WGL July-August 2014

West Georgia

Li V ing July/August 2014

West Georgia’s only Medal of Honor recipient The timeless appeal of roadside stands The phandom of Parrot Heads ... And much more!

Life . Art . Music . People

Vacation time!

From Alabama’s woods, to Georgia’s coast, great ideas for your summer getaway $3.95

Vol. 4/Issue 4

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A LEGEND TURNS BORN IN DEARBORN April 17th, 1964

NOW THRU AUGUST 31, 2014

From the Editor

West Georgia

Li V ing Volume 4 . Issue 4 July/August 2014 Publisher Marvin Enderle publisher@times-georgian.com

Editor Ken Denney ken@times-georgian.com

Advertising Melissa Wilson melissa@times-georgian.com

Photographer Ricky Stilley ricky@times-georgian.com

Contributors Jody Talley Butler Robert Covel Rob Duve Joe Garrett Thomas Hays Sunday Jones Rebecca Leftwich Josh Sewell Lowell White

Dear Readers:

show you how to discover the hidden island gems that hug Georgia’s coast.

What say we all get out of town?

This month’s edition is for those of us who just can’t wait to get away from it all, even if it is just a day or two.

We’ve assembled a series of vacation suggestions specifically for us in west Georgia; a series of getaways that are a day’s ride from our region, and for just about every taste you can imagine.

For those who love the great outdoors, we show you several of Georgia’s state parks which are within 100 miles. If you love gardens, but would like an alternative to your usual stops, we have some for you. We also feature the great hiking trails available across the Alabama border at Cheaha State Park, and we take you on a tour of the Little River Canyon in northwest Alabama, home of some scenic waterfalls.

If you are just itching to go boating or fishing, we have a feature on some of the large lakes in North Georgia that are nearby, many of which have special events scheduled for this summer.

And if you need some salt air and sun on the beach (and who doesn’t?), we not only guide you on a terrific weekend in Savannah, but also

Now, if you want something to read while you’re riding in the car, or sunning on the beach, this month’s issue has plenty of other features.

Lowell White brings us the heroic tale of Ray McKibben, the only soldier from our region who earned the Medal of Honor; a man who left Haralson County to give his life for our country in the jungles of Vietnam.

Also, Rob Duve not only gives us his usual tasty recipes, he explores just how farmer’s markets can boost our local economy. And on a related note, Amy Lavender-Buice tells us about the joys of discovering roadside stands that sell everything from peanuts to watermelon. And there’s a whole lot more to discover in the pages ahead.

So pack up the car and buckle the kids in the backseat. It’s vacation time in west Georgia!

Sincerely,

Ken Denney

To advertise in West Georgia Living, call Melissa Wilson at 770-834-6631.

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

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

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.

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

Copyright 2014 by the Times-Georgian

4

West Georgia Living

July/August 2014

Marvin Enderle is Publisher of West Georgia Living, the Times-Georgian and the Douglas County Sentinel.

Melissa Wilson is the Advertising Director for West Georgia Living and the Times-Georgian.

Amy Lavender-Buice is Editor Emerita of West Georgia Living, and Editor of The Bremen Gateway-Beacon and Tallapoosa-Journal.

Ricky Stilley is the Photographer for West Georgia Living and IT Director for the TimesGeorgian.

ǡ

At Southwire, we believe education is the key to success. Through partnerships with the University of West Georgia (Southwire Sustainable Business Honors Program), West Georgia Technical College (Southwire Center for Manufacturing Excellence), Carroll County Schools (12 for Life) and Carrollton High School (Southwire Engineering Academy), we are helping students build brighter futures.

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Contents

10

19

29

38

48

42 Photos and Cover Art by Ricky Stilley.

On the Cover: Mt. Cheaha, highest point in Alabama, is a favorite destination for west Georgia hikers.

F eatures 10 The heroic of Ray McKibben, west Georgia’s only

37 The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party had some very unusu-

22 The 40th Annual Fair on the Square in Buchanan

38 It’s Vacation Time! Fantastic destinations await

Medal of Honor recipient

has something fun for everyone

ally dressed characters in attendance your arrival

D epartments z

Vacation-themed movies

13

Garden

Critters like ‘maters

35

Take 5

Meet Casey Bethel

55

6

Food Cold meals and Farmers Markets make for summer pleasure 26

Books “Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry Events

West Georgia Living

July/August 2014

That Forged A Nation’

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A Summer Ride

it on the Barney Gray Blame Motel.

Looking back, just getting there was often the best part of the trip. As the final school bells rang to signal the start of summertime, my brothers and I eagerly awaited my family’s annual pilgrimage to the sandy beaches of Panama City Beach, Florida.

Within a few days of our summer break, my mom would fill our wood-paneled station wagon with suitcases, a cooler full of NuGrape sodas, homemade sugar cookies and enough parched peanuts to last until we reached Eufala, Ala. Once again, we were destined for the land of goofy golf courses, fried seafood and tacky gift shops filled with sharks teeth, seashells and air-brushed T-shirts.

The Kennedys vacationed on Cape Cod along Nantucket Sound in Hyannis Port. The Bushes sought comfort in Kennebunkport, Maine. Even the great financial wizards J.P. Morgan and William Rockefeller found serenity on Jekyll Island.

As for my family, we seized refuge at the Barney Gray Motel.

By today’s standards, the Barney Gray would qualify as run-down public housing at best — but in the early 1970s, we invaded the pool, shuffle board courts and enjoyed floating in the ocean or building sandcastles at this seaside retreat.

8

West Georgia Living

July/August 2014

Some may say that a vacation adventure begins when the destination is reached.

And maybe it’s true in today’s world of safer cars, video consoles to watch movies and hand-held iPads for entertainment. As for the vacations from my childhood, just getting in the car was like strapping a saddle to a bull and riding.

We never wore seatbelts.

While my brothers occupied the middle row of the station wagon, I headquartered in the back surrounded by our luggage. When boredom sunk in, we did what most boys liked to do: we wrestled, did backflips across the seats and would even occasionally climb over to the front seat and stand between my parents while my mom held onto us.

We did all of this while dad drove the station wagon at 60 mph.

Do you think my parents ever worried about our safety? No. And neither did anybody else’s parents who passed us in their wood-paneled station wagons along the way. If my dad had to make a sudden stop, we would just brace ourselves as we fell out of our seats.

Thankfully, we never had a wreck.

Vacations were my favorite times of the year when I was a child. And

JOE GARRETT

they still are today.

I still eagerly await the anticipation of going places, and I long to return to the scent of the salty air, ocean waves and the magnificent colors of the evening sky as the sun sets beyond the sea.

Vacations represent respite, relaxation, peace and serenity to so many, but for me, it’s really about family – and touching the depths within each of us to reflect on what’s really important.

“If you get the chance to travel, go,” my friend Mike Lively wrote to me in a letter last year. “If you have a choice between sleeping in, or getting up to see a fabulous sunrise, casting a fly rod on a babbling stream or walking on the beach, by all means – get up. There will always be more than enough time to sleep.”

Last year, on our latest trip, I awakened before my family and walked to the beach just before sunrise. For a moment, all that really mattered was watching darkness evolve into light to begin another day.

There were no worries, no deadlines and no bills to pay. All that really mattered was the moment, the now. And the opportunity to know there’s something bigger in this world than our dayto-day journey. Thankfully, I discovered nature’s marvelous gift.

It’s amazing what one learns traveling WGL without a seatbelt. ■

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“For Conspicuous Gallantry” Ray McKibben is interred at Center Baptist Church in Felton, Ga.

West Georgia’s only recipient of the Medal of Honor left a lasting legacy H

is name is found on Panel 37W, row 52, on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington.

The name is Ray McKibben. He was one of thousands who fought in that long, controversial struggle, and one of the 58,286 Americans killed in the conflict. But of all those who answered our nation’s call to serve in Indochina, only 154 were honored with our highest symbol of heroism: the Medal of Honor. McKibben is the only such recipient from west Georgia.

The wall on which his name is inscribed receives many thousands of visitors. But few travel to the Center Baptist Church in Felton, north of Buchanan, where his body rests in eternity. The grave is about a stone’s throw from the pine thicket where his childhood home stood – a rented fourroom house with a dirt yard and no running water; where baths were taken

Ray McKibben

STORY BY LOWELL WHITE / PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY 10

West Georgia Living

July/August 2014

Ray McKibben’s Medal of Honor in the Medal of Honor Museum, Chattanooga, Tennessee. in a No. 2 galvanized wash tub.

“When Ray was a kid, he marched around wearing a ‘pot,’ a World War II surplus helmet and a canteen, playing

Ray McKibben listed in a monument to Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients, at the Medal of Honor Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. soldier,” said Charles Partridge, 66, of Bremen and a close friend. Partridge remains amazed that the boy who played solider in his bare feet grew up to become such a highly decorated war hero.

On Dec. 8, 1968, while leading his troop on reconnaissance behind enemy lines near Song Mao, 170 miles northwest of Saigon, McKibben and his patrol suddenly came under blazing fire from a group of enemy bunkers, and scattered for cover.

Abandoning any thought for himself, McKibben took the initiative and cut a human swath through bamboo and thick jungle growth and took out a machine gun nest.

On the way to a second bunker, McKibben asked for, and got, fire support from helicopter gunships, which raked the target, and “effectively neutralized,” the position, in the words of his citation. The patrol could now move out; but instead they faced more enemy fire.

While seeking cover, one of the soldiers was shot to the ground, and McKibben jumped to assist him, despite bullets flying on all sides. McKibben dodged the gunfire, pulled the soldier to safety, and aministered some rushed first aid.

The men were now trapped by another barrage of gunfire and unable to attack.

McKibben charged the third enemy bunker, firing until his rifle ran out of ammu-

nition. Undeterred, he seized an enemy weapon and resumed fire, until it, too, ran out of ammo. Now close enough to the enemy’s location, he lobbed a hand grenade and scored a perfect bullseye, gutting the bunker.

As he reloaded and gave cover to his patrol moving up, the seemingly unstoppable warrior led one more unassisted charge and rushed more enemy guns.

But Ray had done enough. The 23-yearold hero was killed as he fired a final torrent of bullets.

More than a year later, on April 7, 1970, Charles Partridge, at the Ray McKibben President Nixon posthumously presented momument in Veteran’s Memorial and Medal the Medal of Honor to Ray’s brother, A. J. of Honor Park, Tallapoosa.

McKibben, in a White House ceremony.

Both McKibben brothers were known to Kirk Sanders, 73, of Buchanan. Sanders said Ray was the more outgoing brother, while A. J. (who now lives in Cowpens, S.C.) was more laid back. Neither brother rode ‘Uncle Jack’ Kirk’s school bus; they walked to grammar school in Felton.

McKibben was born two months after the end of World War II to Albert Dean and Dottie McKibben.

“Everybody liked him,” said Partridge. “He never got mad; was what you might call the ‘class clown,’ always joking around.” McKibben called his mother “Dumpster Dot-

tie” because she made him take the family trash to the dumpster. He was a St. Louis Cardinals fan. In short, according to all his friends, he was “a good ol’ Southern boy.”

“We called him Bear,” said Partridge, who saw his best friend for the last time some three months before he led that patrol.

Allen Wilburn, pastor of Buchanan First Baptist Church, said Ray was probably called Bear in the sense of teddy, not grizzly, even though he grew to be “a big old boy, about 6-feet, 200-pounds. It was a hardscrabble life for the McKibben brothers. Partridge said Ray’s father passed away July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

11

Hwy. 120 between Buchanan and Tallapoosa has been designated the Ray McKibben Medal of Honor Highway. when Ray was a youngster, and his mother perished in a car crash along with his stepfather, Roland Davis.

“They didn’t have a car, and his father was away much of the time driving a truck,”said Wilburn, “So, Mrs. McKibben would hire a taxi to go buy groceries in Cedartown.”

Gary Garner, 73, said he and A.J. would dig sawdust at McDonald’s Sawmill as Ray tagged along. “We kinda used Ray as a football since he was younger. We had two bicycles, so Ray had to walk wherever we rode the bicycles. Ray wore a pair of short pants, no shoes, no shirt.”

Elmira Davis, a longtime civic leader who lives atop Dugdown Mountain near Felton, remembered that Ray was among the young people who went to the picture show in the back of a Felton store. It had wooden benches, she said, one of which broke under the weight of too many occupants, putting splinters in some of their behinds.

Garner also remembered the Felton movie house. “Ray and everybody would be at the

movie. We’d pay about a quarter to get in; hotdogs were a dime, Cokes a nickel. We’d see a lot of westerns and a [live] fight just about every Saturday.”

Unlike many men who were subject to the draft during the Vietnam War, and who became part of the force that gradually took hold there throughout the 1960s, McKibben was an enlisted man. He went through basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., then went to Ft. Gordon, near Augusta, Ga. He had already served two combat tours in Vietnam; his third and final tour of duty began in August 1967 and ended in that jungle.

McKibben now rests at the Center Baptist Church in Felton, next to his parents. Rev. Wilburn said the funeral was held in bonechilling weather, the wind howling over the graves. Scott and Paula Pope of the Haralson County Veteran’s Association now maintain his gravesite, ensuring that it is decorated with flags and that its markers are maintained. Along with the Medal of Honor, McKibben was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary

Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal (Vietnamese), Aircraft Crewman Badge and Good Conduct Medal.

Some time after his death, the Medal of Honor was donated to the National Medal of Honor Museum in Chattanooga, where it can be seen today.

It has often been said that those who receive medals during wartime, even the nation’s highest honor, represent men who may have done even more in combat than McKibben, yet receive no recognition at all for their sacrifice and bravery. In that sense, the honor awarded McKibben by Congress and the president extends to all the service personnel whose name, like his, are inscribed on memorials across the nation.

Had he lived, McKibben’s red hair may well have started graying. He would have been 68 in October 2013. But one thing is certain: his sacrifice has not been forgotten, and fond memories of him still reverberate around Felton, where the likable, red-headed, freckle-faced “Bear” began his heroic WGL journey, playing soldier in his bare feet. ■

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12

West Georgia Living

July/August 2014

Cinema

“Weekend at Bernie’s,” 1989: Not a great movie, but people still talk about it.

Vacation Movies E

for Every Taste

verybody has their own definition of the perfect vacation. Camping sounds like a dream to some, but others shudder at the thought of mosquitoes and no Wi-Fi. Plenty of families live for donning Mickey ears and heading to Orlando, while some break into hives thinking about the scorching Florida heat and all those crowds.

The same goes for cinematic depictions of vacations. Those without the time or financial means to travel can still live vicariously through a fictional character for a couple of hours. But there’s still a big decision to make: what kind of vacation movie are you looking for? Depending on your mood, the following flicks are a perfect fit for an imaginary getaway.

Old Faithful: “The Great Outdoors” (1988)

I miss John Candy every time I watch this hilarious flick, which I’ve seen dozens of times (I practically wore out a VHS copy as a kid). He’s a Chicago family man who takes his city-addicted kids to a beautiful lakeside resort, only to have his obnoxious brotherin-law (Dan Aykroyd) crash their vacation with his weird family.

JOSH SEWELL

“Meatballs” (1979)

It’s the epitome of the “camp counselor hijinks” genre, featuring Bill Murray in all his classic-era glory. It spawned a ton of crummy sequels (none starring Murray), and has also the primary inspiration for at least one great parody flick: the raunchy but enjoyable “Wet Hot American Summer” (2001).

“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983)

You knew it was coming. It’s impossible to make a list of vacation movies without including Chevy Chase in his most famous role.

Watching “Christmas Vacation” has become an annual tradition for many families (mine included), so revisiting the raunchy original July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

13

From left, Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss star in “Jaws,” available on Blu-ray as part of Universal’s centennial celebration. might come as a shock to some. It’s the only R-rated installment in a franchise that gradually sanded down the Griswolds’ sharper edges.

“The Way, Way Back” (2013)

This comedic drama about a shy 14-year-old (Liam James) forced to spend summer vacation with his mom (Toni Collette) and her loutish boyfriend (Steve Carell) almost made my Best of 2013. The heartfelt narrative and fantastic performances are so earnest it almost feels retro. I still can’t believe Sam Rockwell – in full Bill Murray mode – didn’t get a Best Supporting Actor nomination.

“Weekend at Bernie’s” (1989)

Is this a good movie? Absolutely not. Does it stand the test of time? Nope. But for some reason it still comes up in discussions of memorable ’80s comedies. So here you go.

Vacations from Hell:

“The Cabin in the Woods” (2012) I flat-out love Drew Goddard and Joss 14

West Georgia Living

July/August 2014

Whedon’s horror comedy, which deconstructs the “kids go into the woods to party and bad things happen” trope so thoroughly that I couldn’t take the recent “Evil Dead” remake seriously. The ingenious, funny and seriously creepy flick is practically a doctoral dissertation on the horror genre.

“Friday the 13th” (1980)

A not-so-comedic look at irresponsible camp counselors that spawned an unkillable franchise (the latest installment is slated to hit theaters next year) and an iconic villain. But most people still forget that Jason doesn’t show up until the sequel.

“Jaws” (1975)

Many credit this horror classic as the first summer blockbuster and it’s just as terrifying nearly 40 years later. Want proof?

What image immediately pops into your head as soon as you’re waist-deep in the ocean? I rest my case. The film is available in Blu-ray as part of Universal Pictures’ centennial celebration.

ROMANTIC GETAWAYS: “An Affair to Remember” (1957)

Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on a cruise and fall in love, but first they have to ditch the people they’re engaged to. They agree to meet at the Empire State Building in six months, but fate has other plans. If you haven’t seen it, you’ve probably heard Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan talk about it in “Sleepless in Seattle.”

“Dirty Dancing” (1987)

While on vacation with her family in the Catskills, innocent Baby Houseman (Jennifer Grey) falls in love with bad boy dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). He keeps her from being put in a corner and they have the time of their lives.

“How Stella Got Her Groove Back” (1998)

Workaholic stockbroker Stella (Angela Bas-

sett) is persuaded to take a trip to Jamaica and falls in love with an islander played by Taye Diggs. Millions of women (and quite a few men) proceeded to seethe with jealousy.

“Mamma Mia!” (2008)

On the eve of her wedding, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) invites three men (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard), all of whom could be her father, to a Greek island for the ceremony. Just one problem: she hasn’t told Mom (Meryl Streep) about her plan. Lots of dancing, singing and ABBA follow.

“Roman Holiday” (1953)

A European princess (Audrey Hepburn) rebels against her handlers and crosses paths with an American journalist (Gregory Peck). He plans on turning the situation into an exclusive story, but things change. I wonder if they fall in love.

DESTINATIONS FOR THRIILLSEEKERS: “Die Hard” (1988)

New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Los Angeles to visit his estranged family, but ends up battling terrorists in a skyscraper instead. Still one of my favorite Christmas movies (shut up, it counts!) but

McClane is technically on vacation. So it works for this list too.

“Taken” (2008)

Liam Neeson’s daughter gets kidnapped while in Paris. He proceeds to kill every bad guy Europe to get her back.

“Total Recall” (1990)

Construction worker Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) keeps having dreams about Mars, so he visits Rekall, a company that implants fake vacation memories for a hefty fee. Lots of crazy twists and action take place as a result. Be sure to watch Paul Verhoeven’s bonkers original, not the lame 2012 remake starring Colin Farrell.

School’s Out for Summer:

Bledel, America Ferrera and Blake Lively) vow to stay in touch over their first summer apart. As they travel to different parts of the globe, they share the same pair of jeans, which somehow fits them all even though they’re different shapes and sizes. One friend wears them for a couple of weeks, and then mails them to the next girl on the list.

“Stand By Me” (1986)

In the summer of 1959, four boys (River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell) set out to find a dead body in the woods. In the process, they learn a lot about life and friendship. Almost 30 years later, some people are still surprised when they hear it’s based on a Stephen WGL King story. ■

“The Sandlot” (1993)

This immensely quotable family comedy centers on a new kid (Tom Guiry) who makes a lot of new friends after the local baseball phenom (Mike Vitar) invites him to join their sandlot team. I had this flick memorized when I was younger.

“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005)

Four best friends (Amber Tamblyn, Alexis

(Special thanks to Erika Hall, Jesse Bishop, Kerry Gilbert, Emily Wedgewood, Mark Auclair, Lucas Chance, Sarah Hendricks, Whitney Benefield, Justin Monsewicz and Lisa Matheson for their brainstorming assistance.)

You can reach Josh Sewell by email (joshsewell81@gmail.com); on Twitter, @ joshsewell81; or on Facebook, facebook.com/ josh8199 .

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29th Annual

Dogwood Fair & Parade The town of Tallapoosa celebrated its 29th Annual Dogwood Arts and Crafts Fair during the second weekend in April. The event featured a host of food vendors and crafts people from across the region. The highlight of the event was the Parade, considered the largest of its kind in west Georgia.

Cousins Brayden Wylie, left, and Lilly Cargile listen to Brayden’s father sing.

Emma Roberts, Miss Dogwood, 2014.

The parade makes its way down Robertson Ave. 16

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July/August 2014

Kyli Cauthen contemplates her next move as she climbs the rock wall.

PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

Paige McNeese performs a mix of country and gospel music for the crowd.

Ian Byrd, 4, tries to ring the bell with the big hammer.

Hazel David gives Katie a kiss while enjoying the music.

Ronnie Joiner of J’s Shaved Ice prepares a refreshing icee for a customer.

Tallapoosa Mayor Pete Bridges hands Caiden Watkins a dollar bill during the parade.

Hayven McIntyre, left, and Kamryn Buttram check out bracelets.

July/August 2014

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ARTIST CORNER

Don Smith Tallapoosa, Ga.

D

on Smith is a great-grandfather, a semi-retired real estate agent and former auto mechanic who lives in Tallapoosa. Art patrons will tell you that Smith is very versatile and very talented.

After three back surgeries, open heart surgery and a broken foot, among other health issues, he has to limit his activities, although many younger men hope they are so active if they make it to their eighties. “I am 82,” said Smith, “the same age as Tally Mountain,” he joked. “But, I love to carve, and hope I can continue for several more years.”

What kinds of artistic activities occupy your time?

In addition to carving, I also do some drawing. I also play around on the piano by ear (I don’t play with my ear. I play with my hands by ear); playing chords and adding some melody. I do the same with the guitar and really enjoy the French harp. I don’t text, but I am guilty of playing the harmonica while driving.

And, while it’s not art as such, I am really involved in studying and exploring the

STORY BY LOWELL WHITE / PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

history of Tallapoosa, some of which I have compiled in my book of memories. I had the recent privilege of being invited to the University of West Georgia library to view the librarian’s compilation of her history of our city.

How long have you done wood carving? Have you ever had lessons?

I’ve been carving since I was a boy and hung out in my Uncle John’s blacksmith shop with several older men who sat around and whittled. So my carving started out with whittling when I was 10 or 12 years old. My serious and sometimes humorous carvings began in 2008 when I had open heart surgery; and some of my more strenuous activities had to be put on hold. I have never had lessons, but I read and see pictures to come up with my ideas.

What type of equipment do you use?

I use various tools, including different kinds of saws, Dremel drills, gouges, files; and I’ve found pieces of glass to be the best homemade tools. I have to be very careful with all of them, so I use gloves, goggles and sometimes a mask.

A sculpture of Don’s father.

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Smith paints in his studio. Left, one of his many whimsical sculptures.

What types of wood do you use? Where do you obtain your wood?

Various types of wood: cypress, cedar, white pine, bass [a prime carver’s wood] and my favorite, black walnut. My son, Mark, had a black walnut tree in his back yard, which he cut down and had sawn up for me. One piece weighed probably 300 pounds; and from it, I did my most ambitious work – an Egyptian princess I call “Blue Suede Shoes” because I painted her lace-up shoes blue.

What is your favorite work?

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My favorite piece is a carving of the Lithia Springs Hotel from black walnut. The hotel was a very historical Tallapoosa landmark which was torn down after World War II. I can’t say which is my least favorite, because several pieces have wound up in the junk. When I “mess up,” I just add to the junk pile.

What venues have exhibited your artwork?

My work, and that of my classmate, Mary Tolleson, were the first exhibited at the Dogwood Art Gallery in Tallapoosa.

My carving of a 7-foot tall, very thin woman was sold from the gallery to a South Carolina couple. As the shippers unloaded the piece from the truck, they dropped her, and she broke into

“

My ideas usually come from my own head, but occasionally someone might visualize a subject before I do. I have several critics, and sometimes I don’t especially like what they say, but they are usually pleasant and beneficial to my work.”

— Don Smith

Tallapoosa artist

A wood carving of the Tallapoosa skyline three pieces! The shipping company paid for returning the pieces to me for repair, and shipping her back to South Carolina. I have sold lesser pieces, but I probably have given away more than I’ve sold. Walking canes are some of my favorite pieces to carve. I have 92 pieces of all kinds on display for sale at the new Peacock Perch in Tallapoosa.

Where do you get your ideas?

Queen’s Blues Carved Black Walnut

My ideas usually come from my own head, but occasionally someone might visualize a subject before I do. I have several critics, and sometimes I don’t especially like what they say, but they are usually pleasant and beneficial to my work.

How much time do you spend carving?

I probably spend more time carving than sleeping, and that may be too much.

But, when I get started on something, it’s hard to quit.

How would you characterize your art?

I think my art has been labeled folk art, and I’m not sure what all that entails, but I would guess it’s about half serious and half whimsical, or just plain fun.

What are your favorite memories about your artistic journey?

One of my favorite memories is from Tallapoosa High School: I was totally bored in typing class and started to draw a log cabin when I should have been typing. I had to pretend I was typing; and my old manual

typewriter made a terrible racket as I repeatedly typed the same letter across the page, hoping to divert attention from my drawing. My teacher, Mrs. Tolbert, figured out what I was doing, but she let me continue.

When my fellow students complained, Mrs. Tolbert told them to leave me alone while I created. And, not only did I pass typing, Mrs. Tolbert hung the drawing on the bulletin board where it stayed until I graduated.

After she passed away some 20 years later, I went to her estate sale, and a friend told me he saw that log cabin drawing in an upstairs room. I retrieved the drawing and told the auctioneer it really belonged to me, but I would give him a dollar for it! He accepted my dollar, and now it hangs in my own “galleryâ€? at home. It’s still WGL one of my favorites. â–

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40th Annual

Top left, Luke Edwards checks out the funnel cake DeAndre’ Cooper is about to serve up for him at the 40th Annual Fair on the Square, held May 17 in Buchanan. Left, Evie Landon looks over some pajamas she just purchased. She and her family are from Wales in the United Kingdom and were visiting relatives in the area. Above, Caleb Stack takes a break from playing catch with his friends.

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PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

Fair on the Square

Above, Maya Thornton, of Kids Korner Karnival of Carrollton, hangs up prizes for the children’s games they provided for Fair on the Square. Left, Amber Brooks, left, raises her arms in glee upon her release from jail as her daughter, Sierra, gets locked up by Wayne White, center left, and Royce Henry, center right. You could have someone locked up in the Town of Webster Creek jail for $1, but it cost $5 to get released, with the money raised going to benefit the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. Right, steam was rolling as Shamoya Bailey, of Jerk ‘O Delicious of Atlanta, cooks up all kinds of good food.

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Vevlyne Martin & Millie Grant

New diabetes prevention classes start this summer

T

he national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 40,000 adults in west Georgia have pre-diabetes, which is a dangerous condition that puts them at elevated risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

But the good news is that diabetes can often be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy weight and staying physically active.

Tanner Health System’s Get Healthy, Live Well initiative has launched the Diabetes Prevention Program to help people in west Georgia avoid getting diabetes. The results have been dramatic so far.

The program, which began in January, has seven classes meeting for one hour each week in a variety of locations across Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties. As of May 1, the program’s initial 70 participants had already lost a total of 529 pounds and are continuing to consistently lose weight each week.

Due to the success of the first classes, Tanner recently trained a second group of certified lifestyle educators, who will be launching a new series of classes throughout the summer. Tanner has trained a total of 29 lifestyle coaches in the last six months.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidencebased lifestyle change program developed by the 24

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CDC. The program can help people cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in half. Participants strive to lose 7 percent of their body weight and get 150 minutes of physical activity a week.

sinus infection in February and went back to her doctor. She learned she had improved her blood glucose level so much that she didn’t need to take the diabetes medicine after all.

The program focuses on eating a healthier diet by reducing fat and calories, and by keeping a food journal. The classes also offer strategies for getting more physical activity, and the small-group setting provides support and motivation.

She was overjoyed and continued to work on improving her eating habits by switching to low-fat snacks at home, making healthier substitutions in her cooking and ordering low-calorie options at restaurants.

Gail Reynolds of Carrollton had struggled with pre-diabetes and had watched her A1C (average blood glucose) continue to rise, until her doctor told her she had Type 2 diabetes and prescribed medication to manage the disease. Reynolds was in shock and felt helpless when her doctor gave her vague advice to watch her carbohydrate intake and drink lots of water. She read about the Diabetes Prevention Program in the newspaper and enrolled.

Now 20 pounds lighter, Reynolds got another surprise around Easter. “I ordered some dresses that were a size smaller than what I normally wear, and when they came they were still too big,” she said. “I have wanted to lose this weight for a long time, and I’m so happy that I finally found a good way to do it.”

Reynolds has learned a lot from keeping a food journal and from the suggestions that her lifestyle educator gives after reviewing it each week.

“The class has been a tremendous help to me,” she said. “Little by little, the weight just started coming off.”

Then something unexpected happened: Reynolds, who had already lost 10 pounds, got a

The Diabetes Prevention Program class meets weekly for 16 weeks and then monthly for six to eight months. A new series of diabetes classes will begin throughout the summer of 2014 with a variety of convenient times and locations across west Georgia. To register or place your name on the pre-registration list, call 770-214-CARE (770214-2273.)

To learn more, visit www.GetHealthyLiveWell. org/Diabetes-Prevention-Program . Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ GetHealthyLiveWell .

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Good Food is . . .

Nacy Garry of the Garry Farm in Carroll County talks to Rudi Fillingim about kohlrabi at the opening of the Cotton Mill Farmers Market on Rome St. in Carrollton.

Ava Jury picks out a flavored honey straw from Wally Bees Honey at the Douglasville Farmer’s Market.

. . . Good for Business

T

his article will be a bit of a departure, for certain. I normally spend time talking about flavors of regions, seasons and events, but in this issue I would like to explore why farmers markets are such a vital part of our communities, especially to west Georgia.

Joan Semtell looks over some peaches from Pearson Farm at the Douglasville Farmer’s Market.

growing. Just look at some facts.

The USDA says there are 2.2 million farms in the United States.

Most, 94 percent, are “small farms,” which the government defines as generating sales of $250,000 or less.

That means over 2 million small farms exist in this country at any given time, and the vast majority of West Georgia’s economy farmers choose to sell only is not only based on multiat local farmers markets.

Rob Duve national corporations that This is why farmers markets keep our local residents are a $4.8 billion part of the and business afloat; we also have national economy. That’s a pretty a thriving subculture of businesses significant number if you rememthat are strongly committed to ber that locally earned and spent the mantra of “Shop Local.” Local dollars multiply and recirculate farmers markets are important to four to six times within a commuthe growing number of people who nity. demand local culinary experiences and fresher, more nutritious foods.

With all the benefits of locally produced foods and goods, one The influence of these markets would think that finding farmers over local economies is rapidly markets would be easy. But the exact opposite is true. If you talk with average folks in any of our PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY towns about the great things you

July/August 2014

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found at the farmers market, you’ll find 70 percent have no idea the town has one. I know this is true, because it’s happened to me so often I started keeping statistics. This seems to happen simply because most farmers markets, being non-profit entities, rarely have a permanent home.

Instead, they rely on cities or businesses to let them set up wherever there are a few square feet to spare.

But it also seems many communities and businesses don’t want a market operating in front of their store fronts on a weekend morning for fear it would disrupt their normal business activities, or distract customers.

But this simply isn’t true.

Communities that have embraced farmers markets have also conducted studies of the economic impact on the business centers around those markets. It turns out that businesses near farmers markets see an increase of 15-20% in foot traffic during the week, and increases as high as 60% on weekend market days. Most of these businesses saw an increase of up to 35% in retail sales. This makes it very hard to understand why more communities and business centers aren’t more welcoming to farmers markets.

Steve Sanders and other members of the Buncombe String Band provide musical entertainment for shoppers at the Bremen Farmer’s Market.

So what does this mean? Quite simply that building a strong, local economy on small businesses that have a proven track record of helping other businesses not only creates a stabilizing force in a small economic community, it’s also a very tasty way to ensure your local businesses re-

Susan Clayton shops for sourdough bread at Wildwood Gifts of Waco, GA. main where you want and need them.

Now, because you’ve indulged me as I explained the importance of farmers markets, I’ve decided that some cold soup recipes are in order as summer heats up. Cold soups are a great way to explore terrific flavors when we aren’t eating those heavy meals that sustain us through winter. What follows are a few amazing, flavorful soups with ingredients that mostly can be found locally and are very easy to make:

Cold Cantaloupe and Mint Soup 1 lime 1½ cups water ½ cup packed, fresh mint leaves ¼ cup local honey 1 whole cantaloupe, seeded and cut into large chunks 1 cup sweet scuppernong (muscadine) wine

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Extra mint leaves for garnish Zest the lime and add to water with the mint leaves and honey.

Simmer for 5-7 minutes and strain out all the solids leaving behind only the syrup. Allow to cool.

Working in small batches with a blender or food processor, add a few pieces of cantaloupe and a bit of syrup and puree to a very fine consistency.

When all of the ingredients have been pureed, add remaining syrup and scuppernong wine, stirring very well.

Chill for at least an hour, garnish with mint leaves and serve.

The great thing about this cold soup is the floral notes of the honey, and the essence of the scuppernong wine, blend perfectly with cantaloupe’s rich, musky flavor. This works very well as an appetizer for light grilling, such as shrimp or chicken, or as a palate cleanser between courses that isn’t too heavy. If you are serving between courses, garnish with a bit of Black Lava Sea Salt. The contrast in colors is stunning to the eye, and salt and cantaloupe naturally go together.

Moroccan Spiced Cold Tomato Soup Despite being a cold soup, this one is quite sturdy and can be a standalone meal on a hot day.

1 small white onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground cumin 1-1 ½ pounds fresh, very ripe tomatoes, blanched and peeled 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth 2 teaspoon local honey 2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 2 tablespoon

fresh chopped cilantro 1 teaspoon lemon Juice Plain yogurt (optional) Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste In a large saucepan, sauté onions and spices in olive oil until the onions are just translucent. Roughly chop tomatoes and add to pan along with parsley, cilantro, honey, and vegetable broth, then bring to a low boil for about 5 minutes.

Using either a blender or an immersion blender, puree mixture until

smooth. If you like, you can strain to remove tomato seeds and any remaining skins or large pieces. Let cool in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Add lemon juice just before serving and garnish with a dollop of plain yogurt.

Cold Cucumber Soup

This is, by far, one of my favorite cold soups and was one of the first I had ever made. Not only does its cold presentation make for a refreshing snack, the coolness of the cucumber is a light flavor that works well as an appetizer, or as a light main course soup.

1 hard boiled egg, yolk only 1 tablespoon rice vinegar ½ cup sour cream 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, cut into 1 inch pieces ½ cup buttermilk ¼ teaspoon white pepper Ensure that all ingredients are very well chilled. In a medium bowl/ container, crumble egg yolk and add remaining ingredients. With an immersion blender, puree all ingredients until smooth.

Enjoy!

July/August 2014

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America loves

Roadside Stands Illustration by Thomas Hays

Something about food “T on the side of the road draws families - and people - together

ime to hit the road!”

wind blow through the trees.

That’s what my dad always said as we headed out the door for our seasonal family trip to the mountains.

Some families go to the beach every year; my family went to the mountains – usually more than once a year – to camp, fish, swim, or just plain relax in the hammock while listening to a stream gurgle and the

Yep, we’re mountain people. When the weather was nice on a holiday weekend, you couldn’t keep us away.

Summer was always the best because I was out of school and mom and dad didn’t have to worry about me being absent. They’d just take a week off work, pack up the camper and off we’d go – or at least it seemed to happen that quickly when I was

AMY K. LAVENDER-BUICE, EDITOR EMERITAS July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

29

young. One minute I was asleep, the next I was being herded into the truck, still groggy, clutching a pillow and a blanket.

Humans are creatures of habit, and as creatures of habit, my family had lots of traditions attached to our vacations. We had two or three campgrounds we almost exclusively frequented. (When we found a place we liked, we stuck with it.) We always got an early, pre-dawn start. (We had to get to the campground early to get the best spot.) We always stopped at the state-line at Newfound Gap for a picture in the Great Smoky Mountains. (Proof we had left the state and actually “went somewhere.”)

And, at some point in the trip, we would always stop at a road-side stand for boiled peanuts.

Cantaloupes + Watermelon = Campground Feast It was practically dogma that we had to stop for boiled peanuts either on our way there or on our way home. This was the only time any of us actually got to eat any boiled peanuts, so I was always sure to keep my eyes peeled for one of those hand-written signs proclaiming “Boiled P-nuts ahead!”

Could we have eaten boiled peanuts at home? Yes, of course. Would it have held the same charm and adventure? Would it have tasted the same?

Absolutely not.

But the roadside food options did not begin and end with boiled peanuts. In fact, there 30

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was a cornucopia of food stands spread along the winding mountain roads.

Fresh vegetables? Of course! I watched my dad chat with many a farmer as he picked over the tomatoes. Mom and I would scrutinize the corn ... well, she would scrutinize; I fantasized about the roast corn we’d have on the campfire that night.

Roadside stands are where I learned to pick ripe cantaloupes and watermelons. I would watch daddy pick cantaloupes up one by one and give them a squeeze. If he found one of the correct softness, he’d then smell the navel.

“Here, smell this one,” he’d say, placing the fruit under my nose. “That’s how you know it’s ripe. You can smell the fruit, can’t you?”

Indeed, I could! I would smile knowing that in a matter of hours, we’d have sliced cantaloupe with a dash of salt on the picnic table.

I still get strange looks in the grocery store for exercising this ripeness technique, but it works. And even if it didn’t work, I’d still do it because it’s tradition; it reminds me of all those road-side stands we visited; it reminds me of all those camping trips with my parents. It reminds me of my home away from home.

Of course, the jackpot of roadside stands – the coup de cuisine, if you will – was finding some locally grown, fresh-picked watermelons. Watermelons warranted an impromptu fish-fry and watermelon-cutting back at the campground.

We usually knew most of the families we camped with; not because we went to school together, worked together or lived near each other (in fact, we usually lived at least 100 miles away from each other), but because we met them camping. We would usually see the same families we’d camped with before because we all went camping at the same time of the year, and we would often plan to camp on the same weekends.

But even the families that were new to the group, or to the campground, or just new to the experience of camping pitched in because, well, campers are about the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. We’re the embodiment of Southern hospitality. Need some extra tent stakes? Here ya go! You forgot your fishing rod? I’ve got an extra!

And food was no different.

Word would go around the campground that we were having a pot luck, and everyone would fire up the camp stoves, stoke the fires, and someone would produce a deep fryer for the fish. In just a few hours, we would have a bona fide get-together – all thanks to a roadside stand (and a successful day of trout fishing, of course).

Bringing the Market to the People What is it about road-side stands that Americans love?

It seems we’ve had roadside stands – and thus a love for them – ever since we’ve had roads. And why not? It’s the best place to catch hungry travelers en route to the next town, or to gather news and gossip, or to

watch traffic go by, a favorite Southern pastime of mine.

Roadside stands began in our country as a way to bring products directly to the buyer.

Remember, this was before the days of megamarts and superstores. Heck, if you go back far enough in time, general stores were even few and far between.

In what was once considered the Wild West (now called the Midwest), fur trappers and mountain men would come out of the mountains at the end of the hunting season, laden with furs and moonshine, and meet at a pre-agreed location with some very brave businessmen and their supply wagons full of everything under the sun.

The pelts and ’shine would be swapped for staples and supplies, and the wagon owners would take the fur and alcohol back east of the Mississippi to make a pretty penny. The next year, they would do it all over again. Talk about taking your product to the customer!

In more recent times, sharecroppers dominated the Southeast. Cars would have been expensive during the Great Depression. And the nearest market might be 20 miles away

via horse and wagon. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty uncomfortable trip.

There also wasn’t much in the way of refrigeration back then, especially mobile refrigeration. If you were lucky, you lived near a lake that would freeze in the winter so you could cut blocks of ice and store them in your cellar. But taking your produce to market in the middle of summer with a block of ice on your wagon would just give you soggy vegetables. So, the easiest thing to do was head for the nearest crossroads and hope someone had some business, somewhere, that required them to be on the road.

Fortunately, this wasn’t usually a full-time venture for most farmers. At the turn of the century, America was awash in share croppers who farmed a cash crop to pay their landowner and who kept a small garden to supply most of the family’s food. If they had any extra, they’d sell it on the side of the road.

Friends Along the Road Nowadays, entrepreneurs of all shapes and

Because I want my family to be

Because I know my home and belongings are

for all those reasons, I’m

sizes have the roadside stand as a marketing and customer-to-producer interfacing option. They pop up everywhere with offerings from produce to preserves, from honey to handmade quilts, and from firewood to feline scratching posts.

Perhaps it all harkens back to the days when you could talk directly to the person who grew that tomato – which would explain the rise in popularity of farmers markets – and the person who grew that tomato could get direct and instant feedback from their customers. No middlemen. No random polling.

No mass marketing.

Then again, maybe it’s the human interaction: making small talk and chit-chatting while you browse, or getting the latest gossip from up the road. Maybe it’s the camaraderie found between two people who love food.

Or perhaps the companionship in finding someone to complain about the weather with, even if it is just to verify that “Yes, it’s been awful hot here, too.”

Or maybe it’s just because nothing brings WGL people together like food! ■

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29th Annual Mayfest Arts and Crafts Festival

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Above left, top, opposite page, Maggie Rowland appears to defy gravity in the bungee jump, while opposite left, Sydney Waters stretches against the bungie cord to grab the bean bag in the Moon Walker Joust at the 29th annual Mayfest held in downtown Carrollton. Opposite, above right, Elizabeth Blevins, left, and Bree Thompson, health advocate

PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

with Tanner Health Systems, hoola hoops for health at the Tanner tent. Clockwise from top, Presley Mashburn tries out a napkin ring for a tiara at The Nest; Mason Musick peers into the pod of an Exotic Pitcher Plant; Ryla McLarty keeps cool in style; Conner Crosby, right, licks his lips in anticipation as he patiently waits for Itzi Meza to make his blue cotton candy.

July/August 2014

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ER NT E C y RIC arkwa T IA ED rett P P AR o Bar 014!

T S ,2 LL ing t 7 E y l W om Ju C

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WellStar’s Pediatric Network can be found close to home in Cobb, Cherokee, Douglas and Paulding counties.

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Our pediatric specialists and equipment specifically designed for children and teens will get your child back to childhood as soon as possible.

Coming July 7, 2014, our new WellStar Pediatric Center at 1180 Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw will offer comprehensive imaging, pediatric office and afterhours care, physical therapy and more – all provided by pediatric experts.

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GARDEN

Who (or What) Is Eating My

TOMATOES? I

love eating fresh, homegrown tomatoes. I like them most anyway you can fix them. While I enjoy them cooked in soups, stews, sauces, or roasted, I especially like them in sandwiches – or just sliced fresh with a plate of vegetables. When I was growing up, getting fresh, garden-grown tomatoes was no problem; my father did most of the gardening and brought them into the house for us to eat. Easy! But when I started growing my own, I found the process was not quite so simple.

I ran into all kinds of problems, both minor and major. I had almost – if not all – the problems anyone could have. I had all the wilts, blights and cankers caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes, and some other causes I don’t think have been named yet.

To my dismay, my tomatoes had nutritional problems that cause conditions like blossom end rot.

But I think the most upsetting problem were the things that ate my tomatoes before I could. I would watch and watch until one was almost ripe, and I would think, “I’ll pick it tomorrow.” Then when I went to pick it tomorrow, it would have a big hole in it.

The first “critter” responsible was birds. As soon as my tomato started to turn, I would find their calling card: a series of small holes in the pink area. Some suggestions I found for keeping birds away were to place objects in the garden like pinwheels, aluminum pie plates or Mylar balloons that move in the wind, or covering the plants with bird netting.

Next I started finding my large, almost ripe tomatoes scattered around the yard with big holes in them. It was my arch enemy – squirrels! These creatures and their fellow rodents, chipmunks, love tomatoes

In fact, a whole host of other animals would love to get at your tomatoes before you can.

Some of these (but I won’t guarantee all) are: rabbits that eat chunks of the leaves, as well as the fruit; deer; woodchucks; raccoons; and voles, a small animal that looks like a mouse with a more pointed face. They can be hard to foil, but a cage made of chicken wire may be the best solution.

But birds, rodents and voles are just the start. There are hordes of insects that, despite being teeny-tiny, do just as much, or in some cases, more damage than fourlegged pests. These tomato-eating insects include leafminers, stinkbugs, loopers, flea beetles, thrips, spider mites and cutworms. Most will eat or damage the foliage, but there are a few, like hornworms, that will eat the fruit too. Hornworms can devastate an entire plant in short order.

The best control is to pick them off and mash them with your foot, or drop them into a bucket of water. The biological pesticide BT (Bacillus thuringesis), sold under the trade names DiPel and Thuricide, is also very effective. And hornworms have a natural predator. Parasitic wasps destroy the larvae, so if you see any hornworms with eggs attached to their backs, just leave them alone and allow the wasps to hatch.

Aphids are another tiny pest, and appear as bumpy areas on the stems and new leaves.

They come in many colors and often blend with the color of the infected plant. They suck the juices from the plant, causing the

Hornworms are the larval stage of the hummingbird, or hawk, moth. There are two kinds in west Georgia: the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm, which, despite its name is equally devastating to tomatoes. The Colorado State University Cooperative Extension says that the tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata) has eight V-shaped marks on each side and a blue-black horn. The tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) is green, with seven diagonal white stripes on the sides and a red horn on the posterior end.

Because of this coloring, they are so well hidden on the plant that often the first sign of something wrong is leaf damage, or droppings.

TOMMIE MUNRO, CARROLL COUNTY MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER July/August 2014

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leaves to turn yellow. A strong stream of water will wash them off.

Insecticidal soap is also effective.

Whiteflies are another nuisance.

These are extremely small, softbodied insects that look like tiny moths and lay tiny gray, or yellowish cone-shaped eggs on the underside of leaves. Sometimes

they fly up in a cloud when a heavily infested plant is disturbed. They suck the sap from plants, weakening and stunting them and often causing the leaves to turn yellow and brown and drop off.

eydew.” A sooty mold will grow in this film, leaving dark splotches that may be the first sign that there is a problem. Insecticidal soap and oil sprays, available at most garden centers, may be helpful.

As whiteflies suck the juices from the plant, they leave behind the sweet, sticky film known as “hon-

As I said, I have had most if not all of these problems at one time or another, but thankfully by tackling the problems early, and putting in a little determined work, time and effort, the plants usually produce enough tomatoes to feed me and whatever other hungry mouth I am battling at the time. Also, luckily we have The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension-Carroll County (770836-8546) to help diagnose and solve any of these problems that WGL you have. ■

Come By and Visit Us!

Southern Home & Ranch Garden Center 1110 NORTH PARK STREET • CARROLLTON, GEORGIA • 770-832-0114 HOURS: MONDAY-SATURDAY 8AM-7PM • SUNDAY 12PM-5PM

readers’ choice winner

times-georgian I 2014

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: WWW.SHRCENTER.COM

Submit your recipes by Sept. 10 to be considered for West Georgia Living’s 2014 special holiday food issue.

W G

L V  Submit all recipes (and pictures, if available) to Ken Denney at ken@times-georgian.com, or drop them off at the Times-Georgian, 901 Hays Mill Rd., Carrollton.

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July/August 2014

Holiday Food Issue Coming November 2014

Mad Hatters Tea Party

The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County held a Mad Hatters’ Tea Party for children and their families in April with many festive costumes and activities. Clockwise, from top left: The Mad Hatter, played by Robert O’Shaunnessy; Andrew Horan checks out the balloons waiting for the children when they finished their Tea Party exprience; Cassidy Sweeney claps her hands during a sing-a-long; Gabrielle Sutter talks with the White Queen during a tea party; Amina Thompson and Olivia Brigdon, right, meet the White Queen, portrayed by Marissa Mark.

PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

July/August 2014

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VACATION TIME! / Garden Destinations

Are you ready for a vacation?

Of course you are.

T

he kids are out of school; the boss is being impossible, and everyone needs a break right about now - especially you.

Our staff has compiled a series of great vacation ideas for you, most within 100 miles of west Georgia, so you can get away and come home the same day, with plenty of time for fun. We’ve got destinations in the mountains, near tumbling waterfalls, historic sites, lakes and streams. And if you are just dying for the scent of salt air and seafood fresh from the boat, well, we have that, too.

So take a look at the pages that follow and see what sights there are to be seen just outside our back door!

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Photo by Ricky Stilley The Swan House is located in the Atlanta History Center gardens. The classically styled mansion was built in 1928 for the Edward H. Inman family.

GARDEN DAY TRIPS

H

(That you may not know about!)

as any garden enthusiast in the metro area not been to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Callaway Gardens or the Birmingham Botanical Gardens? (If you haven’t, shame on you! Better start your garden travels there first.) For those who yearn for some new and fun horticultural destinations to visit for inspiration and education, here are a few day-trip gardens that the entire family can enjoy; all an easy drive from west Georgia, and all worth the trip!

For the lover of roses, a must-goto location is the Robert L. Staton Rose Garden at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History on Clifton Road in Atlanta, near Emory University. The gardens are open during daylight hours, and are free to the public. The one-acre rose garden includes about 1,300 roses of some 250 different species and cultivars. Many are All-America Rose

July/August 2014

Photo courtesy Massee Lane Gardens Brick pathways lead guests through the formal camellia garden, with its many welcoming nooks and restful benches.

Selection test plants, or American Rose Society Award of Excellence Miniature test plants, as well as

hundreds of named donated roses.

And since you’re there, a trip to the Museum will cool the family off,

JOYCE MCARTHUR, CARROLL COUNTY MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER

VACATION TIME! / Garden Destinations and provide entertainment and education for those family members who weren’t as excited about the roses as you were. (Hint: a visit to the IMAX Theater at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a great way to get off your feet – and keep the kids occupied – long enough for you to recharge your energy.)

If you’re feeling like you need a good long walk, the Atlanta History Center on West Paces Ferry Road has 22 acres of gardens, gardens and more gardens. First, there’s the Mary Howard Gilbert Memorial Quarry Garden where, according to the AHC’s website, “The three-acre Quarry Garden shelters one of the state’s most comprehensive collections (nearly 600 species) of plants native to pre-settlement Georgia, many of which are rare and/or endangered.” Next, there’s the Smith Family Farm Garden, which portrays the home vegetable garden, the corn and cotton field crops, and the front-yard flower gardens of rural Georgia in the 1860s.

If you’re up to even more wandering at the Atlanta History Center, the Swan Woods Trail winds through 10 acres of wooded terraces and a collection of species of ferns and wildflowers native to the Piedmont, along with the Garden for Peace. This garden is part of an international gardens network dedicated to promoting peace. Also on the grounds of the AHC are an Asian garden, a Rhododendron Garden and the Connor Brown Discovery Trail, where “seven interactive discovery stations encourage children to play, explore, imagine, ask questions, and seek additional knowledge on the environment around them.” Ticket prices vary – students are $13.50, adults $16.50, and kids under 4 are free.

For those who cannot abide the thought of walking outside anywhere, however beautiful, in the midst of a Georgia summer, save a day for a trip to Fort Valley, the home of the American Camellia Society’s Historic camellia collection, the Massee Lane Gardens. As you know, Camellias show all their colorful blooms from September through their peak in February and March. Currently, the Historic Garden houses over 1,000 varieties of camellia – covering a winter’s worth of bloom times. If you’d rather take a spring trip to Massee Lane Gardens, the property includes azaleas, both native and exotic, and hydrangeas, as well as a Japanese garden and a rose garden. Massee Lane’s Environmental Garden includes a lake and surrounding trails that have become a reposito-

Photo by Ricky Stilley The Swan House experience includes a boxwood garden with a cascading fountain. ry for native plants in seven types of habitat.

For a day trip closer to home, head straight north to Mt. Berry, near Rome – the home of Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum.

There you’ll find Berry College students ready to give you a guided tour ($5 adults, $3 students) of the gardens of Oak Hill, Martha Berry’s beautiful Greek Revival home and grounds. Designed in the early 1930s, the gardens represent Colonial Revival and Victorian landscaping styles. Some of the separate gardens include a formal garden, a sundial garden, a flowered path, and a goldfish garden. Near the gift shop is a lovely little jewel-colored garden of flowering plants, which have been designated an All American Selections Display Garden since 1996. Before you explore the gardens, a tour of the home and museum are in order. Oak Hill has been preserved as it was in Mrs. Berry’s time, including the original furniture and paintings. It has been the location of several movie shoots, including standing in as the Carmichael Plantation in “Sweet Home Alabama” (during a tour last year, my friend pointed out that “That’s the closet Reese Witherspoon hid in!”).

Also, nearby and dearest to the hearts of the Carroll County Master Gardeners are the Buffalo Creek Demonstration Gardens, in Carrollton. Located up the hill behind the Carroll County Agricultural Education Center and maintained by the Master Gardener Extension Volunteers, the gardens include a rose bed, a fragrance garden, herb beds and pollinator borders, as well as a multicolor foliage garden and a lovely pond and waterfall. The Demonstration Garden has been a popular site for professional

portrait photographers to take their clients for senior pictures, baby photos and holiday family portraits. The gardens are open daily at no charge. Leading out from the Demonstration Garden are several trailheads to the Buffalo Creek Nature Trail, which wanders through the woods of the 40-acre grounds of the Ag Center. The wooded trail is maintained and planted with native Southeastern plants by the West Georgia Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society.

Whether you’re up for a day trip with a twohour drive, or just a 15-minute jaunt, you’ve got beautiful gardens in every direction just WGL waiting for your visit. ■ Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Robert L. Staton Rose Garden 767 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 Phone: 404.929.6300 Atlanta History Center 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305 Phone: 404.814.4000 Massee Lane Gardens 100 Massee Lane, Fort Valley, GA 31030 Phone: 478.967.2358 Oak Hill & the Martha Berry Museum 24 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Rome, GA 30161 Phone: 706.368.6789 Buffalo Creek Demonstration Gardens and Nature Trail 900 Newnan Rd. Carrollton GA 30117 Phone: 770.836.8546

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The Lure o

VACATION TIME! / LAKES

W

hether you live for the weekend and the speed of water sports, or prefer the solitude of fishing in a private cove – or just want to listen to the crickets singing into the starry night – you can still find simple summer pleasures at the lakes of Georgia. You’ll find plenty of Southern traditions alive and well when it comes to weekends at the lake around Georgia.

Imagine unwinding by sitting around a camp fire telling ghost stories, sipping sweet tea, and munching on gooey s’mores after a long day of fishing, skiing, tennis, golf, or swimming. Yes, life is very good at the lake. So, kick off your flip flops, slather on some sunscreen, and dive right in to Georgia’s warm southern sunshine.

Lake Sidney Lanier, Gainesville Lake Lanier covers 38,000 acres – or 59 square miles – and each summer

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July/August 2014

Where Life attracts thousands of people from across the metro area for boating, sailing, jetskiing, canoeing and, of course, fishing. Located only 45 minutes from Atlanta (and only 90 minutes from west Georgia), the lake is the state’s mostvisited resort destination. Lanier’s 692 miles of shoreline borders Hall, Forsyth, Dawson, Gwinnett and Lumpkin counties, so it is very easy to get to from virtually all of north and west Georgia.

There are numerous attractions here for vacationers of all ages, from a waterpark for the children to golfing at the Legacy Golf Club. Boats may be rented at Harbor Landing, as well. And if you get tired of the water, there’s always horseback riding or hiking to fill your day. There are any number of parks on the lake, some operated by individual cities or counties; others by the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers.

Their facilities vary, so when planning your trip you will want to check out the many websites found with a Google search of “Lake Lanier.” The same search will lead you to discover all the many other types of recreation available nearby.

While Lanier is certainly the more popular lake retreat near west Georgia, it is by no means the only one, and the more adventurous might want to search a bit further afield.

Lake Hartwell, GA and SC Lake Hartwell is a reservoir bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers.

Lake Hartwell is also very popular, and plays host to the National Pro Bass

STORY BY SUNDAY JONES / PHOTO BY RICKY STILLEY

of The Lake

VACATION TIME! / LAKES

Is GOOD! Tournament each June and is world renowned for their huge striped bass.

In addition, adventure abounds with campgrounds, water sports and boating, rock diving at the quarry, hiking, walking, and 5k runs, biathlons, and dual-thons. Eighteen Mile Creek is famous for canoeing, kayaking and observing wildlife and casual bird watching. Issaquena Dam and its magical cove waterfall and Ghost Island are popular places for family to visit. One can even camp on ghost island among graves from the 1700 and 1800’s. And if you are particularly looking for something to do to celebrate our nation’s independence on July 4, nearby Tugaloo State Park will be packed for familyfun events during the annual Old Fashioned Fourth Celebration.

For more information about Tugaloo State Park Reservations call 800-864-

7275 or Park Events call 706-356-4362 or visit http://gastateparks.org/Tugaloo/. For more information about other parks and venues around Lake Hartwell, GA, call 912-652-5279, or visit www.mylakehartwell.com Pine Mountain, GA Located to the south of west Georgia, Callaway Gardens is one of the most beautiful resorts in the South. It originated in the 1930’s as a vacation hideaway for Cason J. and Virginia Callaway’s family; today, it’s a popular getaway for many people.

Visitors from all over the nation come to Pine Mountain to enjoy the natural beauty of the gardens and participate in a host of activities that range from strolling down paths lined with azaleas to hiking, biking, fishing and golfing. Callaway Gardens is filled with spots of tranquility, such as the mirror-like Lake Martin and Mountain Creek Lake. Both are surrounded

by nature at her best and are the perfect place to relax and reconnect with family.

Upcoming events at Callaway include the 16th annual Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival, scheduled from Friday, Aug. 29, to Sunday, Aug. 31. This particular weekend will kick off with a Friday Night Balloon Glow and continues all weekend long. One can enjoy the nighttime sight of watching balloons glow from the jet flames keeping them aloft, or hop into a basket yourself for a tethered balloon ride.

Saturday will be filled with family-friendly events, including live music, numerous beach activities, a Kids Zone and more.

For more information about accommodations,or any of these events, contact Callaway Gardens: 706-663-6833, 1-800-225-5292, or www.callawaygarWGL dens.com.■

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VACATION TIME! / State Parks

Hit the Road for Scenic Parks

L

ooking for a quick escape to some of the best scenery in the state? These state parks are all within 100 or so miles of west Georgia, and all are worth exploring. Note the special events upcoming at many of these day retreats.

Nearby Chattahoochee Bend State Park 425 Bobwhite Way Newnan, Ga. 30263 770-254-7271 Located in a graceful curve of the Chattahoochee River, Chattahoochee Bend is a haven for paddlers, campers and anglers. At 2,910 acres, the park is one of Georgia’s largest state parks and includes five miles of river frontage. A boat ramp provides easy access to the water, while more than six miles of wooded trails are open for hiking and nature photography. An observation platform provides spectacular views of the river and forest.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Daily parking: $5. Annual passes available.

Amenities and activities: Hiking, canoeing/kayaking, picnicking, playground, fishing, geocaching.

Sweetwater Creek State Park 1750 Mt. Vernon Road Lithia Springs, Ga. 30122 70-732-5871 At peaceful Sweetwater Creek, a wooded trail follows the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill destroyed during the Civil War. Beyond the mill, the trail climbs rocky bluffs to provide breathtaking views of the rapids below. Additional trails wind through fields and forests, showcasing ferns, magnolias, wild azaleas and hardwoods. Visitors can participate in a wide range of outdoor activities including the Park Paddler’s Club and visit the award-winning visitor center to view history and wildlife exhibits.

Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset Daily Parking: $5. Annual passes available.

Amenities and activities: Lake, museum, conference room, shelters, fishing, picnicking, fishing, hiking, boat rental, geocaching, ranger-guided programs, birding, playgrounds.

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North Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge 418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road Dawsonville, Ga. 30534 706-344-1500 At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast.

Visitors can choose to view the tumbling waters from an accessible pathway, or tackle a challenging trail with staircases.

An 8.5-mile trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the famous 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail. Other trails provide shorter day hikes.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Daily parking: $5. Annual passes available.

Amenities and activities: Hiking, Canyon Climbers Club, picnicking, waterfall photography, geocaching, playground, camping.

Special Events

• Amicalola is Going to the Birds: Tuesday, July 29 and Tuesday, Aug. 26, 7-9 p.m. Visitors can spend an evening getting up close and personal with the stars of the park’s Birds of Prey show, Zeus and Fabio, and share a ghost story or two with Owl Capone or Goliath. Fee: $3 individual, $10 family.

REBECCA LEFTWICH

Chief Vann House Historic Site 82 Ga. Highway 225 N Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 706-695-2598 In the 1790s, businessman James Vann established a 1,000-acre plantation in the heart of the Cherokee Nation. In 1804, he completed construction of this elegant brick home. Five years later, Vann was murdered and the estate passed to his son, Joseph, who also was a Cherokee leader and businessman. Forced west with the rest of the Cherokee Nation in the 1830s, the Vann family relinquished its Georgia property. The Vann House survives today as the state’s best-preserved historic Cherokee home with original hand carvings, “floating” staircase, 12-foot mantle and rare antiques.

Hours: Thursdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last tours begin at 4:15 p.m.

Admission: Adults, $6; ages 62-older, $5.50; ages 6-17, $4. Group rates available.

Features: 109 acres, guided house tour, film, exhibits, artifacts, half-mile nature trail, picnic tables, bus parking.

Cloudland Canyon State Park 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road Rising Fawn, Ga. 30738 706-657-4050 Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon straddles a deep gorge cut by Sitton Gulch Creek.

Elevation ranges from 800 to 1,980 feet. A spectacular view into the canyon is an easy walk from the picnic area, but hikers also can explore a rim trail or journey to the canyon floor by a series of staircases. Two waterfalls cascade over layers of sandstone and shale into pools below. Backpackers, mountain bikers and equestrians can explore several miles on the Cloudland Connector Trail.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Daily parking: $5. Annual passes available.

Amenities and activities: Hiking, Canyon Climbers Club, yurts, camping, cottages, lodges, caving, camping, horseback riding, disc golf, picnicking, geocaching, cycling, tennis, fishing.

Special Events

• Wild Cave Tour: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout July at 10 a.m. Guides will educate participants about cave formations, bats and geology while they get muddy and wet climbing and crawling their

VACATION TIME! / State Parks way through a wild cave during this family-friendly underground adventure.

Fee: $30-60. Reservations: 706-913-7170.

Fort Mountain State Park 181 Fort Mountain Park Road Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 706-422-1932 A scenic drive on Highway 52 near the Cohutta Wilderness leads visitors to this mountain getaway. Some of the most beautiful trails in Georgia wind through hardwood forest and blueberry thickets, crossing streams and circling a pretty lake. Hikers can explore a stone fire tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and an ancient rock wall which stands on the highest point of the mountain. The mysterious, 855-foot-long wall is thought to have been built by early American Indians either as fortification against their enemies, or for ancient ceremonies.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Daily parking: $5. Annual pass available.

Amenities and activities: Cottages, camping, beach, picnicking, First Time Camper program, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, boat rental, miniature golf, playground, geocaching.

Special Events

• Scavenger Hunts: Saturdays through Oct. 25, 10-11 a.m. Guests can discover interesting information about nature on the mile-long Lake Trail, starting at the Naturalist Area.

Fee: $1. Closed toe shoes are required.

Reservations: 706-422-1932.

• Sunday Afternoon Wagon Rides: Sundays through Oct. 26, 2-3 p.m.

Participants may enjoy a narrated wagon ride through the park. Fee: $3, free for ages 3 and younger. Reservations: 706-422-1932.

James H. (Sloppy) Floyd State Park 2800 Sloppy Floyd Lake Road Summerville, Ga. 30747 706-857-0826 Surrounded by rural countryside and the Chattahoochee National Forest, this quiet park offers outstanding fishing on two stocked lakes. Visitors can hike along three miles of lake loop trails, relax in swings while watching for the many bluebirds that live in the park, or they can feed ducks from the boardwalk. The trailhead to the scenic 60-mile Pinhoti Trail is only a 1.6-mile hike away.

Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Daily parking: $5. Annual passes available.

Amenities and activities: Cottages, camping, lakes, shelters, picnicking, First

Time Camper program, boating, fishing, boat rental, hiking, playgrounds, geocaching.

Red Top Mountain State Park 50 Lodge Road SE Cartersville , Ga. 30121 770-975-0055 High iron ore content gives the area’s soil its rich red color and the mountain its name. Red Top Mountain was once an important mining area. While best known for the 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona, Red Top Mountain is also a hiker’s haven. More than 15 miles of trails wind through the forested park, providing opportunities for exercise and nature photography. A paved trail behind the park office is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, welcoming guests to explore a reconstructed 1860s homestead. The four-mile Iron Hill Trail is open to both hikers and bikers, offering pretty views of the lake’s shoreline.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Daily Parking: $5. Annual passes available.

Amenities and activities: Cottages, camping, yurt, shelters, picnicking, beach, nature exhibits and ranger programs, boating, water skiing, fishing, hiking, bicycling, swimming, playground, miniature golf, pickleball, geocaching, tennis.

Special Events

• Free bluegrass concerts: Saturdays, 8-9:30 p.m. Visitors should bring a chair or blanket to the concerts, which are held at the Vaughan Log Cabin behind the park office.

South F.D. Roosevelt State Park 2970 Ga. Highway 190 Pine Mountain, Ga. 31822 706-663-4858 Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Daily parking: $5. Annual passes available.

Georgia’s largest state park, F.D. Roosevelt boasts more than 40 miles of trails winding through hardwood and pines, over creeks and past small waterfalls.

Above King’s Gap is Dowdell’s Knob, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt picnicked and pondered world affairs.

A life-size sculpture of the president now welcomes visitors to the overlook.

Several park amenities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, including cottages and the Liberty Bell Swimming Pool, fed by the area’s natural cool springs. Nearby, Roosevelt’s Little White House Historic

Site invites visitors to see his modest home, museums and the healing pools that first drew him there.

Amenities and activities: Cottages, camping, shelters, group camp, lakes, swimming pool, First Time Camper program, hiking, boat rental, fishing, picnicking, horseback riding, geocaching, stargazing, birding, ranger programs.

Special Events

• Pine Mountain Trail Summer Ramble: Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests ages 8 and older can bring water and a snack and join Pine Mountain Trail Association guides for a hike in the summer woodlands. Hikers will meet at the Fox Den Cove Parking Lot and finish at the Trading Post in the campground. Return transportation to vehicles will be provided.

• Dowdell’s Knob Hike: Saturday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ages 10 and older. Participants will loop the highest section of the park with PMTA guides.

Those attending should bring water and a snack, dress for the weather and meet at the Dowdell’s Knob parking lot off Georgia Highway 190.

Roosevelt’s Little White House Historic Site 401 Little White House Road Warm Springs, Ga. 31830 706-655-5870 Franklin Delano Roosevelt first came to Warm Springs in 1924 to swim in the healing springs, hoping to cure the polio that struck him in 1921. He built the Little White House in 1932, the year before he was inaugurated as president.

During FDR’s presidency and the Great Depression, he developed many New Deal programs such as the Rural Electrification Administration, based on his experiences in Warm Springs. An unfinished portrait begun shortly before FDR’s death in 1945 is featured in a museum which also includes his hand-controlled car, recordings of his Fireside Chats broadcast from a 1930s radio and a theater. In addition to the museum and his home, the site includes servant and guest quarters and the nearby pools complex.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily. Last film begins at 4 p.m.

Admission: Adults, $12; seniors 62-older, $10; youths 6-17, $7; children 5-under, $2. Group rates available.

Guided tours, scavenger hunts, flags and stones from each state, FDR museum, pools museum, memorial fountain, legacy exhibit, on-site and roadside picnic areas, bus WGL parking, handicap accessibility. ■ July/August 2014

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VACATION TIME! / Waterfalls

Alabama’s Northeastern

River Country

Little River Canyon National Preserve, near Ft. Payne, Ala., has the 45-foot Little River Falls, that had a record water flow of more than 11,000 cubic feet per second on April 8, 2014.

Vast natural treasures to explore over the border

J

ust two hours away from west Georgia are fabulous natural treasures that are often overlooked by west Georgians seeking a quick getaway.

But those willing to make the journey will be rewarded by spectacular vistas and cascading waterfalls, all waiting to be explored.

The star attraction of this region is the Little River Canyon, a 23-mile adventure park that takes a winding course from near Fort Payne in the north, to Weiss Lake in the south.

Through it runs the Little River, which flows down the 44

West Georgia Living

middle of Lookout Mountain and which has, over eons, carved one of the deepest canyons in the South.

This spectacular river tumbles down unmolested by dams and other man-made interference, which means two things. One, the river remains largely the same as it has for hundreds of years. Second, it is always different – the amount of water flowing through its rapids and over its magnificent falls varies with seasonal rains.

July/August 2014

The canyon begins at the confluence of the East Fork and West Fork of the river, just northeast of Fort Payne. Above Fort Payne, and on the West Fork, is DeSoto Falls, a 104-foot waterfall named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who was the first European to set foot in these parts.

Closer still to the canyon, and named after the same gentleman, is DeSoto State Park, which contains more than 3,000 acres of forest and mountain

KEN DENNEY

terrain, not to mention free flowing water. If you decide to visit the park, you’ll find a full range of activities, including swimming and tennis, and 25 miles of hiking trails. And there’s also camping, picnicking, a restaurant and cabins.

DeSoto Park is within the Little River Canyon National Preserve, which is overseen by the National Park Service. The preserve covers nearly 14,000 acres and protects both the Little River and the fragile ecosystem dependent on the waterway.

This is wild country, and though

VACATION TIME! / Waterfalls there are few visitorfriendly facilities, there are still plenty of places to enjoy the sights. Those sights include sandstone cliffs that tower up to 600 feet above the narrow canyon floor, making them a popular attraction for daring rock climbers. And those who want to kayak will salivate over the Class III and Class IV (expert level) rapids to be found within the Preserve.

Those into less extreme outdoor activities might enjoy primitive camping in the Preserve’s backcountry area. Such camping is allowed only at three designated sites, Billy’s Ford, Hartline Ford and Slant Rock.

Each campsite has a picnic table, a 10-foot by 20-foot tent pad, rock fire ring, trash can and an out-

house. Yes, an outhouse.

As the term “primitive camping” implies, there is no running water at these campsites, which are free to use and require no reservation.

Those who just want to ooh and ahh at Nature’s wonders can see them all in air-conditioned comfort by driving along the 11-mile Scenic Drive along Highway 176. As visitors move south, they will discover a series of overlooks where they can pull over and enjoy the scenic vistas. All one has to do is get out of the car and walk a few feet.

The Scenic Drive begins at Little River Falls, and this is a place the visitor will definitely want to get out and see. These falls are located off Highway

35 next to the bridge that serves as the boundary between Fort Payne and Gaylesville.

The 45-foot drop may not sound like much, but the river is very broad at this point, so the falls give a pretty good imitation of Niagara. And if you’re lucky enough to get there a day or so after a big rainfall, you will see a huge rush of water coming over the rocky cliffs and tumbling into the deep pool below.

The parking lot beside the boardwalk that leads down to the falls has spaces for 100 vehicles, including buses and RVs – but usually the area is

Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Ala., features a 90-foot waterfall and gorge trail.

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VACATION TIME! / Waterfalls very quiet, so a visitor can enjoy a tranquil picnic at the tables and grills, all within the sound of the falls. But please be sure to be out of there by dark.

The Little River continues down the canyon until it empties into Weiss Lake, which is another terrific place to visit, with 30,000 acres of water and 417 miles of shoreline. Just about any kind of water-related activity can be found here, but especially fishing. The lake is known as the “Crappie Capitol of the World,” but there are also large mouthed and striped bass waiting to match wits with determined anglers.

Weiss Lake empties south through the Coosa River, and if a visitor still hasn’t had enough of scenery and the sound of rushing water, they can head further down to the town of Gadsden.

There, they will find something

really unusual: a waterfall, smack dab in the middle of town.

Nocccalula Falls drops 90 feet over a rock cliff to tumble into a deep pool. It is said to be named after a young Cherokee woman who leaped to her death in a moment of romantic despair.

The tale is remarkably similar to the legends of other places across the South, so it may not even be true.

True or not, however, the falls and its associated Park are worthy of a visit even without seeing the Little River attractions.

It is a focal point for numerous activities in Gadsden, and there is always something happening.

So, even though there are waterfalls and watercourses aplenty in and around west Georgia, why not take a day and head west to WGL see some new sights? ■

A small tree cling precariously to what little soil is available between the cataract at Little River Falls near Fort Payne.

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VACATION TIME! / Mt. CHeaha

W

hen I need to be one with nature and digging in my garden just won’t cut it, I strap on my hiking boots and head for the hills. Literally.

In west Georgia, we are lucky to have so many places to walk, hike, jog, bike, picnic, swim, camp, etc.; and there are plenty of places for a hiker to get a good trek in: Sweetwater State Park, the new Carrollton Greenbelt, Little Tallapoosa Park. But when I need a serious dose of exertion-released endorphins and I only have time for a day trip, there’s only one place I go: Cheaha.

Cheaha State Park, nestled in the middle of Alabama’s Talladega National Forrest, is a hiker’s dream, with miles and miles of trails on which you can lose yourself. No, really, you can get lost, so take a map and maybe a compass. There are about half dozen trails and connections to other trailheads in, around, or near the park. Most of the trails aren’t actually in the park – they are inside the Talladega National Forest – but

you should think of the park as your staging area. The park office sits at the top of Cheaha Mountain, right off Alabama Highway 281, where you can pick up a map and plan your destination for the day.

First on most people’s list is the Chinnabee Silent Trail, which is a relaxing, meandering path that starts at Lake Chinabee, then runs along the river and over a small ridge. There are a few waterfalls to admire, lots of birds and squirrels, maybe some deer if you tread softly while you hike.

And, of course, once you’re on the other side of the mountain, looking down at the valley, the views can’t be beat. Like I said, this is a pretty easy trail, but there is some change in elevation over the last third, some rocky terrain, and there’s often water on the first part of the trail at the start of spring.

STORY BY AMY K. LAVENDER-BUICE, EDITOR EMERITA PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

If you walk the three miles to the end and you’re still feeling froggy, you can continue straight ahead onto the Turnipseed Trail, turn right onto the Pinhoti Trail, hang a right at Adams Gap and head down the Skyway Loop, which will take you back to where you started at Lake Chinnabee. Of course, that’s something like a 17-mile loop, so pack your sleeping bag.

There are also plenty of short trails that lead to waterfalls or beautiful, panoramic vistas, like the High Falls Trailhead.

For serious hikers, pick up the Pinhoti Trail in the park at Porter’s Gap off Alabama Highway 77 and head north or south.

The Pinhoti follows the high ridge line along the mountains inside the Talladega National Forrest. Since the elevation is higher, the temperature will be cooler. So if you’re planning an early spring or a fall hike, take an extra layer of clothing with you.

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VACATION TIME! / Mt. Cheaha

The Rock Garden Lake Trail is moderately difficult and is a fun trail to hike. thing like 102 miles, so you probably won’t be able to do it all in one trip, but the scenery is worth coming back here multiple times as you attempt to complete it in its entirety.

For thrill seekers, there are even some off-road vehicle trails – which I found by chance the last time I was there and decided to just drive around to see what I could find. Bicyclists and motorcyclists alike love the hills, curves and beautiful scenery. For the weekenders, there are plenty of camp sites, both RV compatible and primitive. And that lake I mentioned earlier – yes, you can fish in it.

Those who want a taste of nature, but not the whole dish: no worries.

There’s a hotel in the park. Anyone with children should check out the park’s website before going, www.

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alapark.com , to see which activities are planned for that week or weekend.

You can call the park office and talk with the rangers.

Even hard core runners have a reason to visit. In September, the park hosts the XTERRA Alabama Cheaha State Park 10K Trail Run, organized by Dirty Spokes Productions.

Yes, it’s just what it sounds like: a 10K race in the woods, over rivers, hills and mountainous terrain. Of course, you could always just tackle a trail run on your own. Just don’t run over us hikers while you’re at it. If you fall or twist an ankle, we’re your only hope of getting back to civilization without relying on improvised crutches, courtesy of a Y-shaped tree branch.

Anyone who loves history will be excited to see the new museum the

Priscilla Little, left, and Jan Miller, and Oscar, of Auburn, hike the Rock Garden Lake Trail.

VACATION TIME! / Mt. CHeaha park is opening devoted to the Civilian Conservation Corps, which built the park in 1939.

The museum opens July 7 after being closed for 18 years due to budgeting issues. Since the CCC built many of the structures in the park, the park will be distributing maps that pinpoint all the landmarks the CCC built.

The CCC was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, and from 1933 to 1942 it gave jobs to men across the nation in the areas of conservation and natural resource development. As a result of the program, Georgia was the benefactor of many buildings and monuments that you may recognize, such as Fort Pulaski National Monument, Douglasville High School, the University of Georgia’s Laboratory Building, a swimming pool and pavilion in LaGrange, a hospital in LaGrange, and several recognizable murals. In Alabama, the

program yielded Montgomery City Hall, the engineering building at the University of Alabama, The Peoples Hospital in Jasper, and, of course, Cheaha park.

Cheaha has been around for 75 years, yet you don’t see the signs of the thousands of people who have trekked here over the years. There are still fewer roads than trails, only a couple of stores and one restaurant nearby. You’re more likely to hear birds singing than cars zipping by, and there’s plenty of room to spread out. The area is peaceful; nearby, yet isolated.

I encourage you to take the 45-minute drive across the state line and stretch your legs.

Breathe in the smell of dirt and pine straw, feel the wind on your face and listen to the cicadas sing their summer song.

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VACATION TIME! / Savannah

S

avannah is only four hours away from west Georgia, making it a perfect getaway spot for a long weekend. It’s a unique city in our state, combining 18th Century charm and beauty with excellent restaurants, shopping and, of course, the warm sea breezes of the Atlantic Ocean.

Day One: Get an Overview If you’ve never been there, the first thing you should do when you arrive is get familiar with the city and all it offers. One of the best ways of doing so is to take a city tour. There are many options for this, because as many as 40 companies exist for that sole purpose. You can discover Savannah on walking tours, trolley tours, boating tours and carriage rides. There are also tours for specific interests, including restaurants and historic sites. And if your tastes run to the more esoteric, there are even tours specializing in Savannah’s many reputed ghosts.

Your first meal in Savannah could be at any number of places, but why go to a chain restaurant? Being a seaport town, Savannah has some of the freshest seafood around; food so fresh, it is literally just off the boat. But Tourists enjoy the many historically rich shops and restaurants along River Street.

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of course you can have virtually any kind of cuisine, from sushi to barbecue. Some of the most interesting places are along the river, and whether upscale or downscale, your dining experience is enhanced by your surroundings. Many of the restaurants and pubs are in restored cotton warehouses, and dining outdoors in a city full of 18th and 19th century buildings makes you almost feel as if you are in a European city.

If you just want to walk around the city and take in the sights, a good place to start would be around the Bull and Abercorn street corridors. These take you past some of Savannah’s more famous landmarks and through nine of the city’s 21 squares. More than 40 percent of the 2,500 oldest buildings in Savannah are considered to have architectural or historical significance, and reflect a whole range of styles, from Federal, to English Regency, to Queen Anne and more.

Side Trip to History Even though you are in Savannah to have fun, you should at least think about the history of the place.

Established in 1733, the city

STORY BY KEN DENNEY / PHOTOS BY RICKY STILLEY

VACATION TIME! / Savannah

Ancient trees covered with Spanish Moss add to the beauty of Savannah.

is the oldest in Georgia and was founded by James Oglethorpe, a British army officer and prison reformer who thought a colony in the British lands of North America was just the ticket for turning former English prisoners into productive citizens. As a royal colony, the city banned lawyers and hard liquor. But as you will see on your walks about, the city has loosened up considerably.

In its almost 300-year history, the city has become a thriving port and commercial center, but not without some rough patches. In the late 18th century, it was a haven for pirates, and events which took place at the Pirates’ House restaurant (20 E. Broad St.) were the inspiration for Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.

The city was also a hotbed of revolutionary activity when our nation threw off the yoke of British oppression. Colonial Park Cemetery (Abercorn and Oglethorpe) is the final resting place of Button Gwinnett, signer of the Declaration of Independence. And of course Savannah was the goal for Civil War Gen. William T. Sherman when he launched his infamous “March to the Sea.” On the other hand, worshippers of Thin Mints revere Savannah as the birthplace of the

Girl Scouts (10 E. Oglethorpe Ave.), and, being a natural movie set, numerous films – including Forrest Gump and, of course, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – were filmed here.

Second Day: Head for the Beach After a restful night’s sleep, your second day in Savannah should give you a chance to explore the town in greater depth. Savannah has more than 45 historical and cultural attractions to visit. And there are a slew of antique shops, art galleries and small gift shops hidden away in virtually every nook and cranny.

But of course you can just bolt to the beach. Tybee Island, only about 20 minutes east, has miles of beaches fronting the crashing waves of the Atlantic. Bring your sunblock; Old Sol is pretty intense at these latitudes. But if you don’t want to only bake in the sun and wade in the surf, you can always choose a more strenuous activity, like taking a kayak tour or go deep-sea fishing. And Tybee Light, Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse, has 178 stairs to climb – both up and down.

There is plenty to eat on Tybee as well, where the shrimp boats come ashore to bring in their catch of the day. There’s all

The heart of the historic Savannah River District has many places to stay on your next trip.

kinds of seafood there, served up in quirky little hole-in-thewalls and upscale restaurants.

Savannah is always having some kind of festival, whether ashore or at the seaside. It is justly famous for its St. Patrick’s Day celebration, but in March and April there is the Savannah Music Festival, featuring some of the best performers and vocalists. Even during the fall there is Oktoberfest on River Street and the Savannah Film and Video Festival. And though the climate in Savannah is almost the same as in west Georgia, you will at least feel warmer if you visit the city during Christmas, when there is a series of special events and brilliant displays of lights.

Last Day On your last day in Savannah, you’ll want to do all those little

things you put off during your stay. These might include a tour of a historic house, lunch at a bohemian restaurant or just a stroll among the other tourists on River Street.

Before packing up the car and heading back to the land of kudzu and cicadas, you should really get yourself a souvenir of your experience. Shopping is, frankly, unbelievable in the city. There are a multitude of trendy and unusual shops and boutiques standing alongside high scale, big-name retailers.

There are many handcrafted goods, collectibles, and sweets to eat.

There are so many things to do, see and experience in Savannah that there really is no way to do them all in one weekend. You might just as well make up your mind that you will have to come back for a little bit more. Lots of WGL people do. ■

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VACATION TIME! / Golden Isles

F

orget airport hassles and expensive cruises! The perfect vacation destination can be as close as our own coast. Thanks to the Marsh Protection Act, Georgia has the least disturbed coast on the Atlantic seaboard, making her barrier islands a particularly appealing choice for those seeking a quieter, less crowded locale.

Scattered like footprints in the Atlantic, the barrier islands near Brunswick are called the Golden Isles. Once you watch a single sunset transform the vast Marshes of Glynn into vast plains of gold, it is easy to understand how that nickname was earned.

The islands of St. Simons, Sea Island, Little St. Simons, and Jekyll offer an abundance of activities. Georgia’s island gems boast long, empty stretches of sand waiting to be explored. The area is a golfer’s paradise, with 198 holes on manicured courses surrounded by spreading live oaks

Historic Faith Chapel on Jekyll Island 52

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draped with Spanish moss. Fresh water fishing, crabbing, seining, and deep sea charters await fishing enthusiasts.

Despite their similarities, each island offers unique and memorable experiences.

St. Simons Island St. Simons is the Georgia coast’s most developed island and a history lover’s dream. The first destination for many visitors is the white tower standing sentinel on the St. Simons Sound. The lighthouse was first constructed by James Gould in 1810. That tower was destroyed by retreating Confederate troops in 1862, so the Northern army couldn’t use it for navigation. The current lighthouse and keeper’s dwelling were constructed in 1872. A climb to the top of the tower not only offers a panoramic view of St. Simons, Jekyll Island, and the Atlantic Ocean, it is wonderful exercise!

Lighthouse climbing defi-

PHOTOS AND STORY BY JODY TALLEY BUTLER

VACATION TIME! / Golden Isles nitely works up an appetite, but there’s a convenient solution.

The lighthouse is located in the charming Village area, with its array of shops and restaurants.

The Village includes Neptune Park and its oceanside pool, miniature golf course, playground, oak shaded picnic area, fishing pier, public library, and theatre.

More history awaits on Frederica Road at the Episcopal Christ Church. Nestled serenely beneath towering live oaks, Christ Church was built in 1820. Charles and John Wesley preached on the site before their return to England to found the Methodist Church. The original building was partially destroyed during the Civil War but rebuilt in 1884. The picturesque white church is surrounded by a cemetery containing graves of the area’s earliest settlers and famous Georgians. The history of Christ Church Frederica and St. Simons’ founding families were told in the popular historical fiction books by island resident Eugenia Price. Thousands of visitors visit the church each year, seeking out the final resting places of characters that sprang to life in her pages.

Across the road is the Wesley Garden, with a path that winds between 4,000 azaleas and 60 varieties of native plants. An 18-foot Celtic cross carved from Georgia stone is surrounded by benches, creating a perfect spot for rest and reflection.

St. Simons hosts festivals and special events throughout the year. With its numerous shops and restaurants, the island makes the island a popular home base for exploring the Golden Isles.

Little St. Simons Island For vacationers longing to literally get away from it all, Little St. Simons Island could be the perfect solution. Accessible only by boat, the 10,000 acre island is privately owned.

Driftwood Beach, located on Jekyll Island, is a favorite stop for photographers.

Little St. Simons is a nature lover’s delight, with seven miles of unspoiled beaches, an abundance of wildlife, and pristine maritime forests. It is the perfect place for hiking, biking, birding, and shelling.

Guests can reserve one of six charming cottages, some of which date back to the early 1900s. The island accommodates only 32 guests at a time, so visitors enjoy the luxury of a very private island retreat. Day trips are available and include transportation, a guided nature tour, low country lunch, and time spent on the island’s isolated beaches.

Sea Island Lying on the opposite end of the spectrum from undeveloped Little St. Simons is exclusive Sea Island. A longtime retreat for presidents and the rich and famous, the island is home to two five-star resorts

and three world-renowned golf courses. Sea Island’s lanes are fringed with both historic and contemporary mansions that overlook the marshes and ocean.

The island offers the finest in dining and shopping, along with activities such as horseback riding, skeet shooting, and boating.

tered around the stately Jekyll Island Clubhouse. Today, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is available for guests to take a step back in time to the opulence of a former era. The surrounding Millionaires’ Village has been restored and is open for buggy and tram tours.

Jekyll Island

Ready for summer fun in the sun? Summer Waves water park offers splashes galore for the entire family on its 11 acres.

Jekyll’s three public golf courses and family friend putt-putt course welcome golfers of all ages and abilities. The Tennis Center provides courts and lessons, and will even help find tennis partners for players traveling solo.

Jekyll Island is the smallest of Georgia’s barrier islands. A state park, the island was once an exclusive winter playground favored by wealthy families with familiar names such as Goodyear, Macy, Morgan, Astor, Pulitzer, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller. In 1886, these aristocratic families formed the famed Jekyll Island Club. In 1904, their club was called “the richest, the most exclusive, and the most inaccessible club in the world.”

An estimated one-sixth of the world’s wealth was controlled from the Island during the Gilded Age. Their ‘cottages’ were clois-

Jekyll Island is a popular eco destination. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center opened in 2007 in an historic brick building that once housed the power plant for the Jekyll Island Club. The Center is dedicated to education and to sea turtle rehabilitation and research.

Visitors learn about loggerheads

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VACATION TIME! / Golden Isles and other sea turtles in the Center’s interactive Exhibit Gallery and Rehabilitation Pavilion.

Tidelands Nature Center offers an interactive exhibit area with live land and marine animals native to the Georgia coast. Visitors can view a young loggerhead sea turtle, baby alligators, snakes, turtles and tortoises, marine fish, and other island residents. Touch tanks in the Saltwater Exhibit present horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, anemones and knobbed whelks. The Outdoor Exhibit area introduces curious guests to a gopher tortoise habitat, a birding area, nature trail, and a shark exhibit. Guided kayak tours provide a crab’s-eye view of the marshes and the opportunity to see shorebirds, fiddler crabs, dolphins, and the occasional manatee.

Recently named as one of TripAdvisor’s Ten Unique Beaches You Must See to Believe, Drift-

wood Beach curves around the island’s north end. Twisted, weathered skeletons of live oak trees, once part of a maritime forest, are surrounded by sand. This picturesque beach was formed by erosion of the island’s north end. Driftwood Beach is a popular destination for professional photographers, but amateurs can capture some beautiful images on this amazing stretch of sand.

Visitors can enjoy camping, horseback riding on the beach, fishing and crabbing from the public pier, and biking Jekyll’s twenty miles of designated bike paths. A bike is the perfect way to view the island’s three major ecosystems of salt marsh, beach, and maritime forest. The island’s popular Red Bugs – electric golf cart-like vehicles – provides guests a new and ‘green’ way to explore the island. Striking a delicate balance between development and conservation, Jekyll is a beautiful destination belonging

A Great Place to Live, Learn, Work and Play...

to all the people of Georgia.

As summer draws near, the perfect vacation destination may be close to home. From history to water sports, golfing to enjoying nature’s beauty, and biking to dining on delicious local seafood, Georgia’s Golden Isles offer a WGL journey of discoveries. ■

Dr. Jody Talley Butler is a retired teacher and the author of “Jekyll Journey: A FamilyGuide to Georgia’s Jewel and Hidden Treasures: Secrets of a Southern Barrier Island.” She is a Carrollton native and part-time resident of Jekyll Island. Her books are available at www.oak-mountainpress.com .

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315 Bradley Street • Carrollton, Georgia 30117 770-830-2000 • (fax) 770-830-2026 www.carrollton-ga.gov 54

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TAKE 5

Casey M. Bethel Science Teacher, New Manchester High School

•

•

My best friend is ...

My wife, Elise. She is so intelligent, creative and organized.

•

I f stranded on a desert island, I’d want ...

A good book to read. Probably a classic. I read the same books over and over anyway, and I’m not even stranded.

•

I ’d love to share a cup of coffee with ...

Either Charles Dickens or George Orwell, my favorite writers.

•

y hero is ...

M My mom. Hands down. She is like Superwoman. She can do anything.

•

Photo by Ricky Stilley

I never dreamed I’d ...

Be teaching students. I always dreamed of being a scientist. Now that I am teacher, I have found my calling.

•

eople probably don’t know that I …

P Bite my fingernails. It is a nasty habit.

•

hen I have 10 minutes alone I like to …

W Sing loudly. Makes me happy, but it’s embarrassing when I get caught.

•

y parents taught me ...

M Be observant, and think before I speak or act.

•

y parents taught me ...

M Treat all people with respect and love. Every person has worth.

•

y favorite childhood memory is ...

M Being in school. I loved school and being in class. I enjoyed the challenge of learning and WGL competing with my classmates. ■ July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

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A Party . . .

Photos courtesy of West Georgia Parrot Head Club

The Skurvy Krewe celebrates a Halloween Phlocking with, from right, Robin Collins, Bob Abdich, Carrie Porter, Bevery Nelson, and their masco - Son of a Sailor.

. . . With a Purpose West Georgia I Parrot Heads are more than a Jimmy Buffett Phandom

n a wooden booth at the front of Max & Henry’s in Carrollton, IslandTime Bob is holding court.

Over a plate of teriyaki wings, he regales listeners with tales of Doobie Brothers shows (pre-Michael McDonald), hush-hush Jerry Jeff Walker autograph signings, and a great gig he scored when he was a young airman stationed in Germany: volunteer tour guide for rock concerts, some featuring now-legendary bands.

“My ticket was free, and my job was, (that) if 25 people got on the bus, I had to make sure after the concert 25 people got back on the bus,” IslandTime Bob says. “I didn’t care if they were the right people or not,” he adds with a grin.

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REBECCA LEFTWICH

Parrot Head phandom.

Bursts of live music waft in from across Adamson Square, where a seasonal celebration is taking place under white tents that deflect the late-afternoon sun. A stream of U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Cure and Pearl Jam hits is piped through the pub’s sound system, so it seems an ideal place and time to talk about classic concerts.

Bob begins with a story about a 1970s show featuring Linda Ronstadt, her former backing band, the Eagles – and a little-known singer-songwriter by the name of Jimmy Buffett.

Buffett is why Bob’s here. The “King of Somewhere Hot” also is the reason a giant stuffed parrot named Son of a Son, a Rastafarian Bugs Bunny doll and a lady known as Shanghai Bev are sharing Bob’s booth. IslandTime Bob is president of the West Georgia Parrot Head Club, Inc., and Shanghai Bev is the organization’s membership director. The doll is a free agent.

“It’s right up my alley,” she says of the Parrot Head Club. “It’s about music, it’s about social, it’s about people – and it’s about really doing for others. It’s a party with a purpose.”

Now, “I’m in it with more than both feet,” Shanghai Bev says, as Bob – the club’s “phounder” – enthusiastically nods. “I’ve got both hands and my head down in it.”

Matt Carriens, left, Carroll County Toys for Tots coordinator, receives a check from Bob Abdich, phounder and resident (Captain) of the West Georgia Parrot Head Club. Also pictured are Beverly Nelson, vice-president (First Mate), left, and Robin Collins, secretary (Navigator).

Bob says he has been a Parrot Head since forever. Fans of Jimmy Buffett, who built an empire on decades of songs about drinking, island-hopping and the sea, are notorious partiers and rival even the most rabid sports fans in their tailgating shenanigans. Given Parrot Heads’ collective reputation, it may come as bit of a shock that in the last 12 years the nationwide group has raised an astounding $33.9 million for charity.

Even more astonishing is that those same boat drink-chugging, coconut bra-clad lovers of leis, tropical shirts, flip-flops and straw hats have also rolled up their sleeves and contributed nearly 3.2 million volunteer hours.

Billing itself as “a social club with a charity habit,” the Carrolltonbased West Georgia Parrot Head Club (WGPHC) is one of roughly 200 not-for-profit groups affiliated with Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc., the international organization of Parrot Head Clubs.

Using the Parrot Head spelling of everything from phan to phlock, the group’s website says the club

Part of the appeal is a network of well-established clubs, particularly along the Southeastern coast, where events like Meeting of the Minds, in Key West, and Stars Fell on Alabama, in and around Gulf Shores, draw thousands of Parrot Heads each year.

About 25 dues-paying members currently populate the local club, but IslandTime Bob says he looks forward to a time when contingencies from larger clubs head to west Georgia to support the spectacular WGPHC benefits he envisions.

Until then, a handful of West Georgia Parrot Heads can be found at those coastal events, helping raise money for the charities supported by the host clubs.

“It’s not just our little group here,” Shanghai Bev says. “We’re part of a much bigger network of people. We can travel and help other people do things in their communities.”

The West Georgia Parrot Head Club celebrates its first birthday.

Shown are, from left, Ann Crissey, Dennis Crissy, Bob Abdich, Susan Hewitt, Debbie Covington, and Beverly Nelson. seeks to “bring together likeminded pholks who recognize and share the tropical spirit of Jimmy Buffett, his music and his writings” but who also “possess a keen awareness of community, social and environmental concerns.”

Shanghai Bev worked for years with the Bell South Pioneers, a service organization for telecommunications workers and retirees. “I stayed with the Pioneers for quite awhile,” Bev says. “We worked our butts off to make

money for charity. But it’s like every other group – the people who run it get older, and they kind of fall away from it and nobody else is stepping up to take their place.”

Post-Pioneers, Shanghai Bev worked with the Nature Conservancy, Sweetwater Creek State Park and the Red Cross. “I needed something else, and those just didn’t fit the bill,” Bev says.

She found her lost shaker of salt when she discovered the

Local Parrot Heads already are lending a hand to their own neighbors. From manning a tropical corn hole game at a recent sustainability fair, to raising hundreds of much-needed dollars for cancer patients and Toys for Tots, WGPHC members have a shared goal of seeing needs and filling them as their group grows into its expectations.

Club members and their Not Bored of Directors can be phound phlocking at Max & Henry’s on the last Wednesday evening of each month at 6:30, crafting the club’s bylaws (mandatory) and growing older (mandatory) but WGL not up (optional). ■

July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

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Jefferson and Hamilton The Rivalry That Forged A Nation

M

en create history, but history also creates men. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton are often mentioned in pious tones as “Founding Fathers,” among the men who collectively created the American social and political system. Too often we regard these men as larger-than-life figures perceived in simplistic terms.

Dr. John Ferling, Professor Emeritus of the History Department at the University of West Georgia, presents here a much more complex view of Jefferson and Hamilton. While both were actors on the epic stage of human history, they also had human passions, weaknesses, and strong egos resulting in the personal and political rivalry that characterized their relationship. Ferling’s study reveals two complicated men, who, because of the dynamic tension between them, did indeed forge a nation.

The book’s style is at once academic and engaging. It reflects Ferling’s profound knowledge of the time period and highlights the drama inherent in iconic moments. For example, when John Adams is about to speak during a debate on the Declaration of Independence, Ferling describes the “lashing rain slanted against the glass” of the stormy weather outside; the distant thunder and the dark sky. The vitality of such scenes holds the reader’s attention.

From the beginnings of their lives, Jefferson and Hamilton seemed destined to disagree.

Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry That Forged A Nation John Ferling. Bloomsbury Press, NY. 2013

And throughout his book, Ferling alternates focus on each man, showing their personal and political differences in the context of historical events.

Hamilton grew up in difficult circumstances in the West Indies, the illegitimate son of a

ne’er-do-well father. The challenges of his early life shaped his subsequent character. Hamilton was an ambitious man who worked to improve himself and his lot in life. As a young artillery officer during the Revolution, he served as an aide under July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

61

General Washington, a position that solidified his political ambitions, and helped him develop the interest in economics that led to his being the first Secretary of the Treasury.

Hamilton preferred a strongly urban culture and a strong central government to control the populace.

About the reviewer:

In contrast with Hamilton’s early life, Jefferson’s life was more genteel and privileged, likewise shaping his character and interests.

He grew up with the economic and social advantages of an aristocratic family. Jefferson received the typical education of his time, studying classical languages, philosophy, science, and history. His education and upbringing resulted in a world view that influenced his subsequent social and political views. Jefferson saw the agrarian lifestyle as superior to the urban life, and he distrusted strong central governments, preferring that the states maintain most of the power.

As Ferling develops the inevitable conflicts between these two figures, he provides insights into the two men that are usually left out of history books, examining not just their public lives but also their often chaotic personal lives.

Hamilton and Jefferson were both enigmatic, even paradoxical figures. Hamilton emphasized a strong central government to control

Robert C. Covel is a retired university and high school English teacher, and received his doctorate in English from Georgia State University.

He has published one book of poetry and has another coming out this year. He is also writing a novel. When not reading and writing, he enjoys playing trivia. He lives in west Georgia with his wife Deloris, and their dog Monet.

the brutish urges of the populace, yet his own ungoverned passions led to a destructive love affair that nearly destroyed his family and career. Throughout his life, he also challenged several men to duels – including the wellknown, and final, challenge to Aaron Burr.

Jefferson was equally contradictory. While he authored the phrase “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,� he owned and sold slaves.

While his wife and children were important to him, he maintained a long-standing affair with his slave, Sally Hemings, with whom he had children. And while Jefferson saw the

importance of the government’s strong economy, his personal financial affairs were in constant disarray.

As the book reveals, the men bitterly opposed one another politically and culturally. As both were members of Washington’s Cabinet - Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury; Jefferson as Secretary of State - Washington attempted to mediate, often ineffectively, their vindictiveness. Their personal and political attacks appeared in newspapers and pamphlets, speeches and letters, and became a reflection of the larger battles over the shape of the new government, its philosophy, and its economic structure.

Ferling’s study of Jefferson and Hamilton gives a balanced and fair account of the lives and influences of these iconic figures, along with a few surprises about

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Eagle Scouts (from left) Sam Stinson, Justin Flinn, Peter Bober and Blake Wilson.

Oak Mountain Academy and Service To Others

Oak Mountain Academy (OMA) is a faith-based, college preparatory academy located in Carrollton, Georgia. Founded in 1962, the Academy is accredited by SACS and SAIS. Responsible for implementing its Mission each day, OMA provides “a challenging college preparatory education in a safe, positive, and nurturing family environment. We commit to join sound learning with ethical, spiritual, and physical development to produce a responsible citizen who is prepared to be a leader in tomorrow’s global community.”

Essential to the Mission is the commitment to community service.

“Warrior” students at OMA learn from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 that giving back to the community, state, and world is an important part of being a responsible citizen. Students are involved in class projects, moving to more individual commitments as they reach their high school years. A minimum

of 60 hours of community service during high school is required for graduation. Most students surpass 100 hours, finding a service to which they become dedicated.

Senior (’14) Hannah Hembree, who is committed to serving others, notes that “life is more about how I can make a difference in it.” Aiding on several mission trips to South Africa, she has seen children walk hours for food and water, and has met small children raising their siblings after losing their parents. Having lost her own parents, Hannah shares she has learned that change happens to everyone whether it is “dramatic or gradual.” With these children of South Africa, Hannah shares her commitment to her faith and to remaining strong in the hope that they, too, will find their way.

Five young men at Oak Mountain Academy have been recognized for their service to others. All have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the

highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America!

According to that organization, requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating the “Scout Spirit.” Additionally, Eagle Scouts must serve in a troop leadership position; plan, develop and lead a service project; and complete an Eagle Scout board of review. Only 7% of all Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2013. Seniors Justin Flinn, Sam Stinson, and Blake Wilson; junior Peter Bober; and sophomore Robert Shipp are extraordinary young men, truly representing all that is an Eagle Scout!

These students are exceptional in their actions and deeds. Representing the “Warrior Way” of honesty, respect, and responsibility, they will undoubtedly be responsible leaders in “tomorrow’s global community.”

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July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

63

July/August

Calendar of Events

Photo by Ricky Stilley

July Thursday, July 3 Quilt Exhibit / Summer Camp: To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Atlanta, the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum, 306 Bradley Street, Carrollton, will exhibit a series of quilts that tell the stories of the women of west Georgia who lived during those times.

There will also be a summer camp to provide young people with hands-on learning of techniques to make quilts and clothing.

The exhibit will be at the Museum until Sept. 27; the summer camp will run from July 21 to 24 and requires pre-registration.

Call 770-301-2187.

MOMS Club of Villa Rica: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fullerville Baptist Church, 423 Old Town Road in Villa Rica. Serving the Bremen, Carrollton, Temple and Villa Rica areas of West Georgia, the MOMS club plans a monthly calendar for moms and their children, including park play days, field trips, tours, crafts, book 64

West Georgia Living

July/August 2014

club and a monthly mom’s night out. For more information, email villaricamomsclub@yahoo. com .

p.m. at the Carrollton City School Complex, 106 Trojan Drive in Carrollton. For information, call 1-800-292-0871.

Villa Rica Fireworks Display: 5-10 p.m. at the Villa Rica Civic Center & Sports Complex, 1605 Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Live music, face painting, inflatable slides, hot air balloon rides, concessions and more. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. For information, call 678840-5959.

Tallapoosa Fourth of July Celebration: Americana memorial service at Veterans Memorial and Medal of Honor Park, 100 Robertson Ave. in Tallapoosa, followed by a parade at 1 p.m. Corn boil, watermelon cutting and fireworks will be at Helton Howland Park.

For information, call 770-574-2482.

Friday, July 4

Tuesday, July 8

Carrollton People’s Parade: 10 a.m. to noon, beginning at Dairy Queen, winding through downtown Carrollton and ending at Kmart. Entry fee is $45 per vehicle up to 75 feet floats. Additional charge for longer floats, extra vehicles and additional walkers. For information, contact Rebecca L. Smith at 770-8306600.

Government Contracting Seminar: 9 a.m. to noon at the Burson Center, 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. Learn about the many challenges businesses face when deciding whether to seek a GSA, FSS or MAS contract in the Understanding the General Services Administration seminar. There is no charge to attend, but registration is recommended. For information, visit www.gtpac.org or call Jerry Shadinger at 678-890-2342.

Carrollton Fireworks Display: 7:30-10:30

Thursday, July 10 Free Movie Downtown – Frozen: 8 p.m. at the AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton.

Friday, July 11 Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival: A twoday music festival will be at Raccoon Creek Music Park, 332 Music Park Path in Dallas.

Times are 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, July 11 and 1-10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12. For information, contact Wendell and Rene Hardy at 770-9432721 or email ibyforme@hotmail.com .

tion, call 770-668-4942.

Friday, July 18 Chat With the Chairman: 6-7 p.m., Fire Station No. 7, Bankhead Highway in Beulah. Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Worthan will hold one-on-one conversations with members of the public on the topics of their choice. For information, contact Worthan at 770-920-7269 or email tworthan@ co.douglas.ga.us .

Monday, July 21

Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. For information, call 770-459-5624.

West GA Shutterbugs Meeting: 6:30-8 p.m. at the Neva Lomason Memorial Library, 710 Rome Street in Carrollton. For information, email contact@wgshutterbugs.org .

Turner Cassity Literary Festival: July 11-13, 8652 Campbellton Street in Douglasville. Writers’ Workshops, readings and book signings. Admission: Full festival, $35 for Cultural Arts Council members and $40 for non-members. Saturday, July 12 only: $25 for CAC members and $30 for non-members. For more information, call 770-949-2787 or email cultureom@earthlink.net .

Tuesday, July 22

Saturday, July 12 IndepenDance at the Pole Barn: The free celebration begins at 5 p.m. at Taylor Farm Park, 1380 Pine Valley Road in Powder Springs. Featuring food vendors, games, activities and much more, the all-ages event will culminate in a concert and fireworks. Festivities will include: For more information, visit www.paulding.gov or call 770­445­ 8065.

Drivin N Cryin Concert: 8-10 p.m. The Georgia-grown rock band will perform a free public concert at The AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton.

Thursday, July 17 The Heart Behind the Music Songwriter’s Showcase: 7:30 p.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Ave. in Bremen, featuring Deana Carter, Billy Dean, Teddy Gentry and Bryan White. Tickets are $25-30 in advance, $30-35 at the door. For information, call 770-537-6455.

‘Start a Business’ Class: 3-6 p.m. at the Burson Center, 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton.

Topics will include business planning, legal aspects of starting a business, finance and marketing strategies. Fee is $69. For information, contact Jane Smith at 678-839-5082.

Carroll County Tea Party Meeting: 7-8 p.m. at the Stallings Community Center, 118 S. White Street in Carrollton. For informa-

That Puppet Guy Presents Aesop’s Fantastic Fables: Showtimes are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Dallas Theater, 208 Main Street in Dallas. General admission is $6, and That Puppet Guy, Lee Bryan, will lead a puppet workshop following the second show. Space is limited and those wishing to attend are encouraged to buy tickets in advance. Cost is $12 for the 2 p.m. puppet show and workshop. Adults do not need a ticket to observe the workshop, but will need a show ticket for admission. Tickets may be purchased at the Dallas Theater box office, 770-445-5180.

Thursday, July 24 Free Movie Downtown – The Avengers: 8 p.m. at the AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton.

Back to School Expo 2014: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Arbor Place Mall parking lot. School supplies and interactive learning opportunities designed to prepare students for the new school year. For information: ourbacktoschoolexpo@gmail.com ,or call 770-693-8892.

Tuesday, July 29 Free Cartoon Tuesday: Dallas Theater, 208 Main Street in Dallas, will host Free Cartoon Tuesday with cartoons on the big screen. Times are 10 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m. For information, call 770-445-5180.

Thursday, July 31 Free Movie Downtown – Despicable Me 2: 8 p.m. at the AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton.

August Saturday, Aug. 2 Bowdon Founder’s Day: All day. Arts, crafts, entertainment and food will highlight the annual celebration of the founding of Bowdon.

For information, call 770-258-8980.

Coffee and Conversation with District 1 Commissioner Henry Mitchell III: 10 a.m. at New Beginnings Family Support, 6534 Spring Street in Douglasville. Mitchell will hold oneon-one conversations with members of the public on the topics of their choice. For information, contact Mitchell at 770-920-7266 or email hmitchell@co.douglas.ga.us .

Friday, July 25

Thursday, Aug. 7

Mel Tillis in Concert: 7:30 p.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Ave. in Bremen, featuring Deana Carter, Billy Dean, Teddy Gentry and Bryan White. Tickets are $30-40 in advance, $35-40 at the door. For information, call 770537-6455.

MOMS Club of Villa Rica: 10 a.m. to noon at Fullerville Baptist Church, 423 Old Town Road in Villa Rica. Serving the Bremen, Carrollton, Temple and Villa Rica areas of West Georgia, the MOMS club plans a monthly calendar for moms and their children, including park play days, field trips, tours, crafts, book club and a monthly moms night out. For more information, email villaricamomsclub@yahoo.com .

Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. For information, call 770-459-5624.

Saturday, July 26 Northwest Georgia Collectors Club Comic Book and Toy Show: 11 a.m. at Sutton Hall, 5971 Sutton Drive in Douglasville. A convention focusing on comic books and vintage toys, expected to bring in not only local collectors, but people from surrounding states as well. For information, contact Jesse Brook at 678-4290017 or email jessebrooknwgcc@yahoo.com .

Friday, Aug. 8 Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. For information, call 770-459-5624.

Saturday, Aug. 9 Teenage Daddy Concert: 8-10 p.m. The 80s and 90s cover band will perform a free public concert at The AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton.

July/August 2014

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65

Tuesday, Aug. 12 Government Contracting Seminar: 9 a.m. to noon at the Burson Center, 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. Learn how state agencies, cities, counties, school boards and authorities buy their goods and services at the Marketing to State and Local Governments seminar. There is no charge to attend, but registration is recommended. For information, visit www.gtpac.org or call Jerry Shadinger at 678-890-2342.

Saturday, Aug. 16 The Oak Ridge Boys in Concert: 8 p.m. at Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Ave. in Bremen. Tickets are $40-50 in advance, $45-55 at the door. For information, call 770-537-6455.

Monday, Aug. 18 West GA Shutterbugs Meeting: 6:30-8 p.m. at the Neva Lomason Memorial Library, 710 Rome Street in Carrollton. For information,

email contact@wgshutterbugs.org .

Community Organizing Resources for Excellence (CORE) Monthly Forum: 9:45 a.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 7167 South Sweetwater Road in Lithia Springs. CORE is a collaborative group of non-profits and government services coming together to coordinate programs and services. For information, contact Amanda Bryant at 770-920-7438 or email abryant@co.douglas.ga.us .

Chat With the Chairman: 6-7 p.m., Fire Station No. 8, Tyson Road, Mirror Lake. Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Worthan will hold one-on-one conversations with members of the public on the topics of their choice. For information, contact Worthan at 770-920-7269 or email tworthan@ co.douglas.ga.us .

Thursday, Aug. 21 Carroll County Tea Party Meeting: 7-8 p.m. at the Stallings Community Center, 118 S.

White Street in Carrollton. For information, call 770-668-4942.

Friday, Aug. 22 Cruise-In: 5-9 p.m. at Bojangles, 750 Georgia Highway 61 in Villa Rica. Cars, trucks and motorcycles welcome. For information, call 770-459-5624.

Villa Rica Frontiers’ Rodeo: 8 p.m., one mile south of the Villa Rica Civic Center & Sports Complex. Tickets are $10-30. For information, contact Clint Chance at 770-634-9650.

Saturday, Aug. 23 AIA Concert: 8-10 p.m. The Jimmy Buffett tribute band will perform a free public concert at The AMP, 115 Rome Street in Carrollton.

Villa Rica Frontiers’ Rodeo: 8 p.m., one mile south of the Villa Rica Civic Center & Sports Complex. Tickets are $10-30. For information, WGL contact Clint Chance at 770-634-9650 ■

Your home is our home No matter where you live in west Georgia, we’ve got you covered.

To start your convenient home-delivery, please call 770.214.2285

66

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July/August 2014

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Q A

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Britt has been a RealtorÂŽ since 2002.As a life-long resident of Carroll County he knows the West Georgia market as well as anyone. Britt has been a recipient of The Top Producers Award for the past 11 years.

In addition, he is a recipient of the Phoenix Award from the West Metro Board of Realtors in 2012 in recognition as a Top Producer for 11 consecutive years. Britt is a licensed RealtorÂŽ in Georgia and Alabama.

cost and hassle and maximum benefits. Better yet, ask your Realtor. They know who to trust and who not to.

Should I search for a home without being pre-�approved?

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My lender can wait for all of my information, right?

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Without the necessary information, your lender cannot do their job. Often people think that their work is done after they’ve met with the lender. Remember that you are partnering with your Lender and Realtor, and it is truly a team effort. If you have chosen this team correctly, they will work hard for you -� just don’t forget to do your part.

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I didn’t receive a Good Faith Estimate from my lender. Is that ok?

A

You should receive a written statement of fees associated with your transaction within days of the lender receiving your loan application.

This is the best way to know what you will pay for your loan. Take your Good Faith Estimate (GFE) with you when you sign loan documents. You are not expected to pay fees that are substantially different from those contained in your GFE.

What about selecting a lender because they advertise the lowest rate?

Don’t get caught in the rates game. It is important to know all the costs of a loan and when a lender is just using clever advertising.

There are more than a few shady lenders out there drawing in people with rates that either don’t tell the whole story , or that they won’t actually offer you. Pick a lender who is available for you to sit down with, face�to� face, to discuss the best options available to you.

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Do I really have to properly evaluate the lender?

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Most people have no idea what really matters when choosing their lender. Instead, they rely on interest rates (See above), or the first lender they meet or hear about. Your goal should be getting a loan with the minimum

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What are some common appliances?

A

Palatal Expander-used to widen the upper jaw so the bottom and upper teeth will fit together better.

No, they aren’t. If you have a child under 15, and you suspect orthodontic problems, come in for a free consultation. You may be surprised that with the removal of baby teeth and an appliance, braces may be avoided through developmental supervision.

Q

What are appliances?

A

Appliances or any device, attached to the teeth or removable, designed to move the teeth, change the position of the jaw or hold their teeth in their established position.

Lower Lingual Holding Arch-prevents the permanent molars from shifting forward allowing crowded teeth to spread out.

Nance Holding Arch-used as a space maintainer, in cases in which the baby teeth have been prematurely lost and the first molars need to be prevented from coming forward.

Learn more at www.LongOnSmiles.com

LONG

Orthodontics

We’ve been straightening teeth for over 30 years

We Run on Passion

Get your smile before that special day.

For a Beautiful Smile for Life!

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Everyone is approved for interest-free in-house financing!

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Newnan 84 Jefferson Pkwy., Suite B Newnan, GA 30263 (770) 251-2660

Please mention this ad offer when making your appointment!

Everyone is approved for our interest-free, in-house financing!

Offer not valid with any other discounts.

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What every west Georgian should know about...

CARING FOR YOUR LAWN THIS SUMMER

Q A

Helen Albrightson Business Manager

Should I bag my clippings or leave them on the lawn after mowing?

Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn after mowing. It saves time, effort and, when done properly, is good for the environment and health of the grass. According to one study, the time can be reduced by 35 minutes for each mowing. Grasscycling aids soil fertility because clippings rapidly decompose, returning nitrogen and other valuable nutrients to the soil.

Qualifications

Q

Define “Proper Mowing”?

A native of Wisconsin, Helen joined NG Turf in 2001. Her responsibilities include oversight of internal functions including accounting, sales, marketing and human resources. Helen has been a Certified Turfgrass Professional since 2005.

A

Proper mowing is the key to successful grasscycling All mowers can be “grasscyclers,” and no special equipment is needed. However, some manufacturers sell mower attachments that chop clippings into finer pieces and can improve a mower’s grasscycling performance. Proper mowing means: 1. Cutting the grass at the recommended height 2. Maintaining a sharp mower blade 3. Mowing when the grass is dry 4. Mowing often enough to remove no more than onethird of the plant height

Q

Do clippings lead to thatch?

A

It has been a commonly held belief that grass clippings were a major cause of thatch, and that removing

clippings would slow thatch development. Research has determined that thatch buildup is caused by grass stems, shoots and roots – not clippings.

Q

When do I fertilize my lawn this summer?

A

A fertilization program should be based on lawn needs, maintenance practices and desired appearance and

the turf variety will determine your specific “fertility

schedule”. Visit the NGTurf.com Resources Page and

download the UGA Lawn Calendar to begin your quest for the Lawn Of The Month in your neighborhood.

LEARN MORE www.NGTurf.com 770-832-8608

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What every West Georgian should know about...

Trading in Your Current Car

Q

How is the value of my trade-in calculated?

Q

Does prior damage change the value?

A

Sid Lee, our used car manager, will walk around your trade looking for interior and exterior damage, condition of the tires, and will drive it to check for any mechanical issues. Once we have that data, we compare NADA, BlackBook, and major auction summaries; based on the miles and condition of your vehicle we will make you an offer that aligns with the pricing provided from those sources. In essence, your offer will be based on the true market at that time.

A

Yes. A vehicle without visible paintwork or damage can be worth more than a vehicle with damage or poorly done repairs. If your vehicle is ever damaged, it is best to use a reputable body repair facility; there are many locally from which to choose.

Q

Does past service history change the value of my trade-in?

A

It can. A vehicle that has been serviced regularly by a Technician who has been certified by a manufacturer should be worth more than a vehicle with no service records or from a quickie lube facility.

Mark Foster General Manager Walker Cadillac, Buick, GMC Inc.

Qualifications

Mark Foster has a Dual Bachelors of Business Administration in Automotive Marketing/Automotive Management from Northwood University and Certification in Dealership Successorship through the National Auto Dealer’s Association. Mark has 14 years experience in the automotive industry and is a community visionary who has a passion for exceptional customer service.

LEARN MORE www.walkergmauto.com• 770.832.9602

www.walkergmauto.com

770-832-9602

1492 N Park St. (HWY 27) • Carrollton

What every west Georgian should know about...

Ask the Ex ert

Oak Mountain Academy

Q

As a college-preparatory academy, what emphasis is placed on extra-curricular activities?

A

Extra-curricular activities are quite important at the Academy as we strive to develop the whole child. From Pre-kindergarten through grade 12, students are involved in activities found in most area schools both in and out of the classroom. As we say on the Mountain, “We may be small, but we do big things.�

Q

Describe some of the extra-curricular activities at Oak Mountain Academy.

A

Paula Gillispie

Head of School Oak Mountain Academy, Carroll County’s only independent, collegepreparatory, faith-based, day school

Qualifications

A life-time educator, Paula Gillispie taught in the public schools for twenty-five years, twelve of those in neighboring Fayette County. Earning her graduate degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, she began working in independent schools in Virginia. In 2010, she returned home to Georgia to begin her tenure as Head of School at Oak Mountain Academy. Additionally, Paula chairs school accreditation teams for the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a division of AdvancED.

To begin, community service is part of the Mission of Oak Mountain Academy, to include community service as a graduation requirement. Students participate in class, grade, or school-wide community service projects, and high school students must complete a minimum of 60 hours of community service in order to graduate. With more than thirty clubs and organizations, students are involved at the elementary level in TOTS, 4-H, Scouting, basketball, student council, strings, piano, drama, chorus, and guitar to name a few. Moving into the middle and upper schools students are involved in activities such as student council, honor societies, academic clubs, Key Club, Interact Club, foreign language and international clubs, as well as the awardwinning literary, athletic, and academic teams.

Q

What is a “literary team?�

A

As part of the Georgia Independent School Association, Oak Mountain Academy participates in literary competition in

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areas including Dramatic Interpretation; Argumentative and Personal Essay; Dramatic, Duo, and Humorous Interpretation; Extemporaneous Speaking; and Spelling. In Region Competition this year, Oak Mountain Academy placed in every event, winning 13 first place trophies and one second place trophy, with the entire team competing at the State level. In the Literary Music state competition, OMA won first in Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Solo, Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Solo, and Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trio. The Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quarter won second place, with the piano solo a close second place, giving OMA an overall second place win at State.

Q A

What is an OMA â&#x20AC;&#x153;student athlete?â&#x20AC;?

At Oak Mountain Academy, we participate in all sports, except football, including fencing! Our athletes understand that academics come first as they continue to win region and state titles in most sports. During the 2013 -2014 school year, the combined average GPA of all student athletes was 3.9 on a 4.0 scale! OMA athletes compete in the Georgia Independent School Association, participating in multiple sports and often traveling great distances to compete, leaving school early and arriving home late at night in order to do so. Therefore, they must be dedicated students, excellent time managers, and committed to the high expectations of a Warrior athlete!

Learn more at: www.oakmountain.us 770-834-6651 paulagillispie@oakmountain.us

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What every West Georgian should know about...

INSURANCE Does My Teen Driver Need To Be Added

The higher the deductible, the lower your premium. You can choose to save money on premium, but know that if you have a claim, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll pay more then.

Q To My Policy If They Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Have Their Own A

Michelle Allen (770) 841-5060 allenm48@nationwide.com Qualifications

Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Company and Affiliated Companies, Columbus, Ohio. Savings compared to standalone price of each auto, home and life policy. Savings based on new customer data from May 2010. Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, Nationwide Insurance, the Nationwide framemark, Nationwide is On Your Side and Join the Nation are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Š2013 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved. NPR-0503M1.2 (01/13)

Michelle Allen has 13 years in the financial services industry where insurance was integrated. Â She began by offering credit insurance on loans. Â From there she went on to helping families with life insurance and annuities. Â Opening her agency and working with Property and Casualty insurance was her way of being able to offer more to her clients. The Michelle Allen Agency is 2013 On Your Side Certified which is an award given to agencies that have a proven track record of excellent customer service. Â Her agency operates daily on the principal of putting people first and building true relationships with every member. Â

Vehicle?

Once your teen is preparing to become a licensed driver, they should be added to your policy. Because teens have higher crash rates, your premiums will be higher in general, but we can help you review your policy to make sure you have the right coverage to protect you and your young driver. If you do decide to get your teen driver a vehicle to drive there are ways your teen can help reduce your insurance costs: Drive safe. This is one of the best ways to manager your insurance costs. Having a history of accidents or moving violations will increase your premium.

Get good grades. This may earn you the coveted â&#x20AC;&#x153;good studentâ&#x20AC;? discount.

Q

Do you have any tips on safe driving that I can provide to my teen?

A

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very important to talk your teen driver about practicing safe driving and here are some tips to help your teen driver stay safe: â&#x20AC;˘ Wear seatbelts â&#x20AC;˘ Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speed â&#x20AC;˘ Avoid distractions â&#x20AC;˘ Stay awake â&#x20AC;˘ Turn off the phone â&#x20AC;˘ Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drive drunk If you parents lead by example and have conversations with their teen drivers about safe driving, over time your teen will get the experience they need and if they maintain a good driving record it can lead to reductions in your insurance costs.

Choose your car wisely. High performance vehicles are appealing, but expensive to repair and insure. Choosing a car with a good safety record is an easy way to save money on insurance.

Raise Your Deductibles. This is the amount of money youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll pay after a claim.

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What every west Georgian should know about...

Fighting Childhood Obesity

Q A

Dr. Linda McCo McCormick C rmiick Pediatrician Carousel Pediatrics

Qualifications Linda McCormick, MD, is a pediatrician with Carousel Pediatrics in Carrollton, part of Tanner Medical Group. She is leading Tanner Health System’s EPIC physician training, a program that includes continuing education for medical professionals to help their patients reduce childhood obesity as well as resources for families to improve children’s health.

Q A

My child is a little “chubby,” but it doesn’t seem like a big deal. Why should I be concerned?

A child who looks a little “chubby” is most likely to be more significantly overweight now than in the past. Before 1988, only 5 percent of children and teens were obese. Now, 17 percent of 2- to 19-year-olds are considered obese. A BMI above the 85th percentile signifies “overweight” while a child above the 95th percentile is considered “obese.” This excess body fat increases the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and many others.

A chubby child will most likely turn into an overweight teenager and later become an obese adult, so it is best to address the problem of excess weight before it gets out of hand.

Q A

My daughters are so tired when we get home from school and activities, all they want to do is watch TV. How can I get them moving?

Parents need to ensure that physical activity is a routine part of kids’ daily lives. You can start by being a good example; take the stairs instead of the elevator, park far away from entrances and

walk and limit your own sedentary screen time. Make your children “pay” for every minute of screen time with an equal amount of exercise. Invite them to help you with household chores: they can walk the dog, unload the groceries or take out the trash. You can also take advantage of the many activities offered through the Get Healthy, Live Well program in your community.

My kids have a sweet tooth and I don’t think that giving them the occasional sweet treat is going to harm them. How much sugar should my kids be consuming each day?

Technically, there is no “safe” amount of sugar that a child should consume each day. Refined sugar offers no nutritional benefit. The best kinds of sugars for your child are those that are found in things that are naturally sweet, such as fruit. A piece of juicy watermelon, a ripe peach or a handful of blueberries are much more filling and ultimately more satisfying than a piece of candy. Sugar-sweetened drinks are especially dangerous. They’re responsible for a lot of the extra weight that many children now carry. Just cutting back from a 20-ounce soda to a 10-ounce soda every day would add up to a 10-pound weight loss in a typical adult. If your child is thirsty, offer water. That’s the best drink for his or her growing body.

LEARN MORE: www.GetHealthyLiveWell.org | 770.836.9871

Tanner Urgent Care is here for you.

Most boo-boos just need a kiss and a Band-Aid. For those that need a little more care, Tanner Urgent Care offers walk-in care for minor medical emergencies, including:

Cuts and scrapes Sprains and strains Burns and rashes

Fevers Cold and flu And more www.TannerUrgentCare.org 770.836.9445

When you visit a Tanner Urgent Care location, mention this ad to receive a free gift.

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What every west Georgian should know about...

Travel

Q A

Von Dixon

Co-owner West Georgia Travel, Inc. 547 Newnan St Carrollton GA 30117

Qualifications

Von Dixon, with over 29 years in the travel industry, has been affi liated with West Georgia Travel since it was established in 1986. She has traveled to many exciting vacation destinations in Europe and the Caribbean, as well as popular U.S. hot spots like Alaska and Hawaii. Von is also an expert in corporate travel, assisting many businesses with their domestic and international trips. Along with her business partner, Leslie Anderson, and agents Lynda McBurnett, Teresa McKelvey and Angie Cauthen, Von is ready to help you with your travel plans.

passport OR a certified copy of your birth certificate, along with a government-issued photo ID is required.

Why should I use a travel professional?

We take the time to get to know you, understanding your approach to travel, what you like to see and do and in what style. Then we match these factors with your budget, schedule and our insider connections with the best travel providers. Our seasoned travel professionals are here for you to talk to, answer your questions, and design a vacation perfect just for you. No web site or cell phone “app” can do it our personalized way.

Q

Do I need a passport?

A

A passport is the best form of ID when you are travelling, but it is only mandatory when you are flying internationally, including destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada.

Q

Why should I purchase travel insurance?

A

We understand your vacation can take a year to save for, but only a second to ruin. While you can’t do anything to prevent an unexpected storm from closing the airport, you can help cover your investment by buying travel insurance.

For domestic flights, all passengers 18 years of age or older are required to present one form of government-issued photo ID (such as a valid driver’s license) or two forms of non-photo identification, one of which must be state or federal agency-issued (such as a U.S. Social Security card, before boarding a flight.

For cruising in and out of the same U.S. port, a

Travel insurance can provide you with the best coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellation/ interruption, baggage damage, medical evacuation, and much more. Plus, with every insurance plan, you will receive 24-hour travel assistance. We are a licensed provider of Travel Guard, one of the industry’s leading providers of travel insurance plans and assistance services-covering more than 11 million travelers worldwide each year.

Learn more at: www.westgatravel.com 770-836-8200

ENDLESS SUMMER SALE This is our hottest summer offer yet! Book your endless summer vacation to Mexico, the Caribbean or Hawai'i and save up to 65% on your hotel stay in addition to special offers from select hotels.* You'll also receive up to $500 in air credits per person: • $100 air credit on vacations of $1,499-$3,499 • $300 air credit on vacations of $3,500-$5,499 • $500 air credit on vacations of $5,500 or more Plus, get up to 10,000 bonus miles per person.

To take advantage of these hot summer deals, book by Aug. 15, 2014, for travel May 8-Dec. 19, 2014.

WE MAKE TRAVEL DREAMS COME TRUE!

WEST GEORGIA TRAVEL 547 Newnan Street Carrollton, GA 30117

Tel: 770-836-8200 Fax: 770-832-8896 Info@westgatravel.com westgatravel.com

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What every West Georgian should know about...

Cremation, burial and funeral planning

Q A

Ellen Wynn McBrayer

Jones-Wynn Funeral Home & Crematory and Meadowbrook Memory Gardens As always, we remain “A Family Serving Families®....Since 1950”

Qualifications

Jones-Wynn Funeral Home & Crematory has been in business for over 64 years and is now three generations strong with the same loving family, offering the highest quality service with the most affordable funeral & cremation packages. Ken Duncan, Vice President, has been part of the Jones-Wynn Family for 32 years. Some Recent Distinctions for Jones-Wynn Funeral Home & Crematory: National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of Excellence winner for 11 years (2003-2013) The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of Excellence Winner of Best of the Best Award (One of only three in the Country 2007), 2010 Georgia Family Business of the Year Award, 2009 Ellen Wynn McBrayer named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 under 40”, 2004 Dana Wynn was nominated top 5 Funeral Service Person of the year in the Country. Ellen McBrayer has been interviewed on Fox Business about funeral service on the show – “Where the Jobs Are” and also featured in the NFDA Nationwide Consumer Education Video about funeral and cremation service.

Q A

Have you ever had the “talk of a lifetime”?

People talk about many things with their loved ones, from day-to-day details to big events. Sharing stories with those who matter most isn’t just important today; it will be especially significant when it’s time to commemorate a life.

It’s important to make an effort to encourage your family members to have conversations about life and what matters most. These discussions can help you and your family make important decisions about how they wish to remember and honor the lives of their loved ones.

Memorialization is so much more than it used to be. It can reflect a person’s life story - their values, interests, and experiences - and be transformative, healing, and comforting. Meaningful memorialization starts when loved ones talk about what matters most: memories made, lessons learned, and how they hope to be remembered.

It’s not easy to talk about death. But having the “talk of a lifetime” focuses on life, rather than the details of a service.

It’s life stories - family vacations, pieces of advice, favorite pastimes - that will help you remember those who matter most and begin to heal after they die.

At some time in our lives, most of us will make or assist in making funeral or cremation arrangements. This will not be an easy time emotionally. Do you know how you should prepare for this time?

Here are some tips for smart planning that the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) offers 1. Be an informed consumer. Don’t be reluctant to ask questions.

Q A

2. Today’s funeral director offers a variety of options to meet your financial needs and wishes. Families should discuss all options with their funeral director when making arrangements.

3. When selecting a funeral director, choose one who is licensed, has experience, and has a good reputation in the community. Give thought to this decision as you would when choosing a doctor, attorney, or other professional.

4. Be prepared and avoid the burden of making decisions while under emotional stress by organizing details with your funeral director ahead of time. Remember ... preplanning doesn’t necessarily mean prepaying.

5. Plan a personal and meaningful ceremony or service to help you begin the healing process. Getting through grief is never easy, but having a meaningful funeral will help.

How much does a funeral or cremation cost?

The total cost for your services, including cremation or burial, is driven by the type of service that you and your family plan. You have a broad range of choices when it comes to planning funeral and memorial services. From simple to very elaborate, there are a variety of ways you can plan a meaningful service that enables you and your family to remember and honor your loved one. Talk with your funeral director and ask questions. They can offer a wide variety of options to accommodate any request and any budget. For example, at our funeral home & crematory, we offer cremation packages starting at $950 and funeral packages starting at $4990.

To submit a question about Funeral or Cremation Service: email ellen@jones-wynn.net or send a message to JonesWynn Funeral Home & Crematory Facebook page.

Ask the Ex ert

Dr. Lona D. Bibbs Pediatric Dentist

Qualifications

Dr. Bibbs earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Bibbs is a Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Northern District Dental Society, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Georgia Dental Society, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is currently on staff at Piedmont Hospital-Newnan, Georgia. Dr. Bibbs has been in private practice since 2005 and has offices in Newnan and Carrollton, Georgia.

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What every West Georgian should know about...

Hospital Sedation for your child!

Q A

Q A

Why would a doctor opt for Hospital Sedation versus Conscious Sedation?

Sometimes a child needs to be unconscious in order to safely receive dental treatment. General anesthesia puts a child into a deep sleep. He or she is unable to feel pain or to move around. This is the same kind of sleep a child would have for removal of tonsils or placement of ear tubes. General anesthesia is done in a hospital. Your child will go home the same day. Your dentist may recommend general anesthesia if conscious sedation and other behavior management techniques aren’t an option due to your child not being able to relax or calm down and therefore the treatment can’t be safely performed.

What other reasons would there be for a parent to select Hospital Sedation?

Children who have special challenges related to their age, medical conditions, developmental disabilities, or other special needs often can only be treated safely and effectively if they are fully asleep.

Oftentimes, there is a need to have a series of dental work on the child that can best be done in one long appointment.

Or the child has a disability that limits his or her ability to understand directions and be treated safely in the dental office.

Q A

Are there risks to Hospital Sedation (Anesthesia)?

General anesthesia carries some risk. Your dentist should discuss the risks and benefits with you and explain why it might be right for your child.

Q

Who is qualified to provide general anesthesia in the hospital for my child?

A

In addition to being qualified to deliver conscious sedation in the office, Dr. Bibbs, by virtue of her training and experience, is also qualified to recognize the need for treatment of certain children in a hospital setting utilizing the services of an anesthesiologist and general anesthesia. If, for any reason, your child requires this highly specialized level of care, Dr. Bibbs and the staff at My Kidz Dentist will work with your child’s pediatrician, and the anesthesiology group at a local hospital to insure your special child receives the treatment and care they need.

Ultimately, General anesthesia for dental procedures can be provided by an Anesthesiologist, Dental anesthesiologist, or an Oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These professionals are trained to deliver the medicines and monitor the child during the procedure. They also know how to handle any problems that may occur.

LEARN MORE: www.mykidzdentistry.com | (770)253-4488

Loving your child's smile, like our very own! www.mykidzdentistry.com

1741 Newnan Crossing Blvd.

Newnan, GA 30265 P: 770.253.4488 F: 770.253.4498

Two Locations To Serve You!

1109 South Park 6W Suite 203 2 Carollton, GA 30 P: 770.253.4488 F: 770.253.4498

Ask the Ex ert Chris Brannam

Manager Express Oil Change and Service Center Carrollton

Qualifications

Chris has been with Express Oil Change and Service Center for 12 years. Chris started as an Oil Bay Hood Tech, later was promoted to Service Manager. He was named Honor Roll Manager of the Year in 2012 for Express Oil Change and Service Center. Chris advanced through the ranks trained by Bro Billy Runels, the stores first manager. My wife Janet and I have been together since 1986 and have two sons Blake and Justin. Blake also works for Express Oil Change. Chris and his wife are members of Holy Ground Baptist Church.

Q

What should I check on my care before a long road trip?

A

Express Oil offers a FREE Vehicle Trip Inspection that includes-All fluid levels-Condition of all belts-tire depth and air pressure-air conditioningexterior lights & signals-battery & brakes

Q

When do I rotate my tires and why?

A

Its recommended to rotate every 6000 miles.

Q

Why should I rotate that often?

A

Tires wear like our favorite pair of shoes. The weight distribution affects tread, front tires wear more rapidly. Tire rotation extends the life of your tires and makes your vehicle SAFER because brakes are even and effective. Traction is increased and accounts for a SMOOTHER ride and that helps increase gas mileage.

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ALIGNMENT CHECK

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Not Valid with any other offer.

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July/August 2014

West Georgia Living

79

Top in the Nation, again.

Thank You, Team Tanner.

2014 More than a decade ago, we made the commitment that quality patient care would be our No. 1 priority at Tanner Health System. Now, for the second time in three years, Tanner has been named one of the 15 Top Health Systems in the nation by Truven Health Analytics — formerly Thomson Reuters.

Truven’s researchers analyzed metrics that gauge clinical quality and efficiency at every U.S. health system. Tanner was the only health system in Georgia to rank among Truven’s top 15.

This accomplishment is a product of the culture of excellence exemplified by our medical staff and every one of our more than 2,600 employees. You’ve made exceptional care, quality, value and patient satisfaction the hallmarks of what sets us apart from other healthcare organizations.

To everyone at Tanner, we say, thank you. Thank you for your kindness, your professionalism, your willingness to go the extra mile, and for being tireless advocates for the patients you serve. Because of you, those who trust Tanner with their health can be sure they’re receiving the right care at the right time, every time. You’ve made your local hospital a national leader in quality. Thank you for all you do.

On behalf of the Tanner Medical Center, Inc. Board of Directors,

Daniel Jackson, Chairman Steve Adams Larry Boggs Jeffrey Lindsey, DMD Robert B. Pitts, MD

Jerry Clayton Nita Price

Mary Covington Timothy Warren

Loy M. Howard Gelon Wasdin

Stephen Kahler, MD

Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton r Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica r Higgins General Hospital r Willowbrooke at Tanner r Tanner Medical Group

To find out more, visit www.100tophospitals.com or www.TannerQuality.org.