WGL September-October 2013

West Georgia

Li V ing Life . Art . Music . People September - October 2013

The Thrill of The Scream! ... and why we love to scare ourselves

Sewell Clothing Companies Celebrates 95 Years in the Business Survivor Lauds the Success of a Local Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Patients What’s that in the sky? It’s West Georgia Air Ambulance to the rescue!

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Vol. 4/Issue 1

West Georgia

Li V ing Volume 4 . Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2013 Publisher Leonard Woolsey leonard@westgaliving.com

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

Advertising Melissa Wilson melissa@times-georgian.com

Photographer Ricky Stilley ricky@westgaliving.com

Contributors Ken Denney T.L. Gray Kathy Howell Gail Woody

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

From the Editor Dear Readers: Cool weather has finally arrived, which means it must be time for all those fun events that usher in the fall season.

Each fall, our area comes alive with tons of events, festivals and football games, as if the break from the heat was just what we needed to get ramped up for another season of merriment – and this year will be no different.

We have A Taste of Carrollton and A Taste of Douglasville to look forward to, as well as Waco Fest, Buchanan’s Fall Fair on the Square, and the Douglasville Chili Cook Off. Of course, we can’t forget America’s favorite game: football! In addition to our University of West Georgia Wolves, we also have scrimmage games to go to at West Georgia Technical College, where fans can see first-hand how the program (set to launch in 2014) is shaping up.

As usual, we’ve highlighted a few upcoming and recent events in this issue of West Georgia Living. We hope you enjoy the photos. Of course, with fall and all these festivals comes the fall harvest. I know this summer’s cool, wet weather has left the fields a little soggy, but resident chef Rob Duve´ has cooked up some delicious harvest recipes that are sure

to come in handy during the cool days ahead.

Try them out for yourself, page 42.

Of course, fall isn’t complete until we celebrate Halloween! This holiday is my personal favorite, though I couldn’t tell you why. Maybe it has something to do with dressing up in costumes and eating a bunch of candy without a care in the world.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s all those scary movies and haunted houses that really set the holiday apart. With that in mind, we decided in this month’s issue to find out why people love to be scared out of their wits. See what we unearthed in our cover story, “The Thrill of the Scream,” page 32.

And in a rather macabre conjunction, we also wanted to focus on cancer survivors as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

See how local people are coming together to promote breast cancer prevention on page 48.

Sincerely,

Amy K. Lavender-Buice

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

West Georgia Living is published bi-monthly.

Submissions, photography and ideas may be submitted to Amy K. Lavender-Buice 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 2013 by the Times-Georgian

4

West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

Leonard Woolsey is the Publisher of West Georgia Living and the TimesGeorgian.

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

Ricky Stilley is the Photographer for West Georgia Living and IT Director for the Times-Georgian.

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Contents

48

66

20

46

16

28

Features

Photos and Cover Art by Ricky Stilley.

32 The Thrill of the Scream: Find out why we 48 The Voice of a Survivor: Follow the story of

love to scare ourselves – and each other – every year via scary movies and haunted houses.

breast cancer survivor Joy Allman and how a local fundraiser has come to her aid.

west Georgia is changing medical response time – and saving lives.

The Sewell Companies as they celebrate 95 years in business.

16 Over Air: See how a new air ambulance post in 58 Fabric of a Community: Learn the history of

Departments Life

People

Founders’ Day Chili Cook Off Atlanta Rhythm Section

20 28 46

Garden

Feature Flower: Asters Mint’s Many Flavors

10 12

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West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

Take 5: Eddie Mixon Local Traveler: Lessons from the Grand Canyon

39

Art

Book Review: Jeff Suwak Artist’s Corner: Seth Fitts

62 66

Food

Harvest of Local Flavors

42

24

FALLING FOR COLOR, IT’S HARD NOT TO…

Everyone looks forward to Autumn, cool evenings begin to set in, sitting on the front porch enjoying the night air, the start of football season, and our leaves begin their spectacular fall show of color.

has a well-established root system ready to provide the necessary water and nutrients for optimum plant growth which is necessary for plants to survive our long, hot summers.

Brilliant reds, yellows and oranges dot the landscape in a show of force. Color may be the first thing you see, but when trees and shrubs drop their leaves they can reveal much more. Red berries and exfoliating bark can be the real show underneath all those leaves.

Soil preparation and planting are perhaps the most critical of all landscape practices. Proper planting assures rapid plant establishment and healthy growth. Haphazard planting is like sentencing plants to lifelong stress and suffering, making them more susceptible to injury, pests, drought, and cold. If you are unsure about the condition of your soil, take the time to do a soil test.

Good results start with good soil.

The Ginkgo Biloba tree is a stunning example of a bright yellow show of leaves in the fall. These trees can grow to over 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide, and make an excellent shade tree. During the year the tree has fanshaped green leaves that flutter in the breeze. When the night temperatures begin to cool, the tree transforms into a golden masterpiece.

Perhaps you prefer red. From the Autumn Blaze Maple to a Burning bush or Firepower Nandina, you can plant something that people will see from a distance. Whereas the Maple and the Burning Bush lose their leaves, the Nandina has “staying power” and does not drop leaves during the winter so they can continue to show color.

Soil amendments might be necessary if the existing soil is lacking the proper structure, although there is no exact recipe. An ideal soil is one that contains air space for good drainage, yet has good water holding capacity, some mineral matter to provide the soil chemistry necessary for nutrient absorption, and a small amount of organic matter to supply slowrelease nutrients.

What about structure? Henry Lauders Walking Stick or Contorted Filbert might be just the item for you. When this unusual plant loses its leaves, you are left with unique contorted branches. Growing 8-10 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide, it is a true specimen and a wonderful showpiece.

It is not too late to get started with your own color landscape. In the professional landscape industry, planting goes on year-round. However, fall is the best time of year to plant in terms of root growth and plant establishment. Unlike the tops of woody ornamental plants that go dormant and cease growth for the winter, roots continue to grow throughout the winter months. During the fall, the above-ground portion of a plant begins slowing down its growth as it moves toward dormancy. As a result, it makes little demand on the roots. Therefore, the energy produced via photosynthesis during the previous season can be directed toward root growth. When spring arrives and a new growing season begins, the plant

Proper planting involves more than simply digging a hole and sticking a plant in it. It all starts with digging the proper hole for your plant. Pay close attention to the width, give your plant room to put out new surface roots and make sure of the depth, not too deep, and keep the existing root ball at or slightly above the ground line. It may also be a good idea to place a light ground cover over the root ball, but be sure not to smother your plant.

So with all that said, seek out healthy plants, grab your shovel, and give your plants their best chance with careful soil preparation and planting. Then sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Now is the time to “Get Growing”! Southern Home & Ranch Garden Center is the place to come for all your plants, shrubs, trees and planting needs, so turn on the COLOR, WE CAN HELP! Please be sure to “Come by and Visit”, hope to see you soon... *Excerpts from Ga. Certified Plant Professional Manual

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I

Scary Tidings of Fall

’ve always liked fall. The first cool breezes wandering in from the North, leaves quietly turning colors before my eyes, and scary movies arriving at the local theater.

Pub Notes From Publisher Leonard Woolsey

today’s standards, they still haunt me.

But I guess that is partially why you’ll find us featuring local legend, Camp Blood, Yes, for me, I cannot separate colored in this issue of West Georgia leaves and cool breezes from movies Living. For the most part, we designed to keep me awake at night all love a good scare now and or think twice about turning out the then. And no time is better light in the basement while alone. than when Mother Nature is messing with our senses by pushing leaves around our I grew up in a generation that seems far, far away now days. A world where feet, giving us the natural urge to wrap a jacket around us scary movies included slamming doors, strange noises outside of win- just a bit tighter. dows, and mysteriously disconnected phone lines. Granted, there might’ve For seasons now, Camp been a bit of blood here and there, Blood and others have but what scared us long afterwards worked to awaken our natuwas the tension and suspense. ral instincts to be scared and have fun at the same time.

Our heart races and we hold Yes, I know who Freddie Krueger onto those near us. Yes, we is, but I am still more freaked out by know it is not real, but we love being attacked by an angry flock of it all the same. seagulls (“The Birds”) or someone pulling back the shower curtain and introducing me to the business end So remember, this is the season to of a long knife (“Psycho”). While get out and let your guard down a these may seem like tame movies by bit for some good old-fashioned fun.

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Garden Story by Gail Woody Photos by Ricky Stilley

A

The Amazing Aster!

A

sters are possibly one of our hardiest native perennials and the heart of my fall butterfly garden. Prior to blooming, Asters could easily be mistaken for weeds. They can be seen along the roadside and edge of woodlands.

Asters bloom in colors ranging from white to blue and red to purple with a tiny daisy appearance. They are an abso-

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West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

lute staple for any butterfly garden and often bloom until frost.

While many flowering plants begin to wither away in late summer, the aster is ready to bring the garden back to life.

They are an important nectar source for all butterfly species, as well as many other important pollinating insects.

Asters are especially important for the Monarch butterfly, as they bloom at the

peak of the Monarch migration. Few people know that asters are actually a host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Host plants are the nurseries of the garden.

O

ur native asters are in the family Symphyotrichum. Like garden mums, asters flower in response to the shortening days of fall, giving gardeners a carpet of daisy-like flowers from

August through October. Asters prefer full sun and grow well from Zones 3-10.

The Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) has the largest blooms of any aster reaching up to 2 inches across.

They are deep purple in color with a purple center. They are the most distinctive since asters usually have a yellow center. Like so many of our native flowers, habitat destruction is rapidly reducing this plant, making it more difficult to find in the wild.

A

ster patens (Symphyotrichum dumosum) is another purple aster. The bloom is smaller with a tiny yellow center.

The bushy aster or “rice button aster” is a very tiny white aster with a yellow center. Calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum) gets its name from the multi-colored look of the blooms. Before opening, the inner flower is a pale yellow, but it turns purple once it’s opened. The Eastern silver aster has an unusual bloom arrangement clustered tightly around the stem.

Asters love full sun and should be planted in good, loamy soil.

They are not happy with wet feet, making them an excellent choice for the Southern garden. Most varieties need a foot of space unless planting the New England variety, which needs up to 3 feet. This is the tallest variety and may need staking also. The New England (Aster novae-angliae) and New York (Aster novi-belgii) varieties are already available for purchase in stores locally.

only do they provide us with some dependable perennial flowers when many other flowers have already finished their show in our garden, but they add color at a time when the heat has started to turn plants brown from thirst. They provide muchneeded nectar for winter survival of honeybees. People with bee sensitivity of any kind should plant the aster away from the garden path as this plant will surely bring in all species of bees.

B

y including both host plants and nectar plants in your garden, you can attract a wider selection of butterflies while providing an environment that supports their entire life cycle.

Butterflies love them for their nectar and caterpillars for their foliage. I would encourage you to plant some asters in your flower garden as soon as possible. They are sure to be a worry free fall flower in your garden for many years to come.

Many thanks to Ellen Honeycutt, past president of the Georgia Native Plant Society for her kind permission to use information from her article in the Georgia Gardening magazine titled, “Ask Me About Asters!” She is a fellow aster aficionado and native plant mentor.

Gail Woody is a Carroll County resident and certified arborist, who maintains a certified Monarch Sanctuary in her back yard.

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Asters can be planted as soon as you purchase them in late summer. If you have established asters, divide them in May right after they appear and prior to blooming.

P

owdery mildew is a problem on the New York varieties.

Powdery mildew has a whitish appearance on the leaves

by July. Although the mildew looks unsightly, it will not harm the plant. If you absolutely must spray, use only horticultural sprays to keep from harming our insects that depend on the plant. Lace bugs can be a problem for the New York varieties; however, I have yet to find this the case in my own garden. If searching for a maintenance free plant in the garden, Asters are a perfect choice. Honeybees will leave little room for the butterflies around this lovely plant.

Often folks mistake asters for spring and early summer wildflowers, such as the yellow Ragwort and ox-eye daisy. Asters can easily be eliminated from this group of flowering plants due to the fact that they are late summer to fall flowering plants and never bloom in the spring.

Asters are among my favorite flowers for many reasons. Not

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Mint:

d Garden

A Master of Many Flavors M

M

int is a member of the Lamiaceae family. It is native to the Mediterranean and known for its aromatic characteristic. Mint contains volatile oils, which provide its scent, taste and often its name. For example, apple mint, lemon mint, pineapple mint, ginger mint, orange mint and chocolate mint are all named for their scent and taste.

The two most well-known mints are spearmint and peppermint, which are quite different from each other, yet similarly have distinctively cool and stimulating scents and flavors.

Other members of the mint family are the equally aromatic herbs: basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, lemon balm, lavender and thyme. Salvia and coleus are two ornamental plants in this family. There are more than 6,000 species and 200 genera of this large family of plants. The mint family includes many of the most popular plants found in gardens.

T

he group of plants known as mints is of the genus Mentha. In addition to their smell and taste, mints are easily identified by their square stems. I have always loved rolling the mint stem between my fingers to check for the square shape. Mints have opposite leaves and whorls of tiny flowers in pink, lavender and white at the ends of the stems.

The shape of the leaves can be oval to slightly pointed with edges serrated like a knife. Leaves can be smooth or wrinkled, and sometimes fuzzy. Mints can be found from the dinner table to the medicine cabinet to the linen closet to the garden. Uses for mints include cough remedies, toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, tea, jelly, air fresheners and cleaning products.

Mints are perennials, dying down to their roots in the winter and returning in the spring with an abundance of new growth.

Mints are known to many gardeners for their propensity of taking over the garden. Some will say they are invasive gar-

Story by

Kathy Howell Photos by

Ricky Stilley

den thugs. Mints spread rapidly by their underground stems or stolens. Cut back the plants to promote new growth, which will have a more robust flavor and aroma. If you don’t appreciate their rampant growth, you may plant mint in a large container to control its boundaries.

M

int is easy to grow, generally liking full to partial sun and moist, but well-drained soil. Overwatering may cause a fungal disease called rust. It shows up as rust colored spots on the leaves. Good air circulation and well-drained soil prevent most leaf diseases. Other pest problems are aphids, white flies and spider mites. Spray these pests off of the plants with a hose.

Mints may be propagated by cuttings or root division. Take cuttings of the above-ground stems and immediately put them into a glass of water. Make the cut about 1/4 inch below the leaf node (where the leaf is attached to the stem) and place it in a window sill. Within a week you should notice roots growing on the stems. After a couple of weeks you can plant the newly rooted stems into a pot of soil and share it.

To make root divisions, dig into the ground to take the lower part of the plants with some roots attached and put the clump into a soil-filled container. Before long, you have a pot full of mint. Do not grow mint from seeds, as the resulting plants will have weak smell and taste.

Mints readily cross pollinate so plants from seeds will not be like the parent plant. If you have several types of mints either keep them apart from one another in the garden or keep the flowers sheared to prevent tasteless plants from growing from seed.

Mints are excellent plants for pollinators. Bees, especially honey bees, and butterflies hover around mint gathering its Sept./Oct. 2013 West Georgia Living

13

pollen. Mint will attract the pollinators to the garden that are needed for full development of growing fruits and vegetables.

A

ccording to a University of Georgia College of Agriculture publication, if deer are over abundant in the neighborhood a good way to keep them from browsing in landscapes is to plant ornamentals that deer do not like to eat.

And while there is no deer resistant plant, because deer will try anything when hungry, highly scented plants are generally not liked by deer. So growing plants in the mint family like lantana, catmint, mint, sage and thyme seems to make deer shy away from grazing in your yard.

Are you wondering what to do with all the mint you are growing? The best way to use mint is to clip fresh leaves from the plant. Mint brightens and refreshes many recipes. What would a mint julep be without spearmint? Make some peppermint jelly to use as an accompaniment to lamb. Chop and sprinkle apple mint on watermelon salad. Mix pineapple mint into fruit smoothies and sorbets. Chop chocolate mint and add to chocolate cakes. The possibilities are endless and refreshing, thanks to mint.

Kathy Howell is a Carroll County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer.

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Life Story by Ken Denney Photos by Ricky Stilley

When Minutes Matter A New Kind of Ambulance is flying over west Georgia

T

he crew of Airlife 8 is spending some down time in their quarters at West Georgia Regional Airport when a portable radio crackles to life with news of a bad car accident in Carroll County. The crew reacts fast, but they don’t rush.

While the flight nurse and paramedic grab their gear, the pilot goes to his office and brings up the weather on his computer.

The other crew members join him as he reads the data out to them. In seconds, they are walking through the hangar, toward their helicopter air ambulance, which is sitting outside.

By the time they have done a systematic check around the aircraft, and strapped themselves into their seats with helmets on, less than 2 minutes have elapsed since the radio call.

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West Georgia Living

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When a medical emergency occurs, time is of the essence.

Whether a person has sustained traumatic injuries in a car accident, or suffered a stroke or heart attack, the quicker they can get to a hospital equipped for such an emergency the better chance they have of surviving.

If paramedics on the scene call for an air ambulance, it means that either they or the hospital-based doctors with whom they are communicating have determined that their patient needs the fastest transport possible. This means taking the patient directly over hills and trees, over congested traffic; straighter than a crow could fly, directly to a trauma center.

Last year, Air Life Georgia 8, which is owned by Air Methods, Corp., established a base at the West Georgia Regional Airport, a move that has doubtless saved many lives. Before then, an air ambulance flying into the west Georgia area from Atlanta, Rome or other trauma hospitals might have taken up to 30 minutes just to arrive at an emergency scene, then taken as much time to return. With the new system, that total time in the air has been significantly reduced.

Pilot Eric Thackston in the helicopter.

Most people were first introduced to the concept of air ambulances on the TV series M*A*S*H, a show that took place during the Korean Conflict, when helicopters were first used to bring wounded soldiers directly to portable hospitals.

The civilian use of such services expanded greatly during the 1980s and 1990s. Today, a sophisticated network of air ambulance services is located throughout the state.

While a good many accident victims are transported by air, more and more stroke or heart attack victims are benefiting as well. Doctor’s speak of “the Golden Hour,” a 60-minute window in which the damage caused by such events can be greatly reduced through the quick administration of life-saving drugs.

The patients may be directly taken from the scene of the emergency, or paramedics can take them by ground ambulance to an area deemed safe for the helicopter to land. Sometimes patients are transferred between hospitals by air.

West Georgia has no hospital with a designated Level 1 or Level 2 trauma center. The nearest such facilities are in Rome, Chattanooga or Atlanta. Both the distances and traffic involved in those cities make it almost impossible for a ground ambulance to reach them within the “Golden Hour.” Air Life Georgia

says it can transport a patient from west Georgia to Atlanta in as little as 20 to 25 minutes.

Air Methods is the largest emergency medical aircraft operator in the U.S., with a fleet of more than 400 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The Air Life Georgia division was created as a community-based model to locate their aircraft “where the need was, instead of the (hospital) they were going to,” said Russell McDaniel, business manager.

Located primarily at airports across Georgia, Air Life has 10 units across the state. Five of them ring the metro

Atlanta area.

Airlife 8 consists of a number of crews who rotate in shifts, and who stay at the west Georgia airport in quarters very similar to that of a fire station. While waiting for a call, they pass the time by playing video games (which has the added benefit of keeping their reactions sharp.) But when duty calls, they go into action, grabbing what they might need from rooms fully stocked with emergency medical supplies.

Outside, primed and ready to go, is their Eurocopter AS 350 aircraft, a helicopter Sept./Oct. 2013 West Georgia Living

17

powered by a jet engine and which can carry them to any scene at up to 130 mph. Inside, it is equipped much like a ground ambulance; the only difference is that the patient lies on a platform that stretches from under the instrument panel to the back of the aircraft.

A flight paramedic sits in the rear, straddling the patient’s body, while the flight nurse sits next to him. The pilot focuses entirely on the flight, while the medical team can run an IV line, or administer oxygen, or perform whatever type of medical intervention is necessary to keep the patient stable on the ride to the hospital.

Because air ambulances are used only in the most extreme emergency, the service does not come cheap, nor does it carry any guarantee that the speed of the response will save the patient. But none of that is on the mind of these dedicated air crews. They go when they are called and do whatever they can, all in the call of duty. For the residents of west Georgia, this means that choosing to live away from the congestion of big city life does not have to come at the sacrifice of qual- Pilot Eric Thackston does a preflight check of the helicopter before the crew takes off on a ity medical care. wgl life-saving mission.

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West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

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West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

Callie McCord, at left, and Wysten Bailey, both of Bowdon, enjoy beating the heat with their cold snowcones during the Founders’ Day festivities.

Below: The University of West Georgia’s mascot, Wolfie, plays to the crowd during the annual Founders’ Day Parade.

Chris Foster crossed the finish line first with a time of 18:57.

The Bowdon High School marching band, above, marches to the beat during the Founders’ Day parade in Bowdon on Aug. 2. The annual event lasts for three days and features live entertainment, a variety of vendors, and a historical reenactment by members of the Bowdon Historical Society that shows visitors what life was like during the pioneering days in which the city was founded.

At left, a member of Bowdon Gymstars does somersaults down the street during the Founders’ Day parade.

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West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

The band Huggins Heroes performs for the Founders’ Day crowd.

Travel By Dr. Randy Hendricks Photos Contributed

Dr. Randy Hendricks at the Grand Canyon.

Natural Grandeur vs. Human Nature The shrinking effect of the Grand Canyon

I

recently crossed the Grand Canyon off my bucket list. I wasn’t aware that I had a bucket list until I made the trip.

I don’t use the word awesome much because overuse has made it pretty useless. (A peanut butter sandwich can be awesome.) But as I stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon the word was redeemed for me. The Canyon’s size, its pictorial record of geological history, its many colors changing over the course of a day, the stars at night, and even the history of human activity in the Canyon – ancient and modern – are awe inspiring.

Ancient peoples left wooden records of their hunting rituals, which do not decay because of the Canyon climate. The Kolb brothers left a photographic record of their adventurous

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Sept./Oct. 2013

and entrepreneurial work to open the Canyon for tourists in the early years of the 20th Century. And we made our own photographic record of contemporary tourists from all over the world, treating the wilderness like Disney World. On one occasion we saw a group surround an elk for photos, with no consciousness of the danger of making a wild animal panic.

S

igns featuring a squirrel and a severely wounded human hand are posted throughout the park warning against feeding squirrels because they bite. As Bill Engvall says of the warning on a Preparation-H box against taking the suppositories orally: “That’s sad, because you know they got a letter.”

People still die every year in the Canyon in one way or another. In fact one of the popular books sold in the Canyon’s

bookstores is titled Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon. “Gripping accounts of all known fatal mishaps in the most famous of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders.” Updated editions are issued periodically.

T

he Canyon should make us aware of our smallness, even of how brief a time we as the dominant species have actually been on earth, but it seems nothing will knock a foolish self-importance out of us. We didn’t have time for a trip deep in or to ride the mules to the Canyon floor, but we did hike down a couple of trails. Down is slippery, but nothing really. A mile and a half back up felt like an accomplishment, though.

After a morning hike on the Bright Angel Trail, we treated ourselves to a cold beer in the El Tovar Hotel (Teddy Roosevelt stayed there. It’s the kind of thing that makes you feel like you’re part of history. The beer was good, too.)

O

ur table afforded us a good view of the hotel lawn and the Canyon beyond. Folding chairs had been set up on the lawn for the local high school graduation that evening, apparently a very small high school. At one point, we watched a crew bring in bark mulch for a bed on the lawn, though our view of the bed was blocked by the gallery outside the window where other chairs were set up for the graduates. It appeared to us that after unloading the mulch the crew just loaded it back up again and took it away.

We were puzzled until our waitress told us that one of the park officials had a son in the graduating class. He’d come by earlier and ordered the bigger mulch be hauled away and replaced with smaller mulch. It would look nicer. Really?

I would have doubted that graduation on the rim of the Grand Canyon could be improved by petite bark mulch, but I was not a native and did not cast judgment. I guess familiarity really does

breed contempt.

B

ack to my own self-centeredness, this was also my first time in Arizona. And in Flagstaff I was briefly on Route 66, which before had existed for me only as a 1960s TV show and a brief mention in Jack Kerouac’s, “On the Road.” I’m discovering that my bucket

list keeps growing. I don’t think it’s supposed to work that way. But anyway, that’s two more to cross off.

Awesome!

Hendricks is the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of West Georgia and a published author.

W G

L V 

Holiday Food Issue Coming December 2013

Submit your recipes now to be considered for West Georgia Living’s 2013 special holiday food issue.

Submit all recipes (and pictures, if available) to Amy K. Lavender-Buice at amy@westgaliving.com, or drop them off at the Times-Georgian, 901 Hays Mill Rd., Carrollton.

Please submit original recipes only, along with a little information about the recipe and the role it plays in your family's holiday traditions.

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Tracy Anderson, from left, and Kerri Estes, right, of Estes Detailing and Fleet Washing stir their chili to perfection during last year’s Chili Cook Off sponsored by The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville and Douglas County.

This year’s event is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

Randy Daniel, Douglas County Coroner, left, stirs his chili during last year’s Chili Cook Off. This year, the event will once again be held at O’Neal Plaza in Douglasville.

Douglasville Chili Cook Off Jasmine Broughton, Chloe Cowan and Blair Cowan, above from left, share a bowl of chili during Douglasville’s annual Chili Cook Off. The girls are dressed in costumes, as is Jonathan Taylor, at right, for the costume contest held as a part of the Halloweenthemed event.

Rogue Runners Moonlight Run The Rogue Runners Moonlight Run, shown above, is held in conjunction with the Chili Cook Off, at right, each year. Last year, more than 4,000 visitors strolled the streets during the many festivities supported by the city. For more information about the events, and for Chili Cook Off registration forms, go online at www.artsdouglas.org. All events are fundraisers.

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West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

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Life Story by Ken Denney Photos by Ricky Stilley

Visitors to Camp Blood’s haunted woods leave with ghouls hot on their trail.

The Thrill of the Scream!

• Why We Love to be Scared to Death •

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EDITORS NOTE – Readers of this article are strongly advised to do so with all the lights on and not while sitting in any abandoned structure. Do not investigate any odd noises you might hear; obey any orders from disembodied voices; and assume that all seemingly dead creatures will suddenly spring menacingly back to life!

T

he scariest movies ever made are also the highest grossing films, and by “gross” we mean box office, not gore. So far this year, the top 15 horror movies have earned over $224 million – and it’s not quite Halloween yet.

From the schlocky movies of the 1950s, to modern-day hairraisers like “The Conjuring,” generations of moviegoers have sat transfixed in the dark, spilling popcorn and digging their

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Sept./Oct. 2013

fingernails into the arms of their boyfriends, and all for one simple reason: people love to be scared.

It’s not only the movies. According to the Haunted Attraction Association (yes, that’s a thing), some $6 billion a year is spent at some 2,500 “haunted” attractions worldwide. Each year, just before October, thousands of spook houses, haunted hayrides, and other scream factories spring up like fungus of

Zombies at Camp Blood are pegged by paintballs.

extraterrestrial origin. And the National Retail Federation estimates Americans will spend $8 billion this year on Halloween decorations, costumes and candy – not to mention other festive decorations like severed hands and grinning skulls.

Why do we enjoy scaring the dickens out of ourselves? We went out to dig up some answers.

We’ve traced the call – and it’s coming from inside the house!

Mark Atcheson (call him Atch) and his fiancée, Michelle Moore, run a resort

near McIntosh Reserve Park in Carroll County with the charming name of “Camp Blood.” There, a visitor can take a tour through an abandoned insane asylum (complete with demented inmates), visit a fish camp (never mind the toxic chemicals in the water), and experience many other ghoulish delights that are definitely not for small children.

This will be the 23rd season for Atch and his crew, who have seen their sprawling, woodland creepshow become more popular over time. This year, he promises something new: a relaxing hayride under the stars that will probably be interrupted by a horde of ravenous zombies.

Atch is not a psychologist; his haunted attraction began as a Halloween beer party that outgrew his house. But he and his minions have figured out what it takes to tap into the human psyche and turn Camp Blood’s visitors into screaming, terror-stricken huddled masses.

“I just have a rule of thumb, which is I don’t want (the crew) going beyond what they would want somebody doing to them if they were terrified,” he says of his costumed ghouls, who hide in the dark and pop out as visitors pass by. “I basically just tell them, look, you gotta know when enough’s enough, (you) scare somebody, give them a hard time, Sept./Oct. 2013 West Georgia Living

33

and then walk away.”

One mind-bending attraction at Camp Blood is called “Claustrophobia,” a dark maze full of fog, with walls that press in on a visitor, even while he is assailed by odd noises and sudden frights.

These visitors to Camp Blood are getting their yearly dose of scream!

It works on all the senses at once, and for some visitors the terror might be too much. That’s why the attraction is built with walls that can be quickly taken down so that the paralyzed-with-fear visitor can swiftly be pulled back to the land of reality.

Because, scientists say, terror is only enjoyable if you know it isn’t real.

What Chianti goes best with fava beans? See Page 96 To learn the science of fear, we will have to board a miniaturized submarine and take a fantastic voyage inside the human brain. Entering the bloodstream through a vampire bite, we steer our way deep into the brain. Passing childhood memories of older brothers putting spiders in our hair, we come to the amygdala, a small part of the brain located behind the pituitary gland.

The amygdala is what causes us to be afraid – or, more precisely, it is what causes the brain to react properly to a threat perceived by the senses. Whenever we see a chainsaw-wielding maniac, our eyes send a signal to the amygdala, which in turns triggers the adrenal glands, which shoots adrenaline and cortisol into our veins, setting us up for a flight-or-fight response.

– and that is the key to the thrill of the scare. Dopamine gives us a “feel good” sensation, which is a lot like narcotics.

When all the fear is gone, the dopamine remains, and so does the rush of euphoria it produces. That feeling intensifies all your emotions.

The adrenaline gets us breathing faster and our heart racing, while the cortisol feeds back to the amygdala to trigger additional brain responses. Nerve cells release endorphins, so we don’t feel pain as we are fleeing into the dark woods.

So, let’s say you are on a haunted hayBut the brain also releases dopamine ride with all your friends. You are laugh34

West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

ing and having a good time, when suddenly someone wearing a hockey mask jumps out of the darkness. The fear you briefly feel quickly dissipates into an intense feeling of relief, while your sense of fun becomes even stronger.

Had it been a real slasher attack, your reactions would have been much different. But because it was a fake, you

experience the scare as a chance to confront death and win. The two sensations together are pretty intoxicating – and pretty soon you are looking forward to what new terror awaits.

You’re going to need a bigger boat No matter how realistic a movie scene may be, or a spook house can seem, there is no fooling our brain. Deep down, we know what we are experiencing isn’t real, so our nervous system gets an exercise, while we explore a deep, psychological need to work through our uneasiness about supernatural mysteries.

Moviemakers know how to manipulate our senses so as to get the maximum scare in the safe environment of a movie theater. Through a series of close ups, ominous music and fleeting visual cues, a movie director builds up the suspense to a point where there is a sudden onslaught of terror on the screen. That is when we jump out of our seats or experience uncontrolled body functions – and then laugh about how real the experience seemed.

Some people may worry about the popularity of such films, and their effect on our society, but movies are just the new kid on the block. In the 1850s, the brothers Grimm wrote cautionary tales for children that would make Stephen King blush. The original “Hansel and Gretel,”

for example, ends with a witch being roasted alive in an oven.

We’ve been scaring ourselves for centuries, and having fun doing so, because it allows us to confront our nightmares and survive to see the next sunrise.

So, next time you get an invitation to be the off-season caretaker of an isolated hotel, take it. Never mind the flashes of light that come from the laboratory of that crazy man next door. Ignore the

flocks of birds that suddenly appear outside. Just remember that you are about to experience the strange sensation of body chemistry and primal fears.

Oh, and by the way. There’s a spider crawling up your back. wgl

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MeccaFest Celebrates 10th Year

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he Carrollton Artist Guild will present the 10th Annual Carrollton Fine Arts and Crafts MeccaFest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, and Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Carrollton Cultural Art Center, located at 251 Alabama St. in Carrollton. The festival features fine artwork from artists across the country who have been chosen by a juried process to participate.

to Mecca artists through the Patron or Corporate Purchase Programs. The mission of MeccaFest is to highlight a community of artists and the historic city of Carrollton. For information about

MeccaFest or the Patron or Corporate Purchase Programs, call 770-838-1083 or visit www.meccafest.com or, for visitor information, the Carrollton Visitors’ Bureau at www.visitcarrollton.com.

Eat on site at a 1950s diner or at one of Carrollton’s many fine restaurants nearby. Free children’s activities and entertainment are provided. Admission to the festival is free.

MeccaFest will welcome back performance artist Mark Abbati to entertain the crowds with his Living Sculptures – something unique and different each day! In addition, there will be swarms of Sesame Street-style puppeteers roaming the festival from the University of West Georgia Theatre Department and a New York 3-D Chalk artist creating a masterpiece on the plaza.

Demonstrations will include wood lathe artist Bob Horn; Dijiridoo musican/ artists Deborah Martin and Preston Scott; pottery wheel turning by Robert Roller; and glass blowing by the Georgia Southwestern State University Art Department! The festival will feature children’s activity booths where young people can create art with local artists.

An entertainment stage will showcase local and regional musicians and dancers, and a separate area is provided for staged readings of poetry and short stories by local authors.

More than $5,000 in cash will be awarded to the Mecca artists. Patrons and businesses may also present awards 36

West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

A graphic image by Troy Criswell of the living sculpture artist, Mark Abbati - who will be at the festival both days this year with more fun and wacky costumes.

GET INVOLVED! GET HEALTHY, LIVE WELL A STARTING POINT FOR A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY For some of us, it’s our kids. For others, it’s the environment, physical fitness or our careers.

An effort is afoot in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties to help put these passions to work to make the region a healthier, more engaged place to live.

Get Healthy, Live Well is a community collaborative led by Tanner Health System and funded by a $1.22 million community transformation grant the health system was awarded last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So far, almost 300 volunteers are working on 12 task forces supporting Tanner’s efforts to reduce the obesity rates, improve nutritional awareness, increase physical activity, reduce tobacco use and more.

Some of the collaborative’s programs are already making a real difference for residents of Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties, such as Get Healthy West Georgia, www.DontBeABonehead.org, community gardens like the one at Knox Park in Carrollton and the ability to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase fresh produce at local farmers’ markets.

Get Healthy, Live Well’s taskforces focus on a wide range of areas that

directly impact the health of the region. Along with Get Healthy West Georgia—which began with initial funding from the Community Foundation of West Georgia and other local donors—Get Healthy, Live Well taskforces are working on Tobacco-Free Living, Healthy Food Access, Youth Wellness, Faith-based Wellness, Business and Industry, Breastfeeding, Healthy Child Care Centers, Healthy and Active Families, Healthy and Safe Communities, Childhood Obesity and Diabetes.

“There are opportunities to participate and support the initiative in each of these areas,” said Denise Taylor, senior vice president and chief community health, strategy and brand officer for Tanner Health System. “We need community participation to help reach as many people as possible. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact in the health of our region. It’s also a great way to meet people who share your interests and use your talents to impact your community.”

Involvement in Get Healthy, Live Well is a click or phone call away.

Those who are interested can visit www.GetHealthyLiveWell.org or call 770.836.9282 to learn more about the initiative and how they can get involved in their own communities.

Adults and kids alike got their hands dirty during the first workday at the Knox Park Community Garden, a collaborative partnership between Get Healthy, Live Well, Keep Carroll Beautiful, Incredible Edible Carrollton, the City of Carrollton and Carroll County Master Gardeners.

Carrollton resident John Crosby has taken advantage of Get Healthy West Georgia’s free weight loss programs and has used the tools at www.GetHealthyWestGeorgia.org to track calories and log exercise.

At The Amp Summer Movie Classic Series in Carrollton, a teen signs the www.DontBeABonehead.org banner, pledging to be and remain tobacco-free.

Cast members Ginna Blair and Jake Shadrix take part in a performance of “A Straaaaange Dream,” part of a Get Healthy West Georgia program to teach area elementary school students about the importance of nutrition and exercise.

They actually have something in common ...

They own their power company.

If you receive a monthly service bill from GreyStone Power, you’re an owner, too. As a member of this electric cooperative, you elect the Board of Directors, voice your opinions and receive financial returns through Capital Credits.

GreyStone Power.

The utility owned by the people it serves.

Photo by Ricky Stilley

Take

5ive with

Eddie Mixon Sheriff of Haralson County

nt rceme o f n e to law art for drawn s y he a w t in m tect theme: I o s p s u a t c a sof do be ot pro hat I ys had e who cann a w w o l d a e I v os e I ha and th becaus the elderly n, childre . ay. ” and selves to: Pr smoke n e r u u G s “ ake was: y, I m show n io Everyda is v d tele ildhoo h c e it or Show.” e.

My fav dy Griffith n cruis a k n s a A l “The cycle e an A motor to: tak y e m ik l g ’d g, ridin nce, I huntin : Just o is g u unpl ids. inspiway to h my grandk e it r o a very v it a s w f a e y w M tim “42” ending e movie h and sp T : ovie is ook/m b rke it r o ime wo d a My fav g in in the l. : receiv and working s a w rationa k r eal wo by food jars e of r a t s a g t anin b st like My fir cle cle n u y m that I t r n o o f s g s e in no now” l hat you can . w s o d n l e k t fi ings hat I the th hen w t t u w o e b n a I k ess The “if is: Worry l atch e pper p r e a p h l s l e to ed a b : plow I t change a h t ixon ddie M t know ’ E n o d people med Daisy. a Most mule n with a Sept./Oct. 2013 West Georgia Living 39

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Live to Eat

L

Food Column and Recipes by Rob Duve´

L

et’s talk about the food that most people eat from the top down. You get off work, you’re beat, and you need something for dinner, so you go to the large grocery store since it’s on the way home and you’re in and out in no time. I understand the appeal and convenience, but let’s look at some realities that could change your outlook on how you buy and eat food.

A simple challenge for you: Walk into your local Huge Outlet Grocery, grab the produce person, and ask them where the squash came from. If said employee can tell you, the answer will probably be Guatemala, Mexico, or somewhere other than the United States, and if it is from within our borders, it is typically a Large Corporate Farm.

I don’t want to come off as if I’m bashing the large grocery stores or giant farms, because with more than 350 million people in this Nation it would be hard to imagine feeding everyone without importing a great deal of food or growing in a production-related setting. However, there is a great benefit to knowing where your food comes from and the people who grow it.

There are the undeniable facts that 1) other countries don’t have food quality and fertilization laws that we do. 2) Most production vegetables are harvested while very young so that they may ripen in warehouses, which stops the produce from reaching its full nutritional potential. 3) Most of what you find in the grocery stores these days is genetically modified.

Want to do a fun little experiment? Buy a tomato from the grocery and try to grow one of the seeds – which, outside of a laboratory setting, is impossible. All of these above points have been made numerous times over the past few years, and I really don’t want to beat a dead horse, so if you’re comfortable with eating produce knowing what’s stated above, that’s fine. I do it from time to time as I suffer from a lack of time as well.

But when I can, I buy local.

Now, I know many organic farmers and do my best to buy 42

West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

Rob Duve´

from them for two main reasons. First, there is no better feeling than to go to a Local Farm and look at the field where my last steak, chop, salad, or side was grown and asking “Hey, Local Farmer, where did my peppers come from?” The Local Farmer points and says, “From Over There.”

The second is actually quite simple. I realize that the large grocery establishments employ people and that jobs in a community are never a bad thing, but in a typical farm setting it takes about four to five people to bring a box of tomatoes to market. The difference being that, of those people, three of them might live in another state, country, or even on another continent.

When you buy local, you probably know all of the people who brought that box of tomatoes to market. Following the old adage that a dollar spent in a community recirculates six times before it leaves, it also makes sense that the same dollar leaves much quicker when the produce comes from another region.

Call me particular if you like, but I enjoy knowing that the hand that takes my cash is the hand that picked my produce.

Food and kitchen space provided

by Farmers Fresh CSA. Presentation dishes provided by Melanie Drew of Blue Heron Art Studio.

Photos by Ricky Stilley

Pork Tenderloin with Apple Pan Sauce Any recipe that combines pork cuts and something a bit sweet will almost certainly be a home run, and this recipe is no exception. Taking the taste of late summer apples and combining it with some savory elements and lending that to a perfectly roasted pork loin is a combination of tastes that were just meant to be together.

1 Pork Tenderloin (about 2 lbs.)

1 Shallot, finely diced 2 clove Garlic, finely minced 2 Tbsp Clarified Butter (Ghee) 2 cups Apple Cider 2 Tbsp Cider Vinegar 3 Tbsp Unsalted Butter Sea Salt, freshly ground Pepper, and Granulated Garlic

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Season the tenderloin with sea salt, pepper, and granulated garlic. Using an oven safe skillet, sear and brown all sides of the tenderloin until golden brown and place in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature of 145-150 degrees F. Set aside on a platter to rest.

In the same pan sauté the shallots and garlic until just translucent. Cut the tenderloin into medallions and brown the faces.

tant to turn off the heat as too much will “break” the sauce causing the butter and liquids to separate.

Deglaze the skillet with 2 cups apple cider with a high heat, making sure to scrape all of the brown bits from the pan, reduce to about 1 cup of liquid and add cider vinegar. Turn off the heat and immediately add unsalted butter while whisking constantly. The magic of this is the milk solids in the butter will react with the acid in the vinegar to thicken the sauce. However, it is very impor-

2 medium Butternut Squash 1 Fennel Root 2 cloves Garlc 3-4 sprigs Fresh Thyme, leaves stripped from stems ¼ cup Olive Oil 1 tsp Sea Salt ½ tsp Fresh Ground Pepper

Roasted Butternut Squash with Fennel and Thyme A simple recipe but one that combines great flavors of late summer squash and fennel, both of which take on their own sweetness when roasted.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Peel the Sept./Oct. 2013 West Georgia Living

43

squash with a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, split in half, remove the seeds from inside, and cut into chunks about 1 inch square. Remove stalks from the fennel and cut across the fennel bulb in ½ inch strips. Slice garlic very thinly and set aside.

Place squash, fennel, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper in a large bowl and toss until completely coated. Place on a large cookie sheet, spread into single layer, sprinkle with the thyme leaves, and bake about 40 minutes or until the edges of the squash and fennel turn a golden brown. Toss garlic slices in remaining olive oil and sprinkle over the squash and bake just until the garlic turns

brown. Toss again in remaining olive oil and serve immediately.

Rustic Vichyssoise Vichyssoise (pronounced “vishy-swa”) is a great cold potato soup which suits itself well to the end of summer, which still has warm days not suited to a hot soup. Although typically made with leaks, using lightly sautéed red onions add a slightly sweet component. The addition of Purple Majesty Potatoes not only adds a splash of color but also a very sturdy potato taste as well.

2 cups diced New Potatoes 1 cup finely chopped Red Onions 4 Tbsp Butter

3 cups Vegetable Stock 1 tsp Sea Slat (for boiling potatoes) 1 ½ cups Sour Cream 1 cup Heavy Cream Finely sliced Green Onions Salt and pepper to taste Boil the diced potatoes in salted water until just tender. Saute the red onions in butter with a pinch of salt and pepper until translucent. In a blender, food processor, or with an immersion blender, puree potatoes and onions with vegetable stock until smooth. Strain and chill until just cool enough to blend with the sour cream and heavy cream. Add salt and pepper to taste, chill completely and serve garnished with green onions. wgl

W G

L V 

Holiday Food Issue Coming December 2013

Submit your recipes now to be considered for West Georgia Living’s 2013 special holiday food issue.

Submit all recipes (and pictures, if available) to Amy K. Lavender-Buice at amy@westgaliving.com, or drop them off at the Times-Georgian, 901 Hays Mill Rd., Carrollton.

Please submit original recipes only, along with a little information about the recipe and the role it plays in your family's holiday traditions.

David Anderson on guitar, above, and Dean Daughtry, at left on keyboards, of the Atlanta Rhythm Section play at The AMP on Bradley Street in Carrollton.

Atlanta Rhythm Section at The AMP

Photos by Ricky Stilley Rodney Justo, on vocals, sings for the crowd gathered at The AMP in Carrollton during their summer concert series.

Keylin Johnson, at left, only eight months old, claps to the music while being held by mom, Kelly.

Sept./Oct. 2013 West Georgia Living

47

Joy Allman

People Story by Mary Saravia Busby & Tony Montcalm Photos by Ricky Stilley & Tony Montcalm

The Voice of a Survivor Joy Allman, a breast cancer survivor, recounts her emotional battle

J

oy Allman, of Carrollton, has been through cancer. She’s heard the diagnosis, undergone the tests and biopsies and surgeries, the chemotherapy and the radiation. She knows what it’s like to fear for her life.

So, when she had the opportunity to share her story with Bikers Battling Breast Cancer Inc.’s “Curves and Chrome” event one July weekend at Villa Rica’s V-PLEX, Allman agreed.

She’d beat cancer; how hard could this be?

As she took the stage and stood behind the mic, the emotions

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came back to her; the fear and the heartache. But her family was on the front row, her children and grandchildren, and by her side was Jane Baker, RN, CBPN-IC – Allman’s patient navigator from Tanner Cancer Care, who also had been by her side during her more than six months of treatment.

“I told Jane that I could do this, but she was going to have to stand there beside me,” said Allman. “When I first started talking, I started crying, because it’s very emotional. But I stopped and told myself that I could do this. I told them about how I’d been diagnosed, and how I’d gone through chemo,

and that I’d had my last radiation treatment last week. And I told them about how the bikers there helped pay for the BRCA testing, and what that meant to me and my family.”

Pam Smith, left, of Dallas, Ga., and Summer Brady of Woodstock, Ga., shop for gear at the Bikers for Breast Cancer event.

BRCA testing is a genetic test for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations that have been shown to indicate a greater risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The test, while effective, can also be expensive.

I

f the test came back positive, it meant that Allman’s children and grandchildren – including her two daughters and three granddaughters – were at a much higher risk for developing cancer. Even her son and two grandsons could be at risk, because breast cancer doesn’t just occur in women.

Just more than a week removed from finishing treatment, still getting her strength back and looking ahead to life after cancer, Allman had good news to share.

The BRCA tests came back negative.

Though breast cancer runs in Allman’s family – she also had an older sister who developed the disease in her late 30s – it wasn’t something that her children and grandchildren would need to worry about just yet.

“It was a tremendous relief,” said Allman.

A

llman is one of many breast cancer patients who have been helped through the Bikers Battling Breast Cancer Fund at Tanner Medical Foundation.

Established in 2011, the fund provides assistance with the cost of advanced tests including BRCA testing, stereotactic breast biopsies, breast ultrasounds, CT scans, PET scans and MRI scans.

These tests can help physicians deter-

mine the extent, or stage, of a patient’s breast cancer and guide informed decisions about treatment options.

The fund is supported through the annual “Curves & Chrome” event, which rallies the support of the motorcycle community for breast cancer programs.

More than $55,000 has been raised for the Bikers Battling Breast Cancer Fund since it’s launch two years ago.

“The Bikers Battling Breast Cancer organization, and everyone who supports it, are making a profound and lasting impact on our community,” said Kathy Mathis, director of Tanner Medical Foundation.

“Not only our patients, but also their families benefit from the positive effect of this fund. It is a privilege to work with such caring and generous people.”

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Marah Cuzzort, Debbie Coleman and Tabitha Ketchum, from left, perform songs from the 40s at the Runway for a Reason Fashion Show.

“It’s patients like Joy who make us so proud of what we can accomplish together,” Lisa Herman, president of Bikers Battling Breast Cancer, Inc. “None of this would be possible without the support of the nearly 6,000 community members who have participated in Curves & Chrome. They are the true heroes.”

Allman was diagnosed with breast cancer in early December 2012 when the cancer turned up on her annual screening mammogram at Tanner Breast Health in Carrollton.

“When you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you don’t realize how strong you can be until you don’t have a choice but to be strong,” said Allman. “That is a horrible word to hear.”

Oncology, performed the 33 units of radiation treatment that Allman needed at Tanner’s Roy Richards, Sr. Cancer Center, and David Shepard, MD, board-certified in internal medicine, oversaw her chemotherapy at Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers in Carrollton.

“I’m tired, but I’m happy to be alive,” said Allman. “Everyone at Tanner was just wonderful. I’m so grateful for them.

Jane was super; she’s just a wonderful person. And I’m so grateful for everyone who helped me through this – my family, the bikers, everybody. I’m so glad we live somewhere that this kind of support is available.”

T

he lesson Allman hopes people take away from her experience is the value of receiving a screening mammogram every year and following up with any additional testing that’s Raul Zunzunegui, MD, a board-certified surgeon and breast cancer specialist with Comprehensive Breast Care Center, part recommended. of Tanner Medical Group, conducted the biopsy to perform the diagnosis and subsequent surgery. J. Richie Bland, MD, In fact, Allman had only recently learned of a dear friend in a board-certified radiation oncologist with Tanner Radiation another state who found out he had breast cancer. Being male, 50

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he ignored the lump that arose on his chest until the cancer spread, rendering his condition terminal.

“It’s so important to be tested, no matter what,” said Allman. “Do your yearly mammograms and follow-through with the testing.

There are such wonderful groups out there, like Bikers Battling Breast Cancer and Tanner Medical Foundation, that will help you pay for your testing. It’s so important that you get that testing, even if it’s just for peace of mind.” wgl

Tom Parsons of Team FMX, at right, wows the crowd with his freestyle motocross jumping ability. He and teammate Travis Willis performed jumps of approximately 25 to 30 off ground.

Mitchell Chambers, below, of Paulding County gets his beard painted pink for the cause by McKenna Leapley at the Bikers for Breast Cancer event.

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Life Story by Ken Denney Photos by Ricky Stilley

A Mediterranean

Home of Distinction

T

he bright stucco walls and sloping roof lines of the Mediterranean-style house of Robert and Virginia Pope really stand out in the Chapel Xing neighborhood of Douglasville, reflecting a touch of old Europe amid a series of other homes of uniform design.

In many ways, it is the perfect home for this atypically welltraveled couple.

The Mediterranean style has long been associated with those who have been to many countries, and who have absorbed a

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taste for the lush life of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea; a place where the bright heat of the summer sun encourages an environment where the outdoors meet the indoors.

While the style in the United States is associated with the early half of the 20th Century, the Pope’s house was built in the early 1990s. When it became available, the couple leaped at the chance to buy it. “No architecture can compete with it,” said Pope, a retired banker and real estate executive. “Some of the most interesting places we’ve traveled are off the coast of

the Mediterranean.”

Their house is filled with mementoes of their many travels from across the globe, and not just from the region of Greece and Spain. There is everything from Native American artifacts to ornate brassware from the Middle East and all parts of the Orient.

The exterior of their house has all the typical features of the Mediterranean style: sloping roofs, stucco walls, and high arched windows. The only style feature the couple has had to sacrifice is the red clay roof tiles. This is to conform with local homeowner rules.

But the rest of the building makes a visitor feel as if he is somewhere off the coast of Greece. Doorways in the living area look out onto a bright terrace, complete with swimming pool and surrounded by tall, lush plants. The homeowners can easily move from outside to indoors, making the style of the house also perfectly suited to the hot, west Georgia climate.

It is very roomy inside, with very few doors separating the rooms from one another. There are many bends and turns, providing ample places to showcase the various collections of Buddha statues, Russian Orthodox icons, samovars and other exotic items.

And it should be roomy, because the Popes say they haven’t finished their travels yet. There are still a few countries left in South America to explore. wgl

“In many ways, it is the perfect home for this atypically well-traveled couple.”

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53

Robert and Virginia Pope stand on a balcony above their pool, where their Mediterranean theme continues with plenty of greenery, including vines and exotic flowers. Although the roof tiles of Mediterranean homes are typically red, the Popes’ home has regular shingles in order to conform with local neighborhood association rules.

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Interior colors reflect the climate of the Mediterranean area, where people spend the day indoors to escape the heat of the day.

Exterior walls are made of stucco, and are usually white or painted a sunny neutral color, such as peach, salmon or yellow.

Walker Cadillac: A Legacy of Automotive Excellence

Owner Greg Walker

A

lthough General Motors declared bankruptcy and had the usual bumps since the economic downturn of 2008, GM is back with a fury with even more impressive Cadillac Buick and GMC products. This helps Walker Cadillac continue to build a legacy of Automotive Excellence in west Georgia. Another reason could be that the Walker Staff is still intact and providing the usual stellar customer service that they have always been noted for.

Walker Cadillac is the only automotive franchise that has been in continuous operation in Carroll County by the same family for over 45 years. In July 2012, the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce paid homage to the dealership with the Chamber’s first ever Business of the Month Award. The company is also the recipient of multiple General Motors Mark of Excellence Awards for unsurpassed performance and customer satisfaction.

The history of the Walker family is well documented. Their business background includes the Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Toyota Brands as well, but today it’s the Walker Cadillac Buick GMC dealership that draws the crowds to the newly refurbished showroom on North Park Street. The new chic, art-deco black and white façade brings a fresh face to the dealership, which has been called the best looking building in Carroll County.

General Manager Mark Foster is excited about the current GM trends and models, which are full of new technology. He says it’s one of the reasons a younger demographic and quality oriented customers are adding GM products to their shopping lists. In 2013, GM has already received eight J.D. Power Initial Quality Awards.

During the recent economic downturn, General Motors made a conscious effort to improve quality and, therefore, have received more quality awards than any other automaker.

The accolades continue to flow for the GM family. The 2013 Cadillac XTS has been selected as a “2013 Top Safety Pick” by the insurance institute for Highway Safety. The prestigious 2013 North American Car of the Year Award went to the All-New Cadillac ATS, an award presided over by 49 of the most respected automotive journalists in North America.

Every automobile dealer is designated a geographic zone. At times, this zone includes urban and rural areas, and it is sometimes difficult for smaller franchises to compare sales results against a larger city. Walker is one of three thriving dealerships in the Atlanta GM zone, which is remarkable considering the extreme competition.

After Cash for Clunkers, TARP, no interest loans, etc., Walker is still selling cars in volume. Owner Greg Walker maintains that even if a person has less than stellar credit, there are financing options at the dealership. Used cars are selling well at Walker, and Walker’s new vehicle market share is growing.

General Motors has a great certified used car program and offers some exciting terms on longer warranties and very low finance rates. When all is said and done, customers from the entire west Georgia area still flock to Walker Cadillac Buick GMC because of the quality customer service and the fact that they will always be treated with respect and honesty.

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Life Story and Photos by Kersha Cartwright

The

Sewell

Companies Tailoring the Apparel Business for 95 Years

A

A

century ago, a young man from Graham, Ala., left his home for Atlanta with 10 dollars in his pocket dressed in determination. Sixteen-year-old Warren Palmer Sewell found a job selling buttons and fabric covering his home territory of northern Alabama and west Georgia, a territory defined by train whistles.

In 1918, after World War I, Sewell joined forces with his brothers Robert and Roy to form the Sewell Company, manufacturing tailored apparel for men and women.

Sewell quickly moved the operation to the city of Bremen to take advantage of the crossing of the Northern and Southern Pacific Railroads. Thus began a company that would define 58

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the footprint of the apparel industry in the United States.

After World War II, Warren and Roy split the company to form Sewell Company and Warren Sewell Company, friendly competitors each with a great talent to manufacture quality goods.

“In almost a century, as you would expect, much has changed with the culture of men’s apparel,” said Robin Worley, Sewell CEO and grandson of founder Warren Sewell.

“Only 50 years ago, it was estimated that the Sewell Company and the sister apparel companies of Haralson and Carroll

County produced four out of every 10 men’s suits bought in America.”

It was estimated that the companies employed up to 5,000 employees at one time – an economic leader and employer in this area. Life in Bremen and Bowdon revolved around the shift whistles of the Sewell companies.

Men and women alike worked many years at a time helping to build the organization into a major leader in the apparel industry worldwide.

W

arren cared deeply about the community in which he lived.

In 1948, he established the Warren and Ava Sewell Foundation. Since then, the foundation has given more than $12 million to schools, churches and municipalities in accordance with his beliefs and principals.

In 2009, after 63 years of separation, the companies came back together to form The Sewell Companies. Presently, they serve as both a global sourcing company, shipping cost-effective garments to be tailored here in the United States, as well as remaining one of the few domestic manufacturers to still exist in the American apparel world.

T

he company is proud to have produced officers’ uniforms for various branches of the United States military for many years and continue this tradition today in the Heflin, Ala., plant.

Colton Jacovetti and Taylor Griffith model suits from The Sewell Companies.

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If you would like to see the first tailored garment ever manufactured in the South, you can visit Sewell Mill at 126 Hamilton Ave. in Bremen. This exhibit, coupled with other Sewell memorabilia, is on display for the public.

W

arren Sewell’s headstone reads, “Founder of the clothing industry in the South” and “Christian Industrialist.” His undeniable determination and will to succeed is still seen today as The Sewell Companies continues to serve customers in all 50 states and around the world.

“My grandfather had a great vision to become something more than the oldest of 12 children,” said Worley. “He transformed the clothing industry and life in this area.

“It has not been easy to stay in business for 95 years, but by staying within grandfather’s guidelines of good morals and sound business sense, The Sewell Companies continues to produce America’s most authentic suit.”

For more information on The Sewell Companies and its history, visit www.thesewellcompanies.com or come get your own American-made suit at the company’s warehouse store at 115 Pacific Ave. in Bremen. wgl

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Author’s Corner Book Review by T.L. Gray

Novel by Jeff Suwak

Publisher: Vabella Publishing Expected Release Date: Summer 2013 Words/Genre: 18,000/Fantasy About the Book: From the time he was a young boy, Gabriel Aterias knew he was destined to rise from the peasantry and become the Holy Knight of the Church of Dunrabian. By the time he was twenty four years old, he had already led the Church’s armies to greater victories than any other man in history. Yet, his greatest feat still lay ahead of him.

Beyond the elemental barrier of the Tempest Gate lurks the demon Elezear. An evil older than the world itself, it nearly eradicated the human race once before. For five hundred years, the people of the Five Kingdoms have slept uneasily, praying that the creature would not escape the walls of storm that confined it.

Gabriel vows to destroy the demon. His quest will take him far beyond the borders of civilization, across the ocean, and into unimaginable darkness. What he will soon discover is that the greatest danger in his quest to save the world may very well be the loss of his own soul.

Review: Most people like a story about a valiant knight setting out on a noble quest to protect the lowly citizens from an evil force, whether it’s in the form of a human enemy or a supernatural creature. If you wanted to go even further, people really love a story where a common boy grows up to change his stars, or his destiny, to be the one who rises above his station and saves the day.

For generations, children have flocked to sit at the feet of great story-tellers, imagining themselves becoming like those old heroes of lore, from rock-slinging giant-killers to pulling magical swords from solid stone. Things were no different for Gabriel Aterias, a lowly boy hidden beneath the muck and mud of a pig farm. He did what all boys his age usually do, 62

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he (a nobody - with a nothing future) imagined himself as the hero of the story. But unlike most boys, Gabriel believed it.

I envy this character, because he holds so tightly to his dream that he dedicates his life to making it a reality; a wish-fulfillment. In doing so, he becomes a narrow-minded, driven, arrogant man… and thus our knight turns into someone not very likable.

So, what do you do when you stumble upon a story where the protagonist is an arrogant fool? With Beyond the Tempest Gate, my suggestion would be to keep reading because in this particular case, the end justifies the means.

I asked author Jeff Suwak what one thing he’d like readers to take away after reading “Beyond the Tempest Gate” and this was his reply: “I’ve always enjoyed stories that retained a sense of mystery and left room for reader interpretation. To

a good-faith try, and am so pleased to start with “Beyond the Tempest Gate.”

Knowing a bit about the difficulties of writing a novel, I can only imagine how much more difficult it is to write a novella while having to pack so much essential information in so few words.

However, making sure to have a clear plot is not the main objective to a good Another great element that makes heroic writer. It’s thinking beyond the frame, fantasies engaging and interesting to outside the box, or beyond the outer readers is the action that moves the plot layer to the heart of the story… right to forward. You can’t have a valiant knight the heart of the writer. without plenty of swordplay. You can’t have a hero save the day without first This is what author Jeff Suwak had to fighting his way through adversity and say about that: “My wildest dream as a opposition. “Beyond the Tempest Gate” writer, coincidentally, is to actually hear delivers plenty of action, but it’s not the reader’s thoughts and interpretations sword play that held my attention, but of my books. If I can write something the heart behind it; the reason why. that makes people care enough that they actually want to talk about it afterwards, “I wanted to write a Novella that was then I’ve accomplished my personal full of physical actions, but also inspired mission as a writer. Nothing would readers to ask questions about things make me happier than to engage in that like heroism and hubris, faith and fear,” conversation.” author Jeff Suwak expressed.

This reader found a message of hope, Mr. Suwak beautifully illustrates the an illustration of faith, and a glimpse of heart of a noble knight within this story, humanity in all its strength and weakclearly defining the differences between nesses. “Beyond the Tempest Gate” is heroism and hubris, faith and fear. one of those stories that make you sit What’s even more amazing, he was able back and think about the possibility of to do this feat masterfully in less than self-deception, the purpose behind ac20,000 words. Most adventures written tions, and the discovery of who we truly in the fantasy genre are of epic length are beneath the surface of what we pro(more than 100,000 words) giving read- fess to believe. Will we be able to stand ers plenty of time to get behind and on the edge of our destinies and face the sympathize with their heroes. However, truth of ourselves, or will we continue what I must surmise, and where this au- in our own righteous indignation within thor veers a bit from the typical path, is our ignorance? the fact it is usually the protagonist who acts with valor, honor and integrity thus Though “Beyond the Tempest Gate” teaching us these moral and sociological is Jeff Suwak’s first novel publication, lessons. That particular point is not so he is no stranger to writing, having clearly defined in “Beyond the Tempest published many short stories, some Gate.” even winning prestigious writing competitions. Please support this budding Though I’ve read a few novellas over writer and pick up, or order online, a the years, for this particular genre I copy of his book “Beyond the Tempest usually gravitate toward the epics. In Gate.” If you find inspiration, why not my quest to discover a different form of send him a message and let him know writing, I thought I’d give the novella how it affected you? me, the stories that are the most fun are the ones that ask questions and invite the audience to supply their own answers.

So, my idea with Beyond the Tempest Gate was to write a novella that turned a classic fantasy trope on its head, and challenged some of the basic presumptions behind that trope.”

About the Author: Jeff Suwak resides in the great Pacific Northwest. He has hiked the Appalachian Trail, attended wilderness tracking school, hitchhiked from the east coast to the west coast, and served as a member of the U.S. Army’s Second Ranger Battalion, all things which he considers crucial to his education as an author. These days, he devotes most of his energy to writing the literature of the fantastic, and wonders how he ever thought he could live any other way. This is his first published novella. He invites readers to visit him at www.jeffsuwak.com.

About the Reviewer: T.L. Gray is a local author from Temple, Ga. Her first book, “The Blood of Cain,” was published in 2009 by Fireside Publications, followed by two young adult novels: “Keezy’s 10 Awesome Rules for Teenaged Dating” and “Milledgeville Misfit.”

Her fourth novel, a sequel to “The Blood of Cain,” “The Arcainians” was released in 2012. Gray works a full time novelist, editor, literary agent, social media specialist and website manager. She is also active as a Contributing Writer for Impact Times Magazine and SongPlaces. com, a Contributing Editor for Quan & Scribe Group, and a member of the Carrollton Creative Writer’s Club. (www. tlgray.blogspot.com)

Arts & Events Luncheon in Pink The Hope for the Journey organization will host a Luncheon in Pink from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Ag Center. The event is a catered lunch and celebration of and for breast cancer and cancer survivors and their friends and family. There will be a speaker, singing and awards. Tickets are $20 each or $150 for a table that seats eight. Proceeds go to local cancer patients to address various needs. Please pre-register by calling Rosie Holley at 770-214-1491

by Sept. 25. Tickets will be available at the door but will be limited based on available seats. Also, join Hope for the Journey at 6:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month for their cancer support group, led by Dr. Barry Keaton.

Community Chorus The Haralson County Community Chorus will begin rehearsing for the Fall season of music on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Haralson High School Fine Arts Center. Rehearsals are each Thursday up until our performance dates of Nov. 9-10. The cost to participate is $20. If you are interested please just come to the first rehearsal!

5K Run For The Books 5K Run For The Books Friends of the Library will be Saturday, Sept. 21, at Fair on the Square at Historic Court House, Buchanan. Register at 7 a.m. The Run is from 8 to 10 a.m. for all runners and walkers.

Proceeds go to the Buchanan-Haralson Public Library. T-Shirts and Trophies to be given. Registration forms are available at Buchanan Library Mon. - Thurs. 11 a.m. 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and in local businesses. Call 770-646-3369 for more information.

Great Strides Walk The Great Strides Walk of West Georgia for Cystic Fibrosis will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at the University of West Georgia Football Stadium. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Register today at http://greatstrides.cff.org. For more information call Susan Fleck at 770834-1855.

Fine Art Workshop The SCRAP Bin, 1111 Bankhead Highway, 64

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will help kids create a portrait, which will then be divided into four sections on Sept.

7 from 2 to 3 p.m. Each section will be drawn and colored in a separate medium, including pencil, pen, marker and crayon.

Charcoal will also be available. Free for ages 7 to 12. For more information call 770-666-5332.

Free Movie Matinee The Warren P. Sewell Memorial Library in Bowdon will have a Monday movie matinee on Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. The movie “Playing for Keeps” will be shown. For more information call 770-258-8991.

Landscapes and Lemonade For children ages 5-15 and a parent. Want to spend quality time with an important child in your life? Landscapes and Lemonade encourages both adult and child to discover their creativity. The class will provide basic instruction in the technique of acrylic painting, but will focus more on experimenting, playing and exploring than about creating a perfect finished product. $20 per Child Plus $20 per Adult. ($15 per each additional student in the same family); all materials provided. Sept. 21 from 1-3 p.m. in Classroom #1; Instructor: Seth Fitts.

Kindermusik For ages 6 months to 7 years. First four Tuesdays of each month (Nov/Dec combined) from 9:30-10:15 a.m. at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center in Classroom #3: Instructor: Jennifer Able. When you bring children of all ages together you get a dynamic and integrated learning experience for everyone. Take favorite Kindermusik songs like “Hop Up My Baby” and “Jing Jang” and turn them into a fun, energetic family class where every child is welcome and a family’s “together time” is celebrated and cherished. Fee: $40 per month. Sessions: Sept. 3-24; Oct. 1-22; Nov. 5-19 © 2011 Allstate Insurance Company

and Dec. 3; Jan. 7-28; Feb. 4-25.

Smoke on the Mountain The Carroll County Community Theatre presents the comedy musical “Smoke On The Mountain” Book by Connie Ray Conceived by Alan Bailey. Musical arrangements by Mike Craver and Mark Hardwick.

Directed by Laurence Smith. Performances Thursday – Saturday, Sept. 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center, Tickets: $10, reserved seats. Thursday – Friday, Sept. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the AMP on Bradley Street, Tickets: Suggested donation $10, Bring your own chair. Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept.

29, at 2 p.m. at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center, Tickets: $10, reserved seats.

Trash to Treasure There will be a “Trash to Treasure” Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 5, for ages 7 to 12 from 9 a.m. to noon in Classroom #4.

Admission is Free, but participants must pre-register by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at 770838-1083. Each participant should bring ten pieces of clean trash to incorporate into an art project. Instructor, Alan Kuykendall.

A Christmas Story Carroll County Community Theatre presents Jean Shepherd’s “A Christmas Story” Directed by Michelle Rougier. AUDITIONS: Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. -Theatre RR PARTS: 7M, 4W (ages 8 to 80). $10 fee due at first rehearsal.

Rehearsals begin: Oct. 3, 2013. Show dates: Dec. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Tammie Pero-Lyle (770) 832-0911 102 Trojan Drive, Suite A Carrollton tperolyle@allstate.com

WellStar Douglas Hospital

A

receives an

in safety!

WellStar Douglas Hospital has earned an “A” 2013 Spring Hospital Safety ScoreSM by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by purchasers of health benefits.

Calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 26 measures of safety data to produce a single score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from infections, injuries, medical and medication errors.

“This score is the result of a tremendous amount of collaboration among our talented physicians, nurses and team members across WellStar Douglas Hospital,” said Craig Owens, Sr. Vice President and President of WellStar Douglas Hospital. “The Leapfrog Group is wellrespected within the healthcare industry and this “A” score reinforces the high quality care we deliver to our patients every day.”

770-956-STAR � wellstar.org

The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare through our hospitals, physicians and services. Our not-for-profit health system includes WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital), WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Medical Group; Health Parks; Urgent Care Centers, Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and WellStar Foundation.

Artist’s Corner Interview by Kassie Bettis Photos by Ricky Stilley

Seth Fitts Whitesburg, Ga. When and why did you start drawing and painting? Are you a full-time artist?

I would draw and paint like many of us did when we were children. In second grade, we had a Monday activity that involved writing and illustrating about the weekend – and I noticed that I enjoyed making the illustration quite a bit more than the writing. For as long as I can remember, I have been interested in art and illustrations. I began to take it seriously while in high school. I have been a full time artist since 2003.

Did you study art? If so, do you think that art classes helped hone your skills?

I have a Bachelors of Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting from the University of West Georgia. Though I have an art 66

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degree, I consider myself mostly self taught. Most of the skills I have now have been learned and honed in the years after school. In school, professors would show us some techniques and then set the class to work on projects giving direction where needed.

Birds are a strong, recurring theme in your work. When did this subject emerge as a favorite? What is it about birds that captures your imagination?

I have always liked birds, especially crows. I enjoy watching how they behave. The drawing and painting of birds began in college with a drawing assignment. The assignment was to have 40 to 50 drawings in four weeks of the same subject.

For some reason, crows popped in my mind. I do not know why. Maybe the reason is crows and their relatives are almost everywhere. I know they were everywhere on campus!

The “Spirit Bird” name came from Morris Graves, one of the artists I was doing research on while in school. I thought

the name embodied the ideology of the crows I was working on and fit very well with other birds created in my work.

Eventually, the theme bled into painting and other media, as well as other themes, while in school. After school, the crow evolved into other birds, some purely figments of the imagination. The bird is a flexible subject, working well in many media and genres.

Do you ever experience “artist’s block”? If so, what helps you out of the rut?

Of course! Artistic blocks are an unpleasant part of life that many of us have had to endure. I think the impact of an artist’s block depends upon how we handle it. To help relieve the effect of a slump, I remember advice I have given to and received from others: Go to a museum/gallery/website and look at other art; Clean your workspace for art making; Make random marks, doodles, sketches.

Just do. Making art for just the sake of making it can pull you out of a creative slump. Surround yourself with other creative people, and don’t over think it. Change your scenery (this could go along with cleaning one’s workspace).

You can also take a journey. You do not have to go far. A journey could take place near where you live.

After looking through your gallery of “humans,” I noticed all of the figures had a dream-like quality about them.

Are these figures influenced by people in your daily life?

Not all the figures I make are influenced by people in my life, but sometimes the people I know do show up in my work.

Often, the figure will share characteristics with these people. My children have influenced my art and the direction it goes.

They have been a part of the art, too.

I really enjoy the mixed-media in your art – the pages of words that look like they have been ripped from a book.

Have you ever considered illustrating or writing a book?

I have been working on illustrations for a children’s book which should be available this year.

Are there other mediums of art that you enjoy?

I experiment in most art mediums: ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking. I enjoy them all.

What inspires you? Can you describe your creative process?

68

West Georgia Living

Sept./Oct. 2013

I have an inclination to draw and paint.

It is almost a drive to create and moves me to create. I make it a point to make some sort of art everyday. I find inspiration everywhere: animals and nature; folklore; primitive arts (Native American, African, prehistoric); other artist’s work and design.

Corner Cafe. I have had work shown in Atlanta and in New York City. I am currently showing work at Fine Lines Art and Framing in Newnan and True North Gallery in South Hamilton, Mass.

I know that your work has been displayed at Gallery Row in Carrollton.

Where else has your artwork been displayed?

I think it has had a good influence on my work. Georgia has wonderful natural resources at our disposal for us to explore and experience. Where we live in west Georgia places us in good proximity to a large city giving us access to the perqs of a city (cultural events, art supply stores, museums, galleries), but still allowing us to be outside of the city hustle and bustle. wgl

In Carrollton, my work has been in the Carrollton Cultural Art Center, a great venue to have an exhibition, as well as Cook’s Jewelry, Java Genie, Rome Street Gallery, Bradley Street Gallery,

How has living in the west Georgia area influenced your art?

CONGRATULATIONS to the 5,500 Southwire business people who earned our company the honor of

GEORGIA MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR. Together, we deliver power.

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Ask the Ex ert What every West Georgian should know about...

Home Inspections

Monuments

Britt Duffey/ Duffey Realty ..........................71

Hearn Monument .......................................76

Roofing

Orthodontics

Crist Roofing ................................................72

Long Orthodontics .....................................77

Oak Mountain Academy

Insurance

Oak Mountain Academy ...........................73

Nationwide / Michelle Allen Agency ....... 78

Buying Automobile Parts

Your Newspaper

Walker Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Inc .............74

Newspapers of West Georgia. ...................79

Early Detection of Breast Cancer Tanner Medical Group...............................75

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What every West Georgian should know about...

HOME INSPECTIONS You’ve fixed your sights on the freshly painted walls, new carpet, cabinets, etc. Don’t forget about the plumbing, HVAC, electrical, ventilation, & roofing systems. A home inspection by a Professional Home Inspector is always a good idea. When you call a home inspector, here are a few questions to ask.

Q A

Britt Duffey REALTOR ® Duffey Realty

Britt has been a Realtor® 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 10 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 10 consecutive years. Britt is a licensed Realtor® in Georgia and Alabama.

how long he’s been in business…ask him how many inspections he has done.

So you’ve finally found your dream home.

Q A

Q A

What are your credentials?

Unfortunately the State of Georgia does not require Home Inspectors to be licensed. However ask your inspector if they are certified to the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC is a uniform code that all homes are to be inspected to and measured against according to the year they were constructed.

Q A

What is your experience and background?

Most home inspectors started out with a construction based background. This is very useful in Home Inspections. If an inspector tells you his background was in Retail Sales for example then it may be time to look elsewhere, or ask follow up questions as to why he went into the profession and what he has to offer that other inspectors don’t. Instead of asking

What type of inspection report do you use?

Some inspectors use computer generated onsite reporting, some use a handwritten report while others provide computer generated reporting and send you the home inspection report after they’ve had time to look it over twice before sending it out. In my opinion the computer generated Home Inspection report is the best option. With this report the inspector has time to be descriptive and look up any items that he may have had a question about.

Is it necessary for me to be at the inspection?

A good Home Inspector will encourage you to be present during the inspection. This allows you the opportunity to see what he sees and to ask questions. Be sure to ask questions!! A good inspector will be happy to answer them for you. This is also the time to find out where key components like shut-‐off valves and breaker panels are located in case of an emergency, or to get tips on routine maintenance items.

To learn more about the importance of a Home Inspection or for other Real Estate related questions please call me at 770.354.0120 or email me at Britt.Duffey@Duffeyrealty.com

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What every West Georgian should hould know about...

Roofing

Q A

Ron Crist

Q

President & CEO of Crist Roofing & Construction

Qualifications

A

Ron Crist has been in the construction industry for the last 26 years, including 12 years as the owner of Crist Roofing. Ron has certifications from Atlas, Owens Corning, GAF, Duralast, Genflex, the NRCA and is accredited with the BBB. Ron founded Crist Roofing in hopes to develop an honest, reliable, community friendly business. For the last 12 years Crist Roofing has not only met, but exceeded these expectations.

How do I choose a roofing contractor?

One of the most important things to consider when choosing your contractor is finding out about their insurance. Don’t wait until it’s too late and a worker has fallen off your roof and gotten injured, leaving you with the medical bills. All of our employees hold a valid, up to date insurance license and worker’s compensation.

Why should I choose a local contractor verses someone from out of state?

Many roofing contractors in the Metro Atlanta area are roofers from out of state.

They arrive to repair storm damaged homes and appear to offer you valuable warranties. However when they leave town, they take your warranty with them and they cannot be found should you need any repairs. Ask for proof of valid insurance, and proof of the warranty they offer. Are they a preferred contractor with a reputable company such as Owens Corning?

Look for a company who is serious about what they do and take pride in their work.

We pride ourselves in all the jobs we do, no matter how small. We have earned a reputable name for ourselves as a leading roofer in Cobb, Douglas and Paulding Counties. Visit our website, call, or email today! You’ll be glad you did!

Q

What type of shingle should I use on my home?

A

There are many different types of shingles out there and choosing one can sometimes become over whelming. When choosing a shingle you should first decide which color you want to use. The next step in the process is to decide if you want to use a three tab or an architectural. The architectural are more durable, three-dimensional and have a longer life expectancy. The final step is to pick which brand of shingles you want to use.

There are many different manufacturers out there so you want to be sure to choose one with a reliable product. Crist Roofing highly recommends either Owens Corning or Atlas.

Learn more www.cristroofing.com 770-514-9653

770-514-9653 www.cristroofing.com

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What every west Georgian should know about...

Oak Mountain Academy

Q

What distinguishes Oak Mountain Academy as an independent, nondenominational, faith-based school?

A

Oak Mountain Academy was founded in 1962 on Christian principles and continues to remain true to its Mission. Bible classes are mandatory for all students, with one full-year, high school course required for graduation. No specific religious doctrine is taught, rather the basic values of honesty, respect, and responsibility, and service to others.

In fact, community service hours are a graduation requirement. Students, faculty, and staff pray together each day and abide by the Oak Mountain Academy Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code, as well as behaviors opposing the Mission of the school, result in consequences commensurate with the offense, to include expulsion.

Paula Gillispie

Head of school, Oak Mountain Academy, Carroll County’s only independent, college preparatory, faith based, day school.

Qualifications

A forty-year educator spanning Arkansas, Louisiana, Virginia, and Georgia, Paula Gillispie taught in the public schools for twenty-five years, spending twelve of those in neighboring Fayette County. Mrs. Gillispie earned her graduate degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. In 1998, she began working in independent schools in Virginia where she taught English, served as a middle school Dean, and later as Head of School. In 2010, she returned home to Georgia to begin her tenure as Head of School at Oak Mountain Academy. Additionally, she chairs accreditation teams for the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a division of AdvancED.

Q

How is Oak Mountain Academy a collegepreparatory academy?

A

100% of each graduating class goes on to colleges and universities both in and out of state. The Academy’s curriculum is a rigorous, accelerated one that includes honors-level and AP course offerings and exceeds the state requirements for graduation.

From Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grades, elective courses are offered in the fine and performing arts, as well as foreign language, and drama. Additionally, the College Counseling department begins

directing students in middle school toward a positive college admissions process. During the high school years, the process is intensified as each student is individually guided through the entire college admission process to ensure college acceptance.

Q

As a college preparatory academy, what is provided in addition to the academic curriculum?

A

Students at Oak Mountain Academy enjoy a variety of clubs, organizations, and athletic opportunities.

Clubs range from 4-H and music lessons in the lower grades to robotics, chess, competitive academic teams, honor societies, and fencing in the middle and upper grades. Competing in the Georgia Independent School Association, OMA fields a variety of junior varsity and varsity athletic teams to include soccer, golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, swimming, and cross country, as well as literary and one-act play teams. Each of these has enjoyed region and state championships. We often say, “We may be small, but we do big things on the Mountain!”

LEARN MORE www.oakmountain.us 770-834-6651 paulagillispie@oakmountain.us

Where do our students go when they leave the Mountain? ��! ��i�� ��! � n � d �� ��� � st�� �� to � e � s �� Cla � c��� � a e � P

ANYWHERE THEY WANT. STOP BY ANYTIME FOR A VISIT Please visit us on the Mountain to learn how we help our students make the most of their potential.

NOW ACCEPTING CLASS RESERVATIONS FOR THE 2013—2014 SCHOOL YEAR.

Financial Aid Available

Find out more about OMA by scanning this QR code.

222 Cross Plains Road Carrollton, GA 30116 770-834-6651 www.oakmountain.us

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What every West Georgian should know about...

Buying Automobile Parts

Q A

Jeff Cusack

Parts Manager Walker Cadillac, Buick, GMC Inc.

Qualifications

Q

Jeff has been the Parts Manager at Walker Cadillac Buick GMC for the last four years and has worked in the automotive parts industry for the last thirteen. He holds a deep rooted passion for all things automotive, loves his work, and is waiting at Walker to sell you your next GM Factory part.

A

Walker Cadillac Buick GMC and our parts department will strive to get you the right one, the first time, every time.

Why are GM Factory parts better than aftermarket?

GM Factory parts are just that, parts that are just like the ones that came on your GM vehicle from the factory originally. GM Factory parts are designed and engineered by the manufacturer of your vehicle specifically for your vehicle. Unlike the aftermarket part, which is not made by the company that produced your vehicle and may not have the same fit and finish as a GM Factory part.

Q A

If I service my own vehicle can I buy GM Factory parts from you?

You can always buy your GM Factory parts from me. Whether it be for a job your tackling yourself or one being done for you by us or someone else. You can always get the GM Factory part you need from

Are dealerships competitive on parts pricing?

Relatively speaking, dealerships are competitive on parts pricing but you must compare apples to apples. There is a chance you could find the part you’re looking for a little cheaper in the aftermarket but you might also be sacrificing quality for that discount. Many people just assume that a dealership is going to be higher and it really surprises them to find that in most cases a GM Factory part could be obtained for around the same price as the one offered in the aftermarket without compromising on quality.

LEARN MORE www.walkergmauto.com• 770.832.9602

www.walkergmauto.com

770-832-9602

Highway 27 N Park St (HWY 27) • Carrollton

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Raul Zunzunegui, MD

Board-certifi ed surgeon and fellowshiptrained breast cancer specialist with Comprehensive Breast Care Center, part of Tanner Medical Group

Qualifications

Dr. Zunzunegui is a Susan G. Komen Fellowship-trained breast specialist who is board-certified in surgery. He earned his medical degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon. Dr. Zunzunegui received training in breast surgical oncology at Women and Infants’ Hospital/Brown University in Providence, R.I.

What every west Georgian should know about...

Early Detection of Breast Cancer

Q

How often should I receive a mammogram?

A

The American Cancer Society and the patient care team at Tanner Cancer Care recommend women receive a screening mammogram every year beginning at age 40. Th is allows us to detect breast cancer in its very earliest stages, when treatment can be most effective. Detected early enough, survival rates for breast cancer are better than 99 percent. Increased survival rates for breast cancer are directly tied to advances we’ve made in early detection.

Q

How do I schedule a mammogram?

A

West Georgia is fortunate to have three regional digital mammography centers in the area: Tanner Breast Health in Carrollton, Tanner Breast Health in Villa Rica and in the diagnostic imaging department of Higgins General Hospital in Bremen. In addition, during the last year and with funding support from Tanner Medical Foundation, a large new mobile mammography unit is now available through Tanner Health System. Tanner’s “Mammography on the Move” unit uses the same state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment found in the health system’s other diagnostic areas, and travels throughout the region to make access to mammography more convenient than ever. You can learn more about

Tanner’s breast health services—including the latest schedule for Mammography on the Move—online at www.TannerBreastHealth.org.

You also can schedule a mammogram at any of the locations—in Carrollton, Villa Rica, Bremen or with Mammography on the Move—by calling 770.836.9721.

Q A

What if something shows up on the mammogram?

We are fortunate in this area to be able to offer a comprehensive approach to battling breast cancer through Tanner Cancer Care, and that includes the Tanner Cancer Care Promise: 3 Days from Diagnosis to Treatment Options.

If this is the fi rst time you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you’ll be in touch with a member of our treatment team within three days—and often even sooner—to begin discussing your treatment options. A patient navigator will serve as your go-to point of contact to help you make appointments, learn more about your diagnosis and treatment, access other cancer resources and more. Tanner Cancer Care’s approach to breast cancer includes surgery, radiation— including MammoSite RTS treatment—and chemotherapy. You can learn more about the treatments and services available online at www.TannerCancerCare.org.

LEARN MORE AT www.TannerBreastHealth.org 770.836.9280

Think of it as a Big Pink Lifesaver

Annual mammograms save lives, and Tanner’s bright pink mobile unit brings the mammogram to a location near you!

To learn more, visit www.TannerBreastHealth.org.

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What every West Georgian should know about...

MEMORIALS & MONUMENTS

Q

My family chose cremation, can we still create a memorial for our loved one.

A

Yes, we have a variety of cremation memorials, such as traditional cemetery memorials, personal columbariums and back yard cremation memorials that will help make your memories lasting legacies.

Keith Jiles

Owner, Hearn Monument

Qualifications

Keith has over 12 years experience in the memorial industry with over 30 years experience in sales. He has 20 years in ministry and 12 years as a post certified chaplain. He is certified in grief counseling and has dedicated his life to working with families. He is a member of the Monument Builders of North America. He is licensed as a Merchandise Dealer in the State of Georgia and is bonded and insured to instal memorials in all cemeteries throughout the State. Keith and his entire family have dedicated themselves to working with families from start to finish creating one of a kind memorials to make their memories lasting legacies

Q A

Our loved one is buried in a perpetual care cemetery, do we have to purchase our memorial from the cemetery.

No, you may purchase your memorial from any memorial company that is licensed in the state of Georgia as a Merchandise Dealer, with the proper bond and insurance certificates.

Q A

Some memorials in the cemetery are leaning. Why is that?

This is due to improper setting methods. There are two methods that are used for foundations, a dry-pour and a poured method depending on the conditions and the customers request. Your memorial should be guaranteed to never lean or settle.

LEARN MORE www.hearnmonument.com

Hearn Monument brings LASER ETCHING technology to the West Georgia area

Floral Arrangements available 770-832-2771 www.hearnmonument.com 5 535 Newnan Road Carrollton, GA 30117

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What every West Georgian should uld know about...

Orthodontics

Q A

James Long, DMD Long Orthodontics

What age can my child get braces?

Beginning at Age 7 The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Some young children benefit from early treatment to correct crossbites, underbites, severe skeletal problems, significant crowding and detrimental habits. Early treatment, if needed, will spare your child more involved treatments later and will generally cost less.

If early treatment is not indicated, Dr. Long will monitor your child for timely treatment in the future. Call today for a preventive screening appointment for your child.

Q

Is Orthodontics or braces just for looks or are there health reasons for having straight teeth?

A

The primary purpose for braces is to align the teeth and have them function properly within the jaws and gums of the patient.

Properly fitting teeth will allow them to last longer when properly placed in a normal functioning pattern of chewing, speaking and swallowing. There are also psychological benefits and emotional health that come with a normal smile. Facial balance, TMJ, and oral hygiene can be improved by having straight teeth in your mouth. All of the above are to do with health, not looking good.

Qualifications

Dr. Long received his DMD degree from the University Of Louisville, and was named Alpha Omega Honor for outstanding scholastic achievement in Dentistry, graduating fi rst in his class. He graduated from Emory University in Orthodontics and Maxillo Facial Orthodontics in 1976. Dr. Long is a fellow in the National Academy of Dental Science, and a Diplomate in the World Federation of Orthodontics. He has practiced on the southside of Atlanta for over 30 years. Dr. Long has offices in Douglasville, Newnan and Peachtree City.

Learn more at www.LongOnSmiles.com

LONG

Orthodontics

We’ve been straightening teeth for over 30 years

We Run on Passion

Dr. Long and West Point Grad John C. Long and Cadet Lainie B. Long

For a Beautiful Smile for Life!

James Long,DMD

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

One of Georgia’s Elite Providers of Invisalign®s

New Patient Special!

$300 Off Comprehensive Case

Douglasville 3666 Hwy. 5, Suite 100 Douglasville, GA 30135 (770) 949-7259

Peachtree City 1280 Hwy. 74 S., Suite 110 Peachtree City, GA 30269 (770) 461-9642

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...

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, you’ll pay more then.

Q To My Policy If They Don’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. ©2013 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. She began by offering credit insurance on loans. From there she went on to helping families with life insurance and annuities. 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. Her agency operates daily on the principal of putting people first and building true relationships with every member.

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 “good student” discount.

Q

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

A

It’s very important to talk your teen driver about practicing safe driving and here are some tips to help your teen driver stay safe: • Wear seatbelts • Don’t speed • Avoid distractions • Stay awake • Turn off the phone • Don’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 you’ll pay after a claim.

Call the Michelle Allen Agency for help in protecting what matters most to you! 770.841.5060

In the Nation, we play favorites.

Instead of one company for auto protection, another for home and another for life, you can just go with the one that offers the protection you need.

Where you could save up to 25%, just for trusting one company to help protect all the things you love. We put members first, because we don’t have shareholders.

Join the Nation of one-stop shoppers.

Join me in Villa Rica.

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

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What every West Georgian should know about...

Your Newspaper

Q A

Melissa Wilson

Q: Why do I need to advertise my business?

Today, more than ever, people are looking for relevant and helpful information to help them make good decisions. Getting your name out in a consistent basis allows you and your business to earn a positive reputation in eyes of potential customers.

Q A

Regional Advertising Director

Qualifications

Melissa is the Regional Advertising Director for the Times-Georgian, Douglas County Sentinel, and the West Georgia Living Magazine.

Q A

Does advertising even work?

In one word, yes. Name a fast food restaurant. Name a grocery store. Name a brand of automobile. Odds are your recall was directly based on your exposure to a business’s advertising as well as your experiences with them.

Q A

Can I advertise with a limited budget?

Yes, today there are more choices to reach your customers or prospects than ever. Besides wonderful print products (like West Georgia Living magazine), we also publish the largest paid-circulation newspapers and digital websites in west Georgia with packages designed to fit any budget. Drop me an email and I’ll be happy to help!

How do I decide who to advertise with?

Who are you trying to reach? Picture them in your mind and then work backwards.

What publications or tools do the trust and use? Then, if your budget allows, blend different ones (newspaper, digital, etc) to achieve your goal.

LEARN MORE melissa@times-georgian.com

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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

TANNER IMMEDIATE CARE/CARROLLTON Across from Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TANNER IMMEDIATE CARE/VILLA RICA Near Publix at Mirror Lake Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OPENING SOON TANNER URGENT CARE/BREMEN Adjacent to Ingles on Business 27