WGL July-August 2012

West Georgia

Li V ing July/August

Life . Art . Music . People

2012

The Sights of Summer

See summer through the eyes of WGL photographer Ricky Stilley, page 34.

Want to make a pie, cake or jelly that’s Blue Ribbon worthy? Check out these winning recipes, page 44.

Inside this issue: Pictures from many of this spring’s fairs and events.

Learn how one Tallapoosa group is bringing people and horses together for a good cause, page 26.

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From the Editor

West Georgia

Li V ing Volume 2 . Issue 5 . July/Aug. 2012

www.westgaliving.com Publisher Leonard Woolsey leonard@westgaliving.com

Editor Amy K. Lavender-Buice amy@westgaliving.com

Advertising David Bragg david@times-georgian.com Melissa Wilson melissa@times-georgian.com

Photographer Ricky Stilley ricky@westgaliving.com

Contributors Ken Denney T.L. Gray Tommie Munro Shelly Murphy Katie Allen Ross

Dear Readers: As we have segued from an unseasonably warm spring to an undoubtedly hot summer, I’ve been touched with a bit of nostalgia. Maybe it’s attending the graduations of several nieces and nephews, maybe it’s the renewed vigor that comes with a new season, but I just haven’t been able to help looking back on summers past in recent weeks.

Some of my favorite childhood memories come from camping trips I took with my parents when I was growing up. To me, summer is all about swimming in the lake, going to the county fair, and roasting marshmallows at night. Yep, I’ve been feeling pretty nostalgic lately.

I find myself wanting to beat the heat with an ice cream cone or by doing a cannon ball into the pool. I have the irresistible urge to drive across the state, pick up my younger nieces and nephews and spend the evening playing flashlight tag or catching lightning bugs. What stops me? Suddenly gaining notoriety among my family as “the crazy one” is my main motivation. But, thanks to those summers, we have lots of great memories to share with family and friends.

So, with memories of golden summers gone by in mind, I asked our resident photographer, Ricky Stilley, to capture the beauty of summer in west Georgia so that we can present it to you in our very first photo essay: Sights of Summer.

While we couldn’t cover all the bases in this spread, Ricky managed to capture some beautiful shots – as always – of many beautiful sights around the region. We hope you enjoy looking at summer through the eyes of a photographer. They see things so differently!

Also, in this issue, don’t forget to check out other pictures of area events, such as Carrollton’s Mayfest, the Old Time County Fair in Carroll County, the Taste of Douglasville, and the annual Penny McHenry Hydrangea Festival. Keep a close eye on those shots, you may see someone you know.

Of course, we also hope to see you all at the many upcoming festivals this summer and fall. Y’all come by our booth and sit a spell!

Sincerely,

Amy K. Lavender-Buice To advertise in West Georgia Living, call 770-834-6631.

Submissions, photography and ideas may be submitted to Amy K. Lavender-Buice c/o The Times-Georgian, 901 Hays Mill Rd., Carrollton, GA 30117.

Leonard Woolsey

Melissa Wilson

Ricky Stilley

David Bragg

West Georgia Living is a publication of the Times-Georgian. West Georgia Living is published bi-monthly.

Direct mail subscriptions to West Georgia Living are available for $24 a year.

Copyright 2012 by the Times-Georgian

4

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

Submissions will not be returned unless requested and accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

West Georgia Living reserves the right to edit any submission.

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Contents

10

26

44

58

62

34

Features 34

Photos and Cover Art by Ricky Stilley.

Pictured on the Cover: Assyria North is delighted by the flight of her “helicopter” on Adamson Square during Mayfest.

Sights of Summer: See summer through the

26

Going Green: The green movement continues

10

eyes of a photographer – our photographer, that is.

Follow Ricky Stilley on his summertime journeys.

58

to grow into new sectors of industry. One business makes the best of biofuels in our own back yard.

Possum Snout: A Love of horses is all you

need to lend a helping had to the Possum Snout Rodeo, benefiting Rachel’s Wish Foundation.

At the Market: A new wave, or rather an old one, is sweeping the nation as farmers markets grow in popularity.

Departments Life

Garden 6

Series: On the Railroad 52 The Potato Barn 62 Recent Events 20, 21, 30, 42 Flower: Black Eyed Susan Troubleshooting Tomatoes

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

18 14

PeoPLe

Take 5: Ken Barber

50

art

Book Review: T.L. Gray reviews “Twice upon a Time”

66

food

Blue Ribbon Worthy

44

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Pub Notes From Publisher Leonard Woolsey

Summertime Makes Kids of Us All Most days, I’m able to fake being an adult. Some days are better than others. Summer, however, really messes with my ability to not act like a kid.

With the first whiff of heat and humidity, my internal clock seems to revert to those glorious days of yesterday – uh, make that yesteryear. Summer is a powerful elixir with the ability to make a fully-grown adult morph into delusions of youth. Summer is the season a lifetime of memories are built upon.

While many spent summers at a nearby lake – swimming, tubing or skiing – some of us experienced a much different youth: like learning to not kill ourselves on a skateboard.

My partner in crime during those days was my best friend and next-door neighbor, Walter. Together we hand-built skateboards from scrap pieces of wood, elevated ramps against concrete walls and spent unimaginable hours learning how to make our skateboards defy gravity. The “Leonard and Walter” show included us skating beneath streetlights until we could no longer stay awake. No clock applied to our summer – if the sun came up, well, we knew it was time for breakfast.

Together we discovered empty culverts to skate, long hills to shoot and how to stand on our heads while not – literally – breaking out necks.

The reason I bring this up is, today as a supposedly fully-grown adult with adult responsibilities, I cannot help but feel the urge to grab my skateboard at the first whiff of summer.

A few years ago, my wife surprised me with a new skateboard for a birthday in which the cake seemingly struggled under the weight of mounting candles. Fortunately, she gets me.

I have a 401K, a mortgage, and one child in college – and another ready the following year. Last time I didn’t shave for a couple days, the amount of grey hairs scared me beyond my comfort level and the whiskers soon found themselves swirling down the bathroom sink. Yesterday, I found an AARP message in my e-mail and it was not addressed to my dad. By all definitions, I am an adult.

But then comes summer and my resolve melts under the Georgia summer like ice cubes in a glass of freshly brewed sweet tea.

If, by chance, you hear rumor of an “old man who thinks he’s still a kid” at a local skate park, don’t fret, it’s just me shooting down a hill called memory lane.

8

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

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People Story by Ken Denney Photos by Ricky Stilley

Lucy Barker, 6, tries out some True Blue Granola from Diane Peck of Sweet Georgia Grains.

Farmers Markets grow wild!

T

he Revolutionaries gather each Saturday on Rome Street in Carrollton. Under tents, amid displays of fresh produce, baskets of berries and jars of jellies, these vendors from farms across west Georgia meet with sympathetic, health-conscious buyers in a quiet rebellion against Big Agriculture.

T

Actually, this meeting is not so much revolutionary as it is a return to the past. Back in the day, small farmers would hitch up their wagons and haul their produce to Adamson Square, where cabbages, carrots, corn and okra – a literal cornucopia – would be sold to grocers and townsfolk. Back then, this was the only way for many to get fresh food, but it was a method that largely died out with the rise of supermarkets and a modern supply chain that can deliver a fresh watermelon in January.

But now, the farmers market has returned; if not from the dead, then 10

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

certainly from the realm of the nearly forgotten. And they’re doing so in a new, 21st Century way. Operators of old-time curbside and roadside produce stands are now being joined by a new breed of merchants, working from both open markets – like the Saturday-only Cotton Mill Farmers Market – to storefront venues that give health-conscious consumers a supermarket-like experience.

These new farmers markets, opening up across the region, are not only serving consumers, but also the producers of consumables. Folks who were once only small growers, or part-time farmers, are discovering they can profitably sell goods they once raised only for their family or neighbors. The result has been a surge in small farms with names like Full Life Community Farm from Mt. Zion, the Garry Farm of Bowdon, the CragerHager Farm of Bremen and Sweet Georgia Grains of Haralson County.

T

o help consumers interested in good, local food connect with those committed to providing such fare, merchants and growers alike are this month sponsoring the West Georgia Locavore Challenge, in which area residents will be challenged to add as many locally grown goods to their dinner plates as possible. If successful, the challenge will improve the physical health of consumers and the financial health of local growers.

Georgia Bell picks out some sugar snap peas from Full Life Farm & Freaky Farms.

This trend of local consumers connecting with local farmers is not a local phenomenon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says there has been a 17 percent increase in farmers markets since it first began surveying the sector in 1994.

But this figure represents such markets as Cotton Mill, not necessarily stores run by independent merchants who sell local produce on the farmers’ behalf on a daily basis.

The Farmer’s Cupboard, located in the same shopping center where the Cotton Mill market meets, is such a store. It is run by Candace Balega, and this month the business will celebrate its one-year anniversary.

The farmers who sell through her store are “very good about organic practices,” she says. Some use no chemical insecticides at all; others use only those formulas found at local feed stores.

B

alega says the meat suppliers with whom she deals avoid the hormones and antibiotics common at mass feedlots. “They watch the herd, and if they see a sick animal they treat it, then wait (long after it is free of disease) before harvest.”

Balega runs her store for the same reason many of her customers shop there: “I’m interested for my family. I have three young kids, so it’s a passion of mine to raise them healthy and for them to know and understand where their food comes from.”

That desire to comprehend the origins of their food is common among those who shop at these markets. It’s certainly something that Patricia Gladney, of Farmers Fresh CSA, hears on a regular basis.

“We have become kind of a packaged food society, disconnected from where our food is

coming from.” She said many of her customer’s consider her store on Adamson Square a “food hub” – an intersection point between farmer and shopper.

“Farmers are coming in, customers are coming in – a lot of times they cross paths.”

What results are conversations that could not happen at a regular supermarket; a chance for

customers to know what type of people grow their food, and a chance for farmers to have direct feedback from their customers.

W

hile Balega’s store is, outwardly at least, the kind of market with which most consumers are familiar – a retail outlet with goods on the shelves – Farmers Fresh operates on a slightly different model. As a CSA store (Community Supported Agriculture), Gladney’s July/August 2012

West Georgia Living

11

business creates a vested interest between its customers and the 50-odd local farmers who supply the store.

L

ike a “book-of-the-month club,” Farmers Fresh CSA operates on a subscription basis.

Customers pay a $100 fee and for the next four weeks receive a supply of fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat or poultry from the local farmers. The boxes are packed each Tuesday at the storefront, based on a selection of preferences by the customers. The net result is that the farmers know what the customers want, and the customers have a good idea what they will receive.

In west Georgia, the farmers who distribute their goods through these markets have several things in common – they’re outside large-scale distribution networks; they use as few pesticides and chemicals as possible; and almost all are smallyield producers – part-time farmers who may be retired or trying to supplement their income.

H

owever, being small producers, the farmers in this network carry larger risks to their profits. They are generally not subsidized; therefore the farmers bear all the risk if anything happens – from a disease that affects a herd, or storms that can wipe out an entire crop.

Gladney understands these risks particularly well, since she herself is one of these farmers.

She readily admits that the farmers in the CSA get paid top dollar for their produce, costs which of course are ultimately paid by the subscribers.

And of course this also means that merchants like Gladney and Balega have narrower profit margins themselves.

“As a business model, its horrible,” said Gladney. “You’re paying the highest prices and you still have to compete with what’s going on at the (big name) grocery store. What we depend on is the community understanding what’s at stake here.”

A

nd customers do seem to understand. They have proved willing to pay slightly higher prices than at supermarkets because they recognize these products are fresher and healthier than they might get elsewhere. As a mother, as well as a merchant, Balega can empathize with her customers. “I don’t like to look at a box and see a list of ingredients 20 items long,” she says.

12

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

Jacque Garry, left, of Garry Farms, sells some eggs to George Hirvela.

There are other enticements for customers. Both Farmers Fresh and The Farmer’s Cupboard offer a deli and pre-made dinners so that families on the go can have healthy meals every night of the week.

Ultimately, the rise of local farmers markets reflects not only a shift away from dependence on large-scale food retailing, but the forging of closer relationships between people within local communities. This can be difficult in large urban areas, but perhaps one reason it has been successful in west Georgia is that the region has long had a tradition of rural farmers providing for the community.

I

n the end, the new farmers markets may create stronger communities. Not only do they promote more consciousness about how and where our food comes from – ultimately making for healthier residents – but they reinforce the social contract between consumers and producers, so each works to sustain the other.

“It’s nice to have that feeling that you have built your community, and there’s something fulfilling about it,” says Gladney. “These are our neighbors, these are our friends, and I have never been more connected to a community than I am here.” wgl

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All About Tomatoes

Garden Story by Tommie Munro Photos by UGA Cooperative Extension

T

omatoes are arguably the most popular summer vegetable. I know that I can’t wait each year for the first tomatoes of summer. And nothing tastes as good as a home grown tomato. Almost anyone who has a home garden plants tomatoes, and many of us will grow a few tomatoes even if we don’t have the courage to try anything else. While tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, there are a number of things that need to be considered to grow them successfully.

T

Terminology

There seems to be an almost infinite number of tomato varieties, including numerous shapes, sizes and colors. There are a number of terms you will need to know before you start trying to decide which variety or varieties you would like to grow. One of the first things you will need to decide is if you want a determinate or an indeterminate variety.

Determinate varieties are usually marked “Determinate” or “DET.” These are bush varieties that reach a limited height, usually about 3 feet, and produce most of their crop within a short period of time. All of the fruit can usually be picked in two to five pickings and then the plants can be pulled up. They usually bear early in the season, so if you plant determinate varieties you may want to plant several successive crops in 2- to 3-week intervals to have tomatoes all season.

Gardeners who need a lot of tomatoes at one time for freezing or canning often use determinate varieties. They also work better if you are growing your tomatoes in containers. Some determinates are Bush Early Girl, Bush Celebrity and Rutgers.

Indeterminate varieties continue to grow vines over the entire growing season, so usually 14

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

require caging or staking and continue to bear all season. They produce clusters of fruit along the vine until frost, if they are harvested regularly.

These are best for gardeners who want a steady supply of tomatoes for eating. Some examples of indeterminate varieties are Whopper, Big Boy, Better Boy and Beefsteak.

There are also some semi-determinate varieties that fall somewhere in the middle and usually require some staking or caging. And don’t forget the wide selection of midget, patio and dwarf tomatoes available.

Also, you will run into the terms heirloom and hybrid. Heirloom tomatoes have been around for years and will breed true. If you plant seeds from an heirloom tomato, the offspring will be the same as the parent. Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter and Rutgers are examples of heirloom tomatoes. In order to try to improve on heirloom tomatoes, (e.g. size, taste, disease resistance), growers started crossing different tomato varieties, or hybridizing. The seeds from hybrid tomatoes will not breed true. Their seeds will produce some of the new tomatoes; some will be the same as one parent; others will be like the other parent; and some completely different from any of them. Examples of hybrid tomatoes are Celebrity, Better Boy and Big Boy. Because of this hybridization, we now have tomatoes that are not as susceptible to diseases

as they once were. This does not mean they will never have a problem, but that if they are grown using good cultural practices they will be less likely to become infected. The agents that these hybrids have been produced to resist are listed on the packaging using the following abbreviations: V = Verticillium Wilt F = Fusarium Wilt FF = Fusarium Wilt race 1 and 2 N = Nematode T = Tobacco Mosaic Virus A = Alternaria (Early Blight) TSW = Tomato Spotted Wilt There are numerous varieties of each type. If you are having trouble making a decision, the Carroll County Office of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service (770-8368546) can help you decide which varieties will do the best in our area and meet your needs.

Transplants

You can grow your own tomato transplants or buy them from a local feed store, nursery or plant center. If you decide to grow your own, you will need to start the seeds four to seven weeks before it is time to plant them in the garden. Use a light soil mix and place them where they will receive plenty of light. If you do not have a south-facing window that receives strong light, you may need to use supplemental

lighting. About a week before planting your home grown transplants in the garden, harden off your seedlings. Expose them to an increasing number of hours of outdoor light each day.

Planting

Transplants are ready to be planted in the garden after all danger of frost has passed, usually between mid-March and early May. In our area, it is usually safe to plant some time in April. Since tomatoes are warm-season plants, they will not grow well until the temperature reaches 70 to 80 degrees F. A soil test is recommended before planting. You can get a soil test done by UGA through The Carroll County Extension Office at a minimum charge.

The results of the test will tell you which amendments and how much of each you need to add to your garden soil to grow healthy tomatoes.

Tomatoes need full sun, six to eight hours of sunlight a day and welldrained soil with a lot of organic material, such as rotted manures, compost, rotted sawdust or shredded leaves, worked into it. They need a pH between 6.2 and 6.8. If the pH is too low, which is often the case in our area, the UGA soil test recommendation will suggest the amount of dolomitic limestone that should be added to adjust it to an acceptable level.

Only healthy transplants should be planted into your garden. Place plants that will be staked or trellised at least 24 inches apart in rows that are 4 to 6 feet apart. Because tomato plants can develop roots all along the stem, the transplants should be planted deeply. Only the top four or five sets of leaves should be above soil level, so remove any leaves below this level.

Some people like to put the plant in a deep hole and others like to remove all but the top four or five leave sets and lay the plant into a trench. This works especially well if the transplants are long and leggy. If they are in a peat pot, the pot does not need to be removed, but be sure to plant them deeply enough to completely cover the surface of the pot. Firm the soil around the plant to remove all air pockets.

Lightly fertilize the newly planted transplants by using a starter fertilizer.

One way to do this is to dissolve 2 tablespoons of 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 in a gallon of water and pour about 1 pint of this solution around each plant.

As most plants, tomatoes benefit from 2 to 3 inches of a good mulch. The mulch helps to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Some good mulches are weed-free straw, shredded leaves, compost and newspaper about three sheets deep around the plants with an organic mulch on top.

Staking the plants usually makes working with them easier and helps produce healthier plants and higher quality fruit, as preventing the leaves from touching the ground reduces the spread of disease. Staking can be done using cages or 6-foot tall, 1-inch wooden stakes. If stakes are used, drive about 1 foot of the stake into the ground about 4 to 6 inches from the plant, away from the stem of trenched plants, and tie the plant to the stake about every 10 inches up the stake using heavy twine, stockings or strips of cloth.

harvest. A liquid fertilizer can also be used following directions. Be careful not to over-fertilize. This can result in too much nitrogen, which leads to beautiful plants but few tomatoes. The addition of ¾ of a cup of dolomitic limestone per plant will help prevent blossom end rot.

Tomatoes need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week depending on your soil. If you need to supplement natural rainfall to get this quantity, one to two heavy soakings are better than daily light waterings.

Harvesting and Storage

For the best flavor allow the tomatoes to fully ripen before picking.

However, if you need to harvest them earlier, they will ripen in the house.

Unripe fruit ripens best when placed in a well ventilated area at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit with space between them. Ripe tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator to last longer, but it is accepted that they have better flavor when stored at room temperature.

Problems

You will have problems, major or minor. Observing your plants routinely is the best way to head off and deal with these problems. Some of the common tomato problems you may encounter are: insects, such as aphids, tomato horn worms and whiteflies; diseases such as wilts, blights and cankers; and nutritional problems, such as blossom end rot. We can’t cover all of these problems here, but will review some of the most common ones.

Tomatoes are fairly tolerant of insect damage, but there are some infestations that can cause major headaches: Aphids (Homoptera) appear as bumpy areas on the stems and new leaves that scrape off easily. They come in many colors with the color often blending with the color of the infected plant. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts that remove the juices from the plant. The leaves will turn yellow and have a sticky substance on them called “honeydew.” This often

Maintenance

Tomatoes are considered to be medium feeders and require consistent fertilization throughout the season. The soil test is the best way to know how to fertilize your plants. However, if you have not yet gotten the test, you can use 1.5 pounds of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet of your bed. You need a complete fertilizer that includes minor nutrients. Once the first tomatoes reach the size of a quarter, side-dress them with 10-10-10 using 1 pound of fertilizer for each 100 square feet of the bed. Place the fertilizer 4 to 6 inches from the plant stems to avoid burning them. Repeat this side-dressing every three to four weeks until you have completed your

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results in fungus growth, which causes the leaf to appear black. Tomatoes can tolerate some infestation without a loss in yield, but a heavy infestation can cause the plant to lose vigor. Insecticidal soap is an effective control. Many commercial insecticides are also effective.

Tomato horn worms are the larva (caterpillar) of the hummingbird or hawk moth (Sphingidae). We frequently see them in this area. They have a “horn” on the posterior end and are green in color. They feed on tomato plants with a devastating affect, but may feed on other members of the Solanaceae family. Often, because of their protective coloring and a habit of hiding under the leaves, the damage or frass (feces) can be seen before the caterpillar is noticed. The best horn worm control is to pick them off and mash them with your foot or drop them into a bucket of water. Tilling the soil after harvest will help to destroy any pupae in the soil, and BT (Bacillus thuringesis), e.g. Dipel and Thuricide, is very effective. Parasitic wasps also destroy the larvae. Any horn worms seen with the white eggs of the parasitic wasp attached to the back should be left alone so that the wasps can hatch.

Whiteflies are extremely small, soft-bodied insects that look like tiny moths. They are a problem throughout the southern and costal United States. The eggs are tiny gray or yellowish cones found on the underside of plant leaves. They hatch into crawlers that move around the underside of the leaves, attach and become nymphs that are flat, translucent and legless. A magnifying glass will probably be needed to see the eggs, crawlers and nymphs. Sometimes they fly up in a cloud when a heavily infested plant is disturbed. They suck the sap from plants, weakening and stunting them. They also excrete honeydew onto the surface of the leaves, which supports the growth of sooty mold. The black sooty mold disfigures the plant and may be one of the first indications of infestation that you notice.

Tomato Wilt Virus

Leaves later may turn yellow and brown and drop off. Whiteflies are difficult to control. Insecticidal soap and oil sprays, available at most garden centers, may be helpful. Be sure to spray the bottom of leaves, as well as the tops.

Diseases can be a major problem for the home gardener: Fusarium wilt is caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxsporum. It causes the lower leaves of the plant to turn yellow and wilt. The symptoms

can be seen on all the lower branches of the plant, on several branches on one side, or only on one limb. As the fungus spreads up the plant, the leaves dry up and drop until the entire plant wilts and dies. The best way to control Fusarium wilt is to plant only certified, disease-free seeds and transplants in fertile, well-drained soil. Crop rotation is helpful.

Southern blight, also called white mold and stem rot, is caused by another soil-borne fungus, Sclerotium rolfsii. It develops in moist conditions when temperatures are over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. A white fungal growth is seen on the lower stem near the soil line; on fruit in contact with the soil; and on plant debris on the soil surface. Spherical, light brown, mustard-seed size bodies may be seen on the white mycelium in moist conditions. These may be absent in dry conditions, but placing a piece of the lower stem on a moist paper towel in a plastic bag will produce a white fungal mat in 24 hours. Southern blight is hard to control. Crop rotation and deep-plowing to bury infected debris are two helpful techniques.

Spacing the plants to allow good air circulation also reduces the spread of the disease. Treating the soil is only moderately effective.

The effects of early blight on a leaf.

Bacterial wilt caused by a soil-borne bacterium, Pseudomonas solanacearum, causes the plant to wilt and die rapidly without turning yellow or only short term fixes because they are absorbed poorly and move to the causing spots on the foliage. It likes low, wet areas and temperatures over fruit area inadequately.

75 degrees Fahrenheit. To diagnose it, cut a portion of infected stem and To avoid blossom end rot, maintain the soil pH between 6.2 to 6.8 and place it in a clear glass of water. A white, milky ooze draining from the supply adequate levels of calcium through applications of dolomitic limecut end of a discolored stem indicates bacterial wilt. Crop rotation can be stone or gypsum; avoid drought stress and extreme moisture fluctuations helpful. Soil treatment may be necessary if the soil is heavily infested. by using mulch and deep, timely irrigation once or twice a week; avoid Bacterial canker is caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subs. Michiover fertilizing plants with high ammoniacal nitrogen fertilizers. Excesganensis. Symptoms are wilting, chlorosis and finally death of the plant. sive nitrogen can depress the uptake of calcium. I hope this will help you A yellow to reddish-brown discoloration can be seen in the stem when it enjoy some delicious tomatoes from your garden this summer. is cut longitudinally. Later, canker lesions appear on the stem and bottoms Tommie Munro is a Carroll County Master Gardener and Extension of the leaves. In early fruit infections white, necrotic spots about 1 inch in Volunteer. diameter with a dark center appear on the fruit. The best control is to plant certified, disease-free plants in fields that have not been used for tomatoes for at least two years, or where the soil has been treated. Removing any infected plants immediately will help to reduce the soil contamination.

Root-knot nematodes attack a wide variety of plants, including tomatoes. If there is a high population of them in the soil, Now accepting applications for the tomatoes are stunted and yellowish, and may wilt during dry the 2012-2013 academic year weather or the hottest part of the day. They are easily detected by * Competitive athletics, AA division, GISA examining the roots of sick plants. The nematodes cause knots * Individualized college counseling program or galls from the size of a pinhead to an inch in diameter on the * Extended day services roots. They become active as the soil temperatures rise in the * Bus service to selected areas spring. The best control is the use of resistant plants. * Foreign language instruction K-12: French, Spanish, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese Unlike the problems we have already discussed, blossom-end rot * Performing and visual arts programs is not a disease or infestation, but a physiological problem caused * Classroom Smartboards and computer labs by a lack of available calcium. It can even be a problem when $GYDQFHG 3ODFHPHQW FRXUVHV R余 HUHG there is plenty of calcium in the soil, but the plant is not able to use it. When there is too much moisture, the calcium and other nutrients may move through the plant too rapidly and be lost through the leaves before it is deposited in the fruit. Over-fertilization, especially of nitrogen, can also lead to blossom-end rot.

The Heritage School is an independent, college preparatory school The rot appears at the blossom-end or bottom of the tomato. It serving students ages 3 through twelfth grade. We are dually accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by the starts as a small dark or water-soaked area on the blossom-end of Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). the fruit about the time it begins to ripen. As the fruit matures, the spot gets larger and darker, and begins to sink in. The fruit usually 2093 Highway 29 North Newnan, Georgia 30263 ripens prematurely and is inedible. Foliar sprays of calcium are 770.253.9898 www.heritagehawks.org

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Irresistible Black-Eyed Susans

Garden Story by Shelly Murphy Photos by Shelly Murphy

S

S

ince my perennial Black-eyed Susan has been an outstanding performer in my garden from mid-July until frost for over a dozen years, I was not surprised to learn it was selected as a Georgia Gold Medal Winner Plant in 2011. Actually, I wondered what took them so long. However, I was surprised to see it was classified as an annual since various sources claim Rudbeckia hirta (also known as gloriosa daisy and orange coneflower) is hardy in zones 5 through 9, depending on the species. Perhaps there was a tie that year between it and the winning perennial, which was Nippon Lily. Or maybe the committee simply called this plant an annual since it self-seeds freely and certain species are biennials or not particularly long-lived.

For those not familiar with Georgia Gold Medal Winner plants, every year one plant from each of six categories (annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vines or ground covers, and natives) is chosen by The Georgia Plant Selections Committee. This non-profit organization is comprised of nurserymen, flower growers, garden center retailers, landscape professionals, botanical gardens, county extension agents and faculty from the University of Georgia.

Organized in 1993, the committee’s goal is to promote the production, sale and use of superior ornamental plants.

The Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) varieties the committee chose in 2011 were Irish Eyes, Indian Summer and Denver Daisy. All can be grown from seed, although an Internet search may be required to find them. Though these cultivars all display the basic daisy form, they differ in several ways. Irish Eyes is 4 inches across while the other two have blooms from 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Irish Eyes has a green cone surrounded by bright yellow petals. Indian Summer has golden yellow petals around a brown center cone. Denver Daisy, which was

bred from the native Rudbeckia hirta species and R. “Prairie Sun,” which was introduced in 2008 for the 150th anniversary for the city of Denver, has two-toned petals that form a golden halo around a large reddish-chocolate center. All three grow about 24 to 36 inches tall. hese irresistible and cheerful native flowers are often seen growing at the edge of woods, in pastures and along highways. Blooming from mid-summer until the first frost, their cheery golden brightness can really make an impact on a large scale. Their size makes them perfect for the middle of the border with companions, such as Coneflower (Echinacea), Day-

lily, Pennisetum, Garden phlox, Russian Sage and ornamental grasses. Ideal as cut flowers, blooms can also be used in dried arrangements.

The flowers also attract bees and butterflies.

Though deadheading will promote more blooms, leaving spent seed heads late in the season will provide winter interest and feed for birds. This practice will also promote self-sowing the following spring.

Seeds can be planted inside before the first frost date or sown outside after April 15 in our area (follow the directions on the seed packet).

Plants can also be purchased from a nursery and set out after this date. Black-eyed Susans gener-

Black-Eyed Susans T

18

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

ally like full sun to light shade and medium moisture, although they are more drought-and heat-tolerant once established. repare the soil as you would for perennials, tilling well and adding aged pine bark or compost. Raised beds work well since Rudbeckia hirta will thrive in any except soggy soils. This plant prefers a welldrained loamy, sandy or clay soil with a pH in the neighborhood of 6.8 to 7.7. Water them in well and only when necessary. Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch. Use either a slow-release fertilizer every four months or a liquid fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season.

The perennial variety growing in my garden is likely Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ which is hardy in Zones 3 through 9. This long-blooming cultivar gets about 24 inches tall, with lots of golden black-eyed 4-inch daisies for many weeks in mid- to late-summer. It is especially appreciated that time of year, when most other perennials have finished their show.

In milder winters, Black-eyed Susan stays green and looks good. Dead foliage after a harsh winter can be cut back in early spring, which is also the best time to divide and transplant them. Though not invasive, they are opportunists – there will likely soon be some to share with friends. hough I have not experienced diseases with mine, some varieties of Rudbeckia can be susceptible to crown and root rot, botrytis, anthracnose, gray mold and stem rot, mildew and rust. Insects such as thrips, leaf miners, aphids and sawflies can also be a nuisance. Indeed, I have noticed some nibbling by undetermined pests on my Black-eyed Susan petals a few times through the years. Since I am not one to grab an insecticide in hopes that Mother Nature will soon supply a solution in the form of a natural predator, I typically try to overlook minor insect damage. If it gets serious, I use pesticides made from naturally-occurring soil bacterium or chrysanthemums, which are not harmful to our environment.

Indiscriminate spraying of pesticides can do more harm than good.

Only 3% of the insects found in a garden are pests; the other 97% are good guys that eat harmful insects and provide food for birds and other wildlife. More importantly, they are pollinators so vital to the crops we eat. We’re better off to let nature take its course and let the bugs do their thing.

Like other Georgia Gold Medal Winners, Rudbeckia hirta is a tough plant. It is tolerant of soil, light, heat and moisture conditions and is not susceptible to pests and diseases. It should prove to be a solid performer that w ill a dd c heery br ightness t o a s ummer ga rden f or m any ye ars.

P

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Shelly Murphy is a Carroll County Master Gardener, Extension Volunteer, and author of “Compost Happens: Confessions of a Plantaholic.�

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Life Story by Katie Allen Ross Photos by Ricky Stilley

Volunteer Dylan Floyd leads Rebecca Garrett’s horse as she and Austin Jones high five each other as they take a turn around the ring at Possum Snout Arena.

Possum Snout: Strange name, great cause

D

D

ust kicks up from the red clay arena, filling the sweet spring air.

Families and friends settle into the bleachers, while riders finish braiding tails and picking hooves. Horses whinny and nicker to each other as they pass. Over the loud-speaker, the strains of the National Anthem can be heard, sung from horseback and instilling a special sense of pride.

At the center of it all, Sandra Floyd runs here and there, managing both horse and human deftly with a smile. It’s Saturday night at Possum Snout Arena in Tallapoosa, and it’s time for another Horsin’ Around Fun Show.

Floyd, Tallapoosa resident and owner of Possum Snout Arena, hosts the Horsin’ Around Fun Shows at Possum Snout throughout the spring and summer each year. These fun, family-centered events not only provide the west Georgia community with entertainment, they also help raise money for Rachel’s Wish Foundation.

Established in 2005, Rachel’s Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk and special needs youth overcome both physical and behavioral challenges. However, even before Rachel’s Wish was established, Floyd and her husband, Lewis, or “Buddy” as he’s best 26

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

known, were creating a safe harbor for kids by way of Possum Snout.

T

he Floyds built Possum Snout Arena on their land in 2000. Motivated by their own kids, they wanted to create a family-friendly environment where children could learn the values of horsemanship and friendly competition, and so the Horsin’ Around Fun Shows began. Through the Fun Shows, a very special little girl named Rachel came into the Floyds’ lives.

“Rachel attended our show as a spectator,” Floyd explains. “She had an older and a younger brother, both of whom competed. Rachel did not compete, as she had Spina Bifida; however, she dressed the part, styling her cowgirl boots and her cowgirl hat, cheering everyone as they entered the arena gates.”

From her wheelchair, Rachel Smith watched the other children and wished to be more like them. After the show, when asked how she liked it, she said to Buddy: “I just wish I could be like everyone else and ride a horse.”

At that moment, it became apparent to both Sandra and Buddy that they had built Possum Snout for more than just a source of fun and wholesome

entertainment, they had built it for Rachel and for children like her. After getting permission from her parents, Buddy helped teach Rachel how to ride his horse, Major, allowing her for those precious moments on horseback to be just like everyone else.

That day, Rachel’s wish came true, and the Floyds became determined to help grant the wishes of other people, adults and children alike, affected by various challenges. Today, Rachel’s Wish Foundation fulfills this mission with programs and events designed to assist those less fortunate.

In Floyd’s words, the primary purpose of Rachel’s Wish is “to provide the opportunity to find independence from an addiction, a wheelchair, or a fear. The opportunity to experience unconditional love. The opportunity to find your passion. The opportunity to find your selfconfidence and improve your self-esteem. The opportunity to escape your challenges in life through a healthy medium. The opportunity to be equal – socially and financially.”

T

he wealth of opportunities that Rachel’s Wish Foundation provides reaches out across the West Georgia region, touching individuals and families in countless ways, and because Rachel’s Wish is, as Floyd describes, a constant “work in progress,” the services and opportunities just keep multiplying.

Currently, Rachel’s Wish partners with Tanner Behavioral Health to provide a behavioral modification program to youth and adolescents. The Break the Cycle program helps the participants involved identify appropriate and inappropriate behaviors, guiding them on how to make better choices. Within this program, the horse becomes a teaching tool, an example of both good and bad behaviors.

Floyd explains that “[the horses] demonstrate bullying (unnecessary aggression), defending [themselves] (necessary aggression), compassion, sensitivity, patience, and so much more.”

The animal becomes a mirror to the participant of the program, a source to look to for behavioral cues and lessons learned.

I

n addition to learning how to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors, participants of the Break the Cycle program also learn about horsemanship and how to stay safe around their horse friends. The process of caring for and riding the horses teaches the participants how to be more dependable, more responsible, and more accountable for their actions.

Jacen Sims and Dianelle Floyd enjoy their ride as volunteers McKenzie Worthy and Buddy Floyd make sure the tots are safe.

“Dependability, responsibility and accountability.” It’s a mantra Floyd even repeats to her Horsin’ Around Fun Show riders, one that carries a lot of weight and promise for the future.

Break the Cycle riders and their therapists are transported to Possum Snout by Tanner. Beginning in June and lasting six weeks, the riders spend Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. learning from their horses and, ideally, making positive changes. Even though Floyd understands that not every participant in Break the Cycle will come away completely changed, she does hope that the seeds of change are planted – the seeds of change, better

decisions, and a better life.

Important though it is, Break the Cycle is not the only program and event under the caring and compassionate umbrella of Rachel’s Wish Foundation. The Boots and Spurs Horse Club provides equine education to anyone wishing to learn more about horses. The only requirement for the club? You must love horses.

W

elcoming people from all age groups and experience levels, Boots and Spurs is a family-oriented club that follows a 4-H curriculum and participates in many 4-H sponsored events. There are no fees required, and members July/August 2012

West Georgia Living

27

do not even have to own a horse to get involved.

According to Floyd, many of the members of Boots and Spurs go on to volunteer with other Rachel’s Wish programs, creating, in Floyd’s words, a perfect “win-win situation,” allowing the volunteers the “opportunity to learn and become stewards of their community all at the same time.”

T

rue to its namesake and her memory, Rachel’s Wish also offers horseback riding opportunities to handicapped riders of all ages. With the help of Floyd, her husband, and volunteers, riders are able to leave behind physical limitations and become one with the horse.

On horseback, they become free of wheelchairs, walkers and braces; they become confident and carefree, and, as Rachel said, just like everyone else.

Possum Snout Arena is home to the official Haralson County Special Olympic Equine trainers and coaches, and every August, these trainers and coaches take the special athletes, their horses, and volunteers of Rachel’s Wish to Perry, Ga., for Special Olympics competitions.

Throughout the year, the athletes have numerous training opportunities available at Possum Snout to prepare for what Floyd calls the “most uplifting weekend ever.”

Rebecca Garrett bids Blue a fond farewell after her ride.

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Proceeds from the concession stand at the Horsin’ Around Fun Shows help to fund the riders on this exciting journey.

Get your news at

T

he Floyds, their volunteers, and the riders aren’t the only pieces of the Rachel’s Wish Foundation puzzle. Completing the picture are the specially-trained horses that teach special lessons, instill self-confidence, and create lasting memories for all of those involved in Rachel’s Wish.

www.times-georgian.com or subscribe by calling 770-834-6631

Each horse goes through an intense training program before becoming a part of the program. These gentle giants must be able to tolerate a variety of behaviors from their riders, including: screaming, flailing, running, and falling; they must ultimately become desensitized to such behaviors as to not put the riders or themselves in any kind of danger. The horses are a huge part of Rachel’s Wish and are just as special as everyone else involved in this important program.

F

or those wishing to get involved in the Rachel’s Wish Foundation, the opportunities are endless. The Foundation is constantly growing and, even now, is looking to expand so that the programs are available year-round. In 2010, the Floyd’s purchased a used covered arena, which they and volunteers are working to erect.

There are many needs involved in this project, including ground-grading work, concrete and crew members to help finish the job, but Floyd is determined to make it happen. She says, “Every time we need something to improve the facility or the programs, someone shows up with exactly what is needed. So I know the erection of the covered arena is in the near future!”

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Although Rachel’s Wish does not accept donations from the riders involved in their programs, they do accept corporate donations and donations of time from volunteers.

Anyone wishing to make a corporate donation, to volunteer, or to get involved in Break the Cycle, Boots and Spurs, or one of the other Rachel’s Wish programs, should contact Floyd at 770-574-8104. Possum Snout Arena is located at 55 U. S. Highway 78, Tallapoosa. More information is also available at www.rachelswishfoundation.org. wgl

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Photos by Ricky Stilley Paula Moore, at right, checks out a bird planter for sale by Ceramics

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Helen Ogren, a Master Gardener from Cherokee County, looks at the information tag on a Monkey Puzzle Tree at the Hydrangea Festival. The tree was part of a display by McPlants of Douglasville and is a native of central and southern Argentina and of Chile. It can grow as tall as 130 feet.

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Just a Passing Cramp, or

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

The symptoms usually begin gradually. You'll feel a burning or itching numbness in the palm of your hand and in your fingers. Often, you feel it in your hands during the night, when you try to sleep with your wrists flexed. You try to shake it out. With time, though, it gets worse, so that it's hard to form a fist, grasp small objects Of do other manual tasks you used to do with ease.

It could be carpal runnel syndrome - a problem affecting up to 5 percent of the nation's working population.

"With carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, your hand and wrist tingle from pressure on the median nerve that runs through a narrow passage from your forearm into your hand," said Jeffry Dressander, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic. "This passage tends to be smaller in women than it is in men, which may be one reason why three times as many women as men develop CTS." In addition to numbness, CTS also may weaken your hand or send a sharp pain shooting up your arm. These symptoms often first appear at night, but eventually can occur during the day, too.

Pinching or gripping with a bent wrist boosts the risk for CTS. Women who work as meatpackers or poultry processors have high rates ofCTS, according to some studies. But CTS also can result from retaining fluid during pregnancy or menopause.

Other possible causes of CTS include wrist sprains or fractures, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid problems.

“Seeking treatment for CTS can help prevent permanent nerve damage,” said Dr. Dressander. “So, if you suspect CTS, see your doctor.”

Initial treatment typically involves resting your wnst In a splint. Keeping the wrist still helps prevent further damage from twisting or bending. Once symptoms have lessened, you may benefit from stretching or strengthening exercises. “Whenever possible, avoid bending your wrist and try not to use the affected hand (00 much.

“If these measures don’t help, you may benefit from corticosteroids injected directly into your wrist, taken by mouth or applied to the skin in the form of a patch,” said Dr. Dressander. “Such a patch might provide pain relief comparable to that offered by an injection.”

If symptoms often come back or last for six months or more, carpal tunnel release surgery-one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States-may be your best bet. During this common outpatient procedure, which is performed under local anesthesia, a surgeon cuts the band of tissue around the wrist to reduce nerve pressure.

“We generally recommend surgery if symptoms last for six months or longer,” said Dr. Dressander. “It involves severing the band of tissue around the wrist to reduce pressure on the median nerve. Many patients require surgery on both hands.”

Surgery can provide some immediate relief from symptoms, though full recovery ‘can take several months. Infection, nerve damage, stiffness and pain at the site of the incision are possible complications. Patients should undergo physical therapy after surgery to restore wrist strength, and some patients may need to adjust job duties or even change jobs after recovery from surgery.

“The good news is, recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome following treatment is rare,” said Dr. Dressander. “The majority of patients recover completely.” .

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The Sights of Summer A butterfly lights on a plant in a local garden.

The light from hot air balloons reflects off the lake at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. Ga.

S phers.

S

ome people have a real eye for art and beauty. They are able to stand back, take a look at something and say, “This will make a great picture!” While the rest of us are busy with our day-to-day lives, these people document the things we do and the things we see, but seeing them from their point of view can be eye-opening and fantastic. These people are photogra-

I’m in awe of photographers’ talents. I can’t do what they do. Most of the pictures I take look horrible, even when I’m really trying. But these folks make it seem effortless. So, in our first photo spread, I asked our resident photographer Ricky Stilley to show us summer through his eyes and share some of his favorite summer-time photos with us.

“Sometimes you really work hard to get a certain photo. You put yourself in the right place at the right time,” Stilley says. “And, hopefully, the conditions are right, and you get the picture you want. Other times, you just get lucky.”

Those are the times it comes in handy to have your camera with you at all times, which Stilley says is a habit he got into while working his first photojournalism job in Henderson, N.C. He worked the news beat for 13 years capturing amazing shots of joy and devastation.

July/August 2012

Ricky Stilley

West Georgia Living

35

A goose peeks over its wing at Lake Carroll.

“What I really loved about photojournalism was capturing an important moment in time that people will remember forever,” Stilley said.

Of course, with the development of new computer programs, such as Photoshop, and digital files, Stilley says the game has changed quite a bit since he started his first job in 1981. Now, photographers can achieve a great deal with their computer, making adjustments as needed. However, Stilley says he likes to keep things as organic as possible.

“I utilized pre-visualization a lot. I try to picture what the photo will look like and prepare the camera settings and positioning to try to accomplish what I want it to look like, or what it is capable of looking like, with film alone,” Stilley says. “Other times, you snap a shot you see and you don’t know what you’re going to get. Like the picture of the goose, I had no idea it was going to turn out like that. I went over to Lake Carroll just to see what was going on and if there was anything to take a picture of and just snapped it. Every once in a while, you get picture that turns out better than you thought it would be.”

36

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

Stilley says he really loves to capture unexpected photos, but what he really loves is documenting. “Historical documentation and sports are a lot of fun for me,” Stilley says. “Capturing that moment really gives me a charge!”

Stilley has garnered seven North Carolina Press Association and six Georgia Press Association awards in his 30 years of looking through a lens. Of course, he’s not a full-time photojournalist anymore, now acting as the Times-Georgian’s information technology specialist, but he still finds time for his first love by providing this magazine with beautiful images and pitching in at the paper every once in a while.

And we’re definitely glad he continues to seek opportunities to capture these special moments in our region. We hope you enjoy these selections. To view more of Stilley’s photos, log on to www.rstilleyphotography.com.

– Amy K. Lavender-Buice Editor

A deer grazes in a nearby field in the cool morning mist.

A long exposure gives new life to this Ferris wheel at the fair in Douglasville.

Sunset on the Gulf coast.

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Photos by Thomas O’Connor Mark Crawford, at left, entertains children as they examine his animal furs and pioneer tools during the Carroll County Old Time County Fair at Little Tallapoosa Park off Hwy. 113 on April 21 and 22.

Crowds, below, walk down the main fairway at the Fair hosted by the Carroll County Parks Department. Organizers plan to make the fair an annual event.

The Less and Lamar Bluegrass Band, below, perform songs for the crowd gathered at the Old Time County Fair.

Carroll County’s Old Time County Fair

Building better lives through education, employment and opportunity

TM 40076089

Blue Ribbon Worthy

Ryan Healey, right, and Bobby Hulsey judge cakes for the Blue Ribbon Contest.

Editor’s Note: A few months ago, we asked you, our readers, to cook up your best recipes for pies, cakes and jelly and bring them to the Carroll County Old Time Fair at the brand new Little Tallapoosa Park for a Blue Ribbon Contest on April 21. Boy, did you guys deliver! Ryan Healey, Bobby Hulsey and I had a great time tasting all the great treats you all brought by the West Georgia Living booth. I think we didn’t bargain for judging such wonderful food to be such hard work!

We truly enjoyed each and every entry. We even went back for seconds and thirds as we deliberated on the winners. While we wanted to give everyone a blue ribbon, we only had nine prizes to hand out. And, as promised, below are the winning recipes. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Blackberry Jam

by Julie Burke Ingredients: Wild blackberries Sugar to taste Sure-Jell Cook blackberries and sugar until blackberries are soft. Add Sure-Jell, and immediately place in sterilized jars and seal.

Jennifer’s Spiced Peach Jam

by Jennifer McNiel Ingredients: 4 1/2 cups peaches, peeled, pitted and finely chopped 3 cups sugar divided 44

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

1 box Sure-Jell Pectin (less or no sugar recipe variety) 1/2 T. cinnamon Put measured fruit into 6-8 qt. sauce pot.

Stir 1/4 cup of measured sugar together with package of pectin and then add to fruit

mixture.

Bring mixture to full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly.

Stir in remaining sugar and the cinnamon quickly. Return to full boil and boil exactly one minute, stirring constantly.

Label into sterilized, hot jelly jars, wiping

rims and then cover with two piece lids.

Use Water Bath Canner to process for 10 minutes.

Remove from canner and set on towel to cool for 24 hours.

Can be stored for 1 year in cool dark place. Refrigerate after opening and use within 3 to 4 weeks once opened.

Zucchini Marmalade

by Sue Chadwick Ingredients 5 cups zucchini, coarsely shredded 2 1/2 cups water 5/8 cup, fresh lemon juice 4 T. grated lemon peel 1 box powdered fruit pectin (Sure-Jell) 5 1/4 cups sugar Combine zucchini, water, and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Boil gently for 12 minutes. Stir in powdered pectin and return to boil. Add lemon peel and sugar and continue to boil. Mixture should start to thicken, continue to boil stirring constantly for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and continue to stir about 7 more minutes. Put in sterilized jars and seal.

Yield 6 half pints

1 cup sugar 1 stick margarine, melted 2 heaping Tbls. cornstarch 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups milk 4 eggs (divided) 1 cup flaked coconut (not frozen) First, stir sugar and cornstarch together in a 2-quart double boiler (otherwise mix will scorch). Add egg yolks and melted margarine. Stir in milk. Cook in boiler over medium heat until mix thickens, stirring constantly to avoid scorching! Add vanilla and coconut last after mix has cooked and thickened. Pour custard into backed deep shell pie crust. Make meringue topping, put on top. Sprinkle coconut on meringue and bake until golden.

Perfect meringue: 3-4 egg whites 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar 6 Tbls. sugar In a deep bowl, beat egg whites with vanilla and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Don’t over beat egg whites before adding the sugar or the meringue will leak, making the top of the pie filling moist

Blue Ribbon Contest winners Pies 1st: Julie Weaver Coconut Cream Pie 2nd: Holly Robinson Blackberry Pie 3rd: Andy Blackstock Sweet Potato Pie Cakes 1st: Andrea McDonald Strawberry Cake 2nd: Andrea McDonald Coca Cola Cake 3rd: Julie Weaver Italian Cream Cheese Cake Jams/Jellies 1st: Sue Chadwick Zucchini Jelly 2nd: Jennifer McNiel Spiced Peach Jam 3rd: Julie Burke Blackberry Jam

Blackberry Pie

by Holly Robinson 4 cups blackberries 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup flour 2 T. milk 2 pie crusts Mix 3 1/2 cups blackberries, sugar, and flour together until blended. Pour mixture into pie crust. Put remaining 1/2 cup berries on top. Place pie crust top over, crimp edges. Brush 2 T. milk over top and sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Then bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes.

Coconut Cream Pie

by Julie Weaver Ingredients: 1 ready-made pie crust 1 deep pie pan

Strawberry Cake

and slippery.

Gradually add ood sugar, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form and sugar dissolves. Rub some meringue between your fingers; you shouldn’t feel any sugar granules. Spread meringue over hot filling. To prevent meringue from shrinking while baking, seal it to the edges of the pastry.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, or until meringue is golden.

F

Sweet Potato Pie

by Andy Blackstock 2 1/2 cups mashed cooked, sweet potatoes 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup white sugar 1 T. vanilla 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 pie crust 1/2 stick butter Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Add other ingredients and beat until smooth and creamy. Pour into pie crust

and bake at 325 degrees for 50 minutes.

Italian Cream Cheese Cake

by Julie Weaver Ingredients for cake: 1 stick margarine 1/2 cup vegetable shortening 2 cups sugar 5 eggs 2 cups flour 1 tsp. soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. vanilla 1 small can coconut 1 cup chopped nuts 5 egg whites, stiffly beaten Cream margarine and shortening together; add sugar and beat until mix is smooth. Add egg yolks and beat well. Combine flour and soda and add to mixture alternating with buttermilk. Stir in vanilla. Add coconut and nuts; fold in egg whites. Bake in three 8-inch cake pans at 350 degrees for 23 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting: 1 1/2 (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese 1 stick margarine

1 1/2 boxes of powdered sugar 1 1/2 tsp vanilla chopped nuts Cream together cream cheese and margarine; add powdered sugar and vanilla. Can add the nuts to the mix or can use it to decorate sides and top after frosting the cake.

Coca Cola Cake

by Andrea McDonald Ingredients (Cake): 2 cups plain unsifted flour 2 sticks butter 2 T. cocoa 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. baking soda 2 cups sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup Coca Cola 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows Sift flour and sugar into bowl. Heat butter and cocoa. Pour over flour and sugar mix.

Add buttermilk, baking soda, eggs, vanilla extract, marshmallows and salt. Mix thoroughly.

Pour batter into a 9”x13” Pyrex dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Coca Cola Cake Frosting: 1 stick butter 1/3 cup Coca Cola 2 T. cocoa 1 box Confectioner’s sugar 1 cup chopped pecans 1 tsp. vanilla extract Melt butter. Pour in Coca Cola and add cocoa. Bring to a boil then remove from heat. Add confectioner’s sugar and stir until mixed. Add pecans and vanilla extract and stir until mixed.

Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

by Andrea McDonald Sweet Potato Pie

Cake ingredients: 1 package (18.25 oz.) plain white cake mix 1 package (3 oz.) strawberry gelatin

1 cup mashed fresh strawberries with juice (1 1/2 cups whole berries) 1 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup whole milk 4 large eggs 1 cup frozen unsweetened grated coconut, thawed Frosting ingredients: 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature 8 T. (1 stick) butter, at room temperature 3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted 3/4 cup fresh ripe strawberries, rinsed, capped, and mashed to make 1/2 cup, then drained well 1 cup chopped pecans Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven at 350 degrees. Lightly grease three 9-inch round cake pans.

Place the cake mix, strawberry gelatin, mashed strawberries and juice, oil, milk and eggs in a large mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down if needed. The strawberries should be well blended into the batter. Fold in the coconut. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and place them in the oven.

Bake the cakes 28 to 30 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Run a dinner knife around the edge of each layer and invert onto a rack then invert onto another rack so that the cakes are right side up. Allow them to cool

completely, about 30 minutes more.

Prepare the frosting: Combine the ood cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on low speed for about 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add the sugar and drained strawberries. Blend the frosting on low until the sugar has been incorporated. Then raise the speed to medium and mix the frosting another minute or until the frosting lightens and is well combined. Fold in the pecans.

To assemble, place one cake layer, right side up, on a serving platter. Spread the top with frosting. Add another cake layer, right side up, and frost the top. Repeat the process with the third layer and frost the top. Use the remaining frosting to frost the sides. q

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Shop, Dine, Discover 115 Rome Street Carrollton Georgia 30117 (770) 832-6091

High Quality Sign Service comes from High Definition Signs!

High Definition Signs your locally, family owned signage business is growing again.

We want to thank our awesome customers for this opportunity.

High Definition Signs has been providing sign services to customers in Carrollton and surrounding areas for over four years and have a combined sign making experience of over 18 years. Our new location will offer our customers the same relaxed, comfortable environment to complete your orders. Come visit us at our new location 74 Kilgore Rd. COME CHECK OUT OUR NEW LOCATION Thanks a Bunch!

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Let Donna and Carla Decorate Your Nest!

The Nest in historic downtown Carrollton celebrated their third birthday in January of this year.

This vintage style boutique features home decor, jewelry, gifts and furniture.

This is definitely Carrollton’s fun place to shop. The Nest is owned and operated by the mother-daughter team of Donna and Carla Maner. These two take unique furniture finds and re-glue, re-screw and re-new them for you. They don’t try to make antique and vintage furniture new but make it beautiful and serviceable for generations to come.

Donna has been repurposing items for years and Carla, a graduate of the University of West Georgia, has been a quick learner; gathering skills to transform old to new again. Keeping used furniture out of the landfill and fresh for your home is their primary goal. You will find vintage inspired gifts, home decor, and unique, jewelry and accessories. The Nest is always filled with lots of fun, laughter, and giving. For three years they have been FUN-Raising for the Tanner Foundation projects and encourage you to join them in supporting the community in any way you can.

Visit Donna and Carla at The Nest on 121 Bradley Street across from the AMP, Carrollton’s new amphitheater. Friend us on Facebook and visit our website, www.thenestonbradley.com.

See you at The Nest!

-Carla & Donna Maner Owners, The Nest

1. My parents instilled in me ...

to get an education and stay informed.

2. When I have 10 minutes to

myself, I like to ... think about the future.

3. Most people would never

guess I.... traveled out West on a Harley Davidson motorcycle for eight straight summers.

4. I’ve always wanted to have

dinner with ... a past President.

5. Best book I’ve read this year

... is “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand.

6. My favorite music on my

iPod is ... U2.

7. Early in life I learned ... you

Take

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can go as far as you want to in this country.

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10.

50

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

Near the top of my “bucket list” is ... seeing the Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis.

Miller & Hightower

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40094380

Life Story by Ken Denney Photos by Ricky Stilley

Railroad tracks run through downtown Whitesburg.

Whitesburg The railroad town built during a pause

W

W

hitesburg is a small town – there’s no getting around that fact.

It has 588 people, according to the 2010 Census, and covers 2.8 square miles on both sides of Georgia Highway 16, right up against the Chattahoochee River and Coweta County.

Many who live in Carroll County, or who shuttle back and forth from Newnan, may not give the town much thought as they zip through. But perhaps they should. Because Whitesburg was not always the quiet town of neighbors and friends, antique shops and churches, that it is today.

For a brief time in the 1870s, when the railroad was being built between Griffin and Carrollton, Whitesburg threatened to outgrow Carrollton. It was also a wild town, with fist fights and orneriness among workers being paid for dangerous work. It had a hotel, and the community thrived thanks to nearby Banning Mills and freight and passenger traffic departing a 52

West Georgia Living

July/August 2012

bustling depot. While other communities in west Georgia grew because of their railroad connections, Whitesburg, through a bizarre quirk of fate, literally owes its existence to a railroad. And while other west Georgia towns try to map economic futures as railroads fade in importance, Whitesburg, an improvised town from the beginning, takes the future in stride, doing what needs doing, and staying alive.

B

ack before the Civil War, when railroads in Georgia were making tiny villages into major cities, a group of entrepreneurs thought it would be a good idea to build a railroad connecting Griffin to existing rail lines in north Alabama. Their business, the Savannah, Griffin and North Alabama Railroad Company, planned to route the line through Carrollton.

However, two things happened, according historian James C. Bonner.

First, there was the Civil War, which metaphorically derailed the project

for a decade; Second, there was an accident of nature that occurred when the line was finally under construction in 1873.

As the work crews were grading the roadbed just west of the Chattahoochee, they came across a gigantic layer of rock under the soil that stopped the project, again metaphorically, in its tracks. For months, Bonner says, the workers of that pre-mechanized age used pickaxes, mules, wheelbarrows and other simple tools to break up that rock. Until the ledge could be cleared, the railroad could go no further.

A

nd that was the birth of Whitesburg. It took so long (almost a year) for the workers to clear the rock shelf, their encampment, which should have been temporary, became permanent. And because the railroad needed to run, that improvised town became what Carrollton was supposed to be – the western terminus of the line; the point where farmers brought their produce to be shipped to markets deep in the state.

In September of 1873, Bonner says, the de facto town got a post office, which the mail carriers referred to as “Whitesburg,” naming it after Andrew J. White, president of the Savannah, Griffin and North Alabama railroad. While Carrollton patiently waited for its railroad to arrive, the folks of Whitesburg were building houses and setting up shops around the new marketplace. As the town’s population reached 1,000, the boomtown threatened to surpass the county seat.

But it was a place in the wilderness, without law and order. Town historians note there were at least three saloons in town helping the roughand-ready railroad workers spend their wages.

The result was an atmosphere similar to the towns of the western frontier. Disputes brewed in shots of whiskey were settled in the accustomed manner. Bonner said the citizens boasted of having no city council and “no petty marshals to foam and curse among us.”

T

he town was finally tamed, however, in 1874, when it was incorporated. The train tracks were finally finished to Carrollton, leading to talk that the town would soon die. But it didn’t because the textile and other mills around Banning were by then under way, and these

depended on the depot at Whitesburg. Thus, the town stayed alive.

People depended on the depot as well. Each day, the line ran two trains, the Number One train running east from Carrollton to Griffin, the Number Two train running west between the same points.

Both trains made a stop in Whitesburg – but would-be passengers had to be alert and on time.

According to an 1885 timetable, the eastbound train arrived and departed at 5:35 a.m.; the westbound train also departed within a one-minute interval, at 3:28 p.m.

Time has rolled past. The Central of Georgia eventually took over the operation of the rail line and by the 1950s, passenger service between Carrollton and Griffin was discontinued. Nowadays, the only use the old tracks get are regular shipments of coal to Georgia Power’s Plant Yates.

The limited rail presence “doesn’t affect me,” says Walter Allen, who runs an antique shop located in the old depot – the one built in 1885.

It is one of the oldest depots in the state and has barely changed in the past 127 years. The old wood burning stove still sits where it has always sat, and still provides heat during the winter. The July/August 2012

West Georgia Living

53

old racially segregated waiting rooms now display vintage books and magazines, while the old freight room is packed with antiques.

A

ntiques, in fact, is the leading “industry” of Whitesburg, with several shops now open, making new use of older buildings which, like the old depot, remain much as the were.

“It’s getting to be an antique town,” agrees Tom Henry, a local resident and former railroad worker who was on close terms with the station agents and others from Whitesburg’s bustling days. Yet, he is content with the quiet that has since settled over the town.

But antiquing is not the only activity a visitor may find in Whitesburg. Teri Braswell runs the Wagon Train restaurant, where a buffet of Southern favorites can most always be found. Like Allen, she gets a lot of business from visitors to the nearby McIntosh Reserve Park and to Banning Mills, now a recreational retreat. Thanks to that – and to Georgia Power crews who perform maintenance on the nearby power plants – she has found her own niche in the town.

Allen, Henry and Ms. Braswell all have deep roots in Whitesburg, a town where everyone knows one another and where generations of families have a shared history with the town. And while other cities in the region commission studies for viability in a post-railroad age, it is perhaps those roots that will continue to hold the town together. wgl

A plaque detailing how Whitesburg got its name is displayed at the Whitesburg Library.

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July/August 2012

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Arts & Events MOSAIC WORKSHOP Mosaic Stepping stone Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon. This workshop will result in the creation of a beautiful mosaic stepping stone that can be placed outdoors in your garden. Participants will design and glue beautiful mosaic pieces to the surface of a concrete stepping stone and then grout the spaces between the mosaic pieces. The final mosaic stepping stone will be a durable and unique work of art. Participants are encouraged to bring items to be included in their mosaic: tiles to break up, glass gems, small glass tiles, stone tiles and commercial tiles, old jewelry, beads and shells. Fee is $35 with a $15 supply fee payable to the instructor.

MAKE YOUR OWN BIRDBATH Mosaic Birdbath Workshop from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is a popular workshop and results in a beautiful mosaic birdbath created on a terra cotta saucer. It is a great beginning mosaic class, and students learn basic mosaic techniques and design. We will have a variety of mosaic materials to choose from: handmade tiles, glass beads, pebbles, colorful commercial tiles and found objects - students are encouraged to bring nonporous items they would like to include in their birdbath mosaic. Fee is $35 with a $15 supply fee.

TERRARIUMS The Scrap Bin staff, 1111 Bankhead Highway, Suite A, Carrollton, will show students how to construct and take care of their own mini terrarium gardens and ecosystems on June 30 from 1 to 2 p.m. This is a project that combines science with creativity. Each student will be able to leave with their own terrarium. $15 includes all planting materials and glass containers. For information call 770-666-5332.

camp. This is a thrilling journey out into the Solar System, through the Milky Way Galaxy and to the edge of the observable universe. Fly beneath the rings of Saturn, into the heart of the Orion Nebula, and back to Earth through a black hole, experiencing these and other stunning cosmic destinations as never before! Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks and produced by the American Museum Of Greater Carrollton Area... Whatever you’re looking for, look here first.

Natural History in collaboration with theThe Nato 7 p.m. This exhibit and opening are free Sometimes we forget how many great things there are to see, do and experience in our own hometown. Before you spend your tional Aeronautics and Space Administratime and money somewhere else,public. why not look hereFor first? You might be surprised by some of the treasures in your own backyard! to the more info., please call tion (NASA). Approximate program length: and ask for Phoebe Ericson.

Explore the shops,770-838-1083 restaurants and galleries of Carroll County historic downtown districts. Turn a few pages at Horton’s Books 30 min.. Presented by Kramer Entertainin Carrollton, the oldest bookstore in the state (and the county’s oldest business). Dine at one of our many restaurants, serving pericson@carrollton-ga.gov. up anthe eclectic mix of mouth-watering cuisines. Attend or host a tournament at our award-winning recreation facilities. See a ment. The show is free and is funded by show or exhibit at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center, Townsend Center or Copeland Hall. Shoot a hole-in-one at your choice of Alice H. Richards Foundation. Times vary severalin championship quality golf courses. Swim off the largest sand beach in the GA State Park System at John Tanner State DANCE CLUB hike or explore on horseback at McIntosh Reserve Park. Hold your business meeting, wedding or family 30 min. increments through the day. In Park. ad-Camp, picnic,SQUARE reunion here. Cheer our home teams or learn a thing or two at the University of West Georgia or West Georgia Technical College. dition, in partnership with SCRAP Bin, the The Haymakers Dance will The Carrollton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau isSquare your complete local resource forClub planning and hosting groups and lobby will be filled with suspended spaceindividual visitors in the Greater Carrollton Area. Contact us at 770-214-9746 or visit us online at www.visitcarrollton.com and host a Square Dance on June 11 and 25 at related artwork made from recyclable on Facebook. Come by the Log Cabin Visitor Center at 102 North Lakeshore Drive in Carrollton. the Temple Senior Center, 280 Rome St., materials by children in summer art camps.

Call Penny Lewis at 770-838-1083 for more Temple. Dance from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Admission for visitors is $5. For more information information or to schedule a group. We will call James Windom at 770-834-8127. also take reservations for families.

BUBBLE MADNESS

WORKSHOP

Children can learn how to make homemade bubbles in this fun outdoor workshop on July 7 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Scrap Bin, 1111 Bankhead Highway, Suite A, Carrollton. $8. For information call 770-666-5332.

Scrap Bin, 1111 Bankhead Highway in Carrollton will have a $1 DIY crafts taught on the hour, every hour from 2 to 5 p.m. on Fridays at S.C.R.A.P. Bin. June 29 will be classic paper pinwheels. For info. call 770666-5332 or www.scrapbin.org or scrapbincarrotlton@hotmail.com.

WATERCOLOR EXHIBIT Chin Cheng Hung presents Self Portrait in the Roush Family Gallery from July 13 through Aug. 31. Hung, a renowned watercolorist and SCAD professor was juried into the Taiwan International Watercolor Exhibit held at here last year. The opening reception will be July 13, in the lobby of the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center from 5 to 7 p.m. This exhibit and opening are free to the public. For more information, please call 770-838-1083 and ask for Phoebe Ericson. pericson@carrollton-ga.gov.

PASSPORT TO THE UNIVERSE ARTIST GUILD EXHIBIT Passport to the Universe is orbiting into the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center Lobby this summer on July 18 and 19. The show will be presented in a large inflatable dome in conjunction with our art camp: “Day Dreams and Night Visions” as well as the CPRCAD Program Division’s space themed

The Carrollton Artist Guild presents New Works in the Galleria from July 13 through Aug. 31. This is a non juried members only exhibit of all new works. The opening reception will be July 13 in the lobby of the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center from 5

POST PARADE PARTY Help us honor our local police and explorer scouts by coming to the free party right after the Carrollton July 4th parade at Perkins Law Firm, 539 Newnan Street. There will be free food and fun everyone including music, prizes, a moon walk and face painting.

CAR CRUISE-IN The Golden City Cruisers Car Club will hold a Cruise-In on July 21 at 5 p.m., at “The Mill” amphitheater, 106 Temple Street, in downtown Villa Rica. Come enjoy the fun with 50/50 drawings, cakewalks, family fun for all. Cars, motorcycles, rat rods, customs, etc. Public is invited. No admission charge. For information go to: www. goldencitycruisers.com or call Danny at 770-328-9663.

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Life Story by Katie Allen Ross Photos by Ricky Stilley

Eric Freed, left, and Martha Diaz, right, of Greenlight Biofuels, demonstrate the new grease caddy they put in use at The Righteous Room in Atlanta, Ga.

Fuel of the Future?

One company takes ‘Going Green’ one more step

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or the last several years, we’ve heard it, like an anthem, a battle cry leading us into the future. Go Green! They said it, and we did it.

At first, most of us weren’t even sure what going green meant. We already reduced, reused and recycled; what more could we do? Turns out, there’s a whole lot more.

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The Go Green movement is dedicated to the sustainability of our planet.

By taking a few measures in our daily lives now, we can theoretically make a difference for future generations, preserving our environment and ensuring its future.

It’s hard to argue with such an appealing goal, and there are some really easy ways we can all go green and make that difference. Remember to turn off lights when leaving a room. Remember to turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Try to use cold water when washing clothes. Unplug electronics that are not in use. If possible, buy local, organically grown food products. Of course, these are just a few of the simple things we can 58

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do to reduce the amount of energy we use within our household. Outside the home, the Go Green movement is making an impact on an even larger scale.

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harles Smith knows all about going green on that larger scale. Smith works as a regional sales manager for a company called Greenlight Biofuels. Greenlight Biofuels is a subsidiary of the larger, renewable energy business Greenlight Energy Resources, which has divisions in four renewable energy sectors: biodiesel, wind, solar and wave.

Formed in 2007, Greenlight Biofuels is a growing presence in the field of biodiesel production. They have facilities all along the East Coast, with a local facility close to home in Mableton, Ga. This depot serves businesses in Douglas and Carroll counties, as well as across the greaterAtlanta metro area, collecting waste cooking oil from local restaurants and processing that cooking oil into biodiesel.

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ccording to the National Biodiesel Board, biodiesel is “a domestic, renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils like soybean oil.” The fuel can be used alone or blended with petroleum products for use in diesel engines. Because biodiesel is derived from natural products like vegetable oils and animals fats, its effect on the environment is much less significant than the effect from petroleum-based products. The environmental advantages of using biodiesel are attractive; it is a clean-burning, biodegradable, and non-toxic fuel and is essentially free of sulfates and aromatics.

Companies like Greenlight Biofuels convert collected waste vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel.

The fuel is produced through a refinery process called transesterification. This process is “a reaction of the oil with an alcohol to remove the glycerin, which is a by-product of biodiesel production.” The National Biodiesel Board stresses the fact that waste vegetable oil and biodiesel are not the same product and that the oil must be run through the refinery process before it can be used in diesel engines.

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n addition to waste vegetable oil refinement and biodiesel production, Greenlight offers recycling and grease trap services to companies wishing to recycle their waste vegetable oil for conversion into biodiesel. Greenlight provides the appropriate sized recycling container to its customer and, with state-of-the-art pumping trucks, picks up the waste oil through a scheduled pick-up system and delivers it to the refinement plant.

The type of companies served by Greenlight include chain restaurants and fast food establishments, commercial property management companies, grocery stores, hotels, universities, airports, sports facilities, and company cafeterias. Some of the local restaurants who partner with Greenlight are Topps Bar and Grill, Monterrey’s Mexican Restaurant, Johnny’s Pizza, Samba Loca Brazilian Steakhouse, The Border Bar and Grill, and Loco Mex.

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reenlight also provides grease trap pumping for both indoor and outdoor waste oil receptors. According to the company, proper maintenance of grease traps prevents potential plumbing problems and the clogging of drains.

The waste vegetable oil collected by Greenlight

Craig Reading prepares to pump out the tank. is properly disposed of or recycled and converted into clean-burning biofuel.

The services offered by Greenlight Biofuels are a great way for companies to join the Go Green movement and, as Smith points out, to “show commitment to the environment.”

“Greenlight prides itself on offering a Clean, Green, and Reliable service to its food service and restaurant partners,” Smith said. “We also like to help share our partners green initiatives, as we appreciate their commitment to our envi-

ronment.”

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aste vegetable oil captured by Greenlight is saved from entering our sewer systems and contaminating the environment with hazardous spills and overflows. Furthermore, the conversion of that waste vegetable oil into the clean-burning and biodegradable biodiesel is a huge step in the effort to move towards an alternative to petroleum fuel. Already, many filling stations sell a diesel fuel blend that contains up to 5 percent biodiesel.

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Life

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he movement towards clean, renewable energy is a growing and powerful force in America, as it reduces the nation’s dependency on foreign oil consumption. As an integral part of the Go Green movement, Green energy is a new and increasingly vital area of our economy.

Based on data from the National Biodiesel Board, America’s biodiesel industry will add an estimated $24 billion to the American economy between the years 2005 and 2015. The industry is also projected to create 39,000 new jobs in all sectors of the economy during those same years.

And perhaps most importantly, it’s estimated that the industry will keep $13.6 billion in the American economy that would otherwise be spent on foreign petroleum-based oil.

Keeping those trends in mind, Smith states that biofuels are already being used in a “large variety of applications, from powering individual

Craig Reading keeps an eye on the pressure as he pumps out the tank using a flat-vac truck. The tank in the bed of the truck holds about 1,000 gallons of used oil. This allows the truck to be dual-use, as it can also transport drums and extra tanks at the same time.

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automobiles and heating homes and businesses to powering air crafts and industrial engines.” This shows a commitment from individuals and industries not only to go green but also to the future of a nation with clean energy options and less dependency on foreign oil, because as pointed out

by Smith, every gallon of “domestically produced biodiesel is one gallon less [that] we need to import.”

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orward-thinking companies like Greenlight Biofuels are paving the way to a clean energy future. The biofuel industry is growing every day with new innovations, discoveries, and technology. People like Charles Smith of Greenlight can educate us on joining the Go Green movement in this significant and exciting way. Because, according to him and others, this is our future “The outlook for the renewable energy industry is great – increased awareness of society’s impact on the environment is changing how people perceive their role in environmental stewardship. Increasing energy independence and reducing our reliance on foreign oil is an important part of the process as well. We are proud to be a part of the solution and are looking forward to our future with our customers.”

Local businesses and restaurants wishing to partner with Greenlight for grease trap pumping or waste oil recycling services can contact Charles Smith at 757-525-0830 or by e-mail at charles.smith@glbiofuels.com. wgl

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store@hortonsnewstand.com www.hortonsnewsstand.com July/August 2012

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Life Story by Ken Denney Photos by Ricky Stilley

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MAINTAINING

ut on Highway 27, between Carrollton and Roopville, lives an aging superstar – a rustic charmer, constantly besieged by paparazzi, her fame spread across the world. Of course, we’re talking about the W.E. Johnson Sweet Potato Curing House, a Carroll County landmark, whose image has been recorded on everything from cell phones to canvas. It is perhaps the most photographed structure in west Georgia, and its picture can be found everywhere on the internet, not to mention the walls and offices of homes across the South and beyond.

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Located only a few feet off the busy, southbound lanes of Highway 27, the building is visible even from a long way off, standing stark against large expanses of green fields, set at an angle so passersby can spend long moments gathering in all its details: its tin roof, its simple wood frame – and the brilliant Coca-Cola advertisement painted on its sides.

It’s no wonder that many of these travelers slow down or pull over by the building. No doubt some feel they are in the presence of a unique survivor, a relic set in a crosscurrent in time, combining an era in which agriculture was king of these parts, and an age before billboards and ad men manipulated consumer appetites. But there’s more to this building than meets the eye. That Coca-Cola sign, for example, is no accident; it is the result of a cunning that even modern ad execs would envy. And the building itself, 62

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LOCAL ICON

for all its popularity, is a bittersweet blessing to the family that owns it.

Walter E. Johnson built his sweet potato curing house in 1940, back when getting a sweet potato was a complicated affair. Seventy years ago, if you wanted a sweet potato, you could not just swing by the grocery store; you usually had to grow it yourself, which meant an investment of several months under a hot sun, hoeing and weeding and hoping for rain. All that hard work yielded a product that had a short shelf-life – unless, that is, the sweet potato was “cured,” Once cured, a sweet potato could last for weeks in a cool cellar.

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ohnson was nicknamed “Tater Johnson” by his neighbors, not without reason. The man knew how to grow and preserve sweet potatoes. He and his son, Horace, built the little house together, probably following precepts set out by a U.S. agricultural scientist named H.C. Thompson; the man who, in 1929, literally wrote the book on storage houses.

“The sweet potato storage shed was essential for the successful storage of the crop,” says Dr. Stanley J. Kays, professor emeritus at the University of Georgia, and this state’s modern equivalent of Professor Thompson. A sweet potato, Dr. Kays points out, is not a tuber (like a potato) but a root – and unless roots are handled just right, they will quickly rot after harvest.

“Once a crop has been harvested, there are several things to do which are essential: minimize damage done to the roots when they are dug, cure them for a week at about 85 degrees, and then store them at temperatures below 60 degrees.”

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ccording to Greg Johnson, owner of the storage house and W.E. Johnson’s greatgrandson, the house was built for the benefit of Johnson’s own sweet potato crop and that of all his neighbors. On the hot summer days of harvest time, the Johnson family would load up the storage house with crates of sweet potatoes, then fire up the wood-burning furnace underneath the building. “You’d have to keep the fire going,” says the younger Johnson. “I’m not sure how he managed the temperature, but he had to keep a steady fire going.”

While under the heat, the scrapes and scuffs inflicted on the sweet potatoes when they were dug would heal as their outer skins toughened up and were made resistant to both water loss and decay. What’s more, according to Dr. Kay, the heat stirs up enzymes within the root that, when they were cooked, made the sweet potatoes extra tasty. Johnson charged his neighbors 15

cents per crate to cure their sweet potatoes in the house. At a maximum capacity of 1,300 crates, Johnson was never going to be rich providing this service; not even after raising the rate to 30 cents by the 1960s when the business stopped operating.

But long before the Johnson family got out of the sweet potato curing business, the little house represented something else: a reminder of

the day when roadside barns were the primary advertising media.

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reg Johnson said that some time after his great-grandfather and grandfather built the house, a representative of the Coca-Cola Company came by asking to use it for roadside sign for the Atlanta-based soft drink company. Since the deal would mean the building would get a regular paint job, relieving him of that responsi-

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bility, the eldest Johnson agreed.

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nce upon a time, “barn advertising” was common across America and especially in the South. In the early days of motor travel, the big, broad sides of those structures were attractive to those who wanted to advertise “Mail Pouch” tobacco, “Fletcher’s Castoria,” and of course, those twin Chattanooga attractions, Rock City and Ruby Falls.

Longtime Carroll residents may remember the barn that used to advertise “Jefferson Island Salt” on U.S. 27, as well as the Ringer Store with its own Coca-Cola sign that still stands, tucked away at the intersection of the road that bears its name.

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Coke did not pick Johnson’s storage house by accident. According to information provided by Coca-Cola spokesman Ted Ryan, the company relied on local sign painters to create the signs, but those independent contractors were bound tightly by rules designed by company executives. First, the painters had to create a detailed

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Life map of potential sites, showing traffic patterns and numbers of vehicles. Next, the contractors would have to find a building with the right characteristics: “Though a wall may have a large circulation with a good approach, it must face the passing public in such a way that the pedestrian, automobilist or street car rider can get a full view of the message which it delivers.”

– 1920s Coke sign guidelines.

Johnson’s storage house sits at about a 45 degree angle to U.S. 27, and that fact, plus its long approach for passersby, made it a perfect location for a Coca-Cola sign. But location was only the first part of the Coke sign-painter rule book. To ensure all its advertising was uniform, the company had complex rules the sign painter had to follow, especially in getting the ornate Spencerian script of the name just right.

According to the company’s information, sign painters would first put up a large sheet of paper with punched holes outlining the words. The painter would dab at those holes with a bag full of paint or chalk so that the outline of the script would be transferred to the wood planking.

Then, the painter carefully filled in the outlines with specially formulated paint – paint that could only be sold to Coke’s approved army of sign painters.

barn could not be written in a way to detract attention from the Coca-Cola sign. That’s why the words “W.E. Johnson Sweet Potato Curing & Storage” appear in plain block letters, against a very uninteresting painted background.

Since then, the building has sat through 15 hot Georgia summers and frosty winters, through windstorms and rainstorms aplenty. Horace passed away three years ago, leaving upkeep of the storage house to younger family members.

How long will Johnson’s storage house be available for photo shoots? That is a difficult question to answer. Greg Johnson owns the building, but does so from North Carolina. He and cousins who live near Roopville are very aware how popular the building is, but face the responsibility of caring for this local icon without any outside assistance.

“This is something we’re going to have to deal with pretty soon, because it’s starting to have some decay, and it needs to be fixed,” said the youngest Johnson. “My cousin and I do want to keep it going. I know my grandfather wanted to keep it going. So it’s something that I think, if we can, we’re going to try and preserve it.”

“Periodically, the Coca-Cola company would send someone out there to paint the sign and the building itself,” says Johnson. But those days are long gone, since the company now relies on billboards and electronic mass marketing. There are some artisans who specialize in repainting old Coke signs, but they don’t come cheap.

That would please the building’s many fans spread across the world. Hopefully, the storage house will survive many more years as a living, existing link to days long past rather than being reduced to only living on in photographs. wgl State Farm® Providing Insurance and Financial Services

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he last time the building was repainted was 1997, when Johnson’s grandfather, Horace – who was determined to maintain the storage house – was able to interest a Coke collector’s club to sell a commemorative bottle and raise proceeds to repair and paint the building. That limited edition of 960 bottles sold out within 35 minutes.

Also, the name of the merchant or owner of the

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Artist’s Corner

Book Review by T.L. Gray Novel by Frank Allan Rogers

About the Author: Frank Allan Rogers, lives at Fairfield Plantation in Villa Rica, Ga., with his wife, Mary. His debut book, “Upon a Crazy Horse,” was published in 2009 and nominated for Georgia Author of the Year Award for Best First Novel.

Frank is a current member of the Carrollton Creative Writer’s Club, Western Writers of America, and Southern Independent Bookstores Association. Please check out Frank’s website at www.frankallanrogers.com for announcements and appearances. He can also be found on Facebook.

About the Book: Twenty-first century, philanderin’, womanizin’ and playboy millionaire August Myles is shot and killed during a senseless robbery on what was to be his 57th birthday.

At first, eternity seems quite pleasant. He feels no more fear, fatigue, stress, or the aches and pains of aging, and as far as he is concerned, he looks damned good walking around in his favorite jacket and walking shoes. That is, until he meets Socrates … Yes, that Socrates! …and finds, though he never murdered, raped or stole from anybody, he doesn’t qualify for a ticket through the pearly gates.

Socrates tightened the chord on his toga.

“Satan is demanding your soul. You’ll have to take up your case with him. I can do nothing, August.”

“Yes you can! Go back to your precious Divine Council and ask them to take another look at my record,” August demanded, then requested, and then fell on his knees and prayed for another chance, one more time around. “I 66

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can get it right next time, I know I can.”

That’s exactly what Socrates does, and the Divine Council, in a desire for a grand experiment, grants August his second chance by giving him a mission, but one that comes with a little twist and just a few restrictions.

• The Twist – August is sent back to the year 1847 to the Wild West, thirty years younger, but he will be almost as a mortal– complete with all weaknesses and desires, but no supernatural abilities.

• The Mission – August must escort and protect eleven-year old orphan, Emily Lewis, in a

wagon train along the Oregon Trail.

• The Restrictions– August isn’t just wagering his soul against damnation, but that of a thousand other souls. He cannot fail his mission, and he cannot have intercourse with a mortal.

Trouble starts immediately for August as he arrives in Independence, Missouri with nothing more than the clothes on his back and a hundred dollars’ worth of gold coins in his pocket. His first purchase – after a tough battle of hagglin’ with a black livery owner named Forrest (whom everyone else just calls, Trees), is an Appaloosa stallion named Aristotle for $72.50,

nearly three-fourths of all the money he carried. It was still weeks away before the wagon train left for Oregon, and according to the Wagon Master, Clark Bonner, August will need a few more things to be in the train: basic supplies from leads, a rifle and ammo, a wagon that can haul a couple thousand pounds and can take a beating for six months, a team to pull the wagon, and a sixty-five dollar fee. Oh, and most importantly, he is not allowed to bring the whore, Candy Valentine. The problem is, August already promised to take Ms. Valentine on the train with him as an escort for young Emily.

As if August doesn’t have enough on his plate as it is, trying to earn enough coin working for the local saddle maker, Sam “Hoppy” Hopkins, to get everything he needs, and convince Bonner to make an exception for Ms. Valentine, he finds himself chasing down a thief he stumbles upon in the middle of the night who tries to steal a load of Mr. Bonner’s ‘shovels’.

Come morning, after delivering the thief to Marshal Edenfield’s deputy, Jonas, August finds himself behind bars, accused of the very crime he tried to stop a few hours before, and the deputy nowhere to be found. Gettin’ out of jail and proving his innocence becomes tricky for August, and is not without its complications – and let’s not forget there’s a real thief out there somewhere.

As the train is set to roll out of Independence, Missouri, August has gained a wagon and a team of mules, a waiver of the sixty-five dollar fee to Mr. Bonner’s train, as well as a reprieve for Ms. Valentine. Yet, it came with a strong warning that he would be held accountable for Candy’s behavior, and she was not to cause trouble, or else they’d both be kicked off the train.

After a few days on the trail, August feels like he’ll be able to meet all his mission requirements, even the one about chastity – though Ms. Valentine makes that a bit difficult for him with her constant flirting and combined assumptions of the other wagoner’s, that is until fate steps in and he meets the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, Mrs. Diana Desmond.

This young, beautiful, strong-willed widow confuses and befuddles August to the point of frustration. He doesn’t understand how she can have such strong compassion one minute, and then cold treatment of his eleven-year old ward, Emily, the next. She confides to August that her marriage had been one of convenience, and not of love, and she’s not shy about sharing her troubled past or how she feels about a particular cowboy.

He draws her in one minute, in moments of weakness and overwhelming desire, and then pushes her away the next, when he remembers his restrictions. On top of that, he has to deal with Candy and her constant advances and the insufferable, egotistical Ian Callahan and his romantic notions toward Diana. In his jealousy of Callahan, August finds himself in a highnoon showdown, facing death, and ultimately the failure of his mission – all for a woman. How does he fare in the gun fight? You’ll have to read and find out. But I can say this is not a ‘forbidden fruit’ moment and the undoing of August Myles.

“I’ll see you in Oregon City,” August said.

Diana stared at the ground. “Why should I believe that?”

“Because I love you. I risked my life in a gunfight because I love you.”

“Gunfights don’t prove you love me. They prove you’re stupid.”

“Love can make a man do stupid things.”

“Like getting himself killed?”

“Like kissing a woman who calls him stupid.”

“Then shut up and kiss me, stupid.” …In that occasion of ultimate human intimacy, of life’s greatest plea-

sure that could have been created by none other than God – when time is suspended, when vision goes cloudy, when hearing is subdued, when all senses and desires surrender to passion in a perfect world and focus only on fleeting moments of pure ecstasy – August Myles and Diana Desmond …

Does August fulfill all parts of his mission? Does he break his restrictions? Does he give in to his natural desires and temptations? Or does he have the strength to resist?

It seems every decision made by August bears an eternal consequence.

They cost him a best friend, his wagon to burn, and got the Devil scrambling to prepare a case against him at his trial with the Divine Council.

Before August is whisked away to face the battle for his soul, he finds a friend in an enemy, and trades his greatest treasure for a safe return.

Does August Myles escape condemnation?

Is Socrates able to pull out a miracle?

What becomes of the women (Diana & Emily) August loves?

What happens to Candy Valentine?

I’d love to be able to tell you how this story ends, but you’ll just have to read it for yourself. Frank Allan Rogers does an amazing job answering all those questions, and reading his words would be better than mine.

Rogers’ skill with novel writing is superb. He grabs attention in the first paragraph and doesn’t let go until the last word. I was ‘literarily’ pulled from my twenty-first century existence into a nineteenth-century adventure. I fell in love with the wagon train lifestyle, as well as the cowboy, August Myles. I know you will too.

About the Reviewer: T.L. Gray is a local author from Temple, Ga. Her first book, “The Blood of Cain,” was published in 2009 by Fireside Publications, soon to be released as a 2nd edition by Carrollton publisher, Vabella Publishing. She has since published two young adult novels: “Keezy’s 10 Awesome Rules for Teenaged Dating” and “Milledgeville Misfit.” Her fourth novel, a sequel to “The Blood of Cain,” “The Arcainians” is due for release this summer. Gray is a full-time novelist, editor, social media specialist and website manager. She is also active as a Contributing Writer for Impact Times Magazine and a member of the Carrollton Creative Writer’s Club.

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A H O M E T O W N H O S P I TA L W I T H WORLD-CLASS CARE

A broken arm or appendicitis. Starting a new family, or looking for care for an aging parent. Facing chronic health problems, such as asthma or depression, or receiving a scheduled diagnostic exam like a mammogram.

There are times when important healthcare decisions must be made. For residents in Carroll, Douglas and Paulding counties, exceptional care is close at hand as Tanner Health System continues to expand services in Villa Rica, with a growing medical staff and an expanding line of services to provide more complete care.

Neighbors caring for neighbors, backed by state-of-the-art technology with a team approach to care that puts the patient at the center of everything: that is the formula for care that has led Tanner Health System to be named one of the 15 Top Health Systems in the nation by Thomson Reuters and Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica to receive two consecutive Outstanding Patient Experience awards from HealthGrades for 2011 and 2012.

A Continuum of Exceptional Care Tanner Medical Center/ Carrollton has been recognized by HealthGrades as No. 1 in Georgia for overall orthopedic services.

That same exceptional orthopedic care is available at Tanner Medical Center/ Villa Rica from the same team of orthopedic specialists with Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic.

Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica also offers a wide range of surgical care, with advanced, minimally invasive procedures from a team of highly skilled surgeons and specialists. With minimally invasive surgery at Tanner, patients experience smaller incisions with less scarring, faster recoveries and a reduced risk of complications. The availability of minimally invasive surgery in Villa Rica means that patients can receive exceptional care quickly, close to home, without the hassle of traffic.

In addition to orthopedics and general surgery, Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica also offers gynecological procedures, gastroenterology, cardiac services, ear, nose and throat services, a center for sleep medicine and more, as well as access to Tanner’s medical staff of more than 300 physicians representing 34 medical specialties.

Tanner Medical Center/ Villa Rica offers 24-hour emergency care from a team of board-certified emergency physicians, a state-of-the-art maternity center, innovative critical care services, advanced diagnostic imaging services and more.

Also in Villa Rica, Tanner offers Willowbrooke at Tanner, featuring Georgia’s first new inpatient behavioral health facility built in more than 20 years, as well as a continuum of outpatient care.

Willowbrooke at Tanner offers free, confidential mental health assessments, which can be scheduled by calling the 24-hour help line at 770.836.9551.

To find a Tanner physician serving Villa Rica, call 770.214.CARE or visit www.tanner.org.

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Grilled Lime Pork Chops With Black Bean & Corn Salad INGREDIENTS:

*1/4 cup Fresh lime juice *3/4 cup Olive oil (plus additional for coating grill) *2 tsp. Garlic, minced *1-1/2 tsp. Kosher salt *1 tsp. Fresh ground black pepper, to taste *1 tsp. Ground coriander *6 Boneless pork chops, fat trimmed

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1: In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, oil, garlic, salt, pepper and coriander. Place pork chops in a large zip-top plastic bag and pour marinade over pork chops.

Refrigerate for 2 hours. STEP 2: Preheat grill on medium heat. Oil grill rack with oil. STEP 3: Place pork chops on grill and grill 3-4 minutes. Using tongs, turn pork chops a quarter turn to create hatch marks and grill 3-4 minutes. Flip pork chops over and repeat the process. Hold chops using the tongs to create grill marks on the edges, if desired. Proper internal temperature is 150°. STEP 4: Serve pork chops with Black Bean and Corn Salad.

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Black Bean and Corn Salad *2 medium Ears of corn, husks and silk removed *1/4 cup Black beans, rinsed and drained *1 small Tomato, small dice *1 small JalapeĂąo pepper, finely chopped *2 Tbsp. Green bell pepper, small dice *2 Tbsp. Red bell pepper, small dice *1/4 cup Jicama, peeled, small dice *2 Tbsp. Green onions, chopped *1 Tbsp. Vegetable oil *2 Tbsp. Fresh cilantro, chopped *1 clove Garlic, minced *2 tsp. Fresh lime juice *Dash Ground cumin *1/4 tsp. Kosher salt DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Grill corn over medium heat, turning frequently, until corn is golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. Remove corn from grill and let cool; cut corn from cob. Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until well blended.