Heaven
Helping Daniel Rodriguez, 3, above and at right, are volunteer Lynne Akin, Horse Heavenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marsha Reese and volunteer Bethany Sewall. At top right is Jake Donnett, age 5. 70
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Therapeutic riding program serves children, women By Martha A. Woodham | Photos by Bob Fraley
C
oweta County resident Marsha Reese turns to one of God’s most forgiving creatures to help her do His work: horses. The sign at the drive to her barn says it all: Horse Heaven. “One of the ways that God shows his unconditional love and acceptance for us is through these animals,” she says, her face serene. A deeply spiritual woman, Reese has always JANUARY/FEBRUARY
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Occupational therapist Karen Balaze and Martha Reese work with little Daniel Rodriguez.
been a rider and a teacher. She has married these passions by creating therapeutic riding programs on her Coweta farm that serve children with physical handicaps and adult women overcoming addictions. Her first childhood memories are of riding with her father on the family farm in Coweta. During her days in 4-H, she rode a mule, and her first equine was a Walking horseWelsh pony cross named Gidget that 72
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she trained herself. Today she lives on a farm on the edge of Coweta and Meriwether counties with her husband of 14 years, Tom Reese, a developer. The farm is also home to Center Stage Arabians, a breeding and show operation run by her step-daughter, Priscilla McCammon, who was featured in the November-December issue of Newnan-Coweta Magazine. Reeseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life has been a natural
progression towards her horse ministry. In her younger days, she rode her Quarter horse mare, Sugar, in Western barrel racing competitions. A fall put an end to her need for speed, and she turned to carriage driving. But she kept the sorrel mare, giving her a good home until she passed away at age 26. Reese still grieves. Her farm is home to another geriatric equine, Sox, another sorrel Quarter horse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I buy a horse,
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I keep them forever,â&#x20AC;? she says with a smile. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re your life and your family.â&#x20AC;? When Reese was teaching special education classes in Fayette County, Sox became her teaching assistant. Sox would go to school where students could redeem coupons for good behavior for rides on Sox. Reese also brought her students to the farm on field trips. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You could see how riding made a difference,â&#x20AC;? she says. Now Reese has six geldings with calm dispositions that are used in her program. Ranging
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from Quarter horses to Tennessee Walking horses, most are used under saddle, but some also drive. She turns them all out to pasture together. “The horses live as a herd because they all have to work together,” she says. Reese operates her riding therapy out of a seven-stall barn custom-built
by Tom’s brother, R.J. Reese, but the centerpiece of the program is a covered arena set in the shade of oak trees with a handicapped access ramp nearby. Several of Reese’s four dogs and 10 cats are also usually hanging around, her own version of a peaceable kingdom. Riders come to Horse Heaven once
a week for therapy sessions that include plenty of time just interacting with the horses and other animals. Some are children with physical handicaps whose bodies are helped by hippotherapy. The gentle movement of a horse’s walk is rhythmic and repetitive, helping improve balance, posture, mobility and function. Hippotherapy has shown to
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be effective with people who have cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, developmental delay, stroke or traumatic brain injury, autism and learning or language disabilities. She pauses and looks out over her arena. “You cannot just say I love horses. I love kids.”
Reese has extended her program to help women enrolled in Wellspring Living in Peachtree City, a Biblically based therapeutic environment for women seeking a way out of unhealthy behaviors and addictions. She is on the board of Wellspring Living, which she describes as a program “to heal from the inside out.”
“A horse will mirror our emotions,” says Reese, explaining why the riding program coupled with Biblically inspired therapy is soeffective with wounded women. “It is immediate feedback.” Reese chose the right name for her farm: Horse Heaven ... and heaven for those who need horses. NCM
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> BOOK NOOK
why he suffered in that relationship with his father. I knew that Peggy had left, but I didn’t know why. I wanted to know more about Tommy Noles. It just seemed to me that, while there was no more story left to tell about Mitford, there was much more story left to tell about him. A: Were you taking a risk to put Father Tim in a different setting, to have him with a different group of characters in a different community? J: Well, yes, you’re always taking a risk when you change. Readers don’t want change. People who adore film stars don’t want them to change. I was seeing a piece yesterday on Cary Grant. He played a very unusual role, he was a very wicked sort of man. And the film didn’t do well. I think he got an Academy Award, but it actually was not very acclaimed by his fans. So, everyone’s afraid of change. But I’ve got to tell you, I’m an artist, and I’m going to change as it presents itself to me. And I can’t worry about — I do worry about what my fans will think, of course — but I can’t be constrained by that. L: Well, we kid each other, Angela’s the fan, and I’m the fanatic. J: The fan and the fanatic. How funny!
A CONVERSATION WITH JAN KARON Jan Karon left a successful advertising career to move to Blowing Rock, N.C., where she wrote her bestselling series of “Mitford” books, nine novels set in the fictional town of Mitford, N.C. Though she’s said goodbye to Mitford, she has kept the central character of the Episcopal priest, Father Tim, and has him returning to his Mississippi roots in her new book, Home to Holly Springs. Karon recently sat down for a conversation with Newnan-Coweta Magazine’s Book Nook moderator, Liz Barnett, and editor, Angela McRae. A: Liz and I have been talking about our impressions of Holly Springs all the 76
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way here. J: Oh, I’d love to hear it! I’d love to hear your impressions! A: We were speculating on at what point in the game you knew postMitford there would be a Father Tim series in a different setting. Looking back, I think, “Was she foreshadowing?” J: No, I never intended to foreshadow. It never occurred to me to have another series until, it was right before I began Light From Heaven, which was the final novel in the Mitford series, that I realized, you know, this is going to be my ninth novel and I still don’t know this man very well. I still don’t know
L: I would probably be embarrassed for you to know how many times I’ve read the whole series. I have them all on CD, too. But I will tell you, you’ve saved me a lot of money in therapy, because that’s my therapy, is just to listen to the Mitford (CD’s) — especially John McDonough. But when I first started reading (Home to Holly Springs), I think I just missed — as a fan — I missed Puny, and then I realized that Cynthia wasn’t with Father Tim and I was like, “Oh my gosh! He left Cynthia at home!” (Jan laughs.) But just like when he went to Whitecap, you get to know those characters. But I will say you surprised me, and it had a mysterious feel that I wasn’t counting on. You did surprise me in the middle with the brother. I didn’t see that one coming. A: (To Jan) This is definitely new territory for Father Tim to be in. Was that hard to write? J: I think it was just hard to get my
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hand around the right brother. You know, what kind of brother was this going to (be)? Because when you deliver a half-brother who’s half-black to Father Tim, you better know … what you’re doing. And that was scary, for me. So, I searched around, and then he just sort of walked in. He’s so easy. He’s such a comfortable character. Such a sweet guy. Very much like his half-brother, Tim. A: You know the faith element is such a huge (theme), that’s all throughout every bit of your work. Are your books about redemption, or about grace, and is that really the same? J: Redemption and grace. A: Together? J: Even redemption is, of course, an act of grace. Fundamentally about redemption. But I did introduce the grace component more liberally, I think, in this book. … But you know girls, I didn’t know where we were gonna find Tommy Noles. The reason we have not seen Tommy Noles in the Mitford series, every time I would sit down to write a book from about Out to Canaan on, I wanted to have Tommy Noles in it. I would make notes about Tommy Noles. But I couldn’t find him. You see, the author couldn’t find Tommy Noles. I didn’t even know for sure whether we’d find it in this book. But you know I just thought, I just have to find Tommy Noles. And, what would have happened to somebody whose parents were both raging alcoholics, and who was one himself? And what would have happened to some guy who was small? You see this also affects men, I think, in many ways….Well anything could have happened. But I saw a PBS special on tunnel rats, and I just thought, “Tommy Noles.” That’s what happened. L: In the Mitford novels, I know that Father Tim has a past with his father and that it’s kind of unfinished or unpleasant. But I don’t think I realized until Holly Springs just how dark that past was. J: No, I didn’t either. And actually, it’s never resolved. Remember the question he always wanted to ask his father but never did, “Why do you hate me?” He still doesn’t know. And let me tell you, there are things in life we’re not ever
gonna know. Period. So if we’re gonna have any kind of documentary of an actual, ordinary life, all these questions can’t be answered here on earth. L: But that’s one thing I think that readers relate to in your books. Not everything is tied up neat and pretty in packages. Pauline still had issues to deal with with her children. They all didn’t come running back and say, “Mama’s better.” Father Tim is living his life and he has issues in the past. I think that’s good for the average person because we all have issues no matter who we are, and … we can go on anyway. And of course, I don’t know if this is your motto, but when you say “the extraordinary beauty …” J: “of ordinary lives.” L: From the minute I read that, I think, I’m an ordinary person, with children, and these ordinary things going on in a world where sometimes my life … would seem unimportant, but it’s very important to me. So I relate to Father Tim’s ordinariness, his getting his Christmas list done, you know, running this errand. I see him in me.
J: I think that’s a brilliant insight. There are no ordinary lives. None. And what I try to do in my work to date is capture the life of an ordinary person and see it as, say, Aaron Copland saw the common man, the great beauty and great energy and even glory in the common man, woman and child. That’s one reason I write with respect for my readers, I respect my readers and who they are, I respect their ordinary lives. If I were not an author who has had some success, by the grace of God, I would be a very ordinary person. A: Let me switch gears for a minute. I’m wondering if the Holly Springs people — you had your first booksigning there last week, right? — are they as receptive as the Blowing Rock people were? J: We had a lot of novels for Blowing Rock to wake up and smell the coffee and realize what huge tourism these books were gonna bring in. Holly Springs doesn’t know yet that that can happen. It probably can’t be as big a boon because there are not gonna be nine Holly Springs novels.
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L: Yes, do! J: (Laughs.) What I was so concerned about, of all the people who will be reading this book — and we hope that that will at least be a million — I wanted to please my readers. I want to be a good date for the reader. That’s what Kurt Vonnegut says, you’ve got to be a good date for the reader. That’s what I want to be. But I particularly wanted to be a good date for the people of Holly Springs, because this is about their town. And I tried, with everything in me, not to get even a street name wrong. A: And I read something about another book project you had going on about a mid-18th (century house) … is that your house? J: No. A: Because your house is a little newer than that, right? J: Well, yes, but I want to set it on the river, on the James River, where so many great plantation houses are. But you know, don’t count on me for this book. It’s gonna be a long time. It’s a lot of research … a lot of writing. It needs to be very blowsy, with lots of characters, not Gone with the Wind, but you know it needs to be a big book, and I’m not up for that quite yet. But I do nurture the very thought, and the concept is extremely enthralling to me. L: As the characters in your book are a comfort to me, the CD’s on and it soothes me – do they ever crowd your head and you want to say “Could y’all leave for a little while?” J: You know, they’re always talking. There are times I don’t know how to turn that sort of thing off. … And one of my sleeplessness issues is stuff going on all the time. You’ve gotta go get a bucket and catch it, when that faucet opens, you better have something standing by. And sometimes going down the road I get the 78
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most wonderful scenes. Or I’m in bed and it’s late at night and maybe I think maybe if I just can be still I actually can go to sleep instead of getting up to write it down. But you’d better get up and write it down. L: What do you do when you’re on the road and the scene comes? J: Here’s a pen, here’s a — (Jan motions writing while driving). You don’t want to meet me on the road. L: With that creativeness, I can relate … I’m an interior decorator. I’ve decorated many houses in the bed. I’ve had to get up and write it down. J: That’s cute! Decorating in the bed. There’s an article for you. A: Liz is also our first reader blogger on our magazine’s web site. But when we started talking about this and doing things online, we actually picked a couple (of books) — some we liked, some we haven’t — but then it hit us we needed to do a mega book. L: You’re the mega book. J: Thank you! Will you please give my warm regards to everybody in your book club? A: When I discovered you, really, was when you were the Writer in Residence for Victoria magazine, which I think has been about 10 years ago now.
WEB EXTRA
J: Yes, even to this day people will write or tell me in a receiving line that they discovered me in Victoria. The good news is, Victoria magazine is back, the first issue is on the stands, and it looks terrific. It was bought by Hoffman Media in Birmingham. A: We know their magazines well around here. J: Southern Lady. Tea Time … A: In fact Tea Time had (an article about) your White Tea. That looked like so much fun. J: It was a beautiful event. A: I’m such a tea fanatic, that every time Cynthia and Father Tim are having a pot of tea, I’m trying to take notes and think, “OK. What kind is it, and are they tea bag or loose leaf tea people? And what do they carry at The Local?” I know at one point you specifically mentioned Earl Grey and I think you may have mentioned a Darjeeling. But I’ve always wanted to know what Father Tim and Cynthia are drinking. J: Darn if I know! I’m just gonna have to look into this. You see I’m not a great tea fan. I mean I enjoy tea, but I drink it for comfort, and I have no palate for it. I just drink it because it’s soothing and with a little honey maybe it’ll help me sleep and that kind of thing. I use it medicinally. But I’ll remember this. When they’re in Ireland, I’ll see that we name their teas. L: Well, you just gave us a tip. That you’re gonna write about them in Ireland, I guess? J: (Nodding) Next book. A: Well, we know (they’re) going on that trip finally.
Coweta County residents may register to win an autographed copy of Home to Holly Springs at www.newnancowetamagazine.com. Also, you can hear a podcast of Jan reading an excerpt just for our readers at www.newnancowetamagazine.com.
L: But I didn’t know if we’d open up (the next book) and say “OK, now we’re back from Ireland.” J: No, no, we’re gone. We will be in Ireland. Have to. Have to go.
Online Book Club:
A: (To Liz) Any final questions from you?
Join us in the Book Nook and be among the first to discuss our
L: (To Jan) Can I go with you?
January selection, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled
A: If she gets to go, I get to go.
Hosseini.
J: Well, you all are a lot of fun, I must say! I appreciate it. NCM
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THE BOOKSHELF The Book of Marie By Terry Kay Mercer University Press, $23 Reviewed by Holly Jones
high school seniors. He was intelligent, well-read, quarterback of the football team — a god in the heavens of high school. Marie thought he “The good of living is in the sweetwas a joke. ness of memory.” Actually, Marie Can a person you know one year thought the South was a change you forever? Dictate who you joke. The year was 1954 become? Teach you more about yourself and, according to Marie, than you ever knew? According to Terry Kay’s The Book of segregation was the most backward, sinful abomiMarie, the answer is yes. “From their first meeting, Marie Jean nation that ever existed. For Cole, it was the way Fitzpatrick had had power over him, things were. He didn’t much the same as a wizard casting spells like it, but what could he ... and it did not matter that he had last do? seen her the night of their graduation It began as a prank. from Overton High School.” Cole Bishop is in his late 60s. He is Cole’s teammates dared him, even offered to pay divorced and a professor at a college in Vermont. He plans to return home for his him, to take Marie on a date. She was pretty, after 50th high school reunion, but he’s not all. But things backfired. sure about his reception. And he keeps Marie saw through the having strange dreams — about Marie. dare and wanted to take When Cole met Marie, they were the prank further. She said they should pretend to be madly in love — and watch people’s reactions. It worked. The town was shocked, but no one more than Cole. When he and Marie were actually alone, they talked — about everything. Marie wanted to enlighten Cole. He wanted to give her a sense of tradition. After a valedictory speech that appalls everyone, Marie leaves town, swearing never to return. But she and Cole write, sometimes letters of 10 pages, sometimes 10 words. “I’ll always be with you,” Marie says, “as trite as that sounds. I will, though. I’ll be with you, looking over your shoulder.” And she has been, in letters and dreams, a presence he can’t ignore. When Cole’s dreams become overwhelming, he turns to a psychologist who tells him to write his and Marie’s story — an exorcism of sorts. And from this request Cole
receives his past, his living, his “sweetness of memory” and The Book of Marie.
The Choice By Nicholas Sparks Grand Central, $24.99 Reviewed by Holly Jones The title of Nicholas Sparks’s latest novel, The Choice, is appropriate but only half right. And while some would argue that the second choice made is much more difficult than the first, both are important, even life-changing. Travis Parker and Gabby Holland do not meet under the best circumstances. Gabby recently moved in next door to Travis, and she is convinced that Travis’s boxer Moby has gotten her collie, Molly, pregnant. After all, Moby is allowed to freely roam the neighborhood, running through yards and chasing squirrels. Indignant, Gabby storms through the yard to confront the culprits, only to find that Moby has been neutered. Plus, there is more of a spark between Moby and Molly’s owners than between the dogs. Soon, the boy next door is all Gabby can think about — not what she wants
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considering she moved to Beaufort to be near her boyfriend of four years, the one who won’t propose. And so Gabby’s choice is one of life, as in, who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Eleven years later, Travis has his own choice to make. Travis and his wife were in a car accident. They had been on a date but ended up having an argument. The weather was bad, Travis missed a red light, and in trying to avoid a truck, he lost control of the car. Three months later, his wife is still in a coma. Because of the living will she signed, Travis’s choice is looming. The doctors, and the lawyers, say that he must either decide to turn off the lifesupport equipment or move her to a long-term care facility. Every day he goes to the hospital, talks to her, and moves her arms and legs to keep her muscles working. And although she does not respond or show any sign of a change in her condition, Travis knows she’s still in there. He wants to respect her wishes, but he’s not sure he’s ready to give up the love of his life. Travis’s choice also involves life, but his involves death as well. Nicholas Sparks knows how to make his readers laugh, to make them cry, and make them fall in love. But in his latest novel, he also teaches his fans the importance of living life — and making The Choice.
A Love Affair with Southern Cooking By Jean Anderson William Morrow, $32.50 Reviewed by Angela McRae Jean Anderson was born in North Carolina, but as the daughter of two Yankees — her word, not mine — she wasn’t introduced to southern food until age 5. It was there in the cafeteria of the Fred A. Olds Elementary School in Raleigh, N.C., that Anderson first fell in love with southern cooking. “And a piece of brown sugar pie was all it took,” she says. As an adult, Anderson worked for decades in New York as a magazine editor and freelance food and travel writer. Her career was often spent covering culinary stories in the South. A member of the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame who has already won five best cookbook
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awards, Anderson has now returned to North Carolina and has compiled A Love Affair with Southern Cooking: Recipes and Recollections. The book includes some 200 recipes, and it also includes the stories behind such southern brands as MoonPies, White Lily flour and Tabasco sauce. (Who knew that Lance snacks are made in Charlotte, and the beloved Toastchee cracker dates to 1938!) Many regional specialties are included in the book, from the famous Natchitoches Meat Pies and Cajun Red Beans and Rice to Louisville’s famous Hot Brown dish and the North Carolina Liver Mush so familiar to readers of the Mitford books. Readers will enjoy Anderson’s tales of how she discovered many of these recipes. Her Charleston Shrimp Pie, which she says is really a casserole, was served the first time she stayed at the Mills House in Charleston. And we all know about Bananas Foster, the dish made famous by Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans. In Lafayette, La., however, Anderson came across Bananas Foster Cheesecake at the Café Vermillionville, “and about all it has in common with the Brennan’s classic are bananas, butter, brown sugar and rum.” The recipes are varied and plentiful,
so there’s bound to be something you’ll want to try. Those who love southern history will especially enjoy the timeline of people and events who shaped southern food, including Hernando de Soto (he introduced hogs to Florida), Thomas Jefferson (he planted European vegetables in his Monticello garden), Mary Randolph (she published The Virginia House-Wife, the first southern cookbook) and Samuel Rumph (the Georgia farmer who developed the Elberta peach hybrid). So whether you want to learn how to make old-fashioned hominy or just enjoy learning about the history of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, this book will be a treasured addition to any library of southern cookbooks.
Want to win A Love Affair with Southern Cooking? Coweta County residents may register to win at www.newnancowetamagazine.com.
Online Book Club You are invited to join Newnan-Coweta Magazine’s new online book discussion group, "The Book Nook" led by Liz Barnett. WEB The book for January will EXTRA be A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
Start reading now and post your own thoughts about the book during the month of November at newnancowetamagazine.com.
WEB EXTRA
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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS These are the people who make Newnan-Coweta Magazine possible. Please let them know you appreciate their support!
Accessible Health Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Long Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Aesthetic Laser Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Main Street Newnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Alvin H. Clair, M.D./Dermatology . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Massage Envy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
AMSI Metal Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
McIntosh Commercial Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Animal Medical Clinic of Newnan. . . . . . . . . . . 73
Morgan Jewelers/Downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Applause Salon & Spa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Newnan Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Artisan Jewelry Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Nick's Pizzeria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Baby Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Panoply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Bank of Coweta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Parks & Mottola Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Patricia A. Recklett, DVM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Bennetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Antiques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Phillips Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Boscoe's Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Piedmont Newnan Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Brides Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Protran Transmission Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Carrollton Eye Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
R.S. Mann Jewelers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Center For Allergy & Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Radiation Oncology Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Rocky's Barber Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Coweta-Fayette EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Coweta Pool & Fireplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Scott's Book Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Crescent Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Sentry Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Farm Bureau Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Southern Brokers, Inc., Real Estate . . . . . . . . . 41
Fayette Ceramic Tile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Southern Crescent Equine Services . . . . . . . . . 73
First United Methodist Church of Newnan . . . 77
The Southern Federal Credit Union. . . . . . . . . . 37
FoxHall/Forestar Real Estate Group . . . . . . . . . 11
Steven E. Fanning, Attorney-at-Law . . . . . . . . . 59
Foxxhollow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Stonebridge Early Learning Center . . . . . . . . . . 69
The Furniture House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Superior Walls of Greater Atlanta. . . . . . . . . . . 74
Heritage Quilts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Tanner Health System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heritage Retirement Homes of Peachtree. . . . 56
The Times-Herald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Hollberg's Fine Furniture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Traditions in Tile & Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
It's A Small World Children's Dentistry . . . . . . . 7
University of West Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Jay S. Berger, M.D., P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Vaillancourt's Pest Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Kimble's Events by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Watts Furniture Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Lee-King Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Wedowee Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Legacy Too Furniture/Accessories . . . . . . . . . . 53
West Georgia Sleep Disorders Center . . . . . . . 31
Lindsey's Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1-800-Got Junk? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
March/April Advertising Deadlines Contract Ads: January 30, 2008, New Ads: February 8, 2008 Call 770.683.6397 for details and advertising information. JANUARY/FEBRUARY
2008
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10 things I’ve learned ... as a Florist
As told to Elizabeth Richardson | Photo by Bob Fraley
Freddie Wallace has owned and operated Flowers by Freddie, located at 29 Franklin Highway, since 1981. Wallace first worked for a nursery when she was 15 years old. Over the years, she developed a talent for floristry that was encouraged by her family and supported by her husband, Jimmy. Every year, Valentine’s Day takes the cake as being the busiest time of year in her line of work. (1) The floristry business is a business of emotions and it’s our job to express those emotions. For example, people come in when loved ones die and need consoling. This is the last thing they can do for their loved ones, so we try to make sure to do the best job we can. (2) Every customer needs a smile and a kind word. I believe this because it’s the way I was raised. (3) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I may not have the same taste as a customer, but it’s my main objective to please each and every one of them. (4) The goal of a floral customer is to make someone else smile — and this world needs more smiling faces. (5) In many cases, the amount of money spent on the flower arrangement is not as much of an issue as ensuring that a person’s feelings are expressed. (6) In this line of work, we patch a lot of marriages and, unfortunately, we ruin a lot of them. Especially when the wife calls … (7) Customers need to know that their order is my most important piece of work that day. Skimping on an arrangement is simply not an option. That’s what makes Valentine’s Day so hard. (8) Valentine’s Day is by far my busiest holiday. We start on preparations for the holiday on the first day of the year to make sure we have all our bases covered. (9) God is so good. He gave me the gift of floral arranging and has continued to bless my efforts. I thank Him for this. (10) Flowers are a gift from God. I marvel at the detail he gave to each and every one — color, size, aroma — just like us, each variety is different. NCM
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