Newnan-Coweta Magazine, July/August 2010

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MAGAZINE

A Times-Herald Publication

SENOIA gets ready for its time in the spotlight

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Adventure Alaska, Europe, Mexico, Africa, Barnsley Gardens, golf and more July/August 2010 | $3.95

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CLOSE TO HOME, CONVENIENT, STATE-OF-THE-ART -ART

CELEBRATING SUCCESS in Cancer Treatment Years ago, the Radiation Oncology Services – Newnan (ROS) physicians developed a unique clinical program still in active use today: New Patient Tumor Conference (NPTC). NPTC provides a weekly forum for treatment planning and peer review. All new ROS-Newnan patients have the benefit of this built in second opinion.

During NPTC, the treating physician presents new cases to our team of eleven ROS physicians for their input and approval of the treatment plan. Through a collaborative effort, NPTC ensures that all patients receive treatment consistent with both ROS and national standards.

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ROS-Newnan extends a heartfelt thank you for the support of the communities we serve.

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Sawyer Glacier is just one of the spectacular scenes on an Alaskan cruise like the one enjoyed by photographer Bob Fraley and his wife Peg for their 20th wedding anniversary.

– Photo by Bob Fraley 4 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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July/August 2010

contents 30

14

38

20

Features 8

MEANDERING THROUGH MEXICO Ancient sites and authentic Mexican food are just two of the reasons to plan a trip to Mexico outside the usual tourist destinations.

14 HEART OF EUROPE TOUR Byrdie Geter planned to travel even more after she retired from teaching, and a recent trip took her to the heart of Europe.

20 TRAVEL WITH A HEART Instead of buying each other Christmas gifts, one Coweta family decided to take a short term mission trip to Kenya instead.

26 BARNSLEY GARDENS:

A GETAWAY CLOSE TO HOME The ruins of an Italianate villa, an heirloom rose garden and a world class spa are just a few highlights of historic Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville.

30 AN ANNIVERSARY TRIP TO ALASKA Photographer Bob Fraley loves to travel, and to celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary he and wife Peg enjoyed a wonderful cruise to Alaska.

38 CREATING GOLF VACATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Golf vacations are a hit with travelers around the world, and some of those popular golf courses were designed by Coweta’s Rocky Roquemore.

46 SENOIA READIES FOR VISITORS Senoia has been busy rolling out the red carpet for the opening of the Southern Living Idea House, which is expected to bring thousands of visitors to town.

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52 Departments 42 LOCAL HERITAGE

For a trip with a little history, visit the Indian Spring Hotel, where the Treaty of Indian Springs was signed in 1825.

52 THE THOUGHTFUL GARDENER If you’re looking for a plant whose range and diversity are enormous, consider the dahlia.

56 TINA’S TIPS By reader request, we bring you an update on the Neely playhouse featured in our pages a year ago – and the sweet little princesses who enjoy it.

62 THE BABY FILES If you’re a teen who likes to make fun of mothers with small kids at the pool, be careful. That could be you one day!

66 I AM COWETA Meet Nicholas Anderson, a Northgate High School drama fan who has appeared on many local stages.

In every issue

7 EDITOR’S LETTER 64 THE BOOKSHELF 65 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

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{

From the Editor }

Alligator Alley adventure ne of the great things about going on vacation is the chance you’ll come across the unexpected. On my most recent trip to the beach, it was the opportunity to get up close and personal with some alligators.

Alex and I were nearing Orange Beach, Ala. when I first spotted the large billboard for Alligator Alley. I was thrilled! I have a real fascination with alligators, and the closest I’ve gotten to one in the past year was when a stray gator was spotted sunning itself along I-85 here in Coweta.

Alligator Alley in Summerdale was not some slick, shiny tourist destination.

It’s just a rustic, working alligator farm where rescued nuisance alligators are relocated. This isn’t an amusement park where a tram pulls up and conveys you around the park. You pull up along a nicely fenced gravel drive, park your car, and enter a little wooden building where they sell Alligator Alley t-shirts and postcards. As you pass through to the grounds, you’re pretty much on your own and free to wander and check out all the gators.

There’s a lake where many of the gators were sunbathing, but on the grass there was a strange looking gator missing a huge hunk of its tail. It was so strange looking, in fact, I told my husband I was sure it was just a broken statue of a gator and not a real one. I headed up a platform to get some photos, and Alex enjoyed coming to tell me my “statue” had just wandered over to join some other gators for a gabfest. The gators do not always play well together, we learned, and that one had been on the receiving end of some ill will one day.

The highlight of the visit, though, was the sighting of Captain Crunch. While he’s not the world’s biggest alligator, he is the gator who holds the world record for the strongest bite force – 2,982 pounds.

(That’ll leave a mark!) I was very glad to be

separated from him by a fence and a boardwalk.

If alligators aren’t your thing, I’ll bet there’s something in this issue that is. Romantic Barnsley Gardens Resort? Ancient sites in Mexico? A girlfriend trip to the heart of Europe? A short term mission trip to Kenya? Or how about a cruise to Alaska? I hope your sense of

adventure is as fueled as mine was after reading all these stories!

And what would summer be without a tribute to kids? After receiving requests for a follow-up on the Neely girls’ playhouse we featured last summer, the family graciously invited us back to play. (Actually, some of us would like to move in!)

Happy Summer!

Fondly,

Angela McRae, Editor angela@newnan.com

JULY/AUGUST 2010 | 7

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Meandering Through

Mexico Story and photos by Kenneth Wilson

da The Méri l d e Cath ra

8 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

wake up just as the driver veers the mini-bus between occupied lanes of traffic at 80 miles per hour without ever taking his eyes off the person he is talking to in the passenger seat.

Looking up, I notice we are swerving between cars but I go back to sleep.

In Mexico, I quickly learn I’m not in control and I somehow find that relaxing.

The Yucatán Peninsula separates two bodies of water: the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The State of Yucatán is situated on the northwest corner of the Peninsula with the neighboring states of Campeche and Quintana Roo to the south and east.

Although part of Mexico, the Yucatán remained isolated until the 1950s when railways were built,

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The Temple of Kukulkan at Chichen Itza

making transportation easier.

Highways followed in the 1960s, as did air travel. Centuries of isolation make the Yucatán and its capital, Mérida, decidedly different from Mexico’s better-known resort cities.

For reasons only properly explained by climatologists, May, not July or August, is the hottest month of the year in the Yucatán.

Temperatures regularly top 100 degrees and although I live in Georgia, my body isn’t accustomed to this excessive heat.

If the sweltering temperatures weren’t enough, my lack of a plan ensures more trials ahead. Regardless, the decision to drop into a foreign country without an itinerary seemed exciting. My goal was to experience Mexico outside the Americanized

Stone masks in Kaba h

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The city of Uxmal from atop ruins

The astronomical observatory at Chichen Itza

10 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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tourist resorts and the violent border towns seen on television.

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I arrive at my hotel in Mérida amid confusion. It seems I should have kept the receipt given to me at the airport cab stand. Now, my driver is asking for it to prove that I paid for the ride. Unable to produce the document, I pay the fare a second time. The driver says that if he finds my ticket back at the airport, he will leave me a coupon for a free cab ride at the hotel desk.

I’m skeptical that I’ll ever see my cab driver again.

After checking into my room, I head to the Plaza Grande a few blocks away. While there, I ask around to find someone to take me to Chichen Itza. A university student directs me to a small local tour company in a one-room office a few blocks away. Before going, I get some churros from a food cart and sit on a bench in the Plaza to contemplate the next few days. I decide to spend today and tomorrow exploring Mérida and then explore outside the city. Before boarding the plane back to Atlanta, I visit archeological sites at Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Kabah.

My second stop in Mérida is the cathedral. Located on Mérida’s Plaza Grande and built in 1598, the cathedral is the oldest on the continent and is still used today. I spend the next 24 hours in the museums and markets scattered around Mérida, eventually haggling with vendors in broken Spanish for necessary items: Panama hat, guayabera shirt, luchador mask, five empanadas and a bag of citrus fruit.

I travel to Chichen Itza the next day. The Temple of Kukulkan is the biggest attraction at Chichen Itza.

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Sunset in Mérida

A street scene in Mérida 12 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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The giant step-pyramid was built between the 10th and 13th centuries and like many Mayan structures, the Temple keeps time and plays with shadows. It has 365 steps – one for each day of the year. Twice each year, during the spring and autumnal equinoxes, the corners of the Temple create shadows that look like plumed serpents.

Before leaving Chichen Itza, our guide stops at a small establishment serving cochinita pibil, the Yucatán’s most famous dish. The slow-roasted pork is cooked in banana leaves and seasoned with annatto seeds, cloves and habanero peppers. It is served over a bed of rice and topped with fresh cilantro.

The following morning, I make my way to Uxmal and Kabah, one of my favorite sites.

The two cities sit a short distance from one another along a sacbeob, an ancient road connecting ceremonial cities. Unlike Chichen Itza, I am free to roam the grounds at Uxmal and Kabah. I get the feeling I’m being watched in Kabah where over 300 stone masks, belonging to the rain god Chaac, adorn the Palace of Masks.

My last morning in Mérida, I go to the front desk to check out. Surprisingly, the clerk gives me a coupon for a free cab ride and explains that a cab driver left it for me. The clerk calls a cab as I wait in the sun out front.

During the taxi ride back to the airport I begin to doze off. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m tired from baking beneath the Mexican sun, hiking ancient Mayan ruins, or because it’s my way of letting go while another erratic, yet skillful, driver takes the wheel of the car again. NCM JULY/AUGUST 2010 | 13

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Heart of

Europe Tour Story and photos by Byrdie Geter

Castles as seen on the Rhine River Valley riverboat cruise in Germany

14 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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Byrdie Geter of Newnan, at left, and her friend Lydia Stigall of Seattle saw beautiful windmi lls while exploring Holland.

hristmas of 2008 was a very happy time for my family. Nine of my family members were together in Knoxville, Tenn. at my daughter Melba’s house. We had not been together since Christmas of 2000, and two of the family members had not been born in 2000. I came home early to spend some time with my very dear friend, Lydia McAllister Stigall. We have been friends more than 25 years. Lydia and her husband live in Seattle, Wash. and they were visiting their children in the Atlanta area. When Lydia and I got together, she talked about the Heart of Europe Tour and invited me to go. I was for it as soon as it came out of her mouth. We discussed taking

the tour in July 2009. We pulled all the information up on the computer and liked all that it was offering. Lydia and I spoke on the telephone and communicated through emails several times getting things together for the tour.

On July 7, 2009, Lydia and I took an overnight flight to Amsterdam from Atlanta with dinner in flight. Europe’s time was six hours ahead of Eastern Standard in the United States. We were very tired when we reached Amsterdam because we didn’t sleep during the flight, and we were hungry also.

We claimed our baggage and found something to eat at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. After eating, we found our meeting

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Friends Lydia Stigall and Byrdie Geter, at left, toured the Heart of Europe and saw sights including, clockwise from top left, a wooden shoe factory in Holland, the mountains of Switzerland, the American military cemetery in Margraten in Southern Holland, Germany’s Rhine River Valley, the swans in Austria, a cathedral in Austria and the Hotel Gasthof Purner in Innsbruck, Austria.

16 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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place, which was a large red and white cube sculpture, and looked for people wearing name tags like ours. Lydia and I knew only each other at the beginning of the tour, but we were introduced to 31 others who were members of the tour group, and these 31 were just as friendly as Lydia and I. We all got on the tour bus and spent time exploring Holland. We saw beautiful windmills of all sizes that were scattered all over the fields, and we spent time in a wooden shoe factory. We were able to watch wooden shoes being made.

We stopped along the way sightseeing, shopping and taking pictures. We went to our hotel and prepared for our get-acquainted dinner. It was nice learning so much about the new friends we had just met. The next day we spent more time sightseeing. We visited the city of Antwerp and traveled south to visit the American military cemetery at Margraten in Southern Holland.

After visiting the cemetery, we traveled to our Dutch hotel near the border of Belgium and Germany.

Our dinner was accompanied by piano music. The next day we took an early afternoon river cruise through Germany’s Rhine Valley to Boppard to hillside vineyards and castle ruins. The tour bus later took us to Heidelberg, Germany to tour the Old Town. After the tour, we spent the night in Mannheim.

Early the next morning, we traveled through Europe’s bestpreserved medieval town, Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber. We were in a new town and another new hotel. At dinner we were entertained with music again. We left in the morning for Munich, had lunch and did more sightseeing and shopping. Innsbruck, Austria was our next stop and we did the same

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The Heart of Europe Tour took Newnan’s Byrdie Geter and her friend Lydia Stigall to sites including, clockwise from right, a cathedral in Belgium; the Eiffel Tower, a cathedral and the Louvre in France; and a cathedral in Venice, Italy.

v18 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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as usual, sightseeing and shopping.

After leaving Austria, our next stop was Italy. We took a scenic ride through the mountains of Venice, Italy and finished the day with a lot of leisure time. We later crossed the border into Lugano, Switzerland and did the routine things that we had done in the other countries and then we had an independent lunch.

When we crossed the border into France, we continued to Beaune, the capital of the Burgundy wine country. This is also one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the area. The Hospices Museum there had an impressive collection of furniture, pottery, paintings and tapestries from the middle ages. On our last full day on the tour, we traveled through the Champagne Region and into Paris. We were now in our ninth hotel since we started the tour 14 days ago. Other hotels, restaurants and shopping areas were all close by. The Parisian restaurant in our hotel included a festive dinner and music.

Our last day of the tour sent us to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport after having breakfast at the hotel before our flight back to Atlanta.

There was much to do and see on the Heart of Europe Tour, but two weeks was not enough time to do and see it all.

Traveling has always been a love of my life. I did some traveling with my children while I was still teaching, but I had to choose certain times of the year to do it. When I retired from teaching in 2001, I wanted to do more traveling since time would not be a factor. I have enjoyed traveling and now I have more time to do it. NCM

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Travel with a

Heart Michelle Hitt Grasso of Newnan, with Francis, above, traded Christmas presents for a mission trip to Kenya. At right are her husband Mark and Solomon, the little boy they sponsor through Heart for Africa.

20 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

Story and photos by Michelle Hitt Grasso

very summer my family hits the road for a beach vacation.

We all look forward to a little time away from work, school and other various obligations.

Last summer, though, things began to take a turn and our whole family has been blessed as a result!

When we returned from the beach, I knew what we had to do – instead of our normal Christmas filled with gifts we didn’t need and more food than we could eat, we would instead all go on a short term mission trip together. “All” included me and my husband Mark, his

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Members of the Grasso family join in a “Widow’s Walk” in Kenya.

Tumaini Children’s Ho me in Kenya

21

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The Grasso family visits with kids at the Tumaini Children’s Home in Kenya.

Brian Grasso visits at one of the widow’s homes in Kenya.

“Everyone loved Brian,” said his step-mom, Michelle Hitt Grasso.

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mother Penny, my four stepchildren – Michael, Kevin, Lauren and Brian – and Michael’s girlfriend Erika.

We decided as a family that we would travel with an Atlanta based Christian organization called Heart for Africa. Kevin and Lauren had been involved with Young Hearts for Africa at their school, and the opportunity for them to see how God was using them to make an impact was exciting for all of us!

After months of raising support (God provided approximately $27,000 for us to go), lots of shots and paperwork, we were on our way. We left early the day after Christmas, and after 25 hours traveling through three airports, we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya. Mosquito nets over our beds and the sound of morning prayers from the mosque next door were but two of the differences that greeted us the next morning. But what a beautiful morning! The sun was shining as we headed out on our journey to Naivasha where we would stay for the week.

The drive from Nairobi to Naivasha took several hours, but the time passed quickly as we soaked in the beautiful countryside. The hustle, bustle and slums of Nairobi gave way to expansive blue skies, the Great Rift Valley and rolling hills in the distance.

But we weren’t in Kenya for the scenery, we came for the children. Every morning we drove 90 minutes from our hotel to Kinangop where we spent our days at Tumaini Children’s Home.

In Swahili, Tumaini means “hope,” and that is exactly what

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Some of the boys in Kenya follow along as Kevin Grasso shares a Bible story, above. At right, Lauren Grasso helps a child try to build a house of cards after sharing the Biblical story about building your life on sand or rock.

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we found in each child, the hope of a better life fulfilled and nourished by godly people. Some had lived on the streets of larger cities sniffing glue to get through the day, some had been abused by family members, and some were victims of violent sexual assault.

But it was smiles, laughter and singing that greeted us! You could see in their eyes the healing God has brought them and brings them every day. We played games, told Bible stories, sang praise songs to God together, and even finished painting two newly built classrooms for their school! We brought soccer balls, teddy bears, pajamas and daily devotional books for the children. It warmed my heart to watch our kids play with, laugh with and love on the precious children of Tumaini. While each one of us remembers something special about different children, I

remember Francis. More specifically, I remember Francis’ smile—a smile so big and so bright that it lights your world!

In the afternoons, we would head out with groups of the older children and visit widows living in the community around Tumaini.

Our “widows’ walks� literally took us through corn fields and cow pastures, but along the way we formed new friendships and learned to appreciate the diversity of God’s world. In Kenya, it is considered a blessing for a guest to enter your home and so we visited with each widow in her home, met her extended family and prayed for God’s blessing and protection over them. Along the way, we were blessed as well.

We left the children at Tumaini with a saying to remember, and in the process God wrote it on our

hearts too: “I am going to take it in and live it out, build my life on what really counts. I am going to choose to see you the way God sees me. I am going to choose to forgive you the way God forgives me. I am going to learn to live unselfishly. God’s love is BIG and STRONG and LOUD, I’m going to take it in and live it out!�

We have hundreds of stories that we could share if you have a few hours free! But this trip was more than just great stories. God really taught us all how to love as He loves, to see the beauty in others that He sees, and to step out of our comfort zone to help His children. You don’t have to go all the way to Africa to do it, but I think everyone should, at least once, take a trip with their family to love and to serve others. I promise you won’t regret it! NCM

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Barnsley Gardens A getaway close to home Story and photos by Kimberly Campbell

f you’re like me, history and “old things” make you feel alive, curious and intrigued. These were the emotions that excited me about visiting Adairsville, Ga., a small rural town tucked away in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Only a two-hour drive from Newnan, Adairsville is also home to Barnsley Gardens.

For Mother’s Day this year, my husband and young daughter decided to treat me to lunch and a day trip to this special spot. Barnsley Gardens seemed like a perfect place to relax, enjoy a great meal, take in some scenery and spend some time with my family (and be free of the television and computer!).

From the moment we turned in to the main drive of the resort, I knew we were somewhere special and unique. It took my breath away. The finely manicured, hilly land made me want to jump out of our car and have a picnic! But I restrained myself since we had reservations at the Woodlands Grill, a casual dining spot overlooking the golf course that also houses Dugan’s Tavern.

Once on foot, we walked on a gravelly path that led to the restaurant, a quaint structure with a 26 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

Kimberly Campbell of Newnan, at left with daughter Anna Marie, enjoyed a trip to Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville for Mother’s Day this year.

Below, her husband Jim and Anna Marie stroll the grounds.

wide front porch and wooden rocking chairs. We were welcomed at the door with a genuine smile, and I immediately felt a sense of release and old-time southern hospitality. All the stress I’d been holding evaporated into the clean, quiet, country air.

After lunch we strolled through the village – upscale, rustic cottages of assorted shapes, sizes and colors, all with a shade porch. In the middle of the village, families stopped to play an impromptu game of bocce ball. Horse drawn carriages conveyed people around the grounds. We explored the “town” and noticed several nooks and crannies that beckoned us to linger

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The picturesque ruins at Barnsley Gardens

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longer . . . Adirondack chairs and fire pits (somebody please pass the S’mores), The Beer Garden (cheers), and the Bamboo Garden (a secluded place to picnic). In the middle of the community was the Town Hall building, whose shape first reminded me of a chapel, although it’s used for a variety of functions. Its interior walls are made with real pine so it smells like I’m outdoors and in a forest.

The lure of Barnsley Gardens is, after all, being outdoors and the main draw is the Heirloom Gardens, 160 years old and containing hundreds of varieties of heirloom roses. You can sign up to take a tour and learn about the history of the gardens. It’s a garden wonderland but the Barnsley land is also ripe with history.

The Woodlands Manor was an estate built by Mr. Godfrey Barnsley for the love of his life, his wife Julia.

He began construction on his Italianate villa in the 1840s on land once inhabited by the Cherokee Indians. Julia never saw the finished home because she died before its completion. Construction ceased. But legend has it that later, Godfrey claimed Julia’s ghost appeared to him at a fountain and instructed him to continue work on the estate. So he did! Although the mansion was eventually finished, in 1906 a tornado blew the roof off. Today, the Barnsley mansion is in ruins.

The Rice House restaurant is another historical building on the property, formerly a restored farmhouse. I noticed right away that there were holes on the front facade of the building. Turns out they are bullet holes from the Civil War. We also toured the Outpost, a one-story wooden building with a screened in porch. Normally, we try

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to buy a Christmas ornament from places we visit and luckily they had some for sale (albeit a bit pricey). The Outpost is not only a place to find bric-a-brac and mementos; it’s also the main hub for activities. You can rent kayaks or bicycles, or sign up for paintball, Frisbee golf, horseback riding or a special guided tour. If you want to simply relax and kick back (like we did), you can play an oldfashioned game of checkers on the front porch. During the winter there’s a huge stone hearth to cozy up to.

Barnsley also has its very own Fairy Godmother. Although I didn’t see her during my visit, I was told she roams the resort, granting wishes and spreading cheer.

And speaking of special moments, I can understand why so many couples say “I Do” here. It’s a perfect backdrop for romance and adventure. There’s no shortage of

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history, drama and recreation. There’s the award winning Jim Fazio golf course, nicknamed “The General.”

You can unwind at the spa. There’s hunting and fishing at the shooting grounds, rodeo games, water activities and so much more.

It’s definitely a place I’d love to visit again. NCM

There’s lots to see and do at Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville, including carriage rides, bocce ball (practiced here by Anna Marie Campbell), swimming and the Outpost Sporting Center and gift shop. Barnsley Gardens also offers spa packages.

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An anniversary trip to

Alaska Story and photos by Bob Fraley

y wife and I own a timeshare and have stayed in some nice resorts, including a couple in Hawaii. I wanted to do something special to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and since neither of us had ever been on a cruise, that’s what we decided to do.

We chose Royal Caribbean’s cruise to Alaska, leaving from Seattle, Wash. We flew into Seattle a day early to make certain we wouldn’t miss our ship and to enjoy some sightseeing. We had a great hot dog lunch at the Space Needle and stopped at a little holein-the-wall Mexican restaurant for supper. We decided to eat cheap in Seattle as we were about to spend seven days eating great food on our cruise.

DAY ONE – After breakfast at the hotel, a towncar took us to the ship. We arrived early and there were virtually no lines. Since we couldn’t get into our stateroom until 1 p.m., we were forced to go to the Windjammer buffet 30 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

A view near Haines State Forest

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Times-Herald/Newnan-Coweta Magazine photographer Bob Fraley and his wife Peg celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary with an Alaskan cruise. Naturally, he was equipped with his camera and came back with stunning shots like this one of scenic Meade Glacier.

Overlook ing the h arbor at S kagway

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Bob and Peg Fraley celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary with an Alaskan cruise. They were impressed with their spacious accommodations but most of all with the scenery, which included eagles, salmon spawning and Orcas.

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for lunch. It was wonderful! After lunch, we checked out our stateroom. We generally overpack and this trip was no exception – three large bags plus our carry-ons.

We were amazed how much storage is in these staterooms. We went topside for the bon voyage party, checked out the ship, and then it was time for dinner. The service and food were great. After dinner, we went to a show.

DAY TWO – This day was spent cruising up the coast. This was the roughest day at sea, but we had invested in seasick patches and had no trouble. This was our first formal night, with the Captain’s reception before dinner. Late in the trip we discovered you could order as many appetizers or entrees as you wanted. That was very handy the night we had lobster and shrimp. I actually had two appetizers, two dinners and two desserts. I was going to order only one dessert, but my wife told the waiters it was my birthday. They brought me strawberry mousse with a candle and sang “Happy Birthday,� so I felt obligated to eat it. The most amazing thing was that my wife and I each lost about three pounds during this cruise. It must have been all that walking back and forth to the dining room.

DAY THREE – Our first Port of Call, Juneau, was selected for our whalewatching venture and was well worth it. Following our grilled salmon lunch at Orca Point Lodge, we saw humpback whales and a pod of orcas. Later, we went on a land excursion to tour the area and Mendenhall Glacier. Absolutely beautiful! We saw salmon spawning, and we missed a bear sighting by just minutes. We got back to the

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Clockwise from top left: Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau; Meade Glacier in Haines, Alaska; and the Inland Passage.

Photographer Bob Fraley noted, “My wife's only reservation was that she doesn't like to be cold, but as it turned out, with a couple extra layers of clothing, that problem never arose. In fact, one of my favorite photos from our trip was a shot of her standing on a glacier with a big smile on her face.”

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Sights from an an Alaskan cruise, clockwise from top: cruising Tracy Arm Fjord, Sawyer Glacier north from Tracy Arm Fjord, boats in Victoria Harbor in Victoria, British Columbia, the rocks near Mendenhall Glacier and a view near Haines State Forest.

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ship in time for supper and a show.

DAY FOUR – This is the day we stopped at Skagway. We had an early breakfast and toured downtown. There’s a lot of history here and plenty of shopping, although I’ve been blessed with a wife who doesn’t like to shop. Next we headed to a heliport for our flight to Meade Glacier and a walking tour on the glacier. They supplied us with ice boots which I’m not sure we needed. I’d expected a hard slippery surface, but it was more like crushed ice. We flew back to Skagway and a tour bus took us to a remote location for a river trip to an eagle preserve. We spotted several eagles and some trumpet swans. Back at their base, we actually cooked some of our own lunch: big fat hot dogs cooked over a campfire. By the time we got back to the ship we were ready to relax, eat supper and see another show.

DAYS FIVE AND SIX – We sailed up Tracy Arm Fjord to Sawyer Glacier. Tracy Arm Fjord is a very narrow passage where huge mountains reach to the sky from straight out of the water. It was amazing how they maneuvered that huge ship down that narrow passage and then pivoted at the end to turn it around. It was pretty cool up on deck, but our hosts had it covered with mobile carts of coffee, tea, hot chocolate and adult beverages. One of our fellow passengers got a great photo of two seals on a chunk of floating ice. The rest of days five and six was spent cruising the Inland Passage. Very smooth sailing.

DAY SEVEN – In Victoria, British Columbia, we took a bus tour that included a stop at Butchart Gardens and a picnic lunch, then on to downtown Victoria. Victoria Harbor was very pretty. There was a copper colored human statue there, and when a beagle showed interest, she suddenly jumped, startling the pooch. He barked and cautiously re-approached, ultimately posing for a photo with her. Then it was back to the ship for our last supper on board, then on to watch the Drifters.

We’ve been on some wonderful vacations before, but this wonderful cruise is absolutely at the top of the list. I’d highly recommend it to anyone. NCM

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Creating

Golf Vacations Around the World

By Alex McRae | Photos by Bob Fraley and courtesy of Rocky Roquemore all Street tycoons have a reputation for cutthroat tactics, but the competition for disposable dollars is just as fierce in the travel and tourism industry. Especially when vacation season hits high gear.

Hotel and resort owners learned long ago that a great way to fill rooms and empty wallets was to add a first-rate golf course to the amenity package. That financial fact has kept Rocky Roquemore’s phone ringing for years.

As one of the world’s most sought-after golf course architects, Newnan’s Roquemore has created public, private and resort courses all across the U.S., South America and Europe, many with his mentor and former

38 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

Golf course arch itect Rocky Roquemor e of Newnan

partner, legendary golf architect Joe Lee. Roquemore enjoys hearing the rave reviews about his finished projects, but says that shaping a piece of paradise into the perfect golf layout is not an undertaking for the faint of heart.

“My life history is going to resorts before they are resorts and mixing with the natives to get things done,” Roquemore says. “It can get pretty rough.”

Roquemore has battled bad weather, bugs, storms, drought and disease to transform jungles, deserts and swamps into picture-perfect golf courses. One time, to

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Three views of San Lorenzo

keep the customer happy, he even ate some live baby eels.

“They said to think of it like spaghetti,” Roquemore says. “But this spaghetti had eyes. I didn’t ask for seconds.”

The job has even imperiled Roquemore’s personal hygiene.

During construction of the Barquisimeto Golf Club in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Roquemore visited the job with the course’s irrigation contractor. They arrived on a Wednesday.

Their luggage didn’t, and for a couple of days, the two were content to wash their underwear in the hotel sink.

On Friday they returned to the hotel covered with dust and eager to bathe and relax. They were shocked to

Above is one of the Disney World golf courses designed by Joe Lee and Rocky Roquemore, and at left, golfers at Disney World.

(Photos courtesy of Disney World)

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find a note saying the hotel’s water had been cut off until Monday.

Three more days with no clean clothes constituted an emergency.

Desperate for a shower, the two dashed back to the golf club to find the facility closed and locked up.

Dirty but undeterred, Roquemore and his business buddy climbed the fence and “bathed� in the club pool. “I figured if we got caught things couldn’t get much worse,� Roquemore says. “We had to have some relief.�

Building a golf course requires moving lots of dirt. And in one case, something else. In 1982, Roquemore and Lee were building the San Lorenzo course in south Portugal. The layout was brilliant, the ocean views breathtaking and the course was nestled next to a marine estuary that was a prime stopover for migrating European waterfowl.

Unfortunately, the political scene

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was in chaos and bureaucrats and rules sometimes changed overnight.

Roquemore flew in to inspect the progress and was shocked to see that Marine Police employees marking the estuary had placed a new border monument right in the middle of a golf hole that was under construction.

The change meant a costly redesign and unwelcome delays. And Roquemore says the marker had no practical relationship to the estuary. “They put it there because it was easy to get to,� Roquemore says. “It’s that simple.�

Roquemore knew going through official channels would be futile so he tried another tactic. Because of the faltering economy, Roquemore’s overnight stay at a first-class hotel had cost just $14, including dinner and a drink.

The next day, Roquemore invited two Marine Police officials to share a

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luxurious lunch. He paid the tab and gave each officer a ten dollar “tip.�

The next day, the boundary marker was moved to a place Roquemore had suggested. Golfers and migratory birds have thrived at San Lorenzo since. “You do whatever it takes,� he says.

San Lorenzo was named best new course in Europe and has since drawn thousands of guests from across the world. A group of Scottish golfers were so impressed they hired Roquemore to redesign and enlarge the Kilsyth Lennox Golf Club back home.

Roquemore admits he was nervous about working in the Holy Land of modern golf. “I told those Scots I’d feel like I was bringing Bible stories to Jerusalem,� he says. “But we went ahead and I’m happy with how it turned out.�

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The three Disney World courses Roquemore did with Joe Lee are among the world’s best-loved layouts, but Roquemore says when construction began, Disney’s new “Kingdom” was short on magic and long on something else.

“People don’t have any idea how much trouble it was to drain all that swamp,” he says.

Not all Roquemore’s travels are nightmares, and he says building the course at the Blue Bay resort in Curacao was a pleasure from start to finish.

“It’s a great course and a great place to visit,” he says. “That’s one job I really enjoyed.”

Roquemore says no matter where you travel to tee it up, the best golf vacations stress the vacation, not the golf.

“Golf is the greatest game ever, but leave time for other things,” he says. “Play a few rounds, then relax and see the sights and enjoy yourself. To me, that’s a perfect golf vacation.” NCM

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Golf courses designed by Newnan’s Rocky Roquemore include, clockwise from top left, Chapel Hills in Douglasville, Canongate on White Oak in Newnan and Pine Meadows in Chicago.

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Heritage}

Indian Springs A stop for travelers since 1823

By W. Winston Skinner

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Chief Dode McIntosh, center, with his daughter Willie Lee and son Chinubbie McIntosh visited Indian Springs in 1987.

Dode McIntosh was the great-grandson of Chief William McIntosh.

n Coweta’s early days, people didn’t take vacations much.

Coweta’s first settlers were farmers, and the daily requirements of caring for animals and monitoring crops generally kept folks at home. There have always, however, been people who had to travel – government officials and peddlers – and others might occasionally have to travel “on business” as local news columns often described visits to Atlanta, LaGrange or Carrollton.

Georgia’s mineral springs were early vacation destinations. This type trip ameliorated the sense of frittering away time because of the health aspect. Mineral springs had promised vitality since Indian times.

Meriwether County, Coweta’s neighbor, was home to several of these springs. Warm Springs is the best known today – famous as the homeaway-from-home for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR founded what continues today as the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, and pools there are still fed by waters warmed by the earth.

At least one Jacqueline Onassis biographer reports that her first vacation – as an infant – was to White Sulphur Springs, another

Meriwether spot that was a resort in those days.

In pioneer times, people traveled by stagecoach or wagon and spent the night at wayside inns that provided lodging – frequently primitive and uncomfortable – and food of some variety. William McIntosh and his cousin, Joel Bailey, built the Indian Spring Hotel in what is now Butts County in 1823.

This part of Georgia was still officially Creek territory then, but McIntosh was not one to miss a JULY/AUGUST 2010 | 43

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Visitors sometimes like to leave with souvenir bottles of water from the Indian Spring Hotel, the last antebellum mineral springs hotel in Georgia.

business opportunity. His establishment became known as one of the finest.

McIntosh was the son of a trader from coastal Georgia and a Creek woman from the prominent Wind Clan. He was chief of the Cowetas, the Creeks living at a town near what is now Columbus. Coweta County was named in his honor. Some historians have deemed McIntosh a hero and visionary, while others have branded him a traitor.

The Treaty of Indian Springs, which ceded western Georgia to the state, was signed in the tavern at the Indian Spring Hotel in 1825. Three months later McIntosh was murdered by angry Creeks.

The old hotel continued to receive guests for decades, and – as more people vacationed – a resort blossomed at Indian Springs. Nine

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hotels later joined Chief McIntoshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edifice.

In the mid-1950s, my mother and her siblings gathered their money for my grandparents, Young and Carney Trammell, to spend a few days at Indian Springs. Mom was working summers in the office at the Moreland Knitting Mill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was the first time we had enough money that we could pay for their lodging,â&#x20AC;?

Mom said, and it was the first real vacation for my grandparents in a long time, perhaps the first ever.

GrandDaddy was a farmer who worked long days outdoors. Indian Springs was selected in part because it was somewhere GrandDaddy would be willing to drive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to deal with Atlanta traffic to get there.

A story passed down in our family from that trip was how, soon

after their arrival, Granny wanted to get out and explore. GrandDaddy recommended they stay in their room for awhile and bask in the air conditioning, a rarity in those days.

One of my earliest memories is of a trip to Indian Springs. Dad, Mom and I stayed in a cottage at Indian Springs State Park, said to be the oldest state park in the nation. I remember the trip as a relaxing, carefree time and recall being mesmerized by a pencil with â&#x20AC;&#x153;barber poleâ&#x20AC;? stripes someone gave me. Mom is quite sure this trip was before the birth of my twin brothers as she does not remember worrying over how to keep us out of the lake.

Several years ago, I made my first news reporter visit to Indian Springs.

Deryle Lamb for many years kept watch over the inn that McIntosh built. She noted the layers of paint

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with the bright colors popular among the Creeks as the initial coat. She also talked about Vinnie Rosenzweig, an artist and history lover from Newnan, who had repainted the feather graining on the woodwork in some of the rooms.

A few years back Indian Springs began a new phase, and now there is the Village at Indian Springs which includes a sweet shop, boutique and art gallery. The Indian Spring Hotel has been meticulously restored and had a rededication ceremony in 2006.

The Indian Spring Hotel is the last antebellum mineral springs hotel in Georgia. The first hotel built at Indian Springs, it is the only one left.

The inn is a reminder of stagecoach days and a connection with the time when the Creek world was disappearing and Coweta Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advent was just ahead. NCM

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Senoia Spruces Up

By Sarah Fay Campbell | Photos by Bob Fraley

housands of people are expected to descend on Senoia this June through December to view the Southern Living Idea House. Senoia is excited about the opportunity and has been hard at work getting ready.

Each year, the magazine and its sponsors work together on two homes in the South. The lavish abodes showcase the latest in innovative design and furnishings and sponsorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; products.

Readers eagerly await the idea house issues, and many thousands see the house in person at

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$10 a pop. Proceeds from the Senoia house benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, and its volunteers will staff the house.

The 2009 idea house in Dahlonega drew between 26,000 and 29,000 people, said Scott Tigchelaar of Historic Development Ventures.

Because of Senoia’s location, and longer run, Tigchelaar expects 30,000 to 40,000 visitors.

All those guests, of course, have an impact on the host city’s economy.

Just what that impact will be on Senoia is hard to predict because it’s so different from where idea houses are usually built, massive luxury and resort communities.

Not only is the idea house in the middle of a historic town, it’s not even a house, exactly. It’s the grandest in a row of five brownstones, part of The Gin Property development.

The Dahlonega house generated 24 presales in its development, Tigchelaar said. He and partner Paul Lombardi are hoping for a few in The Gin Property, too.

Suzanne Helfman

Todd Strickland of Historical Concepts and builder John Bynum were among those celebrating the opening of the Southern Living Idea House in Senoia.

— Photo by Sarah Fay Campbell 48 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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When the folks from Historical Concepts, architects for The Gin Property, pitched it to Southern Living for the idea house, they knew it was a long shot, said Todd Strickland, managing partner of Historical Concepts. They meet with magazine publishers every year or so to show off some of their projects.

The first few projects they showed them that day in Birmingham were fairly standard idea house fare, gated communities and such. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And then we got to Senoia,â&#x20AC;?

Strickland said. The magazine folks were intrigued. They arranged for a site visit.

The first stop on the site visit was the Senoia Buggy Shop Museum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The museum was really one of the keys to getting Southern Living excited,â&#x20AC;? Strickland said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were really able to understand just how much Senoia is the quintessential little Southern town, that has this great history all in that one building, all in that one main street, and it has been preserved so well.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once we got to Senoia, I could tell that they were very much excited about it as a unique possibility,â&#x20AC;? he said.

They definitely loved the town.

But Strickland thinks the main reason Senoia was chosen was â&#x20AC;&#x153;because more people are wanting to be a part of a community, versus a development.â&#x20AC;?

And representatives from that community hope that visitors will want to come back â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to visit or even to live.

The Senoia Downtown Development Authority put together an idea house committee, which has been meeting weekly. The DDA had a new city logo and slogan, and erected banners downtown and signs at the entrances to Senoia.

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Helping Senoia put on its best face for visitors are Paul Lombardi, Suzanne Helfman and Scott Tigchelaar.

expose Senoia to people who would’ve not otherwise come here,” said DDA Chairwoman Suzanne Helfman.

Some people even plan their vacations each year around visiting the idea house, she said.

People come from all over the U.S. But Helfman also hopes to draw visitors from much closer to home.

50 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

Including Cowetans.

“Believe it or not, we are still running into people” who have never been to downtown Senoia, Helfman said. “We hear from people who go through the Hwy. 16 commercial area and say ‘I thought that was all there was to Senoia.’ It happens all the time.”

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The far-flung visitors may never return, but they can be shown a good time. And hopes are Georgia visitors will return time and again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of our big hopes is that it will raise the awareness and put the spotlight on this town,â&#x20AC;? Helfman said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The merchants are really thrilled about it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the prospect of opening up to a whole other group of people.â&#x20AC;?

As part of the preparations for the idea house, the city and HDV have developed a small unpaved parking lot, and a new median island at Main and Broad streets.

Neither is â&#x20AC;&#x153;specifically aimed at the idea house,â&#x20AC;? said Mayor Robert Belisle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more of a continuing of improving downtown and how things work.â&#x20AC;?

The first phase of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streetscapes program happened to coincide with the idea house preparations, and visitors will see landscaped â&#x20AC;&#x153;bumpoutsâ&#x20AC;? downtown.

Less fortunate timing is the ongoing intersection work at Broad Street and Hwy. 16, and Rockaway Road and Hwy. 74. And the second phase of streetscapes is about to start. But hopes are that work wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dissuade visitors too much.

Though the house showcases many products of Southern Living advertisers and idea house sponsors, there is still a decidedly local flair.

Cowetan Jamie Elliott McPherson was the interior designer for the house, and several local artists are featured, including Carol Harless, Sherry Cook and Scott Palmer. There is a table from More Than A Table, part of A Better Way Ministries, and some items from Senoiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shops as well.

For more information on the idea house, visit www.ideahouse2010senoia.com. NCM

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Thoughtful Gardener }

The

Story and photos by Katherine McCall

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ike William Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, my neighborhood is my “postage stamp of native soil,” and I find the characters as interesting as Faulkner found his.

Unfortunately, it is a somewhat onesided relationship as I have become acquainted with them by the appearance of their yards on my morning walk. Indeed, at times I feel like an art critic making my way through a children’s art exhibit. Let me introduce you to the participants.

There’s Mrs. Neat-As-A-Pin. She labors in her yard practically every day, and all is in

perfect order. Yanked, trimmed and cut – no use for any stray blooms or insidious vines here. She colors within the lines. Then there’s Mr. RiotousLiving. He has planted abundantly, but it is a complete mess. His painting is great blobs of color with no meaning or connection. Miss OnePeony-Plant has made an amazing selection but plopped it smack dab in the middle of an otherwise unremarkable yard. Hers is a blank canvas with a small spot of brightness in the middle. Then, ahhh, we arrive at an exquisite piece in which the artist has made creative and organized use of color, strokes and content to convey beauty and truth. There is pattern and order, yet plants are allowed and encouraged to maintain the beauty of their natural forms. One of the most striking components of the design is a large bed of dinner plate dahlias in the side yard.

In The Amateur’s Book of the Dahlia, written in 1922 by Mrs. Charles H. Stout, is a personal note from Mrs. Stout revealing her own philosophy of gardening.

Plant your seeds and your bulbs, and the great Artist will come down and work with you. ...”

— Mrs. Charles H. Stout

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WEB EXTRA: The Thoughtful Gardener Plant Index { The Though

tful Gardener }

Dahlia

Plant Index

Common name: Dahlia Botanical name: Dahlia Description: The dahlia is a perennial their size, form characterized by and color. Sizes bushy foliage and can range from tions of form and distinctive blooms.

2 inches in 15 of color including The blooms are categorized by white, yellow, orange,diameter to over 10 inches in diameter. There pink, red, lavender are 18 classificaBlooms: During and bronze. spring followed by a brown and into summer, it boasts large creamy white, very woody fruit dotted fragrant, saucer with bright red seeds. shaped blossoms.

Cultivation: The These are Dahlia Society of Georgia recommen tolerant. Prepare a well drained ds purchasin g tubers of good bed with compost water until the stock that plant is about 5” and organic matter. high. (Watering have to dig our Holes for the tubers are locally grown and heat too early, before tubers in the fall should be the 3” since the ground tuber has formed to 6” deep. Do minum foil over not does roots, can cause the stalk secured it with a rubber band. not usually freeze. In the fall, ting the tuber. Then cut the stalks and to rot.) We do not This prevents water mulch with pine place a cap of straw or other alumaterial 4 to 6 inches from getting into the crown of the plant and Special notes: deep. rotSee The American Dahlia Society’s http://www.dahliasoc webpage, www.dah ietyofgeorgia.com. lia.org, and the Dahlia Society of Georgia,

Go to newnancowetamagazine.com to download your next garden journal page, Dahlia.

54 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

In my mind, it is a “Mrs. Stout” who produced the little masterpiece in my neighborhood.

Here is a portion of her note: “For you, dear friend, amateur of the dahlia, this book is written. … Plant your seeds and your bulbs, and the great Artist will come down and work with you. Your hoe will become a wand, and beauty will spring from the dead brown earth which you have touched. He will break up the rainbow and paint the blossoms

with the pieces; and you will feel thrill of joy at thought of partnership with Him who made the world so beautiful.”

The dahlia’s history is veiled by the mystery and intrigue of explorers and conquests in new worlds. In 1518, when Hernando Cortez began to lay claim to the Yucatan for Spain, he observed the vast gardens of Montezuma where a type of dahlia was cultivated. It is from this Aztec civilization that the modern day dahlia has descended.

It wasn’t until the late 18th century, when dahlia tubers were sent to the Royal Gardens in Madrid, that the dahlia began to spread throughout Europe. Through the early 19th century, the dahlia’s popularity quickly grew and reached a craze in 1840 when large sums were paid for specific types. Until then, there were no variations in shape so breeders had produced only an assortment of colors. As the color

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realm became exhausted, interest in the dahlia waned. It was an almost failed shipment to Holland in 1872, in which only one tuber survived, that began the wave of modern breeding experimentations. That lone surviving plant produced an incredible bloom whose petals were pointed and rolled. Today the range and diversity in the dahlia is enormous, and the American Dahlia Society categorizes dahlias by size, form and color.

The Dahlia Society of Georgia provides excellent resources for growing dahlias here in Coweta County. Their first recommendation is to purchase tubers of good stock that are locally grown and heat tolerant.

Next prepare a well drained bed with compost and organic matter.

Holes for the tubers should be 3 inches to 6 inches deep. Do not water until the plant is about 5 inches high. (Watering too early, before the tuber has formed roots, can cause it to rot.) The Dahlia Society of Georgia also says we do not have to dig our tubers in the fall since the ground does not usually freeze. In the fall, cut the stalks and place a cap of aluminum foil over the stalk secured with a rubber band. This prevents water from getting into the crown of the plant and rotting the tuber. Then mulch with pine straw or other material 4 to 6 inches deep.

Thank you Mrs. Stout, for providing us with a key to enrich our own little “postage stamp.”

Maybe, as she worked in her dahlia bed, Mrs. Stout had in mind Monet, who said, “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” NCM

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Tina’s Tips }

Hannah Neely

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The

Sugar Spice and

Playhouse

By Tina Neely | Photos by Bob Fraley hat started out as a springtime project for my Dad has turned into a playhouse that every little girl dreams of, or at least the Neely twins did! Last July we gave you a sneak peek of the best playhouse Paw-Paw ever built: two stories and about 409 square feet built with lots of love and given to

Elizabeth Neely

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Hannah and Elizabeth Neely enjoy playing with the children’s kitchen furniture passed down by their mom, Tina Neely.

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the luckiest little girls youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever met!

Ever since that article came out weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten e-mails, calls and notes from many people asking, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What does the inside look like and can we come play?â&#x20AC;?

Sure, we love to have friends over, so come on in. Hannah and Elizabeth would like to show you around!

As you walk on the rocking chair front porch and open the red door, you are welcomed into a pint-sized house with furnishings and draperies made especially for little princesses and princes who are under four feet

tall. A custom couch was made from a love seat that we did some â&#x20AC;&#x153;surgeryâ&#x20AC;? on to cut it down to size. There is even a â&#x20AC;&#x153;fireplaceâ&#x20AC;? to keep warm in the winter months. It has neat â&#x20AC;&#x153;flamesâ&#x20AC;? that can glow, without heat, to give little imaginations a winter feel even

during the hottest July days!

Little end tables and coffee tables were all cut to size and spray painted to match the fabric. A baby doll swing and rocker in the corner was made for me when I was a child and has swung many a dolly, a few kittens, and other pets too! And one of my favorite yard sale finds was the blue chest that is just their size. The girls are hoping for a small flat screen TV (thanks to their Daddy the house is wired for internet, intercom and cable), but they better talk to Santa about that one. Window treatments

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Family photos and pint-sized furnishings make Hannah and Elizabeth Neely’s playhouse a unique place to play.

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feature fabric we had left over from their bedrooms.

And placed all through the house are pictures of some of their favorite princess memories at Disney World.

Walking under the arch doorway, out of the buttercream den and into the sky blue â&#x20AC;&#x153;kitchen,â&#x20AC;? itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as sweet as all the cupcakes in it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sugar and spice and everything niceâ&#x20AC;? is the motto for this house. Custom awnings of cupcakes in pink and chocolate brown fabric gave us the colors for this room. A kid-sized china cabinet found by their Maw-Maw, a side bench and a doll high chair (also made for me by my Daddy when I was child) were all sprayed a yummy chocolate brown. Sweet bistro chairs sit aside a custom painted table made by Susan Hester, a local artist friend. And my favorite thing in the whole house, perhaps because of fond childhood memories or because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so stinking cute, the pink and brown kitchen set. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a refrigerator that holds all the play food and dried beans and corn, a sink and cabinet, and a great stove and oven for cooking. All made for me as a Christmas gift by my Daddy over 30 years ago, I saved the set in hopes of having a little girl one day. After being blessed with twin girls, it is being put to quite good use now and is cooking up lots of pea soup and other creations on a regular basis!

Upstairs you will find pink, pink and more pink!

A bed was made especially to fit the girls with a custom headboard and mattress. Beautifully upholstered chairs are in the matching fabric I stumbled upon months after making the draperies and headboard. What a great find! The butter yellow armoire is filled to the top with dress-up clothes, and a big baby bed full of dollies sits in the corner.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a dresser and mirror to make sure the princesses look just lovely for the ball.

What a precious little place it is, and a much appreciated blessing for my girls to have. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asked all the time, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can we come see it? Can we come play?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, of course!â&#x20AC;? we say. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stop on by any time.â&#x20AC;? We love to have little friends come over and enjoy it with us. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve even had some of our college student friends want to know if we rent it out.

(Perhaps in time, and maybe with the addition of a bathroom.) Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking maybe we should make it into a pool house later, but for now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home to two sweet little princesses, cooking up some dried pea soup, swinging their pets in the swing, and dressing up prettier than Cinderella, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just fine with me for it to stay that way for quite a long while. NCM

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When I was younger and stupider, I used to feel so sorry for mothers of small children at the pool. There they were, in huge,

62 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

stained t-shirts that covered those skirted one-piece bathing suits and wearing white Keds. Their crazy kids were screaming and running around the pool, knocking people over and often jumping in the deep end, much to their fully-clothed mothers’ dismay. Yes, lying there in all of my 16-year-old wisdom, experience and humility, I would say, “That will never be me! I will always look like a toned cross country runner and my children will be perfect. How sad for those women.”

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

I made my first trip to one of the pools here in Summergrove recently and realized quickly that I was the Keds mom! Glancing around, I had a very out-of-body experience; it was like the camera zoomed in on me during This Is Your Life. In that brief moment, I made the decision immediately that my cover-up was never coming off.

How was I supposed to bend over and pick up my children without my stomach skin folding up like an accordion? Who did I think I was wearing a two-piece? No, the cover-up was definitely staying on. All I needed

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were some white tennies!

As we made our way clumsily through the throngs of people to a chair near the baby pool, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but look around. When the 12-year-old lifeguard gave me the same look of pity and disdain I used to give, I just wanted to shout at her and her bronzed, skinny glory, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just enjoy it while you can, sweetie! Your time is coming! I used to be you! Ha!â&#x20AC;? I decided that might come across somewhat bitter and not just a little scary, so I merely smiled sweetly and kept walking.

I had a similar moment of jawdropping disbelief when I read in a recent edition of Vogue magazine that supermodel Gisele attributed her postbaby body to â&#x20AC;&#x153;muscle memory.â&#x20AC;? I nearly doubled over laughing. Clearly my body has suffered a massive case of amnesia because it remembers nothing of those pre-baby days! (I also took personal offense at her statement that some women eat like garbage disposals while pregnant. Maybe we were just hungry, Gisele!) Ah, if only we all had access to unlimited budgets, chefs, trainers and airbrushers. Our Christmas cards would look way better. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Muscle memoryâ&#x20AC;? my foot.

Suffice it to say, I have since purchased a workout DVD to tone up the accordion and am trying to tame the garbage disposal. (Admittedly this is a last resort. When I went to purchase my shortcut-to-skinny diet pill, the checkout lady kindly informed me they were not selling the particular product anymore since it has been linked to â&#x20AC;&#x153;massive heart attacks and other issues.â&#x20AC;? Classic. Diet and exercise it is. Dang it.)

In the meantime, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to remind myself that God has given me two amazing, healthy babies and a little wear and tear is a small price to pay. And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also decided that the privacy of my parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pool is worth the drive across town. NCM

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Bookshelf }

Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger

By Lee Smith Shannon Ravenel Books, $23.95 Reviewed by Holly Jones Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger does not revolve around the Bennet family, Elizabeth Bennet’s married life, or anything to do with Jane Austen and her literary characters.

Lee Smith, who wrote this Mrs. Darcy, does know something about characters, however. This book of 14 short stories is packed with fascinating characters leading anything but normal lives.

Take Lily Lockhart, for example.

Lily’s life is taking care of her brother and building garden ornaments in the shapes of family members who are dead or have moved away. She plants flowers representative of that person’s life around their “monument” and tends her gardens. Sometimes people come to see Lily’s gardens, and she enjoys talking to them, but she’ll never leave. She has to take care of her family.

Then there’s Karen. It’s 1957, she is 13 years old, and her father is having a nervous breakdown. According to Karen’s mother, “the husband should not have a nervous breakdown.” So Karen decides it’s up to her to pray her father out of his depression. If Joan of Arc – Karen’s hero – can “pray without ceasing for guidance 64 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

from God,” then that’s what Karen will do. Of course, sometimes Karen “prays without ceasing” that her mother won’t catch her in a lie, but she does try praying for her dad. When incessant prayer doesn’t work fast enough for her, Karen tries bargaining with God by being nice to people she doesn’t like, returning things she’s stolen or cleaning her room.

But when she meets a woman who can speak “in tongues of fire,” suddenly Karen finds her life’s calling. She is going to speak in tongues too – no matter what it takes.

There is Mrs. Pegram, whose son is a murderer. Mrs. Pegram makes the best fried chicken in town and likes to share it with strangers at the bus station.

Jeffrey is a shy little boy who learns the power of a joke.

Howard Stikes gives up a “normal” life for happiness and true love.

Finally, there is Mrs. Darcy. Mrs. Darcy’s three daughters want to put her in a home because she suddenly wants to spend all her time at the family’s beach house in her bathrobe. Mrs. Darcy isn’t going anywhere; she has a secret.

So 14 stories and 14 fascinating characters – they might not live up to Jane Austen’s proprietary standards, but Lee Smith’s characters will definitely touch your heart.

On Folly Beach

By Karen White NAL Trade, $15 Reviewed by Holly Jones Folly Beach: it’s called the “edge of America” by locals, and geographically it’s the last barrier island before reaching the great Atlantic. Folly has survived hurricanes, wars and rampant tourism.

Karen White sets her new novel there, and On Folly Beach gives us a glimpse into this South Carolina treasure.

To Emmy Hamilton, Folly Beach was simply her mother’s hometown and now the place where she’s being exiled.

Her husband Ben was recently killed in Afghanistan and Emmy has been working in her mother’s bookstore, going through the motions of a life she feels ended with Ben’s death. When Emmy’s mom Paige realizes that Folly’s Finds – the bookstore hers is modeled after – is for sale, Paige insists Emmy buy the store and move to Folly.

Paige hopes Emmy will find some-

thing of herself on Folly, but what Emmy ends up finding is so much more.

While examining some old books kept in the store by Maggie O’Shea, the original owner of Folly’s Finds, Emmy comes across notes written in the books’ margins. The notes appear to be messages – sometimes even love letters – secretly passed between a woman and man. No dates or names are included, so Emmy has no idea who wrote the notes or when, but her instincts tell her that she’s stumbled across something important – a story needing to be told.

On Folly Beach is actually two stories – Emmy’s set in 2009, and Maggie’s story, which takes place in 1942 and 1943. Maggie is running Folly’s Finds while taking care of her nine-year-old sister Lulu and her recently widowed cousin Cat. Cat’s views of widowhood mirror her idol Scarlett O’Hara’s, and Cat sees it as her duty to dance with every officer stationed at or visiting Folly’s pier. Of course Maggie has to chaperone, but at one of these dances Maggie meets Peter Nowak, a mysterious stranger with piercing hazel eyes and a secret.

Emmy wonders if Maggie wrote, or knows who wrote, the messages in the books, but Maggie died during Hurricane Hugo. Maggie’s son John doesn’t know anything about the messages, and the only person left to ask is Lulu – now an eccentric, bitter old woman who refuses to talk about the past. Can Emmy find the resolution she needs, not only in her own life, but

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to the messages in the books?

Answers can be found only On Folly Beach.

Savannah Style

By Paula Deen and Brandon Branch Simon and Schuster, $29.99 Reviewed by Angela McRae Those who enjoy the homes and furnishings of Savannah will not want to miss Savannah Style, the latest book by Food Network star Paula Deen. With the help of her creative director and personal assistant Brandon Branch, Paula shares her love of her adopted hometown by focusing on its style secrets.

“Savannah and I are a lot alike,” Deen says. “I know it sounds odd, but we do have lots of things in common.

Consider this: Savannah embraces quirky characters (thank the Lord!), likes things with a little bit of age to them, and loves its Southern traditions. Sound familiar?

Honey, I was home the moment I arrived.”

The book is organized according to the seasons and focuses on Southern style in each. In Spring, the book covers courtyard gardens, wrought iron and wicker. Summer decorating includes the bright pastels of Tybee cottages, seashells and eat-in kitchens. In Fall, readers learn about book nooks and “Silver and Savannahians.” And in Winter, holiday

decorations and flea markets are discussed.

The beautiful photography is by Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn. Whether it’s a close-up of ironwork detail on a “secret garden” gate or a scene of cozy, casual furnishings near the water, the splendor of one of Georgia’s most celebrated cities shines through.

Deen’s book features her own home as well as those of some Savannah friends, and it offers a nice balance of casual and more sophisticated settings.

This, too, is typical of Savannah, according to Deen.

In a section on slipcovers, she says, “If you think everyone in Savannah spends their time polishing the silver and cleaning the antique fabric on Grandmomma’s dining chairs, then you’re wrong. We Southern women may be greatly attached to our family heirlooms, and we may love showing them off any chance we get, but given the choice of a day spent cleaning or a day out shopping and havin’ fun, you just gotta know which one we’ll always choose.”

Decorating inspiration abounds here. There’s the rustic dockhouse refurbished by Deen and her husband Michael Groover. Shell-loving neighbor Kathy Jarman has an exquisite shell encrusted buffet which displays a collection of vintage fish plates. Friend Jeannie Sims has a neutral toned parlor where both contemporary and vintage furnishings blend into one great modern look.

With so much packed into this book, fans of Savannah, and fans of Paula Deen, will no doubt be pleased.

NCM

Want to win a copy of Savannah Style?

Enter to win at www.newnancowetamagazine.com

{ Index

of Advertisers }

Amazing Smiles, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Atlanta Christian College . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Bank of Coweta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Carrollton Eye Clinic, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Center For Allergy & Asthma . . . . . . . . . .5 The Centre For Performing & Visual Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Chin Chin Newnan Chinese Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Coweta-Fayette EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Coweta Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Crossroads Podiatry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 The Dinoff School for the Gifted . . . . . .23 Discovery Point Child Development Centers . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Downtown Church of Christ . . . . . . . . . .23 Farm Bureau Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Farm & Masonry Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Franklin Road Animal Clinic . . . . . . . . . .51 Furniture Refreshing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Heritage Retirement Homes of Peachtree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 The Heritage School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Hollberg's Fine Furniture . . . . . . . . . .40, 51 Landmark Christian School . . . . . . . . . . .11 Lee-King and Lee-Goodrum Pharmacies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Main Street Newnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Maritime Air Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Mattressmart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Mercer University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Morgan Jewelers/Downtown . . . . . . . .33 Newnan Academy of Preschool & Child Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Newnan Station Tire & Service . . . . . . .63 NGTurf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Phillips Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Powers’ Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Radiation Oncology Services . . . . . . . . . .3 The Ritzy Roost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Rocky’s Barber Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Savannah Court of Newnan . . . . . . . . . .41 Southern Crescent Equine Services . . .37 StoneBridge Early Learning Center . . .61 Super Sand Professional Topdressing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 The Times-Herald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Uniglobe McIntosh Travel . . . . . . . . . . . .25 University of West Georgia . . . . . . . . . . .17 Wesley Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Wedowee Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 September/October 2010 Ad Deadlines Published: September 3, 2010; Contract Ads: July 28, 2010; New Ads: August 6, 2010.

Call 770.683.6397 for details and advertising information.

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I am Coweta }

Nicholas Anderson

By Nichole Golden | Photo by Bob Fraley Nicholas Anderson, 16, is a junior at Northgate High School. The son of Joanie and Keith Anderson, Nicholas is a talented actor and performer who has appeared on many local stages.

How long has Coweta been home to you?

Well, I’ve lived in Coweta County since I was five. Our family moved here when they just finished building Arbor Springs Elementary. I was in the first kindergarten class at Arbor Springs.

When did you become interested in acting?

I first started acting when I was seven years old at Southside Theatre Guild in Fairburn. My first show was Camelot. I was “a page” to the Royal Court. I was motivated to try out by my chorus teacher, Mrs. Tricia Kidd. I learned so much with that first show, but mostly I learned that theatre can improve your life.

What are some of your past productions?

I’ve been in 27 shows at multiple theatres. I’ve played parts ranging from the lead role Oliver Twist in the show Oliver! to Winthrop in The Music Man. I’ve worn many “hats” so far, and I look forward to wearing many more. I have been blessed to work with some amazing directors, my first being Eileen Baldwin, who directed Camelot, to the one that I’m working with now, Michael Scialabba at The Centre for Performing Arts.

What is on the horizon for you?

The show that I am currently in rehearsals for will be performed with the STAR program at The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts. The vocal, dance and acting instruction given is rigorous, yet it is invaluable to anyone wanting to become a performer. Working with Ms. (Kathy) Bizarth, Emily Duncan and Mr. Scialabba has been such a great experience. But none of it would have been possible without the guidance and leadership of Mr. Don Nixon. His vision in establishing the STAR program has helped so many students of Coweta.

What is your favorite subject at school?

I have enjoyed all my classes, but I do have a soft spot for theater. And taking Mrs. Melanie Bruner’s drama classes has helped me so much, she’s wonderful. She is understanding and caring towards her students and helps them on an individual level.

What’s your ideal career?

I have many interests both academic and otherwise, but something that I envision myself spending the rest of my life doing, is acting. When I walk on stage, I become the character and I lose myself in the show – it’s such a wondrous thing to do. I realize the hardships of acting as a profession and the precarious situation of pursuing it, but I’ve fallen in love with acting.

Does your family enjoy traveling?

We love to travel! We’ve explored many areas around Georgia and the Southeast and in Minnesota, where my Dad’s from. We have spent some winter breaks in Minnesota. The quietness and solitude found there is so relaxing. We also enjoy spending summers in Florida, with my Mom’s family. We always enter a sand castle contest together, and even though we haven’t won, it’s still so much fun.

What do you and your friends like to do in Coweta?

We like going to watch Nitwits perform at Newnan Theatre. Nitwits is a hilarious improv group that often does a lot of audience participation, so it’s not for the timid! We also enjoy going to the downtown city parks and just having fun! NCM 66 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

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FLAGS ON THE FOURTH

What the Flag Means to Me “The band had started to play and all 70,000 people in the stadium rose to their feet except one. They stood reverently at attention while Old Glory was raised to the highest pole. The only one who wasn’t standing was a young boy.

“I heard the man with him say, ‘Why didn’t you stand up when the flag was raised? Don’t you know when the flag is raised you aren’t supposed to slouch?

Don’t you know that thousands of brave men [and women] have fought and died for that bit of red, white and blue?’

“The boy couldn’t seem to come up with an answer. “ ‘Son,’ he said, ‘let me tell you something about our flag that I hope you will never forget. That flag flew proudly at Bunker Hill. It flapped softly in the cold winter air at Valley Forge and on a dozen battlefields of the Revolution. The ragged Continentals saluted it proudly as they paraded by it after the great victory at Yorktown.’ “ ‘It whipped sharply in the breeze from the topmasts of our frigates in 1812.

Some years later dusty cavalrymen carried it proudly through Texas and into Mexico during the Mexican War.’ “ ‘A hundred years ago it flew through all the bloody battles of the Civil War, from Bull Run to Manassas, Chancellorsville to Vicksburg, Antietam and

Gettysburg. At Appomatox it was fondly raised by the victorious soldiers of the Federal Army.’ “ ‘In Cuba and at the battle of Manila in the Phillipines during the SpanishAmerican War our soldiers and sailors thrilled at its sight.’ “ ‘Then, during the First World War, it saw a thousand battles in the muddy trenches in France.’ “ ‘More recently, from 1941 to 1945, that flag was landed at Africa, Italy, Normandy and on a thousand sweating islands in the Pacific. You remember that great moment when the Marines planted it on Iwo Jima?’ “ ‘Then came Korea, and once again the sight of that flag brought tears to the eyes of many brave men [and women].’ “ ‘So, whenever you see that flag, I just hope you remember the blood, sweat and tears that men [and women] have gone through to keep our beloved country free.’

“The boy looked up at the man, ‘You bet I’ll remember next time, Dad’ I said.”

(This is the winning essay in a contest sponsored by the Darling Whitney Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Port Washington, New York, in 1961. It was written by John Stewart Snibbe, 14 years old, who was killed in an auto accident in 1969.)

Patriotism is not idle chatter. Let’s show the Nation and the World that Newnan, Georgia still thinks that Old Glory should be prominently displayed. If you feel inclined, get out your flag and let it fly on the Fourth. Nothing is more pleasing to the eye than the Red, White and Blue on the greatest of all patriotic days.

770-253-1340 www.bankofcoweta.com