2020 Jan/Feb NCM by The Times-Herald

NEWNAN-COWETA MAGAZINE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

New Year, New You

Eat less, gain more conﬁdence

Heart in Her Art

Ukrainian Yana Pidorvan creates jewelry with romantic ﬂair

newnan.com

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020 COMPLIMENTARY COPY

From a sharecropper cotton farm to the Coca-Cola boardroom,

Coweta’s

Carl Ware

Protecting the Rights of Injury Victims for Over 35 Years

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Open Enrollment FOR 2020/21 BEGINS ON January 14, 2020.

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Coweta Charter Academy complies with all applicable state and federal laws regarding non-discrimination in employment and educational programs and services. Georgia Charter Educational Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin or age regarding employment or educational programs and activities.*Georgia Department of Education Spring 2017 – Georgia Milestones

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100% Focused On Women’s Health Care

A Publication of The Newnan Times-Herald

President

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Publishers

• Comprehensive Obstetrical Care • High Risk OB • Certified Nurse Midwifery • Comprehensive Gynecological Care • In Office Procedures including Mona Lisa Touch® • Minimally Invasive Surgery • Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

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Neil Monroe

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and Marketing

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Newnan-Coweta Magazine 2020 Advisory Board Julie Brown, Carol Chancey, Blue Cole, John Daviston, Carol Glover, Marc Guy, Rochelle Jabaley, Bernard Knox, Neil Monroe, Brigette Smiley, Casey Smith and Cathy Wright

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION call 770.253.1576 or email advertising@newnan.com

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Our Doctors: W. Darrell Martin , MD, FACOG Elizabeth W. Killebrew, MD, FACOG Crystal Slade, MD, FACOG Benita Bonser, MD, FACOG Michlene Broadney, MD, FACOG Edwin Bello, MD, FACOG

Deborah Shepard, MD, FACOG Heather S. Turner, MD, FACOG Kristie Dyson, MD, FACOG Tanya Beckford, MD, FACOG Susan Thomas, MD, FACOG Vanessa Antoine, MD

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WELCOME WELCOME TO A LIVELY LIVELY NEW YEAR. YEAR.

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CONTENTS JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020

38 | The NCM Q&A: Carl Ware

Photo by Jackie Kennedy

A top executive with Coca-Cola recounts his time in politics, global achievements and association with history makers. By Jackie Kennedy

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 11

Move Better. Feel Better.

LIVE BETTER.

THE CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE ORTHOPEDICS AT GEORGIA BONE & JOINT At the Center for Regenerative Orthopedics at Georgia Bone and Joint, we use growth factors from platelet rich plasma (PRP) harvested from a patient’s vein or concentrated cells which are derived from a patient’s bone marrow. We inject these cells under image guidance in a same day procedure into damaged tissues in order to achieve the best long term outcomes. Examples of common conditions we treat are bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries.

Trevor Turner, MD, RMSK is a non-operative Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Georgia Bone and Joint. An expert in treating orthopedic injuries without surgery, Dr. Turner’s focus for each patient is restoring function—returning you to the level of activity you desire—with the safest, least invasive treatment possible. Our regenerative orthopedic doctor at Georgia Bone & Joint has training in advanced diagnostic ultrasound techniques and cell based therapies to assess, diagnose, and treat your orthopedic injury or condition individually based on your needs. Our Doctors George M. Ballantyne, M.D. Michael V. Cushing, M.D. Michael P. Gruber, M.D. David J. Heinsch, M.D. Chad M. Kessler, M.D. Jayson A. McMath, M.D. Jack H. Powell III, M.D. Trevor W. Turner, M.D.

Photo by Chris Martin

Trevor W. Turner, MD, FAWM, RMSK

our features

24 | Heart Health A frequent contributor to Newnan-Coweta Magazine shares the personal account of his local treatment for a heart attack. By Neil Monroe

28 | Heart in Her Art Newnan Artist Yana Pidorvan incorporates romantic design into the jewelry and greeting cards she creates. By Susan Mayer Davis

34 | Robert Burns Scottish Heritage Our Physician Assistants Darron Baham, P.A.-C. Beth Fleming, P.A.-C. Diana Johnson, P.A.-C. Jared Shafer, P.A.-C. Rusty Smith, P.A.-C.

Newnan Robert Burns Scottish Heritage Weekend celebrates the poet and his homeland with traditional customs, food, song and dance. By Emily Kimbell

50 | Gardening By The Month Coweta’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteers present their 2020 calendar to share green thumb tips throughout the year. By Jackie Kennedy

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60 | Splash Into Summer LaGrange’s Great Wolf Lodge offers water fun all year long. By Brittany Comerford

68 | New Year, New You

Eating right remains the quickest, and healthiest, route to sustained weight loss. By Jennifer Dziedzic

Photo courtesy of Yana Pidorvan

in this issue

on the cover Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Newnan's Carl Ware made history in both Atlanta and Africa politics.

â&#x17E;¤ The NCM Q&A: Carl Ware, page 38

Photo by Ann States

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Celebrating 25 in 2020

s we enter a new decade, Newnan-Coweta Magazine (NCM) hits a major milestone. In 2020, we celebrate 25 years of publication. Happy birthday to us! Our parent company, The Newnan Times-Herald, purchased NCM in 2005, when it was 10 years old. For the past 15 years, we have produced the bi-monthly periodical, which is delivered with The Times-Herald newspaper to subscribers and available at numerous pickup sites throughout Coweta County. In today’s world of print publishing, it’s quite a feat for a community magazine to make it to the quarter century mark. It’s an accomplishment we’re proud of and we plan to celebrate all year long. We’ll share a comprehensive history of the magazine in an upcoming issue, and we’ll revisit past photos, features and advertisements. Even as we celebrate our past, we continue to build on our future. We kick off our anniversary year by introducing a refreshed design and new features. In this issue, we debut The NCM Q&A, which profiles a Coweta County resident whose life and work has impacted the local community and beyond. We start this new feature by spotlighting Carl Ware, a native Cowetan who climbed the corporate ladder to become an executive with Coca-Cola and the architect of its disinvestment from apartheid South Africa. Other new features include a trio of quick reads: Coweta Quotes, a mix of quotations on a single subject, see page 17; Hip Holidays, a fun calendar with quirky holidays, see page 72; and #NCMstyle, a sampling of items geared to a theme and available from our advertisers. In keeping with Valentine’s, this issue’s #NCMstyle is devoted to romance, see page 18. For several years, readers have faithfully answered our call to submit items for Coweta to Me, where you share your personal Coweta story; Book Review, your opportunity to report on a recently published book; and Blacktop, which asks readers to submit their photographs. In 2020, we continue these features and also invite you to interact with us in new ways. Pick up your pen or dust off your keyboard and write poetry, prose or short fiction for possible inclusion in Coweta Prose. To kick off this new department, we share prose and poetry from our staff at Newnan TimesHerald and NCM, see page 66. Coweta Kids Care spotlights children ages 5 to 18 who care for their communities by volunteering or giving. Our first Kids Care feature provides a shout-out to student ambassadors at East Coweta High School, see page 78. We also ask you to participate in Coweta Cooks, where we plan to feature church, community and club cookbooks throughout the year, see page 54. Finally, we welcome Toby Nix as our routine columnist. An investigator with Coweta County Sheriff’s Department, Nix writes a weekly column for The Newnan Times-Herald and has published two books. We look forward to his candid and compelling words wrapping up each issue of NCM in 2020. See page 82 for his debut NCM column. As always, we welcome your input and suggestions. After all, this is your community magazine — and has been for 25 years.

Jackie Kennedy, Editor magazine@newnan.com 14 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Here for cancer care. Here for Here for cancer care. Here for Georgia.

cancer Here forcare. Here for Georgia. Georgia.

Karen R. Atlanta, Atlanta, GA GA Breast Cancer

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When Karen diagnosed with cancer, she totoway. start was diagnosed with breast breast cancer, shewanted wanted start iswas here for patients, every step of of thethe isashere forThat’s patients, every step way. treatment as soon possible. why she chose Cancer Treatment soon as possible. That’s why she chose Cancer Treatment When Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer, she wanted to start When Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer, she wanted to start Centers (CTCA). Karen’s team of nurses Centers of of America® America® Karen’sThat’s teamwhy ofdoctors, doctors, nursesand and treatment as(CTCA). soonasassoon possible. she chose Cancer Treatment treatment as possible. That’s why she chose Cancer Treatment therapists her the and expert care was for, therapists offered offered her theofurgency urgency andKaren’s expert care she waslooking looking for, CentersCenters of America® (CTCA). team ofshe doctors, nurses and America® (CTCA). Karen’s team of doctors, nurses and with plan that treated her cancer and her side effects. therapists offered her the urgency and expert care she was looking for,for, with aa personalized personalized plan that treated her cancer and her side effects. therapists offered her the urgency and expert care she was looking with a personalized plan that her cancer and and her her sideside effects. with a personalized plantreated that treated her cancer effects.

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ROLL CALL

Our Contributors 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.

Jennifer Dziedzic lives in Newnan with her husband and daughter and works as a massage therapist. In her free time, Jennifer loves to take her daughter kayaking, swimming and checking out books at their favorite library, the Carnegie.

Chris Martin was a late starter in the photography world but in recent years has made up for lost time by shooting Major League Baseball, NCAA football, bull riding, air shows, space launches at Cape Canaveral, international swim meets featuring Michael Phelps, and the list goes on. He shoots action sports for The Heritage School in Newnan and for The Newnan Times-Herald.

Brittany Comerford is a farmer’s wife and pre-K teacher who loves God. She’s been married for 17 years to Matt, her high school sweetheart. They have four children and lots of four-legged children

Neil Monroe is a retired corporate communicator whose career included positions with The Southern Company, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Delta Airlines and Coca-Cola Enterprises. He and his wife, Rayleen, live in Sharpsburg where they enjoy tennis, golf and grandchildren.

Emily Kimbell is executive director at Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. She enjoys exploring the city’s historic cemetery and acting in local theatre productions.

Jeffrey Ward describes himself as an “old retired guy” who loves Zumba and pickleball. He’s a native San Franciscan, Vietnam vet and University of Washington communications grad with a 50-year career in aviation.

Let Us Hear From You... Send thoughts, ideas and suggestions to magazine@newnan.com 16 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Susan Mayer Davis lives with husband Larry and golden retriever Mariah. “Have computer, will write” is her motto. What she enjoys most about writing for NCM is meeting great people when she researches articles and then sharing their stories.

Rebirth

COWETA QUOTES

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase,

just take the first step. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner

That’s what winter is:

an exercise in remembering how to still yourself, then how to come pliantly back to life again. ALI SMITH

Scottish novelist, “Winter”

Let’s start over, let’s give love their wings. Let’s start over, stop fighting about the same old thing. Let’s start over, we can’t let our good love die.

Maybe we can start all over, give love another life. BEYONCÉ

pop star

Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change. JIM ROHN

motivational speaker

To rebel is to be reborn. MARTY RUBIN

author

So what do we do?

Anything. Something.

I give you this to take with you:

Nothing remains as it was.

If you know this, you can begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting. JUDITH MINTY

author, “Letters to My Daughter”

So long as we just don’t sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else.

If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late. LEE IACOCCA

American automobile executive

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 17

SHOP COWETA

#NCMstyle Scan to link to #NCMstyle page

You can’t put a price on love, but we here at Newnan-Coweta Magazine are head-over-heels for this curated list of locallysourced ideas for Valentine gifts and date nights.

Fine diamonds from Gabriel New York Available in gold, white gold, or platinum.

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Keep on Rockin‘! Troutman Chair Co. Classic Lumbar Rocker Available in black and Geranium red. Suggested retail $419.95 — Our price $299.95

Knox Home Furnishings 75 Greenville Street in Newnan knoxfurn.com

Live Entertainment, Full Menu, Beverages RPM is the local’s classic dive, delicious gastropub and landmark chill zone.

RPM Patio Pub & Grill

Virtue Products Powered by pure, whole, human protein, Virtue products radically change the health and appearance of your hair. Alpha Keratin 60ku transforms the feel of your hair from the inside out.

15 Jackson Street in Newnan rpmnewnan.com

James Malone Beauty

14 Jefferson Street in Newnan jamesmalone.com

Play Today! Book your next birthday party and team building event. Gift cards available.

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Hug Box The Hug Box is thoughtfully curated with the most unique, eco-friendly, handmade, all-natural, professional local artisan products. Ship for any occasion.

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BOOK REVIEW

‘Never Have I Ever’ A Book Review by Shannon Johnson

en pages into Joshilyn Jackson’s latest novel, her first thriller, I was thrown back in time to middle school drama. Twenty pages in, I realized this was no game I ever played as an angsty preteen. Jackson’s characters are so carefully crafted that those of us from the South will identify with them quickly. Her greatest skill as an author may be her attention to human behavior. Her ability to make acute observations of petty dynamics, obscure power plays, snotty quips and alliances leaves the reader feeling like one of the girls. Living in a middleclass neighborhood in seaside Pensacola, Fla., Amy Whey enjoys a quiet, uncomplicated life. Her family is her world: her husband, a quiet professor deeply committed to Amy and his children; her spunky teenage stepdaughter who loves to scuba dive as much as Amy does; and a toddler son. Amy spends her days teaching diving lessons, playing with the baby and power-walking with her best friend, Charlotte, whose life is pretty perfect, too. Charlotte stays at home in a similar fashion, baking cookies and planning book clubs. When a new woman and her 16-year-old son move into the neighborhood, the gossip begins. Where did they come from? Where is his father? When she shows up for the neighborhood book club, Amy’s comfortable life begins to unravel and Charlotte’s happy life could be collateral damage. Angelica Roux is the sultry new neighbor who, with her flashy sports car and expensive clothes, is the friend everyone invites to their parties but secretly hates. Her charisma and charm, along with her heavy-handed wine pouring, hijack Charlotte’s book club for an adult version of the game, Never Have I Ever. Thinking it harmless fun, the ladies spill grown-up secrets, and each tells too much – except Amy, who recognizes the wickedness of the game. Angelica learns of Amy’s dark past and threatens to destroy her perfect life if she doesn’t pay handsomely. As 20 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

the blackmail unfolds, Angelica pits neighbors against friends, husbands against wives, and even matches her son against Amy’s step-daughter. To protect her family, Amy agrees to play the horrible game, but she plans to win. As the mental brinkmanship begins, it’s obvious Angelica sees it akin to cat and mouse, but Amy’s wit and determination prove it’s a game of cat and cat. The women battle it out in a captivating tale of deception, desperation, greed and love. Forced to face the possibility of love lost, Amy reconciles with her past – and accepts redemption. With Jackson’s dry sense of humor and depth of character development, her reader is left to consider his or her own past, present, and how the future could be drastically altered with the telling of one-too-many lies. The parallels of Amy’s “baptism” as she dives deep into the waters of forgiveness beneath the Gulf of Mexico are expertly and beautifully painted. Greatly entertaining and suspenseful, this fast-paced novel won’t be out of mind when the last page turns. It will remain for days to be pondered. Joshilyn Jackson is the bestselling author of “Gods in Alabama” and “Between, Georgia.” “Never Have I Ever” was published in 2019 by Harper Collins in New York; 337 pages. ★★★★★ Executive director of the Troup County Historical Society, Shannon Johnson earned her history degree from Samford University and a master's in library science from the University of Alabama.

Read a good book lately? Share your favorite new read with NewnanCoweta Magazine by writing a book review for possible publication in an upcoming issue. Keep your review at 350-450 words and please include the author’s name, page count and date of publication as well as any awards the book may have won. Be sure to give the book your rating of 1 star=You’ll never miss it; 2 stars=Okay; 3 stars=Pretty good; 4 stars=Read it; or 5 stars=Best. Book. Ever. Send your review with your contact information to magazine@newnan.com or mail to NewnanCoweta Magazine, 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan, Ga. 30263.

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COWETA TO ME

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re My Newnan Written by KACIE CARLSON

Kacie Carlson and her mom, Pamela Hennigan, share an affectionate moment following cancer treatment in Newnan. Hennigan died Nov. 29 with her daughter by her side.

22 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

ometimes there are hidden places in this world that you will never get to encounter, but because of cancer, our journey led us straight to a little slice of Heaven on Earth. Those are the words my mother used often as she fought each day through the help of her community at Cancer Treatment Centers Of America in Newnan. Her community at the center is surrounded by love and joy where a neck never goes unhugged and strangers are lifted up in prayer.

COWETA TO ME

Community. I don’t say that lightly as it wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned the importance of what a community can do and how Newnan is no different than my hometown community of DeRidder, Louisiana. For years, we travelled to this quaint town as my mother underwent chemotherapy every four weeks. So you could imagine every thought was the unknown and always fearing if time is running out or doctors not being able to trick cancer one more time. But mostly, as an only child, a caretaker to my mother, and the strength my dad needs, one thought was on constant repeat in my mind, “Will this be our last time as a family to visit Newnan, Georgia?” I greatly admire what this community has brought to my family in a time of need. It’s been a way to escape when you just want to give up from battling the reality of life. When my mother didn’t have a tear left to cry from cancer, when my dad was frustrated with no answers to give, and when I was dying inside from a broken heart, the town of Newnan is where we broke free. Our first adventure was making a ton of memories at Ashley Park. When my mother was recovering from an eighthour surgery, we couldn’t wait until she was up and running to show her the neat shops we found. Sometimes, Opposite page: For a daily reminder of the generosity extended to her family while her mother was a patient at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Kacie Carlson adopted a local labradoodle and named him Newnan.

my dad and I would sneak over to the Great American Cookie Co. while she received chemo. I can promise many cookies have been snuck in the trunk of our rental car. The memories go beyond finding a Catholic Church for Mass on Sundays, the Christmas decorations at Ashley Park, or discovering shops in downtown Newnan and debating which barbecue place is better for pulled pork sandwiches. It’s the fact that the town of Newnan brought us closer together as a family miles away from home during the absolute worst times of our lives. When you can literally get choked up over a community, that’s when you know it’s a little slice of heaven on earth made especially for you to experience. I hope to allow my son to experience how this community has filled our hearts. It’s a tradition and spirit I alway want to keep alive. In fact, I’m so fascinated by the love my parents and I have shared for Newnan that I couldn’t resist bringing a slice of this town back home with me in a big way. So, I purchased a labradoodle puppy and named him Newnan. Now, when people ask his name, I tell them “Newnan” and a conversation ensues. Being able to talk about and share Newnan, both the city and the doodle, is one of the best things that’s come out of an often difficult cancer journey. NCM

What is Coweta to You? Whether you’ve lived here all your life or only a year, we want to hear your personal Coweta story. Did you and your husband fall in love here? Did you move here in your senior year of high school and make lifelong friends? Did you pick guitar with your grandpa and grow up to be a musician? Whatever your own Coweta County story is, we’d like you to share it with readers of NewnanCoweta Magazine. Keep your word count at 350-450 words, please. Email your “Coweta to Me” story to magazine@ newnan.com or mail to 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263. We look forward to hearing from you.

Bargain Sale thru February - Getting Ready for Spring!

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carriagehousesenoia.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 23

Health Care with Heart W Written by NEIL MONROE and Photographed by SARA MOORE

hen I woke up the morning of June 30, 2018, I was brimming with the excitement of a beautiful summer day and a chance to play in a golf tournament. By 9 a.m., that excitement had given way to something I never expected: a major heart attack. A blood clot had attached to my left anterior descending artery – otherwise known as “the widowmaker” – which, unknown to me, had been completely blocked, 100 percent, for quite some time. The clot was interfering with the corollary circulation around the artery that my heart relied on to keep me going. I was disoriented and weak but experienced little pain. In fact, I even attempted to play two holes, thinking that whatever was going on would pass. With uncharacteristic wisdom, I soon realized that whatever was happening, it was serious. I called my wife, asked her to meet me at the clubhouse in Peachtree City, and within minutes, I was on my way to Piedmont Fayette Community Hospital.

Angels It was there that a team of angels – oops, I mean, doctors and nurses – would save my life. Within minutes of walking into the hospital, I received my diagnosis from the cardiologist on duty, Dr. Garry McCullough. “You’re having a heart attack,” he said that morning. “But we have you stabilized.” 24 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Neil and Rayleen Monroe are thankful for the healthcare Neil received close to home after experiencing a heart attack in the summer of 2018.

That was oddly reassuring since I thought I was having a stroke. But the news wasn’t all positive, as I later learned. “We had given you drugs that dilute your arteries, but then we realized that you weren’t cooling down, or getting better, at a rate that we expected,” McCullough recently shared with me. “So, it became clear that we needed to do a catheterization soon.” Less than two hours after getting to the hospital, I was on a gurney headed to the cath lab where Dr. Mina Jacob, a cardiac

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“Even as I heard Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ on the cath lab’s speakers, I had faith in everyone around me.” — Neil Monroe interventionist, would fix the blockage in my heart. As Jacob and his team went into action, I was taken with how the process was smooth, organized, rational. My anxiety level was low, my confidence high. Even as I heard Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” on the cath lab’s speakers, I had faith in everyone around me. “Time is the enemy with any heart

attack,” says Jacob. “The risk to the heart muscle can accelerate quickly, which is why we say that time is muscle.” A burning sensation in my wrist started the process. Nationwide, approximately 60 percent of heart cath procedures are performed through the wrist rather than the groin because of the reduced risk of bleeding. Two hours or so later, it was done.

Jacob cleared the blockage and inserted two stents to keep the artery open. I was alert, alive and very, very tired. Less than 24 hours later, I went home to begin a healthier, more energetic life than I’d led in a long time. Long term, my prognosis is excellent, as reclotting occurs in less than two percent of heart cath procedures and stents. “The people here are a fantastic team,” says McCullough. “They’ve seen a lot, they’re dynamic, and that strengthens the process of care.”

Local assets save lives

Photo by Nicole Dillon

To me, my story is dramatic, unique. But the incredible care I received is a routine part of day-today service at both Piedmont Fayette and Piedmont Newnan hospitals. The life-saving doctors and nurses who provided my care are available every day, every hour, ready as needed to save lives and enhance the quality of life for heart attack victims. In fact, Piedmont Newnan treated more than 450 heart attack patients in the past year. More than 4,000 patients came to the hospital for cardiac-related issues, and more than 1,300 were admitted. Piedmont Fayette conducts approximately 2,800 heart

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Left: Dr. Garry McCullough recently shared with Neil Monroe details of the care he was provided after suffering a heart attack. Opposite page: Cardiac Interventionist Dr. Mina Jacob, right, repaired the blockage in Neil Monroe’s heart during surgery in 2018.

establish the protocols that convinced the state to expand services. “The change in the Certificate of Need is a real benefit for Coweta and Fayette counties and for areas throughout the state,” says Jacob. “Very few patients need surgery. What we have now is a far better solution.” Indeed. Because of it, lives are being saved. “Your situation is a perfect example of how the community benefits,” Jacob adds. “It’s very impressive that Piedmont has made the commitment to have two facilities that are relatively close together.” He notes that the reach of Piedmont Newnan extends throughout West Georgia with improved access since the new Poplar Road interchange opened.

Improve your health While it’s great to have worldclass facilities at our doorstep, it’s best to avoid health risks if possible. McCullough says there are steps that everyone can take to reduce the risk of heart disease or a heart attack. “With the proper medications,

including aspirin, we can reduce cardiac incidents by at least 40 percent or reduce their severity,” he says, adding that it’s important to have routine physicals. Not all heart issues are visible, however. In my case, my cholesterol had always been low, my blood pressure was typically near normal, and my heart rate was below normal. An affordable, low-cost test known as a coronary calcium scan may have helped detect my problem. The test creates a calcium score that can indicate plaque buildup. The test may not be covered by your insurance and typically costs $150 or less. “If you have any concerns, it’s a test worth taking,” says McCullough. “But above all, it’s important for us all to manage our weight, to stop smoking and to exercise.” In the meantime, if you feel pressure in your chest or dizziness, are disoriented, have pain in your arms, or simply feel oddly ill – get care immediately. Take it from me. It can save your life. NCM

Photo by Michael Boylan

catheterization procedures each year, and more than 4,000 patients are treated for cardiac issues. The concept seems simple: A hospital conducts catheterization procedures that save lives and improve health. But it hasn’t always been that simple. Barely a decade ago, state Certificate of Need laws prohibited hospitals without the facilities to perform open heart surgery from performing cardiac interventions. Because of this, patients like me faced a longer road to the immediate care they needed. Had my heart attack occurred a decade ago, it would have required a rapid trip to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, delaying my access to relief for the blocked artery and increasing the likelihood of damage to my heart muscle. Coincidentally, Jacob was part of a Piedmont team that helped demonstrate the efficacy of expanding the availability of heart cath facilities beyond the few hospitals that conducted open heart surgeries at the time. He and his team helped

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Photo by Jackie Kennedy

COWETA ARTS

Yana Pidorvan displays her intricately crafted jewelry, greeting cards and other works of art at the Christmas Market at Coweta County Fairgrounds in November.

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COWETA ARTS

Romance in Art Local Artist Creates Jewelry and Cards Laced with Love Written by SUSAN MAYER DAVIS

Photo courtesy of Yana Pidorvan

or many, European-inspired jewelry and greeting cards adorned with lace, flowers and intricate metal design is the epitome of romantic expression. Newnan resident Yana Pidorvan incorporates all these elements – and a bit of her soul – into each of her creations. Originally from Ukraine, she uses soft natural materials, neutral colors and handcrafted accents to create pieces that seem to open a door to her heart. Her artistic bent is reflected even by the way she dresses – relaxed yet sophisticated. “I learned all about handwork from by wonderful grandmother, Maria, who taught me the basics: knitting, embroidery, sewing, sculpture and so on,” says Pidorvan, noting that her artisan mentor lived through World War II. “She learned to make something out of very little and passed that on to me. I remember her every time I create a new piece. I added education to what she taught me, stirred in some Southern style and my own aesthetic, and the results are the pieces that I now produce.” Pidorvan worked in Ukraine as both an architect and an artist, primarily creating one-of-a-kind greeting cards. She learned local

The artist incorporates metal, leather, beads, fabric and trinkets into her jewelry designs.

crafts, such as designing pysanky, Ukrainian Easter eggs decorated using a wax-resist method to showcase traditional folk designs. Incorporating her own ideas into the craft, she created Easter ornaments in her homeland for more than 15 years. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 29

COWETA ARTS “It just wasn’t for me,” she says. “I worked in my home country, but I never worked in their artistic style. Of course, I would try anything, but I don’t make art to please others. If I make something and I think it’s beautiful, it’s pleasant, it makes me happy. Then I am pleased with it.” Her husband and soulmate, Yegor, enthusiastically supports her creative efforts, according to the artist. “He understands me as no one else can,” she says. “He helps and supports me and my creativity as much as he can. You would not see my artwork today without his steadfast love and support.” The Pidorvans came to the U.S. in 2013 after Yana was granted a green card on her first try. Leaving everything and everyone they knew behind, they became strangers in a strange land, with only one friend, Elena Saitz, who lived in Newnan. Yana explains the difficulty of starting a new life from scratch: “I came here as a nobody. Yegor and I were here alone but together. We survived together, and we are starting to thrive together. Thanks to the Newnan community, we are no longer alone.” Slowly but surely, Yana continues to learn the local culture and to make herself known through her artwork. She says joining the Newnan Coweta Art Association helped her find acceptance and encouragement. And now her artwork is available at Wisteria Lane in Newnan and Heirloom Market in Sharpsburg. Her necklaces feature intricate designs that pair metal and lace, beads and ribbon. Her chokers are hopelessly romantic

with baubles, beads and bows adorning velvet or lace ribbons. Her greeting cards are fashioned with lace borders, vintage photos and tiny trinkets oozing with eclectic charm.

Along with the love she exudes for her husband and

her art, Yana has developed a love affair with her new community.

“I could say I like it, but that’s not true. I really love

Newnan and the wonderful people I’ve met,” she says. “Here it is pleasant and calm with very intelligent, nice and kind

people. My creativity took off once we arrived in Newnan.

The Southern environment, the history – it all just inspires the romantic in me.”

Yana compares the limited availability of craft supplies in

Ukraine to the plethora of items around Coweta County.

“The locals have beautiful opportunities here,” she says,

noting the abundance of big box and small boutique stores that sell crafting items. Repurposing items passed down

through families is another way to find supplies, according to the artist.

“Those old jewelry pieces in your grandmother’s chest

can be refreshed into modern, yet romantic, pieces to wear today,” Yana concludes. “My message to those who are

thinking about making art is: Just try it. Try, look, feel, make your own mistakes, and appreciate people who help you and

Photo courtesy of Yana Pidorvan

teach you. You are so blessed to have this opportunity.” NCM

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“Those old jewelry pieces in your grandmother’s chest can be refreshed into modern, yet romantic, pieces to wear today.” — Yana Pidorvan

Photos courtesy of Yana Pidorvan

Yana Pidorvan’s intricately designed necklaces, chokers and greeting cards evoke romance at Valentine’s – and throughout the year.

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COWETA HOME

Modern Classic, Minimalist Design Remodeled Kitchen Exudes Grace and Calm Written and Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

eah Thomson knew exactly what she wanted when it finally came time to remodel her kitchen. To sum it up in a phrase: Less is more. She and her husband, Tobin, raised three children at their Peachtree City home in the Interlochen Subdivision. She’d made it a point to wait until the kids were grown to re-do the family’s hub of activity. “We’ve been in this house for 22 years, and this is our first remodel,” says Leah. “We waited until the kids were grown. Kids are hard on a kitchen.” A self-described minimalist, Leah gave simple instructions to her designer, Lori Duncan of Blue Fern Merchant and Design Studio in Newnan. “I told Lori I didn’t want anything 32 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

on the counter because it’s easier to clean that way,” Leah recalls. “And I told her I was looking for natural, granite, durable elements.” An outdated bar was removed from the kitchen, opening it up to provide more counter space and area for movement. The counters were topped with silver and gray honed matte granite to provide an elegant yet sturdy workspace. The new kitchen’s simple, classic design is punctuated with just a few rustic accents, including a wooden kneading bowl hanging on a wall. Duncan says the kitchen design sparks of “modern classic with hints of old world and vintage accents.” For Leah, it’s all about calm in the kitchen. “I love it,” she says. “It makes me enjoy cooking. I cook more than I used to.” NCM

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CLOSER LOOK

Newnan Robert Burns Scottish Heritage Weekend: Celebrating Heritage, Community and The Arts Written by EMILY KIMBELL

n January 25, people around the world celebrate the life, work and impact of Scotland lyricist and unofficial national poet, Robert Burns. Robert Burns Day, also known as Robbie or Rabbie Burns Day, marks the birthdate of the 18th-century poet famous for writing “Auld Lang Syne,” “To a Mouse” and “A Red, Red Rose.” Though Burns died more than two centuries ago, his influence remains prevalent and growing and he is celebrated with either Robert Burns Night or Robert Burns Day. In Coweta County, the celebration extends for an entire weekend. The Newnan Robert

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Photo by Aaron Heidman

CLOSER LOOK

A group of Burns Weekend celebrants marches from one event to the next during a recent celebration. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 35

CLOSER LOOK

Scottish Poet Robert Burns is remembered and celebrated at his birthday each January by those enamored with his poetry and song lyrics and/or those desiring to recall their own Scottish heritage.

A Red, Red Rose By Robert Burns O my Luve’s like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June; O my Luve’s like the melodie That’s sweetly play’d in tune. As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I: And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry: Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun: I will luve thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run. And fare thee well, my only Luve And fare thee well, a while! And I will come again, my Luve, Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

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Burns Scottish Heritage Weekend is held the last weekend in January with events celebrating community, heritage and the Arts. This year, the fifth annual event is set for Jan. 30-Feb. 2. Burns was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1759 to a farming family and received most of his education from his father at home. Burns wrote his first poem at the age of 15 and published his first collection of poetry in 1786 at the age of 27. His collection acquired countrywide acclaim due, in part, to the poetry’s relatable content. The poet frequently wrote about life on the farm and his experiences in love, which were quite substantial as he fathered 12 children by four women. After his initial writing success, he became involved in social politics and published more poems and songs. His career was ultimately short-lived when he died of uncertain causes on July 21, 1796, at age 37. For longtime Newnan resident and bagpipe player Michael Scott, the Scottish poet was a figure worthy of celebrating in Coweta County. In 2015, Scott brought the celebration to Newnan on a small scale. The Newnan Burns Weekend celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2020. For Scott, the motivation for bringing an annual Burns Festival to Newnan was an easy decision. “Rabbie Burns was the most romantic poet who ever lived,” says Scott. “Newnan fosters romance. You can’t walk the streets without falling in love with the place, the history and the people. Newnan and Robert Burns match perfectly.” Coweta County’s sister city connection with Ayr, Scotland – the homeplace of Robert Burns – creates even more of a reason for

Newnan to honor the Scottish figure. Sister cities are formed through legal or social agreements between two distinct geographical locations in an effort to promote cultural and commercial ties. In 1998, the City of Newnan and Coweta County established a sister city pact with Ayr, Scotland to promote education, culture, tourism, business and economic development. Scott’s wife, Larisa Mitchell Scott, serves as events director for Newnan Burns Weekend and says that while the event celebrates Scottish heritage, it is ultimately for everyone to enjoy. “We can all appreciate the poems of Robert Burns, the Scottish music, bagpipes and all the elements that make the events uniquely Scottish,” says Larisa. “It’s a fun weekend that

CLOSER LOOK

“It’s a time for people to loosen up and think about wearing kilts, dancing to bagpipes, and eating haggis. It’s about trying new things and just enjoying yourself.” — Larisa Scott grows and has included original plays, runway shows, dance classes and concerts. Events vary annually. The 2020 Newnan Burns Weekend features a Saturday night celebration with a fashion show and Celtic concert performed by the Piper Jones Band, a Scottish trio with a piper, guitarist and percussionist. The trio will perform on Sunday at Newnan Presbyterian Church as part of a Kirkin’ service, a celebration of Scotland and Scottish heritage that’s become a Scottish-American custom. “Also, we plan concerts open to

school groups and senior citizen groups on Friday,” says Larisa. For Michael and Larisa, the Newnan Burns Weekend is more than honoring one particular heritage: It’s about bringing together the community. “This weekend is a special thing for Newnan that is cultural, enriching, educational and entertaining,” says Larisa. “It’s a time for people to loosen up and think about wearing kilts, dancing to bagpipes, and eating haggis. It’s about trying new things and just enjoying yourself.” NCM

The Piper Jones Band performs at Newnan Presbyterian Church at last year’s event.

The 2020 Newnan Robert Burns Scottish Heritage Weekend is set for Thursday, Jan. 30, through Sunday, Feb. 2. Photo by Larisa Scott

anybody can celebrate.” Support from local nonprofits and art associations helps make Newnan Burns Weekend successful, according to Larisa. “We really like the fact that it pulls in lots of different arts organizations and that lots of people pitch in,” she says. Sponsors of this year’s celebration are the Newnan Cultural Arts Commission, Order of the Tartan of the Chattahoochee Valley, Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation and Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. Each year, the weekend lineup

For a schedule of events or to obtain tickets, visit newnanburnsweekend.com.

THE NCM Q&A

Coweta’s Carl Ware From local farm to global business

Written by JACKIE KENNEDY

aised the son of a sharecropper, Coweta County native Carl Ware played a role in pivotal points in history, from evolution of the political guard in Atlanta to the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.

Photo by Jackie Kennedy

Born into a Coweta County sharecropping family in 1943, Ware might have remained on the farm had he been raised by different parents. The faith, tenacity and work ethic he learned from U.B. and Lois Wimberly Ware propelled him to seek education and a life of service that led him to places far from the Sargent farm where he and his siblings picked cotton when they were kids. A 1961 graduate of Central High School in Newnan, Ware earned his bachelor’s degree from Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University, and a master’s from the University of Pittsburgh. He worked as director of housing for the Urban League of Pittsburgh before moving to Atlanta where he served simultaneously as director of Family and Community Services and deputy director of Urban Redevelopment with the Atlanta Housing Authority. In 1973, Ware was elected to the Atlanta City Council and served as its president from 1976 to 1979. He started working part-time for CocaCola in 1974 and, in 1979, left the city council to work full-time as Coke’s vice president of special markets. Ware climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming head of the soft drink company’s Africa group in 38 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Photo by Ann States

NCM Q&A 1993. He is credited with leadership that popularized Coca-Cola on the African continent. From his office in Atlanta, Ware organized a U.S. tour for Nelson Mandela to raise funds for his campaign for president of South Africa. And the Coweta native led Coke’s relief efforts for Rwandan refugees and Zimbabweans affected by cataclysmic drought.

“Guess what? We proved the banks, the business community and Wall Street all wrong.” — Carl Ware In 2000, Ware became Coke’s executive vice president of Public Affairs and Administration, a role in which he served with world leaders like U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.N. SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan. Ware worked with Coca-Cola for nearly three decades. Upon his retirement, the soft drink giant donated $1 million to his alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, to help fund the Carl and Mary Ware Academic Center. Since retiring, Ware has served on several influential boards, including the Chevron Corporation, Georgia Power and PGA Tour Golf Course Properties Board. Today, he and his wife Mary reside at homes in Newnan and Atlanta. Ware’s autobiography, “Portrait of an American Businessman: One Generation from Cotton Field to Boardroom,” was released in September 2019. He chats about the book, and the amazing life that prompted it, in The NCM Q&A. NCM: Tell me about working on the book with Sibley Fleming. Ware: She knew a lot about the story, of course, being the granddaughter of Celestine Sibley who was an old acquaintance of mine from my days in politics. It didn’t take her but a minute to start to capture my personality. To shift from 1943, which is when I was born, into 2018 is not an easy leap – and to capture every era and the way I lived it. NCM: It’s almost like there’s Book One, Two and 40 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Three. Book One details your childhood in Coweta County; Book Two, your political work in Atlanta; and Book Three, Coca-Cola and your work around the globe. Ware: It’s interesting that you picked up on that because when I first started out, I was introduced to book agents in New York and the first agent said to me, “You actually have three or four books here. Why don’t you just write one and then write another one?” And I said, “No, I’m going to write one book, and that’s going to be it as far as my life is concerned. I may do some other things based on my business experiences, but I don’t want to do three books. This is one life, one story. We’re just going to make this work.” NCM: And it does work. It’s very cohesive. One part blends into the other. Ware: The book is really about struggle and it’s about courage and it’s about leadership. I have to say one word that describes my parents and what they stood for is “strength.” They had strength and fortitude and day-in, day-out dedication to us as children. They instilled in us the values of hard work, values of discipline, values of preparation. They didn’t call it back in those days homeschooling, but that’s what it was. They taught us in the home how to eat, how to behave, how to love one another. My daddy’s favorite saying was “The only way to heaven is to love one another.” And that started inside our household. We had it hard. Growing up on a farm, no matter whether you own the farm or you sharecrop it, it’s hard work and hard living. But you learn to rely on each other for strength. NCM: One of my favorite stories in your book is the one about your dad at Prayer Rock. Ware: My father suffered miserably from pleurisy and asthma and there was nothing to treat it. He was suffering so much that he couldn’t walk, but he wanted to find this place to pray up near Jones Hill United Methodist Church on Walt Carmichael Road. So one day in 1945, he literally crawled on his knees from the house to this altar-like rock. I found the rock when I was working on the book. He got on his knees and he prayed to God, “If you will relieve me of this illness, if you’ll cure me, I’ll devote my life to you and be your servant for the rest of my life.” His fate did not immediately change in terms of his illness, but he said that after the prayer, things

NCM Q&A began to change, like finding Paul Smith, the sharecropper farm owner. I describe Paul Smith as an enlightened businessman. He saw in the Ware family a means in which he could farm all of his land – the cotton, corn, sugarcane – and Daddy and Mama found in him a man who was kind towards black folks. Let me tell you what that means: The normal split between the owner and a sharecropper was two-thirds to the landowner and one-third to the sharecropper. Daddy and Paul Smith struck an agreement for 50-50. That was unheard of. Eventually, my father and mother decided we would buy our own land with some of the savings through that sharecropping arrangement. Everybody in our family who could work had a job in addition to working in the fields for Paul Smith, and we saved that money collectively. On Saturday nights my parents would sit us down at the table and say, “This is how much we saved this week. We’re going to buy that land.” We saved up $500 that was a down payment on the 50 acres of land that started this place where we’re sitting right now. NCM: That’s a beautiful story, it really is. Ware: I tell it everywhere I go. I actually told that story at a staff meeting when I first took over the Coca-Cola business in Africa. I ended up by saying to them that our motto going forward was going to be something I learned when I was growing up: “Any job worth doing is worth doing right the first time.” This was circulated throughout the continent of Africa. NCM: In your book, there’s a picture of that on a document. Ware: Yes, and that’s where that notion came from. The takeaway that I would want to convey to anyone who reads the book, especially young folk, is that no matter the circumstance of your birth, no matter where you come from, you too can achieve and you can make a difference in your time on this earth.

NCM: At age 12, you made the statement, “I want to become a businessman.” Nobody says that. Kids want to be a doctor or fireman. Where did that come from? Ware: That came from reading and exposure. At Northside Elementary School, occasionally someone would have an Atlanta Daily World newspaper. It featured black businesses in Atlanta, prominent business people. And my mother, about that time, said something to me like, “You ask so many questions. One of these days you’re going to be president.” It’s amazing how little tidbits of Mama and Daddy saying positive things to a child inspires you and how those words stay with you. I say to every mom and dad today, love your child and tell them good things, tell them what they can be and not what they should not do. NCM: If your mama thinks you can be president one day, of course you can do the things you ended up doing. What inspired you to go into politics? Ware: I had the privilege of being exposed to Dr. King as a student at Clark College. I was greatly inspired because Dr. King gave us the courage and the feeling that it was the righteous thing to do. To become fully educated, you have to be involved, you have to be an activist, you must be fighting for your own rights and freedoms. Dr. King’s assassination inspired me to run for public office. NCM: You became Atlanta’s first African American city council president and worked alongside the first African American mayor. You, Maynard Jackson and other city council members elected in 1973 brought about a monumental shift in Atlanta politics. Ware: That was a pivotal turning point in the history of the city of Atlanta. It was the beginning of something revolutionary. It was an amazing and incredible time. For me, it was a dream come true. Public service was in my blood. It was my calling. Later I looked back and found that I had JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 41

Photo by Jackie Kennedy

NCM Q&A

Carl Ware shares a story about Nelson Mandela with his niece, Pamela Ware Ruffin. The portrait of Mandela welcomes visitors at the entrance of Ware’s Coweta County home.

been a part of and directly connected to many of the events and the people who impacted Atlanta in a very positive way. NCM: You were like Forrest Gump. You were everywhere, Carl Ware. Ware: Yes, and so I thought I need to write this all down. I had worked for Coca-Cola and had been exposed to some of the world’s most dynamic leaders, like Desmund Tutu and Nelson Mandela, who literally changed the course of history in this world. After working alongside them, I felt it was my obligation to put this all down in writing. Much of the book is about how to use power once you gain power to make a change and make a difference. As Maynard Jackson and I, along with the city council and other elected officials, changed the dynamics of how

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business was conducted in the city of Atlanta, we dispelled some myths. And one myth was that if you used minority participation as a law to require involvement in the $2 billion expansion of the Atlanta airport, you’re going to jeopardize the city’s bond rating and create a boondoggle at the airport of contracts being handed out to people not qualified. Guess what? We proved the banks, the business community and Wall Street all wrong. We brought that expansion of the airport in ahead of schedule and well within budget with at least 25 percent of all the contractors being minorities and women. NCM: There was a sea change during the five years you served on the city council.

Photo courtesy of Carl Ware

NCM Q&A

The family celebrates Carl Ware’s 70th birthday at the family farm in Sargent, from left: grandson Aaron, son Tim, Carl, wife Mary and granddaughter Renita Johnson-Ware.

Ware: We achieved monumental things. God gives us power to do good, and we earn power to do good, and that’s what Dr. King taught. And we were fortunate enough to be the first wave of public servants who had been students of Dr. King’s teachings. NCM: You moved from politics to become Coca-Cola’s vice-president of special markets in 1979, but you ended up working in the political realm for the rest of your life. Ware: I do believe in divine intervention. I do believe this is something I was trained and molded for. I ended up doing on a world stage what I could only have done locally in Atlanta. And in the process, it made a tremendous career. In every step of the way, as power and opportunity were given me, I used that position to make changes in diversity at Coca-Cola. When I was elected president of Coca-Cola Africa, I used that power to make changes in our business system on the continent of Africa. NCM: Tell me about meeting Desmund Tutu – and his reaction to your initial plan for Coca-Cola in Africa? Ware: In my first meeting with him, there was a majestic feeling of being in the presence of the most revered spiritual icon in the world, but I felt so comfortable in his

presence. This made me feel really confident. So I made my presentation, and he invited me to Eucharist the next morning with his staff and I thought, well, we probably have a pretty good chance. And then he handed me a press release and said, “I’m going to have a press conference and announce that all companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, should disinvest immediately.” NCM: I felt for you when I read that. Ware: I did not expect that kind of abrupt departure from where I thought we were headed, and at that moment I said to Bishop Tutu, “Would you mind having a prayer with me? Because I’m going to need it in order to find a way to tell my bosses back in Atlanta that we’re going to have to make some real serious business decisions.” NCM: That was your prayer rock. Ware: That was my prayer rock. I never thought about it that way, honestly I didn’t. But that was my prayer rock, you’re right. And when the prayer was finished, we got up and he said, “I won’t make the decision now. I will think about it and we’ll meet again.” That gave me time to go and start crafting something very different. And I ended up working JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 43

NCM Q&A alongside him to become the architect of The Coca-Cola Company’s disinvestment plan from South Africa.

to create a new South Africa and using the power of the brand of Coca-Cola to be out front leading that.

NCM: Nelson Mandela credited you with being instrumental in bringing an end to apartheid. His note to you, which appears on your book’s dust jacket, reads: “When the history of our struggle is properly reviewed, only then will the world be privy to fully understand your catalytic role in that struggle.” Tell me about Mandela.

NCM: Tell me about your family. I understand one of your brothers recently died.

Ware: I met with Mr. Mandela in his office in downtown Johannesburg, and my first impression was a regal presence but down-to-earth. We talked about his family, my family, my background. We talked about the future of South Africa and how The Coca-Cola Company could join with him in creating the new South Africa. And that day he admonished me to never come to South Africa unless I called him first when I got there. If he was in town, I would go by his home and we would repeat that first day of talking about family and things we enjoyed, a little bit about business, but mostly about our backgrounds. We never really talked about his days in prison. I never asked and he never volunteered that. Our focus was on how

Ware: Thomas was our family soldier, our hero. He had two tours of duty in Vietnam. He passed away Oct. 25, 2019. With his passing, there are eight of us left. My oldest sister, Louise, lives on the farm here. She’s in her early 80s and just as chipper and lovely as always. And my sister Mildred is moving back to the farm, too, so we’ll have a little Wareville out here on the Ware Farm. My brother Walter lives in Coweta County, too, in the Welcome area. NCM: Tell me about the farm. Ware: This home sits on some 260-odd acres. I just sold 200 acres to a local realtor who’s building a nice subdivision. I started investing in land in Newnan 30 years ago or more. NCM: Why did you invest in land? Does it go back to your family saving up that $500 to buy the farm? Ware: Yes. I always knew that I would end up back here, and I wanted to own as much land as I possibly could. It’s

Photo by Chris Martin

Carl and Mary Ware share two homes, one in Atlanta and another in Coweta County, where the couple relaxes on their back deck here.

44 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

NCM Q&A

not just the monetary value. It’s the keeping of property to hand down to your children, to generations to come. NCM: Tell me about your son and your grandchildren. Ware: Our son Timothy passed away Jan. 9, 2017, of a sudden heart attack. He was 50 years old. He was an entrepreneur who owned his own landscape company and opened one of the first delis in the Georgia Tech campus area about 25 years ago. Our grandchildren: Renita is 31 and Aaron is 30. Aaron works for Coca-Cola in Charlotte, North Carolina. Renita’s ambition is to own and operate her own child development center. They both are lovely. And Renita recently had my first great grand, Tayden Alexander. NCM: You’re 76, Mr. Ware. You were telling me you exercise several times a week. Ware: I exercise four or five times a week. I got up this morning and did my workouts. I usually do about 30 minutes of stretching and aerobics. And then I do weights, and then my hammers and then the treadmill for about 25 or 30 minutes.

NCM: Well, 76 looks like the new 62 on you. Ware: That’s very kind of you to say. I appreciate it. I think the body is the temple. As you eat and treat yourself, so are you. NCM: Last question. How do you want to be remembered? Ware: Wow, that’s a great question. I think I would want to be remembered as a good man, as a person who put others first. And that I have a passion for service and a love of people with an insatiable appetite for getting to know more about people. A people person, yeah. NCM: It’s obvious you’re a people person. You utilized that through every step of your life. Ware: When I retired from the board of the Chevron Corporation three or four years ago, the CEO shared some words about me. He said he asked the senior management team what they thought of Carl Ware as a person, and they said, “He’s a people person. He loves people.” That’s good enough for me. Yes, that’s good enough for me. NCM

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Coweta County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Sharing Coweta with the World Written by JEFFREY WARD Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

omewhere in Russia, two recent visitors to West Georgia have watched the movie “Murder in Coweta County.” Where did they get the DVD? At the Coweta County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Located inside Coweta County’s historic courthouse on the downtown square in Newnan, the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) serves as the local visitors center and a one-stop shop for information on the county and its seven cities. Visitors hail from every U.S. state and around the world, according to CVB Coordinator Cheryl Smith and Information Specialist Mark Puckett. Smith and Puckett have fielded all sorts of questions, including one from a visitor wanting to know where to purchase a five-gallon bucket of laundry detergent. But most come to the CVB for pointers on where to find a fun event, a historic site or an interesting attraction. Just inside the front entrance at the courthouse, the CVB, officially certified as a regional visitors 46 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

information center, is small but jam-packed with information to satisfy almost any request from visitors and locals alike. Their treasure trove of information includes a variety of pamphlets, books and memorabilia on local sites plus info on attractions throughout Georgia. People visit the CVB to search for genealogical records, historical locations, local activities, hotel accommodations and restaurants, according to Smith, who says the recent booming Coweta movie industry has become a wildly popular drawing card to the area. Displays at the CVB focus on Newnan native and country music superstar Alan Jackson and on “Murder in Coweta County,” a local story that gained national acclaim. Jackson’s display includes a cowboy hat and outfit he wore, his 2001 entertainer/artist of the year award, photographs and handwritten lyrics. The “Murder in Coweta County” memorabilia focuses on the book written by Newnan native

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Information Specialist Mark Puckett displays a paperback and hardback version of “Murder in Coweta County.” He stands next to a display case filled with memorabilia relating to the story’s villain, John Wallace. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 47

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

“I love working in this old beautiful building, and I love working with the people who come in, virtually from across the globe. They’re all so interesting. I love that every day is different.” — Cheryl Smith Coordinator Cheryl Smith shows off a copy of Newnan native Alan Jackson’s cookbook as a cardboard Rick Grimes, “The Walking Dead” hero played by Andrew Lincoln, looks over her shoulder.

Margaret Anne Barnes and the movie starring Andy Griffith, as Meriwether County landowner John Wallace, and Johnny Cash as Coweta County Sheriff Lamar Potts. Both chronicle how Potts brought justice after Wallace killed his employee, William Turner, near Moreland in 1948. On

display are various John Wallace artifacts including his pocket watch, Bible, photos of him at different stages in his life and a pillowcase and tie with embroidery handcrafted by his wife, Josephine. Available for purchase are cookbooks and other books written by

local authors, postcards featuring area sites and history, and loyalty patches, caps and beanies. Smith updates the activities calendar on the Coweta County website in a timely manner, which is a good thing since there’s something going on almost every day of each month. She says her job as CVB director is a post that’s most appealing to her. “I love working in this old beautiful building, and I love working with the people who come in, virtually from across the globe,” she says. “They’re all so interesting. I love that every day is different. You never know who is coming in or what questions will be asked. I learn so much from each visitor and no two days are the same.” Visitor traffic to the CVB has

Cardboard cutouts of Alan Jackson and Andrew Lincoln, as Rick Grimes of “The Walking Dead,” guard cases packed with flyers and brochures advertising Georgia historic sites and tourist attractions. 48 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

increased dramatically since the office relocated from Bullsboro and White Oak Drive to the courthouse a decade ago, according to Smith. More than 1,000 visitors a month frequent the CVB, and the financial impact of tourism in Coweta County is dramatic and growing. The economic growth of tourism in Georgia statewide is significant, and the stats are telling. According to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics, Georgia’s total tourism demand in 2019 was 46 percent higher than its pre-recession level in 2008. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), in Coweta

County in 2017 there was $215 million in direct tourism spending, $9.31 million in state tax revenues generated from tourism, and $6.5 million in local tax revenues from hotel/motel taxes. During that year, tourism supported 2,152 jobs with a payroll of $53.35 million. Taxes generated by tourism in 2017 saved Coweta County households an average of $313 annually, according to the GDEcD. When asked who his favorite recent visitor was, Puckett was quick with his response. “My favorite visitor in 2019 was a young man named Walter, about 10 years old, who came in with his mom,” says Puckett. “He had always

been fascinated with the courthouse and wanted to see the courtroom. He was such a nice young man, very polite, and even shook my hand. I took them up to the courtroom, gave them the grand tour and shared all of my favorite courthouse stories. He listened to each one and asked some great questions.” Puckett and Smith are happy to give any visitor a courthouse tour, provided there are no legal proceedings in the upstairs courtroom. The Coweta County CVB is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For info, call the CVB at 770.254.2627 or visit explorecoweta.com. NCM

An Alan Jackson display at the Coweta County Courthouse features his cowboy hat and boots, family photographs and handwritten lyrics.

Far left: A display of items related to “Murder in Coweta County” is a favorite stop for visitors to the local CVB. Left: A tie embroidered by John Wallace’s wife, Josephine, accompanies a quotation by him. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 49

COWETA GARDEN

Cowetaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Master Gardeners share tips year-round Written and Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

50 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

COWETA GARDEN

hose minus a green thumb may think of gardening as a seasonal activity, but any gardener worth her shovel and pruning shears knows it’s a year-round endeavor. To hone in on that, Coweta Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) have produced a calendar for 2020 – complete with monthly gardening tips for those of us a few ranks below master. Producing the calendar culminated from an idea of Dale Senko, a master gardener who was searching for ways to help promote the James E. McGuffey Nature Center and fund MGEV programs. The local master gardeners basically “adopted” the Nature Center, located at Coweta County Fairgrounds in Newnan, about five years ago. Since then, they have worked on a variety of initiatives to improve the center, which was named for former Coweta County Commissioner McGuffey who spearheaded construction of the nature center in the early 2000s. Since signing on to provide tender loving care, the master gardeners have added new signs at the nature center and along its trails to educate about and identify plants. In addition, they have planted trees, shrubs and bushes native to west Georgia while removing numerous invasives. “At the nature trail, there were a lot of plants that aren’t native to the area, and that doesn’t help the wildlife, so we took those out,” says master gardener Deberah Williams, noting that MGEV has worked with the Georgia Native Plant Society to obtain native plants to replace the invasives. “They go into the woods and rescue endangered plants and have been giving us plants that you can’t necessarily get at big box stores.” The nature center’s focal point is a covered pavilion next to a small pond. Surrounding these are six trails, including a paved one that’s handicapped accessible. The center also features outdoor classrooms and a farmer’s heritage garden. “The facility is fabulous, and the County does a great job keeping up the trails,” says Williams. “It’s just a great place to visit, walk, see nature up close and learn about native plants on the nature trail.” Visitors include children from local Boys and Girls Clubs, scouts and other organizations. Master gardeners give

January-February Gardening Tips From Coweta MGEVs’ 2020 Calendar JANUARY • • • •

• • •

FEBRUARY • • • • • •

Opposite page: From left, Pat Farmer, Deberah Williams and Dale Senko show off autumn buds along a McGuffey Nature Center trail.

Clean, repair and organize garden tools. Make a garden plan for spring and summer. Get a soil test. Contact your extension office for soil test bags. Remove invasive non-native vines and plants such as privet, kudzu, eleagnus and multiflora rose. Be careful to avoid poison ivy. Even leafless vines can cause a bad rash. Purchase native trees and shrubs which attract birds and butterflies. Transplant small leafless shrubs and trees when the ground is not frozen.

•

Divide perennials that flower in the fall. It’s a good time to prune. Do not prune spring flowering plants. Prune vines and brambles like grapes, raspberries and blackberries. Arbor Day in Georgia is celebrated on Feb. 15; plant a native tree in your yard. Cut back ornamental grasses before new growth starts. Clean out bird boxes and get ready for returning birds. Some cool season crops may be planted when soil is above 40 degrees.

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COWETA GARDEN

“It’s just a great place to visit, walk, see nature up close and learn about native plants on the nature trail.” — Deberah Williams presentations at the center and group tours are available upon request.

Along with supporting McGuffey Nature Center, proceeds from the

calendar support MGEV programs including their Backyard Association monthly talks, spring and fall plant sales, and annual scholarships (see application information below).

Packed with information, the MGEV calendar features brilliant

photography of the nature center, its trails and native plants. All calendar

photos were taken by master gardeners

Ed Atkinson, Pat Farmer, Williams and local photographer Gordon Kilgore.

Accompanying the photos are names of plants and flowers pictured along with information about them.

Williams did layout and design for

the calendar, and master gardeners

worked with the University of Georgia From left, Dale Senko, Pat Farmer and Deberah Williams discuss upcoming MGEV projects after enjoying an autumn afternoon stroll at the McGuffey Nature Center.

on monthly gardening tips that provide

information pertinent to local planting. Space is provided below the tips to jot down notes regarding your own planting schedule or to-do list. The calendar also features event dates and times for MGEV programs.

Through 2020, master gardeners Senko,

Williams and Farmer will share their wealth of gardening know-how with NewnanCoweta Magazine readers as our guest Coweta Garden columnists.

Here’s hoping some of the green in their

greenthumbs rubs off on the rest of us. NCM

Far Left: Dale Senko stops at McGuffey Nature Center to point out one of several information boards along the main trail, which is paved to accommodate visitors of limited mobility. Left: Pat Farmer shares a story of how local Boy Scouts built birdhouses erected along the Nature Center trails. The opening is reenforced with steel to keep squirrels from chewing their way into the home for birds.

Apply for MGEV Scholarships Coweta Master Gardener Extension Volunteers offer college scholarships to students planning to study agriculture, horticulture or similar subjects. Four $1,500 scholarships are awarded annually. The deadline to turn in applications for this year’s MGEV scholarships is March 13. For more info or to obtain an application, contact Coweta County UGA Extension at 770.254.2620 or coweta. extension@uga.edu.

COWETA COOKS

A plate loaded with food prepared using recipes from a popular local cookbook headline this winter table setting at the Newnan home of Beth Walker.

Local W Church Feeds the Flock Written and Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

54 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

hen the ladies of Liberty Christian Church published their first cookbook in 1951, they probably never dreamed the collection of recipes would retain its popularity almost 70 years later. In 1997, they published the second edition, “Feeding the Flock,” and in 2018, the church’s Christian Women’s Fellowship produced the third reiteration, “Feeding the Flock, A Second Helping.” The new edition includes 256 new recipes, bringing the total number of recipes to 448. “We kept the recipes from the first and second cookbooks and used all of them plus more in the third book,” says Newnan resident Beth Walker, who was born three years before the first cookbook came out. For almost her entire life, Walker has been a member of Liberty Christian Church, located

COWETA COOKS

Contributors to “Feeding the Flock, A Second Helping” show off dishes prepared using recipes from the cookbook. From left are Beth Walker, Glenna With and Martha Hanson. Proceeds from the sales of Liberty Christian Church’s cookbook fund organizations like One Roof and Angel's House.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 55

COWETA COOKS on Macedonia Road in Newnan. Both her mother, Harrisonel Woods, and grandmother, Lena Hyde, attended the church and have recipes in the cookbook. The cookbook project was led by Christian Women’s Fellowship Cookbook Committee members Martha Hanson, Florence Ingram, Mary Jane Miles, Walker, Rev. Anita Renahan-White, Glenna With and Brenda Wood. Church members contributed the recipes, which include a generous mix of appetizers, vegetable and meat dishes, salads, soups, desserts and more. Liberty Christian Church was established in 1847. Proceeds from its cookbook sales support various organizations including One Roof, Angel's House, Ferst Foundation and Arnco-Sargent Elementary School. The cookbook is available for purchase at Corner Arts Gallery in downtown Newnan or by calling Beth Walker at 678.326.8077. NCM

Share Your Community Cookbook Help Newnan-Coweta Magazine celebrate our 25th anniversary by becoming part of Coweta Cooks in 2020. Has your church, school or civic group produced a cookbook as a fundraiser in recent years? If so, we’d love to share your recipes with our readers. Send information about your group and cookbook to magazine@newnan.com, call 770.253.1576, or drop by our office at 16 Jefferson Street in Newnan. Be sure to include a contact name and daytime telephone number, email address, and brief info about your organization, cookbook, and what project(s) benefit from your cookbook sales. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your recipes.

Vidalia Onion Pie

Buttermilk Biscuits

Glenna With

Amy Headley

“My 3-year-old grandson, Finn Scott, helps me make this.” 1½ cups Ritz Cracker crumbs, crushed 6 tablespoons melted butter 3 cups thinly sliced onions 2 tablespoons butter ¾ cup milk 1 egg Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste Paprika, to taste Shredded Cheddar cheese Combine the crushed cracker crumbs and melted butter and press into pie pan. Cook the onions in 2 tablespoons butter until clear. Put in pie pan. Combine milk, egg, salt, pepper and paprika, to taste. Pour over onions. Top with Cheddar cheese. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until pie is hot and egg is cooked. 56 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

“Do not roll the dough out too thinly or the biscuits will not be light and fluffy.” 2 cups self-rising flour ½ cup Crisco 1¼ cups buttermilk Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift flour. Work Crisco into flour with a pastry blender or your fingers. Add buttermilk; mix well. With a floured surface and hands, fold dough over several times to form a ball firm enough to pick up; keep adding flour until the dough is not too sticky to handle. Roll out biscuit dough to approximately ⅔ -inch thickness on a floured board and cut with a biscuit cutter. Place biscuits on a greased baking sheet. Bake approximately 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly browned on top and bottom. Makes 12 to 14 biscuits.

COWETA COOKS

Kansas City Steak Soup Glenna With “My husband Roger and I discovered this soup at a restaurant where we ate for prom in 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri, where we lived. I asked for the recipe and have adapted it through the years.” 2 ¾ 2 1 1½ 1 1 1 4 2

sticks butter cup flour (32-ounce) cartons beef broth (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes pounds ground sirloin medium to large onion, chopped tablespoon Kitchen Bouquet gravy enhancer tablespoon Accent seasoning mix large potatoes, diced (15-ounce) bags frozen mixed vegetables for soup Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste

Cheese and Olive Balls Beth Walker 1

stick butter

(5-ounce) jar Old English cheese

cups sifted flour

Dash of hot sauce

jar olives

Cream butter and cheese. Add flour and hot sauce. Mix well. Press spoonful of dough in hand and wrap around individual olives. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve hot. Makes about five dozen.

Using a large pan, melt butter; add flour gradually and continue to cook until flour turns brown. Stir constantly. Add beef broth; stir until smooth. Add tomatoes. In a skillet, brown ground sirloin and onion. Add to broth mixture. Add Kitchen Bouquet and Accent. To this, add potatoes and mixed vegetables. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook until potatoes are done. Serve with hot rolls or cornbread.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 57

COWETA COOKS Enchilada Casserole-Ole! Martha Hanson “My three brothers are hunters, so I use half venison, half ground beef, when I make this hearty dish.” 1 1 2 1 ¼ 2 ¼ 6 ¾ 4 1 1 ¼

pound lean ground beef large onion, chopped cups salsa can black beans, rinsed and drained cups Italian dressing teaspoons taco seasoning teaspoon ground cumin (8-inch) flour tortillas cup sour cream ounces shredded Mexican blend cheese cup shredded lettuce medium tomato, chopped cup minced fresh cilantro

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in salsa, beans, dressing, taco seasoning and cumin. Place three tortillas in an 11x17-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with half of the meat mixture, sour cream and cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until heated through. Let sit for 5 minutes. Top with lettuce, tomato and cilantro. Serves 8.

Make-Ahead Layered Salad Martha Hanson “I use low-fat or low-cal sour cream and light mayo when I make this salad, which is best when made up to 24 hours ahead of serving time.” 1 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 2 2 ¼

medium head lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces cups shredded carrots cups cooked green peas, drained cups chopped celery cups thinly sliced purple onion cups chopped parsley cups sour cream cups mayonnaise cup bacon pieces

Layer first 6 ingredients in the order listed in a 3-quart glass see-through dish; set aside. Combine sour cream and mayonnaise, mixing well. Spread evenly over entire top of layered ingredients. Sprinkle bacon on top. Chill for at least six hours. Makes 12 to 15 servings. 58 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Nell’s Asparagus Casserole Beth Walker “This was a recipe from my mother, Harrisonel Woods.” 3 tablespoons butter, melted 3 tablespoons flour 2½ cups milk ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, grated 3 (16-ounce) cans asparagus, drained 3 or 4 boiled eggs, sliced Ritz Cracker crumbs Butter Make white sauce using melted butter, flour, milk and salt. Stir over low heat until thickened. Add grated cheese and cook until melted. Arrange asparagus in casserole dish. Add a layer of sliced eggs. Add a layer of sauce. Layer until all ingredients are used. Sprinkle cracker crumbs over the top. Dot with butter. Bake in 350-degree preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. NCM

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From left, Logan, Lila Grace, Mattie Ann and Luke Comerford enjoy a drenching at Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange. 60 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Splash into Summer– all year long!

Written by BRITTANY COMERFORD and Photographed by CHRIS MARTIN

e are a dairy farming family and, due to our crazy schedules, we like to take our “zoocrew” on minivacations as often as possible. Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange provides that opportunity. We’ve visited the water park/lodge a few times since it opened in May 2018 and enjoy the fact that it allows us to experience summer fun all year-round. Matt and I have four kids, ages 14, 13, 10 and 8. They adore Great Wolf Lodge — summer, spring, fall or winter. For our last outing there, we prepared by signing up for Great Wolf emails and watching for promotional pricing, which is dependent on the time of year and day of the week you

visit. We have found the best nightly prices are during the first of the week when the resort is usually less crowded. We booked a standard room that provides beds to sleep six. The spacious rooms are bigger than a regular hotel room, and our large family was very comfortable. Each room has a small refrigerator that is perfect for snacks and drinks that you can bring along. You might want to bring a throw blanket from home, though, because the bedspreads are light; room service promptly brought us an extra blanket and towels when we requested them. Great Wolf allows guests to check in starting at 1 p.m. They don’t guarantee your JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 61

Above: The Comerford family, of LaGrange, don't have to travel far to enjoy water park fun at Great Wolf Lodge. Clockwise from left are Logan, 13; Mattie Ann, 14; dad Matt; Lila Grace, 8; mom Brittany; and Luke, 10. At right: The Comerford kids anxiously await a big splash.

room will be ready, but you are welcome to start enjoying the waterpark. Each person in your room receives an armband that serves as your room key and admission to the waterpark; the band also can be linked to a credit card for use throughout the resort. Having teenagers, this is wonderful for us because it allows our kids to return to the room whenever they wish without me worrying about keys. The armbands also are used for checking out towels at the waterpark. My crew loves having dry towels each time they take a break from the water. As a mama, going to the park is a breeze: I don’t have to worry about taking towels, money or keys. The zoocrew and I checked in at 1 p.m. sharp with our swimsuits on and ready for fun. The waterpark is big enough for all ages to enjoy hours of fun, yet small enough to keep an eye on your kids. Matt and I participate in many of the activities with our children, but we also like to sit and watch them play while we rest. The zoocrew spends most of their time at the large slides area where two raft slides allow four to six people to ride together. The rapid racer is another of our kids’ favorites because it allows you to race the people beside you, providing lots of fun family competition. A ride truly for the thrill seekers, one slide features a bottom that drops out from under you. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the lazy river lets you kick back and simply enjoy floating through the park. A large jungle gym area provides water shooters, small slides and a large bucket that drops water to drench whoever’s standing below. Smaller slides are designed especially for younger children. Our boys spent hours playing 62 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Mattie Ann rocks a pair of Great Wolf ears as she ascends the climbing wall.

Luke maneuvers ropes and floats at the water park.

64 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Above: Logan makes his way across a swinging bridge. At right: Lila Grace gives the ropes course her undivided attention.

water basketball, and the girls enjoyed jumping the waves in the wave pool. An abundance of activities at the resort ensures the fun continues even after the waterpark closes at 9 p.m. My children get Paw Passes that can be purchased for the ropes course, rock climbing wall, arcade, Candy Factory and Magic Quest Adventure. In the Candy Factory, kids can fill cups with their favorite candies. The Magic Quest is an interactive game with stations throughout the resort; kids build their own wands for fighting off a dragon. Along with the water park and Paw Pass activities, there are always free activities going on around the resort, from morning yoga to night-time dance parties. For those who visit in the summer, there’s an outside pool, too. Onsite dining opportunities at the resort include Ben and Jerry’s, Dunkin’ Donuts and Campfire Grill, which offers a full-scale breakfast. We splurged for breakfast and didn’t regret it. At the waterpark, a counter service restaurant means you never have to leave the slides. Or you can order food from outside the park. While food from outside is not allowed in the waterpark area, it’s fine in the rest of the resort. We often eat at tables just outside the water park. Several LaGrange restaurants deliver to Great Wolf. Checkout is at 11 a.m. That’s when we put on our swimsuits and load up the car—and then head back inside for a full day of water park fun! That’s the thing: Even though you have to check out of your room by 11, your entrance to the waterpark is good for the rest of the day. This allows a day and a half at the waterpark, and that’s plenty of time to take it all in. NCM

Coweta Prose A

s Newnan-Coweta Magazine celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020, we invite our readers to share their own prose, poetry and/or short fiction. To kick off this new feature, we share poetry penned by employees of Newnan Times-Herald and NewnanCoweta Magazine.

Last of the Spring Peepers By Rebecca Leftwich I never have seen spring peepers (At least, not while they’re peeping) I declare them to be enchanted (Not that I mean common bones) Their perfect pitching witchery The chirruping chorus of riotous joy Spring is my greediest season (At least, concerning amphibians) I shout ‘Louder! Welcome spring!’ (Not that my voice is bewitching) What I mean is ‘Welcome me! To your entrancing whistle refrain!’ Evening coasts to a standstill (At least, I’ve engaged my brakes) Every thing and lovely rushes in (Not that frogs are pulchritudinous) Spotty and bug-eyed, spellbound They sing, then sings my soul. A longtime reporter for The Newnan Times-Herald, Rebecca Leftwich spends most of her time listening to inappropriate music and trying not to bump into things.

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Newnan Times-Herald staffers share prose and poetry to kick off new NCM feature

Funky Skunky By Sarah Fay Campbell

Twenty-one years ago, something wonderful happened. It was my junior year in college, and I was struggling with depression for the first time in my life. I was so lonely. I had moved way out in the country, 20 minutes from Athens, because I wanted to be in the woods. But it was a bad idea. One roommate was cool but was always at his girlfriend’s. The other one was creepy and weird. The creek was nice, but that was about it. My best friend had a new friend and didn’t have much time for me. I got taken off the schedule at work. My dad and I were having issues and he stopped sending me money. I went to the campus mental health clinic to get some counseling. I was doing an intake questionnaire and the lady started talking about putting me on medication. I was like, woah. Why would you put me on medication? I just need some counseling. And she looked at me like I was nuts and snapped, “Ma’am, this is a mental health clinic.” I almost ran out of there. And then one day the best friend invited me to come hang out at a craft fair where she was exhibiting. It was fun. There were kids running around chasing a tiny, tiny kitten. Her husband decided to rescue the cute little thing. She was sooo tiny. I remember her eating tortilla

chips out of his mouth. At the end of the day, talk turned to what to do with the little cutie. They tried to get me to take her, but I said no. It was decided to see if my friend’s mom wanted her. I said, well, if your mom doesn’t want her, I guess I will take her. I will be forever grateful to Ola DiGiola for not taking that cat. Baby Skunk (Funky Skunky) came along just when I needed her. She was just what I needed. I used to say she saved my life. That was exaggerating, but not by much. And oh, the wonderful times we have had together. All those weekends driving back home with her in my lap or across the back dash or even – gasp – at my feet. I remember the time she got out of the car in a parking lot and got scared and I was afraid I would never catch her. It was such a relief when I finally managed to get her back in the car. I’ve been waiting to write this on her birthday, and it’s right around now. But all of a sudden, I’ve had to hurry, before it is too late. Our time is coming to an end. It’s happening so fast. I’ve known it was coming for years. I never thought she would make it to 21! And now I’m starting to really freak out. My best friend. My constant companion for half of my life. What am I going to do without her? Sarah Fay Campbell is a 20-year veteran of The Newnan Times-Herald. She'd rather be camping.

COWETA PROSE

Faith and Fallacy

Ode to NCM

By Rebecca Leftwich

By Jackie Kennedy

There used to be five of us. We had Christmas and New Year’s Two sets of bunk beds, the foot of my bed A tattered Br’er Rabbit, and movie quotes

A magazine is a living thing Made for periodical pursuits. Editing the thing would be a pain Without “Eats Leaves and Shoots.”

We had the woods, and school And stories about the stupid things we did. We weren’t even sorry. We just laughed and laughed.

Or was that “Eats, Shoots & Leaves”? Sometimes, it’s hard to tell. Spelling, grammar and punctuation, Too? Editing can be hell.

When you lose 1/5 of who you are Suddenly, you can’t really breathe You never breathe all the way in again And yet people still forget, after awhile.

On top of that, there’s AP Style And it changes all the time. Last year percent became %, It ought to be a crime.

I don’t forget. I look for you, every day. I think you might be in a room Really close. I can’t find the key. And I can’t put my faith in a fallacy.

Everyone has a story, Whose prints? It’s hard to juggle. What to leave in, what to leave out? Therein lies the struggle.

Life has gone on without you. But I wonder how you are I wonder how you got wherever you are (You have to be somewhere, don’t you?)

What goes on the cover? So much comes into play. Celebrity, kids, cutesy pets, Or the flavor of the day?

They try to help me find you But where they say you went Is not someplace you would go. Not on purpose, or enjoy.

Try to please everyone? That’s good work if you can get it. Just get the proofs out on time, And try hard not to sweat it.

I know you are somewhere (You have to be somewhere, don’t you?) I keep thinking it’s somewhere very close Only I can’t quite reach you.

That’s easier said than done When each issue is like a child. Grow it up the best you can, And watch it go buck wild.

I don’t believe you ceased to be Because I don’t believe in cosmic cruelty No matter how many rules you broke Or commandments I try not to break. I know you can’t tell me where you are Or how you got there. I don’t believe anybody can. So I can’t put my faith in a fallacy. But I can’t stop searching, either I have faith you are somewhere (You have to be somewhere, don’t you?) And a fallacy says I’ll find you someday.

Jackie Kennedy is editor of Newnan-Coweta Magazine (NCM).

Share Your Prose Are you a closet poet? Or a creator of short fiction? Share your best work with us and we may publish it in an upcoming issue of Newnan-Coweta Magazine. Submit your work along with your name, address, email address and daytime phone number to magazine@newnan.com or mail or drop by our office at Newnan-Coweta Magazine, 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan 30263.

BEFORE & AFTER

New Year, New You! It’s never too late to learn a healthy lifestyle Written by JENNIFER DZIEDZIC and Photographed by SARA MOORE

he new year brings limitless possibilities for those longing to make positive lifestyle changes. It’s the perfect time to pay

attention to your health and to banish bad habits that have crept in over time.

Michèle Feckoury knows firsthand how

difficult making these changes can be.

“When I moved from France to Georgia 26

years ago, I had no idea I was going to have to fight with my weight for almost 20 years,” she

says. “It was hard, depressing, and changed my self-esteem in a way that is hard to explain.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the obesity rate for U.S. adults was at 39.8 percent in 2015-16; the rate was 31.6 percent for 2017 in Georgia. Obesity leads to health risks such as osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. To help people who aspire to reach their health goals, Feckoury opened Lifetime Wellness Center in Newnan in 2015. Most who visit do so for the same reason: to lose weight. “I divide clients into two categories,” says Feckoury. “One, those who come to see if we can give them a miracle pill, which does not exist. And two, those who have been scared by their doctor who told them they need to lose weight because of bad blood results.” Feckoury finds that those who are ready to lose weight will do what it takes to accomplish their goal. That’s what happened with her. After becoming a mother, she was motivated to get back to her healthier self and tried many

Cathy Vox Land, left, discusses her healthy weight goals with Michèle Feckoury of Lifetime Wellness Center in Newnan. 68 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Happy with her dramatic weight loss, Beth Carroll holds up a shirt that once fit her.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 69

BEFORE & AFTER diet plans with little success. Then, a horseback riding accident resulted in a spinal injury, preventing her from performing traditional exercise. She ultimately decided to try a protein plan developed by a French doctor and lost weight. “Exercise is, at the most, 20 percent of our health,” says Feckoury. “The other 80 percent is what goes in our mouths.” Proper nutrition is essential to overall well-being and healthy weight, according to Feckoury who offers tips for those beginning to search out a diet plan: • Take the time to do your research. • Don’t fall for the quick fix. • Why do you want to lose weight? To look good

says, noting that incorporating a healthy diet is key to building a new, healthy lifestyle. According to the CDC’s “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” a healthy eating plan: • Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fatfree or low-fat milk and milk products. • Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. • Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt/ sodium and added sugars. • Stays within your daily calorie needs. In studies funded by the National Institute of Health, Dr. Stephen P. Messier looked at the effects of weight loss through diet and exercise on knee osteoarthritis in overweight adults and found that with a 20 percent weight loss, subjects had reduced pain and inflammation, thus avoiding surgical or pharmacological intervention. His study finds that for every pound of weight loss, there is a four‐pound reduction in knee‐joint load per step. Jillian Michaels, a personal trainer and — Beth Carroll TV personality says, “It’s not about perfect. is not enough. Find good reasons and then find a It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every coach you like. single day, that’s where transformation happens. That’s • Having a coach is the secret to success. how change occurs.” Feckoury says anyone can be successful in working Locally, Newnan resident Bill Oakes is a walking towards a healthier lifestyle. testimonial to the fact that anyone can make a change “I want to say losing weight is almost easy, though for their health if they put their minds to it. In his early 70s, Oakes has eliminated type 2 diabetes. He is active, keeping it off is the problem for most people,” she

“Taking care of our bodies inside and out is the best path to true freedom and true joy.”

Bill Oakes, Before and After

70 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

BEFORE & AFTER energetic and notes that his joints no longer ache. He credits his success to making the right food choices for his body and exercising safely. Cassie Jackson, owner of Steppin’ Out Performing Arts in Newnan, advises those on a path to healthy living to get started early each day. “First thing in the morning is the best time to get hydrated, raise your heart rate, and feed your spirit,” says Jackson. “Taking care of our bodies inside and out is the best path to true freedom and true joy.” Beth Carroll, also of Newnan, took steps to improve her health after being told at a yearly checkup that she had elevated blood sugar levels and high blood pressure and needed to lose some weight. “I have so many friends with serious health issues worse than mine and I thought, I don’t want to get like that. I don’t want to be dependent on insulin or on other drugs,” she recalls. Determined to make a change, and with the support of her husband and daughters, she gave away the foods in her house that tempted her and lost 12 pounds on her own in the first month. “I don't know why it took me so long to get started,” she says. “I guess it just took having that, you know, devastation in my mind, thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve got to do something. I am 60 years old.’” Carroll is currently down more than 90 pounds and feeling wonderful. Only eight pounds away from her goal weight, she tells of a recent followup checkup: “The doctor told me when I went back that my blood work was all back to normal. I haven’t seen my cholesterol that low, or my triglycerides.” Her advice for anyone heading out to an event where there may be tempting foods and snacks is simple: Pack your own. She enjoys bringing her own foods like raw vegetable trays to parties. “People I work with will ask me, ‘Beth, don’t you miss pizza?’” she laughs. “Well yeah, but if I go back in that direction, I will be back where I was, and I don’t want to be that way.” Carroll had to buy a new wardrobe and is now in clothing styles she hadn’t anticipated wearing again. Before her weight loss, she found herself hiding in the background of family photos. She says being active with her grandchildren and feeling great are her biggest rewards. “It was little things that I couldn’t do before,” she says. “I wouldn’t dare get on a ladder, my balance was off, and I was always so tired.” She calls her success a personal journey. “I look good but I feel better,” she says. “At my age, it’s more about how I feel.” NCM

Beth Carroll, Before and After

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 71

HIP HOLIDAYS

January 2020 5

6 Epiphany

National Bird Day National Screenwriters Day

Also known as The 12 Days of Christmas, Epiphany marks the day the Three Kings visited Jesus after following a star to find him.

National Bobblehead Day

Popcorn Day

The first commercial popcorn machine was invented by Charles Cretos in Chicago in 1885.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

National Hug Day

11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day National Milk Day

National Compliment Day National Peanut Butter Day

Day Super Bowl

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Robert Burns Night (or Day)

Held on his birthday, it commemorates Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, born in Alloway, Scotland in 1759. See story on Newnan’s Robert Burns Scottish Heritage Weekend on page 34.

National Croissant Day National Hot Chocolate Day

Kansas Day

February 2020 2 Groundhog

Winnie The Pooh Day

Religious Freedom Day

National Pie Day

26 National Spouses Day Grammy Awards

National Spaghetti Day National Trivia Day World Braille Day

Museum Selfie Day National Hat Day

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

New Year’s Day 8

Kiss A Ginger Day

19 National

World Read Aloud Day

72 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

Darwin Day

Mardi Gras/ Shrove Tuesday/ Pancake Day This day of feasting prepares Christians for the coming fast during Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday. Eat all the indulgent foods you can today in anticipation of refraining from them beginning tomorrow.

Galentine’s Day

Galentine’s Day originated from a 2010 episode of TV’s “Parks and Recreation” in which Leslie created the day to observe female friendships. Gal pals are encouraged to go out and celebrate!

14 Valentine’s Day

Ash Wednesday

See page 28 for our story on a local artist who creates romantic jewelry. And see page 18 for a new feature, “#NCMStyle,” which in this issue shares gift ideas for Valentine’s Day.

World Day of Social Justice National Love Your Pet Day

National Drink Wine Day

President’s Day

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

National Pizza Day

22 National Margarita Day

EventCalendar

January-February 2020 JANUARY

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE

A new family restaurant from Leonard Guillaume,

Newnan’s 33rd annual MLK Parade celebrates black history in Newnan and the advances in civil rights for all Americans. The parade begins on Armory Road near Newnan High School, travels up LaGrange Street through downtown Newnan, circles the courthouse square and returns to Newnan High School. The parade sponsor is Newnan Chapter #483, Order of the Eastern Star.

the owner and distinguished chef behind Mama Lucia's in Ashley Park.

Historic Downtown Newnan • Noon • Free

SOUTHEASTERN ASSISTANCE 25 IN HEALTHCARE (SAIH)

FRIENDS OF THE FIGHT CASINO NIGHT The Newnan Centre • 6-10 p.m.

This annual event benefits Southeastern Assistance in Healthcare. For more info, visit newnan.aih.org.

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK The Nixon Centre for the Arts, Newnan 7 p.m. • $15-$20

Named for Guillaume's grandson, Grayson's is family-owned and operated, with fresh ingredients, chef-driven cuisine, and unmatched service. It's the ideal spot for date nights, business dinners, or a relaxed evening with the best quality food in Newnan. Updates on Grayson's ofﬁcial opening can be found at graysonsnewnan.com.

91 Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd. Newnan, GA 30263 770.252.2237 graysonsnewnan.com

With a multicultural cast, National Players brings to the stage “The Diary of Anne Frank,” the true story of the insightful young girl who hid from the Nazis with her family in 1941 Amsterdam. For two years, she never left the attic where her family was concealed. She found keeping her journal to be a form of solace. For info, visit thenixoncentre.net, call 770.254.2787, or email info@thenixoncentre.net.

Jan. 30- Feb. 2

NEWNAN ROBERT BURNS SCOTTISH HERITAGE WEEKEND Various Locations in Newnan

The fifth annual Newnan Robert Burns Scottish Heritage Weekend features a variety of activities celebrating Newnan’s ties to its sister city of Ayr, Scotland. Enjoy Celtic music, dance, food, drink and more. For more, see our feature on page 34 or visit newnanrobertburns.com.

FEBRUARY

2020 RUN FOR ANGELS AND ANGEL’S HOUSE CHICKEN Q

First United Methodist Parish Hall, Newnan • 7 a.m. The 5K/10K Road Race and One Mile Fun Run is the largest annual fundraiser for Angel’s House, a Newnan emergency shelter for children. The event annually attracts more than 1,000 participants from across the Southeast, and both the 5K and 10K courses are certified as Peachtree Road Race

The Coweta Cities & County EFCU would like to thank Sheriff Lenn Wood for his more than 40 years serving and protecting the residents of Newnan & Coweta County. We would also like to thank Sheriff Wood for his 22 years at the Credit Union volunteering on the Credit Committee! It’s volunteers like Lenn, dedicated to the community, that make the difference at Coweta Cities & County EFCU!

Membership may be easier than you think! 43 Jefferson Parkway P.O. Box 71063 Newnan, GA 30271-1063

770.253.2273

WWW.CCCEFCU.ORG COWETA CITIES & COUNTY

EMPLOYEES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | 73

EventCalendar

January-February 2020

JUKEBOX SATURDAY NIGHT The Nixon Centre for the Arts, Newnan • 7 p.m. • $15-$20

qualified. The race starts at First United Methodist Parish Hall at 33 Greenville Street in Newnan. Race day registration begins at 7 a.m., the One Mile Fun Run starts at 8 a.m., the 10K takes off at 8:20 a.m., and the 5K race begins at 8:22 a.m. The awards ceremony is set for 9:30 a.m. Held in conjunction with the run, the Angels House Chicken Q features $10 chicken ’que plates from Huckleberry’s. For more info or to purchase Q tickets, visit theangelshouse.org.

LISA WINGATE: LECTURE AND BOOK SIGNING The Nixon Centre for the Arts, Newnan • 7 p.m. • $15

Former journalist Lisa Wingate is an inspirational speaker and New York Times Bestselling author of 30 novels. Her book, “Before We Were Yours,” remained on the New York Times Bestseller List for more than a year and has sold more than one million copies. Lisa will give a lecture and sign her books. Seating is limited. For info, visit thenixoncentre.net, call 770.254.2787, or email info@thenixoncentre.net.

FARNDALE AVENUE HOUSING 6-9 & THE ESTATE TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD 13-16 DRAMATIC SOCIETY PRODUCTION OF MACBETH

Newnan Theatre Company Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. This play by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr. comes to life on Newnan’s home stage. For more, visit newnantheatre.org.

This music review of big bands from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s celebrates America’s Swing Era with performances of hits recorded by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and many more. Vocal selections feature songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney and others. For info, visit thenixoncentre.net, call 770.254.2787, or email info@thenixoncentre.net.

COWETA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION BANQUET Coweta County Fairgrounds, Newnan • 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. • $35

Held at the New River Hall and Kitchen in the Fairgrounds Exhibit Building at 275 Pine Road, the annual Hall of Fame Induction Banquet gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at the Convention & Visitors Bureau in the Historic Courthouse in Downtown Newnan or by calling 706.672.2311.

COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND MICKEY GILLEY Wadsworth Auditorium, Newnan 7:30-10 p.m.

Country Music Legend Mickey Gilley was part of The Urban Cowboy movement in country music. He had 17 No. 1 hits like “Room Full of Roses,” “I Overlooked an Orchid,” “Window Up Above,” and “Don’t The Girls All Get Prettier At Closing Time?” For info, call 678.752.2966 and for tickets, visit www. itickets.com/events/437637. auto lockouts

• flat bed towing • winchouts

770-253-8767

229-C Greenville St. Newnan, GA 30263 Credit Cards Accepted NEWNAN, GA

770.435.7474

www.charlieswrecker.com 74 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

caring teaching reaching

14-16 CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY POULTRY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SHOW AND SWAP MEET

Coweta County Fairgrounds, Newnan • Free

Held at the county fairgrounds at 275 Pine Road, the annual poultry show and swap meet features a bevy of birds strutting their stuff, plus accessories for sale as well as jams and jellies, arts and crafts, and concessions. Vendors are welcome to set up for the swap with no pre-registration required, but participants must register for the show. Georgia residents who wish to sell birds must have a permit from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Show and Swap Meet hours are Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. For more, visit cvpa-newnan.org or call Tonya Massengale at 770.851.2103 or Bryan Massengale at 770.900.1669.

NEWNAN-COWETA ANNUAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OSCAR NIGHT GALA

NEWNAN CROSSING BAILEY STATION

Children age 6 weeks to 12 years stonebridge-elc.com

Newnan Centre 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. • $110-$7,500 This 13th annual event benefits the Newnan-Coweta Boys and Girls Club and the Howard Warner Boys and Girl Club. With limited seating, the black tie event features a live and silent auction, entertainment, dinner and drinks. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit www.cowetaoscarnight.com.

Experienced childcare professionals committed to providing quality care to the children in our community.

SHANA TUCKER

The Nixon Centre for the Arts, Newnan • 7 p.m. • $15-$20 Cellist/singer-songwriter Shana Tucker delivers a unique voice through her self-described genre of “ChamberSoul.” Her melodies weave together sounds of jazz, classical, folk, pop and a touch of R&B. For info, visit thenixoncentre. net, call 770.254.2787, or email info@ thenixoncentre.net.

Fayetteville Campus

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A LOT OF LIFE HAPPENS IN YOUR CAR.

WELCOME BACK,

CHARLIE!

Longtime Cowetan Charlie Filkins’ name is synonymous with cars, and now his journey has come full circle. After starting his career with Gene Evans Ford, he’s now back in the same spot as a service manager at AutoNation Ford Lincoln. Filkins has been involved with the Coweta community for over 30 years and involved with organizing charity cruises and serving on local boards like the United Way, Change Your Brand Foundation and the Up in Smoke BBQ event.

SANITIZE FOR A HEALTHIER RIDE.

He’s still heading up his favorite Senoia events – Cruisin’ to the Oldies Car Show, Light Up Senoia, and the Senoia Annual Memorial Celebration and Festival. Many remember Filkins as a co-host of the Car Guys TV show. Along with Scott Sergeant, the duo was able to use the platform to help raise money for several charities and non-profits. Over the course of their time on the show, they helped raise over $100,000. “Senoia has always been tremendously supportive of the High Octane and Car Guys shows,” he said. “We’re still MC’s at these events after all these years.”

The first system that pairs a patented electrostatic sprayer with trusted Clorox products to quickly and easily reach areas of your vehicle where germs live.

Originally a service advisor, Filkins recently took on a new role as service manager at AutoNation Ford Lincoln in Union City where he works with Service Director Mike Eaton to improve the overall customer experience of the service department. “We have a great service team here at AutoNation, and our customers are going to see the difference in service and overall experience when they visit us,” he said. Coming back to the company that gave him his start feels pretty good, Filkins said. “I love what I do – that’s taking care of people,” he said. “When someone has a problem and you can turn it around, that’s a great feeling. My team is awesome and customers have been so great." In his new role, Filkins is in a position of leadership and has the ability to bring people along to coach them, make them a success, which makes the company prosper. “It’s a natural progression,” he said. "It doesn’t matter what position you’re in – it starts and ends with the customer and that’s something that’s a universal truth.” In his short time back with his original company, Filkins said he’s been receiving a ton of calls from customers old and new.

Must present coupon to receive offer. Applicable to PrecisionCare service only. Expires 2/29/20.

"With so many calls and people coming by to see me and get their car serviced, it causes me to feel that I've been doing a great job all along taking care of my customers,” he said “But honestly, I don’t try to make transactions, I try to make relationships. They’re long-lasting and hard to break.” TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH FILKINS AND THE AUTONATION SERVICE DEPARTMENT

FORD•LINCOLN

Call 770.964.9801 or visit their location at 4355 Jonesboro Rd. in Union City

COWETA KIDS CARE

East Coweta High School student ambassadors include, from left, seated: Joanna Boban and Geneva Thompson. Standing: Amelia McGinnis and Victoria Beil.

Putting in the Hours: Student Ambassadors Serve Community Written and Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY 78 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

our East Coweta High School (ECHS) seniors who participate in the school’s Ambassador Program have put their time outside the classroom to work for others as they volunteer throughout the community. Amelia McInnis, the daughter of Robert and Heather McInnis of Newnan, has recorded 300 hours of service since joining the program. “The Ambassador Program has expanded my appreciation for service and taught me that there are so many different outlets to serve my community,” says Amelia. Newnan resident and ECHS senior Joanna

COWETA KIDS CARE

Boban has accumulated 222 service hours. The daughter of Anu Varghese and Oonnoonny Boban, of Newnan, Joanna began volunteering long before high school when, at age 12, she helped out at Tommy Thompson Senior Center. Now she volunteers at that center and Benton House of Newnan as well. “At both of these places, I spend time with the seniors while playing games with them,” says Joanna. “These volunteer opportunities have taught me how to care for others while building relationships.” Victoria Beil, the daughter of Julia and Steve Beil of Newnan, has racked up 186 hours of community service. “To help someone who cannot help themselves is the greatest gift a person can give,” says Victoria. “Because of the Ambassador Program, I have learned a deep gratitude and appreciation for other people.” Geneva Thompson, daughter of Lashaun Thompson, of Sharpsburg, has volunteered 82 hours of service. “I strive to not only serve my community, but I hope to encourage others around me to become more involved,” says Geneva. The ECHS Student Ambassador Program was founded in April 2018 as a leadership and community service program. Amy Johnson and Erica Pater serve as teacher sponsors. Student ambassadors assist with food and school supply drives, help with Special Olympics, tutor elementary school students, and perform various other types of volunteer service. NCM

RENEW.

GO WEST. Because it’s never too late to venture outside of your comfort zone and blaze a new trail. This is the university of transformation. Here, you’ll get all the support you need to go back to college, finish your degree, and go for your dreams.

Know A Kid Who Cares? Help Newnan-Coweta Magazine give a shout-out to children and teens in Coweta County who demonstrate their care for others through volunteer work or charitable giving. Nominate a child age 5 to 18 who has put forth time and effort to help someone outside his or her own family. Send a 50-100 word nomination to magazine@newnan.com and be sure to include the child’s name, age, parents’ name(s) and contact information as well as your own phone number and/or email address. We look forward to hearing about the impact caring kids have had in our communities.

Take the first step at westga.edu/goback

UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA

ALL ROADS LEAD TO COWETA

Blacktop

Photo by Sally Ray

A. Glacier National Park, Mont.

ay Photo by Sally R

B. Polson, Mont.

Photo by Kelly Preston ton Director of RACE for the Orphans, Kelly Pres ew, 11, Andr son her of e imag mn autu this phed ogra phot ue. Aven le Temp on Park rans Vete by the fountain at

C. Farm in Wisconsin

Photo by Sally Ray Newnan resident Sally Ray vis ited the American West in Sep 5,266-mile round trip advent tem ber wit h two of her best friends on a ure. Her trio of tos depict: a) Glacier tional Park in Mo mountain range in Polsonpho ntana, b) a , Mont., and c) a farm in Na Wisconsin.

Submit your

photos

Email us your photos of life in and around Coweta County and we may choose yours for a future edition of Blacktop!

Photo by Dylan DePriest

A mid-October sunset dazzled Coweta County residents near and far. Dylan DePriest, 15-year-old son of Chris and Samantha DePriest, captured its brilliance with his drone camera.

Photos must be original, high-resolution (300 DPI) digital photos in .jpg format, at least 3”x 5” size. Please include your name so that we can give you credit for your photo in the magazine! Email your photos with the subject “Blacktop” to magazine@newnan.com

EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN NEWNAN visit our website for event schedule & business listings

WWW.MAINSTREETNEWNAN.COM

Photo by Gary Wilson

While kayaking the Chattahoochee, Gary Wilson took this shot of the bridge near Plant Yates.

Photo by Laurie Mattingly icts winter’s approach at Laurie Mattingly’s photo dep d State Park. Ben hee Chattahooc

THE WRAP-UP/TOBY NIX

25 to Life A s Newnan-Coweta Magazine celebrates 25 years of publication, I observe my own quarter-century history with this community. It was about 25 years ago that Newnan registered on my radar. I grew up in Union City, not far up the road. We just never had a reason to drive south, unless we were going to Panama City. One of my brothers moved here, right off the Highway 154 exit. Technically, I guess he moved to Sharpsburg, but back then everything in Coweta County was “Newnan” to a guy living a few miles north. When I was in 10th grade, our team wrestled East Coweta High back when it was where East Coweta Middle is now. We were coming from Creekside, which isn’t a long

drive, but you could have told us we were in Macon and we would have believed you. If memory serves, their gym was carpeted, which I still find odd to this day. When my wife and I had our first child, we decided it was about time we followed my brother down to Coweta County. We moved here for the school system and never regretted that decision for one second. 82 | WWW.NEWNAN.COM

We moved to the west side of the county 17-ish years ago. “God’s Country,” as I prefer to call it. Twenty-five years and 17 years are both decent amounts of time, but still it’s hard to believe the growth that’s taken place here. There wasn’t much to Thomas Crossroads when my brother moved down. Ashley Park didn’t exist. The hospital was on Hospital Road and I don’t know how far outside of the county you had to travel to find a roundabout. (I know there was at least one at Big Ben in the ’80s because I watched all the National Lampoon “Vacation” movies.) I feel like I’ve witnessed Coweta County explode from not much to bursting at the seams. We moved here because “not much” is what we were looking for. We just didn’t know how many other people were looking for the exact same “not much.” I have buddies who remember when the interstate stopped somewhere in Coweta County. I can’t even fathom that. I feel bad for the people who had to watch their county become metro Atlanta. I’m part of the problem, though, so I don’t feel that bad. No matter how much growth has hit Coweta County over the past 25 years, it’s still a lovely community. People are still arriving in droves. I think it must be the high-quality roundabouts. We are all lucky to be a part of this community. The problems I see facing the nation, I don’t see ’round these parts. I hold doors open when I’m walking in and out of places just as much as doors are held open for me, which is a lot. When I make eye contact with a stranger, at the very least we exchange a nod of the head. Usually, it’s a word or two. I hope the small acts of kindness that make Coweta County so appealing to those seeking a new place to call home don’t change over the next 25 years. And I hope I’m here to write about that non-change for Newnan-Coweta Magazine’s 50th year of publication.

Southern born and Southern bred, Toby Nix is a local writer who works in law enforcement.

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