Newnan-Coweta Magazine, July/August 2008

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July/August 2008 | $3.95

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Some say the care needs to be put back into healthcare. At Piedmont Newnan, it never left. For more than a century, Piedmont has been caring for patients, and truly caring about them. We’ve earned our reputation by treating patients and their loved ones the way we’d want to be treated. By listening and genuinely hearing. By alleviating pain by also alleviating fear. It’s what separates us from any other healthcare organization out there. It’s

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MAGAZINE

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Established 1995

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Marianne C. Thomasson Publisher Sam Jones Editor Angela McRae Art Director

Deberah Williams

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Contributing Writers Megan Almon, Carolyn Barnard, Jeff Bishop, Janet Flanigan, Leigh Knight, Holly Jones, Alex McRae, Elizabeth Richardson, W. Winston Skinner,

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Sales and Marketing Director

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Colleen D. Mitchell Advertising Manager Lamar Truitt Advertising Consultants Doug Cantrell, Stefanie Dowda, Candy Johnson, Jeanette Kirby, RoseMary Reid, Christine Swentor Advertising Design Debby Dye, Art Manager

Being local. It’s more than just our address. Newnan Main Financial Center 295 Bullsboro Dr., 770-253-5017 Jefferson Street Financial Center 26 Jefferson St., 770-252-5267 Hospital Road Financial Center 14 Hospital Rd., 770-304-7860 White Oak Financial Center 1421 Highway 34 E., 770-304-7840

Sandy Hiser, Jonathan Melville, Sonya Studt FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, call 770.683.6397 or e-mail colleen@newnan.com. Newnan-Coweta Magazine is published bi-monthly by The Times-Herald, Inc., 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263. Subscriptions: Newnan-Coweta Magazine is distributed in home-delivery copies of The Times-Herald and at businesses and offices throughout Coweta County. Individual mailed subscriptions are also available for $23.75 in Coweta County, $30.00 outside Coweta County. To subscribe, call 770.304.3373. Submissions: We welcome submissions. Query letters and published clips may be addressed to the Editor, Newnan-Coweta Magazine at P.O. Box 1052, Newnan, Georgia 30264. On the Web: www.newnancowetamagazine.com Š 2008 by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Member:

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WINNER OF FOUR 2008 GAMMA AWARDS (for issues published in 2007) Gold Award for General Excellence, Gold Award for Best Single Issue, Gold Award for Best Profile, Bronze Award for Best Photography

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ON OUR WEBSITE www.newnancowetamagazine.com

Special Features Web extras you’ll find only online. Look for the computer icon throughout every issue to lead you to the special content at newnancowetamagazine.com.

JULY-AUGUST ONLY — WIN AN iPOD!!! Go to our website, sign up for our newsletter and you will be entered in our drawing for a new iPod Shuffle! You must be a Coweta resident to win.

ON OUR COVER

BOOK GIVEAWAY We have a copy of Denise Jackson's newest book, Footsteps of Faith, Hope and Love: The Road Home, to give away to one lucky Coweta resident. Enter to win on our website.

Book giveaways Online Surveys Guest Book Recipe Box Podcasts Garage band mom Kim Tiernan enjoys a basement jam session with her girlfriends. Cover photo by Jennifer Riggs.

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Blogs Links of local interest

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BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR JULY 26, 2008, 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 3:00 P.M - Free Dental, Hearing & Vision Screening (Form 3300) for children entering school - Free Hotdogs, games, prizes, face painting and more!!!

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contents F July/August 2008

eatures

24 MUSICOLOGY

16 MOMS ROCK! If the words “garage band” conjure up images of grungy teenage boys with two guitars and an amp, you’ll want to meet four local moms who are serious about their rock ’n roll sessions.

14 OUR MUSIC ISSUE 36 DOING WHAT WE LOVE Country singers The Wrights are set to release “Summertime,” their third CD and a collection of tunes done “our way.”

40 WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD? We asked around our offices and got some interesting answers about what’s going on behind those earbuds.

42 MAGIC IN THEIR MUSIC Some 200 years ago, listeners were as passionate about their music as we are today. Thanks to two professional music box collectors from Newnan, these beautiful old tunes will keep playing far into the future. 8

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He might not have gotten the record deal he once dreamed of, but Doug Kees says teaching music to others has proven more gratifying than he’d ever imagined.

50 CELEBRATING THE MUSICAL HISTORY OF LOCAL THEATRE Those attending local high school musicals and community theatre musicals might be interested to know where the local musical history has its beginnings: Dunaway Gardens.

60 CELEBRATING THE FOURTH Events in Newnan, Moreland and Haralson will highlight Cowetans’ Fourth of July celebrations this year.

64 SCHOOLED IN LIFE Going “back to school” will have an entirely different meaning this year for the Renaud family. Last year, the Renauds lived in Ecuador and got

30 BACK WHERE SHE BELONGS Vernessa Mitchell had a red-hot pop music career and plenty of money in the bank, but she left it all for a higher calling. “Pop music had been good to me, but the Lord had always been better,” says Mitchell, now a gospel music singer living in Newnan.

“schooled” in the ways of another culture.

72 SCHOOL DAYS PHOTO ESSAY

74 FIRST-DAY-OF-SCHOOL JITTERS Carolyn Barnard has been both student and teacher, and she shares some of her early worries as a new teacher of middle school students.

80 A LUNCHEON TO REMEMBER When her Bible study group’s leadership team met for an end-of-year luncheon, Tina Neely pulled out all the stops for an elegant, personalized affair.

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D epartments 56 LOCAL HERITAGE

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Sarah Ophelia Colley was just a talented young woman honing her acting skills when she performed in Newnan at the Patchwork Barn, but fans of the Grand Ole Opry remember her as the legendary Minnie Pearl.

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62 MEET A READER Meet Kelsey Backus, a talented 16year-old gymnast and highly sought babysitter.

76 COWETA COOKS Main Street Newnan’s annual Ice Cream Festival is just around the corner. Need some ice-cold inspiration? Try the ice cream recipes from last year’s winning competitor.

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86 SADDLE UP

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Georgians are turning to organic foods and looking for earth-friendly products, but Coweta County horse trainer Karen Jones goes one step further, practicing “natural horsemanship” when teaching her horses and students.

92 FAMILY FUN

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Discover Georgia’s Coastal Jewel, Jekyll Island — and you can play where the rich and famous used to vacation.

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In every issue 10 EDITOR’S LETTER 94 THE BOOKSHELF 96 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 98 10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED

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> FROM THE EDITOR

T

Project Linus

hree summers ago my third niece, Amelia, was born. A few days after she left the hospital and returned home, I got a call from my mother telling me Amelia was having seizures and was being transferred to Atlanta. I got in my car and sped up I85, only to get to the hospital and realize I’d misunderstood. Amelia wasn’t even there yet, and my family was an hour or so away awaiting the ambulance that would transport her. So I hung around the hospital and waited. Soon came word that no ambulances were available, and my niece would be transferred by helicopter. When I learned where the helicopter would be landing, I asked the nurses if I could watch it land. I guess they were used to family members asking nutty things, because a sweet nurse said, “Hon, you can’t be on the landing pad when it comes in.” “I know,” I said, “but is there somewhere I can stand and see when it arrives?” She actually walked with me down to a spot outside the hospital with a good view of the helicopter pad, which was a good thing since my already frazzled family got delayed by roadwork. For once, I was happy I had misunderstood and was at the hospital ahead of them. Normally I’m a cell phone hater, but that night I was happy to have mine and be able to give reports to my sister and family at every point of Amelia’s arrival at the hospital. “The helicopter’s here.” Then, “She’s in a room.”

Soon, a nurse came looking for me in the waiting room and said, “Are you the aunt?” “Yes,” I said. “Come on back here.” She let me go in and hold that precious child, and I was able to call my sister and say, “I’m in the room and holding your baby.” But before I picked up Amelia, I noticed the pretty hand-crocheted baby blanket swaddling her. Since I’m a longtime crocheter myself, I wondered how it got there and who made it. Then I saw the label reading “Project Linus.” Wasn’t this the organization that made baby blankets for kids in need, and for children in the hospital? I would have to check this out ... later. Blessedly, our story has a wonderful outcome, and as you can see our sweet Amelia is about to turn 3 and is doing great today, which my sister attributes to the power of prayer. (Me, too.) But I never forgot that night at the hospital and the comforting discovery of that handmade baby blanket. So when Nancy Schultz recently started a Project Linus chapter here in Newnan, I was thrilled. I’ve crocheted my first blanket (in my mind, it was in honor of Amelia) and am currently working on two others. If you’re someone who crochets, knits, sews or quilts, you can help. And if you have none of these skills, you can still help by donating or even funding supplies for those who do. Visit newnancowetamagazine.com to read more about Project Linus, or e-mail Nancy at dinksch01@bellsouth.net or call her at 770-253-7762. Blankets are already being donated to children at DFACS, the Community Welcome House, Angel’s House and Piedmont Newnan Hospital. You never know which child you might be comforting. Or, for that matter, which aunt. Fondly,

Angela McRae, Editor angela@newnan.com

Sign up for our newsletter at www.newnancowetamagazine.com and you will be registered to win a new iPod!

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Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it. – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1872)

In this issue we pay tribute to some Cowetans who give more than a little evidence that they have heard the music. From the local moms who formed their own garage band to a young music student and some collectors of magnificent vintage music boxes, we hope you’ll agree that when it comes to the local music scene, we have indeed heard the music.

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Moms Rock! By Elizabeth Richardson | Photos by Jennifer Riggs

Rebecca Frey, Laura Thomas, Polly Haugen (at back) and Kim Tiernan enjoy a jam session together.

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I

n the Haugen basement on any given night, the rhythmic beat of the drums accompanied by the resonant bass and electric guitars are loud enough to drown out the din of the world. When you think garage band, you might imagine high schoolers getting together to belt out angst-filled lyrics. But in the world of rock, rules are meant to be broken. Polly Haugen, Kim Tiernan, Laura Thomas and Rebecca Frey — all women in their late thirties to early forties — are wives, mothers and proud members of a rock band. Haugen is the drummer, Tiernan is the bass player/backup singer, Thomas is the lead singer/guitarist and Frey is a guitarist/backup singer. Ask them about their band name and you’ll get a different answer depending on the day. They’ve thrown around Grouchy Mama and Modest Goddess — to name a few — and none has met with total satisfaction because they enjoy redefining themselves. The girls practice in Haugen’s lounge style basement. Visitors are drawn downstairs by a mural of Jimi Hendrix created by the father of one of Haugen’s Central Educational Center students. In the basement, unique mood lighting spotlights eclectic, colorful furniture. The scene is complete with Beatles and Hendrix coasters. With the sound of kids running overhead, the women let their hair down and pause between songs only to sip wine and enjoy each other’s company. “Cruel to be Kind” was the first song the ladies mastered as a group, though most of them are sick of it now. These days, after more than two years as a band, the ladies are working on a few songs of their own. The band is the brainchild of Tiernan, who’d heard of moms nationwide defying expectations by

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They don’t ever want to be rock stars because they don’t like performing for others. But the musical collaboration and camaraderie are a great hobby for “garage band moms” Polly Haugen, Rebecca Frey, Laura Thomas and Kim Tiernan.

turning to rock. She invited anyone interested to meet one evening at a local coffee shop. Thomas, one of Tiernan’s friends, got an invite and extended one to Haugen, a relative. People expressed an interest, but hardly any enrolled in music lessons as Tiernan had suggested. Haugen, who ironically hadn’t attended the meeting, immediately went out and put a drum set on layaway. When Thomas realized Haugen was taking the idea 18

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seriously, she purchased a guitar and signed up for lessons. In fall 2006, Tiernan, Thomas and Haugen took lessons from local music teacher Doug Kees and, at night, they practiced as a band the songs they were all learning. As they got more serious about the band, the ladies pooled their money and purchased a PA system. A few months ago, Frey joined the group despite initially being intimidated. Frey is married with 9-year-old twins. She admits she’s gotten mixed reactions, but says everyone has

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ultimately been supportive. Her husband even brags on her hobby to their friends. “I love music, and I love the collaboration,” said Frey. “I enjoy getting together with people who can appreciate music.” Thomas is married with two young children. She joined the band because she was tired of Barney songs. While her children won’t wear their “My Mom Rocks” shirts, Thomas has noticed a developing love for music in her 5-yearold daughter, who likes to suggest band names.

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Polly Haugen’s basement lounge, where the eclectic decor includes this knight in shining armor, is often home to these bandmates. From left are Rebecca Frey, Kim Tiernan, Haugen and Laura Thomas.

Kim Tiernan and Laura Thomas rehearse a tune. Laura Thomas and Rebecca Frey share the spotlight.

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“We don’t take ourselves too seriously; this is something we do for us, and maybe our kids — we’re doing it because we like music,” said Thomas. Tiernan is married with three children, and she teaches Latin at The Heritage School. She hopes that, in addition to her children, she’s making an impact on her students, because she thinks music is “a very important part of the whole person.” “This is a good lesson for kids,” said Tiernan. “You’re never too old to try something new. We sing because we don’t care what people think anymore,” she jokes. Tiernan hopes the band’s fearless pursuit will embolden others to “go out on a limb.” Haugen is married with two kids and she teaches in the Performance Learning Center at CEC. Her husband and kids once thought her crazy for converting their basement into a lounge. Now, they offer feedback on the songs that escape into the rest of the house.

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The Jimi Hendrix mural in Polly Haugen’s basement is by James Stewart of "J.E.S.-us Designs." From left are Laura Thomas, Kim Tiernan, Haugen and Rebecca Frey.

Haugen’s reason for participating was simple. “Who wouldn’t like this — it’s

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magic,” she says with a laugh. Haugen, Thomas, Frey and Tiernan all came to this experience

new to an instrument but not new to music. When the band formed, they were hard-pressed to play one song. Now they’re composing their own. “We’re never going to be rock stars. We don’t like to play for other people,” said Thomas. “Whatever your talent, it’s never too late to pick up a hobby or pursue an interest,” said Tiernan — and that means doing what makes you happy, whether it be knitting, painting or snowboarding. They may not have agreed on the perfect band name yet, but in the meantime you can call them four gutsy women who march to the beat of their own drummer. NCM

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Musicology By Elizabeth Richardson | Photos by Jeffrey Leo

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Doug Kees works with a student at Musicology in downtown Newnan.

D

oug Kees never got the record deal he spent so many years of his life striving for — and he couldn’t be happier. In fact, he calls it “dumb luck” that he stumbled into a profitable career as a music teacher and now owns and operates “Musicology” — at age 44 — in downtown Newnan. That doesn’t mean you won’t catch Kees at the occasional gig since, after all, he still craves artistic emotional expression that is only sated by his guitar and a “heartbreaking” number. Musicology, a name picked out by Kees’ wife, Linda, simply means the study of music. “A well-rounded musician must be a student of music,” said Kees. And he’s quick to point out the difference between a musician and a player. Kees’ primary instrument is the guitar; however, he can play the banjo, the mandolin and the piano. “Most people can drive the instrument,” said Kees. “If you can understand music you can make it go, but to be able to play it is to be a musician in the grandest sense.” Kees started playing the guitar in sixth grade and had jam sessions in basements all through high school. He went to Georgia State and graduated in 1989 with a bachelor of music in jazz performance. Kees began pursuing record deals that year, but at the same time he had to teach to make ends meet. He was a member of a few different rock groups that almost made it big on several occasions. That was his daily life then, he “traveled, played and taught.” In the meantime, he had accumulated about 50 regular students. In the early 1990s, he got an offer from a record company that wanted his band to do a year-long tour to build a following. When he imagined spending his days driving around the southeast in a rented U-Haul, he opted out. Plus, he had his heart set on marrying Linda, whom he’d met in college.

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at a local music store. That same year, he started teaching at The Heritage School where he built their music program from the ground up. Giving up on his aspirations of a record deal was hard because he forfeited the creative gratification of performing his material. On the other hand, “the record biz is about showbiz and sales, not music,” said Kees. “Record companies try to mold you into this or that. This is infinitely more gratifying.” In the late 1990s, Kees’ friend invited him to join his band in their

Doug Kees’ musical friends include Steve Fanning, Ken Spake and Allen Nesmith.

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happened or not,” he said. Kees’ band earned bragging rights opening for Kid Rock at the Atlanta Civic Center. But after a while, he wanted out again. It was January 2007 when Musicology, the new face for his long-time teaching business, opened at 48 Spring St. Musicology employs 10 music teachers, including Kees, who offer lessons on the violin, piano, keyboard, drums, strings — including guitar, bass, banjo and mandolin — and even voice lessons. There are also songwriting courses and continuing education classes. They teach lessons to several hundred students each week ranging in age from 5 to 75. Kees guesses that many, if not more, of his students are adults. He’s realized though that adults “have a hard time coming to it because it’s been years since they’ve been a beginner at something.” “Everybody is welcome,” he said. “We have people say ‘we’re not musical,’ but I’m not a believer in musical talent. I think it’s that Einstein thing — ‘99 percent

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Looking to the future, Kees hopes to further develop Music Garden, the toddlers’ class, as well as his continuing education seminars. He hopes to expand the on-site recording studio for his students. He wants another hundred students and to find more niche music services. Finally, Kees wants his teachers to be able to make Musicology a career destination

rather than a steppingstone, the same way he has. Kees didn’t end up where he thought he would, but he’s started a business from scratch in a welcoming community where he gets to share his passion for music. “What a lucky thing to be able to be around all that.” NCM

Instructor Jody Butler, above and in a session at left, joins some friends for a jam session.

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Vernessa Mitchell

Back Where She Belongs By Alex McRae | Photos by Bob Fraley

V

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ernessa Mitchell had a gold record, a bursting bank account and millions of adoring fans before she was old enough to vote. She rubbed elbows with superstars, made TV appearances from coast-to-coast and got writer’s cramp at autograph sessions. But just as she reached the musical mountaintop, Mitchell heard a higher calling. She left pop music and went back to her gospel roots, turning her back on fame and fortune to seek the one thing that all the money in the world couldn’t buy. “I went back to Jesus,” she says. “I remembered that Bible verse that says ‘What doth it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life.’ Pop music had been good to me, but the Lord had always been better. I needed to be back serving Him.” Mitchell never dreamed she’d face such a lifechanging dilemma when she was growing up. She

gospel music since they had baby teeth and decided to team up with two dancer friends for a local talent contest. The judges were knocked out. But someone else in the audience was even more impressed — Gwen Gordy, sister of Berry Gordy, founder of Motown records. As soon as Gordy heard Vernessa and Barbara Mitchell, she signed them to a contract and Vernessa’s world turned upside down overnight. At the time, Motown was a musical powerhouse, churning out hit after hit by such legendary artists as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops and The Jackson 5. It was rumored the girls from Pasadena were being groomed as the successors to The Supremes. That meant a big time makeover was in order. The group was

was an Army brat, daughter of a career soldier and one of 10 siblings. Mitchell’s father was also a pastor and led churches wherever the family was posted. In 1976 the family was in Pasadena, Calif. Vernessa and her sister Barbara had been singing

named High Inergy and spent hours with hairdressers, clothing stylists, models and dancers, learning how to walk, talk, act and look like superstars. The group’s first album, “Turnin’ On,” hit the charts in 1977 and went solid gold

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Gospel singer Vernessa Mitchell at home in Newnan

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behind a smash single, “You Can’t Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On).� The fans went crazy. High Inergy was showcased on “American The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Bandstand� and nominated Vernessa Mitchell for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Female for “Blessed Assurance� from “Soul Train� the album “This is My Story.� and hit the even faster. high-profile TV shows hosted by Vernessa Mitchell was living the Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and rock and roll dream. But deep inside, Dinah Shore. she knew something was wrong. “It was just a whirlwind,� “In rock music, people worship Mitchell says. “It seemed like you,� she says. “But I wanted to do everybody wanted us.� music that made people want to When High Inergy’s second worship God. I knew I had to leave.� album, 1978’s “Steppin’ Out� was After several years with a released, the merry-go-round whirled

Vernessa Mitchell and High Inergy earned a Gold Record for their hit “Turnin’ On.�

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California church, Mitchell moved to Atlanta and founded Higher Ground Ministries. As she struggled to keep the ministry afloat, her music career languished. Then one day, her former Motown producer, Kent Washburn, called. He had found Christ and wanted to produce Mitchell’s music. Mitchell’s two albums with Washburn earned her Grammy and Dove Award nominations and she signed with Benson Records, then home to Christian music stars Sandi Patty and Babbie Mason. Mitchell hit the road to support her music and ministry, touring every continent with a commercial airport. During an African crusade with evangelist Reinhard Bonnke she performed for over 12 million people.

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Back in her High Inergy days, Vernessa Mitchell (with bouquet of flowers above) was being groomed for a fastpaced Motown career. Today she’s back singing gospel and is based in Newnan, where she moved to be near her parents in Columbus.

She was back on top, but Mitchell learned that even gospel stars have bad days. “My career was doing great, but it was lonely on the road. It got tough. God had to get me through a lot.” In the late 1990s Mitchell’s parents were stationed in Columbus, Ga. Mitchell moved to Newnan to be close to both the folks and the airport.

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When she wasn’t on the road, Mitchell decorated the new house with her mom or took both parents on shopping sprees. “They were like my kids,” she says. “It was a blast just being with them.” Mitchell’s newfound joy was crushed when her mother died in 2002. “It was like all the happiness just went out of my life,” she says. “I was

completely lost. I didn’t care if I ever sang again.” After pursuing other business opportunities for five years, Mitchell has returned to music. She is working on a new CD called “Shout” and has started performing at local churches. Her decision to go back to music wasn’t easy, but Mitchell says she really had no choice. “I tried to get away, but it’s time I got back to where I belong,” she says. “God gave me this talent and from here on I’m doing things His way no matter what happens.” NCM To hear clips of Vernessa's music, visit www.vernessa.com.

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I

t’s been six years since Adam and Shannon Wright took their music act to Nashville, determined to go big or go home. Stardom remains elusive, but the pair aren’t pouting. Performing as The Wrights, they’ve tasted success and dealt with defeat and managed to stick it out longer than most in a business that few survive. Their lumps taught them a valuable lesson. As they take their career in a new direction, The Wrights finally realize that in the music business, one thing is worth far more than celebrity: contentment. “We aren’t making a fortune, but we’re making a good living doing what we love,” Adam says. “Not everybody can say that.” Adam grew up in Newnan, Shannon in LaGrange. Both made music from the time they could lift a guitar and as soon as they were out of high school, they were playing anywhere that offered an audience, a microphone and a tip jar. Shannon was working at an Atlanta club in 1998 when her guitar player canceled a show at the last minute. Friends had told her about Adam and she gave him a call. A few hours later, he was there. The two hit it off the first night they met. “It was definitely something special,” Adam says. “As soon as we started playing together it was unlike anything else we’d ever done.” Soon, the pair grew as close offstage as on. They were married in 2002 and moved to Nashville to take their shot at stardom. They weren’t alone. Thousands of would-be superstars arrive in Nashville every year. It doesn’t take them long to learn that the streets aren’t made of gold. Nashville is filled with no-hit wonders who wind up serving shots in

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Shannon and Adam Wright perform at the opening of Newnan’s Greenville Street Park in April.

‘Doing what we love’ By Alex McRae | Photos by Bob Fraley

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second-rate bars and walking dogs for two bucks a mile plus tips. At least The Wrights knew what to expect. Almost two decades earlier, Adam’s uncle had made the same journey, struggling for years to catch the break that turned him from a Newnan unknown to country megastar Alan Jackson. The Wrights knew Jackson could open some doors. But they also knew that their talent would have to speak for itself. The pair plunged into the Nashville network, playing small clubs all over town, meeting and learning from some of the town’s most gifted songwriters and getting in shape for the grueling battle that lay ahead. Their “Big Break� came in 2005 when they signed an album deal and recorded “Down This Road,� a 12-

song CD of self-penned tunes. The record drew raves from music critics and Nashville insiders but never rang the cash registers. Adam believes the record label’s promotion machine was partly to blame. “We were doing things we didn’t want to do and being asked to play things we didn’t like, and it wasn’t working at all,� he says. Touring with Alan Jackson kept The Wrights in the spotlight but when the duo had time to think things over, they knew something had to change. “We were doing all right, but we weren’t doing what we loved,� Adam says. “We decided to go back to what we started with, interpreting songs for small groups in our own way.� The change in attitude was evident on the couple’s second CD, a self-titled work released on Jackson’s

ACR label. The CD was a collection of duets that that had plenty of heart and plenty of hook and left music critics reminiscing about Nashville’s golden era, when duet acts like Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn or George Jones and Tammy Wynette ruled the charts. On July 8, The Wrights’ third CD will be released. “In the Summertime� is a complete change of pace. Instead of their own music, The Wrights have compiled a collection of favorites, including hits from the Carter Family, Flatt & Scruggs, rock band Morphine and Roger Miller, who supplied the CD’s title song. “It was definitely a labor of love,� Adam says. “These are great songs and we really had fun doing them our way. It was a blast.� The Wrights still find time to visit home. They played to a full

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house last year at Newnan’s Center for Performing and Visual Arts, and in May 2008 made a return visit to the venue to perform when Alan Jackson was among those honored for their contributions to arts in Coweta County. The duo is back on the road this summer, playing small clubs and listening rooms from Nashville to Texas to Michigan. They couldn’t be happier. “It feels good to do what we want to do for a change,” Adam says. “Sooner or later everybody in this business gets discouraged or frustrated. But I’d rather be discouraged making music than doing anything else. I’ve had a lot of jobs and this is still the best one.” NCM

Adam and Shannon Wright help Newnan celebrate the opening of the Greenville Street Park. At left is their new CD “In the Summertime,” set for release July 8.

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What’s on your iPod? Photos courtesy of Apple®

So what are the musical tastes of the folks at The Times-Herald and Newnan-Coweta Magazine? We invited staff members to answer the following questions: 1. Do you have an iPod and if so what kind? 2. How often do you use it? 3. Name the top five favorite songs/items on your playlist.

JILL ISAAC, INTERN 1) A hot pink 4GB iPod 2) About every day 3) "Crazy Game of Poker" by OAR, "Never Knew" by Rocket Summer, "Treasures" by Rocket Summer, "Goodbye Waves and Driveways" by Rocket Summer, "I'm Doing Everything (For You)" by Rocket Summer

CHRIS GOLTERMANN, SPORTS WRITER 1) iPod Nano - old version 2) Daily 3) Most of my iPod consists of Billy Joel, Rush and ’80s pop and rock songs

HOLLY JONES, ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR 1) I don't have an iPod, just a computer and some CDs I've downloaded. I'm old fashioned (which translates into “Technology baffles me, and I stick with what I know”). 2) I listen on my computer 3-4 times a week. 3) OK, well I just saw Bon Jovi in concert last week, so I'm kind of obsessed with him right now. And I have to say three of my top favorite songs of the moment are "Livin' on a Prayer," "(You Want to) Make a Memory" and "Blaze of Glory." Then the other two are from the "Wicked" soundtrack, "Defying Gravity" and "For Good." I'm in a rut, but it's a happy little rut, and I'll stay there for now!

COLLEEN MITCHELL, SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR 1) I have an iPod shuffle 2) I hook it up to the car stereo and listen to it every day 3) “Mony, Mony,” “Sweet Home, Alabama,” “Convoy,” “Maria” and “Drive”

AMY LOTT, STAFF WRITER

STACIE KITTLE, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CLERK

1) I had a hot pink iPod mini that stopped working, so now I use my husband's old 20GB one. He bought one of the fancier video kinds. 2) Not often 3) Right now (given the fact that I have a 5-1/2month old), I've been playing Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles, Coldplay, Radiohead, Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones.

1) I have an MP3 player by Nextar, black and red, compact 2) Several times a month 3) Kid Rock, Guns ‘N Roses, Ozzy Osborne, Motley Crue, Metallica

JOEY HOWARD, CLASSIFIED MANAGER Sorry, but don't have an iPod. I'm still CD.

MARIANNE THOMASSON, VICE PRESIDENT CAITLYN VAN ORDEN, INTERN 1) It's a 4GB iPod Nano with a video screen. It's plain ol’ silver, nothing fancy. 2) I usually connect it to speakers in my room in the mornings while I get ready for school. It's also good for laying by the pool or in the tanning bed! 3) “Dig” by Incubus, “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne, “Pawn Shop” by Sublime, “For What It's Worth” by Buffalo Springfield, “The Lights and Buzz” by Jack's Mannequin 40

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1) One of those Nano-thingies 2) Daily 3) I listen to unabridged books. I just got through with “The Ice Man” (the true story of a mob hit man), “Dorothy Parker” (biography - man, could she have used Prozac), “Rhett Butler's People” (brain candy), “Soldier” (Colin Powell bio) and “Write It When I'm Gone” (about Gerald Ford). I can listen to books in the car, when I'm gardening, ironing or cleaning the house. The books are especially good when they're narrated by the authors. Books can be downloaded from the web (for a charge) or moved from a CD to the computer to the iPod.

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CHRISTINE SWENTOR, MULTIMEDIA SALES SPECIALIST 1) An iPhone 2) Every day, throughout the day. You can catch me at lunch with the white earbuds in my ears and a newspaper in my hands! 3) “I'm Yours” by Jason Mraz, “Say” by John Mayer, “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles, “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney and “Everyday America” by Sugarland.

STEVE HILL, TECHNOLOGY MANAGER 1) iPod Video 80 Gb 2) Almost never. It's just nice knowing I have one. 3) Anything from the ’70s

ELIZABETH RICHARDSON, STAFF WRITER 1) I just got a Nano for my birthday 2) When I work out 3) Please keep in mind this is my workout mix and not my favorite songs b/c the two lists are completely different: 1. Kanye West "Stronger" 2. Justin Timberlake "Sexy Back" 3. Mims "This is Why I'm Hot" 4. Britney Spears "Gimme More" 5. Rihanna "SOS"

JONATHAN MELVILLE, GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JEANETTE KIRBY, MULTIMEDIA SALES SPECIALIST No, I am too old. I still play records.

RHONDA SPOONER, CLASSIFIED SALES SPECIALIST 1) 1GB shuffle 2) 4 to 5 times/week 3) Right now I am into podcasts: E! , Larry King Live, Oprah, Comedy Central comedians (Dane Cook)

MEGAN ALMON, STAFF WRITER 1) I have an earlier version of the Nano. Because my husband and I give regularly to the Christian organization Stand to Reason, we received it as a thank you gift. It has "Stand to Reason" and the Web site "www.str.org" inscribed on the back. 2) I would say daily. 3) Gosh! I could name my top 10 in all my "categories" (Megan's Rock, Megan's Country, Soundtracks, Podcasts, etc.) Off the top of my head and depending on my mood, "Defying Gravity" from the Broadway musical "Wicked"; Nickelback's "Far Away"; Seether's "Fake It"; Nichole Nordeman's "Every Season"; or Carrie Underwood's "So Small." I should have included a song from my all-time favorite band, Casting Crowns, but I couldn't just pick one.

1) iPhone 2) Every day 3) Podcasts I listen to every day: Slate VCast, Pop17, MobLogic TV, Cool Hunting, WebbAlert

DEBERAH WILLIAMS, MAGAZINE ART DIRECTOR 1) A silver iPod shuffle with my name engraved on the back. 2) Almost every day. Sometimes I forget about it for a day or two, but I find I miss it so I update my playlist and begin again. 3) I really love podcasts like B&N's Meet the Writer, Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me, All Songs Considered and Grammar Girl. I also listen to Andy Stanley's Northpoint podcast every week. I love most classical music and I love Rock and Roll (but not too hard). I am embarassed to say I can't tell who the artist is but if you hum a few bars I might recognize the song! I have been known to include a few non-twangy country songs from time to time.

ANGELA MCRAE, MAGAZINE EDITOR 1) An iPod Nano I won at a magazine conference only because Colleen Mitchell heard them call my name! I was happy to win it because I would never have spent my own money on one of these. 2) I listen to it in spurts. When deadlines are rushing in, I get too busy to listen and then I forget how to download. 3) "Symphony" by Sarah Brightman, "Restoration" by Nancy Veldman, "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon (the book on tape), "Greatest Hits" by Shania Twain, and Barnes and Noble's Meet the Writers podcast. NCM

DIANA SHELLABARGER, COMPTROLLER What is an iPod? Just kidding. Don't have one.

WANT TO WIN AN IPOD? We will be giving away an iPod shuffle to one lucky Coweta resident. Go to www.newnancowetamagazine.com, sign up for our newsletter and you will be entered to win! JULY/AUGUST

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David and Carol Beck of Newnan are among the top restorers of antique cylinder and disc music boxes in the world.

There’s

I

n 1796, watchmaker Antoine Favre first created a musical device that allowed tunes to be heard by plucking ridged notches on a cylinder with a steel comb. It is doubtful the inventive Swiss could have imagined that 200 years later, so many people would be walking around with individual musical devices plugged into their ears. While Newnan’s David and Carol Beck have seen music available as a vinyl disc, then as a CD and now on iPods, both seem perfectly content to work and play back in the lovely musical world of the 1800s — on antique music boxes. The Becks are very modest about their talents, but just

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Magic in Their Music By Janet Flanigan | Photos by Bob Fraley

a couple of steps into their home and a few words out of David’s mouth (and Carol’s) reveal the extent of their expertise. They are also listed as references in just about every known source book about music boxes. Happily married since 1962, with two grown children and four grandchildren, the Becks have worked together over four decades. During a disastrous Maine vacation in the early 1960s, they were driven indoors to go antiquing to get away from the biting May flies, and the musical Becks

first discovered some old clocks and phonographs that led them to begin collecting both. David was working in electronics at the time and became interested in restoring some of the items. As his interest deepened, he learned about music boxes and that was it for the both of them. They loved the exquisite machines and their history and the rest is, as they say … business! And it has been a full-time business for them for more than 40 years now. They enjoy getting together with fellow collectors and professionals at

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Elegant wooden cases are a hallmark of many of the vintage music boxes collected and restored by David and Carol Beck of Newnan.

David Beck works on repining a music cylinder.

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meetings, conventions and other events. The Becks say that since the time music was invented, people have enjoyed listening to it, whether live or recorded. Once the first music boxes came on the scene, people were able to enjoy recorded notes at home. These musical boxes rapidly evolved into ever more sophisticated machines. The first examples, they said, were quite simple with tiny notched cylinders that rotated and were plucked by tiny steel combs. They were usually wound by a key or in some other fashion, and housed within different kinds of items. “The first really popular music boxes were simply sold as novelty items called necessaires,� said David.

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These were items used for personal hygiene and they might include such items as a woman’s sewing kit, perfume kit, or brush and comb set. They would even come cleverly disguised as small liqueur boxes with notches that swing out to reveal tiny sipping glasses or other creations. It seems people delighted in clever, witty and complex beauty all at once — and appreciated craftsmanship as well. Because snuff was very popular in the early 1800s, the Becks said, people would try to outdo one another with fancy snuff receptacles, so music boxes were often placed in

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the bottom of snuff boxes to give added panache. Beautiful ceramic wall clocks with twirling figurines could be found flying in time to the music at the tug of a cord. Decorative chairs had music boxes hiding under the seat for an added treat. It was a playful time. “Around 1800-1825, as music boxes increased in size, it became fashionable to house music boxes in the bases of clocks,� David said. “Many of these clocks were called ‘skeleton clocks’ as they were housed in glass domes to show the inner workings of the clock and chimed the music on the hour through the base stand.� Carol said it is extremely difficult to find an intact skeleton clock together — usually the clock and music box are sold as separate items to Music boxes line the collectors. Many shelves at the Becks’ workshop in Newnan, top. other styles of Above, David Beck shows clock are one of the flat discs from extremely a musical disc machine. ornate, but the

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ultimate goal was to showcase the music box. David and Carol have an incredible collection of 1820s Swiss-manufactured music boxes. It is hard to comprehend how impressive and liberating these lovely musical marvels were to English society in the early 19th century. For the first time, people could truly enjoy the music of the day in the comfort of their own homes. These lovely musical instruments were quartered in their own beautiful wood cases painted with faux finishes. They generally played a list of 8-12 tunes called “airs” including an overture from an opera, religious tunes and popular songs of the day. In addition, the Becks said customers could submit their own sheet music and have their own airs on the cylinder for a nominal additional fee. The airs and the composers were listed on the lid of the case of the music box. “Another feature was many music boxes offered additional tiny instruments next to the cylinder to play along with the airs, including little bells, drum sounds and even small reed organs,” David said. He added that around 1825-1830, the famous LeCoultre family (known today for their quality timepieces) knew the public was tired of hearing the same airs over and over, so the company created the interchangeable cylinder so customers could enjoy even more music. But these cylinders were heavy, timeconsuming to make and

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David Beck works to restore an antique music box element at his workshop in Newnan.

expensive — costing at that time about 20 English pounds. “For some reason, Leipzig, Germany became a music box manufacturing hub and the metal

disc-style of playing was invented,� David said. One of the Becks’ disc machines shows a painted pastoral scene, circa 1901, of a river in Leipzig — a view which certainly no

longer exists. The disc was flat and had no pin, but rather was plucked by a steel comb as it turned round. It changed the face of music forever, for mass

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production was born. A factory woman could produce 12 discs in about an hour and, according to David, it would sell for approximately 60 pence rather than 20 pounds — a much more affordable price. “Many music box aficionados tried to visit Leipzig after WWII, but it was tightly sealed off behind the Berlin Wall. Once the wall came down, people tried to track down knowledgeable workers from the old music box companies but they were all gone. It is very sad,” he said. Many of the disc players were built into an upright, free-standing box popular in pubs and arcades in England, a precursor to the early juke box. The discs were operated by an English penny, and Carol noted that “David is pretty particular about the coin that operates his machine. It has to be minted the same year as his

A ladies necessaire

machine!” This attention to detail is why collectors seek them out the world over for repining of their cylinders. It is why they know instantly

whether a box is worth repairing or not. And this passion and purpose is why, after 40 years, they still hear the magic in their music. NCM

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By Jeff Bishop

Historic photos show the Patchwork Barn, above, and Hetty Jane Dunaway and the performers at Dunaway Gardens, opposite.

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etty Jane Dunaway is perhaps best known today for planting the seeds that became Dunaway Gardens. At the same Roscoe Road location, she also planted the seeds that would flower into the modern-day Newnan performing arts community. The Chautauqua actress appeared in musical touring shows, long before the days of television, starring as “the charming Flapper Grandma” and “The Lady of the Decoration.” When she married theatrical producer Wayne P. Sewell, they settled in northern Coweta County and she began work on her gardens, which some called the finest rock garden in America. In the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s, Dunaway Gardens served as a center for a bustling arts community, attracting sculptors, artists and

performers from throughout the U.S. But by the spring of 1956, when a group of aspiring Newnan thespians decided to form the Newnan Playmakers, the gardens had begun to fall into disrepair. The Playmakers, however, could think of no place more fitting than Dunaway to host their productions. “We talked to Ms. Hetty Jane because we knew that she used to put on plays,” recalls Herb Bridges, first president of the Playmakers and the group’s de facto historian. “The gardens had gone downhill because of a lack of labor. If I remember correctly, her husband, Mr. Sewell, was in a wheelchair at that time. But Ms. Hetty Jane, she was just such a character.” She offered the use of her barn, the Patchwork Playhouse. The Playmakers saw they had a lot of work to do before they could

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The Playmakers’ productions through the years included: 1. “Curious Savage” – Hilda Cates (seated), M.H. Elder, Mary Lee Ragan, Carey Deacon, Herb Bridges, Jo Elder. 2. “The Glass Menagerie” – Joan Griffies, Bill Breed, Herb Bridges, Jackie Magee, unknown. 3. “The Sleeping Prince” – David Brown, Barbara Proctor. 4. “The Hasty Heart” – Dot Harrell, Herb Bridges, Bill Breed. 5. The cast of “Arsenic and Old Lace” perform beneath this banner in the Patchwork Barn. 6. “Pygmalion” – Cap Goodrum, Vinnie Barron, Tom Farmer

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premiere their first production, “Petticoat Fever.” “We could see we’d have to clean it up, but we decided that we could do it,” said Bridges. Benches were made of slabs and were notoriously uncomfortable, Bridges said, but people came to see the shows anyway. “Back then, gas wasn’t expensive, so people didn’t think anything about driving out to Dunaway Gardens to see a show,” he said.

Slept Here.” The Playmakers had moved away from Dunaway Gardens, but Hetty Jane Dunaway’s legacy persisted. Her niece, Marjorie Hatchett, inherited not only the gardens but also her aunt’s passion for performing arts. She trained a new generation of young actors and actresses in drama at Newnan High School. Dale Lyles was one of her pupils, along with the late Mitch Powell (who

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The Playmakers staged their inaugural production in 1956. Shows at Dunaway included “The Tender Trap,” “Blithe Spirit,” “My Three Angels,” “Harvey,” “The Solid Gold Cadillac” and “The Glass Menagerie.” The Patchwork Barn had no air conditioning or heating, so the Playmakers performed only in the summer. To present plays in colder months, the Playmakers started performing at the City Auditorium (now Wadsworth). Plays there included “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and “George Washington

served as county attorney) and current Grantville-based thespian David Wilson. Hatchett eventually had to let Dunaway Gardens go, but she never let go of the passion for drama she instilled in her students. Lyles said, “I was in her homeroom my junior year and I decided at that time that if I could be like her when I grew up, I would consider myself successful.” So Lyles went off to the University of Georgia and majored in theatre. He returned to Newnan and founded the Newnan Associated

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Working behind the scenes with the Playmakers are Eleanor Bridges, Ann Bridges and Helen Weaver.

Summer Theatre Youth (NASTY). Soon, the Newnan Playmakers decided to turn over local play production to this group, and eventually the Newnan Community Theatre Company was formed. “We were getting older. We had children and obligations,” said

Bridges. “We decided to let a new group of thespians present stage productions for local audiences.” The first musical Lyles remembers being performed in Newnan was “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” performed by the Newnan Repertory Company in the mid-1970s.

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“They picked it because of its low production values and small cast,” he said. “The first ‘real’ musical was ‘Once Upon a Mattress,’ which served as the reunion of the Newnan Playmakers and the Newnan Repertory Company into the Newnan Theatre Company, in 1977.” Musicals were among the most popular shows NCTC performed, Lyles said. “We did ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,’ followed by ‘Dames at Sea,’ directed by Glenn Rainey, and ‘A Christmas Carol,’ all in 1980,” Lyles recalled. Rainey went on to a successful career as a professional actor, appearing in Broadway productions such as the Disney musical “Beauty and the Beast.” A musical even marked the theatre company’s return to Dunaway Gardens, in 1982. By then the Patchwork Barn was gone, but

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perhaps the title of the production summed up the company’s attitude: “Anything Goes!” The theatre company was briefly “homeless” and no longer allowed to base productions out of the Newnan Auditorium. Soon a permanent home was found at the Manget-Brannon building near downtown Newnan. The theatre company dedicated its new theatre to Marjorie Hatchett, naming it “Hatchett Theatre.” Musical productions there included “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “The Mikado,” “Into the Woods,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Pirates of Penzance,” “She Loves Me,” “Lucky Stiff ” and Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro.” The Newnan Theatre Company, as it became known (this was

NCTC’s original name after merging with the Playmakers in the 1970s), had to consider “the availability of talent, the size of the cast, and the technical requirements of the show,” Lyles said. Some of the more popular musicals, he said, were the first “Forum” (“created a huge ruckus in town because of its excellence”), “Little Shop” (“because of its cult following”) and “Pirates of Penzance” (“blew everyone away; people were fighting over tickets”). Now everything has come full circle, and just like Lyles’ troupe and the original Playmakers before them, local theatre is again searching for its home. As this issue went to press, anonymous donors had stepped in to try to help the group remain at First Avenue and Long Place. The current keepers of the flame assure everyone the Newnan Theatre

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Company isn’t going away anytime soon. “A rumor is that we’re closing the theatre down for good,” said NTC President Rick Olsen. “Categorically false! We will be announcing our 2009 schedule in September. This is just the beginning of a new chapter at NTC.” In other words, the building may be different, but the song, let’s hope, will remain the same. NCM

See more photos of the Playmakers and the Newnan Community Theatre Company at newnancowetamagazine.com.

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> LOCAL HERITAGE

By W. Winston Skinner

Clockwise: The former Minnie Pearl Museum at Opryland, Grandpa Jones and Minnie Pearl, and Minnie Pearl with Alex Haley, whom she joined for a publicity campaign promoting the state of Tennessee.

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T

here is little about Dunaway Gardens to bring to mind the twangs of traditional country music. The historic rock gardens, one of Coweta County’s treasures, hug a curve along Highway 70 in the northern part of the county near Roscoe. The plantings and pools of water provide an air of quiet gentility. Music heard there today is likely to be the song of a native bird or the burbling of water along a quiet path. If one were to add other music to the setting, a likely choice would be a soft classical number — heavy on soothing strings. Yet, Dunaway Gardens is inextricably linked with one of country music’s most JULY/AUGUST

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This portrait of Minnie Pearl hung at the Minnie Pearl Museum at Opryland.

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famous figures. It all goes back to the 1930s. Times were hard. Many people were barely getting by. Coweta County native Wayne P. Sewell was one of the people trying to fill the appetite of rural Southerners for escapist entertainment. With the help of his wife, Hetty Jane Dunaway Sewell, he created a successful home talent theatrical company. Mrs. Sewell, who had been an acclaimed Chautauqua performer, had already transformed the old Sewell plantation into Dunaway Gardens. She put her creative talents to work writing plays for the Sewell company. Mrs. Sewell’s niece, Marjorie Dunaway Hogan, was the head coach for the teams of young women who learned plays with titles like “The Flapper Grandmother,” “BlackEyed Susan” and “Rosetime.” During the summer, the “coaches” came to Dunaway Gardens. Under Marjorie’s tutelage, they learned the plays — dialogue, songs, choreography. When fall began to add a cool nip to the air, Sewell coaches fanned out across the South. They took trains to small towns where a production had been set up in conjunction with the Rotary Club or a Parent-Teacher Association. A trunk of costumes and simple props had been sent ahead by rail. Coaches would quickly assemble a cast. The simple, humorous plays were more successful if local “personalities” — the doctor, judge, police chief — could be persuaded to take a part.

When that production was done, the coach would get the company’s share of the proceeds, send most of it back to Wayne Sewell and get on the train for the next production. It might be the same play, or it could be another one. The best-known of the Sewell coaches was Ophelia Colley, a talented young woman from Centerville, Tenn. She had attended Ward-Belmont College in Nashville and dreamed of becoming a dramatic actress on Broadway. But it was, after all, the Depression, and Wayne Sewell offered work, experience — and a paycheck. When Marjorie Hogan married Hammond Hatchett, the Sewells hired the young Tennesseean to become head coach. Several summers in Roscoe followed. When I interviewed Ophelia Colley Cannon, she remembered the hard work — memorizing all the plays so she could teach them to the other coaches. She spent a lot of time with the Sewells, dated local young men and recalled being particularly moved when she attended a service at a black church where prayers were audibly offered not only for the Sewells but for “Miss Ophelia” as well. Each fall, she reverted to her former role — traveling from townto-town, assembling casts, making do when the costumes weren’t right or the mayor flubbed his lines. She began to promote the plays, often being asked to speak to a civic club when she came to town. As she traveled from hamlet to hamlet, she often found herself in places with no hotel. She would spend the night with local folk. An experience in rural Alabama gave her the idea of taking on the persona of a simple, country woman to invite the town’s movers and shakers to an upcoming production.

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The ploy worked. Rotarians liked the country gal and would attend the plays. When she shared her idea with Wayne Sewell, he also was approving. He often asked Miss Colley to do her routine for gatherings of friends or other coaches. At one luncheon, someone heard Ophelia Colley’s country spiel. The man had connections with WSM Radio in Nashville, home of the Grand Ol’ Opry. Miss Colley was not a big fan, though her father was. As a result of that speaking engagement, WSM officials contacted Ophelia Colley. Soon her days at Dunaway Gardens were at an end. Ophelia Colley “became” her country character, Minnie Pearl. Her loud and friendly “Howdee,” her gingham dress and hat with a price tag became part of American culture. I interviewed her a couple of times — first in 1978 for a feature story about her time in Coweta County and again about a decade later when she threw her support behind early efforts to restore Dunaway Gardens. Ophelia Cannon was active in the Grand Ol’ Opry and country music for more than four decades. She wrote her memoirs, performed for Pres. George H. Bush and appeared with stars ranging from Tennessee Ernie Ford to Tom Jones. Garth Brooks and Amy Grant both have named daughters after her. In private life, she married and was a civic leader of refined taste in Nashville, living next door to the governor. When she died in 1996, she left behind a history of music, laughter and joy — including a chapter among the rocks, water, colorful flowers and green plantings of Coweta’s own Dunaway Gardens. NCM

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NEWNAN’S FOURTH OF JULY — Longtime Newnan resident Norma Haynes will be Grand Marshal for Newnan’s Fourth of July parade at 6 p.m. July 4, 2008. The annual parade starts at the Veterans Park at the corner of Temple Avenue and Jackson Street and continues down Jackson and LaGrange to conclude at Newnan High School. The Newnan Rotary Club picks up the festivities from there with family fun at Drake Stadium on the NHS campus. A giant Rotary fireworks display will begin at dark. 60

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PUCKETT STATION IN MORELAND — The focus is on handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items at the Puckett Station Arts and Crafts Festival in Moreland. Each year on July 4, Moreland’s population swells for a few hours as people from all over Coweta County and the surrounding area flock to the hamlet to eat barbecue, examine the wares of artists and craftsmen, and visit with friends. The cornerstone of Moreland’s annual celebration is the barbecue, which has been held since the late 1940s. Volunteers from three churches — Moreland United Methodist Church, First Baptist of Moreland and White Oak Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church — join forces each year to prepare, serve and sell the plates of succulent pork and Brunswick stew. Plates will be $8 this year. Serving begins at 11 a.m., and folks start lining up around 10 a.m. for plates of pork, stew, bread, pickles and a drink.

HARALSON ON THE FIFTH — In Haralson, festivities on July 5 will begin at 11 a.m. along Highway 85 in downtown Haralson, and last until after dark with a fireworks display. There will be a parade, games for the kids, and various vendors will sell food instead of a BBQ. Grand Marshal for the parade will be Ellenor Wilkinson, longtime resident of Haralson. NCM

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I know that Walt Disney World has been a favorite vacation spot for you and your family for most of your life. If you could work at any ride at Disney World, which one would it be? Which character would you be if you worked there for a summer? (Inhales deeply.) The show would be Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (which used to be MGM in Orlando and they also have at Disneyland in California). It is a fireworks and water show (hydrotechnics) that features Mickey Mouse going up against all of the evil characters from the major motion pictures. I think I’ve seen it six or eight times. If I had to pick a character, gosh, that’s hard. Maybe I’d pick a character that hangs out in a restaurant so it would be air conditioned (laughs). No … maybe I’d be Minnie Mouse so the little kids would hug me or a villain like Captain Hook so I could play little tricks on the kids because they love that too!

Meet a Newnan-Coweta Magazine

READER ...

KELSEY BACKUS Kelsey Backus, 16, is a rising senior at The Heritage School in Newnan. Born in Newnan, Kelsey has lived in the same house in Sharpsburg since she was three years old. A talented gymnast, singer, student, actress, constant friend, sought-after baby-sitter, committed Christian and devoted daughter, Kelsey is a seemingly ideal teenager. Photo by Bob Fraley But Kelsey would be the first one to tell you she’s not perfect. She just works hard to achieve her dreams. The daughter of Kay and Lynn Huffstickler of Sharpsburg and Gordon Backus of Savannah, Kelsey shares a few insights into her teen world. 62

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What is the best book you have been forced to read for school, in other words one that you wouldn’t have chosen to read on your own? There are so many but I’ll pick two. I loved A Wrinkle in Time in 6th Grade. I think I’m the only one who liked it – everyone else hated it, but I loved the witches and the fantasy themes, and I loved The Great Gatsby which we read last year (10th grade). You are an excellent gymnast. What’s your secret to fitting in all of that practice time and still being able to be a good student, active in church, friends and all the other things you do? A few years ago, with my gymnastics, I decided to go “Prep-Op” which is less competitive than “Levels.” I still compete, but it means I can have a life outside of the gymnasium – I only spend about four hours a week in the

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W AT T S F U R N I T U R E G A L L E R I E S

gym training but I still get to go to meets and fulfill that part of my life. I am so glad I made that decision. I don’t waste my time – if there is free time, I use it. My mom teaches fourth grade at Heritage so if I’m waiting for her after school, I go ahead and do my homework rather than waiting until later on. It’s all a matter of being organized. I’ve always been that way. Even at the gym, if I have downtime, I go ahead and do my homework or other things. Do you text or call on the phone? I mostly text but will occasionally call too. Do you have a favorite childhood memory? Any Christmas morning but I remember one in particular when my Grandma bought me a Barbie Dream House and my dad was trying to put it together. It was fun watching him try to follow the directions! Do you have any kinds of rituals at home – like when you get home from school – immediately put your things away, get a snack, call a friend, etc., or when you first get up, brush your hair, do sit ups, whatever! I am a total ritual person – the same things every day! Get up, brush teeth, shower, get dressed, dry hair, put on makeup, toast a Strawberry Pop Tart with no frosting until it is burnt, eat it with Juicy Juice and a bowl of applesauce! I also seem to follow the same routines in the afternoon. Do you have any “guilty� pleasures? I buy way too many earrings. I probably have 80 pairs – I don’t even wear all of them! I also always buy T-shirts wherever I go. I have so many T-shirts! What’s your most treasured possession? My blue blanket. When I was little, I used to have a white one that was my favorite and the blue one was my second favorite. One time, when we were visiting Disney, the white one got wrapped up in our sheets and was sent to the Laundromat. My dad spent the whole night looking for it but it never was found. Disney actually sent us a replacement blanket with Disney characters on it to make up for the lost blanket and they also sent some balloons and a card! Wasn’t that nice? So then my blue one became my new favorite and the Disney one became my backup blanket. I take my blue blanket with me to camp and on other trips and it will go with me to college – which I hope is the University of Georgia! NCM

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The Renaud family back home in Coweta (front to back: Chaz, Monique, Ben, Madissen, Rachel and mom Regan) and “at home” in Ecuador, opposite, with a friend.

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SCHOOLED in LIFE By Megan Almon | Photos by Bob Fraley and courtesy of the Renauds year ago, the Renaud kids were quintessentially American. Rachel, 15, Madissen, 14, Ben, 13, Monique, 9, and Chaz, 5, wore the right clothes, competed on the highest level sports teams, and were involved in countless activities that kept mom Regan questioning her sanity. Nine months in Third World Ecuador changed them. “We’re travelers,” Regan said — though she prefers the word “experience” to “travel.” When she was pregnant with Chaz, she and husband Benoir took their family on a backpacking venture through Mexico. They lived in villages with the natives, bathed in the rivers, plucked feathers from chickens for cooking and ground their own meal.

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This house was home to the Renaud family of Newnan during the time they lived and schooled in Ecuador.

A waterfall tumbling down the rocks beside the road, a common sight in the mountainous region.

Madissen at the health clinic where she volunteered with Dr. Mauro Quierus. She took patients' vital signs, and even gave a couple of routine injections.

The family in the rainforest with a Colorado Indian tribesman.

Madissen and Rachel wearing masks to protect them from volcanic ash. 66

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The “experience� was so rich, she knew another would be in store. She chose Ecuador because of its diversity. Between the coast and the volcanic mountains are vast rainforests, all of it a treasure trove of scientific and cultural learning. Regan planned to take the children from August until the following spring while Benoir, an engineer, would remain in Newnan to work and maintain their home. In preparation for their journey, Regan and her children studied Spanish. It wasn’t a far cry from the French the family, originally from

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F Canada, speaks fluently. Each child was allowed to carry what they could fit into a single backpack. “This was a monumental decision for kids who wear Hollister and have been catered to their entire lives,� Regan said. The Renauds began their adventure in Quito, Ecuador’s oldest capital. They traveled by bus — the tour buses with fringe and no air conditioning, Regan said. The kids were introduced to a new standard of hygiene. Regan discovered an innocence she has long since lost when their bus jolted on the rutty road and shattered a television screen. Glass rained on the passengers. Ready to stem the panic, she leapt from her seat shouting “It’s okay! Stay calm!�

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On the beach near their house is a sea turtle. It wasn't unusual to see creatures like this or the Galapagos lizard, bottom left, during walks on the beach. Tungurahua, the active volcano at Banos

San Clemente fishermen pull in their nets with the help of Chaz and Ben (in back). The boys were paid with fish for their efforts. A typical farm seen from the region's winding roads. The terraced-looking land stretched down the mountainside is the farmer's crops.

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Her reaction was met with curious glances as passengers nonchalantly brushed broken glass from their clothes and hair. “It was like they didn’t know to be afraid,� she said. The Renauds initially rented small houses in San Clemente, a small fishing village on the coast, with no running water or electricity. The local fare was “a gastronomical treat,� Regan said. The family typically ate fish — usually seasoned with lime — simple soups, fresh fruit or vegetables and rice. What food they didn’t catch or pick themselves they bought locally — mangos were five cents, “platanos,� or plantains, were a mere two cents. Each morning and evening, Ben and Chaz joined the local children on the beach to help the fishermen cast and pull in their handmade nets. The boys were paid with fresh fish for their efforts. The Renauds became known — affectionately — as the local “Gringo� family. The children attended San Clemente’s school. They met in a building with sand floors and chesthigh dividers between desk-less classrooms. A cow bell signaled class changes. “It was a privilege to go to school,� Rachel, the oldest, said. Many of her San Clemente friends worked just to attend, staying up into the morning hours to finish their homework. The Renauds built a hut on the beach, constructed by local workers with machetes and bamboo. Their kitchen was built around a large palm tree, and their living space had a loft over it where the girls slept. One of the workers apprenticed Madissen, who learned to tie together palm fronds to make the home’s thatched roof. The family was

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At the Renaud family's first breakfast after arriving in a "nice restaurant" in Quito, the capital, are, from left, Rachel, Madissen, Ben, Monique and Chaz.

of routine injections. able to rig electricity to the house, The family took a brief but only for certain hours of the day. “vacation” from their quiet existence They lived like the Swiss Family in San Clemente for a three-week Robinson, which they read during trek through Ecuador’s Amazon. their stay. Their home-away-fromThey visited tribes of Colorado home had “something new to offer Indians, coaxing one tribesman into a every day.” Monique watched the day’s guided walk through the porpoises frolic in the waves from rainforest. their doorway each morning. Short They soaked in the thermal baths walks down the beach guaranteed sea turtle sightings. The kids spent their days surfing and playing soccer with their friends, and their nights dancing in the streets during town festivals. The rains brought washed pottery fragments and other artifacts from ancient civilizations down a nearby mountain for perusal. Madissen even volunteered at the local health clinic, taking The Renauds ride in an Ecuadoran "taxi." Paying from patients’ vitals and 25 cents to $1, depending on their destination, passengers usually stand for the duration of the trip. even giving a couple

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at Banos, located at the foot of Ecuador’s Tungurahua, an active volcano. While in Banos, they met teams of seismologists studying the volcano and learned how they conducted their research. They were told they had a few days before the volcano’s next eruption, and took advantage of the time with a guided horseback ride up the mountain for a closer look. The Renauds remember watching the volcano’s “fireworks display� from their doorway in Banos each night. The family, save for Madissen, returned home in February. Madissen stayed with close friends the Garcias until April. Their return was a culture shock. Even the girls, who had known the latest trends a year before, felt bombarded with the “need� to wear clean — and stylish — clothes every day. Regan had to check her own reaction when she saw the price for a watermelon — for which she had paid 50 cents in Ecuador — at $7.75. Surprisingly, in a world of endless stimulation, the family has struggled with boredom. “Nobody changed,� Rachel said. “It seems like we were only gone a day.� “It feels like we matured five years in nine months,� Madissen said. “Everyone here is still doing the same thing.� “They were devastated to come home,� Regan said. As a mom, she’s relishing the change. Months of living with “no pretenses� and “no make believe� shook her children from a “need to keep up� that was tearing at her family before. For the first time, they’re eating supper together every night. “It’s so nice just to be,� she said. NCM

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First Day of School

Memories It's a tradition moms around the country know well: documenting that famous First Day of School each year with a photograph for the family album. With the beginning of school coming August 6, these local families shared some of their First-Day-of-School thoughts and photos. Do you take photos of your child each year on the first day of school? If so, please share your high-resolution JPGS (300 dpi) with us by e-mailing them to deberah@newnan.com!

The Thomas Children

In the photos at left, Ally Thomas is starting third grade, Caroline Thomas first grade, and Will had not started school yet. In the photos at right, they are in fifth grade, third grade and kindergarten. Speaking of their most recent experiences, Ally said: “I was nervous and afraid of my teacher. But I was excited to see my friends again. Elm Street was the greatest school and I loved going there.” Caroline said: “I love school, but I was still very nervous about the first day. I already knew which friends were in my class, so I was excited about seeing them.” Will (pictured opposite in the hallway at Elm Street), said, “On my first day of kindergarten, I couldn't wait to see who was in my class. I was very nervous. But I loved my teacher, Miss Wendi Whitehead, and my good friend, David Ponce, was in class with me and I made lots of new friends on the first day.” They are the children of Billy and Dawn Thomas of Newnan. 72

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The Williams Children

The Williams children — Alex, Daven, Katie Beth and Abby — are pictured on the first day of Elm Street School for the 2007 year. Abby was not at Elm Street, but she loved “posing” for the shot as well. Each of the children said they remember the first day of school being very exciting and “scary” as well. They all knew they would love another year at Elm Street. Alex recalled that at the beginning of his fifth grade year, he realized that another year at Elm Street was opening but at the same time his years at Elm Street were coming to a close. “I realized that I would miss Elm Street,” he said. Daven, who was entering fourth grade, said that although he was apprehensive, “I knew that I was ready for another great year at Elm Street.” And first grader Katie Beth said, “I was so excited to meet new friends and learn new things.” They are the children of Jeff and Beth Williams. NCM

Now ing Enroll

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By Carolyn Barnard s we head into the always exhilarating, customarily dreaded back-to-school season (which, I must say, seems to be creeping closer and closer to our Fourth of July celebrations), I have taken time to reflect on my years of “first day of school.” There are many emotions surrounding that day: anticipation, anxiety, excitement, denial, nervousness and more. Movies like Legally Blonde, Harry Potter and Never Been Kissed have tried to capture these feelings of students from Elementary to Law School. While we can’t all attend Hogwarts or Harvard, what is universal in these movies is the idea that being a student can be rough. One common misconception, however, is that once you leave the sector of being a student, everything just falls into place if you decide to darken the hallways of a school again. Being an educator (as I have been for the last year) is a very easy, natural thing to do. You feel no anxiety over the first day of

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school. You’re way beyond that now because you are a teacher! You’re in control. You breeze into the classroom prepared for any and everything. These are the teachers usually portrayed in glitzy Hollywood movies. I, however, found myself in a very different place my first year teaching and have concluded that it’s not just students who get nervous about heading back to school; it’s everyone. Perhaps like me, you found yourself in a very awkward state when you were in middle school. I was the girl with a bowl cut who had yet to be introduced to the wonders of eyebrow waxing. It was a dark time. What happens to most of us, however, is that we grow out of said awkwardness. You become much less nervous about the dreaded blemish — I was once wrenched from my mother’s car by force after refusing to get out due to the middle-of-the-forehead breakout — or saying the wrong

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thing in front of the class and looking silly. But what’s so interesting about being a first year teacher is that while you may not have these particular insecurities anymore, there are many new things to be nervous about! I remember my heart hammering in my chest the entire first day, just thinking about what could go wrong. No longer was I afraid that the cool kids wouldn’t like me. Instead, I started thinking about all the terrible things my friends used to do to new teachers. What if one of the kids asks something about history I know absolutely nothing about? What if, when I call the roll, every kid in class has already decided to take someone else’s name? What if they put something in my desk like a stink bomb and we are forced to evacuate? What if I come back from the bathroom with my dress tucked into my underwear with toilet paper on my shoe? Or worst of all,

what if I drop my dry-erase marker and bend over to pick it up and accidentally pass gas? As if middle schoolers would give me another chance at being an authority figure after that! Fortunately, I made it through that first week without much drama. I saved the really great things for later in the year. Like the time I completely wiped out in the hallway wearing a skirt while juggling a Starbucks (naturally), purse, book bag and umbrella, all of which went airborne when I turned the hallway into a slip-n-slide. Or the time I dressed up for “Tacky Day” when the rest of the school had gotten the memo that Tacky Day had been delayed. So remember, heading back to school can be a nerve-racking time for everyone. What’s important is that you enjoy those times, as a student or a teacher, and always laugh at yourself first. Or just teach middle school, and they’ll laugh at you instead!

What if I come back from the bathroom with my dress tucked into my underwear with toilet paper on my shoe?

NCM

(Carolyn Barnard of Newnan recently completed her first year of teaching at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn.)

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> COWETA COOKS

Making

Ice Cream for a Cause By Janet Flanigan | Photos by Bob Fraley

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Tonya and Keith Brown with their award-winning ice cream

ometimes the best laid plans aren’t winners; it’s the ones planned on a whim that bring home the gold. “Our church (Christ Presbyterian) entered the 2007 Main Street Newnan Ice Cream Festival on a whim,” Tonya Brown said with a smile, “but we won first prize!” Tonya, husband Keith, daughter Liana (22 months), baby number two (due in October) and dog Mason (15 years old) have lived in Newnan for six years after moving here from Florida, and they live in the historic LaGrange Street area. “We love being close to downtown and really enjoy going to all the small town festivals,” said Keith. “We thought Newnan’s ice cream contest would be a great outreach for our church and would provide fun and fellowship for our congregation.”

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Since the Browns were the instigators for entering their church in the contest, they decided to try out some recipes before providing two final choices to their church members for a taste test. The Browns made Ginger Pear, Cantaloupe, Coffee, Mango and Orange by the quart before they decided on their two final contenders. The members of Christ Presbyterian had the pleasure of deciding between the delicious choices of Mango Tango and Orange Cremesicle. “We did so much sampling and tasting we actually burned up the motor of one ice cream maker!” laughed Tonya. When purchasing an ice cream maker for the first time, the couple found greater success with the models that use ice and rock salt rather than those that advertise “no ice or rock salt necessary.” Keith said they tried a model that claimed no need for ice or rock salt but the ice cream either never solidified or froze into a rock-hard mass. “After our own testing, we asked our church members to select which of the two ice creams they wanted to be our ‘entry’ flavor at the festival and the Orange Cremesicle won,” Tonya said. “But then, at the festival, so many people kept asking for the Mango Tango that we decided to enter that flavor instead.” “We think lots of the kids voted for the Cremesicle at the church vote, but we’re glad we chose the more ‘exotic’ flavor for the contest … since it won,” she said. “But they’re both good!” With over 400 combined servings handed out last year, many satisfied attendees agreed. Of the infinite recipes to choose from, no matter what you make you’ll have your family’s vote of thanks for this cool, fresh and thoughtful homemade treat that says summer through and through!

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Liana Brown tries some ice cream with help from parents Tonya and Keith.

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MANGO TANGO GELATO

A gelato is typically made with fresh fruit and is usually made with non-dairy ingredients. They are often also called sorbettos (sorbets). 2 ripe mangos, peeled and diced 20-ounce can crushed pineapple Juice of small lime 12-ounce can coconut milk 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 24-ounce container Publix or other brand “creamy blends� vanilla yogurt Puree mango and can of pineapple (undrained) with lime juice. Mix coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk and yogurt together. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill in refrigerator. Prepare in ice cream maker according to directions. Depending on the size of mangos, this recipe will yield 1/2 gallon plus 1 quart.

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Main Street Newnan will host its annual Homemade Ice Cream Festival on Saturday, July 5, 2008 from noon to 3 p.m. on the square in downtown Newnan

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ORANGE CREMESICLE ICE CREAM 3 large navel oranges 2 cups whole milk 8 tablespoons cornstarch 6 cups reduced fat milk 2 cups sugar Orange food coloring to desired color 16 ounces Publix or other brand “creamy blends� vanilla yogurt Zest oranges into large strips with vegetable peeler, avoiding the white pith. Juice the oranges to yield approximately 3/4 cup juice, strain the juice and set aside. Whisk whole milk and cornstarch together and set aside. Combine reduced fat milk, sugar and zest in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly to avoid scorching. Add whole milk/cornstarch mixture and juice to saucepan; whisk until thick and bubbly. Remove zest, stir in food coloring and yogurt until well combined. Chill mixture in ice bath, then transfer to refrigerator. Freeze in ice cream maker according to directions. Yields one gallon. NCM

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Pink Gumballs and Cinderella Slippers Make It

A Luncheon By Janet Flanigan | Photos courtesy of Tina Neely

S

he was a woman on a mission — she googled pink gumballs and ladies shoe party favors during the same computer workout. Tina Neely almost always has very specific ideas in mind and she knew exactly what she wanted for this special luncheon of a lifetime. Tina is on the leadership team for Walking in Joy Bible Study and Ministry, and the group’s leader, Fran Krigline, will be joining her husband Kevin in Manila in the Philippines for about a year while he concludes a job assignment. So Tina asked if she could host the final leadership luncheon of the year in honor of Fran’s temporary departure and as a gesture of love to her fellow team leaders. “We knew she had something up her sleeve because she snooped around to find out everyone’s

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to Remember initials and we didn’t know what she was up to, but boy, did we find out!” said LouAnne Connell, a member of the leadership team. Tina transformed her dining room into a “ladies who lunch” extravaganza — everywhere you looked, there were the most thoughtful touches. “I had done a similar theme for a luncheon honoring Mama,” she said, “so I sort of had the day planned in my mind and was able to use some of the same accessories.” But other items were created especially for this one-of-akind dining experience. “It all started with a Waverly shower curtain. The curtain features Waverly’s ‘Deco Dots Petunia’ pattern with strips of ‘Beach Umbrella’ at the top and bottom. The curtain is also available as a fabric, but I simply used the shower curtain because it was already preJULY/AUGUST

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“We knew she had something up her sleeve because she snooped around to find out everyone’s initials and we didn’t know what she was up to, but boy, did we find out!” – LouAnne Connell, leadership team member on hostess Tina Neely, right 82

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hemmed and had the coordinating fabric trimming ready made. All I had to do was cut it down the middle and hem that part up and it was perfect.� The shower curtain set the color scheme for the event, and Tina knew the theme just had to be shoes: Walking in Joy always uses shoes as their logo, and the group has taken to giving each other shoe gifts and prizes on special occasions. When the ladies of the leadership team started arriving, there were literal gasps of surprise as each individual walked up to behold this magnificent table. Each woman had a special place created just for her. Through her design company, BellaChristine, Tina offers custom monogramming as one of her services, so she created several special touches for the luncheon. At each place setting, every lady found in place of an ordinary drinking glass an individually monogrammed, polkadotted petite flower vase. And each lovely black plate resting atop a gold charger had an individually monogrammed hot pink handkerchief that doubled as a napkin for the luncheon. But it wasn’t just folded in some beautiful fold. Remember the computer search for shoe party favors? Each napkin was daintily tucked inside a key ring comprised of the hottest little shoe that Jimmy Choo just wishes he had designed! Mouths were dropping left and right at the beauty of the table, but it didn’t stop there. Each place setting had a seating card that doubled as a box of gift tags for the ladies to take home. They were cleverly placed in the original boxes that the key rings came in. “The cards just fit perfectly in those little boxes so I thought they’d be perfect to use,� Tina said. Then at the head of each lovely black plate was a special black/white photo of the

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Those at the luncheon for the 2007-2008 leadership team for Walking in Joy included, front row, Lura Hammock, Val Cranford, LouAnne Connell, Tina Neely, Fran Krigline, Andra Farill; and second row, Bambi Edge, Joy Tarpley, Sandy Parker, Elizabeth Gordon, Marla Brandenburg and Janet Flanigan.

leadership team surrounded by hot pink matting (with polka dots) and a special message from Tina and a scriptural passage of Walking in Joy Leadership, “You’re in my thoughts today and my heart always … may the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent from one another … Genesis 31:49.” The centerpieces for the table were inventive beyond description. Short, clear glass flower vases were filled with

large pink gumballs which held the colorful spring flowers. A Cinderella-style shoe, held over from another event, was also filled with the pink gumballs and placed on the sideboard for dramatic flair. Mission accomplished. Each lady indeed felt like Cinderella that day, and that glass slipper would likely have fit every foot in the room – had they dared try it on – but the gumballs thankfully prevented such an auspicious activity.

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As each woman arrived at the luncheon, the previous arrivals took particular delight in escorting them to the dining room to hear the new gasps of wonderment and awe at the special table laid just for them. Marla Brandenburg and Lura Hammock created a delightful meal to go with the decorations, and everyone had an amazing time that was talked about for days. Tina is often asked by others to help design tables and

themes for events and parties because she just has what is known as “the eye.� If you ask her where she gets her talent, she says it is “really just God-given. I just know how things should go together and what looks good. And I love shopping for myself and for other people to make things look pretty.� Isn’t it nice that something that brings her happiness brings such joy and beauty to those around her? Talk about walking in joy! NCM

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> SADDLE UP

Student of the Horse Trainer Karen Jones using the ‘natural horsemanship’ method By Martha A. Woodham | Photos by Bob Fraley

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Trainer Karen Jones of Roscoe accepts a kiss from an appreciative customer.

T

hese days, going “green” is quite the trend. Georgians are turning to organic foods and looking for earth-friendly products. Coweta County horse trainer Karen Jones goes one step further, practicing “natural horsemanship” when teaching her horses and students. Jones discovered natural horsemanship more than 10 years ago when she attended a clinic taught by noted horseman Pat Parelli. Natural horsemanship, as the training technique espoused by Parelli, Buck Brannaman and other trainers is known, is a non-aggressive way of working

with horses that is derived from observations of horses in the wild. As Brannaman said one time: “I’ve started horses since I was 12 years old and have been bit, kicked, bucked off and run over. I’ve tried every physical means to contain my horse in an effort to keep from getting myself killed. I started to realize that things would come much easier for me once I learned why a horse does what he does. This method works well for me because of the kinship that develops between horse and rider.” Always mindful that horses are prey animals that interact with each other in herds,

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Jones uses these communications techniques to build partnerships with horses that resemble the relationships that exist between equines. In other words, to her horses, she is the “boss mare.� “Understanding, working with and developing a better partnership with your horse is a peaceful, yet exhilarating emotion that is unexplainable,� says Jones, adding that she is constantly learning from her horses. “There is nothing purer than a horse ... so forgiving, so understanding. They are great teachers. When we think we are teaching them, we are in turn learning about ourselves from them.� Like so many horse lovers, Jones began riding at an early age. “My mom swears I came out of the womb saying horse,� she says with a laugh. Her parents had grown up on farms, so they indulged their horse-crazy daughter with Western riding lessons and a horse. She eventually was a regular on the show circuit, competing in halter and showmanship classes as well as Western pleasure and trail classes. And her horse herd expanded. “I trained a couple of them myself, but some of those horses knew more than I did,� she said. One was a sorrel Quarter horse named Skipper Jr. Moore who came into her life when she was 10. Skipper

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went to college with Jones when she set off for Auburn University in 1976, intending to become a vet. But her plans changed, and she became an artist instead. Cowetans familiar with the annual Powers’ Crossroads Country Fair will remember Jones and her unique wooden block puzzles. When she married her husband, Jack, Skipper was sold. But two years later Jones bought Skipper back, and her old four-legged pal inspired the name of her horse training business, “The Student of the Horse.� “You know how you have a horse that you learn everything from? He was my teacher,� she says. Skipper passed away at 31 and is buried on the Joneses’ farm in the Roscoe community, where the couple moved in 1984. A bad fall put an end to Jones’ riding in 1998. She wasn’t badly hurt, but “it affected me mentally,� she says. “All of a sudden, I was consumed with fear. I couldn’t get back on ... I became nauseated at the thought of getting on a horse.� After watching Parelli work with problem horses and riders at that 1999 clinic in Perry, Jones was in awe. “I was just blown away,� she says. “People were actually playing with horses – and they were having fun! I thought, I can do this.� But after that initial burst of excitement, she became discouraged again. The techniques, which require a lot of work with the trainer on the ground instead of on the horse’s back, are not difficult. But horses are smart enough to take advantage of a neophyte. After all, natural horsemanship methods are their native “language.� And Jones was still afraid to ride. She got back on track in 2001 with a clinic by another natural horsemanship trainer, David Lichman, who trained with Parelli. Jones overcame her fears and began to ride again. “Now I can’t stay off of them,� she says. Jones now has three well-trained American Quarter horses, Fortune, Sage and Amy – all mares. She describes them in terms of their “horse-onality�: Fortune, 24, is laid-back; Sage, 12, is serious; and Jones’s main “teacher,� Amy, at 6, is very green and playful.

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Jones’ relationship with Lichman also developed into a new business as she began booking and coordinating clinics for him and other trainers such as Karen Rohlf, who combines principles of natural horsemanship with the art of dressage. Horse enthusiasts attend the clinics to learn new ways of working with their equines, much like kids attend basketball or soccer camp. Jones now shares her extensive knowledge of natural horsemanship with students of her own. She sees many of them on a regular basis, but she will also step in to help someone whose horse has a problem, such as refusing to load in a trailer. “My job as a teacher is to push you a little bit out of your comfort zone, but not so much that you are fearful or can’t excel,� she says. But she sandwiches her teaching between lessons and clinics she takes to improve her skills. “I’m always a student,� she says. “There is always something to learn about horses, and in turn we learn about ourselves.� Want to learn more about natural horsemanship? Contact Karen Jones by e-mail at kjpuzzles@mindspring.com or phone 770-251-1799 or 678-877-4817.

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The historic houses and cottages on Jekyll Island are just one of the draws for visitors to Georgia’s coastal jewel.

Exploring Georgia’s H

ave you ever dreamed of vacationing like the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers? You can at Georgia’s coastal jewel, Jekyll Island. This seven-mile barrier island was once a private paradise for some of America’s most elite families. From 1886-1942, the island was owned by the Jekyll Island Club, an exclusive social club with a limit of 100 members. The families came down from Newport and New York each winter to relax and enjoy the laid back atmosphere. That is, until 1947 when the state of Georgia purchased the island and declared it a playground for the public. Today, Jekyll Island remains a great escape from the modern world. Getting there is easy. Jekyll is one of only four Georgia barrier islands that can be accessed via a

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causeway (for a small fee) from inland Brunswick. After you’ve arrived, nature provides the setting; you choose the pace. From shell collecting along the 10 miles of unspoiled beaches to taking advantage of the 20 miles of paved bicycling trails, Jekyll is sure to please. If the Jekyll Island Club sparks your imagination, be sure to visit its 240-acre compound, which is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark District. The compound consists of the original Victorian club house, along with most of the mansion-sized “cottages” that the families built, most of which are open to the public. Among them are San Souci, owned in part by J.P. Morgan and one of the first condominiums in the U.S., the Goodyear Cottage, and the Indian

Mound, the 25-room home of the Rockefeller family. This area is one of the largest, ongoing restoration projects in the southeastern United States, according to www.jekyllisland.com. In fact, the entire island will soon be undergoing a renovation. The Jekyll Island Authority has partnered with Linger Longer Communities to give the island a $352 million facelift, which would add new hotels and condos. Linger Longer pledges that the new infrastructures “will enhance the island’s natural systems and create an environmentally sound and sustainable coastal community.” Linger Longer also developed Reynolds Plantation. No matter how you weigh in on the subject, Jekyll Island is a crown jewel that all Georgians should care about.

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Coastal Jewel By Leigh Knight | Photos courtesy of Jekyll Island Authority

Where to stay?

What to do?

Accommodations abound but here’s a sampling:

In addition to biking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, historic tours and horseback riding, try visiting the $3 million Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which opened in June 2007 in the historic district on the site of the original 1903 power plant building, much of which has been preserved and incorporated into the new facilities. The center offers an outstanding museum-style learning experience and state-of-the-art rehabilitation center and veterinary clinic, a first of its kind in Georgia. For more info, visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

Days Inn and Suites, an oceanfront hotel that includes deluxe continental breakfast, two large pools and bike rentals. For more information, call 1-888-635-3003. Jekyll Island Club Hotel, a historic landmark and vacation resort located in the heart of the historic district, includes bicycles, heated pools, tours, croquet and a private beach. For more info, call 1-800-535-9547. At Jekyll Island Campground, you won’t exactly be roughing it under the magnificent oaks located on the northern tip of the island. The campground is located near the Driftwood Beach, fishing pier and historic ruins. For more info, call 1-866-658-3021.

Historic homes, above, and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, below, are among the popular sites at Jekyll Island.

Summer Waves is celebrating 20 years of “splashtacular” fun at this 11-acre water park, complete with slides, waterfalls and lazy river. Toddler area available. For more info, call 1-912-635-2074. For general information, visit www.jekyllislandauthority.org and www.jekyllisland.com. NCM JULY/AUGUST

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THE BOOKSHELF

Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen By Susan Gregg Gilmore Shaye Areheart Books, $23 Reviewed by Holly Jones They could be kindred spirits – Catherine Grace Cline in Susan Gregg Gilmore’s novel, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, and Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. Both dislike their hometowns, both dream of magical lands, and both love – but feel misunderstood by – their families. Catherine Grace doesn’t sing about her destination, mostly because it’s Atlanta, a few hours south of her hometown of Ringgold, Ga. She does however, plan her escape. Every night she’d pray – “Find me a way out” – but every morning “I woke up in the same old place.” Ringgold doesn’t have would-be witches, but it was a place where “everybody knew everything about you, down to the color of underwear your mama bought you at the Dollar General Store. It was a place that just never felt right to me, like a sweater that fits too tight under your arms. It was a place where girls like me traded their dreams for a boy with a couple of acres of land and a woodframed house with a new electric stove.” Catherine Grace wasn’t leaving town on a twister – although “Mr. Naylor’s old 94

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hound dog” did. A tornado whisked the dog away, and everyone figured it was dead until it came trotting home. Our heroine needs a more predictable plan – something she accomplishes over Dilly Bars at the Dairy Queen. It’s a tradition. Every Saturday, Catherine Grace takes her sister and their allowance. And while eating their Dilly Bars, they plot Catherine Grace’s escape. This plot doesn’t involve a rainbow, but it is colorful – involving several years and hundreds of jars of homemade strawberry jam. Finally, Catherine Grace feels she’s saved enough money and graduates from high school. Just days later, she’s on a Greyhound bus, Atlanta-bound and determined to find a job at Davison’s department store. Her sister is proud of her, her father is miserable. For a while, Catherine Grace lives her dream. She gets her job. She finds a place to live, with a sweet older lady. She even encounters The Varsity. But Catherine Grace does have her ruby slipper moment. Like Dorothy, she realizes what she’s missing and what she will miss in the future. Unfortunately, her moment comes a little too late. Salvation has more romance, more sadness, and tons more secrets than The Wizard of Oz. But most important, both stories teach us “there’s no place like home.”

host for a new nationally broadcast show, and Gina is one of the finalists for the job. She just has to prove she’s better than another candidate, Tate Moody, who is host of the show “Vittles,” which Gina refers to as “kill it and grill it.” Gina is determined to hate Tate for trying to steal her big opportunity. She also thinks he’s an overconfident jerk. Still, it’s hard to hate a blond-haired-blueeyed golden boy who looks great in jeans and cooks like a dream. Especially one with an irresistible dog named Moonpie. This is where the recipe gets sticky. The network executives decide to have a cook-off. It is supposed to take place on Eutaw Island, a small barrier island down off the coast in South Georgia. The contestants – Gina and

Deep Dish By Mary Kay Andrews Harper, $24.95 Reviewed by Holly Jones It’s a recipe for … what? Success, disaster, romance, chaos? In Mary Kay Andrews’ Deep Dish, the answer is all of the above. But the ingredients are as follows: Gina Foxton was the host of a successful local cooking show, “Fresh Start” – “was” being the key word because her show has recently been canceled. The reason behind the cancellation is Gina’s boyfriend Scott, who is also her producer, having an affair with the show’s sponsor’s wife. So Gina is out of a job and a boyfriend. But not everything in this recipe is rotten. The Cooking Channel wants a

Tate – have to use what they can find living or growing naturally on the island and create gourmet masterpieces. They have three days and three different challenges. When the catastrophes start piling up during the second challenge and both stars go missing, the executives decide it’s time to head back to the mainland – and a climate-controlled, cell phone-conducive environment. So it’s back to the studio for more challenges. And a different kind of challenge for Gina, who is still trying desperately to win her cooking show and hate her competition.

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At one moment she’s in jeans and workboots at a job site, and the next she’s in designer shoes and a tailored navy blue suit around a boardroom table. Westbrook thinks Casey just may have something that the U.K. investor should be interested in, but then the superstore’s construction schedule hits an unexpected snag. Pieces of old pottery found on the job site attract the interest of some Native Americans in the area – and the media – so a court challenge soon halts construction on the new store. So how do the careers work out for the book’s main characters? They’re not exactly what you might expect, but the relationship outcome is just the one romance readers will be looking for. NCM

Things are heating up quickly for Gina, and she’s not sure she likes the heat. Mary Kay Andrews has written a hilarious take on the world of television and cooking. She has written a recipe for success, disaster, romance and chaos and created the perfect Deep Dish for readers to enjoy.

Lone Star Courtship By Mae Nunn Steeple Hill Books, $5.50 Reviewed by Angela McRae Fans of inspirational romance writer Mae Nunn of Sharpsburg will not want to miss her latest release, Lone Star Courtship, in which a hard-headed Texas businesswoman meets a charming British lawyer who threatens to come between her and her plans for her family’s business expansion. In her last book, Mom in the Middle, Nunn’s heroine was a widowed young mother who found herself being romanced by Guy Hardy, the hardworking young man who runs his family’s popular home superstore chain. In Lone Star Courtship, that earlier romance has resulted in marriage, and the businessman at the helm of Hearth and Home has turned the reigns of the family business over to his younger sister, Casey Hardy. Readers of Nunn’s books know that in her work they will find a strong – and often strong-willed – heroine, and Lone Star Courtship continues in this fine tradition. Nunn’s Casey Hardy is a driven, ambitious woman. She is also a Christian woman, so her faith informs her business decisions, but Nunn has also made her a woman with a flaw: she suffers from panic attacks. Although Casey’s family is from Iowa, she has moved to Galveston, Texas to oversee the latest Hearth and Home store’s construction. A potential investor from the U.K. sends a lawyer to Texas to size up Hearth and Home’s possibilities, and the normally self-assured Casey suddenly finds herself feeling defensive and out of control. The lawyer, Barrett Westbrook, meanwhile, plans to be in and out of Texas in a flash. Coming from a long line of lawyers, Barrett feels the need to prove himself to his family – much as Casey does – yet he finds himself becoming quite drawn to the lovely but hard-headed woman he has been sent to examine.

BOOK GIVEAWAY We have a copy of Denise Jackson's newest book, Footsteps of Faith, Hope and Love: The Road Home, to give away to one lucky Coweta resident. Enter to win at www.newnancowetamagazine.com.

Historic Downtown Newnan’s Premier Bookseller

SCOTT’S BOOK STORE Ser v i ng Ne wnan Since 1976

Visit us in historical downtown Newnan — We are your independent book store Special Orders Personal Service Book Clubs Welcome -ONDAY &RIDAY s 3ATURDAY

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JULY/AUGUST

2008

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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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Advanced Aesthetics, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Applause Salon & Spa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 An Affair to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Archadeck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Artisan Jewelry Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Ashley Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13 Baby Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Bank of Coweta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bennett’s Antiques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Jay S. Berger, M.D., P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Brian’s Paint and Body Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Cardiovascular Consultants of Georgia, P.C. . . 67 Center For Allergy & Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Center Stage Arabians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Charles Schwab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Country Inn & Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Coweta Dentistry Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Coweta-Fayette EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Coweta Festivals, Powers’ Crossroads . . . . . . 95 Coweta Pool & Fireplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Crescent Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Crossroads Podiatry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Delta Community Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Discovery Point Child Development Center. . . 73 Downtown Church of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Farm Bureau Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Fine Lines Art & Framing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 FoxHall/Forestar Real Estate Group . . . . . . . . . 11 Fresh-N-Fit Cuisine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Georgia Stained Glass, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Griffin Dental Specialties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Heritage Quilts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Heritage Retirement Homes of Peachtree. . . . 46 The Heritage School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Hollberg's Fine Furniture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 It's A Small World Children's Dentistry . . . . . . . 7 Kimble's Events by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

The Lazy-Daisy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Lee-King Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Legacy Too Furniture/Accessories . . . . . . . . . . 48 Lion’s Den Portable Toilets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Long Orthodontics, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Main Street Newnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 McIntosh Commercial Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Morgan Jewelers/Downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Newnan Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Nick's Pizzeria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Outpatient Imaging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Panoply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Parks & Mottola Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Patricia A. Recklett, DVM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Phillips Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Piedmont Newnan Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Premier Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Protran Transmission Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 R.S. Mann Jewelers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Radiation Oncology Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Scott's Book Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Signature Kitchen & Bath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Simple Treasures Children’s Boutique & Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Southern Crescent Equine Services . . . . . . . . . 89 The Southern Federal Credit Union. . . . . . . . . . 59 Stonebridge Early Learning Center . . . . . . . . . . 90 The Times-Herald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Traditions in Tile & Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Uniglobe McIntosh Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 University of West Georgia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Von Salon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Watts Furniture Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 W. Daly Salon Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Wedowee Marine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Wesley Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 West Georgia Sleep Disorders Center . . . . . . . 69 1-800-Got Junk? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

September/October Advertising Deadlines Contract Ads: July 23, 2008, New Ads: August 1, 2008 Call 770.683.6397 for details and advertising information. 96

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MAGAZINE

A publication of The Times-Herald

GOLD FOR BEST SINGLE ISSUE January/February 2007

d l o G

WINNER OF FOUR 2008 GAMMA AWARDS from the Magazine Association of the Southeast

Judges’ comments: A richly photographed fox hunt combined with moving and charming stories about a variety of animals make this issue readable, memorable, and ambitious. Thankfully, the issue’s pet theme didn’t displace the magazine’s effective people stories.

GOLD FOR BEST PROFILE July/August 2007

GOLD FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE

Judges’ comments: With just the right amount of humor (“English was still a problem, but they were both fluent in car�), this dual profile chronicles the friendship of two local business partners. It’s a quick but effective read, with snippets of conversation between the two men revealing more about them than straight prose ever could.

BRONZE FOR BEST PHOTOGRAPHY January/February 2007

Judges’ comments: Newnan-Coweta Magazine does exactly what it sets out to do by consistently delivering diverse, county-specific features and evocative photographs that remind readers why they decided to “live the good life� in the area. The Local Heritage and Meet a Reader columns bolster the sense of community the magazine works so hard to foster, while special issues like the Sept./Oct. 2007 art issue reinforce the message by highlighting the many inspirational and talented men and women who call this part of Georgia home.

" ½/ĂŠ -- - ĂŠ --1 ° iĂŒĂŠĂŽĂˆxĂŠ`>ĂžĂƒĂŠÂœvĂŠĂŒÂ…iĂŠ/ˆ“iĂƒÂ‡ iĂ€>Â?`ĂŠ>˜`ĂŠ ĂˆĂŠÂˆĂƒĂƒĂ•iĂƒĂŠÂœvĂŠ iĂœÂ˜>˜‡ ÂœĂœiĂŒ>ĂŠ >}>∘iĂŠvÂœĂ€ĂŠÂœÂ˜Â?ÞÊfÂŁĂ“{° Or to receive 6 issues of Newnan-Coweta Magazine only: In-county subscriptions — $23.75 Out-of-county subscriptions — $30.00

Call 770-304-3373

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ÂŁĂˆĂŠ ivviĂ€ĂƒÂœÂ˜ĂŠ-ĂŒĂ€iiĂŒĂŠUĂŠ iĂœÂ˜>˜]ĂŠ ĂŠĂŽäĂ“ĂˆĂŽ www.newnan.com www.times-herald.com www.newnancowetamagazine.com

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things I’ve learned ... as a Musician

As told to Elizabeth Richardson

Ragan Davis is a 17-year-old junior at East Coweta High School. She has been taking private music lessons on the guitar since the seventh grade. Davis has also been involved in chorus and drama at her school. In college, she hopes to double major in music and international business.

(1) If you think you aren’t going to like a particular style of music, listen to it anyway — you might end up liking it. Four years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined that I’d listen to jazz or classic rock. (2) People actually know what they’re talking about when they say practice makes perfect. You have to be willing to sound bad and force yourself to practice in spite of that. (3) It can be hard to find practice time, but every little bit counts. Even if you can only sit down with a guitar for 10 minutes that day, it’s still worth doing. (4) Get together with other musicians as much as you possibly can! Playing in a group setting is good because everyone has a certain way of doing things that can help you get a new perspective. (5) Most of the time, you’re playing music with a bunch of guys. It can be kind of intimidating at first, especially if you’ve never worked with them before. You just have to act like you’re one of them and you’ve played there a million times before. (6) I don’t get sick of songs that I’ve heard over and over. I’ve played “Red House” enough times to make my fingers fall off, but I still don’t get tired of hearing it or playing it. (7) Don’t beat yourself up if you hit a wrong note. At that point, there’s nothing you can do about it and you have to keep going. Hopefully, no one noticed anyway! (8) Music applies to a lot of other areas in life. It’s helped me with social skills because I’ve gotten used to being in front of a crowd and don’t get nervous anymore. (9) Being a musician comes in handy in school plays. I’m a member of East Coweta High School’s drama club, Echostage, and we recently put on a production of “Cowgirls.” It’s a musical where everyone plays their own instruments, so I played guitar and banjo in some of the songs. (10) The element of surprise can work to your advantage. I look like the kind of person who would play some cutesy song off the radio. People are caught off guard when they hear me play blues or rock. NCM 98

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