NCM Sept/Oct 2022

Coweta’s Animals:

G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)

to You oo Z

Bringing the Plus: ❙ Horsing Around ❙ Focus on Haralson SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2022 COMPLIMENTARY COPY

Best Boopable Nose?

Pet Photo Winners!

THE ANIMA L |I S1 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022

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IN T E R NN A L LMM EDIC I N EE II N N TT EE R R NA A L M EE D D II C C II N NE A CAC CLC IN AEA TDT I IO N SE I N T EV RV NA M CO IN N I N I V A C C I N A T I O N SS NN U TT R I TI T I O NN ET L II O NN GS VCAO CU CN I NS A NU U TR R I T II O ON C CO OU UN N SS EE LL II N NG G GG NI N EE R AC LO SUS UNU RSR GEG ELE R YY NUTR IETE O NR IN G A L R GENERAL SURGERY PP RR EGE VEENE NETRT IA V LE ESHU ERAGL E TR HY P R EV V EN N T II V VE H H EE A A LLTT H H C U UE NN CC T U R EE P R E VA EA NC TU IPV H ET AU LR T H P U ACUPUNCTURE CC OO LL DDL L AA SS EE RR& &M AU GP NUAN W AU VV EE AM C CT R C O L D L A S E R & MA AG GN NA A W WA A V EE C O L D L A S E R & M A G N A WAV E

A Publication of The Newnan Times-Herald

Publishers

Editor Creative Directors Graphic Designer Production Director Contributing Writers

C. Clayton Neely Elizabeth C. Neely Jackie Kennedy Sandy Hiser, Sonya Studt Erin Scott Debby Dye Chuck Cleveland

Blue Cole

Jenny Enderlin

Melissa Dickson Jackson

Frances Kidd

Gail McGlothin

April McGlothin-Eller

Caroline Nicholson

Robin Stewart

Payton Thompson

Photography

Barbara Cleveland

April McGlothin-Eller

Sandy Hiser

Jackie Kennedy

Chris Martin

Sara Moore

Multimedia Sales Specialists

Misha Benson Jill Whitley

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

Newnan-Coweta Magazine is published bi-monthly by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc., 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan, GA 30263.

Newnan-Coweta Magazine is distributed in home-delivery copies of The Newnan Times-Herald and at businesses and offices throughout Coweta County.

On the Web: newnancowetamagazine.com @newnancowetamag @newnancowetamagazine © 2022 by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Thank you, Newnan Utilities customers!

You are helping us all.

Caring Customers is a program of The Newnan Utilities Foundation. The Newnan Utilities Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting charitable causes that improve the quality of life for the citizens within the communities we serve.

100% of funds donated by Newnan Utilities customers

CORRAL • corraltrc.org

Mission: Provides therapeutic horseback riding facilities and instruction for the mentally and physically challenged

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Donated funds, along with funds from Newnan Utilities and the Newnan Utilities Foundation, have a direct impact on the charitable causes that improve the quality of life for our citizens.

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Mission: Provides food, clothing, and financial assistance to those in need, as well as shelter to women and children at The Lodge

Enroll in monthly giving or make a one-time donation. Your tax-deductible donation supports nonprofits right here in Coweta County.

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Sisters for Society • sistersforsociety.org

View a video from some of the nonprofit organizations supported

by Caring Customers.

Mission: Committed to helping individuals and families undergoing unforeseen life situations and hardships by providing food, clothing, and financial education

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@NewnanUtilities

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n-c mag jul-aug22.indd 1

7/20/22 10:18 AM

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022

54

24

features

our 24

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Bringing the Zoo to You

Rory and Jenni Hoilman helm a modern day Noah's Ark at their Newnan home – and take their show on the road to teach about exotic and everyday animals.

By Melissa Dickson Jackson

35

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Best Pet Photos

We asked and, like always, our readers answered the call, submitting dozens of great pet portraits for our first Pet Photo Contest. Winners and honorable mentions abound. By Jackie Kennedy

10 |

WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

52

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Twisting Balloons into Art

David Baker takes balloon art to a higher level with sophisticated pieces fit for a gala and fun animal pieces that will make your eyes bug, including a Guinness Book of World Records best. By Melissa Dickson Jackson

56

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Horsing Around

Cowetan Cassidy Victer shares her horse skills with young riders while following the path – a horse trail, most likely – that suits her best. By Caroline Nicholson

66

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Focus on Haralson

We visit the tiny town of Haralson where big things still happen. By Robin Stewart

78

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Fifth Annual Christmas Cookie Contest is on the way!

Don't miss our Fifth Annual Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest. Read all about it. By Jackie Kennedy

THE ANIMAL ISSUE

62 in this issue 12 | From the Editor 13 | Caption This 14 | Roll Call 15 | Our Readers Write 16 | Behind the Shot 20 | Book Review 22 | Getting Frank with Faith 49 | Coweta Arts 52 | Closer Look 62 | Nonprofit Spotlight 73 | Coweta Cooks 79 | Coweta Prose 80 | Cowetans Abroad 86 | Payton's Place 88 | Blacktop 90 | The Wrap-Up

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ALL UNDER ONE ROOF ➤ Cover Photo by CHRIS MARTIN,

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Animals all around us

RIGHT Lynx, top, a Maine Coon, hovers over Graycie, his seal point Siamese housemate.

E

very other year, Newnan-Coweta Magazine (NCM) puts out an Animal Issue. It’s typically one of the most fun to put together and among the editions our readers most enjoy.

One thing’s for sure: Cowetans love animals at large – and they especially love their own pets. That was easily demonstrated after we announced our first Pet Photo Contest in July and received more than 150 submissions.

Cats and kittens, dogs and puppies, and even a potbellied pig made the final cut.

See page 35 for the winning photos.

Our cover feature introduces you to Rory and Jenni Hoilman, whose domestic and exotic animals travel with them via ZooPro Adventures. This family business involves transporting animals to schools, civic groups and other destinations to provide education on a zooful of wild animals and special pets. Never seen a cane toad or emperor scorpion? The Hoilmans have you covered, see page 24.

Coweta County’s Cassidy Victer is featured on page 56 in an article about her work with horses and horsemanship. Local artist Ulla Strickland shares insight into her animal art and pet portraits on page 49. And the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society is this issue’s Nonprofit Spotlight, see page 62.

Along with that, we introduce you to David Baker, a balloon artist who recently moved to west Georgia and is quickly gaining popularity here for his amazing balloon art, see page 52.

One thing our animal-loving, possum-clutching creative team at NCM loves most about working on this magazine is interacting with our readers through the contests we sponsor. In putting together this issue, we did that with dozens who sent in pet photos. We also invite reader interaction with our annual Best of Coweta contest and our Caption This contest that’s featured in each issue.

Coming up next is our fifth annual NCM Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest.

To celebrate the contest’s five-year anniversary, we’ve added a third category especially for children, see page 78. If you have a knack for baking, be sure to enter for the opportunity to win a prize basket stocked full of goodies from ABOVE our advertisers and local businesses.

Samantha the Here’s hoping the pets in your lives give you Doberman runs for the sofa when she's happiness and comfort – and that Newnanscared by thunder.

Coweta Magazine provides some of that, too!

Jackie Kennedy, Editor magazine@newnan.com

12 |

WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

ABOVE Mollie, a Chow-Great Pyranese mix, was adopted 14 years ago when she was 2 years old.

Caption This!

In July, we asked our NewnanCoweta Magazine readers and Facebook friends to caption this photo. We received dozens of entertaining entries! The winning entry was submitted by Walkin’ Dead Tours & Events in Haralson.

In September, we’ll post another photo for readers to caption.

Winners receive an NCM T-shirt.

Visit newnancowetamagazine.com or follow us on Facebook to submit your caption.

“Nana just

wouldn’t shut her mouth.

Gator bait.” @newnancowetamag

Wine & Culinary

Romantic Dinner in Santorini, Greece

Small Ship Cruises

The American Song on the Columia River

Europe

The Douro River Valley, Home of Port Wine

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Join our mailing list at coggintravels.com

Roll Call

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

The Rev. April McGlothin-Eller is the director of Church and Community Engagement at Wellroot Family Services, a ministry of the United Methodist Church. In her free time, she fancies herself a musician, artist and photographer.

Robin Stewart volunteers with the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society and, along with her artist husband, is active in the local arts scene. She loves animals, is addicted to costume jewelry, and the part of her brain that used to know math is now occupied by useless facts for team trivia.

Chuck and Barbara Cleveland of Newnan have been happily married for 45 years and enjoy travel, especially to Italy. Barbara is a retired social worker/counselor who likes photography. Chuck has contributed articles to local publications, including NCM and The Newnan Times-Herald.

Frances Kidd is a Newnan native who spent most of her adult years working as a nonprofit and marketing consultant. Although she’s an avid traveler, she never lost her Southern accent. If she’s not in Georgia, you can find her out in the country in Italy.

Caroline Nicholson, 21, loves disappearing behind a book and falling into fictional worlds. She’s working toward her Master of Arts in English at the University of West Georgia and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in creative writing to become a college English and creative writing professor. In time, she hopes to publish her own young adult novel.

Gail McGlothin is a nonprofit consultant and grant writer. When she's not searching for starfish on the Oregon coast, kayaking, reading or playing board games with her grandchildren, Gail helps voters get government-issued picture IDs.

Sara Moore's warm and welcoming nature influences her photography by putting her subjects at ease. She enjoys living the quiet country life while residing in Newnan with her husband, horses, dogs, chickens and ducks.

Melissa Dickson Jackson teaches writing and literature at University of West Georgia-Newnan. Her poetry collections include “Cameo,” “Sweet Aegis” and the forthcoming “Paper Birds.”

Chris Martin has photographed Major League Baseball, NCAA football, bull riding, air shows, space launches and international swim meets featuring Michael Phelps. He shoots action sports for The Heritage School in Newnan and for The Newnan Times-Herald.

Blue Cole is a writer and ne’erdo-well who lives in Sharpsburg with his wife, children and other wee creatures.

Jenny Enderlin graduated cum laude from Florida State University with an English degree.

She enjoys volunteering with the NewnanCoweta Historical Society, Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Coweta County Democrat Party, One Roof and Backstreet Community Arts.

Our Readers Write: Congratulations!

“

Several readers wrote to congratulate us on our wins announced at the Georgia Press Association convention in June. In the Better Newspaper Awards, Newnan-Coweta Magazine's Sandy Hiser, Chris Martin and Jackie Kennedy won first and third place for Best Magazine Cover Design. Martin also won first and third in the Best Magazine Single Photo category. Sara Moore won second place for Best Magazine In-House Photography while Martin won third place in that category. Toby Nix won third place in Best Magazine Commentary, and the NewnanCoweta Magazine staff won third place honors in Best Magazine Overall Design and Best Human Interest Feature.

“Congratulations on your win. It’s fantastic to run our ads in an award winning newspaper and magazine.”

— Linda Huff, Sr. VP & Managing Broker BHHS Georgia Properties, Coweta/Newnan Office “I saw the article about the many awards you deservedly won at the event during the GPA’s 135th Annual Convention. Congratulations. It’s always affirming when hard work gets rewarded, and heaven knows you and your staff constantly produce quality!

I’m just thrilled that you received the recognition. I hope y’all celebrated your success!”

— Maureen Schuyler, Director Senoia Area Historical Society History Museum “Jackie, congrats on your recent awards for a great magazine, and a first-class magazine it is. Secondly, thanks to you, Misha Benson and Jenny Enderlin for the fantastic article you did on me and Carriage House Antiques in the May/June Senoia issue. A longtime friend of mine who lives out of state called and wanted to know who my press agent was and the photographer that made me look 20 years younger! LOL. Also, love the cover of the July/August issue. It's perfect for summer, and the colors are so vibrant. Great job.”

— Nancy Roy, Senoia

“

Let Us Hear From You...

Adding to street name history Readers have enjoyed Blue Cole’s recent articles on the history of street names in Coweta County towns – and share a little history of their own.

“I saw your two articles on towns and streets and found them interesting. I and some of my locals work on gathering the history of early Coweta County, from 1826 to the early 1900s. We do mostly early cemeteries and burial grounds. In locating these old abandoned grounds, we find the need to locate and name the old roads that were there before time caused them to be forgotten.

“Many roads and streets have been moved or lost, for many reasons. Some have changed from wagon days to auto times. There are state highways, country roads, and streets paved over and on top of graves in many places in Coweta County. Ones of note are 154 at Thomas Crossroads and another is Highway 29 at Camp Street in Moreland. In your article on Moreland, Martin Mill was first named Pitts Cemetery Road. The Pitts and the Martins intermarried. There was a mill there.

“As to Turin, Blake Adcock, former sheriff deputy, was born and raised in Turin and is putting together info for a book on Turin. He has tons of info on the area. Longstreet Avenue was not named for General Longstreet; the settlement of Longstreet was there long before the War. The North Boys attended the Academy there and were later officers in the War. Ronnie North is very knowledgeable about this area.

“There are several roads with which we have issues with their history, including the Settlement Road, Burnt Village Road, and the true location of the Grierson Trail.

This one has been poorly researched and is very much mislocated. We have a lot of knowledge and find your interest much needed – before history is lost to time.”

— Jimmy Dunagan, Newnan “In the early 1900s, about 1910, my great-grandfather, Brittain Sims Witcher, owned all the property located adjacent to Witcher Road running northerly from about 500 feet south of Wahoo Creek to what is now Macedonia Road. Mr. John Abercrombie owned all the property located adjacent to Witcher Road from about 500 feet south of Wahoo Creek running southerly to what is now Highway 16, but Mr. Abercrombie lived in his actual home inside the city of Newnan. So, it is pretty easy to see how the road on which I live received the name of Witcher Road.”

— Charles C. Witcher, Attorney at Law, Newnan

Send thoughts, ideas and suggestions to magazine@newnan.com.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 15

BEHIND THE SHOT

RIGHT A little food goes a long way in getting goats to pose pretty for the camera.

Wrangling Animals

NCM

16 |

WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

Photos by Ch

ABOVE And voila, th ey’re not quite three billy go miniature silky at s gruff, but fainting goat this well-poise s includes, fro d trio of m left, Iris, D oc and Lavend er.

LEFT This classy goat, Iris, graces our front cover.

BELOW Not so classy!

Photos by Chris Martin

F

or our Animal Issue, it was a no-brainer that we’d feature one or more animals on our front cover.

Getting to the exact photo that would grace our cover was an organic journey that involved coaxing goats with feed, maneuvering reptiles and herding geese.

We could say it was just another morning at Newnan-Coweta Magazine. But it wasn't.

It was even more glorious than usual!

If there’s one thing our magazine staff members have in common, it’s our mutual adoration for animals. We all have pets – dogs, cats and the occasional opossum – and we each are bent to distraction when we see an animal.

Squirrel!

Plopping our team of animal lovers into Ground Zero at the Newnan home of ZooPro Adventures was part Nirvana/ part plumb crazy. It didn't take long to recognize that our staffers – each rapidly gravitating toward his or her favorite species – needed herding as much as the goats and geese.

In due time, after petting and prodding both domestic and exotic animals, we came away with dozens of fantastic shots for this issue, including our cover, which features Iris, a miniature silky fainting goat.

ris Martin

Written by JACKIE KENNEDY

BEHIND THE SHOT

RIGHT Jenni Hoilman poses with ZooPro’s Gila monster as freelance photographer Chris Martin captures their camaraderie.

FAYETTE’S LEADING OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY PRACTICE

Photo by Chris

Martin

Photo by Sandy Hiser

Now Serving Kaiser Members

LEFT Proving that no good deed goes unpunished, Rory Hoilman gets his hair pulled by Marley, his greenwing macaw, during a lengthy photoshoot for this issue’s main feature.

Rory’s wife, Jenni, figures the bird got bored with posing on its shoulder perch.

EThe Women’s Specialists of Fayette comprise a healthcare team which understands that women have special healthcare needs throughout their lives.

BELOW As Chris Martin awaits the perfect moment to capture on his camera, Sandy Hiser, left, and Beth Neely, right, herd geese and guineas to flock toward photo subject Rory Hoilman.

Captured photo on pages 24-25

Our specialists are trained in the field of women’s medicine which includes obstetrical and gynecological services such as pregnancy care, family planning needs and counseling, annual examinations and minor office surgical procedures.

In addition, specialized care is available in areas such as high risk pregnancy and gynecological/ urogynecological surgery.

William T. Cook, M.D.

Photos by Jackie Kennedy

RIGHT Photographer Chris Martin remains at the ready while animal wranglers Jenni Hoilman, left, and Sandy Hiser, right, maneuver exotic animals into place for Rory Hoilman’s photoshoot. Captured photo on page 27

Marlo Carter, M.D. Matthew Ralsten, M.D. Nicole E. Quinn, M.D.

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Join AmeriCorps, Empower Coweta,

Make An Impact!

Have you heard about the AmeriCorps Program?

AmeriCorps is a Federal voluntary civil service program designed to alleviate poverty. AmeriCorps members serve directly with local organizations and nonprofits to tackle our most pressing local challenges. During the service period, you will receive living stipends. In addition, after you finish the AmeriCorps program, you will receive an Education award or cash stipend ($1,800+) upon successful completion of service.

What is Community Action For Improvement, Inc (CAFI)?

CAFI utilizes the “whole family” approach to empower low-income communities in Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup Counties by providing utilities and rental financial assistance, housing program, home weatherization, and early childhood education.

Are you seeking a career path? Do you know?

CAFI is seeking people to join AmeriCorps and serve in Coweta County. We have AmeriCorps service projects if you are interested in teaching, writing grants, and designing programs.

Please contact Terisa Buchanan at tliang@cafi-ga.org for more information.

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BOOK REVIEW

Scaring up a few good reads for Halloween Reviews by CAROLINE NICHOLSON

L

et’s get right to it. Here are my favorite Halloween books for young – and young-at-heart – readers:

Share your favorite new read with NCM by writing a book review for possible publication in an upcoming issue. Keep your review at 200-300 words and please include the author’s name, page count and date of publication.

Read a good book lately?

Send your review with your contact information to magazine@newnan.com or mail to : Newnan-Coweta Magazine, 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263.

“The Mara Dyer Trilogy”

by Michelle Hodkin This trilogy includes “The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer,” “The Evolution of Mara Dyer” and “The Retribution of Mara Dyer,” published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2012, 2013 and 2015, respectively.

Mara Dyer is a normal girl – until she wakes up in the hospital with no recollection of the incident that landed her there, the same incident that killed her boyfriend and her best friend. After being released from the hospital, her sense of normalcy strays even farther as she starts seeing things that no one else can see. Is she going crazy? Eventually, these hallucinations seem more like premonitions, visions of things to come. At a new school, far away from the tragedy and her dead friends, she meets Noah, a handsome bad boy. Instead of being rude to her like he is to every other girl, he seems determined to help her with the problems she’s been facing alone. The trilogy follows Mara and Noah’s journey to figure out who they really are while uncovering secrets from the past that may be the answers for today.

“The Assassin Game”

by Kirsty McKay Published by Sourcebooks Fire in 2015, “The Assassin Game” is set at an isolated island boarding school with an elite secret society known as the Assassins’ Guild. The Assassins play a game in which one person in the society receives a note that reads “killer.” The other members must solve who the killer is and avoid being killed – figuratively, of course. The “killings” are simply pranks done by the killer – until people actually begin to get hurt and die. Cate, a firsttimer in the secret society, must find who the real killer is before they kill anyone else or come for her.

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WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

BOOK REVIEW

“Frankenstein”

by Mary Shelley First published in 1818, this masterpiece features Victor Frankenstein, who is consumed by the desire to learn about life and its origins – so much so that he decides to experiment with life itself. Fabricating a creature out of old body parts, Victor prepares a vessel to be filled with life in a way that has never been done before. One night in his workshop, he breathes life into the creature. It is only then that he realizes the horror he has made, and he flees from his creation. The series of events that follow are tragic, and they call into question the relationship between the creator and their creations. Are creators responsible for the actions of their creations? Can something that wreaks havoc and fear be good? And just how dangerous can the pursuit of knowledge be? Set mostly on a ship sailing the remote Arctic waters, Frankenstein is the perfect book to put you on edge – and have you questioning if all monsters are bad.

“The Coldest Girl in Coldtown”

by Holly Black Published in 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, this book features Tana who lives in a world with Coldtowns, which are walled cities full of vampires and humans. Vampirism is a disease, so these Coldtowns are quarantined places created in order to control the spread. Once you go in, you can never come out. After a teen party, Tana wakes up among a sea of corpses. There had been a vampire attack, and the only survivors are Tana, her ex-boyfriend who has been infected with vampirism, and a boy she does not know but who seems central to the massacre of her friends. Tana realizes that the only way to save them all is to head into one of the scariest places in her world, a Coldtown. Will she be able to survive, or will the disease that is infecting the world get her, too? NCM

GETTING FRANK WITH FAITH/FAITH FARRELL

Stripping down to love larger

I

’m proud to say my “stripper” name is Frosty Moritz, though LuLu Summit was a contender. Though I’ve never stripped anything but furniture, I like knowing there is an alternate me out there – bolder, braver and proud of her body.

Minnesota made yet Newnan To unleash one’s stripper name, first choose the name Strong, Faith Farrell is involved with Newnan Theatre of a childhood pet, and then add the name of a street you Company and Backstreet Arts. lived on. Instant razzmatazz! For those who never had a pet, Her artwork can be viewed at fear not, a modification for this game is provided below. faithfarrellart.com.

Frosty was our family dog, a Samoyed with fur made for fairy tales, cotton candy fluff spun by a fun Rumplestiltskin.

Being a herding dog, he was loyal and protective, a living alarm system a lá Lassie. Once, somehow knowing I was covered in vomit and fighting a fever, he nosed my mom to the closed bedroom door.

Frosty was the majestic first in a long line of pets. Elwood, my lugnut of love, was a Houndini who pierced V8 cans with his teeth to lick the leaking juice; he could safe-crack any locked cabinet containing hidden food. Lulu the cat lived to 23 and growled like a lion for chicken and broccoli. There was Charlie, the one-eyed, snaggletoothed squirrel in the backyard who knew his name and would jump and cling his claws, like Velcro, into the screen door as his calling card for treats. Over the decades my love grew larger with CoCo and Cooper, Chester and Charley. Each of these pets unleashed a tumbling tenderness that still makes me misty.

To be frank, I’ve had some nonliving pets in my life as well, and this is how folks without

All Fun.

No Filter.

Imagine it—you and your forever friends. Dreaming up adventures.

Making the world sparkle with your own personal brand of magic.

Be a Girl Scout.

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GETTING FRANK WITH FAITH

pet animals can play the stripper name game. Simply replace the pet name with the name of a beloved stuffed animal, blanket or other childhood treasure.

I’m a huge fan of naming things. I have named my cars, houseplants, fishing poles, paintbrushes, plus more. When I was a camp counselor, I even named a refrigerator that was abandoned in a cabin; his name was Vern and he soon became a member of the camp. Adored and adorned by campers, he eventually succumbed to a kidnapping and was held for ransom. I’m not sure how we all became so fond of a fridge, but once he was named, he jumped from junk to a jolt of joy.

There is an unspoken comfort (plus a fun factor) in naming objects and thereby elevating the ordinary to awesome.

In graduate school, I talked to Simon, my in-house plant/therapist, who listened without judgment (nor big therapy bills). During the holidays, I debated going to JCPenney Portraits to pose alongside Simon, adorned in an elf hat, for my Christmas cards. He was my nontraditional leaf pet and the only other living thing in my apartment. Naming him made him magic.

Sometimes we name objects to deflect their blaring obviousness. In college, I once had a zit so big I named it Albert.

Somehow, this allowed me to bear his scarlet shame and twist it to fun.

“Oh, this giant gumdrop on my face?

That’s Albert.” And though I don’t miss Albert – at all – I am grateful his naming created a distraction and eased my embarrassment.

From pets and plants, teddy bears to trucks, we title and tag, which helps us humanize our world. We welcome the wagging tails and purring pets. We wink hello to an inanimate friend or an abandoned fridge.

We claim the power of our stripper name as we cross the chasm and strip ourselves bare, discarding our defenses to the ground, craving and completing a connection. NCM

KAYLA MARSTON ’14 College of Arts, Culture, & Scientific Inquiry Concentration in Graphic Design Graphic Designer for UWG

GO WEST AND GO TO WORK. Outcomes for students. That’s our central focus at the University of West Georgia. We provide countless opportunities for students to connect their education to the demands of industry, gain knowledge, skills, and abilities, and launch their careers before they graduate.

Take Kayla Marston, whose on-campus internships paved the way for a successful design career. Kayla says her experiences at UWG solidified her desire to work in higher education. Now, she’s a key member of UWG’s communications team, sharing the university’s story with current and future Wolves.

When you Go West, you go to work.

Learn more at westga.edu.

COWETA FEATURE

ZooPro

Adventures: BRINGING THE ZOO TO YOU

COWETA FEATURE

Written by MELISSA DICKSON JACKSON |

Photographed by CHRIS MARTIN

COWETA FEATURE

I

magine suffering a bite from a venomous Gila monster, a four-pound lizard the size of a breadloaf. Native to the South American and Mexican desert, the monster lizard's looks alone are enough to frighten. Add the fear of poisonous saliva, and it's terrifying.

PREVIOUS PAGES Rory Hoilman, who owns a menagerie of domestic and exotic animals in Newnan, looks on as a flock of ducks, geese and guineas passes by.

But don't worry. You'll be OK. Gila monster venom takes time to deliver its fatal punch. You'll have hours to find help.

If you get to know Rory Hoilman and his Gila monster, Hoilman will explain that Gila monster venom lacks the potency to fell a human being. There’s only one account of a human death due to a Gila bite, according to Hoilman, and that was nearly 100 years ago. So, if you're visiting Hoilman’s Gila, feel free to pet its back, but stay away from the face and mouth.

Not interested in Gila monsters? How about a South American Goliath bird-eating tarantula with a leg span of up to 11 inches?

Or a pair of Egyptian fruit bats with downy fawncolored fur?

A three-banded Brazilian armadillo that can curl itself into a ball and tuck its tail perfectly aside its head?

A friendly groundhog, maybe? Or how about a sunsetvibrant corn snake or an Indian star turtle?

A baby emu?

Hoilman’s Newnanbased company, ZooPro Adventures, features 30 fascinating animals available for the public to enjoy. ZooPro will bring members of its global wildlife family to homes and events for a fee based on travel distance and how many critters customers request. An expert in caring for exotic animals and reptiles, Hoilman will describe the habitat

ABOVE Jenni Hoilman holds the family's pet Gila monster.

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RIGHT Rory Hoilman poses with a small sampling of the creatures – large and small, domestic and exotic – that he cares for at his Newnan homestead and carries to classrooms and other destinations to teach about animals.

COWETA FEATURE

COWETA FEATURE

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COWETA FEATURE

A leopard tortoise treks across the yard at the Hoilman home.

A sulcata tortoise, one of several ZooPro reptiles, dines on grass.

and characteristics of each animal with entertaining and educational details. For example: •

• • •

The obsidian-black Madagascar millipede, which is as long as a child’s forearm, can run as fast as 16 inches a second – and while doing so, has only three of its hundred-plus legs in contact with the ground.

Hoilman’s fruit bat couple eats two cups of frozen fruit a night and loves to cuddle like high school sweethearts.

The corn snake’s name was derived from the appearance of its belly, which mimics the look of Native American maize.

The bird-eating tarantula discourages predators by flinging hairs from its hindlegs that irritate the skin of the perceived threat. According to Hoilman, “it feels like fiberglass or a cactus spine.”

Remember that giant millipede? In its native rainforests of Madagascar, the millipede is a favorite chew toy for the lemurs who ingest its defensive toxins for a relaxing buzz.

“Crazy how these animals An emperor scorpion is much larger than scorpions native mess with each other,” to west Georgia.

Hoilman says with a laugh.

As their owner shares more details about the many animals he’s brought to visit, the corn snake writhes in her white-knotted pillow case, teetering precariously on the edge of the Gila monster’s crate.

“Have you ever been bitten by a snake?” asks a young visitor.

“Oh yes, many times,” says Hoilman. “When I’m feeding them, they sometimes mistake my finger for their food.”

In its native rainforests of Madagascar, the millipede is a favorite chew toy for the lemurs who ingest its defensive toxins for a relaxing buzz.

A cane toad named Trevor has velvety skin that's soft to the touch.

OPPOSITE PAGE Rory Hoilman has a chat with Mac Mac, the family's Chestnut-fronted macaw.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 29

COWETA FEATURE

TOP Hunter, a bobcat member of the Hoilman menagerie, cuddles with junior zookeeper Anna Neely.

ABOVE Hunter the bobcat gives Rory a nice nuzzle as he and Jenni pose for a family portrait.

RIGHT Hunter the bobcat is a handsome creature.

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COWETA FEATURE

Photo by Sandy Hiser

Nonetheless, the zookeeper and his family have adjusted to life with their large menagerie, bites and all.

Hoilman’s passion for the animal kingdom began in his youth in Virginia Beach, Va., where his parents encouraged and supported his pursuits.

“I was the only kid in the neighborhood with quail and rabbits and stuff like that,” he recalls. “My mom was very supportive.”

At 17, Hoilman began volunteering as a keeper aide at the Virginia Zoo with a reptile keeper named Mike Wauhop.

“I didn’t want to work with the reptiles; I wanted to work with primates,” admits Hoilman. But as the young animal advocate listened to each of the zoo experts discuss their animal specialities, Hoilman was particularly drawn to the reptile caretaker.

“I wanna work with this guy,” he remembers thinking back in 1997.

At Wauhop’s side, Hoilman worked while his love for the animals and his professional expertise grew exponentially.

“I got to see more exotics and bigger animals,” he says, noting that he continued to volunteer at the Virginia Zoo from 1997 to 2009.

Now 42, Hoilman has worked with animals as a volunteer and in a professional capacity for more than 25 years. During that time, he earned a degree in business administration, became a professional firefighter, married Jenni, a like-minded animal lover, had children, and started his business.

ABOVE An emu is one of numerous birds that call the Hoilman's yard home.

LEFT Johnny Cash, a Spanish black turkey, rules the roost.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 31

COWETA FEATURE

ABOVE A miniature silky fainting goat named Butch, left, works to make sure the larger Kiwi, a Kiko goat, doesn't get the best of him in this head-butting match.

BELOW Egyptian fruit bats are among the many exotic animals the Hoilmans invite onlookers to view and touch.

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ZooPro Adventures initially began when Virginia Zoo staff started receiving calls requesting on-the-road birthday parties along the lines of a Jack Hannah-esque appearance. Since the zoo animals were prohibited from leaving the premises, Wauhop started a business with a private collection of his own animals. Hoilman continued to volunteer at the zoo and worked with his friend’s fledgling company doing birthday parties and events for 12 years.

Later, as Hoilman’s own collection of exotic and familiar animals grew, he asked Wauhop if he could use the company's name, ZooPro Adventure. By then, the Hoilman family had relocated to Ohio where his wife had accepted a position as a dean at a nursing school. Even though Hoilman was busy with his family and career as a firefighter, he missed working with animals. Wauhop agreed to let Hoilman start an LLC sister company with the same name, according to Hoilman.

In 2020, the Hoilman family relocated again, this time to Newnan.

Unfortunately, introducing the community to the ZooPro Adventures experience proved difficult with public events and spaces shutting down due to COVID-19.

This year, Hoilman has worked to introduce Newnan and Metro Atlanta to his exotic friends, including Mac Mac, a gregarious macaw with luminous green wings, and Johnny Cash, a Spanish black turkey that roams the yard like a pet dog. NCM

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Molly Peavy's portrait of her dalmation, Dixie Elizabeth, was named Best All-Around Photo.

YOUR BEST PET PHOTOS

NCM Readers Love Their Pets!

Written by JACKIE KENNEDY

N

ewnan-Coweta Magazine (NCM) held its first Pet Photo Contest in July with readers asked to submit their best pet photos in seven categories.

More than 150 submissions were received, and all the pets photographed were absolutely adorable.

Narrowing down the photos to award a first place and second place in each category proved quite the task to NCM and The Newnan TimesHerald staff members who judged the contest.

Since there were so many deserving photos that didn’t place in their submitted category – but proved cute enough for their own category – we awarded honorable mentions to 22 more photos, on top of our 14 first and second place winners!

Here’s a shout out to the local businesses and individuals who donated prizes for our winners’ gift bags: Hug Box, U Dirty Dog, Miss Pearl, Morgan Jewelers (Downtown), Newnan Book Company and The Newnan Times-Herald.

There’s no doubt about it: Cowetans love their pets, and they’re handy with a camera, too!

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 35

Best Ears

FIRST PLACE

Milo, the Chiweenie Teresa Gonzales

SECOND PLACE Sterling, the Great Dane

Kimberly Perkins 36 |

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Goofiest Pet

FIRST PLACE

Aubrey, the Boxer mix

Hannah Courtney

SECOND PLACE odle o d n e ld o G e h t , ln co Lin Jennifer Johnson

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 37

Best Toe Beans

SECOND PLACE

FIRST PLACE

Marley, the Sphynx cat

Kimberly Perkins

Maverick Wilder Parton, the Boxer Hope Parton

Most Boopable Nose SECOND PLACE

abrador L sh li g n E e h t , c Do Sullivan Johnson Cathryn Jane

38 |

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FIRST PLACE Ethel, the Potbell y Pig

Amy Dunn “Not only is this nose boopable, bu t it will turn anyt house upside dow n, too." hing in your

Most Unique Pet

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

Mr. Bush, the Scottish Fold

Wesley Bush & Maylin Bates

“We're convinced he acts as close a human as it gets. Most times you'll find to xing in a chair or on the ground sittinghimlikerela a little human. His favorite thing beg for attention when it's bedtime. He'lisl to stan on his hind legs with two front paws reachingdfor a hand to rub his cuddly round head."

Pearl, the Chiweenie/Chihuahua and Dachshund Mix Susan Arguilla

er floppy." “ One ear is permanently up, the oth SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 39

Pet That Looks Most Like Its Owner

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

KA$H, the Old English Bulldog

ds,” Lyric Jewelz and KA$H are “very best frien on, Alm ta Voli , ther dmo gran c’s according to Lyri and of Newnan. Says Almon: “Lyric visited PetlEach ie. dogg a for ing begg s sion on several occa wait time she was told, ‘No not yet. You have to say, until you get a little older.’ She would then Petland ‘Awww,’ and sulk. One day, she walked into and their eyes met. They were immediaately usually drawn to each other. A calm came over her rambunctious 3-year-old as she cuddled sincenew !” best friend, and it’s been fun times ever

40 |

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Taz

Autumn and her 3- ar-old pup are best buddies, according toyeAu tu mn ’s mom, Brianna Markham.

Prissiest Pet

FIRST PLACE

Miss Brandilynn Odom, the Border Co llie Demetria Odom

SECOND PLACE Bella, the Shih Tzu Tammy Dorsey

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 41

Our Honorable Mentions FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

BEST DOGGIE PADDLE

BOOZOO

Arya

submitted by Cathy Warren

submitted by Shay Carlton

MOST LIKELY TO SCARE YOU ON HALLOWEEN

MOST LIKELY TO BECOME A FASHION DESIGNER

Aurora “Boris” Borealis submitted by Liz Tedder

MOST ATTENTIVE

Chubbs

submitted by Sandra Whitlock

Binx

submitted by Diane Vanden Heuvel

Cali

submitted by Taylor Cochran

MOST LIKELY TO SNAG A COLA ENDORSEMENT

BEST DATING PROFILE

Cupcake

Scout Hinesley

submitted by Brianna Markham

42 |

BEST WHISKERS

WWW.NEWNANCOWETAMAGAZINE.COM

submitted

by Taylor Cochran

Our Honorable Mentions MOST DAPPER

BEST BEACH BODY

Marley Morgan

submitted by Alejandra Morgan

MOST STUDIOUS

BEST SIDE EYE

Domino Hanna

submitted by Jennifer Hanna

MOST PATRIOTIC

Leo

submitted by Amy Williams

BEST FETCHER

Lucy

submitted by Carol Toole

Cherry Pie

submitted by Miranda Mercer

BEST SMILE

Marley Stephens

submitted by Jessica Stephens

Tazer

submitted

by Alisha Stevenson

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 43

Our Honorable Mentions NOSIEST NEIGHBORS

LEAST LIKELY TO HELP WITH LAUNDRY

Stella Boo Buffington

submitted by Danielle Buffington

Molly & Milo

BEST UNDERBITE

submitted by Teresa Gonzales

BEST SELFIE

Goodwyn

submitted by Jennifer Hanna

Hugo

submitted by Amy Dunn

MOST LIKELY TO JOIN THE CIRCUS

Tink

submitted

by Taylor Courson

44 |

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BEST AT HIDE-AND-SEEK

gger Mellie (Mom)Cin&dy Ti Purvis submitted by

MOST LIKELY TO BECOME A COLLEGE PROFESSOR

Rodney

submitted by

Jefferson Bishop & Amy Feaster

The staff at The Newnan Times-Herald and Newnan-Coweta Magazine includes animal lovers whose pets are important members of their families. Here are just a few.

Free Britney & Free Willy Emily Hernandez

Smokey & Fuzz Sonya Studt

Butterscotch Debby Dye

Toby & S

with Millie pike & He Jill Whitle nry y

Charlie

Stacie Williams

Bambi & Snookie Emily Hernandez

Mimzy & Isab

Buddy & Willa Catter Laura Camper

eau

Misha Benson

Huckle & Baby Possum

Callie & Leo

Charlie Neely

Erin Scott

Luna

er Sandy His SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 45

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COWETA ARTS

The Animal Art of Ulla Strickland Written by JENNY ENDERLIN | Photographed by SARA MOORE

G

erman-born artist Ulla Strickland is a dedicated equestrian whose work reveals both her profound understanding of the animal physique and the deep personal connection she has to her subjects.

ABOVE Newnan artist Ulla Strickland works on her next masterpiece. .

Her medium is mood dependent. When she prefers to feel in complete control, she works in pencil. When she does not, she works in the entirely self-taught medium of watercolors and allows the paintbrush to do whatever it wants.

Though Strickland has participated in art competitions only since last year, the artist is gaining recognition for her depictions of both wild and domestic animals.

“I seem to get a ribbon in every juried show I enter,” Strickland divulges.

Her artistic gene, which she credits to her great-grandmother who was a skilled sketch artist, emerged early in life. Her innate ability was fostered in the art-rich city of Wuerzburg, Germany, founded circa 425 A.D., where she received specialized instruction in a high school program.

Growing up surrounded by Romanesque architecture and baroque palaces filled with world-famous ceiling murals, she was inspired to study art history at the University of Wuerzburg.

Halfway through college, Strickland realized she wished she had listened to her parents who had always encouraged her natural talent but were unsure about her pursuing art in a professional SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 49

COWETA ARTS

“I get into my subjects’ heads, and it doesn’t matter that my subject is not human. . . . They have feelings, they have thoughts – for lack of a better word, a soul. And I put it on paper, and people see that.”

– Ulla Strickland

ABOVE Ulla Strickland poses with two pieces of artwork she recently showed at the Nixon Centre, including one which was a first place winner.

50 |

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COWETA ARTS

sense. She opted for a career that would provide more stability and switched her focus to marketing and graphic design. Eventually, this led her to take a marketing position at a German-owned freight forwarder in the United States. Still, she says, “Art was always there in the background.”

When Strickland moved to Newnan in the late 1990s, she was struck by the beauty and rural character of the area. It was not long before she found herself reconnecting with her lifelong passion for horses. She currently has two – JB and Lilly.

“It’s like eating chips; you can’t have just one,” she says of horses.

Strickland grew up riding in Germany, which is known as a horse nation, she says. Her grandfather had a passion for horses and ensured she and her sister received lessons.

“We kind of grew up in a castle,” the artist reminisces, noting that she all but lived at the training stable of an estate owned by the same family for 800 years. The girls spent their summers sleeping in the castle’s hay barns as they learned everything from dressage to jumping.

“Dressage is almost 3,000 years old,” says Strickland. “It’s based on how you train a horse for war. It’s not teaching tricks.” Rather, she explains, dressage is about perfecting the fundamentals so that horses can perform better in other disciplines.

The artist rides several times each week.

Strickland facilitates the annual art show at the Dressage Region 3 Championships at Georgia’s International Horse Park, in Conyers, which served as the equestrian venue for the 1996 Olympics.

Since 2013, she has selected seven to 10 artists to show alongside her for the horse-themed expo each October. She expects this year’s to be the most popular event yet.

Along with horse art, Strickland does commissioned artwork, which involves drawing or painting pet portraits of mostly dogs and horses.

“There hasn’t been a single instance where I didn’t see tears of joy on the client's face when delivering a portrait,” says the artist. “To be able to create that much happiness – it’s a wonderful feeling.”

Strickland reflects on what makes her artwork stand apart.

“I get into my subjects’ heads, and it doesn’t matter that my subject is not human,” she reveals. “I don’t draw what I see, I draw what’s on the inside.

They have feelings, they have thoughts – for lack of a better word, a soul. And I put it on paper, and people see that.” NCM

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CLOSER LOOK

David Baker of Twisted Ideas Balloons: TWISTING HIS WAY TO A WORLD RECORD Written by MELISSA DICKSON JACKSON | Photos Courtesy of DAVID BAKER

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CLOSER LOOK

BELOW Among David Baker's numerous balloon creations is this cheerful tree frog.

S

ince he was a teenager struggling to focus on academics, David Baker has preferred the mechanics of anything other than books: playing cards, Yo-yo tricks, origami, magic – even juggling – but nothing captured his attention the way balloon art did.

“I’ve just always done tactile, hands-on stuff,” says David Baker. “I’m not very book smart.

My eyes glaze over. Show me something, let me make something, let me build something.”

Baker, who is diagnosed with both Attention Deficit Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, explains that his mind gravitates toward acts of manual dexterity and creation.

Balloon art satisfied his need for sustained stimulation, and it also challenged him to engineer and problem-solve from an early age.

In fact, Baker was so young when he discovered balloon art that his hands were too small to easily complete some of the essential maneuvers. These days, however, the balloon tasks he struggled with early on are effortless.

“It was just the size of my hands,” he says with a laugh as he deftly twists balloons into the shapes of cats, dogs, flowers and caterpillars.

LEFT Crafted by balloon artist David Baker, Octavius the Octopus was created to spotlight the octopi exhibit at Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 53

CLOSER LOOK

By the time he was in his mid-20s, Baker was a master balloon artist plying his trade at public events and restaurants for a fee.

Seven years ago, his commitment to his art paid off with global recognition. After six intensive days that left his fingertips bloodied, he fabricated a monumental vampire bat in an Ohio mall. By the time he was done, Baker’s bat measured nearly 50 feet and sported a head measuring 15 by 10 feet.

After surveyors completed a formal measurement, Baker sent video recordings of the entire six-day process to the Guinness Book of World Records. It was months before he heard back but, in the end, Baker received a world record for the World’s Largest Balloon Sculpture produced by a single individual.

It’s a record he still holds.

The same year, Baker participated on a team that created a monstrous dragonfly measuring 60 feet long. Baker’s compulsive attention to detail made him the ideal candidate to produce the hexagonal patterned wings, a feat that required nearly 2,000

ABOVE AND LEFT David Baker's colossal balloon vampire bat set a new Guiness record for World's Largest Balloon Sculpture.

54 |

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LEFT Captain Jack Sparrow is full of (not so hot) air.

“I’m not very book smart.

My eyes glaze over. Show me something, let me make something, let me build something.”

ABOVE AND LEFT David Baker's most recent big balloon build features Clifford the Big Red Dog at The Avenue in Peachtree City.

– David Baker

balloons. The dragonfly also received a World Records acknowledgment for team building, but a larger Chinese team soon ousted it.

Baker says that’s one reason he prefers to work alone: “Someone can always add more teammates.”

These days, Baker can be found working alone in the metro-Atlanta area producing smaller-scale work for organizations, restaurants and private events. His company, Twisted Ideas Balloons, recently booked a weekly appearance at the Peachtree City Mellow Mushroom and is looking for more opportunities to serve Newnan and Coweta. NCM

LEFT How would you like to see this cicada in your front yard?

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 55

Surrounded by horses, Cassidy Victer is at her happiest.

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Cassidy Victer, Horsewoman Written by CAROLINE NICHOLSON Photos Courtesy of CASSIDY VICTER

T

wenty-three-year-old Cassidy Victer’s life revolves around horses.

Victer exemplifies what it means to be Coweta born and raised. She grew up in a family with a gene for horse riding and has been riding horses for two decades, likely picking up the desire from her mother and grandmother, who both loved horses.

Victer's adoration of horses bloomed in the Coweta County 4-H program where she learned about the proper care of horses and grew her riding skills through special interest clubs like the Equine Mounted Drill Team. She spent four years with the Drill Team during which she had the opportunity to travel and learn about horsemanship. She devoted a great deal of her time to the Coweta County 4-H program until she aged out at 18.

In 2015, then-17-year-old Victer began working at the Fayette Veterinary Medical Center, led there by her love of animals. However, while working this job, horses were always on her mind.

Around 2018, she began purchasing horses. As the number of horses grew, her time for her other job dwindled. She explains that owning horses requires a tremendous amount of effort and care: “If you are not willing to commit at least three hours of your day, every day, to a horse, then you don’t need to own one.”

With this in mind, she put her grooming job on hold and began focusing on the horses that desperately needed her.

Victer buys horses sight unseen, going on the descriptions given to her by the seller. These are usually non-performance horses, coming from homes

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 57

unequipped to take on the huge responsibility of caring for creatures of their size and complexity. The young horsewoman rescues them from often depressive environments where they are underfed with little space to stretch their legs. In her care, the horses are treated like royalty, fed nutritious food and given plenty of space to gallop.

After the horses are nursed back to health, Victer leases them to loving families searching for a partner for their child who is interested in riding. This is a perfect situation for the horse and the rider, according to Victer, who says the horses often come from unstimulated backgrounds and require training and attention the rider can provide.

By leasing with Victer, riders get their own horse to train with, and the horses stay at Victer's barn with all of its space and amenities, plus the affection of a rider and their family. Students who lease with Victer visit the barn twice weekly to train and ride.

Beyond leasing, the young horse entrepreneur's passion extends to preparing horses and students for competitions. Her biggest competition each year is the National Barrel Horse Association Youth and Teen World Championships, which takes place every July in Perry, Ga. Who better to take students to this competition than Victer, a six-time youth world qualifier and an open finalist?

ABOVE: Cassidy, at six years old, rides her horse, Chance.

RIGHT: Cassidy Victer, right, prepares leaser Sara Allgood to ride KC, a horse she purchased almost two years ago after it had been pastured and not ridden in almost a decade. Under Victer's supervision, Allgood retrained the horse to ride.

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ABOVE: Cassidy Victer, far right, poses with her veteran students at their horsemanship camp last summer.

TOP: Cassidy Victer, fourth from right in back row, celebrates summer horsemanship camp with her students. Those in pink are her veteran students while those in blue are newcomers.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 59

Cassidy Victer loves on one of the many horses that she has rescued and takes care of every day.

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In 2021, she took four students to the competition: Cora Condon, Ellie Condon, Marissa Byrd and Emily Lenning. This year, Victer will take six local students, as well as two students from Australia to the competition.

Victer's passion is not only for horses but also for the young riders she mentors. In June 2022, she hosted a two-day horse camp for her students at her stables in Senoia. She partnered the students who have worked with her for a while with her new students, so every new rider had individual attention.

In total, there were 16 fresh faces, brimming with excitement to learn about and ride horses, and 16 veterans of Victer's program, ready to share their love of horses just as their teacher had done for them.

Many of her 32 weekly riders visit their teacher on non-lesson days to help her with chores and spend time with the horses.

Victer is the product of a small town and a family who has instilled in her a work ethic that encourages hard work to accomplish big dreams. Beyond the lessons she gives to students, her work ethic models to her community the importance of perseverance and drive.

Moving forward, Coweta's young horsewoman plans to continue to lease horses – and to train horses and students alike. NCM

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

“If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.”

— Albert Einstein

Newnan-Coweta Humane Society Written by FRANCES KIDD | Photographed by SANDY HISER

I

magine driving along a road in Coweta County when a hawk carrying something swoops low over the front of your vehicle before flying lower to the ground and dropping its bundle.

ABOVE Taylor Graff, daughter of Newnan-Coweta Humane Society volunteer Lindsay Graff, is a seasoned pro at socializing baby kittens.

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One sharp-eyed Coweta driver recently experienced this and stopped to find a tiny kitten, seemingly unharmed, on the side of the road. The driver took the kitten to the local humane society’s home, Pokey’s Place, and volunteers rushed it to the vet.

Not all animals in need of help reach Angie Whitlock and the Newnan-Coweta Humane Society in such dramatic fashion.

Whitlock is president of Newnan-Coweta Humane Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975. In the early years, volunteers operated from their homes; in 2017, they purchased a former veterinary hospital on U.S. 29 just north of Millard Farmer Industrial Boulevard.

Their new home, Pokey’s Place, has 14 kennels, two cat rooms, four part-time kennel techs, and a building manager. According to Whitlock, the building manager was a necessity after a kitten pushed up a sink faucet handle while playing, turning on the water and flooding the building.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

“It was a bunch of 9-month-old kittens,” Whitlock recalls.

“We can laugh about it now, but it wasn’t funny then.”

The humane society has a wide-ranging mission to protect animals. That includes everything from promoting the adoption of rescued animals and working to eliminate animal abuse to improving awareness of spay/neuter programs and providing leadership in support of animal rights legislation.

They do all that – and a lot more.

The humane society works closely with Coweta County Animal Services, according to Whitlock.

ABOVE You smile, I smile. Rescue dog, Sugar, appears to mirror dog volunteer Logan Smith’s head tilt and smile.

One of the humane society’s goals is to work with the county to establish a separate adoption center to provide a more welcoming environment for animals to meet their potential owners.

“Coweta has outgrown the current county shelter located at 91 Selt Road,” says Sandy Hiser, NCHS board member and volunteer. According to Hiser the number of dogs often surpasses the maximum shelter limit.

“The dog area - industry standard when built - is now considered below par. Kennels are stacked and facing each other. Dogs live under considerable more stress than newly designed facilites that nearby counties have recently opened.”

Humane Society volunteers take care of the Cat Room at Newnan’s PetSmart and are at the store every Saturday for cat adoption events. On the first Saturday SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 63

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

“One of the humane society’s goals is to work with the county to establish a separate adoption center to provide a more welcoming environment for animals to meet their potential owners.”

— Angie Whitlock of every month, volunteers host a Pet Food Pantry at Pokey’s Place to support Coweta residents who need a little extra help with dog and cat food or kitty litter.

A lot of their work involves placing animals in foster homes.

“At this point, we’re foster-based,” says Whitlock, “and we work with animal services to place dogs and cats in foster homes.”

Foster care is a great benefit for the animal as well as prospective owners – it helps the animal become more social and gain a feeling of security and calm, particularly if it has come from an abusive situation, according to Whitlock.

But sometimes the foster home experiences a “fosterfail,” which is not as bad as it sounds.

The fosters fall in love with the animal and decide to keep it permanently. It’s a good/bad thing for the humane society: While an animal gets a loving home, they may lose a foster family, according to Whitlock.

About six years ago, Lindsay Graff heard that the county facility was reaching cat capacity.

“The next day I saw a post about the humane society’s need for volunteers and signed up to help clean the cat room at PetSmart,” she says.

Graff already had one cat and wasn’t looking for another; but she fell in love with the cats and has ABOVE Asha and Abdul, daughter and son of NCHS volunteer Trina Scott, lend a helping hand socializing foster kittens Koi and Marigold.

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had foster cats continuously since that time. She might have a cat or kitten for two weeks or 10 weeks, depending on the circumstances.

“After being fostered, most cats are more socialized,” Graff adds, though she goes on to say that one took two years to “decompress.”

Her two children, ages 9 and 11, help out and are already experienced with the humane society’s

foster care program.

James and Jacque McCulley have been fostering dogs for 22 years.

“My husband had just retired from Pepsi and a neighbor told us about the humane society’s need for volunteers to foster dogs,” says Jacque. “Sadie, our last foster, was one of nine puppies and was around three months old. We had her for about five weeks going through potty training, leash training and just learning how to play.”

The internet has changed the way animal service groups work today.

“We have a social media person,” Whitlock says, “and groups use social media to exchange information and connect with other organizations.”

Whitlock and the Coweta group assist in transporting animals to other locations with spay and neuter laws that enable a greater supply of potential homes.

“Anything we can do to get an animal out of animal services and into a home, we’ll do it,” Whitlock says.

While well-organized, the NCHS is always looking for more volunteers and foster homes. Some volunteers

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

A few pet adoption tips

BELOW Lindsay Graff with son, Ethan. Fostering cats and kittens is a family endeavor in the Graff household.

take dogs on walks or just spend time with them.

It’s possible to run into a volunteer with a dog at the Barber Shop on the Boulevard at Avery Park. Or you might see a dog out for a car ride or maybe at the Starbucks drive-thru picking up a puppuccino.

Imagine what great fun it is to watch a pup devour an espresso- or sample-size beverage cup of whipped cream.

All these things help make a dog more sociable and ready to be adopted. And due to these devoted volunteers and other local and national organizations, there are many happy endings for these deserving animals. NCM BELOW Sugar, formerly known as Big Momma, poses with NCHS dog socializer/walker volunteer Logan Smith.

The red dot on Smith’s shirt indicates dog-handling permissions at Pokey’s Place. Red indicates the highest level of competence to handle any dog at the facility without assistance.

•

The Newnan-Coweta Humane Society (NCHS) website, nchsrescue.org/adopt, has information about animals available for adoption along with an application and costs and terms for adoption.

If an application is accepted, someone from NCHS will be in contact to schedule a time for the prospective owner and dog or cat to meet.

•

Cats are available for visits at PetSmart, in Newnan, every day and are available for adoption there on Saturdays from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Cats are also available at Pet Supermarket at Thomas Crossroads.

•

Dogs and cats in the care of Coweta County Animal Services may be viewed and/ or adopted by appointment each weekday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at at 91 Selt Road in Newnan.

June, a humane society favorite, spends time in the play yard with volunteer Logan Smith.

June, available for adoption, has been waiting patiently for her forever family. With a super sweet personality, she loves every human she meets. Her affections, however, do not extend to felines, so she’ll need to go to a cat-free home.

•

Other options for adopting dogs or cats include adoptapet.com or www.petfinder.com.

•

Pet lovers can help the NewnanCoweta Humane Society by volunteering, making monetary donations, donating supplies to the Pet Pantry, or opening their home to a foster pet.

•

If you find a stray animal, it's best to follow the law: Take it to Coweta County Animal Services (CCAS). In Georgia, pets are considered property, and it's illegal to take and keep someone else's property; you'll need to contact your local animal control unit at petharbor.com. Animal Services will try to find the owner, and if no one claims the animal after three days, it’s made available for adoption.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 65

FOCUS ON HARALSON

Home Sweet Haralson

T

Written by ROBIN STEWART | Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

ucked away just south of Senoia is what can be called Coweta’s last rural corner: the City of Haralson.

Established in 1820, Haralson is Coweta’s oldest town and has a population of fewer than 200, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The city has managed to escape the growth that most Coweta towns have experienced, and that is just fine with the residents of Haralson.

Jamie Thompson owns and operates Walkin’ Dead Tours & Events in Haralson.

Fans of the hit television show The Walking Dead (TWD) know that many episodes were filmed in Haralson as were numerous other movies.

Thompson owns the TWD film-site properties that Walking Dead fans get to tour. Beyond seeing the locations, fans can go onsite and explore in real life what they’ve seen on-screen.

Thompson also has a collection of replica weapons that match those used by various characters on the show. During tours, fans can select a replica and pose for photos. Among other sites, they visit the highly recognizable old silos with “Esco Feed Mill Purina Chows” faded but still readable.

The tour runner says the TWD fan base is “100% dedicated,” and she hopes tours continue long after the show’s end. She compares TWD fans to “Fried Green Tomatoes” fans who still visit the Whistle Stop Café in Juliette, more than 30 years after the heyday of that hit movie.

“We don’t know if we’ll see the same, but we’re seeing new watchers, a younger fan base,” Thompson observes.

Thanks to on-demand streaming, the show lives on, much like its zombies.

FOCUS ON HARALSON

ABOVE Out for a morning walk with her dog, this Haralson local passes by remnants of the old Esco feed mill, in recent years a favorite filming spot for The Walking Dead.

Thompson is a bit of an unofficial Haralson historian. She shares that the town originally was named Lickskillet, a Civil War-era name, and was later renamed Haralson for former Georgia Congressman Hugh A. Haralson. The town shares its name with Haralson County, also in Georgia.

The town’s unofficial historian has numerous records dating back to the 1820s, including letters, deeds, documents, and the last wagon wheel manufactured in Haralson.

In more recent decades, says Thompson, about 25 movies were filmed in this rural Coweta town. In 1975, James

RIGHT Jamie Thompson's Walkin' Dead Tours welcomes tourists to the small town of Haralson.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 67

FOCUS ON HARALSON

The city has managed to escape the growth that most Coweta towns have experienced, and that is just fine with the residents of Haralson.

Mitchum (son of famed actor Robert Mitchum) came to Haralson to film “Moonrunners,” a precursor to what would become the TV series, “Dukes of Hazzard.”

Davis Camp, Haralson mayor for some 25 years, well recalls that then-Mayor Bill Estes was quite taken with the filmmakers: “He gave them the keys to the City,” says Camp, noting that Estes was more than simply star-struck; he had bigger plans for the town. “He made me promise that I’d stay on as mayor until Haralson got water.”

Camp did just that, calling connecting to county water, “the best thing that ever happened to us.” Some folks remain on well water, but many switched to county water.

A Newnan native and retiree from the United States Postal Service, Camp married a Haralson native, Janice Williams. Her family founded Williams Grocery in Haralson, one of its most popular spots with a reputation for producing exceptional sausage and fresh meat. Williams Grocery started business in 1942.

Janice Williams Camp recalls that when servicemen came home to Coweta from World War II, they made a beeline to Ford in search of work.

“They asked my dad, Hoke Williams, to make enough sausage for them to have a pound or two,” she recalls.

The rest is history as far as Williams Grocery: “It was all word of mouth,” says Janice. “We never advertised.”

When Jimmy Carter was president, she notes, his attorney general, Griffin Bell, flew from Washington D.C. to Atlanta, rented a car, drove to Williams Grocery, and purchased sausage that he brought back to the White House for the president.

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Carolyn Sale, of Newnan, recalls: “I’ve been trading with them for over 35 years, making special trips from Newnan. Mrs. Williams was a sweet and gracious lady, and their meat man has been working there 25 to 30 years. He can tell you some tales!”

After Janice Camp’s parents passed away, her brother Bruce ran the store. Since Bruce’s death, his wife still mixes up the secret spices for the popular sausage.

Serving his third term as a Haralson City councilman, Scott Beaumont has lived in this small town since 2006.

“I really liked the ruralness of it,” he recalls, sharing how most Haralson residents feel about their city: “Everybody likes it the way it is. The overwhelming majority wish to keep it rural.”

When asked how Haralson has escaped Coweta’s growth, Beaumont has a simple answer.

“We don’t have the infrastructure,” he says.

“The closest sewer is six miles north of us in Senoia.”

New single-family homes are being constructed in and around Haralson, but they’re on five-acre lots, making the density less than that of neighboring towns. They are also on septic, not sewer, according to Beaumont, who says he welcomes measured growth at a pace that suits residents.

Haralson features a city park with a walking trail, gazebo and playground. The train depot is now under private ownership but was once so popular that Sunday church services were moved to 11 a.m. so as not to conflict with the 11:30 train arrival.

The three churches in Haralson have always been important to the city: Mt. Pilgrim Lutheran Church was established in 1840 and

FOCUS ON HARALSON

has its own historical marker out front. The First Baptist Church of Haralson was founded in 1842, and the Haralson United Methodist Church was built in 1890.

Eric McDowell lives in Haralson and is the owner of Farmhouse Printing, one of the few businesses there.

McDowell serves customers locally and beyond, as far

ABOVE Lynnea Dixon, manager at Williams Grocery, serves morning customers at the business known far and wide for its homemade sausage.

away as Canada. He and his wife live in a century-old house built by J.W. “Dub” Hutchinson, one of the early mayors of Haralson.

“We love the small-town feel,” says McDowell, noting the town "remains a little bit frozen in time.”

As a business owner, he welcomes growth, albeit measured growth.

Asked what she wants others to know most about her hometown, Janice Camp is overcome with emotion.

“It’s just a feeling,” she concludes, “a peaceful feeling.”

Those who know understand, and those who don’t wish they did. NCM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 69

What’s in a (Road) Name?

Haralson’s Street Names Written by BLUE COLE Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY

H

aralson’s timeless views and quiet streets have attracted many since its establishment in 1820 and incorporation in 1907.

The recent population boom has been for filming, beginning even before “The Walking Dead” zombies came to town or the movie “Lawless” featured several Haralson scenes, including the Rocky Mount hotel, the feed store, and a set-built barber shop.

Split by Georgia 85, the original town of Haralson grew from the intersection of Line Creek Road, which crosses Line Creek due east of town.

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FOCUS ON HARALSON

the 85 highway and Gordon, turning northwest once it passes the city limits.

Other early family-named roads abound as well: Todd Road, Aaron Todd Road, Rowe Road, Gable Road, and Al Roberts Road cross the town.

Addy St. circles the forested side of Main Street, crossing it twice.

The most magnificent turn of asphalt in Haralson, and perhaps Coweta County, comes as Magnolia Street sweeps into not one, but two paths onto Railroad Street.

Stumble as a zombie or saunter as a gangster, either way, you’ll fit right in. NCM

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We’re working on a series of articles about local road names and the history behind the names.

We know there are plenty of untold stories out there, and that’s where you come in. If you know the origin story of the streets or roads in your area, please share at magazine@newnan.com and we may include your neighborhood streets in an upcoming article.

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2A ing • ard t, ply ES aw sup to REFUGE t hope tha ne ce ssi tie s “A nd we jus r or lat er, an d oth er ed it. ne e yo u, soo ne tho se that , Ne wn an lik Fo r the th ree

MPER

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COWETA COOKS

Photo by Glenda Harris

to your

A Passion for Potluck

Colorful Veggie Couscous, see recipe on page 77.

COME ON OVER, Y’ALL!

Written by GAIL MCGLOTHIN | Photographed by APRIL MCGLOTHIN-ELLER

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 73

COWETA COOKS

C

an I bring the plates and napkins? Rolls and butter? Tea, beer and ice?

People who don’t cook, for whatever reason, have figured out the easiest, most welcome things to bring to a potluck.

If you enjoy cooking, though, a potluck is time to bring out the recipes that fall in the “most favored” category.

Whether planning a potluck or invited to one, knowing the occasion and how it is organized is helpful.

Occasions for a potluck are varied. Baby and wedding showers, tailgate parties for football games or parades, neighborhood gatherings, church socials, family reunions, holidays with friends, and club meetings are just a few times when everyone brings something to enjoy.

The type of potluck often determines the amount of organization needed. For more formal parties such as baby and bridal showers, the hostesses always gather and determine the menu, sometimes down to the recipe, then divide up the labor. If my only job is pound cake, then I can dedicate myself to my very Luscious Lemon Pound Cake.

Organizing for April’s Sunday night grill dinners at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary was limited to, “Bring a side and your meat (or tofu) for the grill.”

Somehow there was always a well-rounded meal, not like the Cinco de Mayo party when no one brought chips and salsa.

Many potluck meals start with the hosts providing a main entrée and guests contributing a dish that complements the entrée. Tailgating requires a little more planning, preferably over beer and popcorn and the Friday night highlights. Whose truck and grill? Who's icing down the beer and soft drinks? Whose folding table? And don’t forget the tablecloth! With logistics out of the way, what's being grilled and what sides are needed to round out the meal?

With electrical outlets in most vehicles now, slow cookers full of baked beans, melted beer cheese, string beans, and chili are easy enough. Small potatoes cooked in a slow cooker and covered in garlic, butter and rosemary will be gone in a flash. Add a veggie tray and a disposable pan full of Mardi Gras Slaw plus Blueberry Muffin Cookies to finish off the meal.

Our version of tailgating at Mardi Gras parades involved pulling a red wagon from the car to our favorite parade watching spot. The wagon was full of soft drinks, shrimp po-boys, Zapp’s chips, pralines and king cake on the way to the parade. Beads, trinkets and throws filled it on the way back to the car.

For community potluck dinners such as church socials and club Christmas parties, a few may decide 74 |

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on the main entrée and leave the rest up to chance. But remember, a potluck is not the time to experiment on new recipes. Save them for the people who will love you anyway.

Keep index cards and markers on the tables to mark your dish. I know my Spinach Balls are Spinach Balls but you may not. Even better, now is a good time to start identifying dishes as gluten free, dairy free, egg free, nut free, etc. What a nice way to show love to your friends and church family.

Potluck enthusiasts agree on one recommendation: When making your plate, get a little bit of everything, and then go back for more of what's best.

Few agree on how to handle potluck leftovers. Some say fix yourself a plate to take home, but others want only their own leftovers. Observe and do as the natives do.

When attending your next potluck, be sure to take at least one dish that complements the main entrée. Hot food should be hot, and cold food should be cold.

Slow cookers are a lifesaver for hot food; just set it on low and forget it. When Andrews Chapel United Methodist Church, in Newnan, renovated its social hall, they added enough electric outlets to power 47 slow cookers.

Now, that’s a church that loves its covered dish suppers.

Mardi Gras Slaw “Mardi Gras Slaw is colorful enough to catch every eye. It’s also very nutritious, but don’t tell anyone. They will never know by the taste.” ½ 2 1 1/3 ¼ ¼ 1 1 1 4 1

cup orange juice tablespoons lemon juice tablespoon apple cider vinegar cup olive oil teaspoon salt teaspoon coarse ground pepper cup finely shredded purple cabbage cup shredded carrots cup minced celery cups finely shredded kale large unpeeled apple, shredded

To make the dressing, shake together orange juice, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper until emulsified.

For slaw, place vegetables in large bowl; add shredded apple on top, and toss. Immediately add dressing, and toss well.

COWETA COOKS

Mardi Gras Slaw

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 75

COWETA COOKS

Mama Stelle’s BBQ Chicken “I’ve eaten this chicken too many times to count and not enough to stop cooking it. My grandmother, Charlie Estelle Pope Ward, often had it for Sunday after church. Barbecue Chicken or Chicken and Dumplings were always accompanied by a roast or pork chops. I like to make it now with just chicken legs. It is absolutely finger lickin’ good.”

1½ cups all-purpose flour 1½ teaspoons salt 1 (4 to 5) pound chicken, cut up Oil for frying 2 cups ketchup 2 teaspoons yellow mustard 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 3 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce 3 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 2 cups water

Spinach Balls “These Spinach Balls will likely need a sign to identify them, but they are a great finger food which encouraged my kids to eat them. You may want to pack up the leftovers fast because three spinach balls topped with a poached egg (see photo below) is breakfast done right!”

20 2 ½ 2 1 ¼ ½ 1½ ½

ounces frozen chopped spinach eggs, beaten cup butter, melted cups herb croutons medium onion, finely chopped teaspoon thyme teaspoon pepper teaspoons garlic powder cup grated Parmesan cheese

Thaw chopped spinach and squeeze dry. Mix all ingredients together. Place in refrigerator to chill about 1 hour. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls.

To serve immediately, bake at 350 degrees about 20 minutes. To serve later, freeze balls overnight on a baking sheet. Remove from freezer a half hour before baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Place toothpicks beside spinach balls to serve.

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On wax paper, mix flour with salt. Dredge chicken pieces in mixture and place to one side. Heat vegetable oil or shortening in a large frying pan, about 2 inches deep, to 350 degrees. Fry chicken 15 to 20 minutes on each side until almost done. Drain and place in a Dutch oven.

In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until tender and deep red in color.

COWETA COOKS

Colorful Veggie Couscous “Couscous can be made in a jiffy, so put it on while you are chopping the vegetables.

This dish serves just as good cold as hot and works well at room temperature.”

1½ ½ 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 2 4 2

1/2

Luscious Lemon Pound Cake “Pound cake goes well at every potluck.”

2½ 1¼ 1 1/2 3/4 1/2 2 4 1½ 1/2

cups all-purpose flour cups sugar tablespoon baking powder teaspoon salt cup orange juice cup vegetable oil teaspoons lemon extract eggs cups powdered sugar cup lemon juice

cups water teaspoon salt cup couscous tablespoons canola oil, divided tablespoons red wine vinegar cup diced peeled carrots cup diced zucchini cup diced crookneck squash cup small broccoli florets cup diced red bell pepper cup diced red onion garlic cloves, minced tablespoons chopped fresh basil tablespoons chopped fresh mint Salt, to taste, if desired Pepper, to taste, if desired cup slivered almonds, toasted

Bring water and salt to boil in a large saucepan. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat. Cover, and let stand 10 minutes.

Uncover; fluff with fork.

Whisk 2 tablespoons oil and vinegar in small bowl. On medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet. Add carrots; stir fry for 3 minutes. Stir in zucchini, crookneck squash, red bell pepper, red onion and garlic. Stir fry for about 2 minutes. Add couscous and vinegar mixture. Stir fry for 1 minute.

Stir in basil and mint. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Sprinkle with toasted almond slivers.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, orange juice, vegetable oil, lemon extract and eggs. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into Bundt pan, and bake 40 to 50 minutes until it tests done.

After cake is done and while it's still in the pan, prick deeply every inch or so with a fork. Blend powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Spoon 3/4 of glaze over hot cake in pan. Let stand 10 minutes. Invert onto serving plate. Slowly spoon remaining glaze over cake.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 77

COWETA COOKS

CHRISTMAS COOKIE CONTEST

Calling all bakers…

It's time to create your best cookies!

As Newnan-Coweta Magazine gears up for its fifth annual Bake Your Best Christmas Cookie Contest, we're adding a third category – just for kids!

Blueberry Muffin Cookies “These cookies are as good as the muffins and made easy from a mix.”

1 ½ 3 1

Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffin Mix cup water tablespoons vegetable oil egg

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Sift muffin mix to remove blueberry bits. Pour mix into medium bowl. With a serving spoon, stir water, oil and egg into mix until smooth; small flecks of mix will remain. Stir in the blueberry bits.

Line a baking pan with parchment paper.

Spoon 1/3 cup of batter onto parchment, leaving 2 inches between cookies. Bake 10 to 11 minutes until light brown around the edges. Place cookies on a rack to cool. This recipe makes 12 to 14 cookies.

Variation: Before baking, sprinkle with sparkling sugar or glaze with powdered sugar mixed with a little lemon juice. NCM

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In recent years, several children have entered the annual contest, so we thought it appropriate to celebrate the contest's fifth anniversary by adding a category for the younger bakers.

Along with our usual categories of Traditional Cookies and Decorated Cookies, the new category will focus on Cookies By Kids. All children ages 12 and under are invited to bake and enter their favorite homemade cookies, which may be decorated treats or traditional holiday fare.

The annual Christmas Cookie Contest takes place in September with winners announced and their recipes featured in our NovemberDecember 2022 Holiday issue.

Submit your best cookie and its recipe to compete for prizes. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each category after a panel of independent judges rates cookies on taste and appearance. A Grand Prize winner will be chosen from the three first place winners. All winners will receive a holiday gift basket with goodies from our generous sponsors.

Contest entrants must submit six to 12 cookies and the recipe in order to qualify for judging. With your recipe, include your name, telephone number, and name of the category you're entering: Traditional Cookies, Decorated Cookies, or Cookies by Kids.

All entries must be delivered to NewnanCoweta Magazine’s office at The Newnan Times-Herald at 16 Jefferson Street, Newnan, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept.

15, or between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16. Judging will take place on the afternoon of Sept. 16 with winners contacted the following week.

Christmas in September

COWETA PROSE & POETRY

to your

Written by PHYLLIS GRAHAM

Sometimes the quiet is deafening Sometimes the stillness is distracting Sometimes the two together is a solace that words cannot grasp.

A joyful delight Dappled sunlight A bird calling out A gentle breeze moves the still woods – Utter divine wisdom!

Phyllis Graham, owner of Let Them Eat Toffee in downtown Newnan, wrote this poem while visiting Chattahoochee Bend State Park in 2021.

The truth and peace that surely passes all understanding!

And gratitude bubbles up filling me with comfort and joy – Yes, it’s Christmas in September; Let us allow our Christ nature to be birthed in this Holy moment.

Ready to spend time doing the things you love most?

Beth Headley Wealth Advisor (770) 254-3823 bheadley@unitedbank.net

A Relationship That Goes

Beyond Investing.

United Bank Wealth Management services are: not FDIC-insured, not bank-guaranteed, may lose value, not a bank deposit, not insured by any federal government agency.

Visit accessunited.com/wealth-management to learn more and connect with us.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 79

COWETANS ABROAD

Ciao for now!

Exploring Italy’s Big Three: ROME, FLORENCE & VENICE

I

Written by CHUCK CLEVELAND Photographed by BARBARA CLEVELAND

taly usually charms its visitors, and many return over and over again to enjoy its delightful destinations and fellowship with its friendly people. My wife Barbara and I have visited seven times so far, and we understand what makes Rome, Florence and Venice – Italy’s Big Three – so attractive and so memorable.

ROME

Ruza (“Rose” in English) Gagulic is our dear friend of 12 years. She guided us on our first trip to Rome, and the relationship has continued ever since. Because she lives there, I defer to her regarding an excellent hotel, especially in central Rome, where a plethora of attractions awaits, including Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and other incredible sites. While in central Rome, good bets for lodging include Hotel Bernini Bristol and Hotel Inghilterra.

Don’t leave the area without visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, the top attraction in Rome, in our opinion. The interior is stunningly beautiful, and I suspect it’s the most impressive church in the world.

Upon entry, we were amazed at the beauty of a mosaic there. We learned that the trick question is, “How many paintings are there at St. Peter’s?” The answer appears to be, “At least one.” The real answer, however, is none. The gorgeous “painting” is actually a mosaic.

FLORENCE

Millions of people flock to Florence each year to see such attractions as the paintings at the Uffizi Gallery, the Gates of Paradise at the Baptistery, the Pitti Palace and 80 |

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ABOVE Be sure to take a gondola ride when in Venice, one of the world's most romantic cities.

COWETANS ABROAD

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 81

COWETANS ABROAD

ABOVE Chuck and Barbara Cleveland were wowed at the beauty of this mosaic at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Boboli Gardens (home to the Medici family), Michelangelo’s sculpture of David, and the Old Bridge, circa 1345.

Because Florence is near the middle of Italy, it’s a central location from which to take day tours to Pisa, Siena, Assisi and Cinque Terre.

Each of our seven trips to Italy has included a stay at the Helvetia and Bristol Hotel in Florence, and some have questioned why we would stay at the same place multiple times. The answer is simple: because we were treated exceptionally well. The H&B is among the Leading Hotels of the World, but what makes it special to us is that several members of their staff have become our friends.

VENICE

Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world. In a lagoon with 118 islands and more than 400 bridges connecting them, Venice has no automobiles in the city. To get around, one either walks or takes a boat.

Couples considering a visit to Venice should, by all means, plan on a gondola ride. The city is 82 |

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known as one of the most romantic places in the world, and gondola rides are partly responsible for that. Be warned, however, to not expect the gondolier to sing for you. That could be arranged, probably at considerable cost, but we were told years ago: “That is only in the American cinema.”

In Venice, we stayed at the Ca’ Sagredo, a 15th century former palace situated on the Grand Canal.

A few years ago, Love Travels recognized it as the best hotel in Europe for weddings. Dinner there overlooking the Canal is a delight.

And to add to the romance, there’s a gondola stand just outside the door.

Ciao! NCM

ABOVE The Old Bridge, constructed about 1345, is one of the major attractions in Florence.

RIGHT The Spanish Steps are impressive any time of the year, especially in late April when the azaleas are in bloom.

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Events September 10

Paper Shredding

KEEP NEWNAN BEAUTIFUL

October 22

Paint Recycling

December 3

Paper Shredding For more information, visit our website

www.keepnewnanbeautiful.org

678-673-5505 KNB@cityofnewnan.org

Local Artist Gallery & Gift Shop

Gear up for Gifts!

• • • •

Teaching Classes, Ages 3 to Adult Painting Parties available onsite and offsite Ceramics Painting We have Local Authors Books Mon., Tues., Thur., Fri. 12-6 • Sat. 11-3 • Sun. & Wed. Closed

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EXPERIENCE NEWNAN

EXQUISITE ST YLING SMARTLY PRICED LIFETIME WARRANT Y

COWETA CRAFTS

To Make a

Creepy Witch Payton’s Place

4

SUPPLIES • Newspaper or magazine pages • Orange & black paint or markers • Glue

• Scissors • Googly eyes, or make your own

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Cut newspaper into shapes shown in photo.

2. Paint hat and body black. Leave face as is.

3. Cut out a large square or use a whole magazine page for hair. Paint the paper orange or bright yellow. After the paint is dry, cut paper into strips about one-inch wide; the length depends on how long you want your witch's hair. Fold strips into crinkles to make the hair look witchy-crazy!

Instructions and Photography by PAYTON THOMPSON

There's no end to the items that can be crafted from newspaper pages!

This issue's project is a creepy newspaper witch for Halloween!

Just gather your supplies, including a copy of The Newnan Times-Herald that you've already read, and craft your heart out!

Instructions and Photography by PAYTON THOMPSON 86 |

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4. After the paint has dried, glue pieces into place. Draw eyes or glue on googly eyes or buttons for eyes. Cut out a big nose and glue it on. Draw the witch's mouth. Now that you've created a fun decoration for Halloween, enjoy your goofy newspaper witch!

1

2

3

FOR THOSE YOU

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Home • Auto • Life • Bank

Coweta Cities & County EFCU is honored to be the credit union that serves you and all our First Responders!

Cpl. Van Meadows

Sgt. Trent Hastings and Rex

Plus:

❙ Summertime Pie ❙ Tractors at Turin ❙ Moreland Barbeque turns 75

We have our Winners!

ISSUE T H E B E S T O F C O W E TA

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Advertise in upcoming issues of NCM!

If you would like information about how to advertise your business, please call us 770.253.1576 or email advertise@newnan.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER ISSUE Advertising Deadline SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 Publication Date OCTOBER 29, 2022

The Coweta Cities & County EFCU would like to thank members, Sgt. Trent Hastings with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Dept and Cpl. Van Meadows with the Newnan Police Department and all their fellow deputies & officers as they walked with flashlights in treacherous conditions through the night ensuring the safety of Newnan Residents after the tornado. We recognize the sacrifices that our deputies and officers make every day and night serving and protecting our community throughout the year!

Membership may be easier than you think!

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ALL ROADS LEAD TO COWETA

Blacktop Photos by Ron Schuck esty ptured the maj Ron Schuck ca n, na ew N in rth se on May 15.

Standing on Ea of the lunar eclip

Photo by Sally Ray Yard art and healthy plants spell beauty at this Moreland home.

A hawk recently hung out in the backyard of a Sharpsburg home, allowing the homeowner to get close enough to take some great pictures.

Photo by Terri Smith

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

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Lee Photo by Glenn rd to beat. wine are ha d e R ke a L on The sunsets

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2022 CALENDAR OF EVENTS SPRING

Photo by Brittney Bunn

Rose enjoys a boat ride while soaking in the

sun.

March 25 - Spring Art Walk, 5-9pm April 02 - Market Day, 10am-2pm May 07 - Market Day, 10am-2pm SUMMER

June 04 - Market Day, 10am-2pm June 09 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm June 17 - Summer Wined Up, 5-9pm July 02 - Market Day, 10am-2pm July 04 - July 4th Parade, 9am July 14 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm Aug 06 - Market Day, 10am-2pm Aug 11 - Summer NewnaNights, 6-9pm AUTUMN

Photo by Christine Kendall A storefront window in downtown Newnan sparks joy and cheer.

Sept 02-05 - Labor Day Sidewalk Sale Sept 03 - Sunrise on the Square 5k, 8am Sept 03 - Market Day, 10am-2pm Sept 23 - Fall Art Walk, 5-9pm Oct 01 - Market Day, 10am-2pm Oct 07 - Oktoberfest, 5-9pm Oct 22 - Spirits & Spice Festival, 2-7pm Oct 31 - Munchkin Masquerade, 10am-12pm WINTER

Photo by Wayne Davis The iris growing in their yard nea r Thomas Crossroads is testimony to the gree n thumbs of Wayne and June Davis.

Nov 05 - Market Day, 10am-2pm Nov 18 - Holiday Sip & See, 5-9pm Nov 25 - Plaid Friday Nov 25 - Santa on the Square, 6-8pm Nov 26 - Small Business Saturday Dec 03 - Market Day, 10am-2pm WWW.MAINSTREETNEWNAN.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | 89

COWETA CRAFTS THE WRAP-UP/TOBY NIX

Little Jobu, the Cutest and Coolest

T

his issue is about animals. And I happen to have the cutest and coolest dog on the planet.

We got Jobu not long after we had to put down our longtime friend and protector, Rascal. By far, Rascal had been the best dog I’d ever Since joining the Nix family about had. He was old, lazy and ornery. Not much unlike myself. a year ago, Jobu has grown from I didn’t figure I’d want another dog anytime soon, seeing as how I didn’t a pup to a well-mannered adult. think any canine could ever live up to good ol’ Rascal’s legacy.

One night as I was fighting (and losing) insomnia, I saw a Facebook post of someone close by giving some puppies away. The puppies were a mix between a pit bull and a blue heeler and cute as could be. I wasn't familiar with blue heelers, so I read up on them and said my prayers that the puppy would grow up to look like his pit bull side of the family.

I messaged the person with the puppies and told myself if they answered me, I’d pursue it, and if I didn't hear back, I’d never think anything else of it.

When I woke up, there was a message saying they had one male and one female left and they were willing to meet me at the local Piggly Wiggly. I asked them to bring the male, and off we went to meet the little guy. As soon as we saw him, I knew he was coming home with us.

The lesson I learned is that you don’t take your daughter with you to meet a puppy if you aren’t 100% willing to bring the puppy home with you. On that day, little Jobu joined the family.

Everything that Rascal was in terms of laziness and anger, Jobu is not. As of this writing, he's about 70 pounds of energy and happiness. When he hears a noise outside, he has a bark that lets me know he’d be willing to throw down on anyone who enters the homestead with bad intentions, and that’s his primary responsibility anyway.

We recently took Jobu to Georgia Canine for training. I was familiar with the family who runs it from seeing 3 in good hands. What I didn’t the results of the canines they train for the sheriff's office, so I knew Jobu was know was just how good those hands were.

We dropped off a very good dog that needed a bit of structure. We picked up an amazing dog – the perfect dog, if you ask me. They got that little joker to where, when he’s in the down position, if you lead with your left foot, he knows to heel, and if you lead with your right foot, he knows to stay. That’s next level behavior.

I don’t know how people live life without a dog. Jobu is as happy to see me after I've been outside for five minutes as he is if I’ve been gone all day at work. He thinks some part of his body has to be in constant contact with some part of mine at all times, and I’m OK with that.

When I had COVID last Christmas and sat in the recliner for hours on end, he’d sit beside me and stare at me with his paw on my leg. It’s impossible not to love the guy.

If you don’t have a dog, I strongly suggest you get one. And while you’re at it, get a pit bull. They catch an unfair reputation, I believe.

If you need assistance making up your mind, I’ll arrange a meeting with little Jobu. I doubt your dog will be as cute or as cool as he is, but I bet you’ll still land a pretty good friend. NCM

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

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