Expertise
Expertise You need.
Expertise You need. Compassion they deserve.
Expertise You need.
Ask your neighbors about us!
Ask your neighbors about us!
Ask your neighbors about us!
2789 US-29, Moreland, GA 30259, just a 20 minute drive from Lake Redwine. www.morelandanimalhospital.com
involves personalized supervision by our doctor and sta
involves personalized supervision by our doctor and sta
involves personalized supervision by our doctor and sta
supervision by our doctor and sta
INTERNAL MEDICINE VACCINATIONS
INTERNAL MEDICINE VACCINATIONS
INTERNAL MEDICINE VACCINATIONS
NUTRITION COUNSELING
INTERNAL MEDICINE VACCINATIONS
NUTRITION COUNSELING
NUTRITION COUNSELING
GENERAL SURGERY
GENERAL SURGERY
NUTRITION COUNSELING
GENERAL SURGERY
PREVENTIVE HEALTH
PREVENTIVE HEALTH
GENERAL SURGERY
PREVENTIVE HEALTH
2789 US-29, Moreland, GA 30259, just a 20 minute drive from Lake Redwine. www.morelandanimalhospital.com
Ask your neighbors about us!
2789 US-29, Moreland, GA 30259, just a 20 minute drive from Lake Redwine. www.morelandanimalhospital.com
2789 US-29, Moreland, GA 30259, just a 20 minute drive from Lake Redwine. www.morelandanimalhospital.com
ACUPUNCTURE
ACUPUNCTURE
PREVENTIVE HEALTH
ACUPUNCTURE
COLD LASER & MAGNA WAVE
COLD LASER & MAGNA WAVE
ACUPUNCTURE
COLD LASER & MAGNA WAVE
COLD LASER & MAGNA WAVE
Lights sparkling on the downtown square. Concerts and carols. The aroma of freshly baked treats in the air. A warm cup of cocoa in your hands. The perfect gift found in a unique shop. A wave and heartfelt season’s greetings from a neighbor - or a stranger - passing by on the sidewalk. Raising a glass of good cheer with friends. ‘Tis the season to celebrate Christmas in Carrollton.
SMALL Packages exhibition nutcracker ballet
November 3 -
December 15
DECEMBER 1–4
November 18-20
presented by Carroll county community theatre
December 1-4
Christmas in Carrollton: PARADE & market
December 3
Christmas in carrollton chorus concert
December 9-10
Wind Ensemble Christmas Concert
December 13
CHRISTMAS WITH THE Carrollton Jazz Orchestra
December 15
Caring Customers is a program of The Newnan Utilities Foundation. The Newnan Utilities Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting charitable causes that improve the quality of life for the citizens within the communities we serve.
CORRAL • corraltrc.org
Mission: Provides therapeutic horseback riding facilities and instruction for the mentally and physically challenged
One Roof • oneroofoutreach.org
Mission: Provides food, clothing, and financial assistance to those in need, as well as shelter to women and children at The Lodge
100% of funds donated by Newnan Utilities customers on their monthly statements are donated to local nonprofit organizations in good standing with the IRS. Through Caring Customers, all Newnan Utilities customers can partner in deliberate, charitable giving. Donated funds, along with funds from Newnan Utilities and the Newnan Utilities Foundation, have a direct impact on the charitable causes that improve the quality of life for our citizens.
Enroll in monthly giving or make a one-time donation. Your tax-deductible donation supports nonprofits right here in Coweta County.
Enroll.CaringCustomers.org
View
Sisters for Society • sistersforsociety.org
Mission: Committed to helping individuals and families undergoing unforeseen life situations and hardships by providing food, clothing, and financial education
Meet the winners of our fifth annual NCM Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest. By Jackie Kennedy
40 | Introducing…
Newnan-Coweta Magazine introduces four talented Cowetans: young actor Bentley Williams, pharmacist/ bikini competitor Derrica Boyce, saxophonist Luis Alas and musician Adrian Smith Jr. By Robin Stewart, Jenny Enderlin and Jennifer Dziedzic
60 | Raising the curtain on Christmas
Newnan Theatre Company brings Christmas to Coweta each December. By Jeffrey Ward
70 | Focus on Palmetto
Meet a few of Palmetto's older residents who reminisce about the town that was. By Jennifer Dziedzic
It never ceases to amaze me – the caliber of people and the variety of livelihoods that fill Coweta. Each week, Newnan-Coweta Magazine receives a plethora of emails from multiple sources suggesting story topics for us to cover. Due to this and the occasional handwritten notes and phone calls, we seldom sit around wondering, “Who or what are we going to feature next?”
More typically, our dilemma is choosing among the many interesting people and fascinating topics. What a great dilemma to have – and one for which we’re thankful.
In this issue, we address this predicament by offering a new feature: “Introducing…” In it, we introduce our readers to four local folks you may not know – but should. Our plan is to run this feature in a couple of issues each year. If you know someone who’s making a name for themselves in their chosen profession, let us know (magazine@newnan.com). Maybe we’ll give them a shout-out in a future edition. See “Introducing…” on page 40.
Also in this issue, we feature the winners and winning recipes from our fifth annual NCM Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest, see page 28. This is one of our favorite reader interaction features in that it brings us in contact with not only some of the area’s best bakers – but also with gracious local businesses and individuals who donate fantastic prizes for our contest winners. Their incredible generosity puts me in the Christmas spirit each year.
Another sure fire way to kindle the holiday spirit is by attending the annual Christmas play offered by Newnan Theatre Company, see page 60. And when it comes to giving year-round, Coweta Samaritan Clinic has been tops for more than 10 years by providing free healthcare to those less fortunate, see page 22.
As 2022 winds down, the holiday season serves as a reminder to be thankful for – and generous with –all that we have.
Words can’t quite express how thankful I am for our NCM staff, freelance writers and photographers, loyal advertisers and devoted readers. You make our work fun, and that’s a rare gift we don’t take for granted.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays,
Jackie Kennedy, Editor magazine@newnan.com
In September, we asked our Newnan-Coweta Magazine readers and Facebook friends to caption this photo. We received lots of great caption ideas! The winning entry was submitted by NCM reader Denise Brown. In November, we'll post another photo for readers to caption. Winners receive an NCM T-shirt. Visit newnancowetamagazine.com or follow us on Facebook to submit your caption.
The Rev. April McGlothin-Eller is the director of Church and Community Engagement at Wellroot Family Services, a ministry of the United Methodist Church. In her free time, she fancies herself a musician, artist and photographer.
Jennifer Dziedzic lives in Newnan with her daughter. The two use their travels as inspiration for stories they create with Jennifer writing and her daughter illustrating. Jennifer believes that everyone has a story to tell, and she loves being a freelance writer and meeting new people.
Payton Thompson is the mother of a 3-year-old who keeps her busy 24/7. She loves her family and her job as receptionist at The Newnan TimesHerald and, when she's not occupied with all of these, she enjoys crafting.
Neil Monroe is a retired corporate communicator whose career included jobs with Southern Company, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola Enterprises. His roots are in community journalism. He and his wife, Rayleen, live in Sharpsburg where they enjoy tennis, golf and grandchildren.
Robin Stewart volunteers with Newnan-Coweta Humane Society and, along with her artist husband, is active in the local arts scene. She loves animals, is addicted to costume jewelry, and the part of her brain that once knew math is now occupied by useless facts for team trivia.
Ward is a native San Franciscan, Vietnam vet and University of Washington communications grad with a 50-year career in aviation. He’s been married 51 years, has two adult children and six grandchildren, and is a foodie and Facebook junkie.
Gail McGlothin is a nonprofit consultant and grant writer. When she's not searching for starfish on the Oregon coast, kayaking, reading or playing board games with her grandchildren, She helps voters get government-issued picture IDs.
Sara Moore's warm and welcoming nature influences her photography by putting her subjects at ease. She enjoys living the quiet country life while residing in Newnan with her husband, horses, dogs, chickens and ducks.
Chris Martin has photographed Major League Baseball, NCAA football, bull riding, air shows, space launches and international swim meets featuring Michael Phelps. He shoots action sports for The Heritage School in Newnan and for The Newnan Times-Herald.
Jenny Enderlin graduated cum laude from Florida State University with an English degree. She enjoys volunteering with the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Coweta County Democrat Party, One Roof and Backstreet Community Arts.
"Hey there. I just wanted to reach out and let you know what a wonderful article you did on Cassidy Victer ("Cassidy Victer: Horsewoman," September-October 2022). And the whole magazine is just really amazing. This issue is awesome!
I did not realize how many friends and family and clients we had who apparently pick up this magazine. I've had tons of calls today. We are so proud of Cassidy, and the article reflects what a wonderful young lady she is and how wonderful Coweta County 4H is also. Thank you so much."
– Tracy VicterSeveral readers responded via newnancowetamagazine.com about our September-October 2022 feature on ZooPro Adventures:
"Very nice informative article. Congratulations and wishing much continued success to Rory and your beautiful family and all your animals! May the Zoo Pro Adventures continue to grow, entertain and educate in Georgia."
– Frances Markus"This is awesome! The Hoilmans absolutely love each and every animal they have and even their children love sharing their knowledge and educating kids about these amazing creatures. Great article!"
–Bridgette Hoilman
For the staff of Newnan-Coweta
Magazine, Christmas comes early each year when we hold our Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest.
The holiday kicks off early for winners of our contest, too, when they're invited to wear holiday colors when picking up their prize baskets and posing for photos at our office.
This year, we enlisted extra Christmas assistance from Mrs. Santa Claus, who visited Newnan to congratulate and have her photo taken with Quinn Bellamy, the 9-yearold winner of our Cookie Contest's kids category.
Accompanied by her mother Ingrid, Quinn showed up perfectly dressed for the holidays. Newnan Theatre Company (NTC, featured on page 60) graciously served as host of our photoshoot and helped stage it as well with NTC set designer Faith Farrell recreating the Claus family's fireplace sitting area.
Young Quinn's stage presence belied the fact that this was her first professional photoshoot. Taking stage direction like a seasoned pro, she interacted with Mrs. Claus in a way that brought joy to the occasion – and resulted in one of our favorite holiday covers. NCM
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Becoming Mrs. Lewis” is captivating throughout, but the last eight chapters and epilogue are thoroughly unputdownable. Patti Callahan has written a gem.
Callahan’s 2018 literary/historical fiction novel brings to the world the story of how Joy Davidman, a gifted poet and writer, became Mrs. C.S. Lewis. Though not the first book written about their relationship, it’s the first told from Davidman's perspective.
An intellectual, Davidman graduated from high school at age 14 and from college at 19. She earned a master’s degree from Columbia in three semesters while working as a teacher. Her writing was published to critical acclaim, and she began writing full time.
Fast forward a few years and Joy, married with two young sons and an alcoholic husband, was feeling spiritually lost in a shaky marriage. She began searching for answers to questions about faith, her writing, and how to balance the selflessness of motherhood with the selfishness of writing. Her search led her to an article written about Englishman C.S. (Jack) Lewis, an Oxford fellow and converted atheist.
Feeling a strong connection to his writing and believing he could have answers for her confusion, she wrote to him and thus began her extended communication with the esteemed author and teacher. As their respect and
admiration grew, Davidman traveled to Oxford to finally meet Lewis, and a friendship that would lead to deep and abiding love began.
Davidman wrote many sonnets and other works, but despite her significant literary body of work, she’s not well known outside of literary circles. Rarely has she been given credit as the inspiration, creative muse and wife of the much-loved and acclaimed author of “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “The Screwtape Letters.”
Of her motivation in writing the book, Callahan says, “We are often woefully negligent of the women behind the men we admire and Joy Davidman is one of those women.”
She adds: “Joy often seemed not to care what others thought of her, but I did.”
The audience for this book is broad and includes lovers of literary fiction, historical fiction and great love stories. Also, readers who appreciate excellent writing will love the pitch-perfect prose and tender care Callahan took in the telling.
Callahan is the bestselling author of 13 novels. Her articles and essays appear in various magazines. The mother of three children, she lives with her husband in both Mountain Brook, Ala. and Bluffton, S.C.
“Becoming Mrs. Lewis” was released in 2018 by Thomas Nelson Publishing; 416 pages; 5 stars.
In 2009, Dr. Kay Crosby had practiced medicine in Coweta County for more than 20 years and was ready for a new chapter in her life.
She didn’t exactly know what that chapter was going to be, but as Crosby will quickly tell you, God did.
Inspired by the needs of disadvantaged Coweta residents whom she encountered at a health fair her church hosted, she began work to create a medical facility that would meet the needs of those residents. The result of her work is the Coweta Samaritan Clinic, a thriving nonprofit medical facility that has proven to be a blessing for Coweta County and for thousands of Coweta residents with little or no access to health care.
“God’s been preparing me for this responsibility all my life,” says Crosby. “When I started this work, I was very quickly joined by many talented, motivated people who made this possible. There was clearly a need, and I’m very thankful for the help of so many people who made this happen.”
Among those people was Lou Graner, an experienced healthcare executive who served as the clinic’s executive director until his retirement in 2020.
“We had a meeting around Kay’s kitchen table,” Graner recalls. “It was myself, Sharon Gruber, Val Cranford and Kay. We talked about it, thought through it, and realized there was a need. That’s when the real work started.”
Both Cranford and Gruber remain on the clinic’s emeritus board.
After two years of planning and preparation, the clinic welcomed its first patients in 2011, utilizing space vacated by the Coweta County Health Department when it moved to a new facility on Hospital Road. The space was perfect, but there were challenges in addressing the complexity of health issues patients presented.
“Early on, we didn’t have the resources to help in many cases,” says Crosby. “But with the help of our volunteers and staff, we found a way, building our capabilities step by step.”
One of the first volunteers to help at Coweta Samaritan Clinic was nurse practitioner Rhonda Whitton. She worked in the clinic from its first day through autumn 2022 – for five years as a volunteer and then as a paid employee. She expresses deep appreciation for her experience.
“I was a bit sheltered back then,” says Whitton. “I honestly didn’t realize the depth of the need within our community. People were sick and hadn’t had care. When we started, we didn’t have the infrastructure, but we worked so hard to always find a way. It’s been a wonderful experience, and I’m thankful to have been a part of it.”
Kelly Hines succeeded Graner as executive director in 2020 and says the clinic now provides a full range of medical services to its patients, from cardiology to orthopedics, gynecology to podiatry, and basic dental services.
When Kelly Hines, right, took over as executive director of Coweta Samaritan Clinic on March 2, 2020, she had no idea that the COVID-19 pandemic was just around the corner. The challenges were immense, but Hines says her team, including Kathy Holcomb, left, was “flexible, nimble and committed to serving our patients.” The clinic was closed for three months, gradually reopened, and today uses several innovations developed during the pandemic, including a teller window for medications.
In addition, the clinic helps patients with societal or economic issues that complicate medical problems. Through its Patient Assistance Program (PAP), it also works to secure needed medications from manufacturers at no cost to the patient.
“Thanks to the generosity and support of the community, we now have access to help for nearly any illness that a patient may present,” says Hines. “We
“Thanks to the generosity and support of the community, we now have access to help for nearly any illness that a patient may present.”
– Kelly Hines
The clinic offers a range of services to patients in-house, including blood work. Here, phlebotomist Brett Hunton serves patient Ronnie Jordan.
have doctors who volunteer and see patients here, and we have very supportive partners who enable us to meet the needs of our patients.”
In addition to individual physicians who volunteer their time, key partners of the clinic include Piedmont Newnan Hospital for lab services, surgery, and radiology; Cancer Treatment Centers of America for oncology care; and American Health Imaging and Outpatient Imaging for radiology services.
Patient numbers have grown steadily since the clinic’s opening in 2011. In total, the clinic has
provided services to more than 2,800 unique patients with more than 23,000 patient visits. In 2021 alone, the clinic provided care to 558 patients who made more than 3,400 visits to the clinic facilities.
The PAP program, led by PAP Program Coordinator Raquel Hanna, provided medications with an estimated wholesale value of nearly $2.4 million last year.
Hines notes that the clinic is not a walk-in facility. Each patient meets specific requirements and is screened by staff before being accepted as a patient.
To be served as a patient at Good Samaritan Clinic, the patient must:
• be 19 or older,
• be a Coweta resident,
• have no medical insurance, and
• have a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
“These criteria help make sure we’re taking care of those who truly have no other options,” says Hines. “It’s important to have the ability to meet the needs of patients who have sudden or unique needs.”
The COVID-19 crisis created a unique set of challenges for the clinic, according to Hines, who recalls that after an initial switch to telemedicine, the clinic resumed in-office appointments in June 2020 and began accepting new patients in August.
Importantly, the clinic remains nearly fully funded by private donations. It has an annual operating budget of $840,000 with more than 95% of clinic expenses used to support direct patient care.
In turn, the clinic generates an overall economic value of more than $5 million, all directed toward Coweta residents in need.
“Break-even is the goal,” says Hines. “We were challenged by COVID, but we’ve made it through. We now have a strong foundation, and we’re confident we’re going to find new and better ways to help going forward.” NCM
There’s a David Boyd-shaped hole in Newnan. A Boyd void.
We’ve felt it everyday since he left us on September 20.
A little more than a month before what would have been his 84th birthday on October 31, David Boyd Sr. died at his home in Newnan. To imagine this town without him is difficult, but we doubt his presence will leave us anytime soon.
Even while cranking out cartoons, Boyd ventured onto other artistic avenues. The fruits of those labors remain in books published by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and columnist Lewis Grizzard. Boyd illustrated books for both and eventually created artwork for Foxworthy calendars, greeting cards and figurines that carried Boyd’s images to another national audience.
At home, Boyd’s presence remains strong everytime you walk into Sprayberry’s, where the rotund pink pig he created for them looms large on signage and T-shirts. The same is true at Redneck Gourmet, where his iconic redneck greets guests at the downtown Newnan restaurant where he held court for years. At his usual table across from the cash register, he’d greet friends and regale the crowd, always a cheerleader for the town that stole his heart.
A stroke he suffered in 2016 stilled him for a moment, but Boyd came back with a passion to paint and created caricatures of rock stars and local legends, signing them “Old Boyd.” His new art dazzled longtime fans and created new ones. His presence remains in the brush strokes of these pieces.
So much can be said about the man – and about his constant devotion to his family, his wicked-sharp humor, practical jokes, boyish charm and incurable kindness.
Boyd loved the fact that he was born on Halloween, so it seems fitting to speak of him as a presence that remains. Indeed, his presence is stamped all over this place. It remains in his art, in works he created over the past five decades, and in the friendships, the memories, and the light and love his family exudes. When he married Rosie, he married up, Boyd would say. Together, they raised three children, all artists whose passion rivals their dad’s.
Boyd’s political cartoons remain in the archives of some 200 newspapers that ran them four times a week for 48 years. Introduced in The Newnan Times-Herald in 1968, these cartoons took on the politically powerful in Georgia and beyond. Sometimes Boyd’s combination of words and caricature struck like a smack from a major league ball bat, but more often, the hit was subtle, like a friendly punch on the arm. Either way, the wit, wisdom and whimsicality of his cartoons entertained readers while serving as a mirror for politicians to see themselves in.
There’s one in particular that comes to mind. It’s a caricature of Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist known for his antics and agelessness. Old Boyd painted it before the pandemic, capturing the rock star’s Peter Pan-pirate charisma with Keith, cockeyed and sporting a crooked grin, merrily dancing on air.
Take away Keith’s bandana and cigarette, replace the guitar with a paintbrush and, voila, it’s the essence of David Boyd: Ageless with a mirth and merriment that lift him lighter than air, his mischievous grin reminding us he knows something we don’t, and wouldn’t we like to find out.
It seems fitting. Old Boyd was our rock star.
– Jackie KennedySince 2018, NCM has held its annual cookie contest in September, giving participants a preview of what they might bake for the holidays and allowing our designers time to put together a festive feature for our November-December issue.
Local merchants make the contest fun for everyone by contributing prizes for the winners, and when it’s all said and done, there are new recipes for favorite treats to add to your holiday dessert table.
In observance of the contest’s fifth anniversary, NCM invited winners of the first four contests to serve as judges for this year's competition. It was a pleasure to reunite with previous winners Amy Feaster, 2018; Karin Francis, 2019; and Carol Grizzard, 2021. Our 2020 winner, Erica Leifker, had prior commitments and was unable to attend.
This year’s Grand Prize winner was Hannah Kupfer, whose Cherry Almond Keyhole Cookies wowed the judges, taking first place in the Decorated Cookie category and chosen as the overall winner of the 2022 contest. Kupfer’s Grand Prize basket was filled with items valued at a total of $550.
Christmas cookie lovers across Coweta County got a jumpstart on the holidays when they entered NewnanCoweta Magazine’s fifth annual Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest. RIGHT
Along with our usual categories of Traditional Cookies and Decorated Cookies, we added a new category, Cookies By Kids. Although we only had one entry in that category, the judges agreed it would have been a winner even if competing against a dozen other contenders.
Yes, Quinn Bellamy’s Spanish Bread Cookies are that good!
Newnan-Coweta Magazine thanks the following merchants and individuals who donated prizes for our Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest:
• Ace Growlers
• Arthur Murphey Florist
• Back 41 Outfitters
• Blue Moon Boutique
• Christy's Cafe
• Corner Arts Gallery
• David Boyd Jr.
• Dragonfly Running Company
• Ellie Mack Boutique
• Gillyweeds
• Hug Box
• Let Them Eat Toffee
• Morgan Jewelers
• Newnan Book Company
• One Eleven
• Piedmont Newnan Fitness Center
• Toby Nix
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
Cherry preserves
2½ teaspoons almond extract
2 cups powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together; beat in egg. Mix in flour and salt. Roll half the dough ⅛-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes and place on cookie sheet 1 inch or so apart.
Roll out second half of dough and cut into same shape; cut holes in the middle of each of these shapes. Scoop a teaspoon or so of preserves onto each whole cookie and place dough with center cut out on top, pressing around the edges to seal. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes.
For frosting, add almond extract to powdered sugar and mix. This may require a little water. Mix until a paste forms. When cookies have cooled completely, spread frosting on top of cookies, around the cut-out shapes.
Submitted by Hanna Kupfer
“ These are hands down the most popular cookie I make! I usually make them with raspberry preserves but chose cherry for the contest because I felt it made them more of a holiday cookie.”
Amy Feaster: “The glaze is the perfect finishing touch.”
Karen Francis: “There’s a great texture to this cookie. I’m not a huge fan of cherries, but this is really good. I would make them.”
Carol Grizzard: “This cookie has a good, almond taste.”
From left, Karin Francis, Amy Feaster and Carol Grizzard judge the 2022 NCM contest.
2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup miniature chocolate chips
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup butterscotch chips
½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup chopped walnuts
2 ounces dried cranberries
1 (1.51-ounce) package instant strawberries and cream oatmeal
1 cup sweet coconut
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Spray 9x13-inch baking dish with Baker's Joy. Stir crushed graham crackers and melted butter together; press mixture into bottom of sprayed dish to make crust.
Sprinkle on top of crust: chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pecans, walnuts, dried cranberries, oatmeal and coconut. Mix salt with condensed milk, and pour over other ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool before serving.
Amy Feaster: “These are unique bar cookies and really flavorful. The ingredients work well together.”
Karen Francis: “It was surprising to find out what the ingredients were – and no ingredient overpowers the other.”
Carol Grizzard: “These cookies are different – in a good way!”
“ These are very addictive.”
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups salted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons milk
Mix baking powder and flour in a separate bowl; set aside.
Cream butter and sugar until they are completely mixed. Add eggs, vanilla and milk. Mix until fluffy. Add baking powder/ flour mixture two cups at a time. Don't overmix the dough when you are adding the dry ingredients; mix only until flour is incorporated into the dough. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours.
Bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 10 minutes depending on the size of the cookie cutter used. Let cookies cool before frosting. Use royal icing or buttercream for frosting.
Amy Feaster: “This is a beautiful cookie with precise decorations.”
Karen Francis: “It's a festive cookie for the season.”
“ When I decided to start decorating cookies, I searched for a butter cookie recipe that would also taste good with royal icing or buttercream. After much searching and tweaking, I found a recipe that has the right amount of sweetness but also that rich, buttery taste.”
2¼ cups pitted dates, diced
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs, well beaten
4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
Combine dates, granulated sugar and water in saucepan. Cook over low heat until thick. Add nuts and stir. Cool completely.
Cream shortening. Add brown sugar gradually with a spoon and beat until light. Add eggs and mix well. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and chill thoroughly.
Divide mixture into 2 parts. Roll each into a rectangle a little less than ¼-inch thick. Spread each with date-nut filling. Roll like a jelly roll; wrap in wax paper and chill overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut one roll into slices. Arrange on greased cookie sheet, and bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Save remaining roll to cook later, or slice and bake those, too.
Amy Feaster: “This cookie quickly catches your eye with its nice presentation.”
Carol Grizzard: “The nuts give it a good flavor.”
“ This recipe was my mother’s and the cookies remind me of my childhood. They’re labor intensive – it actually takes a couple days to make them –but they’re worth it.”
⅓ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup shortening, room temperature
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
2 cups cake flour
Sprinkles
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat together sugar, salt, shortening and butter until fluffy. Add egg and extracts, and beat until thick. Stir in flour just until a dough forms; it may still be in chunks. Shape dough into
1- to 1½-inch balls. Roll each ball in sprinkles. Press down ball with thumb. Chill cookies on baking sheets for 10 minutes in refrigerator. Bake cookies for 15 minutes.
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
1½ cups powdered sugar
Amy Feaster: “The frosting in the middle is soft and sweet.”
Karen Francis: “The soft frosting in the middle balances out the crunchy cookie.”
Carol Grizzard: “This is a very pretty cookie.”
½ tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
Pinch of salt
Beat butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat. Add extracts and salt, and beat until thick. Transfer to piping bag with an open star tip and squeeze icing into thumbprint of cooled cookies.
½ cup sugar
1¾ cups brown sugar
2½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1½ tablespoons vanilla
1 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1¾ cups chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together dry ingredients. Add vanilla, butter and eggs; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.
Submitted by Caroline
FergusonAmy Feaster: “These traditional chocolate chip cookies have a nice buttery flavor.”
Karen Francis: “These are good and have a nice consistency.”
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
½ cup chopped pecans
In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, cloves, cinnamon and baking soda. In a separate bowl, cream together the sugar, butter, eggs and nuts. Using a mixer, combine the two mixtures, and then shape the dough into rolls 2 to 3 inches thick. Refrigerate rolls for several hours.
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Cut dough into thin slices and place slices on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes until cookies start to turn light brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
Amy Feaster: “This is a light, aromatic and refreshing cookie.”
Karen Francis: “ Even just smelling this cookie with its cloves and cinnamon heightens your senses.”
Carol Grizzard: “This cookie has a good, crunchy taste.”
“ This was my great-grandmother’s recipe. I love to cook and want to open my own restaurant one day. I’m going to call it Yummy ’s.”
In 1995, Santa topped my naughty list. He was swelling with surprises that year, shocking the season with scandal.
My mom had flash-mobbed the family with a Santa surprise. I heard jingle bells jangle down the driveway, and the back door opened with a hearty “Ho, ho, ho.” There he was: Santa! No one had expected The Big Guy to visit, and we all were fawning over him, cramming cookies in his gloves as he maneuvered his magic through the crowd of Christmas cheer.
I was 28 and acting 10, fan-girl freaking out, screaming "It’s Santa! It’s Santa!” I was thunderstruck by his twinkly eyes and rosy cheeks, but it was his beard that made me believe.
Santa sat down and pulled out perfectly wrapped presents (elfin handiwork?) from his sack as he roll-called our names. Impatience and excitement were mine. “I have something for Faith,” he announced, finally. And though I was probably too old to sit on his lap, I plopped myself down. Santa shrieked and shifted in his chair while muttering, “Maybe it’s a book on weight loss. You certainly could use it. Ho, Ho, Ho.”
Eyes wide, I moused out in a tiny voice “That wasn’t very nice, Santa.”
Shocked, I darted to the basement to process Santa’s sass. Almost instantly, I heard my mom calling, “Santa, can I see you privately?”
Santa got a hot earful as he frantically explained that he was kidding. Mom scolded back: "You never joke about a woman’s weight or age."
I heard jingle bells fade in the distance, and Saucy Santa was gone. Days later, my mom called to inform me that a mysterious gift had arrived. It was a gift bag, plump with plastic poinsettias. And, “The Card.”
I didn’t recognize the handwriting and ripped it open to see a watercolor sky with romantic script. This must be a mistake. I read the front: “It seems the ones we love the most are always the ones we hurt the most. I know I sometimes do or say the wrong thing at the wrong time. I never intend to hurt you, but sometimes I know I do.”
I was confused. I didn’t have a boyfriend, so who sent this to me and why? The card brand was noted on back: “Between You and Me.” But me and whom? I opened the card and my eyes jumped to the Christmas clincher. It was signed, “Santa 1995.”
I was stunned. Santa had sent me a scorned lovers card, its intimacy implying a sordid Santa tryst. I love Santa, but not in a Christmas carnal way. Did Mrs. Claus help in choosing this card? Was she used to Santa’s shenanigans? Perhaps he had given her the same card, instantly solving a spat.
Suddenly, I realized The Big Guy's embarrassment outweighed mine. His was an innocent comment made in jest. I imagined Santa at the store reading card after card while searching for the words he couldn’t write himself. My heart grew heavy with humbleness. Since then, I’ve kept his Christmas card close, a snow-dusted reminder that even Santa can screw up. And so can I.
Each year as the herald angels hark in the silent night, I leave Santa some cookies beside my naughty list, vacant of his name, wishing and yearning for his Yuletide return. NCM
Throughout Coweta County, there’s a plethora of artists and professionals whose talents reach others far and wide. On any given day, a new star is added to the galaxy of Coweta’s creative mass.
In the pages that follow, we introduce you to a few of these rising stars, including a 10-year-old actor who recently landed her own worldwide social media platform, a pharmacist who competes in bikini/bodybuilding contests, a saxophonist who’s shared the stage with Jon Secada, and a singer-songwriter who runs his own recording studio.
If you know an up-and-coming artist with a unique talent or professional with a compelling story, let us know. We may feature him or her in our next installment of “Introducing…”
Contact us at magazine@newnan.com or send a note to Newnan-Coweta Magazine, 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263.
Photo by Michelle Nicole Photography
Ten-year-old Newnan resident and actor Bentley Williams plays Fifteen, one of the Rainbow Room kids in five episodes of Season 4 of the Netflix science fiction blockbuster “Stranger Things.”
The popular show combines horror and supernatural elements, an ensemble cast, and a 1980s backdrop. Filmed in January and February of 2021 in Atlanta, the fourth season was released in May.
Bentley, a fifth grader at Newnan Presbyterian, was born in Cary, N.C., and lived in Frisco, Texas, until November 2016 when she moved with her parents, Davis and Ellie Williams, and younger brother, Tripp, to Newnan.
Her career began in Texas when she was 4 years old. She posed for print advertisements and did fashion shows for JCPenney and Belk catalogs, among others. After moving to Georgia, the Williamses were connected with J. Pervis Talent Agency in Atlanta, and Bentley started commercial acting for companies like Chick-fil-A and Zenni Eyewear kids’ line by Coco and Breezy.
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She progressed to TV and film shortly before turning 7 and has been a series regular on Wonder Clubhouse, a Christian Network show. The young actor has been hired to do celebrity book readings with Zigazoo, the world’s largest social network and educational platform for kids.
Her channel is called Bentley’s Clubhouse and went live earlier in the fall.
And with her brother Tripp, she’s been featured in a Disney World TV commercial.
When Bentley landed the role on “Stranger Things,” she had not yet watched the show.
“I knew it was popular, but I didn’t know it was this popular,” she says.
Working with director Nimrod Antal and show creators Matt and Ross Duffer, known as the Duffer Brothers, was a life-changing experience for the young actor.
“It has made me look at myself from a different perspective,” she says. “Everyone on the set was super sweet. I got to meet Millie Bobby Brown, AKA Eleven. I got to meet Mathew Modine, who is Dr. Brenner, and I got to meet One, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. My favorite characters are Eleven, Max, Nancy and Eddie. Nancy’s a girl boss!”
Bentley and her “siblings” on the show had a specific look for the roles they played as Hawkins Lab kids. For Bentley, it was all about the hair – or lack thereof.
“A lot of people think that it was just a wig, but it was not,” she says. “I had to shave my head – 22 inches of hair. A lot of people thought I was nervous, but I was so happy for a new look.”
She donated the first 12 inches of her hair to Locks of Love and another six inches were kept on set to make a man’s wig.
Going to hair and makeup everyday while filming, Bentley and her fellow actors sat while artists applied bloody makeup for the gruesome scenes. Bentley recalls the kids had to shake their heads so the fake blood looked like it was naturally running down their faces.
Numerical tattoos on the lab kids’ wrists had to be applied exactly in the same size and location everyday and were removed each night.
To stay focused during heavy scenes, Bentley likes to get into the feel of the moment. Because the storyline involves children in the Rainbow Room being taken from their parents, the mood is sometimes sad and reflective. Bentley is equally comfortable with being light-hearted on camera.
Bentley does celebrity readings on Zigazoo, a TikTok-style educational app for kids. Her channel is called Bentley’s Clubhouse.
“I have a weird twist to my acting because I can do comedy and things like that, but then I can also do the deep, dark, scary stuff too,” she says.
A natural talent, the youngster can look at a script and memorize not only her lines but lines of the other characters as well.
Bentley stays busy with auditions and works with Justice brand clothing on promoting their newest clothing line, “Stranger Things,” being sold at Walmart. In September, she attended the Ancient City Con in St. Augustine, Fla. with some of her fellow actors.
Finding her acting voice and setting goals for the future, Bentley hopes for a well-known name and wants to win acting awards. She aspires to one day act on “Secrets of Sulphur Springs” or “Bunk’d,” both Disney productions.
Bentley says that being in the film industry isn’t easy and that child actors can get a lot of rejection. The key, says her mom Ellie, is this: “Stay yourself, true to who you are.” She says the family stays grounded yet supportive as Bentley’s star begins to rise during the pursuit of her dreams.
The child actor says her favorite part of the job is bringing a character to life and being someone she’s not. “There may be pieces of the character that are similar to me, but not everything is similar to me,” she says.
If she had to push either a chore or a school subject into the Upside Down – the alternate dimension in “Stranger Things” that mirrors our world – and never have to do it again?
“Laundry!” she exclaims.
A child with many interests outside of acting, Bentley loves to edit videos and says she can envision herself as a director. She enjoys taking ballet and hip hop classes, and she has a soft spot in her heart for animals.
“I have had two dogs and one cat,” she says. “I got my cat from our local animal shelter. His name is Diesel.”
Describing herself as “a big arts and crafts girl,” Bentley enjoys drawing and making bracelets.
“I went around the neighborhood selling bracelets for the animal shelter,” she says.
Along with money she’s earned from “Stranger Things” meet-and-greets and sales from her custom T-shirts, she has raised more than $600 for the Coweta County animal shelter.
What do a pharmacist and a bikini competitor have in common?
The answer: Dr. Derrica Boyce of Newnan. Along with working as a Kroger pharmacist in Coweta County, she routinely competes in the bikini division of competition sponsored by the National Physique Committee, a worldwide organization that’s been holding amateur bodybuilding, fitness and physique contests since 1982.
Known to close friends and family as “Derriqueen” because of her childhood affinity for Dairy Queen ice cream, Boyce learned responsibility early in life. Her mother suffers from an autoimmune disease, so as Boyce was growing up, she assisted her mom with everything from opening jars to cleaning the house.
Despite her health struggles, Boyce’s mother went back to school to obtain her college degree and became a teacher. Her perseverance inspired Boyce to pursue her own dreams no matter what.
“It made me think, ‘If my mother can do it, I can do it,’” says Boyce. “If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. I’ve always been goal-driven and motivated, and I trust God to lead me to where I need to go.”
A 2009 graduate of Newnan High School, Boyce earned a degree in biology from the University of West Georgia, a master’s degree from Columbus State University, and her doctorate from South University in Savannah. She now works as a pharmacist for Kroger, rotating between different stores in the Newnan area.
“One of my favorite aspects of my job is giving patients the knowledge they need because they don’t always get all the information at the doctor’s office,” she says. “Sometimes they don’t always know why they’re taking something. It’s important they know why they’re putting something into their body instead of just taking it because they were told to.”
DERRICA BOYCEOPPOSITE PAGE
Boyce pays close attention to what she puts into her own body and, along with eating right, she practices a strict exercise regimen. Before work each morning, she does 45 minutes of cardio and ends the day with an hour of weight training.
She also does carb cycling, adhering to a strict diet that serious athletes sometimes use to drop body fat and obtain more muscle mass in preparation for rigorous competition. Carb cyclers rotate between high-carb and low-carb days and sometimes have no-carb days.
Boyce says she abstains from carbs completely the week before competitions.
Each of the three physique competitions she participates in yearly requires 12 weeks of intense preparation.
“My husband is supportive of me competing, but he knows there will be times when I’m hangry and easily agitated,” she says with a laugh. “One of the ways I try to maintain my discipline when other people are eating in
front of me is by telling myself, ‘The prize will taste better than the food they’re eating.’”
Boyce says food is her biggest temptation, especially when a patient brings treats for the staff or when she’s making spaghetti for her husband and stepson while having only protein and vegetables herself.
“The food will be there when I’m done,” she reminds herself again.
After each competition, she rewards herself with her favorite lemon cake, and during the off-season she indulges in one of her favorite hobbies: holiday baking.
The competitor also enjoys sewing, which she took up to offset the prohibitive costs of competing. The bikinis alone can cost $300 to $800, so Boyce makes her own and even sells to other competitors.
With a smile, Boyce says the bikini competition through the National Physique Committee could be called “cute and cut.” So far, she’s placed at every competition she has entered. In July, she took first place at the Atlanta Pro-Am.
“It just gives you more motivation to want to continue to compete,” says the athlete who has now qualified for the national level. “God gives me my health and my strength. Without him nothing would be possible.”
At 6 feet, 3 inches with a broad grin, bright red shirt and matching shoes, Luis Alas catches your eye in a heartbeat.
And then, if he’s playing the sax, he’ll catch your ear. Once a back-up musician, Alas has moved into co-star status and is quickly claiming his place as a star in his own right.
The Palmetto resident and super-talented saxophonist was every bit another frontman when he co-starred with Latin music great Jon Secada during a homage to Santana last July in Mableton.
The musician plays alto, tenor and soprano saxophone. Playing Latin percussion instruments is also among his talents, and he’s a songwriter who has penned several originals that he includes in his live performances.
From middle school band member to headlining with famous artists, Alas’s musical path has been circuitous. A first-generation Cuban American, he has worked the Miami club scene, playing gigs and building a following there.
In 2018, Alas, his wife Milca and their family moved from Miami to Palmetto to be closer to Milca’s family, who had moved to Sharpsburg in 2005. Over the past four years, the saxophonist has built a strong local following in Coweta County and west Georgia.
“It’s been amazing,” he says.
Once a regular at The Cellar in downtown Newnan, Alas was one of the first artists to perform a live show post-pandemic, complete with band and singers, at the Wadsworth, according to Jaami Rutledge, chair of the Newnan Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC).
“It was a fun, energetic collaboration,” recalls Rutledge. “His smooth, powerful sax blended with the singers, and they covered jazz in all genres: standards, classic, smooth jazz and others.”
In downtown Newnan in June 2021, Alas played his first Jazz in the Park, another NCAC event.
“He brought a great crowd,” says Rutledge. “He had the talent and charisma to engage the crowd as our 2021 Jazz in the Park headliner.”
Make no mistake, the music Alas masters isn’t sleepy NPR-style jazz.
“I’m more of a rocker,” he says with a grin. “Think Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.”
His son calls it “the angry sax” or “sax with attitude,” Alas shares.
From lively Latin beats to an emotionally moving instrumental of the Beatles classic, “Hey Jude,” the local saxophonist can do it all.
Alas took up saxophone in middle school and played through high school and also as part of his praise and worship team in church. He joined the United States Air Force right out of high school but had “nothing to do with music” at that time, he recalls. His military service meant he worked the world over, but he was often stationed in his familiar hometown of Miami.
His work in nuclear security eventually landed him in Cheyenne, Wy., where he was told there were two types of music in the local music scene: Country and Western.
Even so, it turned out Monday nights were blues nights at the Midnight Rodeo Saloon in Cheyenne. Alas recalls wanting to join the band there: Mr. Coffee and Grounds for Divorce.
Alas wasn’t quite ready to perform with that blues act, but his time was coming soon.
While the airman was stationed in Europe, MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) in Ramstein, Germany, hosted a local talent show, and Alas won as best solo musician.
His next stop was the regional competition where he won again.
That led to securing a spot in the Air Force Talent Program, “Tops in Blue.” After rehearsing for three months, Alas hit the road for nine months, during which time he visited every U.S. Air Force base on the planet. During the whirlwind experience, he performed in USO shows with keyboardist George Duke, singer-songwriter Anita Baker and country music star Clint Black.
Eventually, with support of family and friends, Alas began to claim his place front and center on stage. In 2012, his church asked him to do a jazz concert, his first gig as a frontman. The concert was a smashing success.
Alas maintained his day job while pursuing his musical goals. After serving with the Air Force, he worked as a Federal air marshall and continued a career in security/ law enforcement, always with “music on the side,” he says.
He began writing songs and recording in the studio, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when live performances were nonexistent. His instrumental remake of “All I Do” by Stevie Wonder made the Top 50 charts. Roughly six weeks later, it hit No. 1 on the Smooth Jazz Charts.
Photos by Sara MooreTypically, songs that reach the top of the charts mean calls and offers for artists. In this case, Alas heard, alas, nothing.
The pandemic was to blame, but things would pick up.
Fast forward to November 2021. The saxophonist’s song titled, “Together Forever,” made the top slot on the Indie Smooth Jazz charts, and musical doors started opening.
With the famous Latin artist Jon Secada, Alas co-starred in an homage to Santana. The two performed live together and plan to take their show on tour in 2023.
That’s not all next year has in store for the local musician. Alas will be opening for and performing with contemporary jazz saxophonist Kenny G.
Next year also promises to be big for Alas on the local music scene. In cooperation with Newnan Cultural Arts Commission, he will produce the Smooth Jazz Festival at the Coweta County Fairgrounds in Newnan. Details are being finalized, including famous names being added to the roster. Visit newnansmoothjazzfestival.org to keep up with the details.
Alas says he’s happy with music work that takes him all around – and then back to his home in Palmetto.
“I’ve accomplished more musically in Coweta than all the years I lived in South Florida,” he says. “This area truly is a haven and a real gem for arts in general, not just music.”
That surely is music to the ears of his fans.
“I beat on paint cans with chicken bones just to make noise,” says the Newnan resident, recalling some of his earliest memories of music making.
Recognizing his natural talent, Smith’s father and grandfather taught him to play the drums and he eventually picked up guitar, bass and piano, too.
When he was a teenager, Smith joined the family gospel band, a group consisting of him, his dad, his stepdad and his stepdad’s friend. They had all known each other for years and maintained a friendly dynamic. The group played at churches throughout the Southeast. Smith says that, for him, it was mostly about being a musician and having fun.
“Even though I was physically in church all the time, I was still a young man making mistakes,” he says.
It was not until Smith joined the U.S. Army that his personal faith grew and he formed a relationship with God.
“I personally believe that if you make one step, God will take two,” says Smith, adding the caveat, “as long as I have faith and am trying to go in the right direction. If I’m headed in the wrong direction, he will put something in the way to block me.”
During his tour in Afghanistan, Smith wrote songs on night shifts to keep himself awake and performed for his fellow soldiers during the day. The experience allowed him to gauge which songs resonated with listeners, and he teamed up with a sergeant in his unit who had speakers and a laptop that could make beats.
During Smith’s two weeks of deployment leave, he visited friends in Germany who introduced him to several noteworthy people in the entertainment industry. The connections he formed led him to take a trip to Jamaica
…Just like the channel wish I had a remote to change the weather
But see at times like this you really just gotta count your blessings
Gotta get back up from the ground but I see some people helping And sometimes God will take us through it just to teach us lessons
Gotta put your pride to the side leave your feelings on the dresser
Lend a hand because we way stronger together, I’m tryna tell ya
I’m from a heart–filled town out in Georgia, Where we don’t let no situation take control of us
But yet, some still can’t believe it’s really over Cause it ain’t over, oh no oh oh yaa…
Instagram: @yarraycrazyofficial YouTube: Yarray
TOP AND MIDDLE
Adrian Smith Jr. works as a producer in his own sound studio.
BOTTOM
Smith's nickname, Yarray, comes from the first three letters of his middle name RAYmond – spelled backwards and then frontwards.
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As a producer, Adrian Smith Jr. hopes to highlight not only his own music but that of other local singers and musicians as well.
where he visited the studio where Bob Marley recorded. He vividly remembers the smile on the face of Marley’s sound engineer. It struck him then, says Smith: “It must be good to be old and still love what you’re doing.”
On June 1, 2012, Smith had a near brush with death when his base in Afghanistan was attacked by suicide bombers. Smith was washing his hands and had not yet caught up to his friends in the main dining area when the attack occurred.
“I’m slow, thank God,” he says.
The blast pushed him back and he temporarily lost his hearing. When his hearing returned, the first thing he heard was someone shouting, “Get down, get down!” He crawled through the rubble, looking for his battle buddies. Eventually he located them outside, but a fire fight ensued between the soldiers and insurgents that would last for the rest of the day.
Everything surrounding the experience reinforced for Smith that he didn’t want to reenlist for a third tour. He thought about becoming a radiologist, but the sergeant with whom he used to perform said, “You’re too talented.”
“Because of him, I looked into Full Sail University,” recounts Smith, who fell in love with the school in Winter
Park, Fla., that specializes in studio, design, computer animation and business education. Smith took courses on everything from recognizing sound frequencies to audio postproduction.
Since then, he’s experimented in rapping and performed in two shorts, “Inclusive” and “Witness,” which are available on Amazon and YouTube. In October, he performed in Turks and Caicos Islands at an event designed to bring attention to domestic violence.
For the past three years, Smith has used Yarray as his professional name. He got the unique moniker by reversing the first three letters of his middle name, Raynard, and then adding them back in the correct order: Yarray.
In 2021, he opened his own production company, Yarray Audio Corporation, in Newnan.
“The majority of what I do is based around relationship,” says Smith, who explores the theme in his compositions.
His most recent song, “It Ain’t Over,” was inspired by the fear he felt for his wife and son during the March 2021 tornado in Newnan, his gratitude for their safety, and the value of community in the aftermath.
“That tornado was really devastating, but it’s also brought a sense of unity as we rebuild,” he reflects. NCM
Written by JEFFREY WARD
From the outside, the home of Newnan Theatre Company (NTC) looks much the same as the original purpose for the structure: a brick-and-beam vintage railroad warehouse. It might be the last place one would expect to find a theater.
But step inside the magnificent lobby of this ordinary building, and the unsuspecting visitor is immediately ushered into the magical world of live theater. Welcome to the Newnan Theatre Company, Coweta’s home for theater for the past 45 years.
Proceeding from the sumptuously decorated twostory lobby, a tour through a bewildering labyrinth of specialty rooms reveals how complicated and involved the business end of putting on even the simplest production can be. Our behind-the-scenes tour guide is Mary Caroline Moore, managing director of Newnan Theatre Company. With NTC since 2015, she was trained and educated in the performing arts as a musician, piano teacher and owner of a ballet studio.
Accompanying her is Karen Youger, who serves as vice chairman of the NTC Board of Directors and also acts in the Company’s productions.
Moore’s and Youger’s combined love for and devotion to the craft of live theater is almost palpable. Moore puts it into words: “Newnan Theatre Company is more than a theater. It’s a place where individuals are invited to learn, grow and inspire. Patrons are exposed to works of art, some old and some new, while performers and volunteers are encouraged to expand upon their many talents.”
After renting the current facility for many years, Newnan Theatre Company purchased it three years ago. Because NTC enjoys nonprofit 501(C) (3) status, benefactors have donated and installed upgraded lighting, sound systems and other essential improvements.
The entire operation runs on volunteers, from the actors on stage to set production to support staff. With a big and bewildering selection of potential shows to consider, who actually chooses what NTC offers to its audience?
Newnan Theatre Company utilizes a creative advisory board for that purpose. With a staff of nearly 100 volunteers, NTC rolls out numerous stage productions and workshops, typically with unobstructed frequency. That changed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, leading NTC to shut down for 15 months. Desperate for operating funds, Moore and her intrepid group of volunteers hit on a brilliant idea.
“In December of 2020, we put together a holiday extravaganza telethon,” she recalls. “Because it was at the height of the pandemic, we came in small groups and pre-recorded most of it. We did it like an old-fashioned telethon. We had hosts who broadcasted live, and we could cut to a recorded clip of a particular performance. We had all sorts of entertainment segments, from singing to dancing, and we aired that. Some of those clips are still on our website. It was very successful.”
volunteering in our productions.”
“We want more community awareness of the Newnan Theatre Company and for many more to experience the joys of–
Mary Caroline MooreLocated at 24 First Avenue, Newnan Theatre Company makes its home in a former railroad warehouse. Photos by Jeffrey Ward
Indeed it was. The NTC team raised $20,000 at a time when they were shut down for business.
On March 26, 2021, another setback came when a devastating EF4 tornado raged through downtown Newnan with NTC headquarters in its path. Large sections of the building’s exterior were severely damaged and eventually repaired.
With the height of the pandemic and tornado behind, NTC is back on track, creating and producing quality staged events and workshops. In 2022 alone, stage productions through October included “The Savannah Sipping Society, ” “Kong’s Night Out,” “9 to 5, the Musical,” “Lying in State” and “The Mousetrap.”
In addition to NTC’s major production, their improv group – Newnan Improv Troupe With Intelligent Talented Stooges (N.I.T.W.I.T.S.) – performs comedy and satire shows throughout the year. Newnan Theatre Company also offers a full menu of workshops and classes for every age group, including the Academy of Theater Arts for elementary and middle school students and the Actors Workshop for high schoolers. Participants learn stage direction, vocal technique, choreography, character development, set design, costuming and much more.
With the holiday season at hand, their Christmas-
themed productions are on tap. Newnan Theatre Company annually features one classic from a rotating list of five popular holiday presentations. This season’s offering is a version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Many are familiar with the 1946 film version; however, the NTC play, “It’s a Wonderful Life, The Radio Play,” is a clever production inside a production with the story told as experienced from inside a vintage 1940s radio broadcast studio.
Youger directs the play and shares what this production means to her.
“This story speaks to me, this year especially,” she says. “This will be the third holiday season in the pandemic where we have all been challenged to find a new normal, and we've lost people who meant so much to us. This is a story of love, forgiveness and redemption – and a reminder of how much we affect those we share our lives with.”
Moore emphasizes items on her NTC wish list: “We want more community awareness of the Newnan Theatre Company and for many more to experience the joys of volunteering in our productions.”
With a cornucopia of planned productions and workshops geared to all age groups, NTC shares all the ways to get involved at newnantheatre.org. NCM
It’s a Wonderful Life, The Radio Play
Dec. 1-4, 8-11 | 2022
They Came from Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in time for the Townswomenʼs Guild’s Coffee Morning
Feb. 9-12, 16-19 | 2023
Calendar Girls
March 9-12, 16-19 | 2023
Meteor Shower
April 13-16, 20-23 | 2023
Monty Pyton’s Spamalot
May 4-7, 11-14 | 2023
Along with our readers and page sponsors, Newnan-Coweta Magazine and The Newnan Times-Herald salute our outstanding and valiant Coweta military veterans. On these pages, you’ll recognize some familiar faces, and you may discover new neighbors who served our country well.
Our hope is for a Happy Veterans Day to all.
Thank you for your many services to our country
May God bless you and may God bless America!
Written by JENNIFER DZIEDZIC
In 1833, John H. Johnson constructed a general store in northern Coweta county located on a trail that would later become Highway 29. Palmetto was first known as Johnson’s Store with its name changed to Palmetto in 1847.
When the Atlanta and LaGrange Railroad reached Palmetto in 1851, the town shifted away from a farming community as more businesses entered and the population grew.
Palmetto was officially chartered on Feb. 18, 1854. Early residents had varied vocations such as doctor, school teacher, dry goods merchant, minister, brick mason, and railroad employee. The town had one lawyer and one druggist.
In 1923, with its city limits spanning two counties, Palmetto received its first paved road with Highway 29. The Coweta County side was finished first, and a few months later pavement was completed on the Campbell County side. In 1932, Campbell County was abolished when the Bigger and Better Counties program merged the town of Palmetto into non-equal parts of Fulton and Coweta counties.
Garfield Cannon, 92, was born in Coweta County. In 1957, he and his wife Mildred bought Pure Oil Service Station, which operated at the spot where Supermercado La Bendicion Mexican restaurant is today. With gas in the ground, stocked goods on the shelves, and a cigarette machine out front, Garfield moved his family to Palmetto and started business in 1958.
While Garfield worked 18 hour days at the service station, his wife took care of their five children and did mending and alterations on clothing for people all around Palmetto.
Service stations ran differently than gas stations of today.
“When a car pulled up, usually the most they bought was $2 worth of gas,” Garfield says. “We’d clean the windshield, check your oil and water while that gas was pumping, and then they’d be ready to go. My kids washed cars for me.”
Garfield served three terms on the Palmetto City Council and also worked as a volunteer fireman and police officer. At that time, the police
department had three men on the force, so he and other local men helped out the police by going on calls with them.
“We didn’t have but three police, and the mayor and I would help them out at night,” Garfield recalls. “We didn’t even have a gun, but we’d go with ’em on calls.”
The Cannons’ son Charles Stanley Cannon, who died in 2004, founded Cannon Load Banks Company and began manufacturing load banks.
“He invented a machine and got a patent on it and started building them,” says his father. “When an airplane stopped, they had to pull up a ground power unit that weighed 900 pounds. He invented one that weighed 65 pounds that’d do the same job.”
Garfield continues to call Palmetto home.
“What I like about it is the people,” he says. “They were just so good. When we came here, we were strangers. They accepted us and most of that was because of the young people. They hung around my station at night, and I’d just let ’em sit in there and talk and cut up, because they weren’t getting in trouble. I got a lot of heat for it, but I tell you what: There were a lot of young boys who were
real good because they hung around the station and didn’t cause anybody trouble.”
The longtime resident recalls a drag strip at Palmetto that garnered much attention.
“On Saturday nights, they’d have all them dragsters up there, and some of them boys would get out here at night on open roads and drag a little bit,” he says. “That was a good bunch of kids; they just had a little mischief in ’em.”
He recalls one time when a young man drove a car backward from Douglasville to Palmetto “to see if they could do it.” They did.
Garfield and his second wife Juanita, 90, were married two years ago.
“We knew each other when we were young, we were boyfriend and girlfriend, but she moved off to Atlanta and she married somebody up there, and I married my wife. I had 70 years with my wife and she had 54 with her husband,” says Garfield. “We both had a good long marriage, and then we got back together again. She called me one day and we just started back seeing each other. We were crazy about each other when we were young.”
Juanita adds, “He had a wonderful wife, and I had a great husband, and we both were devastated when they passed away. They would be happy that we’re happy.”
From his home spot in Palmetto, Garfield loved to travel and explore the world.
“I don’t care where I die,” he muses, “but I want the hearse to have to hunt me down. I don’t want to be sitting at home waiting on it.”
Don Hayes has owned Piggly Wiggly Express in Palmetto since 2015. He grew up in Columbus, then moved to North Carolina, and found his way to Palmetto with his wife Judy, now deceased, in 1966. They initially found work at a Main Street department store called Alfords, where Jack Peek’s lawn equipment store is now.
In the early 1980s, Don and Judy went into business for themselves, opening first a video store, then a TV and appliance repair service, and then a rent-to-own store. In 1995, they built and opened a Dairy Queen franchise.
“It was a really good store,” Don recalls. “Within probably three years it was in the top five in the Atlanta market because there was nothing else down here. Sunday nights, you couldn’t get in the place after church. You had to wait for a table, there were so many people.”
In 2000, the couple opened Bojangles. They sold Dairy Queen in 2008 and sold Bojangles in 2015 with plans to retire. Instead, Don bought into a local store, Bradley’s Big Buy, which later became Piggly Wiggly and has been featured twice in “Stranger Things,” the hit Netflix show. Fans continue to visit the location of show character Eleven’s heist and buy Eggo waffles to recreate the scenes for photos. Devotees of the show find the freezer stocked with waffles, and commemorative T-shirts are available as well as a guest book to sign.
Don and his family lived in South Fulton for 16 years, and their children went to Palmetto High School. In 2008, the area was established as Chattahoochee Hills, and Don Hayes became its first mayor. He served four years as mayor and was on the council for eight years more.
Palmetto’s oldest resident, Neva Peacock is 108. She lives at Palmetto Park Senior Living Center, a retirement community on Perkins Road. She moved here when the center first opened 15 years ago. Vibrant and full of life, she leads exercise classes six days a week in the center’s gym.
At the retirement community, Neva’s active in a bead club where members make jewelry with proceeds from the sales of their designs funding their Women’s Missionary Union.
Peacock shares her secret to hitting triple digits: “Keep moving, and you’ll be 108. And follow the best leader of all, the Lord.”
The centenarian says her favorite food is cherry vanilla ice cream.
“I’m allergic to vegetables,” she jokes. “But I’ve been drinking a lot of V8 Splash. It’s good.”
Another Palmetto Park Senior Living Center resident, Marian Hammett Dudash, born in 1937, grew up on a farm in Coweta County. She moved to Palmetto in 1956 with her first husband, Kenneth Lassetter, and lived at 617 Main Street for 40 years. She sold the house in 2002, married Joseph Dudash and moved away, but she recently returned to Palmetto.
“My roots are here,” she says. “When I first married and moved here, there was a population of like 2,000-something. Kenneth, who was born and grew up here, knew who lived in every house in Palmetto. There were two elementary schools but no high school. In 1970, Palmetto High School opened, and in 1990, Creekside High became the high school.”
Marian was active with Palmetto Clean and Beautiful.
History buffs may visit Palmetto Historic Train Depot at 549 Main Street where there’s a history museum onsite with artifacts and old photographs of the town and its people. The depot opens Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We had the lighting of the great tree at Christmas every year and a lot of activities with that,” she recalls. “We would have a Christmas tree drawing contest at the elementary school and give a prize to the child who had the best drawing. We had a festival every year at Veterans Park. The city council did the Easter egg hunt, but we did the festivals, parades, Christmas tree lighting, whatever event was coming up.”
Palmetto continues to hold fall parades and one on May Day.
“Palmetto was a great place to raise your children,” Marian continues. “I think it still is. Palmetto was a cotton mill town. The house we bought had belonged to the company that owned the cotton mill, and when it closed, they sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. Morris. The Morrises were the first family who had a TV in Palmetto. They brought it out on this porch, strung the cord through the window and plugged it up, and let the whole neighborhood come over and watch TV.”
She recalls a gym near today’s Wayside Park: “In my teenage days, it was the center of a lot of community activity. Of course, we had basketball, boys and girls, and that’s where we skated – in the gym. That’s how I met my husband. I lived in the country on a dirt road. You sure didn’t skate there.”
Where Pulliam’s Tire and Alignment is today, there once was a movie theater in a Quonset hut, according to Marian.
“I got my first kiss in that movie theater,” she recalls. “It scared me to death.” NCM
“Enjoy the recipes, and plan to leave Santa a plateful.”
BELOW
Members of a local book club gather to celebrate a year of good reading with a day of fine dining, from left: Betsy Conoly, Bonnie Umberger, Charlotte Whitlock, Julia Barber, Joan Exner, Helen Tedder, Kristen Bell, Lynn McKibbin and Gail McGlothin.
wasn’t the night before Christmas, but it was coming up fast. The only stirring in the house was Betsy Conoly standing over the slow cooker with a wooden spoon as she watched meatballs in simmering sauce.
The Conoly home looked like someone had tossed a bucketful of Christmas into each room. Lighted candy canes guided the steps of the book club members into the house with each member carrying a copy of “The Santa Claus Girl” by Patricia Goodin under one arm and a covered dish in the other hand.
My book club had earned its party after 10 months of good books. Club members read new books and books that have been out of print for years. Among others, we'd finished “D-Day Girls” by Sara Rose, “Moonflower Murders” by Anthony Horowitz, and “Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles.
I love being in a book club (I’m in two) because I read and enjoy books I wouldn’t necessarily pick for myself.
Like the books we read, the menu of our Christmas party reads like old favorite recipes and new recipes to try. We didn’t have a sign-up sheet, so everyone chose what they wanted to bring. For dessert, Joan Exner supplied sweet bread made from a mix, reminding us how handy prepackaged mixes are – especially during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. In all, an eclectic mix of goodies were enjoyed. Christmas is a fun time to prepare dishes to share. Stroll around the produce section at your favorite Coweta grocery store for green, red and white veggie combinations. Try buying plain packaged cookies; dip them in melted white or dark chocolate, and then cover with holiday colored sprinkles. Make a double batch of your favorite savory cereal mix, and then rename it Reindeer Chow. Enjoy the recipes, and plan to leave Santa a plateful.
– Bonnie Umberger, from “The Pat Conroy Cookbook ”
“What's not to like about shrimp in any recipe? Bonnie says buying shrimp already shelled and deveined makes this recipe easy and fast.”
1 cup thinly sliced yellow onion
4 bay leaves, crumbled
2 ounces bottled capers, drained and coarsely chopped
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup cider vinegar
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Mix all ingredients except shrimp in a large ceramic or glass bowl. Heat a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water abundantly. When the water is roiling, add shrimp and cook until just pink, about 2 minutes. Drain and immediately transfer to the marinade. When shrimp cools to room temperature, cover tightly, and marinate overnight in the fridge.
–
Helen Tedder“Helen’s version of this recipe is colorful and tasty. A bowl of salsa on the side adds a little more snap.”
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 package dry Hidden Valley Ranch recipe mix
1 small can green chiles
1 small jar pimentos
1 small can black olives, sliced
3 (8-inch) flour tortillas
Mix all ingredients together. Spread thinly over the tortillas. Loosely roll up each tortilla, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill overnight. The next day, slice into pinwheels. Chill until served.
– Julia Barber
Cooking spray
12 pack Hawaiian style rolls, cut in half horizontally
¾ pound deli ham, thin sliced
½ pound Swiss cheese, sliced
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
1½ teaspoons dried minced onions
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a sheet pan with cooking spray. Place bottom half of rolls in pan. Layer ham on top of rolls, then layer cheese over the ham. Place tops of rolls over the cheese. Mix together butter, mustard, poppy seeds, onions and Worcestershire sauce. Drizzle mixture over tops of rolls. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Uncover rolls and bake for an additional 3 to 5 minutes until lightly browned. Sprinkle parsley over the tops. Cut into individual sandwiches and serve immediately.
“ Sliders are a super easy way to serve sandwiches to a crowd. Melted cheese and a buttery top make these a hit.”
“A colorful cheese offering is always welcome. I like to lightly toast thin sliced French bread for this appetizer. This is also good as a spread on bagels for a sandwich.”
¼ cup prepared basil pesto
¼ cup bottled roasted red pepper, finely chopped, rinsed, drained and blotted 16 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
4 ounces feta or goat cheese, softened (Don't use pre-crumbled cheese)
2 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons bottled black olive tapenade
Drain pesto in a small fine-mesh sieve over a bowl for at least 10 to 15 minutes, then discard excess oil. Lightly oil 3x5-inch loaf pan and line with a sheet of plastic wrap large enough to allow a generous overhang on all 4 sides. Smooth the bottom as well as possible.
Mix cream cheese, feta or goat cheese, and milk. Use spatula to divide into fourths. Spread about ¼ of cheese over bottom of pan. Drop pesto onto cheese mixture, spreading evenly. Drop ¼ of cheese by tablespoons over pesto; spread gently to cover pesto. Top with chopped peppers, spreading evenly. Drop another ¼ of cheese by tablespoons over peppers; spread gently to cover peppers. Spread olive paste evenly on top. Drop remaining cheese by tablespoons over olive paste, spreading gently to cover. Cover loaf pan with another sheet of plastic wrap, and chill at least 8 hours.
Remove wrap from top of loaf and invert onto a serving plate. Peel off top plastic wrap. Let layers stand at room temperature before serving. Serve with toasted Italian bread slices or crackers. This is also good with cucumber slices, carrot sticks and celery.
–
Lynn McKibbin“If you have not eaten candied bacon, then you are in for a treat with this recipe. Crunchie bacon wrapped around juicy sausage is a winner, no matter what the occasion.”
1 pound package little smokies
1 pound bacon
Brown sugar
Cut each slice of bacon in four pieces. Dip one side of bacon in brown sugar; wrap bacon around sausage with unsugared side touching sausage. Place on parchment paper-covered cooking sheet. Bake at 400 for 30 to 40 minutes. Serve with toothpicks.
–
Phyllis Shepherd“Saucy meatballs appeal to both genders and all ages. They are fast to mix up and require only a simmer in a slow cooker to be ready for parties.”
1 (18-ounce) jar grape jelly
1 (40-ounce) bottle barbecue sauce
2 pounds purchased meatballs, cooked
Melt together jelly and barbecue sauce. Pour over cooked meatballs in a crockpot. Simmer 45 to 60 minutes, and serve with toothpicks on the side.
–
Charlotte Whitlock"These are an excellent alternative to stuffing a whole jalapeño and grilling it. The heat of every jalapeño varies greatly, so each one is a surprise to our senses."
20 medium jalapeños
1 pound hot pork sausage
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
4 ounces cream cheese
Split jalapeños in half, length wise. Clear out seeds and membranes. Scramble and fry sausage. Add cheddar cheese and cream cheese. Stir together until well mixed. Stuff jalapeño halves. Bake and serve immediately or freeze individually. When ready to eat, defrost as many as desired. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
– Kristen Bell
“This dip tastes as good as it looks. An assortment of finely chopped black olives can replace the olive tapenade, if desired.”
8 ounces prepared hummus
8 ounces olive tapenade
4 ounces feta cheese
1 cup chopped tomatoes
¼ cup chopped red onion
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
Using a small round dish, begin layering with the hummus followed by olive tapenade, feta cheese, tomatoes and red onion. Sprinkle with parsley and garnish with cucumber slices around the edge. NCM
Instructions and Photography by PAYTON THOMPSON
For a unique gift-topper, make our easy-peasy newspaper bow. Use pages from the comics section for a colorful bow, or use black and white pages for a more formal decoration for holiday packages.
SUPPLIES
• Newspaper • Stapler • Scissors
1. Cut three one-inch wide and 12-inch long strips from newspaper. Cut three one-inch wide and 10-inch long strips from newspaper. Cut one one-inch wide and two-inch long strip from newspaper.
2 and 3. Fold each strip into the shape of an infinity symbol; staple so it stays in place.
4. When all strips are folded and stapled, stack the longer strips into a nest. Then, stack the shorter strips into a nest.
5. Place the smaller nest into the larger nest. For the finishing touch, take the 1x2-inch strip, fold it into a circle, and place it in the center of the nest. Staple all pieces together in the center, and your bow is done!
ALL ROADS LEAD TO COWETA
Newnan’s Verna Funk doesn’t always take a copy of Newnan-Coweta Magazine with her when she travels, but when she visited the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia last spring, she did.
Henry McCracken scoops up a fly ball in the stands at Washington Nationals Park as fans cheer during a game against the Cardinals last summer. Henry is the son of Sophia Camp McCracken, formerly of Newnan; his dad Alex took the photo. Proud grandparents are Liz and Jack Camp of Newnan. Bonus: Their team, the Cardinals, won 6-2 over the Nats.
SPRING
March 25 - Spring Art Walk, 5-9pm
April 02 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
May 07 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
SUMMER
June 04 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
June 09 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm
June 17 - Summer Wined Up, 5-9pm
July 02 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
July 04 - July 4th Parade, 9am
July 14 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm
Aug 06 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
Aug 11 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm
AUTUMN
Sept 02-05 - Labor Day Sidewalk Sale
Sept 03 - S unrise on the Square 5k, 8am
Sept 03 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
Sept 23 - Fall Art Walk, 5-9pm
Oct 01 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
Oct 07 - Oktoberfest, 5-9pm
Oct 22 - Spirits & Spice Festival, 2-7pm
Oct 31 - Munchkin Masquerade, 10am-12pm
WINTER
Nov 05 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
Nov 18 - Holiday Sip & See, 5-9pm
Nov 25 - Plaid Friday
Nov 25 - Santa on the Square, 6-8pm
Nov 26 - Small Business Saturday
Dec 03 - Market Day, 10am-2pm
If I’ve written 100 columns in December, I’ve probably written 99 times about how much I love Christmas. My entire life, Christmas was always the highlight of the year. Every Christmas Eve was spent at my parents’ house, which would be overflowing with family, friends and food. If my oldest brother, who lived in Virginia, didn’t make it down for anything else all year, he always came home for Christmas.
Some of the best memories of my childhood, and well into my adult life, centered around Christmas.
Then 2020 happened.
That year, both my parents and my oldest brother died in relatively quick succession. I don’t remember much about the holidays that year, but I know they were spent with what was left of the Nix clan. That was a good thing.
In 2021, I came down with a case of the COVID just before Christmas. That put me and my immediate family in timeout for the holiday.
That was the first time in my life I had to sit at home on Christmas Day. We were still able to exchange gifts, but we went nowhere and no one came for a visit.
It gave me a new look on Christmas. It opened my eyes to a view of the holiday that many may have, but that was a view I’d been fortunate enough to never know existed.
It was a perspective I never dreamed I’d have: Maybe Christmas isn’t the best time of the year for everyone.
I find myself very lucky in that I was able to have so many amazing memories of Christmas Day for so many years. The past two years, well, not so amazing.
I came to feel bad about all the columns I’d previously written about how wonderful the day is. Just because it had been good for me didn’t mean there aren’t others who dread the day.
Though our family was far from wealthy, we always had gifts to give and receive at Christmastime. This may not be the case for everyone.
In fact, based on the number of bicycles I’ve helped put together with the sheriff's office over the past few years, I know it’s not the case for everyone.
It's too early to tell how this year's Christmas will go.
Will I be able to spend it with family? Or will I, or they, be in a viral timeout?
I’m glad I have a new view on the holiday, but I wish I hadn't had to walk in the shoes I walked in to get it.
I hope that I’m able to make some good memories this Christmas.
And I hope others who haven’t been as blessed as I have historically been are able to make some as well. NCM
While getting ready for the holiday season, keep electrical safety in mind. Start by reviewing holiday safety tips from Coweta-Fayette EMC.
1) Do not overload your electrical outlets. Ensure that you only plug one high wattage appliance into each outlet at once.
BONUS TIP: Purchase a power strip with a circuit breaker.
2) Check overhead powerlines before using a ladder outside.
3) Inspect all the lights you plan on using. Make sure the wires are in good condition— not cracked, brittle, or frayed. The sockets should not be damaged, and no light bulbs should be missing.
4) Never string more than three strands of lights together unless the packaging says it is safe to do so. The lights could overload and start a fire.
5) Do not staple or nail through light strings or electrical cords, and do not attach cords to utility poles.
6) Make sure your trees are at least 3 feet away from any heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents, or lights.
7) Don’t let your live tree dry out. Add water to your tree stand and water it daily. Dry trees become very flammable.
8) Make sure you have a working fire and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Don't forget to check the batteries.
9) Always have a working fire extinguisher on hand and know how to operate it.
10) Remember to always turn off decorative holiday lights before going to bed or leaving home. A timer can help make sure this happens.
11) Stay focused and attentive to baking, brewing, and simmering foods.
12) Do not leave combustible items, such as towels or potholders, near the stove top.
