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Staff Picks

(4)

Chicken Fights

(6)

OUTDOORS: Hunting Rituals

(12)

Kitchen Table w/Aunt Lynne

(15)

Coming to America

(18)

Paparazzi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FALL 2016

(23, 45)

Project Unlearn Breaking the Cycle

(26)

Freedmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finds

(28)

ARTIST PROFILE: Lauri Stallings & gloATL (32) RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Tomato House

(37)

MOVIE REVIEW: Lo & Behold (47)

The Hidden South

(49)

Waypoint

(55)

Calendar Dogs

(58)

VENT

(61)

Fiction Winner: The Last Hunt

(63)

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From having physical therapists and certified athletic trainers who only work with kids to using Dartfish motion analysis to correct mechanics and prevent injuries, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta offers the specialized care needed to keep young football stars playing at the highest level. Whether it’s a torn ACL, a shoulder injury, or a concussion, the pediatric experts at Children’s will get your superstar back on the field as quickly and safely as possible.

We’re proud to serve Henry County athletes. Find the location nearest you at choa.org/sportsmed.

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STAFF PICKS One celebrity (living or dead) is the only friend you'll ever have. Who will it be?

ASHLEY: Salvador Dali ALLISON: Dave Barry BEN: Hunter S Thompson MICHELLE: Freddie Mercury JOSH: Dave Chappelle NICOLE: Martha Stewart JAKE: Nicolas Cage

Extended Family ASHLEY

CLARK

DREW

PETE

WRITER

Jennifer Garner

Roger Ebert

Laurence Olivier

John Wayne, The Duke

RACHEL

RONNIE

WRITER Butch Walker

STAN

TAYLOR

OUTDOORS WRITER

HISTORY WRITER

SPORTS WRITER

Dr. Who

Thomas Jefferson

Neil Peart

ChickenFIGHTS Small-Scale Poultry Farmers Grapple With Unfair Georgia Laws by Laurie Cochrane

evin Campbell has to wait for just the right time of morning to open the doors of his mobile chicken tractor, which looks somewhat like a beat-up gypsy wagon hitched to a Massey Ferguson tractor. “If you let them out too early or shut them in too late,” he says, “the predators can get them.” In addition to the shelter of the wagon, Kevin’s two Great Pyrenees dogs patrol the pastures at night to protect the brood from coyotes, foxes, hawks, owls, and armadillos. During the day, the birds are free to roam wherever they please – usually seeking shade under the wagon or under trees with Kevin’s sheep and Jersey cows during the hottest part of the day.

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The Conversation If you’re still confused, and most of us are, the conversation goes a little something like this: USDA: Guess what? Y’all can process up to 20,000 chickens each year without mandated inspection! FARMER: Yay!! GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (GDA): No you can’t. We’ve got our own laws, and you can’t process more than 1,000 birds – plus, you still have to process them in an approved facility. FARMER: Oh. Okay, well then can you inspect them for me, GDA? GDA: Sorry, we don’t have any facilities here. We’re still <ahem> “working” on that, but the USDA has places in North Carolina and Kentucky that can do it for you. Why don’t you and your birds take a drive up there? Road trip! J FARMER: But I can’t afford to get them processed way up there if I can only sell 1,000 birds! GDA: That’s not our problem. Try asking the USDA for a grant to cover the processing. FARMER: Hey, USDA, can I have some money to get my 1,000 birds inspected in Kentucky so I can sell them in Georgia? USDA: Why should we give you money for that? We already told you that you can raise 20,000 birds without inspection! FARMER: -.GDA: Why don’t you just build your own inspected processing facility? You could probably get it done for $500,000. (Plus $100 to register with us so we can make sure you did it right.) FARMER: HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BUILD A $500,000 FACILITY WHEN I CAN ONLY SELL 1,000 BIRDS????? GDA: If you build your own facility, and we say it’s okay, you can sell 20,000 birds. You just can’t sell them to any restaurants, distributors, or retail markets. FARMER: Why not? GDA: Because those chickens have to be from an “approved source.” FARMER: What’s an “approved source”? GDA: We’re not exactly sure. But you probably aren’t one. FARMER: <sigh> Anybody want to buy a pasture-raised chicken for $50?

Kevin, his wife, parents, and seven children live and work together on The Good Shepherd Family Farm in McDonough, Georgia. It’s the sort of farm that used to be common in the last century. Along with raising meat chickens, the Campbell family works together on their beautiful piece of land to raise dairy cows, sheep, eggs, organic vegetables, and more. It’s also the sort of farm that one might expect to be supported by the legislation of an agricultural state like Georgia. However, aside from the mandate that Kevin’s grass- and organic-fed Jersey raw milk must be labeled for pet consumption only (that’s another article), the state of Georgia is also host to unique state laws that, when combined with federal law, serve to elbow out small-scale farmers who want to grow the premium poultry consumers desire. For decades, Georgia has been far and away the nation’s largest producer of meat chickens (broilers). According to the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development Farm Gate Value Report, broilers brought in $4.5 billion, or 32.5 percent, of total agricultural commodities in the state last year – that’s over four-and-a-half times the cash brought in by beef, the second-highest single commodity. But, according to the National Chicken Council, fewer than 1 percent of all broilers in the U.S. are raised by independent farmers. The rest are owned or under contract to large chicken production and processing companies. This evolution of the chicken industry is necessary to meet America’s insatiable appetite for chicken. However, the mega farmers can’t, at the same time, meet growing consumer demand for pasture-raised, antibiotic-free poultry like Kevin’s. The tangle of laws can be headache producing, but we’ll try to break it down here: First, federal law, under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), requires that poultry to be sold as human food be slaughtered and processed in a facility with “continuous” (bird-by-bird) state or federal inspection. The USDA allows farmers to process up to 20,000 chickens per year on their own farms, without mandatory state or federal inspection. However, in 2003, the state of Georgia announced its intention to establish its own poultry inspection program for the processing and sale of poultry products within the state. As part of that procedure, the state deleted, among other things, the federal inspection exemption that allows the processing of 1,000 to 20,000 birds annually. The state did not delete the exemption that covers processing and sale of fewer than 1,000 birds per year. So, unless you process fewer than 1,000 birds per year, each bird has to be inspected in an “approved” facility. But then the state took no further steps to build the inspection facilities that small-scale poultry farmers who annually produce between 1,000 and 20,000 birds would need in order to meet the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) own requirements. Additionally, in November continued on pg. 10

A sports injury is likely to cost you a few games. But it’s the X-rays and MRIs that could cost you an arm and a leg. When a sports injury occurs, Griffin Imaging takes care of your medical imaging needs in a private and relaxed environment, with comfort, compassion, and quality as priorities. It’s important to remember that an Outpatient Diagnostic Facility’s prices are substantially lower than hospital prices. We offer quick, no-hassle appointments, accept most insurance plans, and we offer affordable discounted self-pay rates for the uninsured. Have your doctor refer you to Griffin Imaging today. We want to help get you back to the sports and activities you love.

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continued from pg. 7 of 2011, the GDA released a guideline clarifying the requirements for a registered farm to process 1,000 birds or less on-premise. The guideline outlines the type of facility a farmer would need to build to meet these requirements. Such a facility would cost approximately $500,000 – well out of reach of most small farmers, especially with the tight restrictions on how many birds they can process and sell. Alternatively, the GDA recommends such farmers apply for a grant of federal (USDA) inspection. But, remember, the USDA considers producers of 20,000 or fewer birds to be exempt. In addition, the Georgia Food Act (which was passed into law by the state legislature in 2008) requires that all food sold to food sales and service establishments (e.g., restaurants or retail markets) in Georgia must be from an “approved source,” which is defined as one that is subject to inspection. However, this law does not specify what type of inspection is required. It does specify that sales must occur direct to consumer (on-farm or at farmers markets) in order to avoid the “approved source” requirement. A mobile meat license is required to sell frozen chickens at farmers markets. So, small, on-farm processers face a two-fold legal problem: First, they can only process 1,000 birds or fewer per year, and even then must have their own processing facility state-approved. Second, even if the state restores the federal exemption, farmers would still face a requirement for inspection of some sort before they could legally sell to food sales and service establishments. The result is that small-scale farmers need to decide whether to “play chicken” with Georgia laws and process on-farm anyway. Some farmers get around the legislation by having potential buyers “volunteer” to help with the processing – teaching them to do the slaughtering, then giving them an agreed-upon number of chickens as payment. Of course, this method tends to weed out all but the most die-hard organic chicken seekers. Alternately, customers can buy the live chicken and get the processing thrown in for free. In the midst of this rather hostile climate, the approach of many small farmers is to keep their products diversified and their enterprises small and nonthreatening. Although Kevin could sell more, he keeps his chicken harvests to about 100 birds at a time, totaling between 800 and 900 birds per year, while his main profit-generator is dairy. Although he’s not looking to expand his own business, Kevin sees the current law as prohibitive to anyone who is. “They could easily raise the limit to 15,000,” says Kevin. “It’s not so bad for me,” continues Kevin, “but it’s really bad for someone who wants to make a major impact on farming.”

This evolution of the chicken industry is necessary to meet America’s insatiable appetite for chicken. However, the mega farmers can’t, at the same time, meet growing consumer demand for pasture-raised, antibiotic-free poultry

Someone, for instance, like Chad Carlton of Carlton Farms in Rockmart, Georgia. Chad’s is another multigenerational family farm, but this farmer is looking to make that major impact. Along with raising cattle, pigs, milk, eggs, turkeys, and more, Carlton Farms also offers school tours; has a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and a website; runs a delivery route; sells organic vegetable shares; and has chickens as a main source of income. Like Kevin, Chad has mobile chicken houses on pasture too – his look more like sleek passenger cars from a train, and he pulls them forward each day with an ATV. Chad’s frustration with Georgia’s current laws is intense. He has worked with Georgia Organics to try to move the broiler industry forward and allow pasture-fed chicken to be sustainably and legally produced by small and mid-sized farmers, but he recognizes the power of corporate farms. Still, farming to feed Georgia families with the highest-quality foods is what Chad does. It’s who he is – whatever the legislation. “For some reason,” he says, “I seem to forget all of the challenges and keep trying to make it work.” Photo by Chad Carlton w w w. k it c he nd r awe r. ne t

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by Ronnie Garrison

OUTDOORS

If you have hunted much, you probably have rituals you go through. Some, like sighting-in your rifle, are critical for success. Others, like carrying a buckeye in your pocket, are more mental than critical. But even those mental rituals can be important, since confidence breeds success.

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Being a member of a deer club that has a camp each year will introduce you to many more rituals. For years, a big iron pot hung over the fire at Big Horn Hunting Club. Not only was a fire burning constantly from camp opening until the time we all left, water was added frequently all week to keep the pot full for washing dishes or other hot-water needs. Then we got a gas-fired water heater that produced all the hot water we needed. Guess what? The kettle stayed over the fire, and we still kept it full of water. Don’t dare shoot at a deer and miss during camp. You have to admit missing when you come back to camp, since others surely heard you shoot. And the ritual at many camps, and even in non-camp groups, is to cut out your shirttail if you miss. I’m pretty sure some guys carried an old shirt they didn’t like in their truck just so they could change if they missed a deer. Blooding is another common ritual. When a youth kills their first deer, some blood from it is smeared on their face, usually just a finger mark down one cheek. And the youth will not wash it off for days; it is a mark to wear proudly! In many clubs, it is a ritual to eat the liver of the deer the day you kill it. There are some good reasons for this. It tastes good—if you like liver. It is easy to process in the woods. All you have to do is set it aside when gutting your deer, then slice it up. Showing respect for your kill is another ritual some of us continue. This comes down from Native Americans who depended on killing game for their survival. From the time I shot my first bird with a BB gun, I have always felt a tiny spark of regret for killing something. So when I read about ways to show respect to the animal for giving up its spirit for your needs, I liked the idea. Of course, the most important way to show respect is to make a good shot, killing the animal with as little suffering as possible. As soon as I confirm the deer is dead, as the Native Americans would do, I pause for a minute, looking at the beauty of the deer, and thank it for its sacrifice,

remembering what it took to outsmart it in its natural habitat, or just the luck I had that day. That makes me even more determined to use every bit of the deer I can and waste nothing. That is another way of honoring a deer or any other animal you kill. In Europe, a similar practice developed. A successful hunter would place a sprig of an evergreen into the deer’s mouth, then put a sprig of the plant into his cap, connecting the two. The sprig in the deer’s mouth also honored its last meal. Some of my rituals bring back good memories. On my first dove shoot when I was about ten years old, one of my uncles gave me an old army surplus gas mask bag for my hunting stuff. I killed my first dove that day, and to this day I carry some necessities for the hunt in that bag. It has my skinning knife, bullets, a couple of plastic garbage bags, some rope, a spool of cord, and toilet paper. I mentioned a buckeye for success earlier. When I was a kid, many of us carried a buckeye for luck. We would cherish it and polish it often, making it shiny and bright. It was as necessary as our pocketknives, and we went nowhere without both. Zeroing-in your gun is critical, especially if you have a scope, which most of us do. Old iron sights didn’t change much, but a scope can change a lot from year to year, causing you to miss your shot. Firing a few shots at the range before season opens, and again if you drop your gun or hunt in widely changing temperatures, makes sure that if you get your shirttail cut off it is your fault, not your gun’s fault. The Griffin Gun Club opens its range each year, usually the first Saturday in October, and members are there to help you make sure your gun hits where you aim it. They are experts at sighting-in a rifle and can fine-tune with just a few shots. Get ready for hunting by going through all your preseason rituals, and zero-in your gun. Then, as you hunt and experience your rituals, remember where they came from and why they are important.

Read more from Ronnie at fishing-about.com. 13

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Kitchen TABLE with Aunt Lynne Carrot Cake 1½ cups vegetable oil 4 eggs 3 cups grated carrots 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt Mix oil, eggs, and carrots in large bowl. Sift dry ingredients together and add to oil mixture. Fill three greased 9” layer pans and bake at 350° for approximately 20 minutes or until done. Allow to cool before icing.

Icing 8 ounces cream cheese 1 stick butter 1 pound powdered sugar 1 cup pecans, chopped 2 tsp vanilla Combine cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar and beat until creamy. Add pecans and vanilla. Place one of the cooled cakes on a platter and spread with icing. Top with second and third layers, spreading the tops and sides with remaining icing.

Scottish Tea Tarts ½ cup butter 3 ounces cream cheese 1 cup cake flour

Filling 2 eggs 1 cup brown sugar ¾ cup pecans 2 Tbsp melted butter Dash of salt ½ tsp vanilla

Fruitcake Cookies ½ cup margarine ½ cup light brown sugar 2 eggs ½ tsp baking soda 1½ cup plain flour ¼ cup milk ½ tsp cinnamon 1 cup candied cherries, chopped 1 cup dates, chopped 3 slices candied pineapple, chopped* ½ cup raisins 3½ cups pecans, chopped Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs, baking soda, flour, milk, and cinnamon and mix. Stir in chopped fruit and nuts. Drop the dough onto baking sheets. Bake at 300° for about 25 minutes or until done. *Using red, green, and yellow candied pineapple makes these cookies really pretty!

Cream the butter, cream cheese, and cake flour together. Refrigerate this dough for 30 minutes. For the filling, in covered electric blender, blend eggs, brown sugar, pecans, melted butter, salt, and vanilla at low speed until nuts are chopped, about 30 seconds. (Note: you can use an electric mixer instead of a blender if nuts are already chopped.) Preheat oven to 325°. Drop about one rounded tablespoon of dough into each of 12 2½” fluted tart pan sections. (Do not grease.) With thumb, press dough into bottom and around the sides of each cup. Fill each crust about ¾ full of filling. Bake 35 minutes or until done. Let cool 15 minutes, then remove from pan. Makes 12 tarts.

Strawberry-Nut Salad 2 3-ounce packages strawberry Jell-O 1 cup boiling water 2 10-ounce packages frozen sliced strawberries, thawed 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained 3 medium bananas, mashed (optional) 1 cup chopped nuts Sour cream Dissolve Jell-O in boiling water. Fold in, all at once, thawed strawberries with juice, drained pineapple, mashed bananas, and nuts. Put half of the mixture in dish and chill until firm, leaving the other half unrefrigerated. When bottom layer is firm, spread on a thick layer of sour cream. Top with the rest of the Jell-O mixture and refrigerate salad until firm. Serves 12-14.

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BY JAKE GENTRY

immigrate to America every year perfectly legally. There are still, however, rigid regulations governing how one must immigrate and the length of stay afforded by a visa. These regulations are part of a system as old as the United States of America, a system so hotly debated that its actual purpose and the people it serves have been obscured by thick layers of red tape.

Red tape has also obscured, at least to casual observers, the fact that our country was built on the backs of migrant workers and immigrants eager to create opportunities for themselves and a future for their families. Giants of industry like Alexander Graham Bell and Marcus Goldman were immigrants, and pretty much everything from the bricks on your favorite local historic building to the train tracks that linked our country from shore to shore was put in place by the labor of immigrants.

To the average person, immigration is defined either by its past—shuffling throngs awash in ink and reams of confusing paperwork—or by the media’s portrayal of illegal immigration in the present. Ellis Island may have closed in the ‘50s, but millions of people still migrate and

It’s not easy to come to America. No matter the arguments for or against immigration, it is a difficult undertaking for those who seek entry to the land of the free. Even for people with such exceptional qualifications that they have been chosen for highly specialized jobs for which no American has been selected—a qualification for the H-1B visa—once the paperwork is in, it’s up to a lottery to determine whether or not they wasted their time by applying. Even for people who have married into American families, or Americans who have been out of the country for long enough, the process is still convoluted.

ired, poor, huddled masses pull into Ellis Island, their last stop before either finding a home in the United States or being sent back to their country of origin. It’s a cold, misty October morning, and a snarled mass of immigrants spills off the ferry carrying sacks, steamer trunks, and cases of every description—cargo that encompasses everything they now own. Endless lines and hours of anticipation—these are the images historically associated with immigration to the U.S., and the picture often painted by school history books.

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MAISSA’S JOURNEY The H-3 visa is like the H-1B visa for highly skilled workers, but for job training. People with unique career plans come to America to receive training so specialized that similar opportunities to train are unavailable in their home country (it is made very clear that applicants are not here to supplant an American in the same job). That’s the case for Maissa Laadhari of Lyon, France. She trained at iTech in Lyon, a school specializing in chemical engineering, with a very particular focus: leather treatments. Maissa completed six years of schooling—three focused on general chemistry, and another three dedicated exclusively to chemically manipulating leathers—to earn the equivalent of a master’s degree in leatherworking. Maissa and her iTech classmates would visit a twice-yearly leather fair hosted in Paris to meet and greet figures in the leather goods industry. At one such fair Maissa met Christy Plott, owner of American Tanning and Leather. American Tanning and Leather LLC is America’s foremost tanner of reptile leather, selling processed reptile hides to luxury and specialty brands worldwide. They also happen to be based in Griffin, Georgia. At iTech, Maissa trained with cowhide, sheepskin, and other leathers commonly found in everyday consumer items—but alligator leather is an entirely different beast. She leapt at her chance to work with such an exotic material, and after several visits to American Tanning’s trade booth over the years, she finally got her opportunity. In December of 2015 Maissa was flown to America and visited American Tanning for a two-week-long interview. Maissa was accepted as a candidate for training, and she went back home to France. The Plotts found an attorney specializing in visas to help Maissa through the process, and she got started on her application for the H-3 visa. Step one was a thorough background check which required details about everything from Maissa’s family history, to her education, to a health report. It might seem tedious, but filling out the forms was the easy part. The hard part of the H-3 visa is built into its requirements: Maissa had to call upon all of her tanning and leatherworking knowledge to put together a training curriculum for her stay in America. The curriculum had to detail exactly what she would be doing each hour at the tannery, exactly what she would be learning, how long she would be supervised versus unsupervised—and if the attorney didn’t think that her curriculum was up to snuff? She had to take it back and tighten it up. Maissa didn’t just have to write this training program from scratch, she had to research methods for exotic tanning that she didn’t already know about, refer to examples from others who have gone through the H-3 process, even translate the entire program from French to English. In all, this process took eight months. Maissa considers herself incredibly fortunate, because if she had been unable to rely on her family in Lyon and the Plott family back in America for support, she never would have been able to complete the process. She put as much time and effort into

the process in those eight months as she would have put into a full-time job. Her visa was approved, however, and she feels that it was worth all the work. Maissa arrived in America on June 1, and she has been learning everything she can about working with exotic leather since.

SPOUSAL VISAS: THE LEASE FAMILY

Spousal visas make for some wacky plotlines on America’s favorite primetime sitcoms. In reality, obtaining these visas is not as simple as “Give her the ring; now you’re both U.S. citizens.” Steven Lease of local tech company Liberty Technology was only able to return to America with his Finnish wife of 4½ years and young son (who was already an American citizen) after a visa process of almost two years—longer than many sitcoms even stay on the air. While working and living in Malta, Steven needed to file for his son’s passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad. He and his family visited the embassy to take care of the paperwork, but while there Steven got a tip: an official helping him said that, because of the uncertainty surrounding immigration reform proposals in America, if he wanted to return to America with his family he had better get started on the immigration papers soon. Steven and Elina took the advice to heart, and they got started on form I-130, the petition for alien relatives. They would have been much better off if they had started the whole process in America. Nobody told them this until they were back in Finland and about halfway through, with hundreds of dollars invested in the undertaking. As it was, Steven and Elina would have had to restart the entire visa process, risking rejection of the new application. They stayed in Finland, and they had to sign and mail about a pound of paperwork to multiple offices stateside—no electronic forms or emails accepted. Worse, no two offices would share the information they had already received; completed forms had to be resubmitted constantly. There was help for Steven and Elina here, though. Some people looking to immigrate hire lawyers specializing in visas. That’s not a very budgetfriendly option, but, as in Maissa’s case, it can really simplify the process. Steven and Elina turned instead to the office of Senator Johnny Isakson for advice and direction throughout the process. In one instance, the Department of State advised Steven that he would have to open a separate visa petition for his son, who was already a U.S. citizen. Senator Isakson’s office came in and helped make the situation clear to the Department of State. While the people manning the phones at the U.S. immigration offices cited cryptic law code, Senator Isakson’s staff provided friendly, concrete answers to Steven’s questions. The senator’s office can’t influence

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“ It’s not easy to come to America. No matter the arguments for or against immigration, it is a difficult undertaking for those who seek entry to the land of the free.

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the outcome of the visa process, but they were a welcome help when Steven and Elina had nobody else to turn to for answers. Their trouble did not end on top of the mountain of paperwork. Elina could not come to America during the process, but Steven needed to reestablish residency in America after such a long time abroad. Steven had to return to America, find a job, and get his rights as an American citizen back. That meant five-and-a-half months away from Elina and their son. The Finnish concept of “sisu,” loosely interpreted as grit and a determination to fight to the end, served Steven and Elina well, because at the end of a grueling 16 months Elina’s visa was approved. Sisu might be considered the cardinal virtue for immigrants of all kinds seeking legal entry into America, because the process varies widely depending on the amount of time the applicant has to devote to the effort, the amount of money they can spend, and, ultimately, a small amount of chance. Steven and Elina mistakenly sent in a scanned version of one single form (they had to get a signature from Steven’s sister in America), and their application was delayed for two months. In Maissa’s case, if she hadn’t had a lawyer to help her create a pitch-perfect training program, her application could have been rejected entirely. Modern immigration might not look like the grainy, black-and-white photographs we see in history textbooks, but it still presents significant challenges. Immigration doesn’t necessarily mean leaving behind all of your worldly possessions anymore, but it does mean leaving behind a place you called home for a place that might (or might not) bring better opportunity for yourself and your family. American citizenship is a privilege not to be taken for granted, and for those willing to spend the time, money, and energy to become U.S. citizens, it remains worth a lot more than the sacrifice of a few months of paperwork and a few hundred (or even a few thousand) dollars.

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mount zion campground youth choir

tommy and layla grace ison #proudestnewdadofalltime

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he moment Kevin Hawkins starts talking about Griffin and Project Unlearn, his passion for this community and its youth is immediately evident. Every word he speaks demonstrates that he is dedicated to making a difference in Griffin. Kevin Hawkins has created a nonprofit organization, Project Unlearn, to help break the cycle of poverty, crime, and violence in our community. The organization’s Facebook page states that its mission is “to unite a community through respect for diversity.” Project Unlearn aims to reach children and adults of all socioeconomic statuses and to help them unlearn their biases, judgments, and prejudices. Instead, they want to promote community togetherness and mindfulness. Project Unlearn is in the early stages of development. Currently, they are working to create an afterschool program geared toward children ages eight to 13 who come from areas of poverty in our community. “We want to be able to give youth in at-risk and poorer areas a positive outlet,” Kevin said. “Project Unlearn will provide them with afterschool programs that offer a place to go. We want to help them become a part of the community in a positive way instead of getting stuck in the same negative cycle.”

Big Plans The program will partner with teachers and schools to offer tutoring and one-on-one help for students who need assistance to succeed academically. Gardens will also be planted to help teach children the importance of healthy and nutritious eating.

Additionally, the program will provide opportunities for youth to get involved in music and the arts. “When I talk to children from these areas,” Kevin stated, “they all say they want to play music, act, make art—things like that. A lot of kids say they want to learn to play the guitar or another instrument, but they just don’t have the money for lessons.” Project Unlearn will partner with local musicians, artists, actors, and other professionals to provide lessons to the children during the afterschool program. The child can choose what skill they want to learn and then work with someone to train and hone that skill. Project Unlearn also wants to provide opportunities for the children to play sports. For the past two years, the nonprofit has been sponsoring summer sports programs. The youth are taught the skills of the game, along with good sportsmanship and hard work. The organization helps provide resources for the teams to travel out of town to participate in tournaments. So far, the effort has been a success. Three boys from the program have received full scholarships to attend Griffin Christian Academy. “We want to let the kids have high dreams and high hopes,” Kevin said. “Our goal is to get kids into better opportunities. We want to give them something to do with their time to get them off the streets, something that they think is cool and fun. We want to help give them hope.” In addition to the afterschool program, Project Unlearn wants to partner with Griffin-area businesses and organizations to break down barriers and open communication. They’ve already talked to the police and sheriff’s departments, who agreed to become involved with the organization. The goal is to help promote a better relationship between law enforcement and the youth in the community.

By Rachel Scoggins Photos courtesy of kevin hawkins

Another goal is to partner with business owners, churches, and other community organizations to promote an alternative way of thinking about certain things. For example, they want to work with business leaders to come up with an alternate way of thinking about hiring people. This can be done by changing the way those who are in a position to hire might look at and judge others, especially young people, based on appearance. “We want to help people change their tendency to form negative judgments based only on the way someone talks or dresses,” Kevin said. “There are a lot of walls between the socioeconomic divides in this community. We’re trying to break down those walls from both sides. We’re working to help people in a position to hire someone not look at a young black male with dreads as someone from the street. On the other side, we’re teaching young people how to prepare for interviews, conduct themselves professionally, and avoid making excuses.” Kevin truly believes in Griffin and its potential. However, he is aware of the problems the community faces. “We have to unlearn old ways of thinking,” he said. “If we keep doing things the same way, we’re going to keep getting the same results. That’s not doing anything for the city of Griffin.”

Kevin ’s Story Project Unlearn and the message it stands for is close to Kevin’s heart. Kevin was born into an impoverished community in Atlanta. He had no

father, his mother had a drug and alcohol addiction, and the responsibility of caring for his younger sister fell to him. “I was in that kind of neglected, struggling community,” he said. “I saw what the goals were, and they were low. If I could get any job, I was doing good.” When Kevin was 10, his family moved to Jonesboro, where he started attending First Baptist of Jonesboro. “I ended up in a Sunday School class taught by Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-Fil-A. He took an interest in me, and he adopted me.” After this, Kevin went to live in a group home at The Rock Ranch. A few years later, Kevin ended up back in the impoverished neighborhood in Jonesboro, where he got involved in some dangerous, rougher activities. After doing this for awhile, he got saved, turned his life around, and accomplished the difficult task of getting out of that life. “Because of my background, I got really passionate about doing something to help others from similar backgrounds,” Kevin said.

Immediate Needs Currently, Project Unlearn is working to find a location to house the organization. Kevin wants to find a building located in the communi27

ties where they are working so the organization can be a permanent fixture all day, every day. He aims to have a permanent home for Project Unlearn by October. After the building is secured, the next step for the organization will be fundraising. “We want to hire a full-time director to be the face of Project Unlearn,” Kevin stated. “We want someone from the community for the position, and we want to be able to pay them a decent salary.” Other funds will go to utilities, remodeling, and the salaries of teachers, musicians, and other afterschool employees. “We’re a nonprofit, so at first we may need volunteers, but the goal is to pay workers for their services. I don’t want people to volunteer their talent, because I’m telling these kids that they can make a living with that same talent.” Project Unlearn is also working to get other nonprofits to join them. “We want to work in unison with other local organizations to transform our community,” Kevin said. “We are not trying to reinvent things. There are a lot of people doing great things in Griffin to make a positive difference.” Project Unlearn wants to collaborate with other groups and organizations that have similar goals. For example, if there is a group already promoting education about healthy eating or offering tutoring in the community, Project Unlearn wants to partner with them. “There are so many great things going on, but people are not working together,” said Kevin. “We’re not making as big of an impact because of this. We can partner up, work together, put agendas

aside, and make a more powerful impact in the community. We should be worrying about changing Griffin for the better.” Though not originally from Griffin, Kevin has always been around Griffin and felt close to it. It is his home now, and he has spent the last 10 years working at Home Depot, where he is currently the manager. “I love the people of Griffin. Griffin has a lot of potential, but we haven’t made much progress,” he said. “Something’s got to give for us to see change. We have a huge divide between the citizens and government. Governing officials are making decisions without hearing and listening to the voices of those citizens who are struggling. We have to break that divide, help those who are poor and struggling get their voice heard, and break the cycle of negative thinking about those in poorer communities.” Project Unlearn is projected to begin offering services next year.

Visit Project Unlearn’s website at www.projectunlearn.com or visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/unlearnproject/. You can contact Kevin at kevin.hawkins@projectunlearn.com.

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Artist &

Article by Drew Todd and Drew Payne

Lauri Stallings

gloATL

Profile

Lauri Stallings and gloATL challenged my notion that an artist has to paint, sketch, or sculpt something concrete—an object that I can point to, easily digest, and clearly interpret. As an admitted card-carrying curmudgeon, I was likely to disparage any type of artwork that challenged this narrow worldview, and typically maintained a safe distance from anything that would. The idea that movement could constitute art seemed an impossibility. When Lauri and the members of gloATL performed in Griffin during a one-week exhibition last fall, I was forced to recalibrate my outlook. Stallings and gloATL are certainly not traditional canvas and watercolor types, but they are undoubtedly artists of the first order. With past performances in Central Park, Art Basel Miami, and the High Museum of Art, gloATL is a well-respected, internationally known group, based in Atlanta, that employs movement as its medium. Using dramatic choreography in very public places—city sidewalks and streets are two of their primary performance venues—gloATL works to improve communities, tell stories, and change lives through art. Lauri Stallings, the founding artist of gloATL, is an accomplished dancer and choreographer whose work is high art, yet democratic and accessible. Stallings’ hardscrabble, central Florida background informs her choreography PHOTOS by Thom Baker and movement art, but just as importantly, how it’s displayed. Though her impressive resume has taken her around the world—Cleveland Ballet, Ballet British Columbia, choreographer-in-residence for the Atlanta Ballet, artist-in-residence at Kennesaw State University, visiting artist at Georgia Tech—Stallings remains interested in the American South and its themes, and in putting art in front of everyone, not just those who can afford a ticket. Stallings does not like barriers, and a gloATL performance is a study in their removal. At a recent show in Atlanta, for instance, artists (including the maestro, Robert Spano of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) were at eye level with the audience, inches from the crowd. Instead of staring at a far-off stage, spectators and performers exchanged gazes, adding to the work’s intensity and meaning. Despite limited space, a seat could be had for less than a night at the movies. gloATL is committed to making art available to everyone, and using it to create positive change wherever they go. To fulfill their goal of increasing access, gloATL created The Traveling Show, which visited several communities in Georgia last year. In the fall of 2015, as a part of this exhibition, the group brought a big-city, cosmopolitan installation to Spalding

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County and provided free access to art throughout the community, working to activate, empower, and build relationships with their work. Six movement artists were involved in gloATL’s 2015 Griffin residency, bringing art to Spalding County’s nooks and crannies in a variety of ways.

FOU ND ER LAURI STALLINGS

Most visible were gloATL’s mappings—conspicuous performances staged in downtown Griffin, usually during lunch hour, in which movement artists walked the streets to engage passersby. While some bystanders may have lamented an interruption in traffic patterns, gloATL’s mission was evident—to draw people out of their routine and draw attention to the streetscape. In addition to mapping, the troupe of artists performed in local schools, worked in the Fairmont community garden, and interacted with local arts organizations during their time in Griffin. After the success of their initial residency—a partnership between gloATL, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Georgia Council for the Arts—Stallings’ organization has decided to double down on Griffin. Over the next two years, through 2017 and 2018, gloATL artists will periodically visit Griffin to bring attention to and initiate positive, artistically enhanced change in people and places in the community. This effort, titled Unity in Three Parts, is primarily focused on Griffin’s historic Fairmont School. Fairmont High, one of the few remaining Rosenwald Schools in the United States, is scheduled for rehabilitation, and gloATL is working to help. Rosenwald schools were built around the American South in the 1920s and 1930s with grant money supplied by Julius Rosenwald, a co-owner of Sears, and matching funds from local African-Americans. Griffin’s Rosenwald school is one of just a few dozen that remain standing in Georgia. Because of this important and unique opportunity for revitalization, Stallings and gloATL were drawn to the area during their initial Griffin residency. For Unity in Three Parts, gloATL will work to activate the space and enhance the dialogue between local residents involved in its restoration, using community-driven artwork. The group has already sponsored a screening of the documentary film Rosenwald for dozens of community leaders, bringing attention to the history of the building. In coming months, gloATL plans to provide other outlets for local residents to engage with Fairmont. !

PICTURED gloATL Performance Artists on 6th Street bridge in Griffin, GA during Unity in 3 Parts

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Restaurant Review

The Tomato House T By Allison Smyly and the KD Crowd Photos by Michelle Cobb

In the summer, KD announced on Facebook a contest to help us choose our next restaurant to review. Selected for this issue is The Tomato House, an intimate gathering place at the corner of Main Street and Seavy in downtown Senoia. Beautifully decorated in rustic elegant style, The Tomato House began when proprietor Tracy Brady left her software sales career in Manhattan to pursue this “creative and entrepreneurial” endeavor. The restaurant’s name comes from its fusion of Southern and Italian cuisines, as the tomato is integral to both. Its tagline is “Inspired by Italy, Crafted in the South.” Kitchen Drawer’s special invitation was an opportunity to try out the brand-new fall menu. From the moment we entered until we left (or maybe rolled out the door would be a more accurate description), the KD team was served by the exceedingly attentive staff: Chef Jarrod Reeder, server Brantley, lead hostess Stephanie, manager Cary Hamilton, and many others. Since it opened in February, The Tomato House has been warmly received. “I have to give kudos to Senoia,” said Tracy. “They’ve been very supportive. We have regulars. This town has really embraced us.” Customer favorite entrees include the Chef ’s Boards, Steak Gorgonzola, Lasagna, Salmon, and Fried Chicken. Sunday supper features Chalkboard Sundays, a condensed version of the usual supper menu with four to five “chalkboard specials,” the chef ’s special creations for that day. For a different dining experience, The Tomato House also boasts The Barnyard, a private dining room for special occasions with chef ’s tables, eight to 10 unique creations by the chef.

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Ben summed up KD’s experience at The Tomato House best: “Everything was spectacular.” I, personally, was impressed not only by the deliciousness of the food, but by how attractively it was served. Aaron, a new KD friend from Australia, agreed, noting that The Tomato House has achieved a good balance between well plated food and a wholesome meal. Michelle, our photographer, added, “The plating of the food was like artwork, which made taking the photos easy.” Michelle was also very impressed with the wait staff and other employees. She said, “They were friendly and polite, and brought the atmosphere to life with their warm smiles.” More impressions from the team:

continued on pg. 41

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JAKE VEGETARIAN !

The southern fusion look that defines so many of the small shops and restaurants lining Main Street in Senoia is exemplified nowhere better than The Tomato House. It’s easy to overdo “French country vintage industrial farmhouse hand-lettered cottage chic,” but The Tomato House takes a measured approach to decorating and really puts the effort necessary into making their space both elegant and relaxed. Their food is no different. Southern comfort and Italian flair blend into dishes that are at once familiar and formal. I had the Eggplant Stack, and its similarity to my family’s favorite eggplant parm recipe was complemented by the delicateness of the fried eggplant slices and the bright, piercing flavor of the house marinara.

drinks behind the bar. Both the Black Walnut Old Fashioned and the Bing Crosby were stupendous. This was my first visit to The Tomato House, but I’m sure it won’t be my last. When I got home and told my wife, Anna, about our experience, the first thing she said was, “So when are you taking me there for a date night?” And it is a perfect place for that. It’s the kind of fine dining experience that a couple looking for a nice night out, away from the kids, would really enjoy. It’s also the perfect setting for an anniversary dinner, or a night out with friends, or just a relaxing evening alone with great food and great drinks. I can’t say enough about how impressed and pleased I was with this little hidden gem. But I am limited to a paragraph for this review, so…

JOSH

LAURIE

This was one of the very best Restaurant Reviews I’ve been a part of in my two-anda-half years at Kitchen Drawer. The Tomato House has such an elegant, yet comfortable, atmosphere, I could just go there and hang out, soaking in the ambiance of the place. But that would be a mistake, because the food is beyond amazing. Everything we tried was delicious, from the appetizers, entrees, and desserts to the perfectly mixed cocktails. Chef Jarrod Reeder certainly knows what he’s doing in the kitchen, and Sam Tepel mixes up some truly incredible

You know that ideal balance of chic and comfortable? The Tomato House nails it. Grab a cocktail—like the spunky Kitchen Drawer (named after us!) or the deliciously fruity Bing Crosby or light and breezy Cucumber Ginger-Mint Mule. Jazz standards by the likes of Dean Martin and Tony Bennett (at just the right volume) provide the soundtrack to a great evening with family and friends. Owner Tracy Brady presides with consummate hospitality and grace. Chef Jarrod Reeder, likewise, is passionate and inspired— preparing and plating his creations with a keen eye for the finest ingredients like Ibérico pork, rosemary lardo, or Lavazza espresso. At the same time, Chef is personable and accessible, and makes it a point to develop the talent of everyone in his kitchen. A highlight was the Scallops with Pork Belly with pumpkin puree, local feta, and pepitas. The fried sage is a brilliant accent. My Italian grandmother would have been proud to serve Chef ’s towering Lasagna with slow-cooked bolognese sauce. The Mushroom Risotto has a creamy smokiness that makes it a wonderful comfort food for autumn. Finish with the insanely good Brownie Affogato, doused in espresso, or the warm, crisp-on-the-outside, satiny-on-the-inside Zeppole (ricotta doughnuts). Mangia!

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NICOLE

The experience of dining at The Tomato House begins even before you set foot in the door, as the drive through downtown Senoia sets the tone for a beautiful evening. In an effort to give proper credit to the food at The Tomato House, allow me to “humble brag” for a moment. As someone who lives to travel, I pride myself on trying to find the best culinary experiences around the world. From hidden dim sum gems in New York to rooftop restaurants in Bangkok, I have enjoyed a good deal of great food. My point: the courses served at The Tomato House were on the same level as some of the best meals I’ve ever had. The Bacon-Wrapped Apple and Brie with Molasses Reduction amusebouche the chef brought us was the perfect combination of smoky, creamy, and sweet. Next up, the Scallops with Pork Belly starter was so perfectly executed that the combination essentially just melts in your mouth. Perhaps the MVP of the night, the shining star main course was the Veal Chop with Mushroom Risotto. In a perfect world I would eat that risotto every single day and then fall asleep on a pillow filled with more risotto. The only disappointment of the night was realizing that my stomach could not hold another delicious ounce. I really tried.

ROSIE TEEN REVIEWER ⋆

My experience at The Tomato House was very pleasant. I liked the atmosphere. It was very pretty, and it was comfortable and clean. Our waiter was super attentive and polite, and the chef was very nice too. I wasn’t able to try everything because I just had my braces tightened and my mouth was sore. But my favorite thing I tried was the Brownie Affogato with their house-made vanilla ice cream and espresso on top. I would definitely go back to The Tomato House whenever I’m in Senoia. "

The Tomato House 42 Main Street, Senoia. 770.727.9155. www.thetomatohousesenoia.com

KD’s Favorites Aaron Crème Brulee Allison Romaine Wedge, Zeppole Ben Lasagna, Brownie Affogato Sundae Jake Chef ’s Board, Eggplant Stack Josh Scallops with Pork Belly, Lasagna Laurie Chef ’s Board, Scallops with Pork Belly Michelle Lamb Lollipops, Zeppole Nicole Scallops with Pork Belly, Veal Chop with Mushroom Risotto

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franklin and rosemary girls take beverly hills

jackson stowell, championship martial arts water gun fight and cookout at griffin city park

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MOVIE REVIEW

LO and BEHOLD By Clark Douglas The internet age marks one of the most astonishing technological leaps forward in human history. In the span of a few short decades, humanity has made advances that even the most imaginative science-fiction writers of yesterday couldn’t envision. Alas, the progress has come at a price: in addition to giving us astonishing new communication tools and information resources, the internet has amplified and enabled some of humanity’s weaknesses. Is it possible that the powerful tools of this new age are doing us nearly as much harm as good? That’s a question thoughtfully explored by Werner Herzog’s riveting documentary Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World. In the span of a mere 98 minutes, Herzog attempts to examine the past, present, and future of the internet while still making time to wander down connected rabbit trails like robotics, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and more. That would probably be insufficient time for a traditional documentary, but Herzog isn’t a traditional filmmaker; this is less a clinical history lesson than a meditation, a visual symphony that gives us striking snapshots of technology’s greatest wonders and darkest side effects. Herzog has long had a knack for finding unforgettable documentary subjects (a doomed bear enthusiast in Grizzly Man, a Russian man claiming to be Jesus in Bells from the Deep, and a suicidal penguin in Encounters at the End of the World), and this film is no exception: here we have people whose knowledge seems to have driven them to the brink of madness, people who claim that Wi-Fi makes them physically ill, video game addicts, and victims of horrific online abuse. Elsewhere, there are the familiar, distinguished experts like cosmologist Lawrence Krauss and SpaceX/Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Herzog places all of these people on a level playing field, giving them a chance to make their unique cases while prodding them with philosophical, unexpected questions: “Does the internet dream?” The film is deliberately episodic in nature, divided into 10 segments that cover different themes. Individually, these pieces feel a little like handsomely produced 60 Minutes

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segments, but Herzog’s personality and gift for drawing interesting thoughts out of his subjects make them less generic than they might have been. For me, the most unforgettable sequence is a scene involving the family of Nikki Catsouras, a young woman who was killed in a car accident in 2006. The graphic photos from the accident went viral, and cruel people used the images to torment Nikki’s family. Nikki’s father offers his practical account of what happened, her mother offers a far more sensationalistic one (literally claiming that the internet is the antichrist), and her three sisters—all hollow-eyed and empty-faced— stand silent. There’s something deeply unsettling about the shots of this family—it’s as if we’re seeing a gathering of mournful ghosts. How much of this is “reality” and how much is Herzog’s creative staging? We will never know, but it’s eerily effective. People who know their way around a computer probably won’t learn anything new from the film (a lot of the stories featured, like Musk’s plan to send humans to Mars, have been high-profile news items), but Herzog’s perspective is still fascinating. He approaches the film with a childlike curiosity, which sometimes makes it feel like the product of an inquisitive alien wondering how our technology works. Herzog is hardly an expert on the subject, but that’s part of what makes him the perfect man to make this movie: his lack of immersion in the culture of the internet both inspires fresh questions and lets us see familiar things through fresh eyes. Initially, he alternates between moments of wonder and despair, but eventually these become inextricable. Musk assures us that if Earth somehow becomes unlivable, there will still be other options. A scientist insists that if we can’t figure out how to survive on this oh-so-perfectly-positioned planet, we don’t stand a chance on Mars. As the film opens, Herzog underscores a tale about the internet’s birth with Wagner’s Das Rheingold, which was also memorably employed in the opening scene of Terrence Malick’s The New World (which told the story of Pocahontas and the American settlers she encountered). The latter film depicted the dawn of a new age in human history, detailing the breathtaking possibilities while also thoughtfully underlining the possibility of future horrors. In a very different way, Lo and Behold does the same thing.

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HIDDEN SOUTH By Jake Gentry

Not every story worth hearing gets told. Brent Walker of Newnan sees a rich catalogue of the untold reflected in the faces of the voiceless here in the South. He seeks out the marginalized, the unfortunate, and others unnoticed by society and helps tell their stories. Brent’s project is called “The Hidden South,” and though he does have a book out (and plans for his second in place), The Hidden South is more than a photojournalism project—it’s changing the way people look at their fellow human beings. His process is simple. Brent visits neighborhoods in the Southeast, primarily poor neighborhoods, and he looks for people who might have something to say. He tells them about the project and asks if they would like to tell their story. When he finds someone who wants to share, he tapes his conversation with them and takes photos. Often his subjects are homeless or at work on the street, but Brent says “the original idea was to tell the stories of people who normally don’t have a voice,” and The Hidden South isn’t focused solely on homelessness and addiction.

as seen by

BRENT WALKER

Brent’s first book, The Hidden South—Come Home, is available on Amazon, and The Hidden South project is still going strong. On October 1, Brent began another tour of the Southeast for his second book. Brent also publishes “The Hidden South Journal,” an online newsletter that features a theme, such as opioid addiction, with related photos, individuals’ stories, and information on the state of the issue in America. Additionally, Brent plans on turning the recordings of his conversations into podcasts so that people can experience the raw, candid ways in which his subjects talk about their lives. The photos and excerpts here are selected from the project’s website; the full stories are at thehiddensouth.com. Follow Brent’s journey on Instagram at instagram.com/thehiddensouth or on Facebook at facebook.com/thehiddensouth. Acknowledgement: Fawne DeRosia

OTIS I take medication for the mind and nerves and stuff. If I didn’t have Grady I wouldn’t make it. They give me my medication and they take care of me.

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PAUL

The irony of this… I used to look at artists on the street growing up and think, “what a bum” and that’s what I turned out to be. I’m making my living out here and I think this is where I’m going to really get my reward for all my efforts.

TERRY Terry: The hardest time of my life was when I was in a Raiford Penitentiary down in Florida. BW: What were you in there for? Terry: I got busted at a storage house that had 850 pounds of marijuana. I used to make good money loading airplanes for my brother-in-law. It was a long time ago. Anyway, that cop came back in the room where I was at and I crawled underneath some bales but I think he saw my foot. He said, “OK get out here, cowboy.” I came out and got locked up. I went to court and the judge said, “From what I’m reading here, looks like you’re charged with 850 pounds of marijuana.” I just looked at him and I didn’t know what to say so I said, “Well, your honor, it was all for my own personal use.”

BW: [Laughing hard.] Terry: He said, “Well, I got something for your own personal use. How about five years in Raiford?” BW: What’d that feel like? Terry: It was a bummer, man. You had to watch yourself. Most of the time I spent working on a road gang. Fighting all the time. It was nuts. I stayed there about three years and then they sent me out to West Dade Correctional Facility and I worked on another road gang out there. Boy, working out there in the Everglades ain’t any fun either. They got mosquitoes as big as that tennis shoe over there.

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AMBER I battled with addiction. My son also taught me that when you love someone, you want what’s best for them. I feel I did the most unselfish act I could do by letting him go, you know? *Tears*. We all have to let go at some point, I just had to sooner than I wanted.

DEBORAH Boston ain’t as beautiful as people think. I think it’s a little worse than the South as far as deviousness, cruelty and all that. When I came here and people would say, “good morning,” I was shocked. That was a good thing cause it kind of brought me out of my shell. Cause, where I come from, you don’t even ask for the time of day. Here, it’s totally different. It’s given me the strength to actually be who I am.

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By Andrea Cronrod The single largest issue affecting rural veterans remains access to care. Geographical barriers, lack of availability of specialty and primary care providers, and qualification challenges result in veterans suffering from higher rates of depression, chronic disease and physical health problems, homelessness, and substance abuse. This dire situation demands focused attention.

Waypoint, a sanctuary for veterans based in Griffin, is the local home for a nonprofit called Discovering Soldiers Potential (DSP) II, which is now assisting veterans from Spalding and surrounding counties by helping them understand benefits available to them upon returning from military service. The Waypoint center is a collaborative effort between Spalding County, the city of Griffin, and DSP II. Operating as a 501(c)(3) through fundraising as well as monetary and material donations, DSP II’s goal is to help these faithful and dutiful men and women apply for these benefits and readapt to the community they once protected. Volunteers at Waypoint guide applicants every step of the way. Unity builds strength, with much of the help coming from other veterans in areas such as counseling, filling out paperwork, or obtaining required records. Likeminded veterans relate on a personal level as they assist their comrades.

panies and volunteers to shuttle veterans to medical centers in Atlanta, Stockbridge, and Macon for doctors’ appointments. Waypoint began when Sandra Brownlee, Master Sergeant (Retired) of LaGrange, founder of Discovering Soldiers Potential II, contacted Don Taylor of Griffin about expanding services to veterans in Spalding and surrounding communities. Don, a Vietnam War vet who first volunteered at the Griffin food pantry, began feeding the homeless after he retired three years ago. Full of get-up-and-go and initiative, he was already buying food with his own money and driving the streets of Griffin looking for hungry veterans. Sponsorship packages are offered for those wishing to partner with vets who do not qualify for benefits. Veterans were there when we needed them; let us now be there for them.

Support groups and “survival tips” for the civilian world help vets take control of their future. At Waypoint, DSP II helps veterans access housing, financial counseling, substance abuse treatment, bereavement and behavioral counseling, family and child support—whatever it takes to help them get back on their feet. Job training includes building skills in résumé writing, dressing appropriately for interviews, communication, and filling out applications. The program is especially important for veterans who might not have had the opportunity to develop some of the skills necessary for employment. DSP II’s program at Waypoint is patterned after military protocol, incorporating leadership training, team participation, giving and following directions, systematic planning and organization, adaptability, initiative, good work habits, and community service. Ex-military individuals apply the principles and concepts they learned in service while inspiring others to do the same. One of the biggest problems in the past was lack of transportation from rural areas to medical centers and other services only available in cities. DSP II at Waypoint is working with transportation com-

Waypoint opened its doors on July 16 at its new headquarters at the old jailhouse, 232 East Broad Street in Griffin. The center’s hours are Monday-Friday 10-4. Contact numbers are 770-731-5563 and 770-286-0161 (housing and emergency funding).

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THESE PUPS NEED FOREVER HOMES! The dogs on this page are available for adoption through Dolly Goodpuppy Society out of Barnesville, GA. For more information visit dollygoodpuppy.org or email dollygoodpuppy@gmail.com. Photos by Jessica Cobb

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SHANDA DELAY: nose and lungs?! If it is not my eyes What the heck is blooming in Griffin that has made me lose all control of my eyes, of salty tears and gooey snot, I am or nose running as if someone switched the dam on and let loose a rushing river existed!! And when I sneeze I am checkcoughing up disgustingness from deep caverns in my chest that I never knew ding surface! Not to mention my face ing to make sure my brains have not exploded out of my face onto every surroun use this mask for the #Zombierfest! looks like I got in a fight with a swarm of buzzing, angry, stinging insects! I’ll just

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2016 Fiction Contest Winner - 4th Place

In July, we announced our second fiction contest. Out of dozens of entries, we selected the following winners. Read the winning stories in Kitchen Drawer throughout 2016.

FIRST PLACE: “SWINGING” BY KAYLEE TUGGLE MATHENY SECOND PLACE: “PATCHWORK HEART” BY TIFFANI LONG THIRD PLACE: “ZERO VISIBILITY” BY MICHAEL DOWNING FOURTH PLACE: “THE LAST HUNT” BY LEWIS BREWER

THE LAST HUNT T

he woods were damp as the old man stepped silently from the abandoned logging road onto the faint trail. He made his way carefully through the early morning fog. Shortly the old oak tree appeared through the gray mist, and the old man smiled to himself. He reached out and gently patted the majestic old oak. Looking up, he saw the worn but sturdy boards high in the branches. As he slowly climbed the big oak, he thought back to the day when he so carefully nailed the boards to the high limbs. How long had it been? He was not sure, but a smile crossed his lips as he settled once more onto the small wooden seat of his deer stand. He carefully slid five cartridges into the breach of his weathered Winchester. Silently he worked the lever, injecting a round into the receiver, and lowered the hammer. The first hint of dawn turned the eastern sky pink, and the fog slowly disappeared. The old man looked down on the familiar scene before him. He could not remember when he first came to hunt these woods, but they were as familiar to

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BY LEWIS BREWER

him as his own backyard. He heard the gurgle of the small stream down the hill from his big oak. He smiled as his eyes found the large dogwood whose main branches formed a large “Y” that reminded him of a slingshot from his youth. He saw the familiar small maples with their yellowgreen and red leaves. He marveled at how the hickory’s golden leaves contrasted with the dark reds of the dogwoods and the oaks. Near the creek there were beech and ash trees, and wild grape and honeysuckle vines spun their tangled webs throughout. The old man was content. He thought back to many such mornings, for he was a hunter of deer. His skill was widely recognized, and many even talked of him being a brother to the deer. They were right, of course, he thought. He did not know how many deer he had taken over the years, but he hunted for the meat and ate all he took. But if the truth be told, he just enjoyed being in the woods, the solitude, and the chance to sit and reflect on all that life had brought him.

High up on the ridge above the small creek, the large buck rose and slowly slipped out of the thicket. He lifted his head high and sniffed the currents of air rising up the small hill. Where once the buck had been sleek and well-muscled, there were now gray hairs mixed with the brown of his muzzle, a small sway was evident along his back, and his once-firm chest exhibited a slight paunch. His gait was steady, but slowing, and he was tired. Yet the 12 perfectly matched tines of his antlers were thick and long, and he carried them with dignity and maturity. Slowly he turned and started down the faint trail toward the creek as he had done so many mornings before. He continued to test the wind as he slipped quietly down the trail with his ears ever alert to any sound of danger. The old man sat quietly in his tree as he scanned the familiar woods in front of him. Nothing was moving. The old buck drank quickly from the small creek, hopped over the clear water, and made his way slowly up the hill. The man was startled to see the huge buck materialize before his eyes. He never ceased to be amazed at how a deer could just appear out of thin air. The tall antlers on the old buck were massive and swept out well beyond its ears. The old man knew this was the biggest buck he had ever seen.

Slowly he raised the old Winchester to his shoulder and thought how this same scene had played out so many times before. The hammer on the weathered Winchester made a soft click as he slowly pulled it back. At the sound, the old buck raised his head and found the old man in the giant oak. As the man moved the front bead onto the buck’s shoulder, the old buck’s eyes found his. As the two veterans of the hunt gazed into each other’s eyes, a kinship was understood and acknowledged. Slowly the old man lowered his gun and nodded to the old buck. The deer raised a forefoot and slipped back into the woods. The old man smiled to himself, unloaded the Winchester, climbed down from the branches, patted the giant oak one last time, and made his way slowly to the road. The old man entered his den and placed the Winchester back in the cabinet he had made so many years ago. He lit a fire in the ancient fireplace, settled into his chair, and let his mind wander back over the hunts of years gone by. He thought of old friends, many now gone on, of familiar places, of smiles and laughter, and of mornings such as this. He thought of the magnificent old buck and of the feeling of kinship he had experienced as he looked into its eyes. Yes, the old man was tired and he knew he would never hunt again, yet he was content.

KITCHEN DRAWER ANNOUNCES

OUR THIRD ANNUAL FICTION CONTEST Submit an original, unpublished work of fiction in 1,500 words or less. Email your entry to stuff@kitchendrawer.net by November 30, 2016, with “Fiction Contest Entry” in the subject line. Please include your name, address, phone number, and birth date, including year. Winners whose entries are selected for publication will receive a cash prize.

Kitchen Drawer reserves the right to edit contributions.

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